Message to America

IN RECENT YEARS, I have become increasingly concerned by a host of radical government policies that now threaten many basic principles espoused by all previous administrations, Democratic and Republican.

These include the rudimentary American commitment to peace, economic and social justice, civil liberties, our environment and human rights.

Also endangered are our historic commitments to providing citizens with truthful information, treating dissenting voices and beliefs with respect, state and local autonomy and fiscal responsibility.

At the same time, our political leaders have declared independence from the restraints of international organizations and have disavowed long-standing global agreements — including agreements on nuclear arms, control of biological weapons and the international system of justice.

Instead of our tradition of espousing peace as a national priority unless our security is directly threatened, we have proclaimed a policy of "preemptive war," an unabridged right to attack other nations unilaterally to change an unsavory regime or for other purposes. When there are serious differences with other nations, we brand them as international pariahs and refuse to permit direct discussions to resolve disputes.

Regardless of the costs, there are determined efforts by top U.S. leaders to exert American imperial dominance throughout the world.

These revolutionary policies have been orchestrated by those who believe that our nation's tremendous power and influence should not be internationally constrained. Even with our troops involved in combat and America facing the threat of additional terrorist attacks, our declaration of "You are either with us or against us!" has replaced the forming of alliances based on a clear comprehension of mutual interests, including the threat of terrorism.

Another disturbing realization is that, unlike during other times of national crisis, the burden of conflict is now concentrated exclusively on the few heroic men and women sent back repeatedly to fight in the quagmire of Iraq. The rest of our nation has not been asked to make any sacrifice, and every effort has been made to conceal or minimize public awareness of casualties.

Instead of cherishing our role as the great champion of human rights, we now find civil liberties and personal privacy grossly violated under some extreme provisions of the Patriot Act.

Of even greater concern is that the U.S. has repudiated the Geneva accords and espoused the use of torture in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay, and secretly through proxy regimes elsewhere with the so-called extraordinary rendition program. It is embarrassing to see the president and vice president insisting that the CIA should be free to perpetrate "cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment" on people in U.S. custody.

Instead of reducing America's reliance on nuclear weapons and their further proliferation, we have insisted on our right (and that of others) to retain our arsenals, expand them, and therefore abrogate or derogate almost all nuclear arms control agreements negotiated during the last 50 years. We have now become a prime culprit in global nuclear proliferation. America also has abandoned the prohibition of "first use" of nuclear weapons against nonnuclear nations, and is contemplating the previously condemned deployment of weapons in space.

Protection of the environment has fallen by the wayside because of government subservience to political pressure from the oil industry and other powerful lobbying groups. The last five years have brought continued lowering of pollution standards at home and almost universal condemnation of our nation's global environmental policies.

Our government has abandoned fiscal responsibility by unprecedented favors to the rich, while neglecting America's working families. Members of Congress have increased their own pay by $30,000 per year since freezing the minimum wage at $5.15 per hour (the lowest among industrialized nations).

I am extremely concerned by a fundamentalist shift in many houses of worship and in government, as church and state have become increasingly intertwined in ways previously thought unimaginable.

As the world's only superpower, America should be seen as the unswerving champion of peace, freedom and human rights. Our country should be the focal point around which other nations can gather to combat threats to international security and to enhance the quality of our common environment. We should be in the forefront of providing human assistance to people in need.

It is time for the deep and disturbing political divisions within our country to be substantially healed, with Americans united in a common commitment to revive and nourish the historic political and moral values that we have espoused during the last 230 years.

"Now, by the way, any time you hear the United States government talking about wiretap, it requires -- a wiretap requires a court order. Nothing has changed, by the way. When we're talking about chasing down terrorists, we're talking about getting a court order before we do so."
-- President George W. Bush, 4/20/2004

"So, consistent with U.S. law and the Constitution, I authorize the interception of international communications of people with known links to al Qaeda and related terrorist organizations."
-- President George W. Bush, 12/19/2005

When the President speaks to us, there is an unspoken code of ethics behind every word he utters: We, the People, trust that he is the most knowledgeable individual on the facts, we trust that he is honest in what he communicates, and we trust that he respects the rule of Law, our Constitution. We expect the same of all of our elected officials because we do not, generally speaking, have the time to fact check everything we are told.

But unchecked faith in our leaders is, perhaps, the greatest weakness of our democracy because of the important questions it raises. Are we vigilant enough to know when we are not being told the truth? Are we smart enough to recognize when we're given only partial truths or are lied to by omission? And are we brave enough to admit that our leaders are actually capable of lying? These can be upsetting questions. In fact, some of you reading this are already upset that I've even dared to ask the questions in the first place, despite what history already tells us: that Presidents lie. In 1974, President Richard Nixon resigned because he faced certain impeachment for his lies concerning the Watergate investigation, and in 1998, President Clinton was impeached for lying under oath during the Monica Lewinsky investigation.

But if Presidents, like all human beings, are capable of lying, who then can we trust? And when? The answer: we must must be willing to pay attention, do our fact-checking and then listen to our instincts. As an example, let us examine the current scandal in Washington...

Earlier this week, President Bush claimed he had authority to order the National Security Agency (NSA) to wiretap Americans without a court order if those citizens had suspected links to terrorist organizations. Bush said, "As president and commander in chief, I have the constitutional responsibility and the constitutional authority to protect our country. Article 2 of the Constitution gives me that responsibility and the authority necessary to fulfill it." However, an examination of our Constitution proves that the President is not correct. None of the four Sections in Article 2 of the Constitution grants the President the powers to spy on American citizens. In fact, when a President takes office he swears to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States", not the United States itself...a subtle but important difference. And although Article 2, Section 2 does bestow upon the President the title of "Commander in Chief" of the Army, Navy and Militia, the NSA is not a part of the military. Call and ask them yourself - here's the number: (301) 688-6524.

Judicial rulings don't help the President build his case either. In 1974, The Supreme Court voted unanimously that the President of the United States (then Richard Nixon) does not have the jurisdiction to order wiretaps of Americans and then avoid all legal consequences by simply citing "executive privilege".

But we must ask ALL of our officials to be more specific. So when the Vice President defends Bush's authority to order these wiretaps, we must ask him: can you please cite the specific phrase in the specific law which gives the President the authority to overturn the Supreme Court's 1974 ruling? If Mr. Cheney cannot do so and be proven correct, then the Vice President is either lying or ignorant.

And when Attorney General Alberto Gonzoles claims that Congress gave the President consent "to use all necessary and appropriate force" to fight the war on terror, we must boldly ask him: how does the phrase "appropriate force" get misconstrued to mean eavesdropping on our international phone calls without securing a court order? Or ordering the FBI to monitor groups like PETA and Greenpeace that have nothing to do with the war on terror? Or secretly paying to have one-sided, pro-American news stories printed in Iraqi news papers?

If the President of the United States is truly obeying the law, then he has nothing to fear by allowing questions, dissent, or investigations into his actions, especially those being called for by members of his own party like John McCain, Arlen Specter and Lindsey Graham. But if the President reacts to the uproar over his actions with anger, secrecy and a lack of accountability, that sends a clear message to America and to Iraq as well: that although we're willing to fight for Democracy abroad, we're not willing to defend it here at home.

Each month, I ridiculously attempt to filter and condense all of the important news, try to find a central theme and then present that theme to those of you who read this blog. However, because we live in a time of war and scandals and uncertainty and massive natural disasters, most of what I've been sharing with you has been gut-wrenching and difficult to swallow.

It is, admittedly, difficult to always identify and face one's problems. And although being able to identify problems is a worthwhile skill, we often forget that democracy requires more than constant vigilance: it requires constants participation. And participation requires a belief that our actions can actually make a difference.

So, let us begin by remembering that a small group of dedicated people can – and often does - change the world; that even one, lone, individual can galvanize a national movement or bring an entire line of tanks to a halt. And if you think – even for a moment – that your small contribution isn't making a difference, remember this: many small drops of water can eventually fill an entire swimming pool.

Solution #1: If you want better political leaders, run for office.

On November 9th, 2005, the town of Hillsdale, Michigan elected it's new mayor: 18-year-old Michael Sessions. Believe it or not, the kid actually won the endorsement of the local fire department during his campaign. Think that's outrageous? In 2001, a friend of mine actually ran for mayor of Los Angeles, receiving The Green Party's endorsement. Francis Della'Vecchia was 36 years old at the time and ran on a platform of complete transparency using the internet. Although he didn't win the election, he changed the conversation by challenging convention.

If a 36 year old can mount a mayoral campaign in a major American city and an 18 year old can actually become mayor of a small American town: so can you. Even if you run for smaller offices such as precinct captain, the local school board or a county supervisor, you'll be making a huge difference in your community.


Solution #2: If you want to change inequality, volunteer.

This time of year, folks line up to help feed the homeless. It's a touching act to witness. Consider, however, the rest of the year: can you afford to make a weekly commitment to a shelter or an organization that truly needs your help? Your weekly donation of time allows you to be of service to those less fortunate than yourself. It will also serve to remind you of how lucky you are to have the life and possessions that you do. Your children will think you're a hero and you can bring them along if you volunteer locally or internationally.

Solution #3: If you want to save money & the planet, grow a garden and eat your own food.

Growing your own food is one of the most primal and sexy things any human can do: it connects you with the planet, it's proven to relieve stress and it saves money and time at the supermarket. Plus, as parents, gardening is one of the greatest gifts you can teach your children: they'll learn how to work with the earth in order to plant, nourish and then eat their own healthy fruits and vegetables. The nicest thing about gardening is that you don't need a huge house or a lot of money to do it: you can grow a garden indoors, on a patio, or by the windowsill.

Solution #4: If you want to spread Democracy, help ten people register and learn how to vote.

This suggestion comes from a reader: many thanks.

First, help your friends register to vote by bringing them voter registration forms or taking them online. Then, help educate them using the internet: look-up their Congressional representatives, discover who's contributed money to the candidates, help them examine voting records of the candidates & officials. When voting day arrives, drive them to the polls or help get then an absentee ballot in order to vote by mail. By getting others motivated to become participants, you spread the hope and promise of Democracy, one of America's core values.

Solution #5: If you want to reduce your dependency on foreign oil, improve your air quality and save money, change how you travel.

These small changes to your routine have a HUGE impact. First off, if you're looking for a new home, consciously choose to live closer to where you work. Some states will actually PAY YOU small grants as an incentive to do this. Then, once you're settled in, consider biking to work instead of driving. The exercise will help you lose weight and you'll save a ton of money on gas and car upkeep. If your commute is too far to bike, take public transportation. Another option – even if you live in a big city like Los Angeles – is carpooling. Visit websites such as Craigslist or http://www.erideshare.com/ to help you connect with folks in your area who want to share the ride. When you factor in gas, insurance and upkeep, the real cost of owning a car is very high. Therefore, if you have more than one car, try living with just one. Believe it or not, many families learn to get by with one or no cars. So can you. Finally, there are more and more hybrid cars on the road from the major automakers. If you're in the market for a new car, buy a vehicle that uses less gas.

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When I am asked to speak in public about political matters, I am continually surprised at how many people, even educated and well-intentioned people, don't know how to go about making a difference. Mabye it's laziness, maybe apathy. I'm not sure. What I can say for certain is that beyond money, beyond career and beyond religion, there lies one, simple, unalienable truth: that if you have a better vision for the world, then you can't rely on others to give it to you -- you must be willing to do some of the work yourself to bring about that world.