So as I was walking to the grocery store today, I saw another VW Bug (the new one, not the old one) with a couple of bumper stickers proclaiming the driver's disdain of the Iraq war and avid support of 'the environment'. Since it is was a (expensive) Beetle with these stickers, it is exemplar of two cultural trends:The strong correlation between affluence and education (the richer you are, the more likely it is that you have had a better education). And, the likewise strong correlation between education and 'liberal' sentiments:anti-war, eco-friendly, etc.
And I realized there is something interesting in this:
Regradless of what their bumper stickers say, the rich Beetle driver is actually supporting the War more than anyone - Monetarily. The rich pay more to Uncle Sam than any of us, and regardless of their words, their actions show their unflinching support. I do fear then, that the right to free speech that we are guaranteed in this country is so whole-hearetedly supported by the man (it is what we're fighting for'over there') because it placates the desire for real protest - protest that actually changes things. If you really don't like the war, don't pay taxes. Serving jail time will probably be the end result of this exercise of free 'speech' and so it would be fair to argue that voicing (bumper-sitckering) one's complaints about the government is the only feasible route.
Maybe so, but I think that Americans should start putting their money where their mouth is if they are going to talk so much.
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