Op Ed:
POGO-Prognosis
Reflects Demanding
Democratic Action

We Can Defeat Distorting Damage-Done By Us

(SALEM) - “We have met the enemy and he is us” has become a wise and widely-cited Pogo-pronouncement. What Pogo is telling us is that “We” did it... and in the process became “us”... obviously “to blame” for what’s gone wrong.

But then, those words reflect what’s “gone right”, too; not by politicals but via democratic development; leading “us” on, NOW, to still further possible practicalities.

Pogo is not simply proclaiming many peculiar problems and probabilities while promising only precarious solutions.

He’s also “telling it true”, as it really is today: Whatever progress is made, “we” MUST make it for “all of us.”

That’s the very heart-of-the matter, in our democracy. The beating pulse of what it really means for all is now felt throughout our world, every day, in every way possible.

The Internet and the web has made it so, never more surely than since the last crucial election-decision. (See TIME’s current issue, cover-story re “YOU”)

When “Us” is at odds with success-and-common sense, the “We”-side recognizes what’s wrong; and democratic dialog, mirrored in legislative process built on representative decision by those we choose to elect, makes it so....with trust a demanded component justifying that choice.

OR, at least, it still CAN...if “We” makes sure to operate that power-of-the-people/lever which is still the real strength of democracy.

That lever is a very useful club for legislative persuasion, rightly used whenever full attention is demanded, but withheld.

When “we” discovers the damaging reality threatening “all of us”, that’s the tool “we” must use --more NOW than ever!!-- to stick by the pattern for which our Founders are famed, for defining, then-describing and preparing a real guide for “us”.

That seeming-simple Pogo-statement reflects tough truths from recurring realities commonly --and painfully-- encountered today, nearly everywhere.

That’s characteristic of common-sense often found in “comic-strip”-content and presentation; frequently to the consternation of the “more-sophisticated” media, both print-and-digital/visual.

Today’s weltering world, overrun if not overwhelmed by events, impossible even in the worst comprehensions of bad/dreamers and imagineers in recent years, finds nothing “funny-comic”, in all these major multiplying dilemmas and wrenching situations.

Most-often/identified but by far not-the-only/ones demanding difficult, hard-driving attention at once, are:

1. Any economic hope for “the common man” until corporate contrived constellations of concentration and control over both business and government are chastised; perhaps even cauterized; and followed by return to national lawful regulation, remedy and more-“normal” ethical and operational relationships.

Those are now more than ever strongly reflected in broadened corporate social responsibilities, as seen by sensitive business interests, completely aware of what “we” long ago discovered; and now taught in depth-and-detail in every leading MBA-program, world-wide.

“Us” has paid little attention until now --but that is bound to change; as “empty-wallet” and ‘exported job”-pain hits harder and hurts even more.

2. Democratic-dialog decision --as in clean, open, clear and comprehensive political campaigning, competently reported, and purified of “campaign contributions”; achieved-again by clarification in First Amendment decision by the Supreme Court; with very large-and-sure impacts in every single Legislative “Arena” across the nation.

“Us” is widely now self-discovered in every state, to the dismay of “We”, forcing drastic change under way across the nation, often starting right at the roots; with “new” rules enforced by strong ethical organization and application; including painful-consequence if “found guilty”.

3. Return of reality to national politics, now so long perverted by political-cult control-of-process via lavish-lobbyist malign money-influence in every state capitol; and dollar-driven media manipulation mustering deluded citizen support for distortedly described decisions.

“We” wants to open-again the decisive clean-vote protocol to return the purity it deserves, conferred upon that pattern by our early patriots.

“Us” agrees, knowing the majority-ballot decision-situation has been swept aside by any means possible, at any level still reasonably reachable, for too many, far too long.

4. Small-business entrepreneurism is restored to realistic possibility for many, reflecting a return to part of “the American dream” for millions.

Long-proven a foundation-strength and the great source for innovation, creativity, and healthy competition compiling a cooperative impact on our economy, that once-great possibility is both perverted and damaged unto death by corporation controls and continued capital competition.

“We” tends to see that clearly, while “us” feels the pain-produced but knows not what-to-do, or why.

5. Educational opportunity for all, universal healthcare coverage, mental-health provision, community security; with multiple other projects/programs now jeopardized; will naturally mature and materialize as those-named preceding are achieved, through ongoing inevitable consequences of process and wise promotion.

It is not by simple chance that TIME, a major national magazine surveilling the nation and the world, chose “We and Us”--the people of our nation-- as “You -- Yes You”-- to be honored as “Person Of The Year”, with a multiplicity of reasons detailed in depth in its current-issue “cover”-story.

Despite the somewhat ominous sound of the Pogo pronouncement, read it for what is really meant...and be proud that YOU are part of both the “We” and the “Us”.

Nobody else can play both parts so well in so many ways.

There’s no way in which what “we” do will NOT win or lose for “all of us” now and more, in years yet to come; which is both the strength and the greatest vulnerability for our democracy.