Think for Yourself

(September 12, 2006) As we roll into a new political season, I am seeing the verbal equivalent of a civil war erupting on the airwaves. Every network has an assortment of talking heads, analysts, experts, strategists and so on. What all of them have in common is extreme partisanship. As I watch the campaign shift into full gear, I am struck by how divided we really are when it comes to the political life.

Let me say at the outset that I am registered as No Party Affiliation, or as I put it, "NPA and Proud!" I will get into the why for that later. However, what I see on the news is that not one of these people, including the reporters themselves, has a shred of objectivity left. In fact, it is an easy observation to say that the Congress is broken, or at least extremely non-functional. And the administration is flailing about in political waters without as clue.

As it stands now, the Democrats will blame the president for anything and everything. As we passed the one year mark on Hurricane Katrina, we had the spectre of Democrat talking heads running around blaming Bush for the disaster that hit New Orleans. While it is very true that the administration was slow to react, it is equally true that a disaster of that magnitude is not going to be healed overnight. But that has not stopped the barbs on both sides. I had the displeasure of watching Nora O'Donnell on MSNBC try to force an official from New Orleans into blaming Bush. "So the president failed then, right?" was her most common question. Last I heard, no human can control the weather. On the flip side, we have the Republicans in a typical circle the wagons defense blame the mayor and governor for everything. While the blame game is being played out, literally half of the people of New Orleans remain homeless or in trailers. To the talking head crowd, they are just so much meat for the mill.

And therein lies the problem and failure of our political system. Not one elected official cares a whit about you, me or anyone else except themselves. Everything they do, say and think is geared towards the next election victory. Ask a Democratic spokes-jerk about the war and they will tell you that the administration had no plan. They will tell you we failed because Osama is still at large. Ask a Republican and they will tell you that the Democrats are cut and run cowards. They will also tell you that we are all the safer since we have gone 5 years without being attacked.

The Democrat will call that luck, the Republican will call the Democrat an appeaser and on and on. Nowhere in that exchange do you hear about the people. And to really lock that point up, the Congress, in a moment of supreme incompetence failed to pass an increase in the minimum wage and a reduction in the estate tax. Both sides claimed to be looking out for the people when they scuttled the bill. Which people? Certainly not the residents of Washington, DC itself, who are locked into a congressionally enforced cycle of poverty and violence. By not raising the minimum wage and not reducing the estate tax and maintaining the tyrannical ban on firearms ownership, these people - some of whom actually work in the Capitol - are denied a decent paycheck, the ability to grow and [pass along a small business and the right to defend themselves.

The US Senate, once a great deliberative body, is now no more than a large sandbox with 100 spoiled brats fighting. The House of Representatives is a joke at best, passing legislation that will never be enacted while ignoring important things like our borders. Literally everything that our federal government does is now designed as a campaign tool. And the talking heads make it worse. They are trying to scare you into believing them to the exclusion of all else. In fact, they think that We The People are just plain stupid and not able to recognize what is going on in this country.

5 years ago, I changed my registration to NPA. Why? Because the Democrats became so enraged over the 2000 election that they became obstructionists, pure and simple. The Republicans, so tickled at the victory became even more elitist. Now, neither side represents anyone I know. In fact, they are doing their best to use the anger from 2000 to drive this election. It is so bad, that an incumbent US Senator was defeated in a primary by his own party. Joe Lieberman (D-CT) was beaten by an unknown rich guy who was recruited by the Democrats to get even with Lieberman for supporting the war effort and refusing to denounce Bush. Right - an honored man, who has served with true integrity was squeezed by his friends for refusing to join the Bush bashing party.

The Republicans are no better. Here in Florida, Republican Representative Katherine Harris announced her intention to seek the party's nomination for US Senate. The Republicans did everything possible to push her out of the race. In fact, they raised money to try to defeat her, and enticed her staff to quit in mid-campaign. No Republican strategist is allowed to help her for fear of losing all other business. Why? Because she certified the 2000 election results (in exact accordance with Florida law) and became a lightning rod. Instead of defending her for doing her job, the Republicans have been trying to throw her under the bus for 6 years.

When November rolls around, ask yourself if the incumbent in your district represents you and your neighbors. If the answer is anything less than yes, I say toss them out. And make sure they take all their lobbyist friends with them.

Every time I hear some talking head launch into the "Iraq is/is not at civil war" spiel, I can only think that they are missing the real civil war - right here at home. Only instead of bombs and bullets, they have lies and spin to toss at each other. And who is caught in the middle of heir inane crossfire? Us.

Come election day, let's roll out the big weapon and vote these scoundrels, thieves, liars and losers out. New has to be better than what we have now.

Feel free to e-mail me your thoughts and comments at keeva@mindspring.com