These words were spoken in 1947, but their meaning resonates through the halls of the White House today - "...
the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders - that is easy.
All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked ..
..
and denounce those against you as unpatriotic...
it works the same way in any country.
" There is no longer a single speech, news conference, or opportunity for President Bush not to remind the American people that "we are under attack.
"He attaches a statement of fear if we wants an additional power, such as when he vetoed the bill about not allowing waterboarding.
He turned it around as not giving him the authority to "protect America against terrorists.
" America has had its tragedies - the Great Depression, World War I and II, Korean War, cold war, Cuban missile crisis, Iran hostages, Viet Nam, etc.
Presidents have dealt with the circumstances and did not use the tactics of fear marketing to get their way, to increase their power, and to insure future election success.
There was Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush I, and Clinton.
Each faced an uncertainty and each handled the situation with wisdom, sincerity, and ability.
The tragedy of 9/11 as been exploited by the Bush/Cheney administration for all its worth.
It is truly believed that Bush would only have had one term where it not for the 9/11 devastation.
They did, however, seize on an opportunity to promote authority that went beyond any that any President demanded in the history of the U.
S.
Eisenhower once said, "Anyone who acts as if freedom's defenses are to be found in suppression and suspicion and fear confer a doctrine that is alien to America.
"Karl Rove said, "the 2006 midterm elections would be won or lost based on how frightened Americans are about terrorism.
"Journalism knows that fear peddling causes Congress, the Senate, and voters to allow a President to demand and insist on pre-emptive war, torture, budgets out of control, etc.
Taken into perspective, if people only thought for just a moment - heart disease, cancer and accidents cause deaths in the hundreds of thousands.
Suicides, workplace accidents, and infant mortality add huge numbers to the toll.
Every death has its horrors but leadership who deals in moving forward, making the changes needed to protect and defend, do not use the weapon of fear in every other sentence to make sure that people are in a constant state of apprehension and uncertainty.
So far, it has won the White House powers that never should have been given to one man, the total elimination of checks and balances, and a country that walks not forward but is constantly looking behind to see where the next "terrorist" attack is coming.
If you believe in sucker punches, then Osama bin Laden has won the round and has left the remnants of a weakening democracy in the U.
S.
He has been able to discredit the American government in the eyes of the world, and President Bush with his western attitude of shoot 'em up and talking tough, has even given credence to some sympathy from those who ralllied around the U.
S.
after 9/11.
Not abiding by international law, using signing statements to take away any authority from Congress and the people and bringing this country into an economic climate that destroys dreams, hearts, and families all have been perpetrated by using fear as a constant mental image, a control of making sure that peace is not to be found in any man, woman, or child.
The sheriff of Dodge City will do whatever it takes - and as they say in Texas, "he is all hat and no cattle.
" Not a very confident image of a country that has always stood for integrity, and using every means to bring about a fair, legal and peaceful solution to domestic and world problems.
You have to ask yourself - if Bush and Cheney were that truly concerned about protecting the people and saving them from terrorism - not only to mouth the words, then why is the implementation of airport screenings, harbor safety, nuclear and power plant safety, and making sure that there are enough safeguards at home and not all tied up in Iraq either progressing very slowly or not at all.
In one speech, Mr.
Bush stated that there is no discernible difference between Saddam and Mr.
bin Laden.
The thief of the 9/11 tragedy goes free and the attempt at finding him has fallen on fields of wildflowers and rocky craigs, but a country, that did not have any connection to Mr.
bin Laden is in total disaster, thousands upon thousands dead, including American citizens, and money that has not only been found to be missing, but given to companies that do not live up to their contracts, soldiers coming home maimed and in need of lifelong care, the economy here in tatters and the country without assurance of safe bridges, safe water, clean air, and the ability to earn a decent living and provide food and home for families.
Something is very wrong and fear marketing is not the answer.
When the U.
S.
supplied biological, and chemical weapons to Iraq, and helicopters to spray poisonous gas, how can we in all conscience believe that Saddam would use this for any other reason then to kill and cause war.
When Bush and Powell named the weapons that Saddam had, they read right off the records of what had been given to him.
It was not anything to be proud of, but it was turned around so that the giver turned on the receiver.
Bush spent time and energy fabricating proof that never was there.
He carried his message across the air waves and proported to be the leader who cared, but he distorted the yellowcake aspect, the stockpiles of biological and chemical WMD's and told the American people that America would be bombed within a "45 minute period" if war was not started - with a country that never caused harm on American soil.
Bin Laden was put on a back burner and the "smoking gun" was now the barrel that represented democracy in the U.
S.
It is never too late to take back a government that was revered the world over, whose citizens were living not in a haze of fear, but in the light of progress and advancement.
With the upcoming election, a voice must be heard and that voice must be yours.
Fear is not a way to walk through life, it is not a thread that should be woven in the tapestry of a people that are free and are willing and able to do the right thing - lawfully, with a full checks and balance democracy, and can think and act on their own without an authoritarian leadership ignoring the mandates of Congress, and the people.
We are the democracy of the U.
S.
The one man in the White House is not the nation.
He/she is only the standard bearer that represents a confident, mature, and determined people.
It can be done but more importantly, there can be no turning back.
It won't get better, unless something is done to turn the tide and get back to the path that former Presidents and leadership paved.
We are America and we will not let fear peddling turn us into yes-men to a government that is out of control.
Something to think about, ©Arleen M.
Kaptur March, 2008
the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders - that is easy.
All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked ..
..
and denounce those against you as unpatriotic...
it works the same way in any country.
" There is no longer a single speech, news conference, or opportunity for President Bush not to remind the American people that "we are under attack.
"He attaches a statement of fear if we wants an additional power, such as when he vetoed the bill about not allowing waterboarding.
He turned it around as not giving him the authority to "protect America against terrorists.
" America has had its tragedies - the Great Depression, World War I and II, Korean War, cold war, Cuban missile crisis, Iran hostages, Viet Nam, etc.
Presidents have dealt with the circumstances and did not use the tactics of fear marketing to get their way, to increase their power, and to insure future election success.
There was Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush I, and Clinton.
Each faced an uncertainty and each handled the situation with wisdom, sincerity, and ability.
The tragedy of 9/11 as been exploited by the Bush/Cheney administration for all its worth.
It is truly believed that Bush would only have had one term where it not for the 9/11 devastation.
They did, however, seize on an opportunity to promote authority that went beyond any that any President demanded in the history of the U.
S.
Eisenhower once said, "Anyone who acts as if freedom's defenses are to be found in suppression and suspicion and fear confer a doctrine that is alien to America.
"Karl Rove said, "the 2006 midterm elections would be won or lost based on how frightened Americans are about terrorism.
"Journalism knows that fear peddling causes Congress, the Senate, and voters to allow a President to demand and insist on pre-emptive war, torture, budgets out of control, etc.
Taken into perspective, if people only thought for just a moment - heart disease, cancer and accidents cause deaths in the hundreds of thousands.
Suicides, workplace accidents, and infant mortality add huge numbers to the toll.
Every death has its horrors but leadership who deals in moving forward, making the changes needed to protect and defend, do not use the weapon of fear in every other sentence to make sure that people are in a constant state of apprehension and uncertainty.
So far, it has won the White House powers that never should have been given to one man, the total elimination of checks and balances, and a country that walks not forward but is constantly looking behind to see where the next "terrorist" attack is coming.
If you believe in sucker punches, then Osama bin Laden has won the round and has left the remnants of a weakening democracy in the U.
S.
He has been able to discredit the American government in the eyes of the world, and President Bush with his western attitude of shoot 'em up and talking tough, has even given credence to some sympathy from those who ralllied around the U.
S.
after 9/11.
Not abiding by international law, using signing statements to take away any authority from Congress and the people and bringing this country into an economic climate that destroys dreams, hearts, and families all have been perpetrated by using fear as a constant mental image, a control of making sure that peace is not to be found in any man, woman, or child.
The sheriff of Dodge City will do whatever it takes - and as they say in Texas, "he is all hat and no cattle.
" Not a very confident image of a country that has always stood for integrity, and using every means to bring about a fair, legal and peaceful solution to domestic and world problems.
You have to ask yourself - if Bush and Cheney were that truly concerned about protecting the people and saving them from terrorism - not only to mouth the words, then why is the implementation of airport screenings, harbor safety, nuclear and power plant safety, and making sure that there are enough safeguards at home and not all tied up in Iraq either progressing very slowly or not at all.
In one speech, Mr.
Bush stated that there is no discernible difference between Saddam and Mr.
bin Laden.
The thief of the 9/11 tragedy goes free and the attempt at finding him has fallen on fields of wildflowers and rocky craigs, but a country, that did not have any connection to Mr.
bin Laden is in total disaster, thousands upon thousands dead, including American citizens, and money that has not only been found to be missing, but given to companies that do not live up to their contracts, soldiers coming home maimed and in need of lifelong care, the economy here in tatters and the country without assurance of safe bridges, safe water, clean air, and the ability to earn a decent living and provide food and home for families.
Something is very wrong and fear marketing is not the answer.
When the U.
S.
supplied biological, and chemical weapons to Iraq, and helicopters to spray poisonous gas, how can we in all conscience believe that Saddam would use this for any other reason then to kill and cause war.
When Bush and Powell named the weapons that Saddam had, they read right off the records of what had been given to him.
It was not anything to be proud of, but it was turned around so that the giver turned on the receiver.
Bush spent time and energy fabricating proof that never was there.
He carried his message across the air waves and proported to be the leader who cared, but he distorted the yellowcake aspect, the stockpiles of biological and chemical WMD's and told the American people that America would be bombed within a "45 minute period" if war was not started - with a country that never caused harm on American soil.
Bin Laden was put on a back burner and the "smoking gun" was now the barrel that represented democracy in the U.
S.
It is never too late to take back a government that was revered the world over, whose citizens were living not in a haze of fear, but in the light of progress and advancement.
With the upcoming election, a voice must be heard and that voice must be yours.
Fear is not a way to walk through life, it is not a thread that should be woven in the tapestry of a people that are free and are willing and able to do the right thing - lawfully, with a full checks and balance democracy, and can think and act on their own without an authoritarian leadership ignoring the mandates of Congress, and the people.
We are the democracy of the U.
S.
The one man in the White House is not the nation.
He/she is only the standard bearer that represents a confident, mature, and determined people.
It can be done but more importantly, there can be no turning back.
It won't get better, unless something is done to turn the tide and get back to the path that former Presidents and leadership paved.
We are America and we will not let fear peddling turn us into yes-men to a government that is out of control.
Something to think about, ©Arleen M.
Kaptur March, 2008
Source...