I suppose you all know this, but it's much on my mind this morning and I just finished saying it on the radio. I want to say it here too.
One of the reasons we do not solve this nation's problems is that everyone is so busy trying to gain partisan advantage from them. I'd like to ask everyone to take off your Democrat and Republican party hats for a moment and just recognize something.
Democrats are causing the ship of state to sink. They are using food stamps and Social Security funds to buy votes, by encouraging people to depend on food stamps and disability benefits rather than encouraging them to work. I know they will get offended that I say it! I does not care! Democrats benefit politically when more people are dependent on government to survive. They're doing a good job using public funds to buy votes, but they're doing a terrible job governing this country. What's more, they're encouraging people to count on promises made way into the future for which there is no money, and they refuse to be honest about the fact that the promises will not and cannot be kept.
Clapping your hands, Republicans? Sorry, but it's your turn now.
Republicans are causing the ship of state to sink by doing what they always do - cowardly positioning themselves to lose. Republicans have leverage by virtue of the fact that they control the House. They have the power of the purse. But they do not use it. They could defund ObamaCare. They could refuse to authorize the big spending that Obama, Reid and Pelosi want to perpetrate. They could insist that we choose priorities and spend responsibly. I am not talking about appealing through the media or begging the president in negotiations. I am talking about using power they have. No spending is possible unless it passes the House. So why do Republicans keep authorizing it?
Because they are scared of political consequences. They are scared of criticism. They are scared of the media. And they are not united! The Karl Rove-type establishment Republicans don't like Tea Party Republicans because they want to keep doing what they've always done - get along by going along, and lose. And Tea Party groups aren't united either! They bicker with each other.
Rand Paul and Chris Christie are having a public feud that delights the media, who laugh every day as they write the headlines.
This is helping nothing! We are not achieving serious solutions because we are not taking the problems seriously, because we choose to play games like this instead doing what the public elects leaders to do.
I remain optimistic about this country, but this will only change when the people refuse to accept it any longer.
Is that day coming soon?
