Let’s save our nation
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Editor,
Opinions are everywhere, and expressed in many different forms and with varying emotions. And this, of course, is always heightened by current events.
Case in point: the Occupy Wall Street movement, which seems to have inspired many to action all over Amercia. And this “action” is often misunderstood, not clearly defined, confusing to city authorities, and certainly the cause of much newspaper print and media attention of all stripes.
I've always found that Montanans are pretty much “down to earth” people; people of an independent nature; people with good values and instincts for life.
University of Montana professor Michel Valentin is no exception. He wrote an opinion piece in the Missoulian recently, a piece signed by UM professor Maria Bustos, Big Sky High School teacher Cindy Green and Clare Kelly, also. It was about the Occupy Wall Street movement. It bears another look, in part.
Read and contemplate these five points:
America has gone from a creditor/exporter to a debtor/importer nation.
$1 of every $5 will be spent on health care (reason for one-half of bankruptcies).
Wages stagnate and workloads increase (with 10 percent unemployment).
The economic elite has plundered the national treasury.
America's military expenditures (world highest - 800 U.S. bases worldwide and two ongoing wars) threaten to bankrupt the country.
Is it any wonder that protests of the "occupy movement" magnitude break out? These concerns go way beyond Herman Cain's behavior, Rick Perry's attitudes, Romney's flip-flops, or Obama's compromising style of leadership.
Valentin goes on to say: "It is time to act. Talking is good but not enough. The Occupy Wall Street movement promises a lot. It has historic potential ... grassroots democracy must go beyond 'grass-sit-ins.' Democracy has been high-jacked by private interests, lobbyists, and corporate cronies. Democracy has to be returned to the people by the people."
The way I see it, the chickens always come home to roost; in other words, the responsibility for change always comes right back to each of us. We all have gifts to offer in this vital effort to save our nation. Let's use 'em.
Bob McClellan
Polson
