The Nightmare years

You know how it is we speak of the Reagan years, the Clinton years, the New Deal, Camelot, and such things. Do you think that in the future anyone will speak of the Bush years? I don't think so. The first years of the 21st century will have to become known as the Nightmare Years. Even the McCarthy years will pale into insignificance compared to the first eight years of the 21st century. The years in which George W. Bush was illegally and unconstitutionally installed as President by the Supreme Court (which was so ashamed it announced that this could not be taken as a precedent). The years in which the United States was deceived into attacking a Sovereign Nation that was no threat either to itself or anyone else. The years in which the Secretary of State went before the United Nations and blatantly lied to make a case for an illegal, immoral, unconstitutional and unnecessary war. The years in which the United States, unprecedented in all that came before, announced that torture was actually acceptable. The years in which the President of the United States took upon himself the right to arrest and detain anyone he chose with no rights of self defense, no right to a lawyer, no right to even contact their own families, no right to any protections whatsoever. Persons who could be incarcerated presumably for life with absolutely no right to appeal. The years in which the government could illegally spy on anyone they wished with no warrants and with no probable cause. The years in which people could be fired for having the wrong bumper sticker. Years in which the audience for the leaders were hand-picked for their loyalty before being admitted to the audience. The years in which lying became standard operating procedure, fiscal responsibility became totally irrelevant, might became right, up became down, black became white, no laws were needed because the Executive was above the law, and loyalty to party took precedence over the common good (common good, laughable). Profit became the only acceptable motive for human behavior. Never mind health care, minimum wages, outsourcing jobs, basic human rights of any kind, the environment, global warming, international agreements, nuclear proliferation, poverty, even common decency. Everything was suspended in the interest of profit, greed, and apparently even blood lust. It was not he best of times and the worst of times. It was absolutely the worst of times. The worst of times ever in the history of the United States. It was a time of murder, arson, rape, and looting. A time of might makes right. If they won't give up their resources kill them. Kill, kill, kill. We don't want to buy their oil, we want to control all of it. It's ours. All ours. No one else should be allowed to have it. We are all powerful. The world should recognize our hegemony. They should become like us. We are right. Everyone else in the world is wrong. McDonalds, Kentucky Friend Chicken, Wendy's, Burger King, Coca Cola, all good. Why can't everyone be like us? Stupid savages. Speak English, damn it. What's wrong with you? Don't you understand we are only doing this to help you? Aaaaagh! Stop the planet. I want to get off.