I will depart from the planned blog entry that I had promised regarding personal preparedness and discuss something that we all need to consider – the willful use of authority without wisdom or understanding the likely outcome of major decisions. I’ll get back on the personal preparedness discussion in my next entry; but for now, I feel the need to sound the alarm – a bit louder – about our policy makers and leaders using their authority and abilities in a manner that does not benefit the American people and frankly, will likely result in continued (unnecessary) loss of life and fruitless expenditure of U.S. treasure.
This may come as a shock to some politicians, but the authority they are granted by their assumption of office does not equate to wisdom. Being granted such authority in high office, through the founding documents of this great nation, does include a set of instructions on how to use this authority.
The office or duty of a congressman or senator comes with a need for them to grasp complex problems and understand the consequences and/or benefits of using their authority – and that use should always be tempered by “the public good” in their legislative actions as well as “the common defense” in security issues. Unfortunately, it is often not.
It is funny – so many politicians seek to have authority. and work very hard to be elected – but most are unwilling or unable to use their authority in a proactive, decisive way. Often the “safe” course of action is selected – the path of least resistance. It is this frequently taken, and often flawed, path that has gotten us, as the United States, into the dire straits we now find ourselves.
There are key and critical issues that the Congress and mainstream media continue to either downplay, refuse to report, or do not fully understand. While we are distracted by Wiener roasts and paternity dramas, there are real indicators that the security of our nation is at jeopardy. And excuses abound in Washington DC as to why there is always a “higher priority” issue that allows for key issues – real issues—to be neglected. That is again where we are at now, sadly,with the issue of EMP.
HR 668 – the Shield Act – is something that has been victimized by the “normal” politics of Washington and willful ignorance of members of congress. Imagine that! Politicians with their head in the sand! A bill that will help protect and preserve every aspect of our electronic and digital society is being ignored.
However, unlike other security issues that become a victim of politics, EMP can and will bite them (and us) back—the consequences of their ignorance, and their choice to allow our infrastructure to remain vulnerable and open to a disaster that will eclipse the 9/11 attacks by an order of magnitude.
We are down to the wire – we need to have HR 668 passed by the House so it can move to the Senate where there is widespread support. It is down to the wire – only a few days left to pass it from the House.
Let us recap here:
The science of EMP is there. There are numerous studies now on the record – the EMP Commission’s landmark work has provided clear and compelling scientific evidence of the EMP issue. There is no doubt.
The danger is there. There is no doubt that both natural and man-made EMP threaten our electronic and data infrastructure…again – this is proven and beyond debate.
The political will is…well…not there. The political will to protect our nation remains elusive—and why is this? Willful ignorance…and dereliction of duty.
We are here again – a “pre-9/11” moment; or, as another member of EMPact America often says, we are at sunrise of 7 December 1941 – and our leadership continue to fail to identify 1) real threats to the security of our nation and 2) the steps necessary to preclude catastrophic failure. This is not acceptable.
Now is the time for you to contact your Congressman – and demand they fulfill their oath of office. Demand that they use their authority FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD. I ask you – I urge you – to help move this issue forward.
Let us push our lawmakers to do the right thing – to use the authority they have sought for the good of the people who elected them. It is time to stop the willful ignorance…and move forward!
