As summer doles out its languid, warm days, I can't help but feel that fall is already waiting in the wings, and I'm not ready for it. The lovely days are already shortening, as to give warning that summer will not last long. The cricket filled evenings give quiet melody to the busy, days. Time never before seemed so fast moving as it does now---is it one's age, or the electronic era we're living in that makes everything seem so temporary--so just passing bye? Log in, click on, and there it all is--the world at our fingertips. Click again, and it's gone. I heard recently that scientists have decided that some of us may suffer from a lack of ability to enjoy the texture, detail, and richness of life, so accustomed are we to instant, sterile feedback via all our electronic equipment? Punch a key and get a result, then move on----if so, that's probably not a good thing. The antidote, according to the people who study these things ,is to go away somewhere where there are no phones, TV, computers, etc. and unplug for awhile. Are they kidding? Where would that be? Perhaps,they suggest, right in your own backyard---things like weeding the garden, cleaning the gutters, sewing a button on a shirt, knit a scarf or cook a good meal--anything that gives your hands something constructive to do and your mind focus. Studies have shown, these manual activities translate to the brain as good and worthy, and that in turn produces serotonin in the brain which then---voila--- translates to a form of happiness. Seems we are designed to do good. intrinsically satisfying things, not just observe or click a button. Our technology, however wonderful, has taken over much of our leisure time.
The trick is to dis-connect. Sometimes life pulls the plug for you. This week a close relative found herself suddenly very ill and in the hospital. Tests revealed a "systemic bacterial infection" which had somehow invaded her whole body. In addition, and separate, further tests revealed an anuerysm which if left untreated would eventually result in sudden death. Surgery will have to be performed, but not until the infection has left her body. As I sat and visited with her, she seemed bewildered and lost, as if she had just found herself in a foreign country--- but strangely upbeat. I asked if she had watched the TV or would be interested in reading. The answer was no---she had no desire yet to re-connect with the world,---she had disconnected and wanted nothing more than to see her family, make sure her dog was fed, and feel well again. Life had slowed this very busy lady down, and she said, "I have had lots of time to think", as though that was a luxury not usually afforded her. It occurred to me that in some way, her forced hospital visit was an enviable gift. She had been pushed off the merry go round, allowed time to gather her thoughts---and her concerns were reduced to the important basics of family, her dog, and health.
And so as we look ahead to whatever awaits us--- personal problems, more recession, further involvement in wars, pre-election debates and decisions, constant news flow of global crises---may we unplug for at least a while, once in a while, and note the smallest of pleasures--- or even surprise visitors.
My aunt, the woman mentioned above, said that the first night she was at the hospital, she looked up and saw an unfamiliar man standing at the foot of her bed. She said he was quite tall, had on a blue shirt and pants, was just gazing at her, and then faded away. Before I could ask if seeing a strange man in her room had frightened her, she remarked that on the contrary, it had given her a sense of comfort. I hope it was her guardian angel---and I wish we didn't need times of distress to be able to see them.
This week I am going to weed a little,sew a button on a sweater that's been needing it for a long time, and try to slow my racing pace. The war in Libya will have to go on without my constant monitoring, as will the Afghanistan pull-out and all the controversy surrounding it. The debt crisis will clamor noisily on till the decision deadline of August, and Republicans will have to continue searching for the best man/woman to wage their election campaign. The world will keep spinning its story, but for just a moment in this June of 2011,I want to leave it all and bask in the glory of a summer that, boiled down, still sings its songs of morning doves, buzzing bees, rustling breezes, and simmering heat. And somewhere in the middle of this simple symphony is a voice that says "be still ---". I will cling to that---and remember the thought of an angel quietly watching over a woman who in her exhaustion, did not need the distraction of TV ---but was comforted by the visit of a stranger in her room, who asked nothing of her but her returned attention. If angels exist, do we miss them because we refuse to see, or do they not come to visit because we are too busy to notice? I have never seen an angel, but sometimes in the middle of a restless night I imagine that one is holding me close.
It's the still of the night,I'm half asleep, and see no blue shirt or anything at all--the lullaby of summer rocks me. The TV off light is still glowing, the computer is always on, and the cell phones are re-charging---- waiting to reclaim me. But for now, I'm free---unplugged,floating timelessly, and in my dreams an angel wraps her wings around me. Her gown is not blue---it is white, the whitest of white I have ever seen---or just imagined. Maybe I'll look up angelic visits on Wikipedia tomorrow----
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
WEINER'S WAYWARD WAYS---HIS OR OUR PROBLEM?
You know you've been busted, when your picture shows up on the news---and you're in your underwear. Congressman Anthony Weiner, that's "e" before "i" in this case and pronounced, unfortunately, the same as that which is found in hot dogs. Mr. Weiner has more than his name to blame for this latest escapade in phone hanky panky---or "sexting", as they call it these days. Why, oh why do these politicians, think they can play in the sand box and not get sand all over them? Do they really think they won't get caught, and is this a huge sign of arrogance---as in, I'm too big to abide by every day rules of decent conduct? Weiner seems to not only have thought this, but continues to think he still deserves to be kept on the job as a paid government employee. "I'm not resigning", he staunchly proclaimed. The troubling thing is, some polls show a good number of people standing behind him---but not Nancy Pelosi, who is ready to self righteously hang him out to dry in front of the Ethics Committee---and well she should, so as not to appear the definition of major hypocrisy, given the Democrats past record of nailing Republicans who have been caught with similar sins. But is this for show, and will he be asked to resign as so many Republicans have? Somehow the knife of party criticism doesn't cut quite as sharp both ways. One cannot help but remember a Senator from Massachusetts whose car accident left his young female passenger dead in the waters of Lake Chappaquaddick, and it was the next day, before he notified the police. Though given a suspended jail sentence, he never served time, was quite forgiven by his party and went on to be highly respected and revered as a "lion" in the United States Senate. What's in a name? A lot and in this case, it meant everything to the life and political future of the now deceased Senator Edward Kennedy. Justice is never completely blind, nor is it always applied in black and white terms--human subjectivity always enters in, rightly or wrongly. We are after all, human, and see everything through our own limited wisdom ---and prejudice.
For now, it's again the Dems who must endure the embarrassment of their own---enter another sinner, John Edwards, a very close runner up to the last Presidential election. Mr. Edwards in an appalling display of indiscretion, dishonesty, and lying, now faces even more serious charges than Weiner. He has been charged with spending campaign money to keep his mistress and now mother of his child, hidden from public view while still campaigning for the presidency. He could go to jail for a number of years, which in of itself will be another tragedy in this unending sad saga, as he will leave his children without a parent. Elizabeth,his wife, died of cancer while all this was going on. Edwards' lack of judjment, integrity and character are astounding---but should he go to jail for these crimes of immorality? Yes, he may have spent the campaign money---but would it not be sufficient for him to pay back these monies and perhaps lose or have his bar license suspended, but then continue to live his life, in shreds of past glory? I harbor no sympathy for this man and what he did to himself and his loved ones, but it is my opinion that the public humiliation and financial payback, perhaps with additional fines could be enough. Our jails are overcrowded with crimes much more egregious, and it would seem that this man would better serve his time at home raising his children. In this case, at least, it would seem an act of societal grace to not punish the children further by taking their father away. Is that any worse than the sentence given Edward Kennedy?
If you still think this too generous, think back to President Clinton and his antics with the inglorious Lewininsky lady. Did I want him impeached at the time? It was tempting, butI did not. And neither did the Senate who gave him a pass, though the House did vote for impeachment. I could not condone or excuse his behavior---it was a lasting scar on our national pride and a denigration of our moral code. It made a mockery out of the most respected and venerated position in the world---but impeachment at that time, it seemed, would have been far more damaging to our stability as a country than allowing Clinton to serve out his presidency, bowed and chastened, and unlikely to repeat his sins---at least not while in office. I happen to think the Senate made the right call at that time. President Richard Nixon,however, had not been so lucky---the winds of public forgiveness did not blow his way. Maybe it was the way he excessively perspired while on TV.
Punishment for crimes need to be assessed and measured out,and certainly not ignored when our trusted officials lend themselves to dangerous vulnerabilities and even blackmail,as could have been the case with Clinton and many other politicians who have stepped over the line . But it would also seem that we are leaning over backwards to completely destroy the accused and with it the symptoms of an increasingly immoral society, rather than to address the problem. We don't tar and feather the wayward social misfit anymore, or brig them in the town square, but the complete stripping of dignity is hard to watch---humiliation is not a fun or healthy spectator sport, even if deserved. But "Let him who is without sin throw the first stone" may not apply to our attitude toward our elected officials, for we demand accountability for one's actions, both personal and professional-- and very few second chances. They are supposed to be who we want them to be---squeeky clean and without any skeletons in their closets. Is that getting to be too much to ask??
The incidents of inappropriate behavior seems extreme and out of control lately--but is it beyond the norm? Even Thomas Jefferson was guilty of having an affair with at least one of his slaves. John F. Kennedy, one of our most beloved Presidents was unbelievably indiscreet---but the media was incredibly protective at that time, and turned their eyes away from his numerous and indiscriminate affairs. It seems that today, however, with our more open, relaxed attitudes, there is less personal discipline and more tolerance towards it---unless it happens to our national leaders--and then it depends whose party is in power, or how liked they are by the media. Recent case in point would be ex-Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican whom the media seemed to adore, perhaps because of his Kennedy ties and very moderate ways. He seems to have gotten off fairly easily compared to Weiner and Edwards. How much of his government salary was used to support his mistress and child?? The media and some of us feign utter shock and awe---as if we'd never expected anything different from what we see all around us in our more tolerant society. To hear the wry comments, the talk show jokes, and observe an almost gleeful "gotch'a!" response to the naughty boys in Washington is a nice distraction from other much more serious issues in our government, but do we need constant running of the same scandal to the point of overkill? Yes, we should hold them to a higher standard as our representatives, but are they not unsurprising reflections of the society we live in--and are our scales of justice evenly weighed when there is such disparity between political preferences?
Perhaps we, as a country, are naively puritan in our insistence that our political officials be somehow immune from the temptations that power and money bring to many. There are those who demand extreme separation of church and state, proud that we do not inflict the mores and morals of religion upon the citizens of the country---but then act horrified and dismayed when suddenly it seems immorality is rampant among our leaders. Though it may be worse now, the frailties of our human condition have always been there---we just didn't have the means to see them. Technology now gives us much tranparency--a blessing to some, and a tattle tale monster to others. Mamas don't let your children grow up to trust their cell phones with their secrets.
Perhaps in the end, those who would betray the trust given them by the people of the land, will finally learn the value of a more virtuous and disciplined life--and we will also learn that it isn't enough to condemn, shame, and punish those who trespass against our moral code, which is changing all the time, for they will keep coming. It would seem we must first nurture a culture that puts emphasis on ethics, character, and professional responsibility. For "they" are us and we are "they". Left to our own devices, without a religious framework to guide us, is it possible we will never see the end of our parade of sinners? But to be religious, especially Christian in the USA today, is to be scorned and thought narrow minded. We instead worship secularity and mock those who would use religious morals to guide our national conscience. And so, perhaps it follows that we should also separate personal failings from professional competency, unless the latter is seriously compromised, in order to be consistent.
Anthony Weiner's fall from grace was unbelievably stupid, ridiculous, and almost sadistically riveting to watch--as Jay Leno, talk show host, remarked---'what are we, nine year olds?' But perhaps the real shame is that our outrage is focused more outwardly than inwardly.Our leaders are only as strong, honest, and moral as the people from whom they are borne, raised, and cultured. To joke about Weiner and his childish pranks is tempting, and part of the way we deal with things, but perhaps we should wonder whether we are reaping what we've sown--excuse the Biblical reference. Do we really want secularity to be our God vs. for example,the Ten Commandments? Or would that be way too Biblical----surely there's something else. Maybe David Letterman could come up with the ten best ways to behave,per his 10 Best list every night.
One final bit of unsolicited advice to those out there who think Weiner's photo shoot of himself is the new way to flirt and attract---here's a news flash--- your chesty, ripped six packs and your whatevers aren't really " the turn on" you seem to think ---struttin' your stuff has never been particularly attractive to most of us women. We still like to be romanced the old fashioned way, and it has nothing to do with "sexting" or graphic pictures --not cool--kind of creepy, in fact. So, whether you twitter, text, or sext---be nice, and for heaven's sake---zip it before you click it!
For now, it's again the Dems who must endure the embarrassment of their own---enter another sinner, John Edwards, a very close runner up to the last Presidential election. Mr. Edwards in an appalling display of indiscretion, dishonesty, and lying, now faces even more serious charges than Weiner. He has been charged with spending campaign money to keep his mistress and now mother of his child, hidden from public view while still campaigning for the presidency. He could go to jail for a number of years, which in of itself will be another tragedy in this unending sad saga, as he will leave his children without a parent. Elizabeth,his wife, died of cancer while all this was going on. Edwards' lack of judjment, integrity and character are astounding---but should he go to jail for these crimes of immorality? Yes, he may have spent the campaign money---but would it not be sufficient for him to pay back these monies and perhaps lose or have his bar license suspended, but then continue to live his life, in shreds of past glory? I harbor no sympathy for this man and what he did to himself and his loved ones, but it is my opinion that the public humiliation and financial payback, perhaps with additional fines could be enough. Our jails are overcrowded with crimes much more egregious, and it would seem that this man would better serve his time at home raising his children. In this case, at least, it would seem an act of societal grace to not punish the children further by taking their father away. Is that any worse than the sentence given Edward Kennedy?
If you still think this too generous, think back to President Clinton and his antics with the inglorious Lewininsky lady. Did I want him impeached at the time? It was tempting, butI did not. And neither did the Senate who gave him a pass, though the House did vote for impeachment. I could not condone or excuse his behavior---it was a lasting scar on our national pride and a denigration of our moral code. It made a mockery out of the most respected and venerated position in the world---but impeachment at that time, it seemed, would have been far more damaging to our stability as a country than allowing Clinton to serve out his presidency, bowed and chastened, and unlikely to repeat his sins---at least not while in office. I happen to think the Senate made the right call at that time. President Richard Nixon,however, had not been so lucky---the winds of public forgiveness did not blow his way. Maybe it was the way he excessively perspired while on TV.
Punishment for crimes need to be assessed and measured out,and certainly not ignored when our trusted officials lend themselves to dangerous vulnerabilities and even blackmail,as could have been the case with Clinton and many other politicians who have stepped over the line . But it would also seem that we are leaning over backwards to completely destroy the accused and with it the symptoms of an increasingly immoral society, rather than to address the problem. We don't tar and feather the wayward social misfit anymore, or brig them in the town square, but the complete stripping of dignity is hard to watch---humiliation is not a fun or healthy spectator sport, even if deserved. But "Let him who is without sin throw the first stone" may not apply to our attitude toward our elected officials, for we demand accountability for one's actions, both personal and professional-- and very few second chances. They are supposed to be who we want them to be---squeeky clean and without any skeletons in their closets. Is that getting to be too much to ask??
The incidents of inappropriate behavior seems extreme and out of control lately--but is it beyond the norm? Even Thomas Jefferson was guilty of having an affair with at least one of his slaves. John F. Kennedy, one of our most beloved Presidents was unbelievably indiscreet---but the media was incredibly protective at that time, and turned their eyes away from his numerous and indiscriminate affairs. It seems that today, however, with our more open, relaxed attitudes, there is less personal discipline and more tolerance towards it---unless it happens to our national leaders--and then it depends whose party is in power, or how liked they are by the media. Recent case in point would be ex-Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican whom the media seemed to adore, perhaps because of his Kennedy ties and very moderate ways. He seems to have gotten off fairly easily compared to Weiner and Edwards. How much of his government salary was used to support his mistress and child?? The media and some of us feign utter shock and awe---as if we'd never expected anything different from what we see all around us in our more tolerant society. To hear the wry comments, the talk show jokes, and observe an almost gleeful "gotch'a!" response to the naughty boys in Washington is a nice distraction from other much more serious issues in our government, but do we need constant running of the same scandal to the point of overkill? Yes, we should hold them to a higher standard as our representatives, but are they not unsurprising reflections of the society we live in--and are our scales of justice evenly weighed when there is such disparity between political preferences?
Perhaps we, as a country, are naively puritan in our insistence that our political officials be somehow immune from the temptations that power and money bring to many. There are those who demand extreme separation of church and state, proud that we do not inflict the mores and morals of religion upon the citizens of the country---but then act horrified and dismayed when suddenly it seems immorality is rampant among our leaders. Though it may be worse now, the frailties of our human condition have always been there---we just didn't have the means to see them. Technology now gives us much tranparency--a blessing to some, and a tattle tale monster to others. Mamas don't let your children grow up to trust their cell phones with their secrets.
Perhaps in the end, those who would betray the trust given them by the people of the land, will finally learn the value of a more virtuous and disciplined life--and we will also learn that it isn't enough to condemn, shame, and punish those who trespass against our moral code, which is changing all the time, for they will keep coming. It would seem we must first nurture a culture that puts emphasis on ethics, character, and professional responsibility. For "they" are us and we are "they". Left to our own devices, without a religious framework to guide us, is it possible we will never see the end of our parade of sinners? But to be religious, especially Christian in the USA today, is to be scorned and thought narrow minded. We instead worship secularity and mock those who would use religious morals to guide our national conscience. And so, perhaps it follows that we should also separate personal failings from professional competency, unless the latter is seriously compromised, in order to be consistent.
Anthony Weiner's fall from grace was unbelievably stupid, ridiculous, and almost sadistically riveting to watch--as Jay Leno, talk show host, remarked---'what are we, nine year olds?' But perhaps the real shame is that our outrage is focused more outwardly than inwardly.Our leaders are only as strong, honest, and moral as the people from whom they are borne, raised, and cultured. To joke about Weiner and his childish pranks is tempting, and part of the way we deal with things, but perhaps we should wonder whether we are reaping what we've sown--excuse the Biblical reference. Do we really want secularity to be our God vs. for example,the Ten Commandments? Or would that be way too Biblical----surely there's something else. Maybe David Letterman could come up with the ten best ways to behave,per his 10 Best list every night.
One final bit of unsolicited advice to those out there who think Weiner's photo shoot of himself is the new way to flirt and attract---here's a news flash--- your chesty, ripped six packs and your whatevers aren't really " the turn on" you seem to think ---struttin' your stuff has never been particularly attractive to most of us women. We still like to be romanced the old fashioned way, and it has nothing to do with "sexting" or graphic pictures --not cool--kind of creepy, in fact. So, whether you twitter, text, or sext---be nice, and for heaven's sake---zip it before you click it!
Friday, June 3, 2011
BAD AS IT'S GOING TO GET????
I grew up under the impression that things were never as bad as they seem---that people tend to exaggerate, and there was always a silver lining. My dad loved to tell the story of the little boy who cried "Wolf, wolf!" all the time just to get attention--until one day there really was a wolf---and nobody paid any attention. Lately, one gets the feeling that perhaps things really are much worse than they appear---the wolf story in reverse. Are we paying enough attention?
There is a creeping, sinking feeling in this country that we're in a deep morass, and that it's possible we'll have to suffer a "double dip" and suffer yet another hit to our already staggering economy. The problem is that the obvious cures are too hard to swallow, and potentially political suicide for those who might suggest and administer the medicine. And so our leaders fuss,flail,complain, and blame, but nothing is getting done ---what else is new in Washington? But this time, at this critical juncture in our history, to do nothing could be not only worse than the existing crisis---but the end of our powerful economy, which is now at breaking point. We are told we must raise the debt ceiling by August 2 in order to avoid default to our creditors. Really? Then why can't the two parties come up with a plan? Actually, the Dems have-- of sorts. They call it a "clean debit limit hike" amounting to 2.4 trillion increase in the debt limit--- the "clean" part? No major cuts to the budget. You've got to be kidding-- sounds more like "dirty pool", with higher taxes arriving in the very near future in order to take up the slack. The Republicans weren't amused and immediately turned down this proposal in an attempt to persuade the Dems into agreeing to more substantial spending cuts in order to balance the debt increase---no dice, so far. The Republicans also have a plan--the highly controversial Paul Ryan proposal, which offers real answers, but tough, unpopular sacrifices---over hauling the Medicare and Medicaid systems and trimming other entitlement programs. The Democrats won't even discuss this, let alone consider any part of it, preferring instead to characterize it as "mean spirited" and throwing senior citizens and children under the very proverbial bus. Such name calling and gamesmanship is getting really old, as it is they, the Democrats,who have been known to agree for a very long time, that medicare and medicaid are the big money pits.
In the meantime, another rating agency following on the heels of Standard & Poor, Moody Investor's Service, has just warned that our triple A credit rating was in urgent jeopardy and the only fix is a vote to increase the debt ceiling asap. Hm-m-m---excellent timing for the Democrats. Chicken Little is alive and well, but it's doubtful the sky will fall, if we don't immediately succumb to the hysterical cries to spend more money in order to stay alive financially--an upside down logic only the government could get away with. This week both sides met to decide whether to raise the debt ceiling, or whether to slash the spending; but ended with each side daring the other to either do something or refuse to-- the Dems, going through the motions, but with no real plan--- in hopes that the Republicans will die on the sword of Ryan's plan, or be accused of obstructionism for not going along to get along. Then, at least the path to election victory will be cleared. The Republicans will have to show true grit in order to stand by their principles---but do they have it? They, too, are politicians, and the game must be played in order to stay in it.
"It's the economy, stupid" used to be the election rallying cry for the Democrat party---now, it seems to be, "It's almost election time, don't be stupid." And so, here we are in gridlock with both parties blaming each other for lack of action or answers. Even some Republicans are fighting among themselves, debating whether for self preservation, they should back off from the very obvious debt crisis, and concentrate on other less incendiary issues. It was interesting to learn that recently 150 noted and respected economists, including former Treasury Secretary George Shultz, said that "increasing the debt ceiling without significant spending cuts and budget reforms will bring further harm to private sector job growth in America." Like the elephant in the room, this is an issue that deserves more than political pandering and posturing.
And so while the Democrats stonewall the crisis and accuse the Republicans of villainous acts and non-cooperation, the Republicans in turn try to engineer a trade off---massively downsizing the budget in order to justify raising the debt limit--- without a snowball's chance in hell of Senate passage. This is the acid test for both parties. But the extreme polarization of our two party system is the real deal breaker, and unless the two can come together, compromise, and hammer out a solution, we and our children will pay the price. Something has to give---care to bet that the old can won't get kicked again? And there you have the reason for the feeling of gathering gloom.
It is no wonder that while Washington fiddles, and our Rome burns, the people themselves, otherwise known as "grass roots", form their own groups, such as "The Tea Party",in hopes of being heard beyond the din of politics as usual. Meanwhile, Sara Palin with her "Rolling Thunder" bus tour and message of less government is drawing huge crowds---even over shadowing those of the current front Republican runner, Mitt Romney. Hello, Washington, and heads up mainstream media---the "you betcha' girl means business, and it isn't as usual. Having not officially decided to run for the presidency, Sara is not to be ignored or marginalized, and perhaps in this day of polished politicians, she appeals precisely because she isn't. Whether or not she throws her hat into the storm of the presidential election, her plain spoken words, heart felt words are being heard despite her critics. The natives are getting restless, and there is a growing drum beat for change away from the Washington elite, who seem to value their careers more than their country.
Obama and his administration have not caused all the ails of this weak economy, but they will have to live with the decisions being made---or not made under their watch. One gets the feeling that they know very well, that we're dangerously losing ground, but that somehow if given enough time, they can somehow avoid doing what desperately needs to be done. Even Bill Clinton, in an unguarded moment last week after the Ryan bill was voted soundly down, was heard to say quietly and almost apologetically to Paul Ryan, author of the bill, that sooner or later Medicare and Medicaid will have to be addressed. Too bad, he isn't saying it publicly---and even sadder that Obama and his crew aren't stepping up to the real problems, instead of strategically staring down their opponents and engaging in demagoguery. On the other hand, the Republicans are being watched closely by their own conservative wing who have mandated change---or else. They are in no mood or position to compromise. The wolf is at the door, but our leaders are too busy playing "Chicken" to do anything about it---or maybe to coin an old phrase, they are the chickens, as in "too chicken" to move.
Could things get any worse? Stay tuned----and Sara, baby---keep rolling.
.
There is a creeping, sinking feeling in this country that we're in a deep morass, and that it's possible we'll have to suffer a "double dip" and suffer yet another hit to our already staggering economy. The problem is that the obvious cures are too hard to swallow, and potentially political suicide for those who might suggest and administer the medicine. And so our leaders fuss,flail,complain, and blame, but nothing is getting done ---what else is new in Washington? But this time, at this critical juncture in our history, to do nothing could be not only worse than the existing crisis---but the end of our powerful economy, which is now at breaking point. We are told we must raise the debt ceiling by August 2 in order to avoid default to our creditors. Really? Then why can't the two parties come up with a plan? Actually, the Dems have-- of sorts. They call it a "clean debit limit hike" amounting to 2.4 trillion increase in the debt limit--- the "clean" part? No major cuts to the budget. You've got to be kidding-- sounds more like "dirty pool", with higher taxes arriving in the very near future in order to take up the slack. The Republicans weren't amused and immediately turned down this proposal in an attempt to persuade the Dems into agreeing to more substantial spending cuts in order to balance the debt increase---no dice, so far. The Republicans also have a plan--the highly controversial Paul Ryan proposal, which offers real answers, but tough, unpopular sacrifices---over hauling the Medicare and Medicaid systems and trimming other entitlement programs. The Democrats won't even discuss this, let alone consider any part of it, preferring instead to characterize it as "mean spirited" and throwing senior citizens and children under the very proverbial bus. Such name calling and gamesmanship is getting really old, as it is they, the Democrats,who have been known to agree for a very long time, that medicare and medicaid are the big money pits.
In the meantime, another rating agency following on the heels of Standard & Poor, Moody Investor's Service, has just warned that our triple A credit rating was in urgent jeopardy and the only fix is a vote to increase the debt ceiling asap. Hm-m-m---excellent timing for the Democrats. Chicken Little is alive and well, but it's doubtful the sky will fall, if we don't immediately succumb to the hysterical cries to spend more money in order to stay alive financially--an upside down logic only the government could get away with. This week both sides met to decide whether to raise the debt ceiling, or whether to slash the spending; but ended with each side daring the other to either do something or refuse to-- the Dems, going through the motions, but with no real plan--- in hopes that the Republicans will die on the sword of Ryan's plan, or be accused of obstructionism for not going along to get along. Then, at least the path to election victory will be cleared. The Republicans will have to show true grit in order to stand by their principles---but do they have it? They, too, are politicians, and the game must be played in order to stay in it.
"It's the economy, stupid" used to be the election rallying cry for the Democrat party---now, it seems to be, "It's almost election time, don't be stupid." And so, here we are in gridlock with both parties blaming each other for lack of action or answers. Even some Republicans are fighting among themselves, debating whether for self preservation, they should back off from the very obvious debt crisis, and concentrate on other less incendiary issues. It was interesting to learn that recently 150 noted and respected economists, including former Treasury Secretary George Shultz, said that "increasing the debt ceiling without significant spending cuts and budget reforms will bring further harm to private sector job growth in America." Like the elephant in the room, this is an issue that deserves more than political pandering and posturing.
And so while the Democrats stonewall the crisis and accuse the Republicans of villainous acts and non-cooperation, the Republicans in turn try to engineer a trade off---massively downsizing the budget in order to justify raising the debt limit--- without a snowball's chance in hell of Senate passage. This is the acid test for both parties. But the extreme polarization of our two party system is the real deal breaker, and unless the two can come together, compromise, and hammer out a solution, we and our children will pay the price. Something has to give---care to bet that the old can won't get kicked again? And there you have the reason for the feeling of gathering gloom.
It is no wonder that while Washington fiddles, and our Rome burns, the people themselves, otherwise known as "grass roots", form their own groups, such as "The Tea Party",in hopes of being heard beyond the din of politics as usual. Meanwhile, Sara Palin with her "Rolling Thunder" bus tour and message of less government is drawing huge crowds---even over shadowing those of the current front Republican runner, Mitt Romney. Hello, Washington, and heads up mainstream media---the "you betcha' girl means business, and it isn't as usual. Having not officially decided to run for the presidency, Sara is not to be ignored or marginalized, and perhaps in this day of polished politicians, she appeals precisely because she isn't. Whether or not she throws her hat into the storm of the presidential election, her plain spoken words, heart felt words are being heard despite her critics. The natives are getting restless, and there is a growing drum beat for change away from the Washington elite, who seem to value their careers more than their country.
Obama and his administration have not caused all the ails of this weak economy, but they will have to live with the decisions being made---or not made under their watch. One gets the feeling that they know very well, that we're dangerously losing ground, but that somehow if given enough time, they can somehow avoid doing what desperately needs to be done. Even Bill Clinton, in an unguarded moment last week after the Ryan bill was voted soundly down, was heard to say quietly and almost apologetically to Paul Ryan, author of the bill, that sooner or later Medicare and Medicaid will have to be addressed. Too bad, he isn't saying it publicly---and even sadder that Obama and his crew aren't stepping up to the real problems, instead of strategically staring down their opponents and engaging in demagoguery. On the other hand, the Republicans are being watched closely by their own conservative wing who have mandated change---or else. They are in no mood or position to compromise. The wolf is at the door, but our leaders are too busy playing "Chicken" to do anything about it---or maybe to coin an old phrase, they are the chickens, as in "too chicken" to move.
Could things get any worse? Stay tuned----and Sara, baby---keep rolling.
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