The times have changed.. people have not

The system works was the sentence used by former senator Howard Baker when the Nixon scandal ended. Those of us who were aware and alive remember the state of the country at that time. It was a state of disarray, mistrust, and deep schism. In fact people wondered whither the United States would recover: after all, this was the first time a President had resigned in disgrace. Yet as history and time shows wounds heal events continue to progress and we settle in to the routine as if nothing happened. Clinton had White Water, the sexual misconduct issues, the government was shut down, and yet, the Nation moved on. The Bush years came went, wars were started militant Arabs caught and the Towers were destroyed, rebuilt and we remembered the lives lost in this act of mad men. Yes this Nation as Lincoln stated so conceived in liberty has endured, until 2008 when times changed and people did not.

On this day of sweeping change real change for those who need it the most there is an air of dissonance in the air. As a Nation of immigrants and some who were stowaways, exploited, mistreated and stolen; disbursed, penned or separated we as a people achieved the pinnacle of acceptance: Barack H. Obama. But at what cost change??

I am reminded of a quote from Minister Louis Farrakhan about Dr. M.L. King. He said of him the following: As long as King was a Negro leader, integrating hotels, toilets, lunch counters or buses; he was alright. But, when he spoke out against the Viet Nam war and be came international in scope then the issues arose".

I retell this history because it is relevant to now. President Obama has come to this point in time to begin a new process, to involve the country into a cohesive plan to deal with the health of those who will need it the most in the future. Amid the issues of the Banks, Auto Industry and Housing (to name a few) the ability to attain health insurance for those in the middle as opposed to the indigent and the elderly has been a difficult process. One would surmise that any effort to make health care affordable for ALL persons would be received well. However, as the last 14 months show times have changed people have not. The tea bag movement, as well as the birthers, and other ultra right wing (nuts??!!) pounced into the fray!! Name calling, placards, signs, town hall disruptions and the dreaded C or S word (communism or socialism) dominated the day. It affected the polls, scared politicians, (which does not take much) and in general showed the true color (oops) of the opposition. I have never seen such vituperation's directed at a person as I did during this process. The volume was so loud and vile that a preacher (see blog 2009) actually prayed for the death of BOTH Barack And Michelle Obama. Add to this the behavior of opponents: calling Barney Frank a faggot; Rep. Stupceck a baby killer, and spitting on several members (Emmanuel Cleaver from Kansas City, Missouri who I know personally was one of them) all point to the rabid insanity possessed in these persons.

All this noise in the shadow of the large Insurance companies that raised rates 30 % or more. As there are some that have 90% yes NINETY PER CENT of the business!!! This is unbelievable.

So, the sad issue is that times have changed. We have made great strides, solved issues effecting the human condition, extended aid to Haiti, Chile, and other parts of the world.
We have elected a person of color who has world appeal and carries the hope of a new thought forward. Yet in the midst of change race has reared its head. Hatred still exist and has blinded people to truth. What is sad again is that instead of change we are experiencing status quo living. And in the era of unchecked greed this is a recipe for an unravelling.....Later