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Check Your Conscience at the Door: We're Building an Empire
By Jason Miller
02/21/06 "ICH"
-- -- Blaring its typical jarringly cacophonous
morning radio jabber, the suddenly welcome sound of my alarm
rescued me from the maelstrom of a nightmarish Neocon world
spawned within my unconscious mind. As consciousness flooded my
being, I had an epiphany. My breed of human being is a pariah in
the American Empire. In the minds of the Regime's loyal foot
soldiers (the Neo-Tories of the Twenty First Century) American
society is waging a domestic war between those they define as
liberals and those they qualify as conservatives. Since 9/11,
Fox News and the Bush Regime have brain-washed them into
believing that terrorists and their sympathizers are lurking
around every corner, poised to infect them with a lethal virus,
slice them with box cutters or obliterate them with a suicide
bomb. In the black and white perspective of the Neo-Tories, you
are with us or against us. If you do not fit into their narrow
and misguided notion of conservatism, you must be a "liberal".
The American media/propaganda machine (which the Empire's power
moguls have brilliantly portrayed as "liberal" to obfuscate the
fact that six corporate conglomerates own 90% of the mainstream
media market) has sharply defined the “treasonous”,
“ineffectual” nature of "liberals", portraying them as soft on
crime, sympathetic to those demonic terrorists, Socialists and
Communists, immoral, and militarily weak.
Masters of delusion
To their credit, Israel, AIPAC, the Bush Regime, powerful
families (with names like Koch), the numerous multi-millionaires
in Congress, powerful lobbyists, think tanks, major
corporations, and the 1% of Americans who harbor 38% of the
nation's wealth have done a phenomenal job of convincing a
majority of the poor and working class that they are fortunate
to have the privilege of fighting over the remaining crumbs of
the economic pie after the ruling elite gorge themselves.
Despite the 13% of Americans living in poverty, 46 million
without health insurance, and approximately 3 million homeless
wandering our streets, the gallimaufry ruling the United States
according to the Golden Rule (he that hath the gold maketh the
rules) has artfully convinced "Main Street" that it "doesn't get
any better than this". The Empire's Neo-Tories boast that
capitalism and the free market are "kicking ass" while Communism
and Socialism have been relegated to the dustbin of history.
(Obviously they have not been paying much attention to South
America lately). With "free market" think tanks like Cato
Institute (funded by “humanitarian-environmentalists” like
Charles Koch) to provide the propaganda (sorry, I meant to say
research), there is virtually no end to the "evidence"
supporting the "benefits" of government deregulation of
businesses and corporations.
Unfortunately, I was born with a social conscience and a
powerful aversion to tyranny. My strong support of universal
human rights and dignity, social justice, equality, peace, and
protection of the environment has led me to dissent vehemently
against the American Empire. My strenuous objections to the
widening wealth gap, the state terrorism committed by the United
States and Israel, corporate abuse of consumers, employees and
the environment, egregious violation of international law by the
US (including torture on a wide scale), obscene hypocrisy
concerning nuclear capacities, rapidly diminishing civil
liberties, insane expenditure of our tax dollars for military
purposes, and the rapid consolidation of power into the
Executive Branch have earned me the brand of "liberal".
Now is the time for the Neo-Tories to make the sign of the
cross, reach for their garlic, brandish their vile of holy
water, and invoke incantations from Ann Coulter. In so doing,
they are certain to vanquish the lot of us weaklings who stand
in the way of the true “progress” which will only occur once the
Empire dedicates itself fully to the concept of survival of the
fittest. Remember, Hitler eradicated the Socialist/Communist
scourge as he rose to provide us with a viable sociopolitical
model encompassing gross intolerance, cruel injustice, imperial
conquest, genocide, and overt concentration of power in the
hands of the elites.
In my poignant moment of clarity, I decided it was time for me
(and others like me) to surrender our fatuous devotion to
childish notions of fairness and equality. The Neocons and their
Neo-Tory bootlicks possess an unwavering commitment to
domination that will enable them to lead the American Empire
(unfettered by weaknesses like compassion and empathy) to its
true destiny: global hegemony. How could I have been so blind to
the truth that the many must suffer so the few can prosper? It
is an inescapable aspect of the human condition. Only 250,000
Iraqi civilian have died for the noble cause of spreading
freedom and democracy (wink, wink; nudge, nudge). In the
process, we have also taught those filthy Middle Easterners that
we will not tolerate them selling their oil for Euros and we
have established the 52nd state of the union (to complement the
51st state formed through the genocide of the Palestinians).
Never mind that the Machiavellian and illegitimate Bush Regime
has reduced the value of the Constitution to that of toilet
paper (albeit it would probably be too rough even for that
purpose).
Bury the efforts and sacrifices of Women's Suffragists,
Populists, Progressives, organized labor and civil rights
activists! Join the Neo-Tories in a Twenty First Century renewal
of fealty to King George! William Kristol, Robert Kagan and the
Empire-building signatories of the PNAC had the cajones to
announce America's intentions to dominate the world. We owe it
to them to make their wet dream a reality....
Imagine a nation unfettered by the silly constraints of
conscience, the rule of law (over the whims of individual
rulers), humanity, and justice! My mind is reeling in orgasmic
delight at the virtually infinite array of possibilities.
America has the potential to become an empire like no other.
Envision endless hedonistic orgies, mountains of blood-drenched
cash harvested from the Neo-colonies, uninhibited rape and
plunder of the world’s resources, obscene exploitation of the
billions of human beings not fortunate enough to inhabit the
“Empire proper”, and military domination by air, sea, land and
space. Sign me up to help make it happen!
In the wake of my startling realizations, I finally began seeing
the light as I envisioned the American Empire as it should be.
Thankfully, I have come to my senses and will cease my frivolous
pursuit of inane ideals that don’t create wealth, advance
technology, dominate other human beings, provide immediate
gratification, or satiate carnal desires.
This is America, baby! Shut up and swear allegiance to the Flag,
the Dollar, the Corporatocracy, and to the Regime.
Taking off the mask (and the gloves)
It has become too cumbersome to carry on the charade of
democracy. Staging two consecutive fraudulent presidential
elections, maintaining a Congress which has evolved into a
rubber-stamp for the Regime, and giving the populace access to a
court system packed with ideologues who eagerly await the
opportunity to endorse the Empire's edicts have effectively
enabled tyranny under the guise of democracy. However, these
unnecessary hindrances have become obsolete. Besides, if we are
to rescue Scott McClellan from eternity in Malebolge, it is time
that the Bush Regime comes out of the closet and simply issues
its own version of the Enabling Act.
As President-elect George Bush stated on 12/18/00:
"If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier,
just so long as I'm the dictator."
Let's not keep him waiting any longer! Stop haranguing him about
wire-tapping without FISA approval. Implement Patriot Act II.
Embrace torture as an acceptable and necessary means of
expanding the Empire by breaking its alleged enemies and
dissenters. Habeas corpus and Posse Comitatus are antiquated
impediments to domestic tranquility. They must be eliminated.
One of my co-workers recently asserted that everyone who
disagrees with the policies of the Regime needs to be rounded up
and shot. I agree. We need to implement a nation-wide dragnet to
capture subversives, dissidents, liberals, war protesters, and
the remaining scum whose treasonous activities retard the
Empire's progress. A bullet is a hell of a lot cheaper than a
prison cell. We have plenty of bullets; let's put them to use.
The Business of America is Business
Calvin Coolidge, a visionary president who recognized the
necessity of laissez-faire economic policies, knew what America
was about. It is time we got back to our roots by removing
quaint ethical, legal, and moral constraints on businesses.
American society reached the peak of its evolution during the
Gilded Age. Let's reclaim that glory.
Corporations and business magnates have been hamstrung by
archaic laws long enough. Let's truly free the free market.
Unshackle the movers and shakers of our capitalist economy and
the American Empire will blow the doors off the rest of the
world. We are only consuming 25% of the world's resources now.
America needs to buckle down and significantly increase its
share of the world's bounty. Since the other 97% of the world's
population is comprised of terrorists, savages, Socialists,
non-Christians, and non-Caucasians, they need to yield to the
moral imperative of the Christian God and further enrich the
American Empire.
Minimum wages, Child Labor Laws, mandatory extra pay for
so-called "overtime", legislation prohibiting discriminatory
hiring practices and sexual harassment, and ridiculous
protections for the disabled need to go. Our children have too
much free time on their hands; idle hands do the work of the
devil. Blacks and other minorities need to buck up and deal with
it if Whites feel uncomfortable hiring them. Women need to
develop a thicker skin and realize that sometimes keeping their
job requires a little "extra effort". If someone is blind or
wheelchair-bound, we have no obligation to accommodate their
weaknesses.
Clean air and water are luxuries Americans can no longer afford.
Endangered species need to go the way of the Dodo if they can't
hack it anymore. The Bible clearly defines man's dominion over
this planet. If Mother Earth has a problem with the way we are
treating her, she can take it up with the Man Upstairs.
End the Gravy Train
Entitlements are a waste of our precious resources. Medicare,
Medicaid, WIC, food stamps and the rest of those nauseating
Socialistic programs must go. If someone doesn't have money, it
is time they got a job. Those of us who work and pay taxes owe
the lazy and weak nothing. Can't find a job or the money you
need for basic necessities? Tough. If God had intended for you
to survive, he would have given you the attributes and resources
to do so.
Shedding our puerile concerns for the plight of the poor, the
elderly, and the disabled will enable us to focus more of our
resources where they belong. The $600 billion a year we spend on
defense represents a mere 60% of world military expenditures.
What self-respecting imperial entity would settle for such a
miniscule piece of the pie? Exempting the military, the
Department of Homeland Security, and the other offices of the
Executive Branch necessary to rule the Empire, it is time to
follow Grover Norquist's brilliant advice and start running the
bath water.
Like the one in Jericho, this wall must come down...
A crucial aspect the American Empire lacks is the marriage of
church and state. A tyrannical Bush Regime wedded with the
powerful elements of the Religious Right and Dominionists would
empower the "iron men" to rid our society of harlots and sinners
like Hester Prynne.
We are a Christian nation. Muslims, Hindus, Wiccans and other
followers of unenlightened religions need to convert or face
harsh consequences, including crucifixion, stoning, or if we are
feeling lenient, simple expulsion from our nation.
Homosexuality, prostitution, abortion, and atheism will be
punishable by death. Blasphemy will result in surgical removal
of the tongue. Adultery will be grounds for severe torture
involving the genitals. Women and children will again subjugate
themselves to the masters of our nation, their husbands and
fathers.
Religion will return to the public square. Those who refuse to
say Merry Christmas will be flogged until they lose
consciousness. Prayer will be mandatory at all public events and
non-participants will receive severe beatings. Failure to attend
church on a consistent basis will result in assignment to
re-education centers. A government entity analogous to the IRS
will oversee the collection of mandatory tithes. Those caught
cheating the Church will have their hands severed. A Ministry of
Decency will monitor all forms of media and stage mass public
bonfires to eliminate profane, pornographic, and blasphemous
materials.
The Church of the Empire will be jointly administered by members
of the Bush Regime and such Christian luminaries as Jerry
Falwell, Pat Robertson, James Dobson, and Tim LaHaye. To prevent
the Empire's bounty from going to waste in a heavily tithed
society with Puritanical laws, the segments of the populace
comprising the ruling elite (including the Church leadership)
will be exempt from their own edicts. "Do as I say and not as I
do" will be the order of the day.
It is time for the "Culture of Life" to prevail in the United
States.
Whoring girls and women who become pregnant out of wedlock
deserve to be butchered at the hands of back-alley abortionists.
And as for the abandoned or abused children arising from
unwanted pregnancies, they will provide a ready supply of cheap
labor once we eliminate those hopelessly idealistic Child Labor
Laws.
Perpetual war to expand our sphere of influence is the only way
to ensure American dominance over the rest of the world. To hell
with concern for the murder of innocent civilians. Those
individuals are merely "collateral damage" for which we cannot
be held responsible. They just happened to be in the wrong place
at the wrong time. Better luck next time. Besides, when we
murder, we are morally and legally justified because our
terrorism is committed in uniform and for the cause of
“freedom”. Hopefully Hamas will not discover our secret and
start putting uniforms on their freedom fighters.
The Empire's work in Iraq is only beginning. Permanent military
base completion, generous dispensation of depleted uranium and
white phosphorus, murder, mayhem, and environmental devastation
will keep us busy for a few more years. Once we have secured
Iraq and the precious oil, we can take a serious look at Iran.
While there are several compelling reasons to refrain from
attacking Iran today, once we bring the nation of Iraq to its
knees (regardless of the cost), we can set our sights on another
member of the Axis of Evil. In the interim, we will further
solidify our strategic position in the Middle East through our
unflinching support of Israeli genocide against the malevolent
Palestinians. They made their bed by electing Hamas. Now they
must lie in it. Unless Hamas quietly acquiesces to the ongoing
rape of its people, we will teach them obedience. We will not
rest until the vermin infesting the West Bank and Gaza are
servile or dead.
We can stem the tide of the ongoing threat from our subhuman
black population by stepping up implementation of the death
penalty. Since public lynchings are no longer an option, state
murders need to become public events once again. We know that
black males in particular have natural criminal inclinations, so
we need this powerful deterrent to keep their savage tendencies
in check.
Embryonic stem cell research must not take place. Blastocysts
are human lives, whether they have been implanted in a womb or
not. We need to appropriate federal funding for funerals and
proper burials for those tiny human beings discarded by
fertility clinics. God mandates that we deter the murderers who
want to use these precious little children for their evil
scientific experiments.
Finally, to keep the citizens of the Empire complacent and
fulfilled, we will continue to burnish unbridled consumption
into their psyches. Alluring advertising from Madison Avenue,
easy credit, and the commercialization of virtually every aspect
of our culture (we will even have to desecrate our sacred
Christianity a bit, but such is the nature of an imperial
dynasty) will prompt consumers to power the engine of America's
economy.
Mirroring our spiritual bankruptcy, our people and our
government will revel in false riches derived from borrowed
money we can never hope to repay. But who will challenge the
most powerful nation on the planet? If China calls our notes
due, we will simply incinerate them with the space weapons we
will have developed.
You think the American Empire is hubristic, xenophobic, cruel,
avaricious, and murderous? You're right. As Aldous Huxley wrote:
"The propagandist's purpose is to make one set of people forget
that certain other sets of people are human."
Many Americans forgot that many other sets of people were human
long ago. They checked their consciences at the door and are
building an empire. Join me in letting go of the delusional
belief that you can stop them. Resistance if futile. Accept your
fate and surrender gracefully.
To the glory of Washington!
Excuse me now while I wretch and vomit profusely. Once I purge
the toxins of imperial fantasy from my being, I will resume my
dissent. In spite of my tenacious efforts, I was unable to
divorce myself from my conscience. It looks like I won’t be
swearing allegiance to the American Empire any time soon.
Jason Miller is a 39-year-old activist writer with a degree in
liberal arts. When he is not spending time with his wife and
three sons, researching, or writing, he is working as a loan
counselor. He is a member of Amnesty International and an avid
supporter of Oxfam International and Human Rights Watch. He
welcomes responses at willpowerful@hotmail.com
or comments on his blog,
Thomas Paine's Corner.
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