The system is broken.  It is not just damaged, it is broken, and current behaviors on the part of citizens and legislators will not fix what is wrong.  To continue to do things that cannot work simply because you don’t know what else to do, is not better than doing nothing.  

In fact, it is better to do nothing and have the understanding that you don’t know what to do, than to do something in ignorance, because you think “something” needs to be done.  To do nothing is more thoughtful and caring than doing something without giving it serious consideration and thought. 

I’m not saying that you aren’t making a difference or even that you aren’t moving the ball down the field in the right direction.  What I’m saying is that it would be useful to evaluate whether or not the strategies you commit to can actually win the war and not just a few of the battles.  This is a war we can't afford to lose.

If you really understood how dangerous things have gotten, you probably would also realize that you don’t know what to do.  Doing something when you really don’t know what you are doing is noise that keeps good ideas and strategies from being heard.  And this is true even if you are able to garner a lot of support and get a lot of people to agree with your point of view. 

Now if you are truly conscious and honest as you go about doing what you do, you will eventually be able to see if what you are doing is working or not.  If it isn’t, you will do something else… hopefully something that will be more effective than what you already tried. 

I have been very critical of people who hold responsible leadership positions and appear to be unwilling to act appropriately or courageously.  They are probably not just unwilling.  Most likely they are also frightened and confused.  And when people are frightened and confused they are unlikely to make rational, well reasoned decisions.  

If our legislators listened to what the majority of Americans, or even just their own constituents want them to do, they would do a lot of very stupid things.  In fact, they are already doing a lot of stupid things.  With respect to their own security, the majority of Americans right now are not well informed, expert, patient, courageous, or thoughtful. There are some exceptions. 

Members of Congress have competing interests and loyalties.  They are confused by how their behavior will impact their party, career, country, constituents, family, friends, wealth, and influence.  And most of the input they get is unhelpful.

The stakes are very high.  We are at war and the enemy is not the so-called terrorists or terror.  The war is between you and those who would manipulate and enslave you.  Your immediate enemies are complacency, thoughtlessness, and fear.  Your freedom is in jeopardy and preserving your freedom is going to require all the courage, intelligence, and passion you can muster.

Mark A. Goldman
Citizen and Candidate for President of the United States