It's irritating, innit? 

So many decisions in American society are being pushed forward by expediency. Values and principles are being shunted aside. 

The usual reasons for dismissing values and principles?

1. Security. We must be safe. We must be secure. We were attacked, you know. If we build a wall around the country and arm every American, stand guard 24/7, and watch the land, sea and air, we'll never be attacked again. And if they do attack us, we will launch one gazillion nukes back at them. That'll teach them. Right.

2. The economy. Corporations and companies need to make money. If they make money, it'll trickle down to the rest of us, starting at the top with the wealthiest one percent and flowing down to all the other strata. Then we'll all be rich. So what if we're starving other people and killing them with our industrial byproduct. We'll be rich!

3.  Naturally, not a far fall from the economy are jobs. Regulations will kill jobs! Oh, no! That's what stopping the economy from recovering and creating more jobs, regulations, things like clean air and water, and laws against child labor and unions. How dare those unions demand a living wage and safe working conditions. They're slowing down production and leading us in the race to the bottom. 

4. Then there's the favorite, "It's what the Founding Fathers would have wanted." It was their intention, often incited, often erroneously, by trying to force laws about homosexuality, gender equality, and abortion.

5. That's followed by, "We're a Christian nation." That's another one used when talking about the Founder Fathers, homosexuality, gender equality, and abortion. I accept and practice freedom of religion and tolerance. You can believe and practice your religion but don't use your religion as the basis for all of our decisions and choices.

Fear, bigotry and prejudice continues plaguing us. Values and principles are burned when fear steps up. Common sense often leaves the area at the same time. It's been true whether the discussions are about people on welfare, immigrants, gays and lesbians, the French, Japanese, blacks, women, Muslims, Native American Indians, Indians, the Irish, the Chinese, Germans, Communists, Socialists, or - gasp - progressives, Democrats and Liberals, Conservatives, Republicans and Tea Partiers, Mormons and Jews, the wealthy, and the poor.  

So we play this game now, of he said, he said, he said, he said, he said. Lies proliferate. 

Like this one today. "Foreign Policy" featured an article, "Obama waives sanctions against countries that use child soldiers." That's disappointing, no matter who the President is, what party they represent, or what country they lead. What expediency is causing him to do this? 

More interesting were comments like this one:  "This president has issued over 900 Presidential Executive orders in the last 40 months.  This should scare the pants off of every American Citizen, but so far the press hasn't even picked up on it."

Naturally I looked that up, easy enough to do on the National Archives or the Federal Register. After doing so, I saw a Snopes.com article addressing it, and a specific email going around that states that Obama signed 943 executive orders. The email assigned executive orders JFK signed to Obama. That is so simply checked and dismissed, yet, here is is, being spread as truth. 

Here's what National Archives' page on Obama's executive orders:

Administration of Barack Obama (2009-Present)

Disposition of Executive orders signed by President Barack Obama:

• Subject Index
• 2009 - E.O. 13489 - E.O. 13527 (39 Executive orders issued)
• 2010 - E.O. 13528 - E.O. 13562 (35 Executive orders issued)
• 2011 - E.O. 13563 - E.O. 13596 (34 Executive orders issued)
• 2012 - E.O. 13597 - E.O. 13623 (27 Executive orders issued)

135 Total Executive orders Issued

NOTE: The total number of Executive orders issued for each administration includes number-and-letter designated orders, such as 9577-A, 9616-A, etc.

The other comments to the FP article were more disturbing:

If they are Islamic armies, Barry will do nothing to hinder them. He helps them.

Obama was treated like a little pawn by his own left-wing trashy mother. So I'm not shocked by his lack of interest n children.

Are we supposed to be surprised by Obama's actions that go counter intuitive to what is correct & good about America?  Are we surprised that once again The Executive Branch works independently of the other Tree Branches & feels Above the others?  You know sort of how Chaves & others operate.  You know the ones that said they would vote for Obama & that he would vote for them.

I bet each dead child soldier reminds him of his imaginary "son" too just like trevon Oops!  Guess NOT!!!

Der ObaMeinFuher, he does love his turd world dictatorships.

These are some of the milder ones. It is absolutely surreal. 

And on 'the other side'.... Is it different?  How can I say?  I'm in my own echo chamber where demands for Romney's tax returns are called for over and over again because 'what is he hiding'?  Each side takes up a meme and hammers and hammers and hammers.

Tell me about the real issues. Why are we using drones to assassinate? Hell, why do we need to assassinate to protect our nation? Why do we torture people and the truth and call each other names? What gives one group of people 'the right' to say that others do or do not have the same rights?

It is sad, disturbing and frustrating, useless and divisive.

Many will dismiss me as a bleeding heart. Others will declare me naive or even ignorant. "That's how the world works."  

So that's it? Abrogate responsibility and intelligence to the contemptible meme, "That's how the world works?"

That is such a negative, self-defeating belief.  So you're helpless. You can't change anything. I thought that humanity has the intelligence and will to rise above itself.  

You can choose to believe "That's how the world works." But I don't believe it's so.  It works that way because we accept it and allow it. 

Armed revolution is not needed, but intelligent revolution is required.