So I am catching up on the news the other mornin’ and happen on an article about Rudy Giuliani and his “coziness” with Rupert Murdock and how “Fox Network” suddenly appeared on New York cable TV when there were folks ahead of them on the waiting list at Time Warner. It also discusses court intervention and how even that did not detour Fox or Rudy in their quest for cable exposure in New York and subsequently Rudy’s unprecedented successive appearances on Fox programs during his run for the Whitehouse. Anyway you can read it for yourself if you want by following the link http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/07/21/rupert-murdoch-scandal-rudy-giuliani-s-ties-to-news-corp.html?om_rid=DnqIHH&om_mid=_BOKXWyB8cdETF7
My attention was drawn not so much to the article, for Murdock has a long history of manipulation, but to the comments afterward and one lady saying “The President's associations are far more questionable than Rudy's friendship with Murdock.” That is all she said, no mention of what those “associations” were of course and she did not answer queries from others regarding her allegations. I have one question for her assuming that what she is saying is even correct…why is it American’s these days are flocking to the doctrine that a wrong is fine if it is in line with other wrongs? Or for some, it is OK to “sin” because one is forgiven of their sins if they are a “believer”. I find it far more rewarding not sinning in the first place, and I do not understand what we are condoning these days when it comes to being more right. That should read “correct” I guess, but I left it as “right” because the play on words indeed sums up some of the thinking…the more “right” you are, the better American you are.
My Dad was a good Republican back when the differences of party were represented by ideas on how to get to the same end, and that being the betterment of the country. Back then the two parties were both respectful of each other even though they were far apart at times, but they worked and bartered together and got things done; that was pre-lobby mind you. For myself I have never picked a Party to call my own, but in the last few years I have discovered that I do not like “my way or the highway” style of discussion, nor blatant head turning ignorance among the politicians when it comes to the manufacture of lies to win at all costs such as the “Muslim terrorist” myth swirling on the internet about Obama’s Presidential intentions. There were normally sane politicians turning their heads to many of the lies like that one and all for the sake of winning, never mind that it was slowing economical recovery and causing people to discredit our highest office. Unfortunately, things like that have a way of coming back around, and they will.
Call me old fashioned, but before the incredible hold by lobbyists on our politicians and the media, and before the blessing of the Supreme Court condoning mega-political contributions from the lobbyists that big business employs, we had a much more balanced approach to government, fur flying or not. Media was also not as manipulative, or as influential because folks had to read and understand the words, and most understood that you cannot take stock in everything you read. Politicians had to speak to all Americans not just their constituents or their corporate lobbyist. I have not run across one Tea Party politician yet who will let me comment on their online contact form along with some Republicans and it baffles me what it is they are doing there if it is not to represent all Americans. Similarly, our House Speaker has his website set up the same way and I find that offensive. However, since he is Speaker you can contact him via the House website to tell him your ideas for America. My thinking is that we are all Americans and all are hurting economically and we should be heard.
The reality is we are not loud enough financially. Billions upon billions are spent every year by corporations, insurance companies and mega banks luring politicians to support them. In reality it is no different than the Mob and good old fashioned arm twisting, or worse.
My Sister was just saying that she felt like legislators were little kids when it comes to ironing out the debt ceiling change and feels like the TEA party leaders are a bunch of uneducated jerks who are driving this debate into the ground by ignoring the threat. I have to agree that even toying with the possibility of default at this point is nothing short of foolish no matter what your sworn ideology is. The other two parties know full well the consequences because they have been here before, but are playing the scary game of who is going to look the best come election time. If we default we not only have the potential to derail the country as a whole, and for a very long time, but the older Americans who are the largest voting body and biggest spenders are subject to losing everything they have saved for AND their investments in Social Security and Medicare. The middle class, working class could lose untold amounts of money stashed in their 401k as well as possibly their jobs. Do we really want to do that for the sake of a few tax breaks that lead to nowhere?
I am not naïve, and understand that the U.S. government indeed has a huge cleanup to do when it comes to money drain, but at this moment job creation and revenue are what we need to cure the ills, not clamping down and certainly not decreasing what revenue we have. Getting out of the two wars we got stuck with would go a long ways to helping things out. Getting rid of a ton of subsidies like Ethanol, foreign aid, farm subsidies, oil and gas incentives and cutting our massive defense budget would go nearly as far, but those entities all have huge lobbies and they pay to play like the middle class cannot. Interestingly enough, in my area of the country the rich are still building…erecting arts centers, 7000 square foot homes and polishing their gold in the basement vault, so I have to ask…where is that trickle down?
It takes money to make money, always has, always will. I have nothing against people who “have made it” in this world, but a faction of our government favors the ones who in part got where they are by the sweat of the middle class. Legislators are allowing money to talk through them and policy is being set according to who coughs up the most. I for one believe that the average American has coughed up way more than their share and we are the ones who will lose when the spittle of debate lands on us and the shiny bars are liquidated. Will we be able to talk?
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