For years, the right wing propaganda machine, including the irrational, lying voices of Fox News “reporters” and commentators, including Glenn Beck, Scott Hannity, Bill (Bill O the Clown) O’Reilly, and the rest, along with the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Michelle Malkin, and so many more, not to mention their wind-up toy Sarah Palin, have evoked a barrage of misinformation on the American people.
Through the presidency of george w bush, through the 2008 election campaign, and for the past year plus, through the health care debate, it has been constant lies and castigation, on a non-stop basis.
Now, with the passage of the watered-down health care reform bill, and despite their partially successful efforts to derail meaningful health care reform, the violent effects of their efforts can be seen and felt across the country.
Historically in a democracy when the majority has spoken, the masses accept the outcome, renounce it, embrace it, or ignore it, and move on. Today, there is no ignoring the outcome of health care reform. There is instead, a call to violence.
Rocks thrown through Democratic Party offices, death threats to Democratic members of Congress, in particular numerous threats to Congressman Brad Stupak, a cut gas line at the home believed (incorrectly) to be occupied by Democratic Rep. Tom Perriello of Virginia and his family, the address of which had been posted online, racial epithets spewed at African-American Congressmen, and more such acts are occurring with increasing frequency.
Taking credit for much of this, has been Mike Vanderboegh, former leader of the Alabama Constitutional Militia, who called for modern “Sons of Liberty” to break the windows of Democratic Party offices across the nation.
Second amendment fanatics have planned for April 19, 2010 a massive rally at a location, near Washington, where they can openly brandish their guns. From the organizer’s website:
“Because it is the right of all people to keep and bear arms, we fully support the peaceful carrying of firearms where allowed by law. However, because Washington DC’s overly oppressive laws prohibit carrying firearms in public, We cannot promote or condone carrying firearms at the march in Washington DC (DON’T DO IT!) However, if not prohibited by law at any of our satellite marches, we fully support the peaceful carrying of arms.”
Enough is enough! Honest debate on the issues no longer exits, thanks to the leadership and lemming-like membership of the republican party, and their public mouthpieces. And when they do not get their way, they yell, scream, pound their fists, throw rocks, and load their guns.
Can Democracy Survive?
I do not know.
