Is this the end?

The election is all but over. George W. Bush will win reelection. Now it is time to reflect on what this means about the United States and its place in the world. By this I do not mean what will happen over the next 4 years, but rather with record turn out and Bush winning the popular vote, what this shows about the people who make up this country.

First, we see things ideologically different from the majority of others in the world. As for international issues, this can be partly explained by the fact that we are the current 'Empire' in the world, and others who are not apart of the the 'Empire' will natural tend to resist & resent the one currently on top. But foreign policy is only apart of this election. And I would dare say a small part.

What this really says about the country is that we are starting to fall behind the rest of the world in the category of social change. Concepts of Stem Cell research, Gay Rights, late term abortion TO SAVE A WOMEN'S LIFE, Socialize Health Care are all issues that the US is simply 'behind the times.' And if history is to be any guide here this means bad news for the US Empire. When a nation's ideology quits leading the way on social issues and basically becomes stagnant, a fall appears eminent. Greece, Rome (Constantine's converatsion came a little to late), the Church of the middle ages, numerous colonial European empires, Germany & the Soviet Union are all examples. When a nation simply becomes to arrogant to change, it is on it's death bed.

The truth this election appears to give us is this, with the exception of a few tiny parts of this country, people here are afraid to change. They hold on to paradigms of the 19th century about religion, capitalism, government, guns, etc. As a friend of my mothers from Ohio said, "If Kerry wins God will no longer bless this country." And this person voted on this believe. The idea that you are better to make your health care decisions than the government does not consider the current culture of insurance companies and the health care businesses. (For insurance & health care have become huge money making businesses in the last 20 years.) Of the idea that we need guns to protect us for the government. So I assume on things their handgun will protect them from precision guided laser missiles and extremely sophisicated military machines. The only reason the Iraqi people can continue to fight the US is because they are willing to blow themselves up to disrupt the military machine. So if you need to protect your self from the Government then everyone should be allowed to keep one suicide bomb since this appears the only truly effect way to fight against the US modern military.

I fully realize I am being pessimistic today, but how can one not be. We are truly 'The home of the ignorant & the land of the arrogant.' Add to this how well bin Laden's plan to bankrupt the US is going and we may not have another election to let the ignorant elect a leader.