Stunned by Lack of Outrage, Not Outrageous Acts

Stunned by Lack of Outrage, Not Outrageous Acts
by Beth Quinn

snip//

So who continues to stun me?

I will tell you. I am stunned by all that is left of America: Americans.

I am stunned by the public’s lack of outrage over all this presidency has done to ravage our nation. Where is the outrage over this war-without-end? Over waterboarding? Over our dead and maimed soldiers?

I am stunned that Americans aren’t writing angry letters to the editor about the Iran rhetoric, this carbon copy of lies that led up to Bush’s invasion of Iraq.

I am stunned that Americans didn’t take to the streets with placards condemning Bush for vetoing a bill that would have ensured health care for children.

I am stunned that Americans aren’t rioting over federal money that has helped only the rich in New Orleans rebuild while the poor still live homeless.

I am stunned that Americans aren’t storming the White House as Bush accuses the Democrats of irresponsible spending on domestic programs even as he destroys the economy with his war and his deficit.

I am stunned that Americans haven’t marched on Washington over the rising unemployment rate, over corporate greed that is causing millions to lose their homes, over our rotting infrastructure.

People on the margins are already making hard choices. I know a young woman who wanted to drive to Vermont to be with her family for Thanksgiving but couldn’t afford to put that much gas in her car.

The middle class should take note. People are wandering the mall charging Christmas presents, but that bill comes due in January when the price of oil will be more than $100 a barrel and gasoline will cost $4 a gallon at the pump. Where is the outrage?

I am stunned by people in Monroe who want to take away a veteran’s rights to free speech when he paints angry signs about Bush on his van.

I am stunned by those same people who want to shut me up, shout me down, spew viciousness into my telephone because I exercise my own right to speak. They are so confused, these people who believe in free speech until someone says something they disagree with.

I am stunned by those who say, “He’s our president, so he deserves our respect.” No he doesn’t. He deserves our fury for bringing shame to the presidency and embarrassment to Americans around the world.

more...

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/11/26/5433/

ever since the neocons pulled off their bogus little coup.

that you are stunned.

The lack of response from the American people has been going on for quite some time now. AT least since Jimmy Carter was in the White House.

Baaaa...Baaaa...Baaaarains?

i'm finding it hard to maintain that outrage for such a long period. american's as a whole are vacuous, self-centered and empty. so much so that they have no idea in this world what is going on in their own country, in their own towns, sometimes even in their own homes. this is definitely the "me-me" generation. all they think of is themselves, so being outraged has nothing to do with them. after all, it isn't affection them personally so why would they get outraged? makes me want to slap the crap out of them to wake them up. most of them don't deserve the freedom they have.

i'm a member of the baby boomer generation. i have been raising hell and helping to get laws changed for 40 years, and quite frankly, i am just plain getting tired. these empty vessels need to get with the program and start taking over from us baby boomers. i don't want to go to my grave feeling so utterly hopeless for my country. that depresses me.

is it surprising that they don't care now? After all, they saw how much traction the anti-war movement got--from their own Congresscritters! And the Impeachment troops--garrotted by their Reps. Publicly! What is the point? It will take a decisive election or an armed revolution to get Congress to stop selling out and cowering before the Bushbots.

If Congress won't act, what else are a People to do?

I ask myself that question on a daily basis. I am sick of the unacceptable becoming commonplace.

that "the people are cowardly, fickle and ever ready to be deceived." Why be stunned? Americas gave Bush enough votes to steal two elections. Americans are too apathetic to even inform themselves, and if informed they would do nothing.

and those are the ones you are hearing from.

of Americans has worked...the feds have starved the public school systems. Civics is no longer taught. They don't even teach the kids how to balance a checkbook...and that is done on purpose. And now the Media is a monopoly so the dumb public only hears about Hollywood or they're on the computer playing war games, jacking off to pron, or 'socializing/shopping.'

A new study said that reading is declining and largest decline was with late teens and early 20's.

This upcoming financial collapse is going to shake some people to their cores.

In a democracy, the people get the government they deserve.

(We must have some baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad karma.)

from the evening news. I've just starting getting to know my neighbors next door (they moved in about 8 weeks ago). They are very nice people, both work, her parents have moved in with them after her father got alzheimers. They are clueless about whats going on in this country beyond the fact that the war in Iraq has gone on too long, oil prices are high and there is an election soon. We started talking when they saw my kids and I coming home from the SCHIP rally with our signs. They heard of the SCHIP battle, but thought it was over after the veto. Neither one of them knew who Valerie Plame was, had heard of Karl Rove but didnt know who or what he was. When I asked if they had ever watched Countdown with Keith Olbermann, they'd never heard of the program (but to their credit knew who Keith was). Also to their credit they had only heard of Bill O'riley but never watched his show. They get their news at dinner from the evening half hour news, which is a joke. They have shed some light on the reason for the lack of anger in this country.

and people really start to feel the pinch. Then Katie bar the door for Bush and any Republican in 2008. This is the one thing that could create significant support among Republicans and blue dog Democrats for impeachment, imo.