(Just tell our politicians to shut up!)

This commentary is dedicated to Mr. Brian Lamb, U.S. Navy (Ret) and his esteemed colleagues at CSPAN for posing an outstanding question (How has war fatigue affected you?) to begin their signature show, Washington Journal, last week.

Never before in America’s history has public discussion reached the stressful levels we all experience today! (Excluding the run-up and aftermath of our own civil war, coincidentally)  Citing his secondmost recent arrest, I sardonically quote L.A. miscreant the ubiquitous Rodney King: “Can’t we all just get along?”

I realize America is conducting several undeclared wars (as in only Congress shall have the legal right to “declare war!”)  I’d like to point out here and now that IF these said conflicts were “declared” wars, our public would be willing to sacrifice more to win them. I can relate…kinda.  Currently, I’m also engaged in an undeclared war with some other tenant in my apartment building.  Well, I’m not in a war with her; so much as I’m at war with her little yapping dog!  Stupid dog!  But so far, I haven’t sent my army, navy, and air force to invade her apartment next door, but why quibble? As I said, I can relate…kinda.

On Friday, the 13^th (which was unlucky for me and probably unlucky for a lot of us) I heard our President Bush, in paroxysms of spin spasms, declare to the world and me: “ War fatigue in America is affecting our psychology!” (Taps his head twice)  Lets stop and ponder the gravitas of this type of daily communication!  This and a great deal of his proclamations are HOGWASH!  Pure HOGWASH!

My online dictionary educates me thusly:

Hogwash: noun. 1. Refuse fed to pigs; swill  2. Insincere talks, writings, etc.

I think that Americans don’t have war fatigue, Americans (and a lot of the rest of the world) are primarily struck down with that dreadful malady…hogwash fatigue!  Face it, we’re just tired of being lied to, misdirected, and obfuscated! (That’s one of those nasty, manipulative words they use!)

So, as of July 18^th, 2007, on top of everything else, America’s leadership has turned the place into a big Infidels “R US” store. Efforts need be made to get politicians to tell us more of that truth stuff!  Sic the 24 hour-7 day a week news cycle on ‘em! I figure the only thing that can reverse our predicament is the unvarnished truth!  No more hogwash!  (Unless you happen to write an online satirical column.  I really need my hogwash!)

Can the truth save us?  I sure do hope so! It’s time to act grown up, and tell the people the truth.  Maybe people will listen, and believe. Maybe! Government should remember to tell its citizens the truth.  Otherwise, those governing may wake up one day to find out entire populations are withdrawing their consent to be governed after coming down with Hogwash fatigue!

The truth can save us! (You know I’m kidding, right?)  After all these lies and half-truths…probably…nothing can save us.

PS It’s a hard awakening to finally realize that one can’t save the world by oneself!  It’s hard!