July 3, 2008
Philip A Farruggio

Let's face facts. The American economy is in a state of free fall You don't have to be a rocket scientist or scholar to recognize the obvious. Layoffs by the hundred thousands, gasoline prices twice what they were a few short years ago...How about the millions of Americans facing possible foreclosure?

My wife and I earn a pretty good income as sales reps...yet we have no major medical, only a mediocre hospitalization plan. Our local cafe is suffering the pangs of few and far between customers along with most of our competitors. Divorces are rising in record numbers, as are suicides ( especially among returning GIs ), substance abuse and gambling addictions. Next, we will see more and more theft and home robberies in communities once deemed safe and secure.

Yes, our nation is in a terrible economic and social free fall.

Many religions do hold to the same belief that our Creator or God gave all of us free will to live our lives as we see fit. To do good works, to do evil deeds, to be industrious, to be lazy, to strive towards love and peace...Or towards conflict and domination.

Free Will.

As one can realize, this does have its price if one subscribes to the concept of a Hereafter' or the duality of a Heaven and Hell.' As the Bible states" As ye sow so shall ye reap " Yet, most importantly is the one crucial question each of us should be asking? That is Why are we here? Why are we in this 3rd dimension, in human form, bouncing off one another? If there is another doorway , another portal to the eternal, and if this is but a mere steppingstone into it, then what must be done?

Should not the paramount goal for all humans be to learn to love...Humanity! Can that be achieved by hoarding millions, disregarding suffering...Even causing more suffering? Can our brothers in Christ , they who call themselves Christians...Can they walk with Jesus and still condone and support ( or actually commit ) preemptive wars with illegal invasions and occupations?

Can they disregard the torture of mere suspects, imprisonment without charge for years, sending our young to die in the desert heat...All based on lies and misinformation?

(Article Continues Below)

They say we are a nation of laws - we have a three tier government, and it is the Congress that creates the laws. In 2006, the majority of voters chose to allow the (so called) opposition party, the Democrats, a chance to control the making of laws.

Last week, once again, the Democratic led House of Representatives (ha, nicknamed the People's House) chose to continue funding this debacle in Iraq. Bundling it with military operations in Afghanistan (where, since our occupation of that country in 02 , poppy production is once again at close to all time highs) the Democrats voted another $162 billion.

That brings the total up to $600 billion, as our schools crumble, millions face foreclosure, gasoline is at record highs, consumer confidence index is at a 16 year low. You get my drift?

Oh, by the way, this is not just about folks having to decide to cut out mere excess spending. In Pennsylvania, for example, PPL Electric Utilities disconnected 7,054 customers through April this year, up.... Are you ready for this.....168% over the same period last year!!

Now, back to the Democrats and their own priorities concerning spending. In that aforementioned bill, in addition to the $ 162 billion to continue the illegal occupation of Iraq, the Democrats placed amendments into the bill to aid the average American. Unemployment insurance aid, flood aid and aid to GIs totaled a whopping 15.2 billion dollars , less than even 10% of the 162 billion to keep us in a country that its people ( and most of the world ) wants us out of!

So, as Mr. And Mrs. Main Street American hustles from one dead end job to another, watching their children inherit a nation with little hope for a better future...When will they stand up and speak out?

My role model, Jesus of Nazareth, said it best to all out there across America who say little and protest not: "There is none so blind as he who will not see."

If you enjoyed this post, please make a donation to help keep this website active:

Click Here for the Free Populist Party Newsletter

Philip A Farruggio [send him email] is a free lance columnist, small businessman and activist. Since the 2000 elections, he has written over 80 op ed columns- few if any get published or posted. to review some which have been shown, just google his name.

More Articles from Phil Faruggio