True North

I read two articles today that gave me a regularly recurring reality check on what is happening to the world we live in on a pretty massive scale: the privatization of America. And the marginalization of our rights and well-being.

The first is about the industries profiting most from the failing war on drugs (including the Corrections Corporation of America - aka a FOR-PROFIT PRISON). If you’ve been paying attention, you won’t be surprised all these groups have benefited from hefty lobbying power and low-level convictions: http://bit.ly/JqBvq7

The second is about the current struggle for the USPS to stay afloat, after the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act was made law. Pushed heavily by lobbyists, this attempt to break the postal union and privatize the industry isn’t exactly in the interest of the average American. Unless this law is rolled back, it’s virtually impossible for USPS to remain in tact, after paying an unprecedented 100% of 75 years worth of future benefits for their employees - within 10 years - and being prohibited from striking up other fund-raising ventures, as is permitted in other countries: http://bit.ly/ILyEDD

It is well known that child labor and many other seemingly humanitarian laws were put into effect, primarily in order to boost the economy. So, it’s not exactly a shock that federal legislation is still being largely dictated by big money.

The difference I see across America is this - a vehement debilitation and dismantling of public services by the profit-driven private sector - an obvious detrimental hazard to the health, happiness, privacy, safety, and souls of its citizens.

The examples above, plus an endless number related to the military, security, education, and health care industries, etc., paint a surrounding realization that our country’s driving motivation is profit - not the good of the American People. Was it ever? Maybe not, but I imagine freedom and equality were an easier sell once upon a time, not the castaways they appear to be today.

The America of today is quite different than the one we pictured pledging allegiance to, with our hands over our hearts, at our grade school desks. Today, it seems, there’s liberty and justice for all…who can pay for it. And even then, especially if a particular private prison is shooting for a quota they promised to shareholders, it could really go either way.

Take-away: Be aware. Sign and send those petitions whenever possible until we create better processes, free of corruption. And if you have any thoughts on individual - or collective - efforts to turn tides or ride waves, share them.