the old ones return

The Alberton Papers Vol. VI, #XX
By Dick Darne 8-18-08
"Elder, where the heck have you been?" One of the thinkers asked. "We haven’t seen you or any of the others for quite a while now."
"Well, like I told you before, we’ve been real busy checking on other thinkers just like you guys here in Alberton. We are happy to note that there are more and more each day but our little experiment in democracy is really in trouble. We’ve always been battered since the beginning, but the last thirty years have been a real kick in the rear end. The rest of the Old Ones are here to share some of their thoughts with you boys." answered Elder.
Sure enough, there they were, inside the think tank, filling it with their presence but not seeming to take up much physical space. The Lady, Padre, Viggie, Mother Nature and Nemi.
In a sad voice, The Lady began: "Your so-called Representatives have failed you big time! That awful FISA bill was an in your face assault on your liberties, not to mention the immunity for the phone companies who went along with the illegal wiretaps. There’s much more, but it falls over in Padre’s area."
"Yes," Padre picked up; "What most people don’t know is that if required to actually defend themselves, they would use their formidable legal resources to produce proof that the top echelons of the executive branch ordered them to do it. The boys where the buck is supposed to stop at couldn’t have that, so voila, immunity. That one shameful episode should cause all who voted for FISA to go down in ignominious defeat, forever reviled for abandoning their sacred trust to defend our Constitution. You all had plenty of warning, as Viggie is about to remind you."
"Oh, yes," said Viggie, unfortunately most people are easily sated with toys, mindless entertainment, propaganda, ala Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck, O’Reilly and other bloviating prevaricators from the mainstream propaganda noise machine and the effortless forwarding of any lies that seem so cool. Most of this stuff is right in the open, almost in-your-face, it plays to your fears and the prejudice and bigotry that lies latent in our hearts and minds. Enough from me for now, lets hear what Moms here has to say."
"Thanks, Viggie." Mother Nature sat quietly for a moment before continuing. "I’ve always been attacked by the forces of greed and those among them who were never taught to clean up their messes and those who somehow believe that the Bible says ‘go forth and kick the crap out of the planet’, but the worst are the ‘knowledge-deniers’. Psuedo- scientists in the employ of the greedy ones churning out half-truths and outright lies packaged, seasoned and made yummy for willing knowledge-denier-wannabees. The one thing I can say for sure is that I, along with cockroaches, rats and various bacteria and viruses will be the last ones standing and I’m not so sure they won’t be as good a company as some humans. Finish it up Nemi."
"I’ll make it short and sweet." she said. "Your only hope, and I can’t do it for you, is to hold everyone accountable. Elect people who will investigate, prosecute and punish. If they won’t then you will have to do it yourselves. Fertilize the tree! Clean house from top to the lowest offices in the land."
"And don’t forget injustice is best confronted with a long memory!" interjected Elder as they all faded away.
They will be back. Get your minds straight! dd