Carter: America No Longer Democracy
Former President Jimmy Carter finally said something I agree with, breaking
a 37-year run in which he never once made a statement that fundamentally agreed
with what I thought America was supposed to be.
From the German publication Der Spiegel reporting on a Carter address to
the Atlantic Bridge, a non-profit, private entity working for German-U.S.
relationships, the Goober asserted the Obama Administration has been trying to
placate European anger over America's intelligence community's invasive
spy programs publicized by Edward Snowden's revelations. But the Goober went a
step further, "America no longer has a functioning democracy."
Carter acknowledged Snowden's revelations directly as a positive "because
they informed the public. I think the invasion of privacy has gone too far. I
think the secrecy that has been surrounding this invasion of privacy has been
excessive."
BINGO!!! Except for the fact we've never been a Democracy but a Republic,
his assertion is true.
Now Carter has never been a supporter of the U.S. intelligence policies.
For a long time I thought he had lost what few marbles he went to Washington
with. But, looking at it in the rear-view mirror, Carter was
right and I was wrong about American intelligence gathering--in opposite
ways.
Carter has always bemoaned America's spying on foreigners. I loathe
America's internal spying on its citizens. That is the step too far and brought
about my agreement with "America no longer has a functioning democracy."
What the U.S. government has forgotten is this is a democracy and the
citizens therein are given certain rights. Our government, over the years, has
turned that concept on its head. It extends American liberties and rights to
foreign entities but is abrogating them among its own citizens. That is a
travesty for any country.
To me it is perfectly logical to not allow a Muslim to get behind me but to
stand with my back to the wall until that person(s) has passed. I observe more
closely those who are not speaking English in my vicinity. I belie what has
become the normal practice and do not afford such discretion to those who I know
are carrying a firearm but seek them out as they show liberty at its best. Since
Boston, meanwhile, I watch backpackers in a different light.
But Carter, who originally praised the Arab Spring, publicly acknowledge he
has now taken a stance that was my first fear for the region. In touching on
Egypt, he said he is now 'pessimistic' about the military dictatorship and
troubled by the 'global' situation. But he failed to mention his ineffectual
term created a breeding ground for much of the trouble today.
In touching on other U.S. problems he complained about the vast political
divide among Americans, the influence of money on elections and confusing
election rules. But he never mentioned making sure that the people voting were
only allowed to do so once, that the person casting the vote was actually making
the vote (by mail-in ballots this is not possible) and putting into place a way
to insure the person voting is a citizen of the U.S.
There is a great divide still between Carter and the position I feel a
president should have. But the fact he is turning a corner on the question of
government intrusion into private life is the first positive I have observed
from him in nearly four decades.
Like most Nobel Peace Prize winners, Carter still doesn't get the picture.
Unless an individual is willing to take responsibility necessary to
continue their liberty, they can't make a value judgment that is valid.
Despite
his ineffectual leadership and probably because of the Democratic Party
shuffling him aside in favor of more "hip" politicians, Carter is beginning to
sound like he agrees with the Founding Fathers and their principles.
Now
if only he could impart that sense of responsibility to the current
Administration who loves the power and the liberty of that power but never takes
the attendant responsibility maybe he'd be of some real use.
"I have sworn on the altar of God eternal hostility to every
form of tyranny over the mind of man."--Thomas Jefferson
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