INTRODUCTION
Kleptocrat Nation
klep·to·crat na·tion
(klep´te krat na´ shen),
n. 1. a body of people ruled by thieves 2. a government characterized by the practice of transferring money and power from the many to the few 3. a ruling class of moneyed elites that usurps liberty, justice, sovereignty, and other democratic rights from the people 4. the USA in 2003
The Kleptocrats have taken over. Look at Americas leadership todaynot just political, but corporate, too. Tell me you wouldnt trade the whole mess of them for one good kindergarten teacher.
Forget George W for a moment (well get to him soon enough) and sneak a peek at practically any big-deal CEO, congressional heavy, media baron, talk-show yakker, pompadoured TV preacher, and the other pushers of Americas new ethic of grab-it-and-go greed. Sheesh! In a crunch, would you want to be tied at the waist to any of these people? When I look at any one of them, I cant help mumbling to myself: 100,000 sperm and you were the fastest?
Yet, theyre in charge! Here we are, living in the wealthiest country in history, a country of boundless possibilities, a country made up of a people deeply committed to democratic ideals, a country with the potential for spectacular human achievementbut we find ourselves ruled (politically, economically, culturally, and ethically) by a confederacy of Kleptocrats.
When did you first realize or at least begin to suspect that America was lost? Not physically, of coursewere right here.
Lost its way, is what I mean, having wandered from the brave and true path first pointed out by Tom Paine, T.J., Jimmy Madison, and several other good thinkers back around 1776a path toward a society focused not on empire, but on enlightenment and egalitarianism.
Weve never reached that glorious place, of course, but the important thing is that in our two- century sojourn weve been steadily striving to get there...and making progress. If any one thing really characterizes this big boiling pot of diversity dubbed America it is that were a nation of strivers. Unfortunately, the cultural elites want to minimalize this powerful virtue by reducing it to nothing more than individuals striving for material gainWho Wants to Be a Millionaire, How to Get Rich in the Next Half Hour!, You Might Already Be a Winner.
Then they wonder why theres such a gaping hole in America, an emptiness that cant be filled by nonstop shopping, prepaid elections, more bunting, and reality TV. When the Powers That Be started defining a persons value by the value of his stock portfolio, they lost America, for thats not who we are. These Powers are as clueless as the doomed husband in this divorce case:
attorney: What was the first thing your husband said to you when you woke up that morning?
witness: He said, Where am I, Cathy?
attorney: And why did that upset you?
witness: My name is Susan.
Dont go calling us names like Consumer or Stakeholder when who we are is full-fledged, dyed-in-the-wool, unbridled, rambunctious citizensindeed, were the ultimate sovereigns of this great land. We dont strive merely for material gain, but also for the spiritual satisfaction of building community and reaping the deeper richness of the common good.
The idea of belonging to something larger than our own egos and bank accounts, the idea of caring, sharing, and participating as a public, is the BIG IDEA of America itself. As a boy growing up in Denison, Texas, I was taught this unifying, moral concept by hardworking, Depression-era parents who ran a small business in our small town. They knew from experience and from their hearts what America is all about: Everybody does better when everybody does better is how my old Daddy used to put it.
The unforgivable transgression of todays leaders is that theyve abandoned this common wisdom of the common good and quit striving for that world of enlightenment and egalitarianism that the founders envisioned and that so many throughout our history have struggled to build. Instead, whether from the top executive suites or from the White House, the people in charge today are aggressively pushing a soulless ethic that shouts: Everyone on your own, grab all you can, and if youve got enough money, secure yourself in a gated compound.
Whoa there, greedbreath. Thats not a society, its a cockfight! And its damned sure not the proud country that we thought we were living inthe land of Liberty and Justice for All. Not only are the Kleptocrats stealing our country from us, theyre stealing our democratic idealsthe very idea of America. And its time to take it back.