PARTY, PARTY, PARTY ALL THE TIME: Or They Dance and Expect Us to Pay their Piper

Six years ago, I would have considered the renewal of the Voting Rights Act to a mere formality, a ceremonial rededication of our national values.

Today, as the President signs the bill renewing the Act; I feel a sense of relief, the kind of relief one feels when the car behind you almost, but not quite hits your rear bumper.

I was shocked, and then concerned when the Voting Rights Act became a matter for debate in Congress. What's scarier still is that members of Congress not only considered tweaking and weakening the Act, but that they actually thought they might get away with it!

They might just as easily have asked Congress to nullify the Constitution; for without protection for voting rights, what can protect the Constitution, the covenant of the American people?

This, and other recent Washington headlines, make me wonder just how far the Administration, and the Conservatives in Congress will go to appease their supporters.

Bush has again pledged his troth to the Conservative Christian "base" by vetoing the embryonic stem cell legislation.

And they show their loyalty to Big Business by awarding "small business contracts" to companies like Walmart and Exxon/Mobil.

But above all, their devotion is to The Party.

They mean, of course, the Republican Party. And they expect unwavering loyalty and support. Dissension, having an independent thought. or a differing opinion are cardinal sins.

Think about it. A few months ago, when Tom Delay resigned (long after it bacame apparent that he should), he said he did so, not for the good of Congress or the Country, or not even for his constituents, but for The Party!

And some prominent Republicans who've had the gumption to act independently and speak and their minds; are now, with their hopes for re-election or ambitions for 2008, toeing the line and making nice with The Party's supporters again.

Is this the nation of The Party, by the Party, and for The Party?

Aren't they supposed to be working for the Country, for US?

When Bush finally agreed to speak to the NAACP, he said that in previous years he feared he would not have been well-received at their conference. He might well have received a cool reception, but why should the Commander in Chief of the greatest nation of on Earth fear a little disapproval or dissent?

Indeed, The Party seems quite deaf to Other Voices in our nation.

Over the past few years, I have written several times to the US Senators from my home state of Pennsylvania. As a matter of principle, I wrote to both; even though I knew that Rick Santorum would not vote the way I was requesting him to in my messages. Senator Santorum and I agree on little, except perhaps that the sky is blue (And loyal Party boy that he is he'd probably prefer that it was red).

Somehow, despite voicing my dissenting opinion, I ended up on an email list of Santorum supporters. Yes, me; proud to say I'm a Liberal and proud of our country's Liberal heritage; he counts me among his supporters!

Apparently Santorum cannot imagine that anyone but a supporter would write to him. He can't imagine a dissenting voice among his constituents.

And apparently, he's shared his emai list with Lynn Swan, the Republican candidate for Governor, because I've started getting emails from his campaign as well. Mr. Swan's main qualifications appear to be good, positive name recognition, and an innate ability to regurgiate The Party gospel on command.

To both gentleman, I must apologize because this writer has the chutzpah to think for herself. And I'm voting for the other guys.

But I digress. Since this is an Election Year, The Party has spent much of this Congressional session debating and voting on issues such as flag burning, abortion, and the newer concern of gay marriage.

Never mind that most of this legislation never passes; and when it does, will likely not pass the Constitutionality test. Never mind that polls consistently show that most Americans aren't polarized, we're Centrist through and through. We want the government as far away from our personal lives and decisions as possible. And we want to preserve the Constitution and our Civil Rights.

But The Party goes through this ritual every election year so that they can show their Conservative supporters that they are toeing the line, and eager to please. After all, they must get re-elected to preserve The Party.

In their closed minds, you aren't a patriot; you're not an American, unless you believe in The Party.

And this concept scares me, and should scare the hell out of every American patriot.

Because in this mindset, I hear the echo of the chants from every totalitarian regime, the voice of every dictator, and the ghosts of the Soviet Politburo. This is an Orwellian nightmare becoming real.

So is everyone ready to practice their goosestep?

NO! Americans are supposed to be independent, outspoken, and sometimes even "in your face"? Our national heros, beginning with our nation's Founders, certainly were: Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln... The list is endless. Heck, we even have a soft spot for such scoundrels as Jesse James, Bonnie and Clyde, and Al Capone, because even as we punished their crimes, we celebrate initiative and audacity.

And now is the time for audacity. Because history shows that The Party wants only to perpetuate itself, and to make this country a haven for Big Business and Conservative Christians. And unfortunately, their goals are not in the best interest of America or its citizens.

After all, some of The Party tried to weaken, or even rescind, the Voting Rights Act. They call themselves Patriots? They call themselves Americans?

I say, we use our independent voices to remind them that they have pledged to uphold and protect our Constitution, not tweak and circumvent it.

I say, we speak our dissenting minds and let them know that we have real issues and problmes that they should be working on, instead of pleasing themselves and their base.

And I say that on November 7, we use our newly renewed voting rights for the Constitution, for freedom, and for the benefit of all Americans.

And then, many members of The Party will be calling themselves Retirees.