My response
April 18, 2009My comments on the local tea party folks are based on my own observations and the comments they made. They are pretty clearly Republicans and more lashing out at Obama than government spending in general. That’s amplified by the fact that it wasn’t until the Republicans were defeated in the Presidential election that they decided to complain. If you’re truly against so much government spending, you should have been complaining long before now.
In terms of Mexico and universal healthcare… Those against it always seem to pick the worst examples of its implementation. England and France both have universal, single payer systems and they work quite well. We don’t have to build our system based on failed systems elsewhere. We can pick and choose what works best. The private insurance health coverage we use now doesn’t work unless you’re rich. And I contend that as long as health coverage is a “for profit” industry, it never will. Healthcare is not something that should be based on one’s ability to “pay the bill.”
The current stimulus package provides tax cuts for the majority of the country, gives money to important industries that can help us get off of our addiction to foreign oil and helps sustain industries that employ a whole lot of people. Without drastic action, the country would have insane unemployment (even higher than it is now) and we’d risk a total economic collapse. We can’t just sit back and do nothing. If you have a better plan, I’m all ears. So far all I’ve heard people do is complain.
As for taxes… Jesus said give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s. That money you “earn” isn’t yours. =) I understand the sentiment, but taxes are necessary for the operation of government. It is our duty, as citizens, to send responsible people to Washington to ensure they spend the money wisely. Unfortunately too many people have taken advantage of that responsibility and spent unwisely. If you’d like to look at it from a partisan perspective, when Clinton left office, there was a budgetary surplus… meaning we were going to be able to pay down the national debt. When Bush left office, not only was that surplus gone, he’d more than doubled the national debt. Taxes are a way of life now because we’ll be paying that debt down for generations.
I may be a democrat, but I’m a pretty moderate one. I believe in fiscal responsibility but I also recognize that some taxes are necessary. Some social programs are necessary as well. Even some of the ones you won’t agree with. I would love for the church to rise up and make welfare unncessary… but until the church does that, I’m not willing to let those people suffer. While I don’t like having to bail out businesses that made really bad business decisions, I do believe we can’t let the economy collapse and have people that have done nothing but work hard lose their jobs. (Take me for example, I work hard, do good work and yet I know that my industry is on the verge of total collapse… am I to blame for that? Should I suffer because others have made poor decisions?)
The tea partys were pushed by Limbaugh and Fox News. They’re partisan. A good portion of the signs at tea partys were criticizing Obama. The man just got in office and is dealing with the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression. Give him some time to deal with these issues and give him the respect he deserves as President. Isn’t that what everyone wanted for Bush? I just think the Tea Partys are claiming to be about taxes and spending but are really about being sore losers. If these people were truly upset about spending, why wait until Obama is in office to complain?
Interview Request
Hello Dear and Respected,
I hope you are fine and carrying on the great work you have been doing for the Internet surfers. I am Ghazala Khan from The Pakistani Spectator (TPS), We at TPS throw a candid look on everything happening in and for Pakistan in the world. We are trying to contribute our humble share in the webosphere. Our aim is to foster peace, progress and harmony with passion.
We at TPS are carrying out a new series of interviews with the notable passionate bloggers, writers, and webmasters. In that regard, we would like to interview you, if you don’t mind. Please send us your approval for your interview at my email address “ghazala.khi at gmail.com”, so that I could send you the Interview questions. We would be extremely grateful.
regards.
Ghazala Khan
The Pakistani Spectator
http://www.pakspectator.com
I understand that our current system of healthcare is broken. We are not letting Doctors decide what is best. My whole thought is that I DON’T trust the government. If we have universal healthcare and that leaves the President to decided what is covered and what is not then when the next President is in and he or she says that abortions are not covered then what are the Democrats going to do? Just asking.
Here is a better idea than spending almost a trillion dollars. Suspend ALL taxes and come up with a tax code that is less than 65,000 pages. I don’t care about paying a “portion of my taxes” but my GOD (oops I said God, sorry) but let it be one or two not a 100 taxes. The tax code should be very simple. Whatever you make pay 15 – 25 % in taxes beyond that FUCK OFF.
Sorry but Obama lied he raised tax on tobacco. That effects me I don’t see a reduction in taxes. Why don’t you raise tax on fat people they have just as many health problems as smokers.
In terms of a surplus when Clinton was in office it is easy when when you are not fighting a war, wearther you agree with it or not.
I agree with fiscal responsibility too. I just don’t believe EITHER side has the American People at heart. I don’t trust any of them. The one question I asked during the campaign and no one could answer well is “If there is a 25% approval rating in Congress” why should I vote for either one of the major candidates?
In terms of the Tea Parties. I think they were a good idea because NO ONE in Washington is listening. You probably did not make the stupid decisions that led you industry to fail, but we all have to bear the burnt of it. I believe in letting businesses fail that don’t work. We will have a stonger foundation because of it.
In summary, Iwish the government would leave me alone and let me succeed or fail on my own.
There are many people, all parties, who don’t trust the government at this point. Only time will prove who we can trust — that is what the American democracy is about. The idea that the tea parties are racist is the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard. We’re proud an African American is President. We are not proud of what he is currently doing with our money.
I do take EXTREME exception to the government telling me how to procure my healthcare, and I do take extreme exception to the government firing a CEO of an American company. That is a slippery slope.
I used Mexico because I have experience there — REAL LIFE experiences. You have nothing more than what the media has provided you, the same as many others who are fighting for that cause.
I believe in a free economy and I believe those who can’t make smart decisions in the economy must pay the price. It is not the government’s position to bail out private industry or we become socialist.
I’m a capitalist, not a socialist – in any form or fashion. I will go to my grave a capitalist. I believe it has served the United States well. Capitalists believe in our people and their abilities — we don’t trust government — that’s the bottom line.
I do love you for your passion. I simply disagree with you on taxes and universal healthcare at this point.
I totally agree with the previous response “I wish the government would leave me alone and let succeed and fail on my own.”
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/04/are_you_a_right_wing_radical_o.html
Thank you for being open minded. I am wiling to have the debate just sometimes I feel like no one is listening. It helps that someone IS listening to my point of view for that THANK YOU! Just for your understanding some of my BEST friends have the total opposite view of me and I love them just the same. I want them to succeed. I appreciate you at least understanding where I come from. We don’t have to agree on everything but we can “talk” about it. So THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
President Palin’s First 100 Days
A near disaster.
By Victor Davis Hanson
WASHINGTON (AP) — The first 100 days of the Palin presidency, according to a consensus of media commentators, have proven a near disaster. Perhaps it was Palin’s scant two years’ experience in a major government position that has eroded her gravitas, or maybe it was her flirty reliance on looks and informal chit-chat. In any case, the press has had a field day, and it is hard to see how President Palin can ever recover from the Quayle/potatoe syndrome. Here is a roundup of this week’s pundit mockery.
LET THEM EAT MOOSE
“Ted Stevens may have gotten off,” wrote Bob Herbert in the New York Times, “but he taught our Sarah something first — like using $100-a-pound beef for her state dinners. And what’s this $50 mil for her inauguration gala? Since when do you fly in your favorite pizza-maker from across the country on our dime? Or send the presidential 747 for a spin over the Big Apple for a third-of-a-million-dollar joyride? Does Palin think she’s still in Alaska and has to have everything flown in from the South 48 by jumbo jet?”
WASILLA CHIC
Also in the Times, Gail Collins weighed in on the already-tired yokelism of the new commander in chief. “What we’re getting is Wasilla chic. That’s what we’re getting. She arrives in the Oval Office, and first thing sends back Blair’s gift of the Churchill bust as if it’s a once-worn Penney’s outfit. Then she gives the Brits some unwatchable DVDs as a booby prize — as if she idled the old Yukon and ran into Target’s sale aisle. Did Sarah send Bristol into Wal-Mart back in Anchorage for that ‘engraved’ iPod for the queen? And what’s this don’t-bow-to-the-queen stuff, but curtsy for a Saudi sheik? Maybe that explains why she brags to Stephanopoulos about her ‘Muslim faith.’ So far, the best things going for her are Todd’s biceps.”
IT’S THE MATH, STUPID!
“Well,” lectured Paul Krugman, again in the Times, “we were worried that they didn’t teach math at Idaho U., and now we know for sure they don’t. Is it $1.6 trillion, $1.7 trillion, or $2 trillion in red ink this year? Are we supposed to be impressed that she offers ‘fiscal sobriety’ by cutting 0.003 percent of the budget? She gives out money to those who don’t pay taxes and calls it a tax cut. And now Queen Sarah tells us that in four years she’ll ‘halve’ the deficit, as if she hasn’t borrowed another $5 trillion in the meantime. Does she think we’re morons? How many ‘Drill, baby, drill!’ oil wells can she tap into up there in Alaska to pay for the extra $11 trillion in debt she’s saddling us with?”
WORSE THAN ‘NUCULAR’
ABC’s Katie Couric summed up the general disappointment with the president’s communication skills. “I tried to warn the American people in that interview a few years back what they would get if they voted for her. Let’s face it: She’s a walking embarrassment. I mean just count ’em up: The mayor of Wasilla thinks Austrians speak some lingo called ‘Austrian.’ Then she tries her hand at Spanish and comes up with some concoction, ‘Cinco de Cuatro.’ Next thing she’ll walk into the window of the Oval Office and expect it to open — oops, she’s already done that. No wonder that when her Teleprompter stalls, she shuts her mouth until it catches up. I’m surprised she managed to get sworn in. And did she think that tasteless ‘Special Olympics’ slur was funny? Or making fun of octogenarian Nancy Reagan’s séances? No wonder Wanda Sykes feels at home.”
ANCHORAGE STYLE
A “dragon lady in heels” is what President Palin is, according to the NYT’s Frank Rich. “Don’t fall for this pageant nice-girl stuff. Our former beauty queen is a ward hack. Look at her nominations. Can’t Palin find anyone who has paid his taxes — or do they simply ignore that stuff in no-tax Alaska? Does ‘No more lobbyists’ mean ‘More lobbyists than ever’? Her chief performance overseer doesn’t perform too well herself — and, like Daschle, Geithner, and the rest, skips out on her taxes. When Palin brags about fiscal sobriety, it really means record deficits. In Sarahland, not wanting to take over banks and car companies translates into, ‘She already has.’ Highest ethical standards equates to ‘There are none.’ Calling herself the VA president means she’s just told vets to use their own health insurance.”
GUTTER TRASH
“Pretty crude, pretty petty,” Sally Quinn sighed in the Washington Post. “No manners at all. Does our new mom in chief think it’s neat to laugh when her court jester at the correspondents’ dinner calls Michael Moore a traitor and a terrorist — and hopes he dies of kidney failure? Is that funny? Ask those on dialysis. Is that what Alaskan hockey moms do — scream out at every talk-show host who hurts their itty-bitty feelings? Limbaugh, Hannity — who will it will be next? Poor old Jim Cramer?”
NEOCON CON
“She’s a Bush clone,” the Times’s Maureen Dowd chimed in. “Bush is out, Palin is in — but we keep getting renditions, military tribunals, wiretaps, e-mail intercepts, Predator drone executions over Pakistan, the same in Iraq, and even more of the same in Afghanistan — all retrofitted with new ‘hope and change’ banalities. I mean, who’s putting Mommy Dearest up to this — Wolfie, Perlie, Cheney?”
TINGLE FOR HUGO?
“There is no foreign policy,” Chris Matthews said on Hardball, his voice dripping with scorn. “She just tours the world and nods, as if her good looks and serial apologies are going to win us a collective tingle abroad. I don’t think Hugo Chávez and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad care much that she’s got great legs and a nice wink. How many times can Ms. Vapid say, ‘We’re sorry’ and ‘Hit that old reset button’ and expect thugs to make nice?”
RACE, ALL THE TIME
Eugene Robinson worried in the Washington Post about Palin’s emphasis on race. “Look, she gets 95 percent of the working-class white vote. She promises next month to talk to the ‘Christian world’ from Estonia, of all places. Hello? She goes to the Summit of the Americas and immediately puts race on the table — as if we are supposed to separate those with European heritage from those without. Then she tells al Arabiyya that she hopes to heal the rift with Europe ‘because of my own shared European heritage that seems to resonate in ways I hadn’t imagined throughout the EU.’ I guess we’re learning that those ‘gaffes’ last year on the campaign trail, like her ‘typical black person’ remark and Todd’s ‘I am finally proud of my country again’ nonsense were not gaffes at all.”
WHERE IS THE PRESS?
Howard Kurtz summed up the press cynicism the best in his Washington Post column. “How long does she think she can keep picking on her right-wing plants in the audience for these softball Q-and-A sessions? I mean, there are only so many pukey ‘What has surprised you the most about this office? What has enchanted you the most about serving in this office?’ questions you can lob.”
— Victor Davis Hanson is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and a recipient of the 2007 National Humanities Medal. © 2009 Tribune Media Services, Inc.