Restore the Fourth
The unfortunate reality today is that we are living in a country where you really have to be afraid of the consequences of exercising your Constitutional right of free speech and assembly.<p>I never thought I'd have this thoughts in the US.  Never.  We often referred to banana republic dictatorships enslaving their people.  Never in the US, right?<p>Today you have to be afraid to stick your neck out because the government is watching and recording as much of your life as possible.  And there's a likelihood they will use what they have on you to exercise their ability to take revenge against anything you say or do, legality and constitutionality be damned.  What the IRS did to Tea Party groups is probably just the tip of a very large iceberg.<p>The uncomfortable reality is that the only peaceful way to fix the problem is to expose yourself to the potential of government retaliation by, ironically, exercising your right to free speech and assembly.<p>And so we have to participate in these demonstrations with full acceptance of the potential risks.<p>Ultimately it will boil down to the political process.  And that means really giving our reality some thought when it comes time to choose your representatives.<p>If you are a hard-core Liberal it is time you wake up and realize the monster your party has created.  They are intent in growing government and taking control over as much of your life as possible.  Time to apply the same passion and energy you had in voting-in Obama to let him know that this has to stop.<p>If you are a hard-core Republican and keep voting-in these religious assholes bent on world domination and delusional social control (gays, abortion, etc.).  Wake up and think.  You are just as guilty as Liberals of voting as a tribe rather than as an independent thinker.<p>If you are a Libertarian, wake up and make sure other's understand why this is the best path forward for our country.  Less government.  Less intrusion.  Less control.  More freedom.<p>THIS IS NOT THE COUNTRY WE WANT TO LEAVE TO OUR CHILDREN.<p>Think about that for a moment. Don't be so fucking selfish.<p>They, the government, politicians, agencies, work for us.  They don't own us.<p>I still believe we can fix this within the legal and political framework already in place.  Next election be very careful about who you vote for.  Don't fall pray to pandering.  We need adults in the room who can fix problems and stop us form sliding into the abyss.<p>The problems are tough and not everyone is going to get their freebies.  Don't let them pander to your needs or to your group (religious, union, whatever) and buy your votes.  Every fucked South American regime has a foundation in buying popular votes by pandering, giveaways and pitting the masses against intellectual or business leaders.  If you want the US to be like them, continue voting like sheep.  If you don't, let the ruling class know it.  They work for us.  They do not get to do as they please with our country.<p>Think.