What is healthier for this country, the current status or cooperation?

Politicians and media almost make it impossible for this to happen, its almost as if its systematically done to keep people divided.

I shall continue to ask annoying questions, of the rulers and of the ruled, with the ultimate question underlying all of them: how may we be free? I shall continue to remind my fellow workers that we are the troops that that secure and defend our liberties. Soldiers overseas have rarely, if ever, been the troops who have gained or guaranteed our rights. As is to be expected in a constitutional republic, the troops who have defended me have been in the courtrooms and on the picket lines.

Many people who are ambivalent about the present war are using the mantra “support our troops” as the lever to their troubled consciences. These folks say, “Let’s just hope they do their job well and don’t get hurt and come home soon.” As if examining “their job”, which is, after all, massive destruction of people and property, is uncouth. As if we are so worried about the cognitive dissonance the soldiers may be experiencing that we must pretend we have no doubts about their mission, lest they doubt themselves and suffer useless pangs of conscience. There is a distinctive combination of arguments that are held, however loosely examined, by many in the US: the coalition troops are at once skilled professionals who volunteered for the job and feckless children who need to be protected from their conscience.

I don’t think “the country” feels that way at all. I’ve never heard a single person complaining that we have too much unity and too little divisiveness. What our corporate owned, corporate financed media ���feels” is whole ‘nother story. Every story, issue or non-issue is reduced to a “us vs. them” sports mentality; a win for your side is more important than what’s good for “the game” or “the sport”, much less what’s good for “the fans”.

A tip of the hat to dstr for the insightful response. Those of my fellow Americans who seek to erode our rights and liberties are indeed a greater threat our ideals than ANY existing terrorist threat. I’d rather be free and in danger, that be safe while lacking freedom.

Well stated.

i think cooperation.

Regarding the best country thingy, if we dont have a change to better leadership, we no longer will be the Best country.

Cooperation.

[There is no better country than the US.]

cooperation