As the presidential election draws near, there is so much going on in this country, particularly in the economy and among the candidates, it’s as if two engines are driving the news media and pundits around the clock.
This is Friday morning after the vice presidential debate last night between Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska, and Joe Biden, United States Senator. The airways are humming with so many trying to cram in their opinions. The so-called liberal left, those touting socialism in heavy-duty doses, are all speaking negatively about Palin, while the so-called conservatives, those touting socialism in smaller doses, are supporting and lifting her up on a pedestal.
Palin is new on the national scene, a fresh face and a bit different from the average politician. On the other hand, Biden has been around a long time and we’ve been listening to him for 30 years.
We have now been listening to all the political rhetoric, repeated like a mantra, for about two years now. There’s nothing new in substance from either. However, I must say, for me it was the most entertaining of any previous debates or discussions I have heard before. And unlike any previous discussions, I did stay awake and listen to all of it. Despite the fact there were a few punches at each other, it was quite civil and pleasant.
Despite the past few weeks’ news about the mess and devastation the economy is in and the bailout package still before Congress, to date, most Americans are seeking something from someone on the national scene to give them hope. There is a feeling of “expectation” across this land. We keep expecting someone to say or do something to give us hope that things will get better tomorrow.
It aint happening.
The activity going on in Washington relative to the $700 billion dollar bailout tax bill, has followed a pattern of business as usual in Congress . . . still expanding on the two things political government thrives on, opposition to it and dependency upon it.
It operates like this: Congress creates a bill to increase their take for more and more taxes. It’s advertised through the news media. Many American citizens rise up and object, flooding Congressmen with phone calls, e-mails and letters voicing their opposition. Once this opposition reaches its peak, the bill before Congress is voted on and defeated. Then it is revised and resubmitted. Between the first draft and submission there is a tremendous amount of propaganda through speeches, interviews, sound-bites, major news anchors, in addition to a massive exposure via television, newspapers, magazines, talk-shows and radio. After it is defeated, (which was in the scheme of things to begin with), the objections of the citizenry subsides before it’s voted on again. Then the bill passes the second time around.
This $700 billion bailout package, renamed a “rescue” package, just sailed through the Senate after being defeated in the House of Representatives. It was revised by adding $112 billion pork barreling to the original. It is now $812 billion and ready to resubmit to the House of Representatives.
After the news attention diverted from the bailout to the stock market dive and VP debate, the opposition to the renamed “rescue” package diminished and now sailed through Congress with approval, with the addition of a few promised checks and balances and an increase of over another billion dollars. And the Pork.
This political governmental strategy of opposition and dependency is played out over and over and over like a three-act play. We know the definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results. Yet the taking of one’s property (money) by those in the seat of power continues at an expedited rate . . . unhampered marching down the road of socialism. Consequently, as of October 3, 2008, one of the largest chunks ever taken from the producers in this country in one swipe, is about to become law and put into motion. Moreover, it was accomplished by the same methodology as all previous laws were passed—opposition to it and dependency upon it.
Why is it we have not learned from our history? Why have we not learned it is the energy of our opposition that is used to entrap all of us further into bondage?
Today I’m reminded of the guillotine operator—someone who places one’s head on the chopping block. The operator could be the holiest of men, or the worst of criminals. Either way, he’s going to cut your head off.
The analogy being, it matters not if you elect the most moral, religious, educated, kindest or sweetest person you know and believe will represent your interest in Washington. The fact of the matter is, after arriving there, he’s going to take your property by passing laws to enforce the legal plundering, obviously in larger and larger amounts.
A few years back I owned a small decorating business. One day, I was decorating an attorney’s office when a young lawyer in an adjoining office came over and watched me. I asked him if he wanted me to decorate his office when I finished. I was unloading a large specimen tropical marginata plant when he asked me if I had anything to give away free. I dropped the heavy plant and told him I did have something to give away free, “A lot of bad advice. How much would you like to have?” He quickly turned and ran back into his office.
My question to the reader is: How much oppressive legislation do you want? How much bad debt will you tolerate Congress dumping on you? Thirdly, do you have any power to change anything? More importantly, do you want to change anything?
The great American humorist, Will Rogers, who died in 1935 said, “The short memories of American voters is what keeps our politicians in office.”
Let Freedom Ring!
JUST ME,
AC
