<<You're the one inhaling...that's obvious>>
Actually I'm not but that's ok if you want to use what was meant as humor to define me
<<How else can anyone respect Bush>>
Respect (the way you and I and most Americans define it) is an evasive quality with the leaders of today. It's a quality rarely earned by most politicians and even less frequently rewarded by voters. Part of that is as a result of our system which makes corporate and special interest prostitutes of our elected officials. The ability to sell your soul for money is a prerequisite to becoming an elected official in Washington. The result is an immediate conflict and disconnect to the ability of a representative to be of, by and for the people. That means they now must pander to groups rather than represent real people. That's a systemic problem that wont go away until we have both term limits and campaign finance reform. Just as bad, it probably costs the taxpayers billions to maybe trillions of dollars between porked up bills and lower tax collection from Corporations.
I heard a statistic today that in the late 70's Corporations shouldered between 20% - 22% of the total tax burden in the United States. Today that figure is down to between 7%-8%. That's a 60% - 67% reduction in Corporate taxes that basically have been shifted to the taxpayers. Furthermore, the lobbyists that have purchased and facilitated this "shift of tax burden" have been afforded some special treatment. In some cases they've not only received lowered taxes but they've also been given the privilege to rape the American consumer. Take the drug industry for example. We pay more for our medicine than anyone else on earth. The pain is cloaked by insurance for most people but over the past 14 years the increase in cost is staggering. The European Union, Japan, Canada and many other countries of similar means to pay the same prices we do don't even come close. Most countries pay half or less of what we pay for medicine in the United States. The bottom line is this results in a 5-9x return on R&D in the drug industry. That's 500-900% return! Now I'm all for making a profit and I don't believe in price controls. But when those profits are made primarily on the back of US citizens when countries of equal means pay half of what we do....well - I have a problem with that. Now that's just one industry....Imagine how many similar examples there are and its almost all as a result of lobbyists. The dreaded "L" word (lobbyist) is not exclusive to Republicans my friend - both sides are on the take. Whether its from corporations, Unions or special interest groups is irrelevant. The end result is the same - Big taxes for wage earners.
Another part to the "respect" equation is the media. Our media has become so invasive that many well qualified people don't even want to run for office. Why would they when they can make more money in the private sector and not live under the microscope of a judgmental media. It's not all the media's fault though. Americans have a never ending thirst for dirt that must be quenched and I'm as guilty as everyone else. I'm not sure when it started but its gotten ugly. It's so bad that - Yes - I believe the quality of candidates we have to choose from has declined. I'm only 38 so I don't remember JFK. I've heard all the tales but as I understand it the media didn't run with news of him boinking other Women at that time. Today it's scrolling headlines. I've heard rumors that FDR had a girlfriend (who can blame him with that musk ox for a wife he had <g>) but again - the media didn't run with the story. The point here is I'm not sure we'll ever get back to the day when we can truly respect a President and the office with the way the media is today. It's hard to imagine having another Lincoln or Teddy Roosevelt in today's circus like atmosphere. Now, don't get me wrong - there are still the John McCain's of the world out there but those guys just aren't sexy enough for today's voter. And while I have immense respect for McCain - how long do you think it would be before the media tore him to shreds once he got into office?
The game has changed Orca. We now know these guys are bought and paid for long before they land in Washington. Lobbyists, Unions and Special interest groups are making it impossible for us to elect a truly clean candidate. Society has also changed. We're no longer enamored with truth, honesty and being proud Americans. We're more interested in dirt, deceit and dissent. The division bell has rung and with it has gone the concept of being Americans first. Now we place terms like Liberal, Conservative, Male, Female, African, White, Gay, heterosexual, Christian and Jewish BEFORE the word American!! We've turbo charged division in this country and its not serving us well.
What I find most amazing is that you can judge Bush for things that you'll just overlook for Kerry. I can't do that! I have to at least be intellectually honest with myself. My vote for Bush is admittedly a lesser of two evils but at least I'm honest about that - Unlike 90% of this board! If anyone can look me in the eye (I actually have two of them <g>) and tell me these are the 2 TOP candidates in the entire country and keep a straight face I think I'd pass out. Anyone who believes EITHER candidate is the best their party has to offer has worms and they should go see a Vet.
SO I ASK YOU - HOW CAN ANYONE RESPECT ANYONE ANYMORE? Don't bother with an answer because under the current circumstances WE CAN'T!
We need Term limits.
We need campaign finance reform.
We need to end lobbyists, special interest groups and union influence on our leaders
We need tax reform
We need to start electing good average citizens who really care about their neighbors to higher office.
We need to end the thirst for dirt and gossip
And
We need to identify ourselves as Americans FIRST! |
