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Dec
27
Ever since the demise of the “masters of the universe” broke on the 24-hour news channels, continual reports of ailing businesses, layoffs (stealth or otherwise) and all of the daily bad financial news dominating the news cycles, spending time focusing on the petty political concerns of the past that do little more than create lots of sound, fury, little action and no results (except to enrich friends and family) strikes me as being foolish.
Until the problems that are causing all Americans economic concern are addressed and resolved, wasting time trying to score political points — either for the left or the right — will only result in Pyhrric victories.
Battles can be won, but if the middle class continues to fear their economic security – especially fears that their long term retirement security is in jeopardy and a notion that economic advancement for generations younger than the baby boomers is no longer achievable because the “me generation” has greedily consumed everything leaving only scraps for their kids, either party’s failure to fix and grow our economy will mean electoral losses in 2010 and beyond.
Politics in D.C. will need to move away from the standard narcissistic desire for fame, adulation and monetary gain and into the realm of real world goal oriented action designed to further the notions of public service. Politicians will need to once again become public servants, rather than seeing the public as being their servants.
Let’s hope that the cures the are cooked up in Washington and our nation’s state capitols don’t exacerbate our nation’s economic woes.
I remain optimistic that our leaders will solve many of the problems and will look beyond themselves (and their desire to enrich themselves) in an effort to serve their constituents.
Jun
28
Could Obama Be Right In Suggesting Focus On Universal Christian Values?
Filed Under abortion, Barack Obama, Democratic Party, GOP, politics, religion, Republican Party | 6 Comments
Kevin Tracy writes that conservatives should listen to Barack Obama’s suggestion that instead of trying to change hearts and minds via evangelical church rules, maybe Christians should focus on common goals that would make America a better place.
… Barack Obama is essentially saying that he recognizes that this nation was built with a Christian foundation, which is significant progress for liberals we on the right should be applauding. Barack Obama further says that we should thus fight for universal Christian values. But since there is no universal Christian values book, he’s saying we should fight for the ones everybody agrees on, including the Christian Left… that doesn’t leave much besides that “Love Thy Neighbor” stuff.
In other words, if this is a Christian country, as Obama seems to be admitting to, we shouldn’t be isolating any Christians who may not agree with the likes of James Dobson by only writing Christian legislation from a very VERY narrow non-Catholic conservative perspective.
I agree 100% with that.
Having watched our society split into two polar opposite camps that seemingly will never be able to unify as one, I have to also say that I agree with Kevin Tracy that the time has come to figure out what we have in common so that we can figure out common sense solutions to our nation’s problems — instead of always fighting with each other and with the other side. Much of Congress’ inability to do anything — both the GOP and the Democrats have failed to do anything during the 2000s — stems from our leaders’ inability to look at the greater picture. Much of this myopia comes from the constant battles and hate that has been a feature of Washington politics for far too long.
Let’s focus on common goals so that we can get the things that we agree upon resolved. Once we figure out how to get on the same page, maybe Washington will be able to get things done.
