To be brutally candid, I've been in something of a funk lately. Part of my mood, of course, has to do with my various physical issues. Between my still swollen right foot, ailing right shoulder and congenital left hip, I've been dealing with a considerable amount of pain AND loss of mobility. These problems in and of themselves are enough to sour anyone's state of mind.
But it goes much deeper than that! Since I can't motor around as I normally would, I've been watching TV and listening to the radio more frequently than usual. I am just sick of all the negative political ads that predominate. They play the same ones over and over and over and over again. As a politically astute individual, I generally can see through most of the misrepresentations, half-truths and outright lies.
The Democratic candidates don't have much of a positive record to stand on, so their ads almost exclusively attack the opponent. The Republican ads are just as insipid. While they too viciously attack their Democratic opponents, their main mantra is "cut waste, reduce spending" to balance the budget. But their idea of reducing expenditures doesn't include defense appropriations which accounts for -- in its various forms -- almost 50% of the budget! Consequently, they would need to gut what's left -- the social safety net and national infrastructure -- to meet their goal.
It's as if a family of four (dad, mom and 2 children) met at the kitchen table one evening to discuss the family's budget woes.
It's enough to put any thinking person in a funk!!!!
But it goes much deeper than that! Since I can't motor around as I normally would, I've been watching TV and listening to the radio more frequently than usual. I am just sick of all the negative political ads that predominate. They play the same ones over and over and over and over again. As a politically astute individual, I generally can see through most of the misrepresentations, half-truths and outright lies.
The Democratic candidates don't have much of a positive record to stand on, so their ads almost exclusively attack the opponent. The Republican ads are just as insipid. While they too viciously attack their Democratic opponents, their main mantra is "cut waste, reduce spending" to balance the budget. But their idea of reducing expenditures doesn't include defense appropriations which accounts for -- in its various forms -- almost 50% of the budget! Consequently, they would need to gut what's left -- the social safety net and national infrastructure -- to meet their goal.
It's as if a family of four (dad, mom and 2 children) met at the kitchen table one evening to discuss the family's budget woes.
Dad: I've been going over the family budget and I've decided we need to make some big changes.If all this wasn't bad enough, a recent story on CNBC (courtesy of RealityZone) predicts:
Mom: Since I lost my job and your dad's hours have been cut, we simply aren't bringing in the same monthly income as before.
Dad: We're going to institute a pretty much across the board reduction in a lot of areas and you kids are going to need to buck up for awhile.
Son: OK dad.
Daughter: We'll try.
Dad: First off, your weekly allowance are going to be cut by 50%.
Son: 50%! Isn't that a bit drastic?
Mom: Honey, I know it won't be easy, but we've got to do it.
Daughter: (Sigh)
Dad: We need to cut our energy usage by at least 40%. So, make sure you turn off all lights not in use. No TV after 10 pm.
Daughter: But my favorite shows come on at 10 pm!
Dad: Tough. WE each need to make sacrifices. Next, we're going to cut the food budget by 33%.
Son: Wait a second. I'm a growing boy.
Dad: You won't grow so much this coming year. You're getting a bit fat anyway.
Son: Are you going to cut your beer budget?
Dad: No. I need that to unwind after work.
Mom: That's not fair, honey! You said we were going to make across the board cuts. If we have to sacrifice, you do too.
Dad: Sorry. It's non-negotiable.
Mom: OK. But all the money you spend on pornography has to go!
Dad: Nope. I'm the sole bread winner and I need certain diversions to keep me motivated to go to work everyday.
Son: How about all the money you spend on your gambling addiction?
Dad: That's off the table too.
Mom: So, let me understand this, dear. We as a family must make deep sacrifices, but none of the money you spend on your "diversions" will be reduced in any way, shape or form?
Dad: Yes, you got it! So, is dinner ready? I'm starved.
Congress will pass a bill to "forgive" banks the potentially criminal errors made in foreclosure proceedings, a senior CNBC editor predicts.Add to this all the various waivers big business is receiving regarding implementation of the so-called "socialist" health care reform bill and it's really clear that politics as usual continues unabated!
In a blog column Friday, John Carney argues that lawmakers in DC won't allow the country's largest issuers of mortgages to suffer financial losses following revelations of numerous mishandled foreclosure proceedings, especially when bailing them out this time "won't cost taxpayers a dime."
...Carney predicts that the lame-duck session of Congress following this November's elections will pass the law. "Every member of Congress ... who has been voted out of office will cast a vote for the bill. And the President will sign it..."
It's enough to put any thinking person in a funk!!!!
I wish you could experience an election up here in Canada, Trey.
ReplyDeleteIt's very rare for a campaign ad to be as brutal as the ones you have in the US (and when it does happen, it is controversial and actually seems to do more harm than good!)
Part of this is a cultural thing - Canadians tend to be more laid-back than Americans. Part of it is also due to the fact that in the average election we will have at least 3 (often 4 or 5) different parties competing. And that is just counting the "major" parties that have a decent shot at winning - there are many smaller parties, too!
I wish the US could come up with a similar system. Only having 2 major parties is such a divisive way to do politics. When there are several different viewpoints in competition it makes the political scene much less of an "us vs. them" fight. :)
I wish we had a Canadian-style political system too!
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