America has been the terror of the world for nearly 75 years now. Along the way we have overthrown many elected governments, killed and brutalized millions. When the Cold War ceased to be our excuse, we did it for oil, or because “terrorists” were doing it back.
We glory in our military excess. This is bipartisan. President Obama attacked Libya to get rid of Qaddafi, which is now a hellhole and source of migrants destabilizing Europe. He got involved in Syria but did nothing to stop the war there. Europe’s refugee crisis has “Made in USA” stamped all over it.
We’re still in Afghanistan. Obama refused to get out. He never moved against the military control of sporting events, the staged reunions, “God Bless America” replacing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” or thank you for your service.
The United States spends more of its treasure on the military than all our conceivable rivals do, combined. We have usually gotten away with it, but not always. We still haven’t gotten our heads around losing in Vietnam, or the Iranian Revolution.
Thanks to Trump, the price of arrogance is now going to be paid. Trump’s stupidity guarantees it. And there’s nothing for us to do but take it.
This is where the next Democratic Administration will get its fiercest pushback.
Service is ingrained in my genes as it is in yours. My father served in World War II. Our best friend is a Vietnam veteran. I have a nephew in the military right now. The military is our chief job training program, our main social engineering program, our biggest employer.
We can reduce the impact of military cuts by putting our best to work supporting infrastructure and providing disaster relief. Next time make sure the saints do come, as they didn’t after Katrina.
But we also need to get our troops out of harm’s way. We need to let our economy rather than our soldiers do the talking for us. We need to turn swords into plowshares, to cut our deficits and pay out what we owe to my generation, without inflating the currency beyond all reason.
That means we’re going to need to shut up. Stop the sabre rattling. Stop pretending we have all the answers. Stop acting like our shit don’t stink. Stop dissing the United Nations or pretending that international organizations can be ignored when it’s inconvenient.
Doing this is going to be hard because the military-industrial complex is our largest political constituency, bigger than either political party. They see every cut, even a cut in the rate of growth, as betrayal. Even though most don’t know who we’re fighting anymore.
There are military contractors, bases and veterans’ groups everywhere, all devoted to the Samuel Gompers motto of “more.” I remember the last time we decided to close some military bases, during the GW Bush era. It took years, and Democratic politicians fought as hard to keep the things as anybody. We’re wasting hundreds of billions of dollars on useless military programs we don’t need because politicians won’t give up the gravy.
National security has also been the chief excuse for the good we’ve done since WWII. Computing was funded to win World War II. Eisenhower supported Interstate Highways to get troops cross-country in a two-front war. Apollo was a Cold War Activity. The Peace Corps was meant to “win hearts and minds.” Even the Internet was built for the military and for military research. We integrated the troops before we integrated society, we have women and gays and transgender people risking their lives for us right now, all for national security.
The Right has picked up on this and is now undermining our social peace through the military. Our Armed Forces and by extension our police, are riddled with white power activists, with anti-gay activists, with sexists and other people whom we need to start calling what they are.
These people are perverts.
As we become humble in the face of the world, we must become intolerant of intolerance at home. To those who practice intolerance, this sounds like hypocrisy. It’s not.
Along the way to this we should also learn the most important lesson of our time.
Democracy is hard work.
Practicing democracy means more than just waving a flag. It includes an obligation to vote, and to cast an informed vote. If the government is to be we, not they, then we must take personal responsibility for the decisions of government, at all levels.
Don’t just vote. Learn what is going on in your community and stay involved.
Democracy must be practiced in our daily lives. Treat others with respect, and demand respect in return. You’re allowed to be a little passive-aggressive about it, but you still must demand it.
Democracy isn’t just about elections.
Winning is easy. Governing is harder. Being part of a government is hard. In a democracy, we’re all part of the government. If you don’t want government to be “them,” make sure you are part of it.
But let’s circle back to my main theme, humility. There’s a difference between participating in democracy and getting your way. They’re not the same thing.
Recently, for instance, my local transit system decided they wanted to turn the parking lot of my train station into apartments. I protested. So, did my neighbors. It’s stupid turning a neighborhood of homeowners into a neighborhood of renters, we said.
We lost before the neighborhood organization. We lost before the neighborhood planning unit. We lost before the city council.
We lost, but our voices were heard. We participated. We took responsibility, as individuals, and we accept responsibility, as a community, for what happens next.
Accepting a democratic result, in humility, is the ultimate test of your fealty to our system. Anyone who doesn’t respect democracy does not deserve its protections. Freedom isn’t free. It’s the most expensive type of governing there is, because it demands so much from the governed.
As we have learned the hard way, freedom demands we pay attention.
