The talk about good times sounded good, but it was only talk. As soon as our wonderful political parties sprung into action on the latest stimulus legislation, they fell flat on their – and our – collective faces.
A few baby steps, and then – boom! On their backsides they fell.
Sure, you can blame House Republicans, as not one – repeat, zero! – voted for the stimulus plan Wednesday, January 28th. Mark that day. It will live in infamy depending upon the next few political moves made by the President and House and Senate leaders.
It is hard to decide whether to hurl more scorn at ourselves or our reckless representatives. Such platitudinous promises of bipartisanship have been uttered before -- for decades. This time was supposed to be different.
There is little or no value in dissecting the causes for this silliness. Actions speak louder than words, and this week’s House vote sounds like a bullhorn. Our parties are unable to reach across the aisle. Whether or not you accept the Republican charge that the Democrats drafted the bill without their input, this sorry episode proves our political parties exist primarily for their benefit and not ours.
Speeches are crafted to make us believe otherwise. Do not believe them. Believe instead the actions. Rhetoric can sound uplifting and stirring, but it is not reality. It is merely talk. And talk is cheap. So cheap that is cheapens us, our system, and our society.
President Obama won this election but a large margin, the biggest since Reagan in 1984. One would think that our political leaders would assume that the public embraces his message of collaboration and would respond by moving away from pernicious partisanship.
This week the parties demonstrated that all they cherish is power, not the common good. They are filled with people who not only crave power but also positions of influence and worth. Now that Republicans are out, Democrats want their piece of the pie. They want jobs for themselves and their cronies. The spoils of victory, as it were. That is the way of the world, but how parties govern and use their power are legitimate topics of debate.
For all the apparent hopelessness, there is one thing voters can do. It takes some effort, but it is worth it. Contact your federal, state, and local political representatives. Tell them to knock it off. Tell them to sit down with the loyal opposition and hammer out an agreement that is right for our country.
Call the television and radio stations and tell them that Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Rachel Maddow, Keith Olbermann, and others of that ilk are not helping. They are stoking the fires for their own benefit and pocketbooks. President Obama’s bipartisan pledge seems hollow and falling by the wayside even quicker than former President Bush’s ‘Uniter’ persona. At least in 2000, I could understand the raw emotions emanating from that election. There is no similar excuse for today’s behavior other than party potentates wishing to exercise their power prerogatives.
Do something. Anything. Tell them to stop! This is getting old. Our problems are too big to haggle over whether the Democrats or the Republicans have the answer. We know that the solutions lie between the two parties’ ideologies. Therefore, politicians: sit down, talk, listen, analyze data, and craft plans that will solve our challenges and not sabotage them.
Fred W. Apelquist, III
Approximately 560 words.
© January 29, 2009
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