Turning Point
In the course of human events there are many turning points that shape life for millions and history for all time. We as a nation face a turning point in our history when we must decide which path to follow. As we set forth to elect our leadership we face a choice of gargantuan proportions. The leaders who have held the reigns of our nation since 2001 have made it clear that America under their leadership will continue to expand our political and social influence by means of military force. We as a nation must decide whether or not this is a path we the people will support with our voices and our votes.
The dangers of imperialism are evident when seen through the eyes of history. All empires fall when faced with the challenges of time and resistance of free peoples wanting to live unencumbered by the tyranny of despots. Prior to September 11th 2001 America had built its reputation for over two hundred years on the principles of respect and freedom. Since then our elected leaders have used the events of that tragic day to promote a policy of imperialism and nation-building in Iraq and have begun to lay the groundwork for an invasion of Iran. We as a people are faced with choosing if we want to support such a plan of empire or if we will say to our leaders that there shall be no more war for empire in our names.
Those who profit from war are rarely those who fight the war and this time is no different. While billions of dollars contributed by hard working taxpayers go to politically connected corporations to supply the war with supplies both needed and frivolous, our children’s standards for education are damaged by budget cuts and legislation that claims to promote accountability but fails to provide the tools to accomplish the goals our teachers are being held accountable for achieving. While our sons and daughters die for a war we do not want, millions of Americans do not have adequate health care.
We must decide as a nation if these priorities are our priorities. Our nation was founded on the ideals of power to the people and a government that holds a social contract with the people to promote the ideals that the people hold as important. When our leaders fail to promote the interests of our people and put the profits of powerful companies ahead of the lives and futures of our citizens we must act to change the course of our nation. Thomas Jefferson once said; “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” In 1776 such a change of leadership came about in America through an armed revolution costing the lives of many patriots who paved the way for our great democracy.
It has come time for another change in leadership for America. If we don’t change course we will surely suffer the fate of all empires and collapse under the weight of our leaders’ greed and lack of vision. While revolutions of the past have required the blood of heroes and tyrants our revolution can come with the raising of one voice for change united among our people. We have the power to make our voices heard and bring change to America. Now is the time we must exercise that power. It is our power to wield yet many among us have abdicated the rights granted under our Constitution to do so. In a nation where more people do not vote than do, we have left the reigns of power in the hands of those who profit from our labors to a greater degree than do we. The time has come to change our nation and our attitudes toward our democracy.
Americans have been given the power to vote and choose who represents them in the halls of power. If we choose poorly or choose not to choose then we are the architects of our own demise. We cannot afford to be apathetic. We no longer have the luxury of letting someone else decide who leads us. If we are not heard now, we may never have a voice again. There are some within the halls of power that would pass laws to limit our ability to choose who leads and how they lead us. These same people govern as a means to acquire money and power for themselves and those who they truly serve. They have the power of wealth but we the people have the power of our votes.
We do not have to choose the lesser of evils. We have allowed ourselves to believe that we must choose between two parties and that a third party cannot hold power. This is simply not true. The only thing holding power for the two parties is the belief of the American people that they are the only legitimate candidates to lead us. If we stop believing that they must lead us and exercise our right to vote for candidates that come from outside the Democratic and Republican Parties we can bring real change to America. Our government was designed to periodically bring radical changes in power. While the founding fathers may not have envisioned a true government of the average man, they wrote a Constitution that allowed for the average people to come together and bring about such substantive change. The challenge we face now is to find the strength of will to bring about real change in the election of our leaders.
When you decide whether or not you will register and vote this election, ask yourself if you think you are better off having other people decide who leads. Are you going to decide your own fate or will you leave the decisions to people you don’t know? Your fate is in your hands and who leads our nation is a choice we all have the ability to make. Make the choice to be heard. Make the choice to be strong. Make the choice to save the land we all love for your children and theirs. Make the choice to choose.
Troy Wilson-Ripsom - Staff Writer | Give your feedback on this article.
