A threat from within

Our country (the United States), but its establishment more significantly and profoundly, has been inflicted with a stubborn and unfortunate refusal to accept ideas which come from outside of the main stream.

Many such ideas are not radical, or even new, but merely do not come from the mouths of the right people.

Overly cautious politicians, who's allegiances lie more greatly to power and party than country, have shied away from articulating complex and interesting ideas in favor of those which are most readily manipulated by rhetoric. And unfortunately this has proved the tactic best suited for continuous reelection. These are the Hillary Clintons, the Barak Obamas, and the Rudy Giulianis of our nation, the seemingly unstoppable political juggernaughts who have captured the power to dictate the course of debate for themselves.

This I believe to be of greater threat than any other. The massive oversimplifications of any successful, modern political campaign do not translate well into decisions of policy and often repel voters delving into and scrutinizing the actions of their representatives.

As a result, the task of politicking has become something more of a game than an nation-improving endeavor. It is accepted that manipulation of legal peculiarities and the public's general lack of knowledge of such matters is somehow okay. It is accepted that politicians will use effectively meaningless jargon to smear on another. It is accepted that dialogue between major rivals is to be hollow and focused around only the few issues of the candidates' choosing.

I fear that there may be now way to put an end to this without us having to endure major and unsettling events. How are we to otherwise cut through the dense web of corruption and self-interest spun by our representatives?

It is in the hands of the dishonest and greedy that the power to create vital and substantial changes lies. Are we to expect a culture of altruism to spontaneously flourish upon capitol hill, in which those governing our nation suddenly decide to relinquish their mountainous authority?

It is only through a lively and energized public that we may refresh our flagging democracy. It is up to us, the civilian base of our nation to discuss, to yell and scream, to feel passionately about the course of our great country. It is time for a new patriotism to arise, one which means allegiance to a country and its people in a way that does not require our supporting a bad government.

The pen is indeed mighty, but if it is left broken and unused then we have no defense from the sword.