Monday, August 15, 2011

Love the Country, Hate the Government

Somewhere, I read that it is possible to love your country, yet hate the government.  I believe this is true, because it's kinda/sorta what I have been thinking lately.  I think a lot of people are having the same feelings.  That's one of the reasons all the Republican politicians (Michele Bachmann, most recently) vow to "take the country back."  Many of them latch onto that silly, inane  line during campaigns.  Of course, what they really want to do is take the country backwards.  Nevertheless, it is a sign of frustration, and if that party gets back in the majority, you'll hear the same line coming from the Democrats, no doubt. However, what they will want is to take the country forward. 

It is questionable that either party will be able to do anything with the country once they "take it back," much like the old dog who chases cars until he catches one and then doesn't know what to do with it.  There are no thinker/doers in our government any more. There are posers, orators, whiners, egotists, morons, outright crooks and of course, in many cases, (see tea party) ignoramuses .  Mainly, though , both parties, lack "that vision thing," as George H.W. Bush so in-eloquently  put it.

Reagan didn't have it, but like to pretend that he did, like the actor he was. Bush the elder didn't have it, Clinton had it and squandered it. George W. wouldn't have recognized an independent idea if it walked up to him and introduced itself.  Barack Obama seems to have the "vision" part, but he appears to be too timid to act on it. 

I shudder to think who the Democrats would come up with if they took a notion to run someone against Obama.  What a bunch of wusses they have turned out to be. 

So, unless the American people start getting some smarts, which is doubtful given the state of our education system, what are we to do?  We just tootle along, fat and happy, watching "reality" TV and oblivious to the world around us. 

After seeing the results of  the laughable straw poll in Iowa last Saturday, I was more alarmed than ever. Not one of the candidates and future candidates has anything to recommend him/her.  Has anyone ever seen a sorrier collection of people who want to be our future leaders? 

And, who decided the timing was appropriate to start the "campaign season" this early?  A bunch of uptight. small state, small-minded people smack in the middle of the country who are determined to steal a march on New Hampshire. So, they schedule this meaningless exercise earlier and earlier.  It should be against the law to have presidential caucuses or straw polls or primaries before the year in which the election is to take place, and the national media should just shut up about it until then, too.

It's been cooler here for the past few days, and we've had rain.  But apparently, my mood hasn't improved. I'm not sure it will.

 Stay tuned.

10 comments:

Olga said...

That is the perfect picture for this post! I love it.

Kay Dennison said...

Amen to your pure, unvarnished, straight-from-the-hip truths. I applaud you!!!!

Betty said...

Olga and Kay: I know I'm sounding kind of like a "Johnny One-note." I'll try to stop that and come up with something I haven't complained about before.

Kay Dennison said...

You just keep singing your song and I'll keep singing mine in the hope that someone pays attention! Heck!! Even Warren Buffet thinks he needs to pay more taxes. Why can't the GOP figure that out?

Anonymous said...

Absolutely true....every word. You have a knack for hitting the nail on the head.

Margie's Musings said...

I'm still mulling over Huntsman. I'm definitely not interested in Rick Perry. He's too radical.

Meryl Baer said...

I guess people must be so bored by the time mid-August roles around or the heat gets to them that a few thousand people voting at a state fair becomes national news and(WHY? WHY? WHY?) meaningful. Next November is a long, long way off politically speaking. Let's hope enough sensible people ignore the nonsense...

marlu said...

My wish would be for a time limit on campaigning. I think they have this in some countries (England?)
This should not go on for a year and a half~

Margaret (Peggy or Peg too) said...

I'm moving to Canada. :-)

I live in the suburbs of DC - it's horrific here - 24/7. I stopped watching the news

Anonymous said...

Trying to place blame for government action/inaction for our current mess is like trying to analyse which part of the fart stunk up the room. I say let's vote them all out. This whole division of Dems vs. Repubs is a ludicrous. I bet %90 of people want the same things, clean food and water, good schools, and a healthy environment. Using hot button issues divide the people just makes us, the voters, ineffectual, and makes it easy to keep us susceptible to whatever whims the rich and powerful want to propagate.
MJ