Old, But Not Stupid

For some unknown reason, politicians of both sides of the aisle labor under the misconception that the only things their elders care about is Social Security and Medicare. Throw a sop or two in those directions, the politicians say, and we will be happy. One blogger who is trying to disabuse the politicians (and the press) of that misconception is Ronni Bennet of Time Goes By, a blog by, for, and about those of us of a certain age.

Ms. Bennet's target is the loss of liberty under the current administration and the stunning silence from and imposed by the media. Here is a snippet from her post.

Another reason for the deafening silence, I believe, is political correctness. It is unseemly and impolite, we believe, to invoke Nazi Germany in discussing the usurpation of power by the executive branch, and using the word “fascist” brands one a fanatic.

We must get over that. There are, now, disturbing similarities between the early stages of Nazism and what is happening here. Dissenters to the war in Iraq are accused of treason and aiding the enemy. Groups who gather to protest the president and his policies when he gives public speeches are fenced in, away from his and the media’s view. Bill Maher lost his television show in 2001 for saying the 9/11 hijackers were not cowards. And the Dixie Chicks were made pariahs when they said, during a London concert on the eve of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, that they were ashamed the president is from Texas. True believers burned piles of their CDs.

This is not the America our and all previous generations lived in and I wonder how many young people, without the benefit of hindsight elders have, believe this is the way democracy is supposed to work.

[snip]

Do reporters and anchors and debate moderators not feel the fear so many friends, fellow bloggers and I feel at the accumulated loss of our liberties? Is this not the biggest story of the Bush administration? And of future administrations if these laws are left in place?

Why is this not a headline every day, pounded home to every listener, reader and viewer with the same relentlessness as Paris Hilton’s sordid life? Or does the press, who are paid to know better, think it sounds too crazy to believe. My emphasis]

As my friend Fielding would say, "Sing it, Sister!"