It is truly sad to see a political party sink so low. [View All]

[Joe Fields]

If you think I'm rejoicing, because the Republican party has imploded, well, awhile back, you would have been right. I wanted, for most of my life, to see a meltdown of the GOP. I don't feel that way anymore. It saddens me deeply that things have gotten to this point politically. It is hard for me to fathom how half of the leadership in this once great country could have become so completely co-opted by uncaring pure greed driven forces. So completely co-opted by what I can only call evil, soulless people.

Eight years of Bush have worn us down and broken us financially, while the powers that be, those corporate tycoons who really run the world feasted. Every single department of the government was corrupted and used for these people's personal gain. We will never know how much the Bush's, Cheney's, etc... have profited by selling off our resources and our very soul for money and power. We can never regain the lives that have been senselessly wasted on illegal and immoral wars for oil and an everlasting military presence in the middle east. Our present leadership is debating whether we should continue with the Bush doctrine of nation building, a repulsive idea that has no place in American leadership.

In this past year, I have witnessed a steep rise in open racism, bigotry against the gay and lesbian community, mainly because the republican party has stamped it's seal of approval on such open displays of hate and the embracing of hate speech by the Limbaughs and Becks of the world. I have not seen this level of open hatred against people, since the 1950's and early 60's.

I feel so down, I can't even relate it to you all in words. I have never believed in the tenets of the republican party, but the party used to have some stand up people in it. I may not have agreed with their philosophies, but at least I knew there were honest differences of opinion on how to govern this country. The republican party has lost it's way completely, and is so desperate to regain power any way that it can, that it has openly embraced the truly lunatic fringe. And whether you like it or not, whether you want to admit it or not, this is NOT a good thing for the democrats and democracy itself.

There is a fierce battle for control of this country. I would have said for the soul of this country, but half of the leadership has no soul. Many within our own party are no better. If they were, we would have single payer, we would be out of the war business and this country would be putting people back to work.

I've fought all my life for my principles. I am tired and worn down.; Not just tired and worn down, but disappointed in my own progressives, who cannot seem to agree on anything. We too, seem to be losing our way. I cannot fight the republicans AND members of my own party, as well. I just can't do it.

These last few years have changed me, and not for the better. I have become increasingly bitter and antagonistic, and the only way I can see to change is to just come to the realization that I cannot change such a thoroughly corrupted system, until the rest of the country gets involved. We live in a country where only half of the people who are eligible to vote actually exercise their constitutional right. They don't really know or care what is going on politically. Until they wake up and get involved, the Dick Armey's of the world will continue to corrupt our democratic process.

Ultimately, a person has to do what is right for themselves. That is why, until the rest of this country wakes up, I am refocusing my life to concentrate on the little things that make my wife, my son, my family and friends happy. I want to get back to being the kind and fun person I used to be, instead of a bitter old man telling people to get off of his lawn.

I have despised the republican party for what it has become, what it has done to this country, and what it has helped to turn me into. It's time to let go of that wasted emotional energy.