The general population is understandably frustrated with the economy and the lack of rebounding the country has done after the big financial crash of 2008. The process is slower, but I put the blame on big business, banks and credit companies, but those institutions are difficult to deal with for any government...whether Dems or Reps. Everyone loves pointing fingers at other people and posturing about this and that and convincing the public that their side is the only one who cares.
Who cares? Who really cares? No one really cares completely about anyone else besides themselves...only God really has that ability. We humans all care to whatever degree we care because we’re getting something out of it. I’m sorry, I know that sounds cynical, but it isn’t. It’s a recognition of human nature. And, most of us walking the Earth today, are afflicted with that ailment: humanity.
Two short years ago in 2008, the Democrats around the nation were celebrating and talking about “change” and “hope”. The Democrats were in control and they were going to get to work and make significant changes so our country could once again be great like it was once upon a time in some indefinable past. The Republicans dug their heels in and said, “Not gonna happen. Those lousy Dems aren’t capable of doing anything but destroying this country because they’re all morally corrupt and devil worshippers who’d just as soon sacrifice children on real altars of fire than help our poor, doomed America. All is lost unless we, the holders of truth can get back in office and ‘fix’ all the corruption they introduce.” The Republicans held so tightly to their ideals that they did everything they could to sabotage any progress. Then, this year, they pointed to all the ineffectiveness with loud shouts of “I told you so, Joe and Jane American!”.
This year was not much different, the parties just traded seats. In fact, there is never really much difference in the political posturing. It comes from both sides and is equally insipid.
The November election saw the ousting of many Democrats and the incoming of multiple Republicans. At last! The world will be saved! The Democrats, moaning, mourning and licking their wounds said disdainfully, “It’s not our fault! You don’t understand Joe and Jane. We INHERITED the problems! You have to be patient and give us time to fix them! You made a mistake turning over the country to the money-grubbing mongers who stole from you in the first place and caused the problem to begin with. They don’t care about you. They only care about themselves. They’re rich and greedy and have no souls! You’ve just handed the keys to the devil himself who will smile at you and rob you blind at the same time. All your services will be gone and only the richest of the richy riches will survive. How could you be so blind? You’ll see. In two years when the Republicans have trashed all the services you say you need, then you’ll look to us for help.”
The sad truth is that both the Dems and Reps are correct in their summations of the other. As I asked.... Who cares? Who really cares? No politician at that level cares. There’s ALWAYS multiple, complex ulterior motives. So, why are Joe and Jane American buying any of it? They’re gullible. I guess they buy one side over the other and cling to that ideology because they have to have some kind of hope. If everyone thought like me, we’d be in a world of hurt. Our whole society is built on faith and hope. Without faith we have no credit system and thus, no economy. As misguided as it may be, we need to have faith and you can really only pick one side. If we didn’t have faith, then it would all truly collapse.
So, I’ll just support whatever good (from my perspective) that I see regardless of whether it comes from Dems or Reps. However, I won’t be ignorant enough to stand at the feet of some politician and cheer when he or she gives speeches full of totally meaningless mushy fragments of useless snake oil as in the following example from the NEW Speaker of House, John Boehner. (John Boehner? Really? Boner? Is Saturday Night Live gonna have a field day with that?) Following is his election night victory speech. I’m not anti-Republican. (I am anti-politican.) I can find just as many speeches full of the same crap from either side of the fence. This one just happened to be handy because the Reps are the prevailing group of the moment. Here’s the speech (Which I listened to on NPR on election night. I'm told NPR is the country's left-wing, value-destroying, communist-run radio station):
"Let me just say this: it’s clear who the winners are tonight, and that’s the American people. Your voice was heard at the ballot box! Your voice!
Listen, I’ll be brief, because we have real work to do - and this is not a time for celebration ... not when one in 10 of our fellow citizens are out of work ... not when we have buried our children under a mountain of debt ... not when our Congress is held in such low esteem.
This is a time to roll up our sleeves. To look forward with determination. And to take the first steps toward building a better future for our kids and grandkids.
Across the country right now, we are witnessing a repudiation of Washington ... a repudiation of Big Government ... and a repudiation of politicians who refuse to listen to the people.
Of course, this campaign is not yet over. To folks out in the West, where the polls are still open, seize this opportunity to be heard ... to reject the spending sprees, the bailouts, the backroom deals, the takeovers and all the nonsense ... and to join your fellow Americans in putting Washington on notice.
Because for far too long, Washington has been doing what’s best for Washington - not what’s best for America.
Tonight, that begins to change.
With their voices and their votes, the American people are demanding a new way forward in Washington. And I’m here tonight to tell you that our new majority will be prepared to do things differently... to take a new approach that hasn’t been tried before in Washington - by either party.
· It starts with cutting spending instead of increasing it.
· Reducing the size of government instead of expanding it.
· Reforming the way Congress works and giving government back to the people.
· And for all those families asking ‘where are the jobs?,’ it means ending the uncertainty in our economy and helping small businesses get people back to work.
The people’s priorities will be our priorities. The people’s agenda will be our agenda. This is our Pledge to America ... this is our pledge to you!
While our new majority will serve as your voice in the people’s House, we must remember it is the president who sets the agenda for our government. The American people have sent an unmistakable message to him tonight, and that message is: “change course.”
We hope President Obama will now respect the will of the people, change course, and commit to making the changes they are demanding. To the extent he is willing to do this, we are ready to work with him.
But make no mistake, the president will find in our new majority the voice of the American people as they’ve expressed it tonight: standing on principle, checking Washington’s power, and leading the drive for a smaller, less costly, and more accountable government.
These are the principles our new majority will stand for, and we hope you will stand with us in the hard work that lies ahead. Because we are humbled by your trust in us. And we recognize that with this trust comes the responsibility to listen, and listen we will.
Let’s start right now by recognizing this is not a time for celebration. This is a time to roll up our sleeves and go to work.
We can celebrate when small businesses are creating jobs again. We can celebrate when the spending binge in Washington has stopped.
And we can celebrate when we have a government that has earned back the trust of the people it serves... when we have a government that honors our Constitution and stands up for the values that have made America, America: economic freedom, individual liberty, and personal responsibility.
I hold these values dear because I’ve lived them. I’ve spent my whole life chasing the American Dream.
I started out mopping floors, waiting tables, and tending bar at my dad’s tavern. I put myself through school working odd jobs and night shifts. I poured my heart and soul into a small business. And when I saw how out-of-touch Washington had become with the core values of this great nation, I put my name forward and ran for office.
So I want to close by thanking my wife, Debbie ... my girls, Lindsay and Tricia ... my brothers and sisters ... and all my friends and neighbors in Ohio for giving me the chance to serve and the opportunity to stand before you now ready to lead.
Thank you. God bless you, your families, and the United States of America."
God Bless America... why? As far as I know, God has only indicated his interest in one people or political group and that is Israel and the Jews therein. For the rest of us, His interest is personal. So, why do we stress God's interest in our country? His interest is in us individually. I say we concentrate on that aspect of our relationships with God.
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