Remembrance

[thedarkages]

It is Independence Day, the day to consecrate to ourselves the memory of those who struggled that we might enjoy freedom and democracy. Unfortunately, freedom and democracy are not entirely available to celebrate with us; they are infirm. They are not valetudinarians by choice; they have been tortured and deformed just short of losing their resemblance to whom they were. Their torturers also have a definite relation to the past; they wish to conserve it, to bring it back. They would like to bring us back to a time when there was no Clean Water Act; no Voting Rights Act; no anti-trust laws; no rights for workers. They would like to bring us back to the age of Gould and Rockefeller, the age of the Ludlow Massacre and the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire -- for, you see, back then, we had our own sweatshops to ruin the lives of our citizens. They would like to bring us back to an age of all against all, where the powerful predated upon the powerless without restraint. Finally, they would like to bring us back to the age when a dictator took over the reins of a sclerotic democracy, proclaiming himself Emperor. It is a matter of more than personal interest how far our torturers have succeeded; they have done almost everything that they might have wished. Soon, our democratic experiment may be over, and we may join history's ranks as yet another tyranny. It is incumbent on us, therefore, to at least reflect on what our forebears succeeded in creating, that the contrast with our current time be strong and painful enough to inspire action. More, I cannot say.

Comments

[mrbalihai.livejournal.com]

While I don't disagree that the Bush administration would probably love to return us to an age of Robber Barons, your conclusions about where we may be heading don't take into account recent events such as the Supreme Court's application of the Geneva Conventions to Gitmo prisoners, and the Republican-controlled congress rejecting ridiculous constitutional amendments.

So while you seem to see us plunging headlong into an abyss of tyranny, I see us pulling back from the brink and beginning a process of self-correction. In short, the system of checks and balances appears to be working exactly the way that the Founding Fathers designed it to work.

[thedarkages]

The Supreme Court decision about the Geneva Conventions would have been a 5/4 split if Justice Roberts had not had to recuse himself. It is only a matter of time before Justice Stevens dies, and Bush replaces him with someone like Janice Brown. Then we will see a 5/4 split against the Geneva Conventions.

As for the flag amendment, it failed by one vote cast by that chimera, the "moderate Republican." In every odd-numbered year, the Republicans bring up the flag amendment once again; this year, the margin of defeat was the closest ever. I see no reason for rejoicing in this.

As for the "checks and balances," you obviously haven't been paying attention to Bush's "signing statements," with their assertion of the "unitary President's" authority over the other two branches.

I see no reason to be optimistic.

[mrbalihai.livejournal.com]

It is only a matter of time before Justice Stevens dies, and Bush replaces him with someone like Janice Brown. Then we will see a 5/4 split against the Geneva Conventions.

Your math is a little questionable here. Even if Breyers is replaced by a conservative justice, Roberts would have to recuse himself again if this reappeared on the Court's docket, making for a 4-4 tie.

As for the flag amendment, even if it passed, it still has to be ratified by the states. Do you honestly think that it would? I don't.

you obviously haven't been paying attention to Bush's "signing statements"

Actually I have, and in case you hadn't noticed, there's a lot of real outrage about it in Congress, even among members of his own party. I expect that there'll be legal and legislative challenges forthcoming.

I see no reason to be optimistic.

Well, you're the only person I know who can make me look Pollyanna-ish...:-)