Over the past couple of weeks, a national debate has raged over the planned construction of a $100 million Islamic community center which includes a mosque, gym, swimming pool and a performing arts center. According to a nationwide CNN/Opinion Research Corp poll, 68% of those surveyed oppose construction of the proposed facility located 600 feet from Ground Zero.
Up until last week, the White House was largely silent on the matter. At the Iftar Dinner at the White House, President Obama waded into the controversy with a speech in support of the right of Muslims to build places of worship even near Ground Zero. Of course, this caused a media frenzy. The next day, the President seemed to retreat from his statements when he talked about not commenting on the wisdom of building a facility so close to hallowed ground.
Today, opponents and proponents showed up to protest the proposed facility in lower Manhattan. The protests mirrored the national debate. Opponents of the facility spoke of insensitivity to the victims of 9/11. Proponents hurled charges of bigotry and intolerance. And tonight, the chattering class on MSNBC and Fox News will engage in their nightly demagoguery.
Americans are deeply skeptical of our leaders in government, business and religion. The debate over the Islamic community center is a symptom of a larger problem in American society. We are a highly polarized society of Blue states and Red states, Left and Right, Wall Street and Main Street, Hollywood values and family values and the list goes on.
This too is a symptom of the current economic troubles that we face. Real unemployment is over 10% and we face the prospect of a double dip recession. Washington is paralyzed over spending and deficits and there is a real fear amongst the common man and woman that our society is teetering on the precipice of disaster. The debate over illegal immigration and gay rights dominates the airwaves. Overseas we leave 50,000 troops in Iraq to help the Iraqi government maintain peace and stability. But the prospect for long term success in Iraq and ultimately Afghanistan looks grim.
Somewhere lost in the debate over the proposed Islamic community center is rational discourse. The media and the partisans on Capitol Hill attack proponents and opponents but this too seems to be part of a larger problem. Americans just don’t like each other very much.
It was once said that “a house divided against itself cannot stand.” Americans are deeply divided. But perhaps if we can come together in New York and seek compromise then it will give rise to further compromise in our society. We owe it to ourselves as the future of our nation depends on it.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
There she goes again . . . .
Earlier this week, former governor and former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin opined that President Obama is "in over his head."
Well governor, you were "in over your head" during the 2008 election campaign and as governor of Alaska.
If you were not then you would not have made of fool of yourself during the election and you would not have quit your job as Governor.
Well governor, you were "in over your head" during the 2008 election campaign and as governor of Alaska.
If you were not then you would not have made of fool of yourself during the election and you would not have quit your job as Governor.
Birthers
This week CNN reported in its new survey that only 42% of Americans believe that President Obama was born in the United States. Labeled as "Birthers," such people believe that the election of the President was a conspiracy to put a foreign national in the White House. Like those who think 9/11 was an inside job, the assertions of the "Birthers" are irrational.
What then explains why almost half of the American public believes that the President is not a United States citizen? There really is no other explanation other than the fact that the views of the "Birthers" are a smokescreen for racism. Simply put, such people do not like the fact that an African-American occupies the Oval Office.
Disagreeing with the policies of the Obama administration is legitimate discourse. Claiming that the President is not an American is unpatriotic and racist.
What then explains why almost half of the American public believes that the President is not a United States citizen? There really is no other explanation other than the fact that the views of the "Birthers" are a smokescreen for racism. Simply put, such people do not like the fact that an African-American occupies the Oval Office.
Disagreeing with the policies of the Obama administration is legitimate discourse. Claiming that the President is not an American is unpatriotic and racist.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Bunning's Pitch
The other day I remarked to my wife that we ought to buy a new car as I have grown tired of the one I currently drive. She looked at me and said “How are you going to pay for it?”
Last week the United States Senate took up a measure to approve an extension of unemployment benefits to help the jobless. The $10 billion dollar measure was blocked by Senator Jim Bunning (R-Kentucky). The measure if approved would have added to the budget deficit and the overall debt because it was unpaid for. Senator Bunning asked the same question as my wife, “How are you going to pay for it?”
Political expediency would have dictated voting for the extension. But Senator Bunning’s stand is the responsible position to take. You don’t spend money you do not have.
Perhaps our elected representatives should take a cue from Senator Bunning and ask “How are we going to pay for it?” If they did then they would not add to the nation’s debt when passing spending measures for which we do not have the money.
Last week the United States Senate took up a measure to approve an extension of unemployment benefits to help the jobless. The $10 billion dollar measure was blocked by Senator Jim Bunning (R-Kentucky). The measure if approved would have added to the budget deficit and the overall debt because it was unpaid for. Senator Bunning asked the same question as my wife, “How are you going to pay for it?”
Political expediency would have dictated voting for the extension. But Senator Bunning’s stand is the responsible position to take. You don’t spend money you do not have.
Perhaps our elected representatives should take a cue from Senator Bunning and ask “How are we going to pay for it?” If they did then they would not add to the nation’s debt when passing spending measures for which we do not have the money.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Courage
On Monday, Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) voted to end a Republican filibuster of a $15 billion dollar jobs bill. On Tuesday, conservative groups trashed him for his vote.
Conservatives who trashed the Senator with name calling such as “Benedict Brown” are out of touch with why he was elected. He was not elected to advance an ideologically pure conservative agenda. Rather, he was elected to bring an independent voice of reason to Washington and break the partisan gridlock that has paralyzed the legislative process.
The problem with politics in Washington is that both parties refuse to sit down and compromise because they are held hostage by ideological purists. The Right’s vitriol with the “Benedict Brown” label disgusts this writer. And the Left is no better when it claims that the White House has a “loser mentality” for not backing a public option for health care reform.
The reason why nothing happens in Washington is because radical ideologues seek to advance their narrow minded interests and not the interests of the people. We need more Senators like Scott Brown who have the courage to put politics aside and do what is best for the people.
Conservatives who trashed the Senator with name calling such as “Benedict Brown” are out of touch with why he was elected. He was not elected to advance an ideologically pure conservative agenda. Rather, he was elected to bring an independent voice of reason to Washington and break the partisan gridlock that has paralyzed the legislative process.
The problem with politics in Washington is that both parties refuse to sit down and compromise because they are held hostage by ideological purists. The Right’s vitriol with the “Benedict Brown” label disgusts this writer. And the Left is no better when it claims that the White House has a “loser mentality” for not backing a public option for health care reform.
The reason why nothing happens in Washington is because radical ideologues seek to advance their narrow minded interests and not the interests of the people. We need more Senators like Scott Brown who have the courage to put politics aside and do what is best for the people.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Fiscal Commission Created Today
President Obama ordered the creation of a bipartisan debt commission today. Saying “Everything is on the table” the commission is charged with coming up with recommendations by December 01, 2010.
The problem with such a commission is that its recommendations are not binding. The commission will deliver a report with recommendations for tax hikes and spending cuts and Congress will do nothing.
The country’s fiscal woes are obvious. The federal debt is $12 trillion and counting. According to the White House Budget Office, the debt will reach 77% of GDP by 2020. And the only way to solve the situation is a combination of tax increases and spending cuts.
Main Street knows this. We do not need a fiscal commission to tell our politicians what to do because we know they will not act. We need to tell Congress what to do by not voting for politicians who will not tackle the nation’s debt.
Our elected politicians only think about their short term reelection prospects and not the long term health of the nation. Democrats do not have the guts to vote for cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security which eat up the federal budget. Republicans will not raise taxes and cut defense spending. One wonders also if the GOP will actually vote for cuts in entitlement spending. After all, they painted themselves the champions of Medicare and Medicaid during the President’s failed health care overhaul.
Instead, they blame each other for the current debt crisis. Democrats blame the Bush Administration but they will gladly vote for the Administration’s spending binge. Republicans blame the President and congressional Democrats but they are hypocrites. With control of Congress and the White House, they did nothing to curb the federal debt. They just cut taxes and increased spending at the same time. And Democrats would increase taxes and increase spending if they could get away with it. So who is worse?
Our elected officials will not act on the fiscal commission's proposals because they are not serious about eliminating the federal debt. If they were serious then they would sit down now and hammer out a deal to do so. Knowing this we need to vote against incumbent politicians and elect adults who know how to balance a check book and make difficult decisions around a table.
The problem with such a commission is that its recommendations are not binding. The commission will deliver a report with recommendations for tax hikes and spending cuts and Congress will do nothing.
The country’s fiscal woes are obvious. The federal debt is $12 trillion and counting. According to the White House Budget Office, the debt will reach 77% of GDP by 2020. And the only way to solve the situation is a combination of tax increases and spending cuts.
Main Street knows this. We do not need a fiscal commission to tell our politicians what to do because we know they will not act. We need to tell Congress what to do by not voting for politicians who will not tackle the nation’s debt.
Our elected politicians only think about their short term reelection prospects and not the long term health of the nation. Democrats do not have the guts to vote for cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security which eat up the federal budget. Republicans will not raise taxes and cut defense spending. One wonders also if the GOP will actually vote for cuts in entitlement spending. After all, they painted themselves the champions of Medicare and Medicaid during the President’s failed health care overhaul.
Instead, they blame each other for the current debt crisis. Democrats blame the Bush Administration but they will gladly vote for the Administration’s spending binge. Republicans blame the President and congressional Democrats but they are hypocrites. With control of Congress and the White House, they did nothing to curb the federal debt. They just cut taxes and increased spending at the same time. And Democrats would increase taxes and increase spending if they could get away with it. So who is worse?
Our elected officials will not act on the fiscal commission's proposals because they are not serious about eliminating the federal debt. If they were serious then they would sit down now and hammer out a deal to do so. Knowing this we need to vote against incumbent politicians and elect adults who know how to balance a check book and make difficult decisions around a table.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Bipartisanship
There is bipartisanship in Washington.
It is called catering to the special interests.
It is called catering to the special interests.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Questions
What is a father who cannot work?
What is a mother who cannot comfort?
What is a child who cannot dream?
What is a family without hope?
What is a mother who cannot comfort?
What is a child who cannot dream?
What is a family without hope?
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
$12 Trillion and Counting
Where is politician who will have the guts to cut spending to eliminate the federal debt?
That politician is nowhere to be found.
That politician is nowhere to be found.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)