State Of The Union - Did You Hear What I Heard?

I didn't hear much. I heard absolutely nothing about the actual state of the union. I did hear a lot of 'I's and 'me's and condescension toward those of us who just don't get it.

Actually, I think I do get it. This next year is to be business as usual. The main topic may be jobs rather than health care reform but the tactics look like they'll continue unchanged. Ho hum.

The Democrats, especially the far left in the persona of Pelosi, have apparently not heard the people! What haven't they heard? We are not in favor of health care reform as it stands. Doing an end around will not change that. We're not in favor of cap and trade. We're skeptical about the facts behind and therefore the need for radical climate change as proposed. To simplify it, the American public does not like the direction nor the rate of change the administration and Democratic Congress are trying to take the country.

Much has been made of Scott Brown's election to the Senate. When you look at him along with the governors of Virginia and New Jersey it's hard to miss that they ran against the administration's policies. And won. Why does Congress and the President not understand this? Deep down I think they they do. But the current mind set is they know best, they've got the power and that's the way it is.

The Republicans aren't helping matters any. Those of the tea bag mind set that are threatening to run their own candidate if the Republican is too moderate will defeat their own purpose. We moderates, though having made some inroads, are the ones being squeezed out. Where does one go? There is inter party warfare on both sides of the aisle and the fall out from last night's speech indicates there is little chance of change.

What I'd really like to see happen is what each claim they want. Talk to each other. Compromise. Neither ideology will ever be totally satisfied; a middle ground must be found or we'll be doomed with ineffectual government and and an increasingly bitter and frustrated population.

When I see that some Mayo Clinics are turning out their medicare patients because medicare reimbursements no longer cover the cost of care, it scares me. Where are those people to go. Will I be next? Yet cutting medicare reimbursements is still on the table. Is anyone paying attention?

The President, with all his eloquence, gave a speech filled with contradictions. Cut spending here; raise spending there. I wondered at times if he even reviewed it before giving it.

One thing is blatantly obvious. We have a dysfunctional administration and Congress. No one escapes blame for the mess we're in; not even us. We put them in office. We're doing better at holding their feet to the fire but for the moment we're the ones getting burned!