NEWS MUSING

It has been a long time since I spouted off anything political. My faithful readers indicated that my political diatribes were tiresome and entirely too slanted to the right. And they may be right. After all, President Obama’s approval ratings are through the roof, so a large majority of Americans must think that saddling future generations with an impossible to pay debt is the right way to go. And of course, if the majority also agrees with a national socialized health care system, government involvement in business to a degree that allows the president to force executives out of jobs, numerous increases in handout and entitlement programs and a stand-down in anti-terror efforts (including abolishing the terms “terrorism” and “war on terror”) then I must be in a sadly incorrect minority.

Over the past ten days or so I have increased my attention to news and issues as they have been reported in the papers, on the internet and on the radio. I even watched some television news programs during the weekend. What I’ve been reading and hearing has not renewed my faith in the political process or the intelligence level of politicians or even the intelligence level of the average American. Buyouts, bailouts and incredible budgets are everywhere. Even here in little Delaware there is a proposed state budget that promises to fix the deficit while increasing spending programs. States, communities and federal agencies are lining up for stimulus handouts. More rhetoric and political blather is spewing forth from every level of government than I’ve ever noticed in the past. Amazing pronouncements and predictions are the norm. On one day the pronouncements are all about the horribleness of it all. The next day, in the same tones as the day before, rosy predictions seem to emanate from one huge Washington mouth. Talking points seem to be copied and faxed to all the Democrats and dozens of co-operative Republicans who then spread the words over every available media source. A few voices of dissent are heard on talk radio and they are dismissed as if they were an annoying pimple on the ass of the Democrat administration and Congress.

So, the question arises, what do we do about all this? What do we do about this massive rush towards a socialist government? What do we do when the President abrogates the rights of a company’s stockholders and forces the CEO out of his job? How can we respond to the rapidly developing higher taxes that will affect everyone even if they are levied on corporations and folks with somewhat higher incomes? These questions are serious even if the whole package of crap coming out of Washington seems totally ridiculous. Some people are organizing protests and meetings, calling them “Tea Parties”, to voice opposition to government policy and action. Others write letters to editors and letters to congressmen and senators. It’s all good. And another election cycle is set to start which will give candidates opposed to current policy an opportunity to speak out and gain some media attention. Back in the nineties when the “Contract with America” drive happened there were some real positive things that slowed down the efforts of Clinton and his gang. It can happen again, but it won’t be so easy.

Personally I’m going to pay attention to what’s happening. I’m going to shoot off the occasional letter or email. And I’m going to stand up for what is the right and proper Constitutional point of view when engaged in conversation with family and friends. And when the next elections come around I’ll vote for candidates that understand, uphold and promote Constitutional values. I guess this is a warning to all my liberal, Obama supporting friends. If you don’t want to hear sound, Constitutionally based opinions and arguments about the state of the government then you’d better not bring up the subject with me. So far when these topics have come up in conversation with people of mixed political views the Obama supporters have been disinclined to engage in reasoned argument. They tend to just say, “Give the guy a chance, and we’ll talk about it all down the road someday.” Unfortunately that road is proving to be full of potholes and wide cracks and if we don’t provide something to offset the destruction that is taking place as the President steamrolls along then we may end up with an irreparable road to nowhere.

Have a fine day.