Country and its people use to come first with politicians….that has slipped from the collective memory of the voter….now we vote along lines….partisan crap and the country takes backseat to party politics…..
Our strength use to be political debate without the insulting and division…an op-ed says it better than I could……
For many decades the US had a substantive debate on policy…now it is just plain silly….both parties were part of the discussion……now it is just sniping at each other from the TV cameras.
Back in 1944 FDR, a Dem, offered up an Economic Bill of Rights……
Among these are:
- The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;
- The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;
- The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;
- The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;
- The right of every family to a decent home;
- The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;
- The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;
- The right to a good education.
Keep in mind that was in 1944……then 12 years later the GOP platform had a familiar ring to it……and the candidate won the presidency…..IKE.
Now compare the two and you will see they are similar with similar goals……those days are gone….but what a great country this would be if we all worked for a similar cause and effect.
Could we return to those days when our politicians had similar goals but their approach was slightly different?……those days are gone….now it is about division and insults and total stupidity.
The hate spewed these days makes a great country out of reach…….and the “new” era is only 6 months old…..a long long row to hoe.
Comments?
You are right but nobody is going to do anything about it because only the very rich have any power and influence and it is they who created the mess … and as long as they love the mess they have created nothing is going to change.
Sadly you are right.
🙁
FDR’s 1944 policies look pretty good, even in 2017. Shame nobody wants to implement them.
Best wishes, Pete.
Technically, they have this lovely slogan called “America First!”
Oh, wait–that’s just freaking words.
What’s really crippling us is not just the idea of “America First” but “Me First.” Us poor peons at the “middle” to the bottom could probably get something together if we’d knock off the “your problems can’t possibly affect me” schtick and stop looking out for #1. We need to pull ourselves into a community of people looking out for each other and communicating together, not shutting the world out (which is DAMNED hard these days) and barring the door from your neighbors.
Divide and conquer has proven effective throughout history. Can we come back from that?
“Long road to the ho’s??” Ho’s?? You mean the government is going to provide ho’s now??
Dammit. I’m too old to care.
They did during Vietnam..it was called R&R….chuq