Day: July 14, 2011

Is The Game Afoot?

For the past months we have had this political game called the debt ceiling raging on and on in Washington….lots of talking points, lots of accusations, lots of lies and half truths….all in the name of making the US a more stable economy and thus saving the country from the ugly fate of Greece and the others……and now after meeting walk outs, lines drawn in sand and a general lack of respect and cooperation….the GOP is offering up a deal…..

Reported in Political Wire website…….

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is “actively pursuing a new plan under which the debt ceiling would grow in three increments over the remainder of this Congress unless lawmakers approve a veto-proof resolution of disapproval,” Politico reports.

“In effect lawmakers would be surrendering the very power of approval that the GOP has used to force the debt crisis now. But by taking the disapproval route, Republicans can shift the onus more onto the White House and Democrats since a two-thirds majority will be needed to stop any increase that President Obama requests.”

ABC News: “Under McConnell odd plan, the President could get a clean, no-strings-attached debt ceiling increase of $2.5 trillion, but he would have to endure three politically treacherous votes that would allow upwards of two-thirds of the Congress to be on record disapproving of his actions. In other words, the President would get his debt ceiling increase and Republicans would score political points, but there would be no guarantee of any spending cuts.”

Greg Sargent: “At bottom, McConnell’s proposal is the latest GOP line on the debt ceiling — it’s Obama’s problem, not ours — taken to its logical and legislative conclusion.”

What game is this?  You mean that the GOP is caving in and giving Obama an out?  Did Obama win?  Are the Repubs surrendering?  Or is this a deal that will bite Obama in the ass in the 2012 elections?  Or did Wall Street grab the GOP by the scruff of the neck and tell them to find deal?

Is this more of the same political games and theater?   How will the Tea Party react?  Will Boehner and McConnell lose the confidence of their colleagues?  Where will this end?  Who will win and who will lose?

So many questions….so few answers……

Your thoughts?

We Must Challenge The System

College of Political Knowledge

Today is Bastille Day, July 14, the French equivalent to our Independence Day…..and since it started a revolution I thought I would give a few thoughts……

Everybody wants change!  Repubs want the entitlement system changed…..Dems want the financial system changed……and the people want change…..the problem is the politicians want change and know what they want to change….the people are another story….they want change but have NO idea what change they want….. we would have a lot fewer political and economic problems if the voter knew what they were doing when they cast their vote……..and there is the rub…….they have NO idea what they want or even what they are doing when it comes to the country and its governing style…..

I have been lecturing, writing, analyzing and teaching about politics for a long time and the one thing that has been constant is the complete ignorance of the voter…….

If the American people want to take back the government then they need to challenge the system we have today….this can be done by pushing for the end of the electoral college, pushing for term limits, demand participatory democracy and finally, demand an end to all the money in the campaigns and a shortened campaign season…..none of this would be easy….but it can change our country and our system and return it to the government….of the people, for the people and by the people……

You can call this a revolution if you want to….does not matter……but remember the word revolution does not necessarily mean an armed insurrection……and now you are thinking what a crock of crap I am feeding you, right?

Okay, I can live with that…..but ask yourself what are some of the common causes of a revolution?

Do not hurt yourself…..the leading cause of a revolution is an unmanageable national debt and a grossly inequitable process of taxation and food scarcity and a reactionary persecution of religious dissenters……there more but these seem to be the most common….these were there for the French revolution and the Russian…..if the state promises but cannot deliver on those promises………..and if you look carefully they are here in the country we all love…….the conditions are taking shape…..

It is time for the people and especially the politicians, to realize that this country is teetering….and all this game playing in Washington could be the finally shove that could be fatal….it is our country….let us make it better for all!