Day: May 19, 2010

The American People May Not Be In A Coma

Have you heard the news coming out of Arizona?  No!  Not the immigration thing that has everybody’s panties in a twist….I mean the sales tax thing….as reported by the LA Times:

Voters in this famously tax-averse state Tuesday night approved a temporary hike in the sales tax to stave off brutal budget cuts.

The veteran Republican had shocked many in her party last year by advocating the penny sales tax increase, arguing that the state couldn’t simply cut its way out of a deficit that rivals California’s. Critics said it was economic suicide to raise taxes in a recession.

Political observers have noted that because the governor was defying GOP orthodoxy by pushing the tax increase, she had little option but to sign the immigration bill, which is strongly supported by most Arizona voters and an overwhelming proportion of Republicans.

It seems that the American people, at least Arizonans for now, agree with me that some form of tax increases are needed to save needed programs.  The residents voted FOR the increase; this was not some sneak attack on their lives by some shady, back street deal made with politicians.

Given the facts, as best as a politician can give the facts, and the people can make a decision that effects their lives……a plus for more direct democracy.

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Primary

2010 Election series

Yesterday was the BIG test, the mini mart of political contests…..the 2010 primaries…..are the American people angry enough to throw the bastards out?

In Kentucky the GOP endorsed candidate loses to Tea Party candidate Rand Paul; Penn. Dem fav Spector loses to up start Sestak and in Arkansas the Dem fav has a run-off with a more progressive candidate….so to answer the question……it appears that the voters, at least in the minin mart of primaries, are tired of business as usual in Washington….

We can talk about ideology or we could talk about pragmatism or we could talk about the weather…..

Is it just me or does the GOP wait for each new poll before they have an opinion on any given issue?  Especially with the next election.  They seem to be very flexible or is it they are just pragmatic?  Pragmatic…now there is a word that haunts politicians….

Maybe that what a pragmatist is….someone that has NO really ideology but someone that chooses one that is most advantageous to their political aspirations.  I am sure that there are those that think that a smaller less expensive government is their main belief….if so, what happen between 2000 and 2008?  I guess we could say that they have seen the err of their ways, right?

I think NOT!  Thanks to Obama and the Dems, they now see they have an opportunity to dismantle ALL programs that they do not like….most namely the ONLY retirement fund that most Americans have, Social Security or the ONLY medical plan that they have, Medicare or Medicaid.  These two programs have been the most uncomfortable for the GOp since their beginning and the GOP has worked for decades to lessen or eliminate them all together.

Sorry, I digress…….

Repubs are going with the flow to get elected so they can jump on their dislikes with both feet.  They are trying to tap into the populist feelings of the electorate…..especially the economic populism.  They are embracing the anti-incumbent feelings and the Tea Party mentality….this could backfire on them as it may in Kentucky where the GOP backed candidate is losing to the Tea Party back candidate…..

Because of the latest election, the GOP has a good chance to pick up control of at least one house in the US….but they are making the same promises that they always make and do not deliver…..so any gains will be short lived, but that gives them time to attack the working people of this country in favor of the corporate shenanigans of the past.

It does appear that the American people are truly angry and tired of the BS in Washington……but will the anger continue until the November elections?