Yesterday, I posted a peevish, anti-US policy rant on a webboard I belong to. It was part of a longer thread on the Homeland Security Act and I was one of the dissenting voices. I'm sure very few people there read it; certainly noone replied.
It was one of the first times I've dissed the US government in a public forum, though if you see me face-to-face you probably already know how I feel about the current administration, the apathy of US citizens to the erosion of their privacy and freedoms, the cringing horror I feel when I think about someday returning, etc.
But in terms of what I can do to change things, I'd say "not too much." Run for office? Write letters to the editor? Be the editor? Spread dissent though my weblog? Ha. I wish I had the cunning.
Why is it just a tiny bit unnerving, then, that 15 hours after I posted my little rant, a good friend in the States was approached by an FBI agent? They went to lunch together. The agent said she was actually hoping to have lunch with one of my friend's colleagues who wasn't in. And she assured him that she's not investigating him yet (said with a grin and a wink).
But in the words of another friend, "Dude, the 'not yet' ploy is literally right out of the handbook, as is the 'I was looking for so-and-so, but...' gambit."
Food for conspiracy theory thoughts, I guess.
Since I was the one who started the thread, I have to say that I was really surprised by the reaction to it. I thought *everyone* would be up in arms about the HSA. Instead, it was a "what do you expect...we have no privacy anyway...it doesn't affect ordinary Americans....and what do you care, you're not even American anyway" washout. I'm glad you dissent, Oaklid.
Yeah, it's pretty horrifying apathy. I just want to take every American I see and shake them until they realise what is happening. That's a typical "violent American" reaction but I'm so frustrated by this! I've heard US citizens referred to a "sheeple" who believe whatever they are told and go with the majority (sounds like Nihonjin, too) and that seems so true. But I'd think that Americans living outside the US would have a different perspective and be able to see more clearly what is happening "back home." Apparently not!
Although I am not American (and as such i probably should mind my own business) I agree with you about the homeland security business, but forgive me if i am wrong, doesn`t this infringe upon your constitutional rights????
"confused ryugakusei"
*checks under the futon*
no im not under there ;p
Beyond whatever the current administration is doing, there was a recent isssue that I found interesting. At the midterm elections held just a couple of weeks ago, voter turnout was only about 40%. These elections generally would affect the local voter as much or maybe more than a presidential election as many local officials, governors, bond issues, etc. were up for decision. Yet, the majority, 6 out of 10 people (I'm possibily incorrect in assuming these are all registered voters) did not even bother to vote. Most people are only asked to vote once every 2 years, but for what reason did 6 out of 10 not go?
Not a single news story that I saw even mentioned this. It has become defacto that voter turnout will be low. Besides fixing the Florida voting scandal, it would be nice to see a national initiative to get more people to vote. Canada holds it's elections on the weekend. Would that help turnout?
I didn't vote because I couldn't stand to say yes to any of them. Even the libertarians are starting to sound scary to me.