Distrust and disillusionment

From a 55 year old's perspective, it started with the assasination of JFK.

It may have been there sooner, but I never sensed it from my parents or friends of my parents.

Distrust and disillusionment started on November 22, 1963.

Living in Dallas, I have visited the Sixth Floor Museum. You leave there with more questions than answers.

Then, LBJ.

Then, Vietnam.

Nixon.

Kent State.

Watergate.

Oil embargo in the 70's.

Ford pardoning Nixon.

Carter giving away the Panama Canal. And allowing the Soviet Union to attack Afghanistan.

Reagan and Iran-Contra.

Clinton and "what the definition of is, is."

George W. and WMD. And Cheney. And why didn't we focus on capturing and killing Osama bin Laden rather than Saddam Hussein.

And now, Obama.

On Tuesday, August 4, 2009, the White House sends out an email.

"There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov.

The White House, the home of the President of the United States, the leader of the free world, is asking Americans to report "fishy" messages on the internet about a health care bill?

Just what will the White House do with "fishy" emails and internet posts?

Is this 1984? For those who haven't read that book, here is the reference.

"Big Brother is a fictional character in George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, the enigmatic dictator of Oceania, a totalitarian state taken to its utmost logical consequence - where the ruling elite ('the Party') wield total power for its own sake over the inhabitants."

I have observed my grown children and their friends. Many of them members of the military. All of them responsible adults with jobs, many of them with kids.

Most of them voted for President Obama.

They are now amongst the most critical of him.

The economy as measured by real people is not getting better. Job losses are increasing, and it is affecting young people at an alarming rate.

They voted for change. Many of them voting for the first time. They aren't seeing the change they voted for, and they are not getting an honest observation from the White House.

I don't hold the President responsible for our nation's economy. Bill Clinton did not invent the internet stock bubble. But he got credit for it. Bushy didn't invent the meltdown of financial markets. That had been in the works for decades. But he got the blame for it.

America, we need to get a grip.

There is a huge disconnect between those who govern and those who are governed.

Black America does not trust the police or the justice system. For good reason.

President Obama and Professor Gates didn't help with their irresponsible actions and remarks.

Young America is disenchanted with big government.

Old America is afraid of losing their "entitlements". If we can't afford Social Security and Medicare, let's say it. Let's not let it sneak up on us.

The military is wondering what the mission is. And, where is the provision for our wounded soldiers. President Obama even floated the idea of private health insurance having to take care of wounded soldiers.

I have a 23 year old son that wants to serve his country. He is now none too confident about following his older brother. He doesn't trust his government.

Rich folks are being told they are bad people because they earn too much money. I think this includes the rich folks that got President Obama elected.

Much of Black America is upset with the aggressive moves on abortion. Black America is based in the Christian belief system. Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. T.D. Jakes, all have their core based on Christian principles that are in opposition to many pet objectives of the current administration and the Democratic controlled Congress.

Middle America is the subject of every political conversation. They are just steadily watching their jobs go away, taxes go up, and their health care be in question.

This reminds me of the 1960's.

In a bad way.

Or, maybe in a good way.

America needs to let Washington D.C. know that we ain't happy with much of anything.

That is our right. That is what makes our country the beacon of the world.

When the White House starts sending emails looking for "fishy" emails, doesn't that sort of sound like China? The Soviet Union? North Korea? Iran?

This is not what our founding fathers fought and died for. They fought and died for freedom and honest, open government.

Elected folks in Washington D.C., you are not in power.

You are there to serve.

President Lincoln said it well at Gettysburg on observing the dead soldiers of the North and the South.

"...that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."