A Dunagin's People cartoon on today's Editorial Page could set me off in several directions at one time.

The picture of a lady answering a phone and the caption " if this is a dire emergency, press 1…" says a world of things about the level of idiocy endemic in culture, U.S. A circa 1990.

Extend this virus into politics government in action or ACLU interpretations of the First Amendment and you begin to grasp the enormity of our situation.

If there were any real merit in separating a caller from whatever or whomever he might have originally thought he wanted to reach; by pressing a series of numbers, the plausibility escapes me. Perhaps we could make it through the day if the aggravation of telephonic obstruction were the only incidences of lunacy. But no, we must endure political campaigns that last too long, spend far too much money and bring forth no reasonable agenda or National Goals. The three branches of government operate on the premise that our great documents of Liberty have no validity and must be ignored or circumvented at all costs. Though all the rituals of pomp and circumstance are observed with circumspection that the President commits us to war without restraint gives grants, worldwide, with impunity and builds his personal Golden Parachute. The Supreme Court legislates and The Congress debates and builds their Golden Parachutes.

But what of ‘We the People’? We hear ourselves admonished by the cry "Wake Up America" An anonymous pundit (?) has said the cry should be "Grow Up America". Now how could anyone do that? "Let me count the ways" as the poet said.

There is the debate on Term Limits, virtually unheard these days. But dear citizens we can turn "The Rascals Out" each election if so inclined. And the debate on taxes --- don't tax me tax the man behind the tree. And the War on Drugs. And on and on and on...

Nothing ever changes and won't until we stand up and declare we are not going to stand for

Press 1 .... Press 2 .... Press 3 anymore