"Take Our Country Back"

[Ben Mokaya]

Hello SI,
This might be a sensitive topic. I need to understand this PHRASE: TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK.
We live in a great democracy and one gift the Founders of this nation left us is the freedom of speech that is also enshrined in the constitution.

Primary elections just concluded in IN ( MAY 4th) PA & KY (May 18th).Yet, I heard the soundbite "we want to take our Country Back" use by very carelessly and irresponsibly by politicians and their surrogates.

Sara Palin, has used it more than 6 times, Chuck Norris of Walker Texas Ranger and the President of the National Rifle Association. (can't recall the name-- :) I believe Rand Paul, the new GOP Congressional Candidate from KY also used it and many more........

First: these individuals are referring to what and whom exactly? Who took their Country from them and who are those who do not deserve to have IT?. If they are referring to Barack Obama and the Democrats currenltly in power, is this not radicalism and and a senseless misuse of language and opportunity?

2nd: What is wrong with anyone being in the White House or congress if they won a democtratic election?

3rd: About the economy, how was the economy at Clintons' exit (a democrat) Vs the exit of 2nd Geoarge Bush ( a GOP). Please do a comparison.

4th: Do the people (PAlin, Norris etc--etc--) who use such Phrases represent YOU? What is you personal take?

5th: How can we Practise mature politics without being irresponsiple and unnecessarrily imature?

Let us have a mature discussion. Remember, SI is a family. We agree to disagree.

Good Luck.

Zach.

[Derek Cloar]

Zach, taking our country back has a lot more to do with what is happening all around the country, not just who is in office. It's about tryanny, it's about misuse of power, which translates to our freedom. At this point in time our government is NOT meeting our needs, nor are they listening to us. Yes, I am a Hemp/Marijuana activist & that is one of my top priorities to change. The desire for that change is driven by the need I see for a better, smarter world for all of us. The Drug war is taking money from our families About $290 Billion actually! How many good teachers could we have kept to educate our children with Indiana's share of that money? It's not really about your choice to smoke Marijuana or choose to ingest it orally as a medicine anymore! It's about common sense, Marijuana going anywhere, The demand for it isn't going away, we are loosing huge amounts of money to Mexican drug cartels, when that money could be used to benifit the American familes and American farmers. Marijuana isn't NOT hurting anyone, Marijuana prohibition IS. Now with that all said, how much of a benifit do you think it would be for Hoosiers to have two new Industries? Medical Marijuana & Industrial Hemp. Here is a picture to give you an example of what happens to our us drug dollars currently. It's time to Repeal Marijuana Prohibition to benifit America!

[Ben Mokaya]

Thanks Derek. Your view has opened a new perspective. I did not look at it from that viewpoint, but you are absolutely right. It's the Government's ability to curb crime, the misue of Office, which is evident even here locally.

Ok, what are the solutions? Perharps, we in SI can make that desirable change....

[Derek Cloar]

I think the only real solutions are to find truly good people to run for Office, people who really care, not just say they do. People who are the people People who are willing to look big money in the eye and tell them what they can do with that money! Greed and power need to take the back burner! We need compassionate people in charge! I would rather laugh in a tent than cry in a castle any day! I know that's not much of a suggestion & I am sure I can think of more ideas in the near future...I just like to think before I speak! :) There are solutions to our economic problems & I assure you that Hemp is one of them! Here is a link exposing the truth about Hemp/Marijuana & a challenge to prove it wrong...No one has stepped up to claim the bounty...why is that? :)

[Marita Topmiller]

Hi Zach,

Wow! All good questions. Derek: The USA has thrown away over $1 trillion on the Drug War. But that
number does not take into account the cost of the many new prisons that have been built to house the increase in the prison population - over 50% nonviolent/drug related. Or the cost to families and society
of having any member, especially the breadwinner thrown into jail. I'm sure there are other costs not in
the current govt stat. Take the money out of the hands of the cartels and give it to our govt where it belongs - in the form of taxes. lol Drugs that are toxic chemicals excepted.

1. "Take back our country" is merely the new Republican advertising jingle. It implies the country was
lost and may be refound by the election of a Republican majority - which did not help, nor tell the truth,
nor regulate big industry (BP) and banks, etc during the Bush Whitehouse. What we need is to take back
the leadership of our country from career politicians who appear to me to be on the whole grandiose, ego
centric narcissists.
2. Nothing in and of itself, of course. However, I have noticed the political climate in Republican camps
lately seems to be to do nothing to contribute to a better government and society until you are a majority.
3. Clinton left a surplus; Bush left an GIGANTIC deficit and ended his tenure after signing the $700 billion
"no strings attached" economic bailout and $17.4B bailout for Chryler and GM.
4. Palin represents her own interests and the interests of her party. She ended her representation of the people of Alaska when she threw down her office. I think, however, she is angling to get elected to
national office. But she's making an awful lot of money being the GOP's junk yard dog and having a good
time doing it.
5. Be more like the Brits who seem to cooperate with the majority party without all the constant name
calling, vilification of one another, even accusations of treason.

I am neither Republican nor Democrat. There are politicians of each party that I like, but there are a
great many of both parties whom I would not trust to take out the garbage.

Now that the Supreme Court has accorded personhood to corporations giving them the ability to buy
elections, through unfettered donations to political parties, I fear we'll have more dishonesty, less able leaders. Remember the blatant lies special interest groups brought us about Kerry's military service.

I find few Statesmen, but many obfuscators who water down bills, (the new Financial Reform Bill),
inundate others with ear marks (No earmarks should be allowed in any bill that cannot be demonstrated
to be necessary to fulfill or facilitate the purposeful intent of the bill.), lobbyists (who water down every
bill)..

Speaking of the truth, how is it Texas text book publishers are allowed to lie and rewrite history in our textbooks?

Too much politics / too little leadership.

[Derek Cloar]

VERY well said Marita! Too much politics, too little leadership! Kudos to you!

[Marita Topmiller]

Thanks for the nod, Derek. After I hit the Add Reply button, I thought droves of SI folks would
jump aboard for some discussion. I don't think I pulled any punches in my answer. I stumbled
upon a TV show last night, LinkTV. They were showing some pretty awesome stuff. I think
they are at linktv.org. If you have ever found yourself listening to network news and thinking
how much you were reminded of Orwell's book 1984, linktv is like watching an accident - hard
to turn away.

[Derek Cloar]

You are welcome! I don't think you pulled any punches either, you were right on target! And you are right on target being reminded of Georges book too! I'll check out the linktv, Thanks!

[Tom Marsh]

Like you, I find myself wondering the same things about "take our country back" or "take America back."

Another phrase/term/soundbite like that is "the REAL America." Used in the same circles as the "take back America" quip but intended to be less ambiguous and more insulting because it implies that anybody disagreeing with the speaker's point of view must not be a "real American."

[Marita Topmiller]

It's incredible how often I have heard US caucasians refer to themselves as "real Americans"
as though white skinned Europeans were indiginous to this country.

[Ben Mokaya]

What do the hostory books say Marita?

[Marita Topmiller]

That must be a rhetorical question, Zach. Real Americans today are a melting
pot of peoples from all around the world. We represent the epitome of what
mankind can accomplish when he comes togther in cooperation to build a more
just and more vibrant society. The true strength of America is the very diversity
that such slogans as are popular right now seem to denegrate. The most adventurous,
most courageous and most intelligent peoples from around the world have come to
these shores to build a new life. This great nation proves that mankind can live
in harmony and that when we do, we are greater than the sum of all its parts.

[Ben Mokaya]

Very well put Marita.

Despite our political idealogy , believes, education, economic status and our forefathers' origins, we are ONE NATION under God.

ZM.