Written by Les Simon   

The beginning of the second decade of the Twenty-first Century is a good time to reflect on decades of signing petitions, making phone calls, writing letters to Congress members and newspapers, attending peaceful marches and rallies. Sadly, it has become obvious that a government "of the people, by the people and for the people" is neither practiced nor recognized by the majority of our elected and appointed officials on both sides of the infamous aisle. From the president on down comes a vast assortment of crimes against humanity.

Inside America’s institutions, local, state and federal governments, "business as usual" includes lies, corruption, greed, and abuse of office. Corporations “too big to fail” receive on every level greater support from government than most Americans. Institutions stand with government, ruling in a manner not unlike slavery. It is no longer believable that most politicians have America’s, or Americans', best interests in mind.

With daily increases in homelessness, unemployment, minimum wage workers, and the uninsured, the politicos and the wealthiest are content to sit back, receiving free health care and fantastic retirement benefits, and leaving only the tiniest crumbs for the rest. This process has been named "trickle down mean-spiritedness." Shame on presidents past and present, their administrations, Congress members, corporate executives, and all those who have at some level promoted "trickle down mean-spiritedness." You know who you are.

Do we have reason to remain optimistic? Not everyone agrees, but I think we do. America is a great country with a great Constitution. The vast majority of Americans are honest, hard-working, loving human beings with an uncanny ability to cope under the stressful, insecure conditions forced on them. These are the true Americans. They will endure, and they will not stop working until an equal and just political agenda is achieved. Maybe it will happen this year? If not in 2011, then perhaps by the end of this second decade?