5 years ago...
...was around the exact time that I began traveling internationally for business. I traveled to Africa, Europe and Asia and I saw that my country, while not loved, was at least respected. The government of the United States was seen as all-powerful, but mainly benevolent and President Clinton was loved as much for his faults as for his talents.
During that time this nation was rich, it seemed like everyone who wanted a job had one and the possibilities of the future seemed endless.
Now I go overseas and see my nation not respected nor loved but instead feared. I see nation after nation looking at the United States as a country to be avoided and not emulated. I see President Bush loathed, hated, not respected and most of all, feared. Feared as a reckless, messianic man who claims kinship with God but instead knows only God's opposite: war and death. Who claimed when running for office he wanted to lead a "humble America" but instead has led the nation as if he's an emperor. He and his cohorts pretend they know the way and don't question them.
A terrifying thing, little noticed by the media, happened this August. For the first time in living memory the Treasury Department held an auction of US Treasury bills and no one bought. For the first time in history foreigners are refusing to invest in what was previously the safest investment around, US T-bills.
Now you make think this matters little. I can hear the Republicans now: "Who cares if foreigners buy our T-bills, we can do without them!" Wrong. The US depends on the largess of foreign governments to subsidize the massive budget deficit created by Bush's reckless fiscal policies and if they don't... well, the consequences are too terrible to ponder.I'd guess the likeliest is a deflationary spiral leading to the collapse of the stock market and a new depression.
Where I'm going with all this is that one again tonight I leave for Asia on business and I'll be gone until November 20. I leave behind a country heading towards ruin if it continues to be led by George W. Bush. Every person I know has said if the election is stolen again they'll take to the streets and use the last method available to us to enforce the will of the people, violence. As American citizens we're taught very early that violence to change the government is the last option, but a viable one if other methods have been exhausted. When your vote counts for little and the courts back up the thieves then what choice do the people have left?
I don't know what's going to happen but my gut says Kerry will win. If he doesn't and the election is again tainted by fraud and thievery used by the Republicans then we're in for some rough, rough times. I leave here an American who still has faith in the system I believe is the best in the world. I hope to God I return feeling the same way.
7:07:39 PM 
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