Iraq, Global Warming, George Bush, Oil Shortages, Health Care, the list goes on and on. We're facing disaster after disaster and most only promise to get worse - at least for the immediate future.
And I am hopeful that the before too long, things will be better and will continue to improve. Why do I say this?
- As Winston Churchill said (paraphrasing) - the long term march of the human race is toward increased civilization. The human race will get through these problems (and discover some new ones).
- There is a saying "God looks after fools and the United States of America." This is not the worst crisis the country has ever faced. The founding of the country, the Civil War, and the great depression were all cases where we faced the possibility of the country tearing itself apart. America will step up to these challenges and solve them.
- The Democrats will take over one or both houses of Congress this year (my guess is both). This will force the Bush administration to work with the Democrats (congress controls the purse strings - for just this reason). And subpoena power will allow the Democrats to bring up all the mistakes and abuses of power so they can be discussed in the light of day.
- G.W. Bush is out in another 2 years and the country will take who they elect very seriously this time. They will require it be someone who clearly is going to address these problems.
Another way to put it is the world and this country is resilient. The Bush administration can do a lot of short-term damage. But they do not have the power to stop humanities quest to create a better world. And they can run the U.S. for awhile, but they cannot change the basic character of this country. (Although it is amazing the level of short damage they have been able to inflict on this country and the rest of the world.)
So keep fighting - because we all need to strive to turn things around and start making them better. But take heart that long term we will end. Because long term civilization advances.
