Home of Today's Common Sense

Published Brownsville Herald April 11, 2011

In the press we are watching a human story of votes changed because one leadership wants more government programs of largess benefiting certain congressional districts to be included.
This is part of the reality of daily political life and after an indoctrination of some weeks it seems normal. The idea of sticking to one’s ideals becomes weaker and weaker, not just in Congress but at the state level and even in local councils and boards.
At this time in America there is a substantial movement toward a large socialized government that provides all of the people’s needs, allowing no private ownership of companies and ruled by an elite cadre of experts. At the other extreme is a movement toward a “new world order,” a world government ruled by another bunch of elite experts — or are they really the same goals?
In the middle are those who believe in capitalism, private ownership of property and businesses with the opportunity to pursue success and happiness as was described in the Declaration of Independence.
Neither the declaration nor the Constitution guarantees it, but only the opportunity to make choices that might bring great success or abysmal failure. We can even define success as we see fit.
A few days ago I watched the newer version of the movie “the Manchurian Candidate,” which described the creation of a U.S. president by a mom who was an elite and part of a company Manchurian Global.
Immediately my mind filled with conspiracy theories involving Halliburton and Big Corporate America.
The big three organizations on which conspiracy theories have been built also popped into my mind.
I don’t believe these conspiracies of world domination just because of the corruption that power begets, the sense of infallibility that many of the elite rulers acquire, and plain old greed.
I do, however, believe that we as individuals have a responsibility to examine thoroughly which social organizations we support as well as whom we support in the political arena; both overlap frequently.
Some years ago I examined reports of conspiracies being perpetrated by Council on Foreign Relations, “super-secret internationalists,” the Bilderberger Group and the Trilateral Commission, which seems to have eclipsed the others. Membership in all of these groups includes some of the most prominent names in global politics, media and academia.
One Trilateral Commission member, former President George H.W. Bush, famously talked about his wish for a “new world order,” which some people consider a term for what they believe is these groups’ goal of global domination.
However, the likelihood of a “new world order” is farther away than ever, the advance of free trade by NAFTA, the global General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and other treaties notwithstanding.
It would appear that perhaps the partisanship of our political system, or just plain interest in personal power, helps to keep us free. However, just the fact that these icons of partisan politics could meet together in civil discussion should keep us wary.
I’ve looked at organizations that work with or sponsor the Christian Peacemakers, for example, and found a relationship with a prominent socialist organization in the Philippines.
I also found that the “United for Peace and Justice” Web site lists more than 100 affiliates, many of them socialist or communist organizations.
Many of the groups promote ideals that oppose the prosperity of the United States and a few others, I believe, are genuinely interested in a peaceful solution to world strife. Some might not even be aware of what appears to be the real focus of United for Peace and Justice. I would suggest that anyone who doubts the seriousness of that focus visit the Web sites of the group and its affiliates.
We have seen in our experiences with the still ongoing war in Korea, Vietnam and now the expansion in the Middle East that the administration can blame Congress for approving the war and Congress can blame the president for launching it, so no one can be held accountable. Misdirections seem to have been utilized by all wartime presidents; Congress cannot be held accountable because it didn’t vote for the war, only to support the troops. I served in the war and know its terror, and I believe every effort must be made to prevent it. It also seems that the natural makeup and greed of big corporations and elite rulers also serve to limit the achievements toward their “new world order.” I view a system of national socialism as a failed vehicle of social betterment and the enemy of private enterprise and capitalism. The social practices we have in United States have resulted in a prosperity only dreamed about in other nations that have had the opportunity to pursue it longer than our 200 years. In order to maintain our national prosperity we must also elect good candidates to represent our goals. Investigate them and vote!