A Father's Thoughts

Government in action (Not)

As a small businessman watching my sales fall off during this uncertain economic environment I find the farce being played out in Washington appalling. After all of the anguish and interminable arguments made during these many months, nothing positive of significance has been accomplished. The incompetence of the policymaking Washington elite is beyond stunning.

While the media and the public are distracted by the kabuki dance, the needs of the nation are ignored. Millions are still unemployed, millions lack access to reasonable health care, schools are failing, infrastructure is crumbling, income and wealth inequality, that is a cancer in our national soul, is growing, and so forth. China, Brazil, India and others grow their economies and strengthen their international competitive positions while we refuse to deal with reality.

At 75 years of age I have lived through many national crises, some of which were existential. I don't recall a time when we intentionally created a self-inflicted wound as hurtful and damaging to so many citizens as we have done this year.

Now the Republicans, after walking away from a potential $4 trillion package to address the deficit because it contained some revenue increases (increases that most reasonable qualified observers say are necessary), are proposing a $1 trillion cut over 10 years so they can claim a political victory and embarrass the president. It is a victory insuring the resumption of this farcical effort during the holiday season. The Republicans are in the running to become the Grinch who stole Christmas this year.

The needy and vulnerable are targeted for cuts in services and support while the “job creators” sitting on their trillions of cash, don't create jobs and are protected from the obligation to participate in healing the economy. Our legislators, most of who are millionaires, sit in their comfortable offices protected from the negative consequences of their decisions.

Their biggest risk is that they might lose an election and have to move down the street to a well-paid position with a lobbying firm.

What a country!

 

Independence Day 2011

Brent Holloway, in his Sunday column in our local paper, The Spectrum, wrote a deeply moving essay on his relationship with his son noting that on this weekend as we celebrate the birth of our nation, his son is leaving for Afghanistan. He reminds us all of  “the sacrifices of so many who have served.”

His thoughts were still in my mind as I watched Bob Schieffer on Face the Nation. He spoke of the tremendous courage of our Founding Fathers who risked all by signing the Declaration of Independence 235 years ago. He contrasted that memory with what we see in Washington today noting that at a recent CBS News Town Hall he asked Senator Tom Coburn “why the Congress can’t get anything done anymore.”

Coburn stated that the senate has had fewer votes this session than at any time in 25 years. Members are reluctant to take positions on issues because they might have to defend their position in an election thus risking damage to their political careers. “So rather than come up here and do the job and have the courage and the honor to go out and defend your votes, we just don’t vote.” This at a time when our nation faces so many challenges.

While the Washington kabuki dance continues, covered breathlessly by the TV and other media, Brent’s son and thousands of other men and women have the courage and honor to quietly risk all answering the call of our nation.