By John Felder
Columnist

We cannot protect freedom and the quality of life abroad by deserting it here at home. Currently, the nation is so caught up in war fever that we have failed to see the reality for civilians right here in the United States.

Why has there been very little talk about the Enron talk following the death of Kenneth Lay? Thousands of Americans invested their life savings, only to be left destitute with no word from authorities as to where their money went. Surely, one man alone was not responsible for the collapse of Enron. Now, we must wonder how these trusting citizens are to recover.

Americans’ quality of life is being challenged at many levels. Family life is one of these areas. The state has parents befuddled, with the law telling them that they cannot discipline their children. George W. Bush was disciplined by his father and mother, and perhaps that is why he still listens to them today. Discipline is necessary to maintain law and order throughout the entire country and world.

Furthermore, we have become reckless when it comes to seeing to the immediate needs of Americans. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, many people in Louisiana were victimized by a mass eviction, and have still not been given the proper federal assistance needed to rebuild their lives.

A great number of these citizens are African-Americans, who have contributed to these so-called United States dating back to the Revolutionary War, only to be forced to take a back seat when it comes to achieving equal rights for all Americans.

In 2007, elements of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that protects voters of color and forces compliance from states in doing so are up for ratification. Based on the accomplishments of Black Americans, the right vote should not be an Act but rather a law.

Many Americans today are misdiagnosed into taking pharmaceutical remedies that often have potentially fatal side affects. Every year, network news reports on how prescribed drugs have caused death by means such as heart attacks and strokes.

Finally, Iraq is under attack, despite the fact that Osama Bin Laden has no connection to Iraq.

Where is the logic here? Without logic, there is no way to ensure a decent quality of life for Americans, a point that will be expanded on in next month’s “Quality of Life, Part 2.”