“Change” Or government as usual?

It’s been quite a respite. I have suffered personally from this economic disaster created by conservative, Republican philosophies. (Ever notice that previous staunch Republicans are now saying they are actually more Libertarian? It was also difficult to find anyone who voted for Nixon after he was disgraced. Before that disgrace, it was hard to find anyone who wasn’t a Nixon supporter.)

I want to pursue my team-of-horses metaphor. The team is now loaded with left leaning, people oriented horses and they are starting to pull the coach toward the center. The Democrats have passed a Recovery Act, pulling us away from the edge of another Republican caused Depression. Republicans can only unanimously vote against it, criticize it and then partake of it by exploiting the advantages to their states that “they” have somehow secured. All without giving credit to the recovery act which is funding that very same project.

As the team makes its way back to some sort of center path through the wilderness of the future, pushing to be progressive with their choices, they discover that some on their team do not want the same things. There are three divisions in our team: Republicans, Democrats and Blue Dogs.

Dogs chase cars and, in our case, coaches. They run along side and bark and bite at the heels of those trying to move the cause ahead. It slows down, stalls and could even stop altogether if some of those horses don’t gather their courage and continue despite the barking and heel biting. Why does this happen? Didn’t “We the People” have our say, vote in Democratic Party control of government and expect things to improve?

Yes, we did. Each one of us, a majority of us, cast our vote for “Change.” Having done that, we sit and we wait and we watch. We may have changed the control of the government by party, but we haven’t yet defeated the influence of money: money that flows for example, in a volume of 1.4 Million Dollars a day to defeat Health Care Reform. Where does that money come from?

Answer: the Health Care industry, the Republican Party and their sub, sub, sub groups they fund. Is that the simple answer? No, because there’s another question. Why are the some of “We the People” so alarmed and scared? Why can’t “We the People” have a discussion at Town Hall meetings all across the country?

Money from special interest groups, the health care and pharmaceutical industries, groups and societies whose funding leads back to the Republican Party, those same special interest groups and health and pharmaceutical industries, pay for commercials that misinform and excite some of We the People. Then, a whole network, Fox News (news in name only) incites and misinforms. Talk radio incites and misinforms with constant references to fascism. Those misinformed and those deliberating misinforming are the dogs biting at the wheels and horses hoofs, trying to stop our coach and our progress. They call it free speech and hide behind that right.

Political contributions cause second thoughts in blue dog Democrats and almost all Republicans. Each politician in office has to run for office every two or six years. That easy money is hard to resist and difficult to disagree with what it represents.

So, instead of Congress investigating the crimes committed by the last administration, instead of reform of the Financial Banking industry that caused a near financial collapse and another Great Depression, instead of passing a Health Care Reform Act that stops insurance companies from denying pre-existing conditions and putting profits before people, (Pay or Die!) instead of pursuing CHANGE that would help “We the People,” we have a government controlled by special interests, industry and money!

This is not what I voted for.

That’s As I See it. . . .

Left v Right on my Team of Horses . . .

In my last blog, I likened Bi-partisanship to a team of horses all pulling the same load in the same direction. That would be ideal. The challenge, however, is that neither side of the team (left v right) really wants to pull in the compromised direction. Each side wants to pull the load in their chosen, partisan direction.

The result is that the “coach” ends up traveling in a zigzag fashion as one side gains strength over the other and pulls in their direction. Then the other side gains strength, and on it goes. This zigzag pattern pulls us eventually through time to where we are now.

In the last cycle, (a very long Zig) the right side pulled us far to the right starting all the way back to Reagan. The left at first worked with the new direction, compromising and assisting. But as it got more and more radical, the left worked diligently to prevent the worst of such philosophy. The coach is now so deeply off the path of Bi-partisanship that the whole country is hurting, mired in debt, moving slowly and passengers are unsure of the way back.

Some of the things the left was able to prevent were the elimination of the Estate tax, the elimination of the Capital Gains tax and decreasing the Corporate tax. I think I heard an audible gasp through my computer. Yes, I AM serious! Think about it for a moment. Not with the partisan mind warping done by the right in the last twenty-nine years but with your rational brain.

How many readers of this blog are actually susceptible to any of those three taxes? I don’t know anyone wealthy enough to pay an Estate tax. I don’t know any leaders of industry that would pay a corporate tax. Since the middle class has decreased so dramatically under the influence of the right, there are not many left in the middle class that worry about a Capitol Gains tax.

Yet, these are the three taxes that the radical right propose to get us out of this mire and yet apply only to the very wealthy. Newt Gingrich said, “And we have three big things. First, we have zero capital gains. We eliminate the capital gains tax, which is the same as China and Singapore. Second, we go to the Irish corporate tax level, which is 12 and half percent. And third, we make permanent eliminating the death tax, so that small businesses and family-owned businesses aren’t threatened by the IRS when somebody passes away. Let me mention briefly on capital gains, cause it’s a new, bold idea.”

A “Bold new idea?” I don’t think so! It’s the same old strategy they have been using since Reagan. Notice how he calls an Estate tax a “Death Tax?” It’s the right’s way of sound-bite diplomacy to convince the public to vote against their own best interest. By calling it a death tax, it makes it sound unfair and unreasonable. In actuality, the Estate tax affects a very few who have exceeding wealth. Anyone wealthy enough to pay Estate taxes have enough lawyers and advisers to be able to protect their best interests and preserve their wealth. You and I don’t have that access and we don’t pay that tax.

The rights only answer to a sound-bite, created-for-media unfairness is to eliminate it. There are other ways to make things fair. If the level at which the Estate Tax kicks in is too low, then adjust the level with an inflationary calculation. Don’t eliminate the tax.

Will the right’s solutions get us out of the mess they created? NO! It’s what got us here! There will be more on this later.

That’s As I See it . . .

TEAM OF HORSES OR TUG OF WAR?

I think a fair analogy to make about Bi-partisanship and Partisanship would be to imagine a team of horses. You can imagine the Liberal/Progressive/Democratic horses on the left side of the team and the Conservative/Republican horses on the right side of the team. Let’s imagine them pulling a stagecoach like I used to watch in old TV westerns. That would be Bi-partisanship. Yes, we have different points of view but we are pulling in the same direction for the good of the stagecoach. We work together for a common destination, each member putting in effort.

Now picture a group summer picnic with its potato salads, chips, burgers and dogs and for entertainment, a tug of war game. After everyone has had a fill of the salad, grilled burgers or hot dogs, the game begins. In this type of game it becomes about winning. The goal is to defeat your opponent, or the other “team” in this case of tug of war. I can picture the teams struggling with all their might, straining on the rope to pull the other team to their side and thereby win the match. They sometimes make it interesting by putting a mud hole to pull the opponent into.

Which type of game do you want our Congress to play? I want the team of horses, pulling our country toward a goal of prosperity for all. Obama has been fulfilling a campaign promise to try and make Washington more functional, to make a cabinet of both Republicans and Democrats. He has been attempting to do that and at present has two Republicans there. He has reached out his hand of cooperation. He has traveled to the Congress to meet with Republicans and get their ideas. He invited conservative pundits to the White House for drinks to get their views and impress upon them the importance to this country of Bi-partisanship and with what result?

That hand of friendship and Bi-partisanship has been slapped, ignored, ridiculed and even insulted by those “tug of war” Republicans. Still, Obama has not given up. I believe he will continue with his extended hand diplomacy, but perhaps with a bit more discretion. What will be the result of the continued Republican stubbornness?

We the People should be watching this interplay very closely. Our future and the future of this country are at stake. If Republicans continue their lock-step opposition to efforts at making this country sound, they will continue to loose elections. If We the People don’t pay attention, they may win this Tug-of-War! And then what will happen to our nation?

I can see that symbolic team of horses now; the horses on the right keep pulling right to lead the team. The horses on the left keep countering the pull and pulling forward. The left horses only recently became successful because there are now more of them. But it hasn’t changed the tactics of the horses on the right. Those horses keep playing tug of war, even when it is in their benefit to pull as a team.

Democrats aren’t innocent in this game. Democrats, I believe, have been trying to get Bi-partisanship but have been conditioned into a tug of war by Republicans. I hope We the People are watching this and vote accordingly. We need a team in Congress expressing valid yet different points of view. We don’t need to continue this Tug-of-War Politics that has been happening for the last 16 years.

That's As I See It . . .

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. . .

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. . .

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?

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. . .