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.