Get your mind right and your ass will follow!
So, you want to see some changes in the world?
If you are an American Socialist, you are dedicated to the principles of Freedom, Democracy, and Social Justice.
If you are an American 'patriot', you want to try to find a way out of this mess for America; one that will enable Americans to salvage as much as they can of what is good about our nation and its founding principles. (i.e., The Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.)
We all know that things could be better in America. Most of us grew up in times when they were.
What happened to this country?
When I went to college they used to talk about 'altruism', 'duty', and 'loyalty' - Today nobody knows what these things are!
How about 'Noblesse oblige'? Do you know what that is?
The Oxford English Dictionary says that the term "suggests noble ancestry constrains to honorable behavior; privilege entails to responsibility". Being a noble meant that one had responsibilities to lead, manage and so on. One was not to simply spend one's time in idle pursuits.
"Noblesse oblige" is generally used to imply that with wealth, power and prestige come responsibilities. The phrase is sometimes used derisively, in the sense of condescending or hypocritical social responsibility. In American English especially, the term is sometimes applied more broadly to suggest a general obligation for the more fortunate to help the less fortunate.
In ethical discussion, it is sometimes used to summarize a moral economy wherein privilege must be balanced by duty towards those who lack such privilege or who cannot perform such duty. Finally, it has been used recently primarily to refer to public responsibilities of the rich, famous and powerful, notably to provide good examples of behaviour or to exceed minimal standards of decency. It has also been used to describe a person taking the blame for something in order to solve an issue or save someone else.
I suppose that these ideas have also fallen by the wayside? Obviously, if you look at our leaders today you will immediately notice that these ideas are missing. What a selfish and egotistical bunch of bastards dare to call themselves 'leaders' in today's world! Real leaders have been replaced by Corporate Capitalist puppets. Boot-lickers, anxious to kiss the hand that feeds them (among other parts of the anatomy). 'Yes-men' and 'ass kissers' -afraid to lose their position in the world (as if they really had one).
This passes for leadership in our society. Smooth talking 'shit-talkers', with glib answers to every question, and solutions to not one of our problems.
"We have unemployment? Well, we'll just bailout the rich folks and then the jobs will just 'trickle down'..." They say.
"We have people demonstrating against economic and social inequality? Call out the riot police..." They say.
"Close the libraries, cut back funds to the schools, outsource jobs (we have to cut costs to create profits)..." They say.
"The streets need repair? Privatize public works and services! Hire some illegal aliens to repair the infrastructure..." They say.
I can go on forever here - but, you know what they say... You hear it everyday.
It's all bullshit!
And, that's the Truth!
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