I'm having a hard time choosing which one pisses me off more: People who misquote great historical figures trying to make a point that isn't even related to what that person was talking about; People who use paraphrased or flat out misunderstood religious text as an excuse to be complete and total assholes; Or people who honestly don't realize that they are being influenced by the people doing both of the previous two things. I want a new Political Party: The Educationist Party.

I mean, really... do you think the founding fathers would have been all for Freedom of Speech if they had known ahead of time that the only people that would take the time to use that right are those people who have no idea where that freedom comes from or why it was made such a primary point for this republic?

Is it so hard to actually go do a little research before spouting out random tidbits of information so that they aren't used so completely out of context that they lose all meaning and sincerity? It is painful to me to see such important things as the Bible, the Qur'an, the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and even the poinient quotes of great men and women throughout history being used to effectively brainwash the populace into following whatever emotionally charged issue those in power would have people believing is the most important topic of the day.

I pray to God, and to those that don't, I hope for whatever you believe in, be it nothing or something, to guide you to be just a bit more careful in believing what is thrust in front of you. Take a minute to sit back and imagine the motives behind what someone is saying to you, showing you, or trying to convince you of. I tell people this all the time - that most conspiracies, no matter how potentially logical they may be, simply lack one primary attribute: motivation. I don't mean Motive, I mean motivation. Do you really think that any person or group of people are any less lazy than the rest of us that they would go out of their way to put together some mass conspiracy to achieve some seemingly brilliant evil scheme? Sure, it's possible... but is it likely? No. Because when given the opportunity, nearly all people of all cultures and belief will opt for the simpler, easier route to achieve their ends... and those who are in power know this all too well.

So then think, what is more difficult: Being properly educated on a subject, involved in what is happening, and knowing exactly what information is pertinent to an issue - or listening to what someone else has to say, and if it makes some sense, believing that and running with it without really looking into the issue on your own? What is the primary weapon of every regime in modern history since the invention of mass communications? Propaganda and miscommunication. It is no different for every political group, religious group and special interest group that has any desire for more power - and let's be real, they all want more power. Sure, originally they want it for potentially good reasons - to make positive changes, to help people, to achieve some goal that will improve the quality of life of people and so on. But as one of my favorite quotes puts it so perfectly: The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

I honestly don't think that anyone goes into politics (or any of the other groups I've mentioned) wanting to do evil. It's just too much work when you think about it. It's far easier for someone to have some simple goals: Do some good for the country, make a little money, live comfortably and maybe even work your way up to a place of higher status - meaning you can do more of the previous goals. The problem is that power truly does corrupt, but not in that ridiculous and overly blatant way that you see in movies and television, read in books, or are told by half the people on the web because they were told by someone else.

No, power corrupts gently, slowly, and worst of all - efficiently. It always starts with small things, because as we all know, all of the biggest mistakes we make in life start with small mistakes. I personally feel sorry for every person stuck in national politics. I feel for them because at some point I imagine every one of them waking up one morning - maybe while they are still in office, maybe many years after retiring - realizing that no matter how much good they may have tried to do, all they did in the long run was fuel a machine that is capable of nothing but evil. I may use the term evil too loosely right now, but I think you get my point - as the powers of those at the top are extended and become more far reaching, those within that grasp are afflicted with more and more losses of rights and liberty.

Let's be clear, I am not saying that I am anti-government or that I am affiliating myself with any political party. I abhor political parties even more than I abhor what our government is becoming (note - not IS, is BECOMING). The founding fathers knew at the beginning what this country had the potential to be - at both ends of the spectrum. Unfortunately they didn't have the foresight to be more clear about their intentions with many of the rights and ideas that they instilled in us... so now we are left with many sides all vying for the same prize: A bigger piece of the power pie that every american is fed on a daily basis by every outlet possible, because in the end - everyone profits from the average american being afraid, disinvolved, uneducated and misinformed. That is, everyone profits except... the average american.

I suppose it's the quintessential catch 22 of history that the government of this country claims to adamantly defend the rights of the people, but at the same time, has very little of the same fervor for making sure those same people understand and actually use those rights.

For what it's worth, here's what I believe, because I'm sure the rambling above didn't make it very clear...

:: I believe in the founding documents of the United States of America. Both ratified and modified, because the laws, rights, ideals and idiosyncrasies of the Constitution, Bill of Rights and so on exhibit both the fundamental ideals of our great country, but also the shortfalls where we need to continue to strive to make this country better. After all, if we'd gotten it perfectly correct right off the bat, I wouldn't need to be writing any of this, and the founding fathers wouldn't have included instructions on how to change the constitution. :P

:: I believe that this country was founded as a Republic, and while it has evolved into some mutant form of a Democratic Socialized Republic, at it's core, this country still knows what it means for the people to be properly represented and for the government to be for the people, not above the people. It is unfortunate that most people truly don't seem to understand the differences between these different political theories and how we've adopted both good and bad from all of them to become the amalgam of political wackiness that we have before us today.

:: I believe that most people have no idea what powers the President actually has, and that most people don't realize the enormous power that congress not only has, but that congress uses regularly. The fact is, it is easier (remember I mentioned easier being the common link here) to blame one person for everything than a few hundred, especially when that one person is the guy that is put in the position of answering for everything - even those problems that he has nothing to do with. Poor bastard.

:: I believe that people are generally complete and total morons. Even the smart ones are idiots, because they just don't take the time to really think about what is going in their ears or out of their mouths. I won't say I'm immune to this affliction of being manipulated and spewing garbage on occasion, but I do try. I do TRY.

:: I believe that the next generation will bring changes to this country that very few people are predicting. I think the geeks of today are having children that they want to be educated not just in school, but in life and in practice. I think that the children growing up now and in the coming years will be ready to force upon the powers that be great and terrible changes because this is the generation of "I want it NOW." It will all start, again, with good intentions - but in the end we will see sweeping blows to the given rights and liberties of this country, not unlike what has happened because of the Patriot Act, but on a level that that terrible document can't even come close to.

:: I believe that the generation after that will have a LOT of cleaning up to do, and in the process this country will see a bit of a reformist renaissance - a movement back to purer principles combined with more moderate understanding of the way things "should be" as opposed to how people are being told it is.

Why do I think it will take two more generations for us to really get anywhere as a country? Because by then, it won't be easier to just be apathetic anymore. It won't be simpler to just go to work, come home, play video games, and watch porn. People can put up with a considerable amount of their rights being taken away, even if they shouldn't, if they are convinced that the reasoning behind the removal is sound. Thomas Jefferson would be appalled, I'm sure, but the fact is - most people just don't give a shit, and won't until something steps directly on their toes at home.

...and it will. But it won't be health care. It won't be religious fervor. It won't be gas prices or unwanted wars or opening up trade with Cuba. No, it will be something completely out of our control that starts it. Maybe an epidemic that results in sweeping martial law enactment, maybe the zombie apocalypse, it's hard to say. But I do believe that, like with all things, it will start with a single blade of grass.