The False Prophet

Dear Mr. President,

As of 16 November 2011, 57 members of Congress belonged to the 1%. That number’s probably higher now but still, it’s pretty startling. What’s even more startling is that the top 20 consists of 10 Democrats and 10 Republicans which supports my contention that there’s not a dime’s worth of difference between you. The median net wealth of our representatives is $891,506; more than half are millionaires. No wonder the rich get richer and the rest get the shaft. No wonder tax rates for the rich are at historic lows. No wonder there’s no discussion of the real issues facing us today: why we’re still spending $10 billion a month on illegal, immoral, stupid, already-lost wars while we slash government jobs and services; how long we can continue to decimate the middle class in order to pour money into the pockets of the rich; what should the tax rates for the rich be the current 35%, 50% (the Reagan era), 71% (the Nixon era), or 91% (the Eisenhower era). But no, all we hear is that we have to slash government spending by cutting benefits and services and lower taxes on the mythical “job creators” (the rich). I no longer hold hope for change, Mr. President. That’s what we thought we were getting when we voted for you in 2008. Instead, we got more tax cuts for the rich, more war, more secrecy, more surveillance, more fear and a president who takes a personal interest in who to assassinate this week, who thinks himself above the law, judge, jury and executioner, who commits war crimes and crimes against humanity without batting an eye. Three and a half years on, we have less equality, less fairness and less justice. You betrayed us, Mr. President, and that’s been a bitter pill but it reinforces the awareness that government is run by wealthy oligarchs and we are in imminent danger of losing what little democracy and freedom we still have left. I’ve heard police helicopters overhead all day and now sirens, probably an Occupy SF demonstration. I hope it’s the start of a mass movement of protest. I hope it’s the end of business-as-usual and politics-as-usual and I hope it’s the beginning of a new surge to restore our vision of the world, our connections with each other and our notions of fairness, equality, justice and the common good. A vision that respects and honors our fellow beings and our planet. We thought that was your vision too, at least that’s what you promised. But you were a False Prophet and the question now is, Where do we go from here?