Following is a quote from Lee Atwater that appeared in LIFE magazine in February 1991 and, nearly 20 years later, is no less pertinent to any discussion of the reality that is America:

“My illness helped me to see that what was missing in society is what was missing in me: a little heart, a lot of brotherhood. The ’80s were about acquiring — acquiring wealth, power, prestige. I know. I acquired more wealth, power, and prestige than most. But you can acquire all you want and still feel empty. What power wouldn’t I trade for a little more time with my family? What price wouldn’t I pay for an evening with friends? It took a deadly illness to put me eye to eye with that truth, but it is a truth that the country, caught up in its ruthless ambitions and moral decay, can learn on my dime. I don’t know who will lead us through the ’90s, but they must be made to speak to this spiritual vacuum at the heart of American society, this tumor of the soul.”

(Mr. Atwater succumbed to brain cancer in March 1991)

Useful links (thanks to @karoli for the first, Ivon K. for the second through fourth)

Osborne Ink: “Sunday Sermon – They are the fear they want us to feel“

SourceWatch: Lee Atwater

New Speak Dictionary: The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism

And, finally, a video (Camper Van Beethoven doing Oh Death) the comments for which unintentionally sum up the state of American politics rather succinctly: Oh Death

Roosevelt was building up new ideas in a milieu of old ideas. His early campaign speeches were pure Old Deal. He called for a balanced budget. When he got into office, the whole banking system collapsed. It called fir a New Deal.

… As for those first New Deal days, much of the excitement came from improvisation. Nothing was fully set in the minds of the people there. They were open to fresh ideas. We wouldn’t have been where we are now, were it not for the Washington improvisations ….

This outflowing of people felt they were somehow on rhe way – though they were not shre how. A syrprising number, we discovered, were sons of ministers, rabbis, missionaries. Yes, there was an evangelical quality, though it was non religious. People were personally concerned about a better world, came to Washington, were drawn to it. Even though where we were going was still to be worked out. There was an elan, an optimism … An evangelism … It was an adventure.

Gardiner C. Means, page 247-250

An excerpt:

I never heard anyone who expressed feeling that the United States Government, as it existed, was done for. It was quite the opposite. The desire to restore the country to the affluence it had. This was uppermost in people’s minds. Even the socialists who talked about taking the corporate system out were just talking, that’s all.

If we had a severe depression today – I’m basically an optimist – I don’t think this country would survive. Many people today are rootless. When you have this rootlessness we’re talking about the Germany of the Twenties. You’d see overt dictatorship take over. You would see your camps…

Edward Santander, page 210