The Duc Pond

Two prominent books about Europe have come out lately, The United States of Europe: The New Superpower and the End of American Supremecy and The European Dream: How Europe’s Vision of the Future Is Quietly Eclipsing the American Dream. I don’t know how it happened, but Europe has become what America was supposed to be. A high quality of life but competitive productivity. Care and protection for their citizens. A progressive society that doesn’t impose religion on its members. One that doesn’t execute its members.

What do Americans have against civil liberties, civil rights, the environment, and the separation of church and state? Why do they hate freedom (hey, if Ann Coulter can say it, so can I)? My friend (getting married in January!) essentially said to me, “Forgive them, for they know not how they vote.” Personally, I think right-wing evangelicals have taken over the country and they know exactly how they voted.

But maybe he’s right. I’d like to believe that if Americans knew that energy companies write environmental policy and the Bush administration takes it almost verbatim to present to Congress, they’d be outraged. That if they really understood how obstructive the administration is when it comes to requesting information, they’d be more cautious. That if they knew how much the administration valued ideology over facts, they’d be incredulous.

Do they really think about why allowing surveillance without a warrant is dangerous? Or why having the 10 Commandments in a court is dangerous? Or why giving the president excessive executive privilege is dangerous? These things seem innocent, but they’re not. They chip away at freedom and it’s a slippery slope. We all have to do a better job of explaining these dangers.

Today I am sad.