by James Glaser
July 23, 2002

People ask me that all the time. This caring isn't something new, I have cared about America ever since I was a kid. My Dad and his brothers were all in the war and they taught me how much I should cherish our freedoms, because they had seen how others the world over lived without it. I joined the Marines with the foolish notion that America was going to Vietnam to help those people live in freedom.

Even though Vietnam taught me just how much those in Washington will lie and cheat and yes murder to get their way, I still believe that the ideals that America was founded on are important to preserve for my children and their kids.

One terrorist attack has shown just how fragile our freedoms are. George Bush and those that back him are either terribly afraid or they saw a chance for more power and took it. America is giving away those freedoms that we have had for over 200 years so that the Bush and his appointees can feel safe.

Think about the Cold War, where we had the Soviet Union aiming hundreds, if not thousands of nuclear warheads at us. Did our leaders panic like those in Washington have done? No, men like Ronald Reagan said screw those people and their Evil Empire we will out spend the bastards and we did. Ronald Reagan didn't say that we had to start having "no warrant searches" of citizens houses, nor did he start a American Gestapo like George Bush is doing.

Russia had plenty of spies here, but we worked on finding them with much success. Washington no longer trusts either the American people nor their own intelligence agencies. Now American Citizens are the suspects and either you are with George or against him.

I don't really think that George believes that he can be Emperor of the world, but I do believe that he will do what ever it takes to get two terms. I also think that President Bush is willing to sacrifice thousands of American youth and kill thousands of Iraqi children to get revenge for his Dad.

I guess what it boils down to is, that I care because those freedoms that we lose now, could be lost for ever. Even if George Bush is out of office in four years and lets say a Democrat gets in, do you think this new President will want to give up these new powers that the federal government has acquired. No way!

George Bush, with his fear of terrorists, is willing to destroy America. I am Not! That is why I care. I want my grandchildren to live with the same freedoms and protection from those in Washington, as I have been blessed with. There is just no chance that Congress will protect our freedoms in a election year. It is up to you and me at the ballot box, writing to newspaper Editors, and appealing to our fellow citizens to see what is happening.

Remember almost 100% of the Congress sold us down the tubes with their vote on that Patriot Act and it will be that same with Homeland Security. Those in Washington that run our country have a lust for power that is greater than their love of freedom