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Practicing Independence John LeBoutillier Next week we celebrate our independence from British autocratic rule 230 years ago. But our independence today depends on many decisions that we have to make – beginning with this year's midterm elections and continuing into the 2008 presidential race. Let's go over some of them. Our Place in the World We need to become independent from our own wrong-headed thinking about what we can do in the world. Back in the 2000 campaign, then-candidate GW Bush correctly said, "I am against nation-building." Within a year, only in part due to 9/11, we were – and remain today – "nation-building" like mad around the world. Afghanistan up until now has been a success, but lately the Taliban has again made inroads into the rural parts of that backward country. Only Kabul has been transformed by our efforts there. And, of course, Iraq is GW Bush's "nation-building" folly. Our ambassador over there - Zamay Khalilzdad - recently issued a report on the living conditions for Americans living in Baghdad. It was a disaster. Can you imagine how it is for Iraqis? Even he admitted that the electricity and water situations are at times worse than before our invasion.
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The point is this: As well-intentioned as we Americans are about providing freedom and democracy to other peoples, we simply cannot rebuild and run their countries for them! They have to fight for themselves – and then our help is a supplement. But Iraq is so torn with civil war and ethnic tension that virtually none of the massive infrastructure rebuilding that we American taxpayers have already paid for has been built! And who knows what has happened to those billions of dollars. We Americans need to be independent of this misguided notion that we can – or ought to be – the world's policeman. We can't do it. It won't work. Period.
Energy Independence
We need to become independent from the bad guys who control so much of the oil we rely on: the Saudi royal family, the Iranians, the Russians, and Hugo Chavez in Venezuela. It is simply nutty that our economy is allowed to depend on oil from communists and greedy sloths like these. We need to become energy independent. How? A combination of presently available sources – nuclear, clean coal, safe off-shore drilling, ethanol – plus conservation and good old American ingenuity charged with the task of inventing a new generation of cars, trucks and buses relying on new technology. It could be hydrogen fuel cells or lithium batteries or compressed air or who knows what. The point is we need to be independent of our present reliance on these potential enemies for this crucial lifeblood of our economy. Washington, D.C.'s role is to prod and push and goad and lead the nation into a new way of thinking about our energy needs. Let the brains and the risk-takers do the inventing. Blind Faith in Government We need to become independent from the belief that government at any level can solve our problems; it can't, hasn't and won't. Government – even in instances when it tries to do good things – often makes the problem worse. Case in point: prescription drugs for our senior citizens through the Medicare program. This was a well-intentioned effort and a promise from the 2000 presidential campaign. But it has been a dismal and costly failure. Why? Because he White House lied to the Congress about the cost and then strong-armed a weak GOP House and Senate into swallowing a massive new government entitlement program. The result is angry seniors, some of whom have had to be hospitalized, massive new federal debt, and a feeling of helplessness among senior citizens about their own prescriptions. Independence of Thought We all need to stop parroting whatever our political leaders say – and think and speak for ourselves. Be independent – think for yourself – and have the courage to speak up and to speak out against the wrongs we see every day in our lives. Happy July Fourth to you all!
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