It has been amazing when I think of all the things President Obama and the Democrat controlled congress accomplished in their first two years in office, despite the overwhelming challenges they faced. In spite of two wars, an economy in freefall, record deficits, and a health care system in crisis, not to mention an unparalleled, ecological disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, this administration prevailed and got things done.
But thanks to partisan politics, filled with hateful rhetoric and outright fear mongering, the midterm elections returned power in the House of Representatives to the Republican / Tea Party crowd. Their first agenda was not to help those who need it most, but to repeal the historic Heath Care Reform Bill that would affect millions of Americans and to block any further progress by this President. Swept up in all the fear and half truths being spewed about by the media, political pundits and the internet, millions of Americans are calling for their new representatives to tear down and destroy all the progress of the past two years without a workable plan to replace it.
Before you throw the baby out with the bath water, my fellow Americans, please consider what THIS administration has accomplished…
I) Rebuilding Our Economy
1. Wall Street Reform-New Rules for the Big Banks!
2. Middle-class Tax cuts- Under the “Recovery Act” 95% of tax payers saw reduced taxes and extended unemployment benefits.
3. Credit Card Reform- A new Consumer Protection Agency!
4. Building a Clean Energy Policy- New emissions and fuel efficiency standards!
II) Historic Health Reform
1. The “Affordable Health Care Act”
2. Children’s Health Insurance- Extending SCHIP Program to 4 million low income children.
III) National Security
1. Ending Combat Operations in Iraq- 100,000 troops being removed.
2. Passing the START Treaty-Moving toward a world with fewer nuclear weapons and mutual inspections and verification.
3. A new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan to defeat Al Queda and end our combat involvement.
IV) Education
1. Reforming Student Loans- Saving $68 Billion over 10 years.
2. Spurring Innovation in Education-With programs like “Race to the Top” and “Educate to Innovate.”
3. A New GI Bill- The “Post 9/11 GI Bill’ that will help more veterans go to college.
V) Civil Rights
1. Repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
2. New Protection Against Hate Crimes- “The Hate Crimes Prevention Act”
3. Fair Pay for Women- The “Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act”
We still have a long way to go and we have a lot left to do, but there has been real progress over these last two years, despite Republican efforts to block almost every attempt to get things done, while offering very little in the way of ideas that help average Americans. Yes, we do need to do something about the deficit, but cutting vital services and programs to Americans hard hit by a terrible recession is not a solution. In an America where more and more of its wealth is going to the wealthiest 5%, perhaps it is time for the Wall Street crowd and big corporations to pay their fair share for a change. No civilization stands for long once they destroy their thriving middle-class.
To our Republican / Tea Party congressmen and senators, I urge you to take this time in history to work together in a civil manner and get things done. We have much to do as a nation. Millions of Americans are counting on you to do the right thing. If you continue to block, stall and vote against everything and yet offer nothing in return but fear and rhetoric…you will destroy our country!
Food for THOUGHT…
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Debate Don’t Hate
It has been curious listening to many of the politicians calling for body guards and extra security to protect them when they go out into the public (at the taxpayers’ expense, of course). Perhaps they should have thought about the dangers of public life before they ran for office. And maybe they should have thought about pissing off the public with all their partisan rhetoric while accomplishing little, other than adding to the national debt and enriching their friends as well as themselves with pork.
All this finger pointing and hand wringing aside, I have a solution. It is called the “Politician Mobile.” You see the Pope had a good idea with the Pope Mobile. He gets to ride around in the back of a pick-up truck while he’s encased in clear, bullet-proof glass. No worries about gun toting crazies. It’s simple. Now, we put our politicians in one of these babies and they can go riding through whole crowds of angry constituents while smiling and waving to their heart’s content. What’s more American than riding around in the back of a pick-up truck? We could outfit them with mechanical arms so they can reach out and shake hands and hold babies… (Well, maybe the baby thing not so much). But the point is, they would be safe and we could see them. It might be hard to hear them inside their glass cases… but that’s okay. Politicians seen and not heard? That might just work better.
Okay, that’s a bit extreme, but so is the idea of taxpayers paying for all the congressmen to have security and body guards when they are out and about in public. So what to do? Well, perhaps everyone should just take a deep breath and realize that civility, courtesy and respect go a long way to getting things done in Washington. The spewing of hatred and fear just gets people stirred up. It comes back to bite us in the butt. Let’s all just take a big step back from the precipice. Take a deep cleansing breath and think good thoughts.
Let’s try something really radical… let’s debate instead of hate. Otherwise, I’m investing in that company that makes those Pope Mobiles.
Food for THOUGHT…
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Change and Changing
We live in chaotic, changing times. Political leaders struggle for our hearts, minds and souls and yet their empires crumble and fall. It is the Present moment that is timeless. The past is gone and the future hasn’t happened yet. All we really have is the Now. It is one of the biggest concepts I’ve had to wrap my mind around. Like many of us, I suppose, I have fretted things in my past and feared things to come. In the process, I’ve missed being fully in the present. Too often, I have missed smelling the roses, enjoying sunsets, tasting a well prepared meal and listening to what people have to say.
But each year we get another chance to get it right, to set things straight. We get a whole new year as a do over. So Happy New Years everyone!
Food for THOUGHT…
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