The founding of the United States of America was not merely a real estate acquisition. It was an ideal; a country whose prime goals and ambitions were freedom and equality for all. It would be a nation whose people would be represented by men whose only purpose was to improve the lives of all people, while protecting their individual rights. The new government was not intended to ‘rule’ the people; it was meant to serve them.

Over decades the new nation thrived. Capitalism produced a robust economy and soon America became the richest nation in the world. At the end of the 20^th century capitalism had run its natural course; the wealthy became obsessed with greed and income inequality was growing.

Before the economy of our nation could be addressed the unthinkable happened; terrorists attacked our nation and killed thousands of innocent Americans. This tragedy was viewed by every American as the towers of the World Trade Center crumbled. Grief was soon replaced with anger as our president promised that our government would capture or kill those who masterminded the attack. The desire for revenge was unanimous.

Sadly the 9/11 attacks produced far more serious changes in our nation than the murder and destruction of buildings; and these disasters continue today.

Our government used fear to control the people of America. Constant reminders of the tragedy removed hope and any feeling of security. Our president began every speech with “9/11.” It encouraged paranoia as fear turned to anger, and anger turned into hatred. This manipulation of the people of an entire nation changed our values. Under these fear tactics Congress approved the Patriot Act, and for the first time in our nation’s history an amendment to the Constitution was revoked without legal process. Less than two years later our leaders made the decision to invade a sovereign nation. It received the approval of legislators and the nation’s people through the use of lies and misdirection. Our nation became divided to near Civil War levels.

Our government eliminated all transparency and began illegal operations in complete secrecy. Spying on average citizens became common practice. Torture of our suspected enemies labeled ‘enhanced interrogation’ by the administration were conducted for the first time by an American intelligence agency.

Today the American people have no faith in our government. The two major parties no longer work together for the betterment of our nation’s people. This separation encouraged the creation of ‘red and blue states.’ Authorization of increased surveillance of the leaders of other nations and American citizens has resulted in the destruction of America’s values, and therefore the very essence of our country; freedom.

Citizens with knowledge of our government’s illegal actions, and had the courage to come forth and expose these improprieties, were arrested and charged under the antiquated 1917 Espionage Act. These ‘whistleblowers’ were targeted to create fear in the hearts of others who might follow their example. Before the Patriot Act became a law the American people had a right to know what its government was doing. The revocation of the fourth amendment gave both government and law enforcement powers unheard of prior to its passing.

Bradley, (now Chelsea), Manning was a U.S. soldier who delivered information regarding atrocities committed by American military in Iraq to WikiLeaks. Thousands of pages told of illegal actions taken against both the enemy and innocent citizens. He was prosecuted under the Espionage Act and sentenced to 35 years in prison in July 2013.

Also in 2013, Edward Snowden leaked information about ‘Prism,’ an illegal spying network which gathered information form American citizen’s electronic devices. He had been an employee of the NSA and CIA. He has continued to release additional information about illegal NSA practices.

Snowden is now residing in Russia; the government has promised to prosecute him for treason if he returns to American soil.

The government calls them traitors; I call them whistleblowers and heroes. America cannot exist if it has lost its basic principles. Our nation was created with ideals, it is not simply a piece of real estate.

All of this unfortunate change is the result of a government which used a tragedy to control our nation’s people. It has become an oligarchy and no is longer concerned with its people; it seeks additional power.

The United States has proven the axiom “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

Photo Courtesy of EFF Photos

Author’s Page http://www.amazon.com/By-James-turnage/e/B00LOCJ2Z2