'These Are the Times that try Men's Souls'

"These are the times that try men's souls." Remember that quote? Some 250 years later we are again facing times that try men's souls. From wave after wave of violent carnage that shows no signs of abating, an economy all based upon a house of cards that is poised to crumble at a minutes notice, a world on the edge of a Global Warming catastrophe, to the massive depth and scope of corruption that is in not only our political system, but now has reached our legal system as well. These are all signs of the times that try men's souls.

When hear stories about people faced with medical bills amidst the scarcity of financial means to cover their high medical costs the tragic outcomes are all too common place today. When we hear stories of how high end developers swoop in on unsuspecting homeowners using high pressure tactics and even fraud to force foreclosure is an epidemic stretching all across the country. When we here stories of how so many people lack the basic necessities like food, clean fresh water, proper sanitation and are forced to live in squalor due to the ever increasing cost of living is a travesty that should not be occurring in the United States today. Yet, this indicates that these really are the times that try men's souls.

It was some 55 years ago that Dr. Martin Luther King spoke so passionately about what we as a society have to aspire to. But, for the past 50 years, our society has steadily lost that moral compass that steadied a fledging nation some 250 years ago. For the past two decades, there has been a seismic shift in the demographics of our society that has undermined the stability of the United States.

The deep divides that have kept this nation so unstable have been exasperated by not only the ever widening wealth disparity gap but a political system that has become so corrupt and ripe with self-serving bureaucrats. There is corruption, and oligarchy rule only fuels the flames of hate, ignorance and apathy that have become so common place in our society today.

The decisions that have been made by the government: too many times those decisions have not alleviated the many economic and social ills that plague this nation. When elected officials fail their constituents, as is the case of too many in congress and today's occupant in the White House, the travesties that are occurring will keep reoccurring.

There is another facet to consider, and that is the rise of corporate owned media outlets that have consistently put monetary concerns over unbiased reporting. Journalism in its truest form has to be unbiased, free from opinions and factual. The three R's: When, Where, and Why are essential components to every news story. When reporters report news with their own opinion or in collaboration with their editor's opinion to encourage bias reporting for the sole purpose of promoting an agenda where that purpose is monetary gain for the owners of the corporate owned media, it is a detriment to a free democratic society.

We see it today when one or two Presidential Candidates have outlined agendas that would offset those oligarchs that control Washington, and our everyday lives. It is then they will do everything they can to thwart the election of those that will unseat the status-quo. It is up to we the people to filter out that bias in the news that purposely and intentionally is undermining those candidates. Remember, a democratic society can only flourish when the majority of the public are well educated, and participate in the democratic process. Sad to say, based on our academic record as a nation, we have only fallen in educational standards that used to be of the highest caliber some fifty years ago. And, for the past election cycles there has never been more than 45% voter turn out. We as a nation are failing America. These really are the times that try men's souls.