I now very often find myself in conflict with my oath.

>>" I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God." (Title 10, US Code; Act of 5 May 1960 replacing the wording first adopted in 1789, with amendment effective 5 October 1962). "<<

As I feel the officers appointed over me and the President himself are corrupt and now constitute a direct domestic enemy threat.  And the words later added "So help me God" are just yet another ploy of the corrupt to control and use the public and have no validity.

Learning of the Presidential lies it took for the major corporations to charge hundreds of dollars for a common hammer over many years and the devastation of a culture that posed no possible threat to us, then have the vice and then the president removed from office for corruption. Well you might think the system worked. HA!

Yeah It fucking worked alright. But for who?

I can't believe we pay people to hold public office in this country. It shouldn't be an honorable job but a minion-esque career with the pomp and celebration of a number-crunching desk jockey, a necessary job that carries harsh penalties if you fuck up too bad.

My gripe against the current administration is obscured by a hail storm of political banter. Obama made deals with health insurance companies behind closed doors during the healthcare reformation (yeah, look that one up). Also, he's bent himself to the will of House republicans which are only there because their state governments redrew district lines in republican favor. Obama has done this in an attempt to remain bi-partisan and at the same time nothing gets accomplished.

Personally, I don't know how I could support any document or credo with "God" in the dictum.

I might be pissing off a bunch of you by saying this: The federal government is an essential structure of this country that most American citizens cannot live without. Besides its apparent failings, it needs rigorous tweaking to make the system work for the public appropriately, and not let politicians on the side of a religion, corporation, or lobbying group usurp the federal function.

Here, in the south, the baptist church fucks with EVERYTHING political ...
How is THAT fair to "all citizens", when people like ME are non-christian and don't care about
the "religious" aspects of how things get done?

"Separation of church and state" is a myth ...
How can it be so when "In God We Trust" is on our currency (which it was removed from 1903-1954, mind you)?

When Obama said "There will be no investigation of the bush administration" I knew we were fucked with no way out.

Yeah, I found that a bit suspect as well ...

Obama made deals with health insurance companies behind closed doors during the healthcare reformation (yeah, look that one up).

He didn't go there to tell them how to act, he went their to learn how he is supposed to act.

Learning of the Presidential lies it took for the major corporations to charge hundreds of dollars for a common hammer over many years and the devastation of a culture that posed no possible threat to us, then have the vice and then the president removed from office for corruption. Well you might think the system worked. HA!

$100 hammer isn't as bad as the $600 toilet seats or the $3,000 coffee makers that was going on in the 80's.

It doesn't matter who is in office or who has the majority in the house.  They're all the same when it come to lining their own pockets.

I can't believe we pay people to hold public office in this country. It shouldn't be an honorable job but a minion-esque career with the pomp and celebration of a number-crunching desk jockey, a necessary job that carries harsh penalties if you fuck up too bad.

We have to, otherwise only the independently wealthy would be able to run for/hold office.  I know that is generally the case now, but occasionally an ordinary schmoe sneaks in.  With out pay, an ordinary citizen couldn't even conceive of holding office.  They wouldn't be able to support themselves or family and the government would return to aristocracy.

We shouldn't be paying them as much as they get though. We shouldn't have to fund their extravagant vacations and parties especially when most of the country is looking for work. I can't stand to see how much money goes into these govt buildings. All the extra art and things. Sure it's fun to look at, but a portable would do the job fine really. Spend the money on a nice homeless shelter instead. It's fun spending other people's money though.

It's fun spending other people's money though.

... and THAT is the problem!