Monday, November 21, 2011

But For One Political Black Sheep!

Of course the super committee was designed to fail  Anyone who thought otherwise need only look at the math.  An even number from each party. Of course had it been an uneven number it too would have failed.  What was needed was one person, just one, who put country before party ideology.  It wasn't going to happen and isn't.

As I write this the super committee has yet to voice it's failure.  If they do come out with a last minute agreement it will be an act of lame desperation and doomed to failure anyway.  They might as well just slink out of town for the Thanksgiving holiday.

And they wonder why the American public has such a low opinion of them.  Both parties were on all the Sunday talk shows spouting about how there is always hope though things didn't look good.  I watched the clips of them looking oh, so smug while blaming each other for the failure.  It was so pathetic it wasn't even worthy of contempt.

The behavior of Congress has brought about good reason for term limits.  We agree they are all bums.  Everyone, at least, except our own.  We need to get over that.  Maybe we need to look at their bank accounts when running versus leaving to drive the point home.  Insider trading and self enrichment.

It's time for them to have to live by the laws they pass with which we have to live.  How do we do that?  How do we find candidates willing to be that black sheep and say, "Stop, enough"? I haven't a clue.  I'm not sure that type of potential candidate is out there.

Is it time to consider love of and faith in our country above all else?  Is it time to give them a pass on their religions?  Is it time to give them a pass on their moral failings?  Does one really effect the ability to govern or should governing for the good of the country trump all other faults?

That the committee failed by design is of little matter other than the principle.  With no one Congress beholden to the prior and the time lapses between decisions and implementation make efforts meaningless.  If the power changes parties.  Otherwise we're doomed to whatever legislation passes whether we like it or not.

I dwell too much on politics.  I hear sound bites from on the street surveys that show me too many people are uninformed and laugh about it.  I wonder if they vote.

 We are in a sense just like a herd of sheep.  We followed Shepard Obama.  We would have followed Shepard Hillary had it not been for Obama.

The Republicans are following the shepard of the week.  Now, of course, it's Newt.  Good thing Iowa kicks things off in January.  They're running out of shepards.

So what will they do?  Return to Obama?  Follow the last shepard standing or spook and run hither and thither until they collapse from sheer exhaustion or run off a cliff?

One of the constant mantras we hear is about how awful it is we're kicking the can down the road to our children and grandchildren.  I've got news for you, it isn't  particularly great for those of us in the here and now.

Maybe we sheep need to stop swaddling the shepards in our warm wool, our insulating wool.  Leave them out in the cold and wet.  Let the wool get wet.  When it does it will not only shrink, it will stink.  Then maybe they'll get an idea of what our lives are like.

Ah, wishful thinking - the spawn of rants.

3 comments:

Margie's Musings said...

I intend to vote for anyone except the incumbants. I am sick of all of them. We need fresh blood in Congress.

John Dwyer said...

I was naive enough to believe the committee was real--I thought it would be suicidal for them--but, all the less, real. Will I ever get old enough to become less naive. Future improvement will only happen when we get a responsible press that deals with these issues in a non-partisan manner. This is not going to happen as the press is now entirely in the entertainment business.

Margie's Musings said...

I watch only PBS. They at least try to be balanced.