THE STATE OF THE NATION: I AM AFRAID

The State of the Nation: I am afraid

By John W. Whitehead

"As I look at America today, I am not afraid to say that I am afraid."--Bertram Gross, Friendly Fascism: The New Face of Power in America

Ominous developments in America have been a long time coming, in part precipitated by "we the people"--a citizenry that has been asleep at the wheel for too long. And while there have been wake-up calls, we have failed to heed the warnings.

Just consider the state of our nation:

We're encased in what some are calling an electronic concentration camp. The government continues to amass data files on more and more Americans. Everywhere we go, we are watched: at the banks, at the grocery store, at the mall, crossing the street. This loss of privacy is symptomatic of the growing surveillance being carried out on average Americans. Such surveillance gradually poisons the soul of a nation, transforming us from one in which we're presumed innocent until proven guilty to one in which everyone is a suspect and presumed guilty. Thus, the question that must be asked is: can freedom in the United States flourish in an age when the physical movements, individual purchases, conversations and meetings of every citizen are under constant surveillance by private companies and government agencies?

We are metamorphosing into a police state. Governmental tentacles now invade virtually every facet of our lives, with agents of the government listening in on our telephone calls and reading our emails. Technology, which has developed at a rapid pace, offers those in power more invasive, awesome tools than ever before. Fusion centers--data collecting agencies spread throughout the country, aided by the National Security Agency--constantly monitor our communications, everything from our internet activity and web searches to text messages, phone calls and emails. This data is then fed to government agencies, which are now interconnected--the CIA to the FBI, the FBI to local police--a relationship which will make a transition to martial law that much easier. We may very well be one terrorist attack away from seeing armed forces on our streets--and the American people may not put up much resistance. According to a recent study, a greater percentage of Americans are now willing to sacrifice their civil liberties in order to feel safer in the wake of the failed crotch bomber's attack on Christmas Day.

We are plagued by a faltering economy and a monstrous financial deficit that threatens to bankrupt us. Our national debt is more than $12 trillion (which translates to more than $110,000 per taxpayer), and is expected to nearly double to $20 trillion by 2015. The unemployment rate is over 10% and growing, with more than 15 million Americans out of work and many more forced to subsist on low-paying or part-time jobs. The number of U.S. households on the verge of losing their homes soared by nearly 15% in the first half of last year alone. The number of children living in poverty is on the rise (18% in 2007). As history illustrates, authoritarian regimes assume more and more power in troubled financial times.

Our representatives in the White House and Congress bear little resemblance to those they have been elected to represent. Many of our politicians live like kings. Chauffeured around in limousines, flying in private jets and eating gourmet meals, all paid for by the American taxpayer, they are far removed from those they represent. What's more, they continue to spend money we don't have on pork-laden stimulus packages while running up a huge deficit and leaving the American taxpayers to foot the bill. And while our representatives may engage in a show of partisan bickering, the Washington elite--that is, the President and Congress--moves forward with whatever it wants, paying little heed to the will of the people.

We are embroiled in global wars against enemies that seem to attack from nowhere. Our armed forces are pushed to their limit, spread around the globe and under constant fire. The amount of money spent on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq is nearing $1 trillion and is estimated to total somewhere in the vicinity of $3 trillion before it's all over. That does not take into account the ravaged countries that we occupy, the thousands of innocent civilians killed (including women and children), or the thousands of American soldiers who have been killed or irreparably injured or who are committing suicide at an alarming rate. Nor does it take into account the families of the 1.8 million Americans who have served or are currently serving tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

America's place in the world is also undergoing a drastic shift, with China slated to emerge as the top economy over the next decade. Given the extent to which we are financially beholden to China, their influence over how our government carries out its affairs, as well as how it deals with its citizens, cannot be discounted. As of July 2009, China owned $800.5 billion of our debt--that's 45% of our total (foreign) debt--making them the largest foreign holder of U.S. foreign debt. Little wonder, then, that the Obama administration has kowtowed to China, hesitant to overtly challenge them on critical issues such as human rights. The most recent example of this can be seen in the Obama administration's initial reluctance to confront the Chinese government over its reported cyberattacks on Google and other American technology companies.

As national borders dissolve in the face of spreading globalization, the likelihood increases that our Constitution, which is the supreme law of America, will be subverted in favor of international laws. What that means is that our Constitution will come increasingly under attack.

The corporate media, increasingly acting as a mouthpiece for governmental propaganda, no longer serves a primary function as watchdogs, guarding against encroachments of our rights. Instead, much of the mainstream media has given itself over to mindless, celebrity-driven news, which bodes ill for our country. It doesn't matter whether you're talking about tabloid news, entertainment news or legitimate news shows, there's very little difference between them anymore. Unfortunately, most Americans have bought into the notion that whatever the media happens to report is important and relevant. In the process, Americans have largely lost the ability to ask questions and think analytically. Indeed, most citizens have little, if any, knowledge about their rights or how their government even works. For example, a national poll found that less than one percent of adults could name the five freedoms protected in the First Amendment.

Finally, I have never seen a country more spiritually beaten down than the United States. We have lost our moral compass. A growing number of our young people now see no meaning or purpose in life. And we no longer have a sense of right and wrong or a way to hold the government accountable. We have forgotten that the essential premise of the American governmental scheme, as set forth in the Declaration of Independence, is that if the government will not be accountable to the people, then it must certainly be accountable to the "Creator."

But what if the government is not accountable to the people or the Creator?

As Thomas Jefferson writes in the Declaration, it is then the right of "the People to alter or abolish it" and form a new government.

Constitutional attorney and author John W. Whitehead is founder and president of The Rutherford Institute. He can be contacted at johnw@rutherford.org. Information about the Institute is available at www.rutherford.org.

By John Whitehead Email: johnw@rutherford.org Click here for bio and archived articles

Holding our President Accountable Posted On: 02/02/10 09:06:49 AM Age 56, NY In all that is happening, and in all the good things said in the article and the feedback, my great concern is what I have been hearing from our president in continually blaming others (former Pres. Bush, the Republicans) for all our problems. Pres. Bush could have blamed Clinton for "911" and the decisions he had to make, how he had to alter course. Then Sen. Obama and Nancy Pelosi could be seen on C-Span night after night, resisting Bush and stumping for a Democratice majority. Well you got it, folks! Pres. Omama needs to be put to the fire by all, including the media. With Authority comes Accountability and Responsibility NO MORE SMOOTH TALKING - please, before it's to late! Where is the "church?" Posted On: 02/01/10 02:36:43 PM Age 54, NE I agree. If we hadn't caved on divorce, we wouldn't have caved on abortion, premarital sex, cohabitation, etc., to say nothing of embracing the homosexual lifestyle. I shudder to think of Peter's words of warnings "For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" in I Peter chapter 4... That is what I am afraid of, brothers and sisters, as Jesus warned, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." in Mattew 10:28 It is time for reverential fear to again pierce the hearts of the children of Holy God — not Santa Claus, not "anything goes Joe," — HOLY GOD. "...for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." I Peter 1:16 Wow! Right on....but now what? Posted On: 01/29/10 07:48:20 AM Age 62, KS Finally, an article that tells it pretty much like it is. We're in deep trouble in our great nation. We've been divided by corporated media propaganda so we can't even come together for a common cause any longer. As one reply said..."God help us all." "I am afraid...." Posted On: 01/28/10 12:37:09 PM Age 50, NV It's pure ignorance to think that this situation has only developed recently. No, my friends, this fiasco has been in the making for over 300 years. We can thank satan and his minions at the federal reserve/bank of england for ruining our God blessed country. But I think the "church" is the real culprit here. We can thank the "church" for being so self-absorbed and so timid in preaching the one TRUE Gospel, sin-repentance-eternal life, for this mess. I'm 50 and not once in my entire life did any, ANY professed "Christian" share the TRUE Gospel with me! For those "Christians" who have been in the faith for more than 5 years you should be ashamed of yourselves! How did this country get into this position? Because of the refusal of the "church", especially those in the pulpit, to practice church disipline! We should look our brethern right in the eye and ask "How can you support somebody who believes it's ok to kill babies?" "How can you stay in a church that promotes homosexuality?" "It say's here in GOD"S word women do not lead the church, so why is she up there preaching?" My point is clear, the"church" is really the problem. It's time that we Christains start acting like our predecessors and stop living for the world and start preaching for the world to come! True but...... Posted On: 01/28/10 11:19:23 AM Age 39, MI I find it amazing that the right now is saying the very same things that independants were saying for all of the years that Bush was in the White House. Consequently, the independants are still saying it now under Obama. Bush and Obama are both POLITICIANS so there is no surprise as to what they do---what is surprising is that people who only listen to one voice think they know what is going on in politics. The right seems to be jumping on this bandwagon now, but where were you the last 8 years before Obama came to power and these claims were STILL TRUE then under Bush? Freedom -- dis-allowed Posted On: 01/27/10 04:36:34 PM Age 49, AL John, I cannot say I liked or enjoyed your article. However, I can say it is truth, albeit not enough truth and not dispersion of it is occurring. I did not like or enjoy your article because it tells us where America is and is going and it is that which I dislike so much. I am an elder in a minority of churches which does weep and moan at the condition of society and our republic. In fact, I fully expect that I, among other Bible believers, will be conveniently removed or hushed as this world continues. Thomas Jefferson was correct, but how do any of us proceed on that notion and not be labelled unpatriotic, extremist, or terrorist. God help us all. State of the Nation? Posted On: 01/27/10 02:40:03 PM Age 45, IA I find it amazing that you express fear in the current environment, and point your finger at the Obama administration, when it was the last Bush administration that was responsible for turning a budget surplus into a "monstrous deficit", and for violating the civil liberties of American citizens. On the other hand, it's not so much amazing at it is predictable. I'm not afraid to say that I'm afraid either Posted On: 01/27/10 01:44:27 PM Age 55, CO I would rather my grandchildren live in poverty than in slavery to the state. The first may be conquered by character and hard work. The second only by blood. Forget "Fear," Please... Posted On: 01/27/10 01:16:56 PM Age 68, MD Fear is NOT a fruit of the Christian Spirit. Among those in the lake of fire are the fearful. So, please, suck it up. Our Lord has overcome this world! John Lofton, Editor, TheAmericanView.com Recovering Republican JLof@aol.com 'WHAT CAN WE DO' Posted On: 01/27/10 01:12:21 PM Age 58, GA AS A CITIZEN I FEEL HELPLESS TO WHAT GOES ON IN OUR GOVERNMENT THE OUT OF CONTROL TRAIN NEEDS TO BE STOPPED AS THOMAS JEFFERSON SAID START A NEW ONE HOW DOES THIS TAKE PLACE WHEN YOU CAN'T TRUST THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE, AND HOW DO YOU STOP SOMETHING SO BIG? MY MAIN CONCERN IS FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN I SEE A WORLD OUT OF CONTROL WITH END IN SITE.