Curmudgeon's Corner

In The Eye Of The Beholder

Posted by Al Campbell on Jan. 25, 2012

U.S., Quality of Life, Political, Economy

The phrase "in the eye of the beholder" seems particularly appropriate for today.  I watched only part of the State of the Union address last evening.  That was a blessing for which I am most thankful, so I doubt that I'll watch the recording that I made.

I am always amazed that one person can glean an entirely different message from such a performance as did another person.  That is the essence of politics, I guess.  Those from the party in power, whether or not they really believe in their heart of hearts, always pose for the pictures and make the statements that are expected.

The party in opposition, always seems able to find the opposite message in what was said or unsaid.

Maybe it was that which was left unsaid that is actually more important; maybe that is the real takeaway we should strive to understand.   There was nothing said about the fact that the Keystone XL pipeline project was killed last week, but there was much said about the success of the energy initiatives now underway.  I note that our gas prices are still in the range of $3.30 per gallon so I guess that must be the new normal.  Or maybe the new normal will get to be $4.50 to $5.00 per gallon as was discussed a week or two ago.

There was nothing mentioned about the 1,000th day anniversary of the lack of a budget from the United States Senate although it was plain that the President will run against the Trumanesque "do nothing Congress".  I presume the President is really referring to the "do nothing House" since the Senate is populated with a majority from the President's own party.  Although, I suspect that, if it made political sense, the President would not hesitate to throw the Senate under the bus.  He did, after all, declare that he'd do what he wanted to do with or without Congress' approval.  Sounds like good ole' dictatorship to me.  More czars is exactly what we don't need, thank you very much.  More income redistribution is exactly what we don't need.  More good paying new jobs is what we need.  Less government boondoggles is what we need.  Wise use of existing natural resources is what we need.

I confess that I am jaded when it comes to politics.  I confess that I am a fiscal conservative and that I am becoming less a social conservative as I grow older and spend more time with my Bible.  I know that we, as a country and as a people, are in trouble.  I do not think the present Administration is as concerned about that plight as it ought be; or, it isn't concerned because it sees this as playing to its advantage.

The next election is as important, in my opinion, to our country as any election in my lifetime.  This election will either cement and speed the continued development of the new normal or it will begin the process of restoring fiscal sanity and stemming the move toward further class envy divisions that have already been created.

Many of you who read this will disagree with my take, I'm sure, but it is what it is from my point-of-view.  We simply cannot spend money we don't have on programs that further divide us as a people.  We cannot ignore the obvious issues of our time if we expect to continue to be the leader of the free world.

I believe it was The Iron Lady, Ms. Thatcher, who postulated that "the trouble with socialism is that you run out of other people's money sooner or later" or words to that effect.  Maggie had it nailed then and has it nailed now.  Look closely at Britain to see how that is working for them.  Is that what we want for our country?