The Presidential Campaign Circus is back. The caravan of vehicles, from Bentleys to Wagon wheels, is back in the neighborhoods soliciting votes. The presidential campaign process with its apparent need to raise astronomical funds to participate, has eliminated qualified and capable individuals from participation in our Republic.
Qualified citizens must pay to participate in the civic growth and progress of the Republic. If we are to move forward as a successful nation, we must reconstruct the political participation landscape. What does raising money have to do with the ability to Govern? Unfortunately, the media has succeeded in giving the impression that there is a correlation. The truth is the media benefit by invoicing the candidates for coverage and at the end of the process; the voters pay for undeliverable.
Money or access has become a significant criterion. Survival of character assassination is now the first frontier. Ability and love of the Republic is irrelevant. The current political climate froth with character assassination would have eliminated many of our Founding fathers from participation in our Republic.
The political system has become Selective rather than Elective. Political incumbents have succeeded in persuading the masses to believe in the nebulous concept of Electability and Name recognition. Electability does not equate to performance. Having my father’s name does not mean I am like he, or as capable, or that you can predict my performance. Voters are being fed ineptitude wrapped in Electability and seasoned with “Name Recognition”.
It is flawed thinking to conclude, that one candidate has more experience than the other. If you have never been President, how can you have experience? No one has experience dealing with the evolving issues of the world. A candidate’s ability to deal with the issues in the Middle East and not disenfranchising Israel can be determined during the campaign. Any peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians that include reference to 1967 are a non-starter. To be honest, anyone who echoes concern about the aftermath of each uprising in the Middle East and appear to be oblivious to the gravity of the actions on the street is not qualified to deal with the issues.
The Presidential Campaign, especially the Democrat Debates is a distraction. The Debates are a distraction from real world issues and National concerns. A DISTRACTION, from Domestic and International issues.
No election, Political party, or singular economic philosophy will resolve the financial crisis of 2008, the unemployment condition created by NAFTA, or the failed Health Care policy. Time, focus, concentration, new ideas, and new people in Washington D.C. will move The Republic in the right direction and fix problems. This is precisely why we need Term Limits for members of congress. We do not need candidates running for the Presidential office everyday. We need politicians who do not solicit votes to be elected, and then legislate on issues to satisfy the interest of lobbyists or campaign contributors.
You cannot teach old dogs new tricks. If you put Lipstick on a pig, it is still a pig. People, Philosophies, and Ideologies do not change. While it is not how you start but rather how you finish, History has proven that start does matter with respect to political and International relations. If you begin by saying, Africa is a Country; the Postman will not be able to deliver the Telegram.
Most Countries in the West are experiencing Fiscal deficits because Expenses are greater than Revenue. The knee jerk reaction of some politicians is that expenses must be reduced, with no consideration to increasing revenue. The unfortunate truth is that in times of world economic plight and blight any attempt to focus solely on reducing expenses will create additional hardships on the already suffering population.
It is wrong to support Fiscal mismanagement, and it is wrong to attempt correction and irresponsibility on the backs of the poor. Two wrongs have never made a right. Fixing National deficits on the backs of the poor will create unrest similar to that in the Middle East.
Simply put, if Revenue is 100 Billion and Expenses are 150 Billion then we have a deficit of 50 Billion. Fixing the deficit by reducing expenses by 50 Billion seems like a logical action but that could create an issue. Eliminating expenses means eliminating programs. Eliminating programs will mean eliminating jobs at some level. Governments cannot afford to contribute to the level of unemployment when citizens are expecting them to be part of the solution. Government and Private Business is either part of the problem or part of the solution. Fortunately, POTUS is on the right Tracks Domestically and Internationally.
The fiscal responsible response to correcting national Deficits is a combination of reducing expenses, increasing revenue, and further searching the details of expenses to find and eliminate useless items. Frankly, studying the domestication of Squirrels is useless.
Increasing the deficit ceiling will only create an atmosphere that presumes continued deficits are not a serious matter. Continued deficits must be curtailed, if there is a genuine interest in addressing National debt. A national deficit is the equivalent of a battle but National Debt is a war.
Increasing the debt ceiling is analogous to raising your credit limit at the company store to spend more knowing very well, that you are having issues making the payment on the previous limit. The only accomplishment from such action is the debt getting older and deeper.
Which of the participants in the Debates can handle the following?
Unemployment, Manufacturing Jobs, Deficit and Debt, Illegal Immigration, Abortion, Declining morality by our elected officials, Campaign Financing, Pakistan, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Uprising in the Middle East, Turmoil in Africa, inevitable conflict with Iran and North Korea, and growing friction with China. I say none. What do you think?
