There is a Truth: in a "free"society those who end up leading us are those we "deserve" to have as leaders. If our federal, state and local leaders are all people who favor power for their own means rather than serving the people, it's because so many of us think the same way (even if we won't admit it to ourselves).
We must share the blame we lay on the president or congress for feathering their own political nests, resorting to childish, unproductive partisanism, or catering to special interest groups, because many of us do the same things in our own lives.
Remember, each of us is part of a special interest group. Even the "99%" is a special interest group in demanding changes that favor them.
We must share the blame we hurl at the rich, the corporations and the greedy CEOs because we practice that greed at our own level. We chose to be a Nation of Addicted Consumers by not thinking for ourselves, but letting others tell us that we needed wealth and material possessions to be "prosperous" and happy. Even our predominate faith, Christianity, has become a mouthpiece for gaining wealth and possessions.
Take a look at what Christmas has become, at how people behave on "Black Friday". Are we behaving any different from a CEO who lines his own pockets by laying off workers, raising prices, misusing funds and paying off politicians?
We must share the blame we hurl at other nations, or terrorist groups, who reject us, seek to undermine or destroy the "American Way of Life". We must consider the two aspects of our society I mention above, and how often we as a nation and as individuals assume that everyone else on the planet wants to be like us. So we impose our world view and values on others. Sometimes we do it by flooding another country with McDonald's restaurants and Pepsi and let them open up sweatshops in order to sell us the stuff we demand.
If that hasn't worked to our satisfaction, we sometimes find an excuse to use military force. Is killing thousands in another country truly a matter of protecting our own security? Those in that other nation certainly don't think so.
We grow alarmed as we see the police using escalating levels of violence against Occupy members and other situations. We lay the blame on the government. Is this really the case? The blame lies UPON ALL OF OUR SOCIETY. We have allowed a combination of unnatural pressures (from over-competitiveness to our economy to the food we eat), skewed sense of values and lack of wisdom to place ALL OF US into... stressful situations. We don't know how to properly handle the stress, so when we reach the "breaking point" we resort to violence because that is how we are conditioned to release the stress.
Are the cops who bust up protesters doing anything that different from the dad who slaps his kids, or the boss who yells at his employees, or the child who abuses the dog?
They are being human.
So to address such things we need to stop pointing fingers at others we think are the cause and look at how we, as a society, must change starting at the individual level, if we are ever to see real solutions.
You see, we are at a point where we are becoming the very thing we fear, the very sort of nation that in times past other people fled in order to find freedom here.
Many of the early colonists came to "The New World" because the wealthy of their homelands were also the ruling class, and they kept the greatest share of land and wealth for themselves. People came to Turtle Island so they could be free of Big Government and Big Business, hand in hand controlling their lives.
Later, people came to escape governments which gave no voice to the people. Government consisting of those who decided that the people served them, rather than they serving the people. Leaders who felt no shame at using their office for personal gain, no matter the cost to the citizenry. Leaders who viewed dissent as something to be squelched, violently if necessary, rather than something to heed.
Most of all, we are a nation in denial, and so must share the greater part of the blame.
We deny that on an individual level we use others, try to gain power, not to serve the community but for out own purposes.
We deny that on an individual level, we entertain our own greed in everything from the shoes we buy to the coffee we drink to the cars we drive, and we teach our children to do the same.
We deny that on an individual level, we are so violent and competitive that it's more satisfying to us to win a war than "win a peace". This happens at our most intimate relationships, with our spouses, children and parents.
So we deny that anything is wrong with ourselves: it's all someone else's fault that things aren't going the way we want (yet even that expectation is proof of the source of the problem in many people).
What's the solution?
First, start using our own minds to think and make informed decisions about everything from our jobs to the things we buy to how we treat our family and friends. Research the words and writing of wise people, past and present. Accept the fact that sources of wisdom ranging from the Bible to the words of Gandhi all can teach us much about Living Rightly.
Second, be willing to take personal responsibility for change. Be willing to make sacrifices in our own lives before we demand change and sacrifice for others. Listen more, talk less, slow down, think through whether an idea is really that good in the long run.
Third, stop thinking in the immediate. Many of the First Nations speak of the "Seventh Generation". One aspect of this is realizing that who we are and how we behave has been directly influenced by 3 generations before us and in turn will directly effect 3 generations following. Seriously think not just how our actions will affect our children, but our grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Fourth, be patient. Patience truly is a wonderful virtue that is in short supply. Patience not just to see things change (the changes we need will not occur in a single generation, much less in a 4 year presidential term of office) but also patience with those around us.
Fifth, stop thinking that blaming others is the same thing as working toward solutions. When 2 or more agree on something, it can be done...unless they decide to turn what they are doing into an "us vs them" situation in which they must first fix blame before they fix the problem.
In the end, all the blaming does is make those casting blame no different from those they are blaming.
Does this really solve anything?
No: it perpetuates the very problems that need solving because they were created by casting blame to begin with.
That's how I see things at least. Thanks for listening.
