I Disagree with our New President. . .
It didn’t take long before I found something to disagree with. It has always been my intention with this blog to be a discerning blogger, unafraid to voice disagreement with whom ever is in charge.
Obama’s recent efforts at reaching out to the Republicans are commendable. At first my belief was to just discount them and get done what We-the-People want. Republicans and their Conservative philosophy have been running this country for eight years. Look where it has gotten us. (Truthfully, the Conservatives have been running this country since Reagan, 1980; but that’s a different blog).
What is interesting to me is how the Republicans now say they have a plan for stimulating the country that will produce twice as many jobs and cost half as much. They, of course, announce this after the bill goes through the House and have not revealed any details of their “plan.” Their “plan” is merely a continuation of “Tax Cuts” that have not worked. Let’s see now . . , What was that definition of insanity? Oh yeah; keep doing the same failed task and expect different results!
Simply put, the Republicans are just being Obstructionists. With their lips they say they want Obama to succeed and with their efforts they are trying to make the country fail. “In confusion there is opportunity for wealth”. And Conservatives want opportunity to continue. I truly believe they want this country divided into the extremely wealthy and the extremely impoverished.
The Conservative, Republican strategy will fail. Since We-the-People have expressed our desire for the Congress to get something done and move this country forward, Obama has made an effort to “reach across the aisle” to get Republican support for an American Recovery Project. Republicans hold to their hardcore beliefs and slap that hand. When this country begins to recover, (and it will), what will Republicans say then? Watch how they jump on the bandwagon, forget their obstructionists ways and make it sound like they were always working for the country’s benefit.
I admire Obama for his efforts although I wish he had not removed some of the details from the recovery bill that he did. The People will realize that he is doing what he promised and is making honest effort to help the country. Republicans will be seen to be the obstructionists they are! But that is not what I disagree with Obama about. I voted for his judgment, his careful consideration of solutions and his ability to bring people together. So I choose to trust that judgment and let him do it his way.
What I disagree with Obama about is the Super Bowl. I will be backing the Arizona Cardinals!
And that;s As I See It. . .
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
It’s Time to Begin The Great Undoing . . .
I watched Barack Obama take the oath of office today. I heard words of praise, respect, admonition, reality and warning. It has been awhile since this country got a dose of reality, asking all of us to get to work and help bring this nation out of the mess 28 years have put us in.
Kennedy was the last one to ask not what this country can do for us but to ask what we can do for this country. Barack is asking us to work together and rightly so. We the people are in a mess!
The mess is from greed, deregulation, trust and belief in the free market system and too many years of Conservative control of our country.
Of note to me were the passages in the inaugural speech that showed a clear separation from the Bush agenda. We, as a people, will not separate our values from our safety. We, as a people, will welcome healthy relations with foreign nations of every religion and creed if they open their fist and shake our hand. If foreign nations choose to clench that fist, they will find a resilient nation ready to defeat them and defeat them we will!
That is the first Great Undoing from the Bush administration!
We the People, must now hold this administration responsible for the proper direction of this country. The time of promises had passed. The time of elections and debates have passed. It is time for the correction to begin.
We must establish fair business practices and prevent the wealthy from exploiting the rest.
We must establish a health system that allows for everyone to receive proper medical treatment without loosing his or her life savings.
We must correct our image to the rest of the world. We are a nation of laws and those who break those laws will be held responsible. No one is above the law; even an ex-president of the United States. Crimes committed against humanity and in violation of International treaties must be prosecuted. It is the only way to correct our image and restore faith that America is a nation of Freedom and Right!
We must begin to heal from within. This philosophical divide between Democratic and Republican ideals must work together so, We The People, are well served by a government that works.
My fear is that too many believe it is “business as usual” for politics. Already, Cronin from Texas has put a stop to the voice vote to accept Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, inevitable as it is. Some Republicans may think they can stifle progress and cooperation. Hopefully, the steady work by Obama and the Democratic Party will counter that and get things done so we can undo all the damage. And when these “Obstructionists” persist in their efforts, We The People will contact our representatives and senators to encourage them to do the right thing for the country and for the masses.
We the People are tired of being spoken down to; like we are too uninformed to understand the complexities of politics.
We understand this: You, the politicians, work for us! And we are taking this country back!
That’s As I see it. . .
I watched Barack Obama take the oath of office today. I heard words of praise, respect, admonition, reality and warning. It has been awhile since this country got a dose of reality, asking all of us to get to work and help bring this nation out of the mess 28 years have put us in.
Kennedy was the last one to ask not what this country can do for us but to ask what we can do for this country. Barack is asking us to work together and rightly so. We the people are in a mess!
The mess is from greed, deregulation, trust and belief in the free market system and too many years of Conservative control of our country.
Of note to me were the passages in the inaugural speech that showed a clear separation from the Bush agenda. We, as a people, will not separate our values from our safety. We, as a people, will welcome healthy relations with foreign nations of every religion and creed if they open their fist and shake our hand. If foreign nations choose to clench that fist, they will find a resilient nation ready to defeat them and defeat them we will!
That is the first Great Undoing from the Bush administration!
We the People, must now hold this administration responsible for the proper direction of this country. The time of promises had passed. The time of elections and debates have passed. It is time for the correction to begin.
We must establish fair business practices and prevent the wealthy from exploiting the rest.
We must establish a health system that allows for everyone to receive proper medical treatment without loosing his or her life savings.
We must correct our image to the rest of the world. We are a nation of laws and those who break those laws will be held responsible. No one is above the law; even an ex-president of the United States. Crimes committed against humanity and in violation of International treaties must be prosecuted. It is the only way to correct our image and restore faith that America is a nation of Freedom and Right!
We must begin to heal from within. This philosophical divide between Democratic and Republican ideals must work together so, We The People, are well served by a government that works.
My fear is that too many believe it is “business as usual” for politics. Already, Cronin from Texas has put a stop to the voice vote to accept Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, inevitable as it is. Some Republicans may think they can stifle progress and cooperation. Hopefully, the steady work by Obama and the Democratic Party will counter that and get things done so we can undo all the damage. And when these “Obstructionists” persist in their efforts, We The People will contact our representatives and senators to encourage them to do the right thing for the country and for the masses.
We the People are tired of being spoken down to; like we are too uninformed to understand the complexities of politics.
We understand this: You, the politicians, work for us! And we are taking this country back!
That’s As I see it. . .
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Bi-Partisanship? What the Hell?
I have been watching the political scene since Georgie-Boy became president. Until then, I left politics up to my representative and senator in congress. Since then, I have heard a lot of word tossing of “Bi-Partisanship” by both parties. It scares me.
Republicans have controlled the congress for over eight years. They have had their way with complete disregard of Bi-Partisanship while at the same time, requesting it from Democrats. What I heard was, “Let us do what we want because we have the majority!”
To prove that, remember when the Senate Majority Leader, Bill Frist from Tennessee ®, threatened the “Nuclear Option” of modifying the rules-of-the-senate to eliminate the Filibuster? Remember how the Republicans whined when they couldn’t have their way in the 109th Congress in every little detail because of the filibuster by the Democrats? Remember that they had their way enough to put this country in the mess it is in right now! (If you don’t know what the filibuster is, Google it)
Now I am hearing the same bit of “Bi-Partisanship” requests from the Democrats in the upcoming 111th Congress. It scares me because I want the Democrats to act as swiftly as they can to undo as much of the harm the Republicans have foisted on We The People as they can in the shortest amount of time!
Conservative Economics does not work! It has never worked! It will never work! Any time you hear “supply side” “trickle down” or “conservative” associated with an economic philosophy, vote against it! It gives increased wealth, power and control to the wealthy and transfers the tax burden to the middle and lower classes. Just look at the situation we are in; record setting deficits, high unemployment, we are a debtor nation instead of a loaner nation, we manufacture very little. Conservative Economics, by its very nature, hates labor, a strong middle class and tries to give as many breaks as possible to business. The last go-around did it by eliminating regulations. The lack of regulations allowed risky loans, bad decisions and theft of our National Wealth.
Talk to your congressman and senators. Tell them to move swiftly to restore regulations that prevent their sort of economics, just as this country did after the Great Depression.
I wonder what we will call this Republican Depression?
I have been watching the political scene since Georgie-Boy became president. Until then, I left politics up to my representative and senator in congress. Since then, I have heard a lot of word tossing of “Bi-Partisanship” by both parties. It scares me.
Republicans have controlled the congress for over eight years. They have had their way with complete disregard of Bi-Partisanship while at the same time, requesting it from Democrats. What I heard was, “Let us do what we want because we have the majority!”
To prove that, remember when the Senate Majority Leader, Bill Frist from Tennessee ®, threatened the “Nuclear Option” of modifying the rules-of-the-senate to eliminate the Filibuster? Remember how the Republicans whined when they couldn’t have their way in the 109th Congress in every little detail because of the filibuster by the Democrats? Remember that they had their way enough to put this country in the mess it is in right now! (If you don’t know what the filibuster is, Google it)
Now I am hearing the same bit of “Bi-Partisanship” requests from the Democrats in the upcoming 111th Congress. It scares me because I want the Democrats to act as swiftly as they can to undo as much of the harm the Republicans have foisted on We The People as they can in the shortest amount of time!
Conservative Economics does not work! It has never worked! It will never work! Any time you hear “supply side” “trickle down” or “conservative” associated with an economic philosophy, vote against it! It gives increased wealth, power and control to the wealthy and transfers the tax burden to the middle and lower classes. Just look at the situation we are in; record setting deficits, high unemployment, we are a debtor nation instead of a loaner nation, we manufacture very little. Conservative Economics, by its very nature, hates labor, a strong middle class and tries to give as many breaks as possible to business. The last go-around did it by eliminating regulations. The lack of regulations allowed risky loans, bad decisions and theft of our National Wealth.
Talk to your congressman and senators. Tell them to move swiftly to restore regulations that prevent their sort of economics, just as this country did after the Great Depression.
I wonder what we will call this Republican Depression?
Monday, December 08, 2008
And again, the Democrats fall into the trap!
Republicans have once again tricked the Democrats into doing the dirty work of the Conservative Economic Philosophy, (hereafter called the CEP). It is the CEP that created the economic disaster we face today; major financial companies, the big three car companies, and, of course, Wall Street.
Notice that the CEP didn’t consult with the nation or the Congress about whether to “Bail Out” Wall Street. They just did it. Want to complain? Write you Congressman? Vote them out? Too late! It’s DONE.
Want to help the big three auto companies? Refer that to Congress. Let the Democrats take up the cause of all the potential unemployment, the economic disaster of putting two million people out of work and the cascade effect to confidence and trust in the government to run this country!
It doesn’t matter that the people have spoken, dissatisfied with the Republican Administration and economic philosophy, and elected to replace this corrupt and ethically challenged system! It only matters that the Republicans can now say. . . ! ! !
“The Democrats did it! They wanted the Auto Bail Out! They wanted the deficit spending! They are responsible!”
Remember that in four years when their way of doing politics rears its ugly head and starts blaming this country’s woes on the Democrats. They will. My fear is that some, stupid inattentive ones, will listen and be persuaded.
The Democrats have done it again! Walked into the political trap of wanting to help We-the-People and save our country.
Is there something wrong with this picture?
That’s As I see it. . .
Republicans have once again tricked the Democrats into doing the dirty work of the Conservative Economic Philosophy, (hereafter called the CEP). It is the CEP that created the economic disaster we face today; major financial companies, the big three car companies, and, of course, Wall Street.
Notice that the CEP didn’t consult with the nation or the Congress about whether to “Bail Out” Wall Street. They just did it. Want to complain? Write you Congressman? Vote them out? Too late! It’s DONE.
Want to help the big three auto companies? Refer that to Congress. Let the Democrats take up the cause of all the potential unemployment, the economic disaster of putting two million people out of work and the cascade effect to confidence and trust in the government to run this country!
It doesn’t matter that the people have spoken, dissatisfied with the Republican Administration and economic philosophy, and elected to replace this corrupt and ethically challenged system! It only matters that the Republicans can now say. . . ! ! !
“The Democrats did it! They wanted the Auto Bail Out! They wanted the deficit spending! They are responsible!”
Remember that in four years when their way of doing politics rears its ugly head and starts blaming this country’s woes on the Democrats. They will. My fear is that some, stupid inattentive ones, will listen and be persuaded.
The Democrats have done it again! Walked into the political trap of wanting to help We-the-People and save our country.
Is there something wrong with this picture?
That’s As I see it. . .
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
The most significant FIRST in this Presidential election, for me. . .
Pundits have talked about the first “Black” President elected. That is not so significant to me. I’ve worked with, been hired by, hired and fired black people, white people, Asian people and many other people of differing . . . something, all without thought of race or gender. Race, color and gender are not significant to me. It is the quality of a person’s character and their work ethic that matter most.
I voted for Obama, not because he is “Black.” I voted for him not just because he is a Democrat, although I have voted that way in the past and it was an important factor in my vote in this election. At times, my vote has been cast “against” something as much as it was cast “for” something. But that wasn’t the significant thing in this election.
It is easy to be against the Bush philosophy and the Karl Rovian tactics. The fact that Obama didn’t use those kinds of tactics is not why I voted for him and it is not the most significant part of this election.
Political “Dirty Tricks” by Republicans have been around for my entire voting career. My first vote was cast “against” Richard Nixon. They didn’t call him “Tricky Dickey” for nothing. Remember Water Gate! Don’t forget the Iran Contra Hearing, which revealed that the Reagan Administration was paying the Iranians to hold our hostages until he won the election in ’80. And the Willie Horton ads George H. W. Bush ran in 1988 got my candidate, Dukakis, defeated. Yeah, those were dirty tricks! But that wasn’t the most significant thing about this election and this President elect.
The world’s reaction to the President elect is completely understandable, given the flagrant disregard the Bush Administration has given to other countries sovereignty. The Bush Doctrine of Pre-emptive War doesn’t exactly instill the other nations to rush to our side. Still, that was not the most significant part of this President elect.
I worked hard for Obama’s election. I contributed money to the campaign and Democrats in tight races and came through when asked to contribute. I called, emailed and talked to people about the issues (many of them total strangers), trying to convince them (and was successful in some cases) to vote for Obama! I have yard signs, probably to my neighbors chagrin. But I had done all that before in the Kerry Campaign. So that wasn’t all that significant.
No, none of those things were the most significant to me. The most significant bit of reality to me: This is the first President that will be younger than I am!
How’s that for reality? That’s As I See It. . .
Pundits have talked about the first “Black” President elected. That is not so significant to me. I’ve worked with, been hired by, hired and fired black people, white people, Asian people and many other people of differing . . . something, all without thought of race or gender. Race, color and gender are not significant to me. It is the quality of a person’s character and their work ethic that matter most.
I voted for Obama, not because he is “Black.” I voted for him not just because he is a Democrat, although I have voted that way in the past and it was an important factor in my vote in this election. At times, my vote has been cast “against” something as much as it was cast “for” something. But that wasn’t the significant thing in this election.
It is easy to be against the Bush philosophy and the Karl Rovian tactics. The fact that Obama didn’t use those kinds of tactics is not why I voted for him and it is not the most significant part of this election.
Political “Dirty Tricks” by Republicans have been around for my entire voting career. My first vote was cast “against” Richard Nixon. They didn’t call him “Tricky Dickey” for nothing. Remember Water Gate! Don’t forget the Iran Contra Hearing, which revealed that the Reagan Administration was paying the Iranians to hold our hostages until he won the election in ’80. And the Willie Horton ads George H. W. Bush ran in 1988 got my candidate, Dukakis, defeated. Yeah, those were dirty tricks! But that wasn’t the most significant thing about this election and this President elect.
The world’s reaction to the President elect is completely understandable, given the flagrant disregard the Bush Administration has given to other countries sovereignty. The Bush Doctrine of Pre-emptive War doesn’t exactly instill the other nations to rush to our side. Still, that was not the most significant part of this President elect.
I worked hard for Obama’s election. I contributed money to the campaign and Democrats in tight races and came through when asked to contribute. I called, emailed and talked to people about the issues (many of them total strangers), trying to convince them (and was successful in some cases) to vote for Obama! I have yard signs, probably to my neighbors chagrin. But I had done all that before in the Kerry Campaign. So that wasn’t all that significant.
No, none of those things were the most significant to me. The most significant bit of reality to me: This is the first President that will be younger than I am!
How’s that for reality? That’s As I See It. . .
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Gay Marriage Vs. Civil Union
I wanted to get married at the courthouse and my wife wanted to get married in a church. Guess who won? She did. I was unsure about most religions having observed a great deal of hypocrisy and she was dedicated to the idea of a church wedding. The end result was a church wedding with the majority of guests sitting on “her side” of the isle.
My personal experience isn’t that relevant but in the interest of full disclosure, I explain it. You see, I agree with the “Christian Right” that “marriage” is generally accepted as a Bible based ceremony and belongs in a church. But since in this country we have a practicing separation of church and state, we the people have laws that allow for church ceremonies to be accepted as state ceremonies by sanction of the state. A “Preacher” must have state authority to perform the ceremony and that’s what makes it legal. Look at your marriage "license" to view it for your state.
What if I had had my way and we married at the courthouse? We would still be “married” (a derivative of the word Marriage) and we would still be “legal.” The difference? Both are state sanctioned but only one is church sanctioned.
Here’s what I propose; Let the churches keep their ceremony of marriage and let the state perform “civil ceremonies” at courthouses and let them both be legal! The difference would be a true separation of church and state, but both satisfy the requirements of the state. The technical difference is that a church “wedding” would be “marriage” and a courthouse “wedding” would be a “civil union.”
Churches that deny homosexual marriage do not have to allow them. The state, which does not allow discrimination based on race, gender, national origin, sexual preference, (or any others I may have overlooked), would not call it a “Marriage.” Thus, one is a civil union while the other is a marriage. Both are equal under the state law.
Problem solved, solution applied and let’s get on with serious problems. . .What was that? You say, “What about religious gays that want to marry in a church?”
That’s between you and the church! Don’t get the state involved. It doesn’t belong there!
That’s As I see it. . .
I wanted to get married at the courthouse and my wife wanted to get married in a church. Guess who won? She did. I was unsure about most religions having observed a great deal of hypocrisy and she was dedicated to the idea of a church wedding. The end result was a church wedding with the majority of guests sitting on “her side” of the isle.
My personal experience isn’t that relevant but in the interest of full disclosure, I explain it. You see, I agree with the “Christian Right” that “marriage” is generally accepted as a Bible based ceremony and belongs in a church. But since in this country we have a practicing separation of church and state, we the people have laws that allow for church ceremonies to be accepted as state ceremonies by sanction of the state. A “Preacher” must have state authority to perform the ceremony and that’s what makes it legal. Look at your marriage "license" to view it for your state.
What if I had had my way and we married at the courthouse? We would still be “married” (a derivative of the word Marriage) and we would still be “legal.” The difference? Both are state sanctioned but only one is church sanctioned.
Here’s what I propose; Let the churches keep their ceremony of marriage and let the state perform “civil ceremonies” at courthouses and let them both be legal! The difference would be a true separation of church and state, but both satisfy the requirements of the state. The technical difference is that a church “wedding” would be “marriage” and a courthouse “wedding” would be a “civil union.”
Churches that deny homosexual marriage do not have to allow them. The state, which does not allow discrimination based on race, gender, national origin, sexual preference, (or any others I may have overlooked), would not call it a “Marriage.” Thus, one is a civil union while the other is a marriage. Both are equal under the state law.
Problem solved, solution applied and let’s get on with serious problems. . .What was that? You say, “What about religious gays that want to marry in a church?”
That’s between you and the church! Don’t get the state involved. It doesn’t belong there!
That’s As I see it. . .
I recently sent the following to friends and relatives. It created quite a stir among non-Barack supporters. So I thought I would share it with as many people as I could. Sorry I've been gone for awhile.
I want to change the world.
So I ask myself, “How do I do that?” I want the world to be peaceful. I want the world to be tolerant of each other. I want the world to empathize. “How do I do that?”
Well, if I had the power, I could make the world leaders meet and agree on a plan to get along. Make them compromise on issues that everyone can live with. And I don’t mean to just “tolerate” but to really live! Get along!
But I don’t have that power. I barely control the world I live in with bills and obligations. I don’t hear from my children as often as I would like. Taxes on my house keep going up. They haven’t fixed the street I live on in a long time. How can I change the world?
I listened to the promises of the presidential candidates. I’m no fool. I know that neither of them can do everything they want. But I did hear the same kind of desire I have, “I want to change the world.”
I’ve lived long enough to know that this election, in my country, can have the biggest impact on the future more than any election I have ever voted in before. Why? It will decide if “we the people” want to keep giving our power to the wealthy or take back our country. We can only do that if we put in power people who will listen to us, the people, and not to the wealthy.
We have lived in a great experiment since 1980. The promise of wealth will trickle down to all if we just let the wealthy have their way. Well, they have had their way. And now we find that “we the people” have to come to their aid and “bail them out.” I guess that promise didn’t work out so well.
It’s time to take another approach. Let the people rule! Tax the wealthy! Give the revenues to the state and let the state pay for the debt, the streets, the sick, the poor, the destitute and maybe even fix my street.
We, the people, cannot continue to pay the greatest share of taxes and let the wealthy take the greatest share of profits and wealth. We just can’t let it continue!
I’m voting for Democracy! I’m voting for Barack Obama! I hope you do too.
Householder
Tax Payer
60 Year old soon-to-retire fed up with the status quo of rich getting richer and we the people inheriting deeper debt.
I want to change the world.
So I ask myself, “How do I do that?” I want the world to be peaceful. I want the world to be tolerant of each other. I want the world to empathize. “How do I do that?”
Well, if I had the power, I could make the world leaders meet and agree on a plan to get along. Make them compromise on issues that everyone can live with. And I don’t mean to just “tolerate” but to really live! Get along!
But I don’t have that power. I barely control the world I live in with bills and obligations. I don’t hear from my children as often as I would like. Taxes on my house keep going up. They haven’t fixed the street I live on in a long time. How can I change the world?
I listened to the promises of the presidential candidates. I’m no fool. I know that neither of them can do everything they want. But I did hear the same kind of desire I have, “I want to change the world.”
I’ve lived long enough to know that this election, in my country, can have the biggest impact on the future more than any election I have ever voted in before. Why? It will decide if “we the people” want to keep giving our power to the wealthy or take back our country. We can only do that if we put in power people who will listen to us, the people, and not to the wealthy.
We have lived in a great experiment since 1980. The promise of wealth will trickle down to all if we just let the wealthy have their way. Well, they have had their way. And now we find that “we the people” have to come to their aid and “bail them out.” I guess that promise didn’t work out so well.
It’s time to take another approach. Let the people rule! Tax the wealthy! Give the revenues to the state and let the state pay for the debt, the streets, the sick, the poor, the destitute and maybe even fix my street.
We, the people, cannot continue to pay the greatest share of taxes and let the wealthy take the greatest share of profits and wealth. We just can’t let it continue!
I’m voting for Democracy! I’m voting for Barack Obama! I hope you do too.
Householder
Tax Payer
60 Year old soon-to-retire fed up with the status quo of rich getting richer and we the people inheriting deeper debt.
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