Test Time for America

It's here! Finally, inevitably. Test time for America.


No, I don't mean the mid-term elections, now only 15 days, 7 hours and 43 minutes away, as our pretend press corps reports 24/7 from some redoubt in Iowa. It's our equivalent of the famous Battle for Britain.

Americans are furious and scared at the moment, outraged with government at all levels and politicians of both parties and they have every right to be angry. They have been betrayed by religious leaders, predatory business people, even sports heroes and they are throwing wild punches right and left. They are enduring 2 wars they don't want and reeling from terrible financial losses, too, while 15 million are unemployed. Capitalism needs some adjustments. Soon, if worse distractions like riots, assassinations, and terrorist attacks don't intervene, they will more calmly come to understand what has actually gone wrong and who specifically is responsible. The goodness and greatness of our people will burst through and we will settle down as a nation to repair the damage and live with the wonderful things we have. That's my hope and prayer because we are of the same blood as our valiant English cousins and those indomitable pioneers who made this country great. This could be one of "our finest hours."

But not if we don't get coherent political leadership. This is no slap at President Obama, whom I admire and respect. I simply see no chance whatsoever that either of our two political parties can handle this crisis. Democrats have been craven and reckless, impossible to lead, while Republicans have been criminally irresponsible and cynical beyond belief, especially when a crisis is at hand. We must have a 3rd party as quickly as possible and I absolutely don't mean the Tea Party.

First, there has to be a public debate about what kind of a country we want to be. The ideological garbage has to be dumped as it clashes with the tides of history. Example: women, composing half of the human race, have been striving for equality with men for thousands of years. They will not be denied, so forget about repealing Roe v. Wade. The country has accepted that people can have different lifestyles, so knock off the bigotry on gays. Legalize sex and drugs; they've been around forever and regulation causes more problems than it can ever prevent. Americans want Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid and when the actual truth is known about Obama Care 42 million Americans will want it. We do not want a country where 24% of the wealth is owned by 1% of the people. We do not want bedroom police peering into our homes. Pass legislation that America can never go to war for more than 90 days without starting a national draft. Change the rules of Congress so that a disciplined or spiteful minority cannot block important legislation. Stop perpetual political campaigning and get the special interests out of campaign financing. Bite the bullet and raise taxes without partisanship. These are some of the preconditions for an effective 3rd party. The future leaders are there in people like Mike Bloomberg, David Petraeous and many more. We're in an existential crisis with no time for posturing and pettiness.

America has never been occupied by a foreign power. Our cities have never been bombed to rubble. Our people have never been enslaved or dominated. We will pass this test because we have to. It has already been brutally painful and more difficult days and years lie ahead, but we'll do it and be stronger for the effort.