Same-o, same-o 111112

The 2012 Campaign is over, but not the election.  Losers are still fighting delaying actions and T-party adherents are screaming for a resistance movement. It may be weeks even months before all the results are finally confirmed. Nowhere is the battle more intense than in Florida where conservative election officials are dragging their feet in a vain hope that the results will change.  In their attempt to return the state to the 1940s they made their presidential votes immaterial, as to little too late. 

Ultra conservatives attempted to overthrow constitutional protections in several states.  The reality is that the incumbent President won (without Florida’s help) and a few conservatives lost their seats in Congress.   The campaigns generated a great deal of anger and polarization, but the results were for the status quo.  There was a slight trend to moderation and at local levels some of the more radical candidates lost. 

At the national level, even before the last vote was counted, there was a declaration of ideological war.  In the House, the Republican architects of the Fiscal cliff rewrote their own rules to keep an obstructionist in control of their budget negotiations. Voter polls indicating that deficit reform and budget compromise was an important election issue along with social issues.  Radical House Republicans declared they would never accept any proposals from the Democrat president.  There are those that still question the legitimacy of the President despite the fact that the voters have spoken twice. 

In Maine a GOP official blames its losses on criminal “black” voter fraud.  In the Southwest the blame game focused of Hispanic voters, Florida is more egalitarian blaming all minorities women, Democrats, independents and rogue Republican equally for negating its “fixed” electioneering.  Conservatives in 20 states have filed petitions to secede from the United States.

All told, petitions have been filed on behalf of: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. The stated justifications for secession are many and the movement will probably fail in the short term.  It is however a distinct possibility for this century if governments continue ignore the interest of the country.

That great melting pot of diverse peoples and interests that made the country has come off the boil.  Radical ideologies, religions and political self-interest have splashed cold water on American fires.  Although elected to represent the people, politicians now strive to divide and conquer in order gain more tenured power.  Politicians are well aware that most Americans are struggling to survive and can’t spare the time to study the issues.  The people must rely on their elected officials to look after their interest, which makes them vulnerable to political manipulation and continued decline.

It is same o same-o (same-old) story of American politics, the people spoke and politicians won’t listen.  What American Dream?