The Enemy Within: Looking for terrorists just over our shoulders

Americans are too good a people to see they are being fooled by their own government.

In Europe we have learned to be dubious about the integrity of our politicians and governing bodies.

We would not let one person take the lead onto something stupid, we would want to discuss things before big decisions are made.

We have become all too aware about the scams that take place behind our back,
we are learning to recognize when we are lied to, and why.

Not that we can do much about it, other than taking things with a pinch of salt, until democratic systems evolve from bureaucratic traps to real mechanisms of self representation.

That is going to take some time, and less television.

In the meantime, we have lost much trust in our institutions, to the point that many do not bother voting anymore.

When people don't turn up at the elections, the swing towards extremism becomes immediately evident, remember what happened in France earlier this year, when extremist right-winger Le Pen was almost elected.

Democratic systems are far from being perfect, close to being useless sometimes, (let's admit it, totalitarian regimes are far easier to handle), but individual participation to decision making process is essential for progressive societies.

The majority of people like to be managed, to be told what to do, what to think.

I learn this during my social observations as a lecturer.

If you send students away with a task, 'go and think about it and do what you think is appropriate', most will be lost. They shall not return any homework.

When I give them clear guidelines and targets, they are happy, they know exactly what to do, and return tasks done. Kind of.

We must keep that in mind, that the majority of individuals like to be governed.

But that does not mean that they like to be taken for granted.

Americans

I tend to love Americans, well, most of them.

Jolly, smiley, open minded, hard working, forward looking. Kind of fresh, almost pure hearted.

(I know lots of Americans are also very narrow minded, but the narrow minded are equally distributed across nations according to empirical evidence).

The American way of life, the fantastic result of a melting pot rooted on labour and equality, for the rest of the world has been an icon, an example to follow that happiness can be achieved, and opportunities open to all.

Today we know that the American Dream is the carrot at the end of a stick: for every dollar people earn from labour, someone is making a hundred in profits, and has projected that tomorrow's gotta be two hundred no kiddin'.

Doesn't matter if people are obese, stressed, depressed, hopeless, and don't understand why they are being targeted.

People are kept content with Cockaigne style supermarkets - I never want to leave the supermarket when I shop in the States, never seen everything so big and plenty - and they do not realize that the largest ice cream sundae on the planet and the widest movie screen are not going to give them 'happiness', merely just a very transitory illusion thereof.

Today, the American dream needs badly recalibration.

More balance - less consumption, less waste - could still deliver the wealth people need to be happy without the very high price that a maddened society risks having to pay: the highest resources burn out rate could easily bring to the extinction of the human race.

Americans major weakness perhaps is their naivety.

They seem to be able to believe anything, and that's what I like about them. But they need to become more critical about what they read in the press. Perhaps read more fiction instead?

To be faithful and respectful of governing institutions is surely a good thing, but only if such governing institutions are integer. That is sadly not the case. Institutions are not integer, are very badly deviated.

What about the fact that the anthrax killer is an American?
There's a good example

And what about the fact that Iraq was
helped by the States?

The global media machine is an instrument of political and business systems, geared to influence public opinion and steer it to support what a few powerful, key individuals want them to believe.

And the fact that Osama Bin Laden was a

CIA pawn??
We must remain hopeful that such intrinsic systems deviations can be corrected, but we need everybody to think clearly, positively, calmly, independently and critically.

Americans should have realized by now that there are some distortions in their governing bodies.

They should treasure the lesson that they are learning from their political and business scandals, they should have learned from Vietnam how little politicians care about the guys who really do not hesitate to bring their backs to be grilled on the front line when they are told that they are defending their country.

In reality they are just helping someone making more profits. Anyone who has come back from Vietnam alive does not have any doubts about that.

Politicians use the Americans, and warmongers are using the administration.
I hate to see people being used like that.

I like to punch politicians in the face with my headlines so I was going to entitle this story 'BUSH IS THE REAL TERRORIST AMONG US' knowing that I would be interpreting the thoughts of many people who think just that.

But then I thought I must stop attacking the President personally, I don't think he is a bad guy at all.

It's just too big a job for him - or for anyone else alone that I know - and he ends up taking the advice of a few unwise advisors I hope he can find better advisors, maybe he should just change party.

It's a big job; I think we should all make sure so much responsibility does not go to people's head.

And Colin Powell should really be allowed to say what he thinks, because he looks like the kind of guy who does not lie gladly - some people you can see on their faces when they are not telling what they think - even if he knows his job is to support the big chair.

So what is the problem with Iraq?

I am not sure that one State can arbitrarily chose to change the regime of a country into another.

I know the USA like to think they can do what they want, but I don't think so.
(democracy means agree to disagree sometimes, ain't it)

I mean, Saddam's gotta fix his act.

Anyone who's got no opposition must be very scary to talk to, people must be afraid of him

And he should try to tidy up the economy of his country
starting from better resources allocation .

But he sounds determined to do something about it, they are opening all doors to resolution.

I don't think it is Bush's job to decide the world order.
Or is it?

If that is the case, then anyone of us with big shoulders would be entitled to go into anyone else's home and suggest that they change their furniture arrangement, or else we bring their house down.

I have a neighbor that I really wish did not live upstairs. Honest he is an outright bastard. What he does with his life and family is all wrong.