The New Normal Manifesto

We have every reason to stand up against the New Normal.

I personally have never been that crazy about Normal in general, but that's not pertinent here.

So much of our country -- its laws, freedoms, its cultural mores, let alone its credibility and standing in the world -- has been hijacked and synthesized into a not altogether perceptible New Normal.

We are, however, beginning to witness this New Normal reach a dangerous critical mass, and we know we must take a stand against:

Torture. Forces are trying to establish the need to torture and abuse individuals in the name of patriotism. This is not American, and it is not patriotic. Heck, it's not even legal, let alone moral.

Government Secrecy. The current administration in Washington has ushered in an era in which the truth about what is occurring within our government operations is more and more secret. It has been promoted that to know what's going on and to spread it around is irresponsible and gives aid and comfort to the enemy. This is not American, and it is not patriotic.

Corruption at the White House. This takes the form of allowing corporate interests actually to formulate policy, as in the case of energy, instead of merely suggesting it. We see also the invasion of religion in the formation of policy, something our founding fathers dreaded ever happening. This is not American, and it is not patriotic.

Corruption on Capital Hill. K Street lobbyists have more than grabbed power: They've been allowed, through the creation of networks, cabals if you will, to use and be used by members of the majority party -- as an example take Tom DeLay, Jack Abramoff, Ralph Reed -- to launder money from K Street clients to K Street agents to enrich the campaign coffers of current and aspiring members of the majority party. This reality is currently the subject of more investigations than you could shake a stick at. This is not American, and it is not patriotic.

Use of 9/11 to Restrict Civil Rights and Due Process. The USA Patriot Act, in the guise of hunting terrorists, has become an unwarranted attack on the privacy and personal security of U.S. citizens and has yielded next to nothing of value in the so-called War on Terror. The Act has lent itself to abuse on a number of occasions. the FBI has been caught taking advantage of the Act to surveil ordinary citzens. This has happened before, is not American and is not patriotic.

Media Manipulation. Our country has seen political arms of the party in power, both within government and in conjunction with majority party political machines, attempt to control "the message" to such an overwhelming degree that the American people lose the ability to tell the difference between political spin and the truth. The party in power finds this "an effective strategy for ruling the nation." This is not American, and it is not patriotic.

Members of the Media Subservient to Political Manipulation. A country that thrives on a free press needs a free press. These days, between the blatant agenda of Fox News Network and the attempted hijacking of Public Broadcasting by Republican Party hacks, for example, it is no surprise that large segments of the American people find themselves unfamiliar with the truth, except as that truth is presented to them. This is not American, and it is not patriotic.

The Ascendancy of Religion/Politics over Science/Law. Over 200 years of American survival and success -- including the advance of trust and admiration abroad -- are threatened as our nation is driven by a shrinking minority of people to retreat from established science, constitutional precedent and respect for human rights. This is not American, and it is not patriotic.

Anti-Intellectualism. The brightest among us are being attacked, admittedly by other bright people, for our being educated, and we are being marginalized for being educated, admittedly by educated people who find it convenient to be identified as "common folk" even though they are educated and members of the wealthy, elite class. This may be politically effective, but it is not civil, it is not American, and it is not patriotic.

The Abrogation of Treaties, Agreements and International Covenants. Our nation drives the formation of NAFTA, for example, and when we don't like an arbitrated outcome of a trade dispute -- done under the rules of the treaty -- we refuse to accept the decision and refuse to honor our commitment under the treaty to a longstanding ally, in this case, Canada. We lost, but tough, Canada. Screw you. This is not American, and it is not patriotic.

The Continuing Assault on Environmental Protections and Attempts to Turn Public Lands Over to Private Economic Interests. The Bush administration in concert with Congress has tried since the beginning of Bush's term in office to water down existing environmental laws and regulations. Where a private interest, such as power generation or land development, can be assisted at the cost of the environment, the current government has always chosen to undercut hard-fought environmental gains. We must not turn back the clock on the environment, and we must work internationally to support a sustainable future worldwide.

Profligate Deficit Spending. The so-called conservatives that have captured the mainstream Republican Party have created no less than an urban myth that conservatives are fiscally responsible. More factual is the truth that celebrated conservatives Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush have added more red ink to the National Debt ledger than any other players in the history of deficit spending. Currently, The Don't-Tax-and-Spend Congress is spending like drunken Democrats. This is not American (okay, it's American), but it's not smart, and it is not patriotic.

Commerce as Fascism. Wal-Mart has so much marketing power that it can dictate where producers produce their product, how much they charge for it and, in some cases, what it can contain. It can force songwriters to alter their lyrics in order to be carried at Wal-Mart stores, and it can boycott a best seller simply because it doesn't like the book's content. Target, on the other hand, can allow pharmacists to refuse service to certain people simply because they don't like the prescription offered for filling. This is not American, and it is not patriotic.

Against these and many other outrages that have destroyed our comity at home and our credibility and trust abroad, we stand. We wish to reclaim America and its heretofore strong and principled position in the world community.