Something unusual happened in Congress last week. The House of Representatives passed a bill. Not just any bill, but a budget bill. And it didn’t just pass it with one of those nose-holding majorities of one or two votes. It passed it with a crushing majority. The 332 yes votes against just 94 against included 166 born-again Republican, the same Republicans who not so long ago had been happily stillborn in the dead ends of the Party of No. It was an even larger majority than the one that finally reopened the government after last fall’s 16-day shut-down.
That shut-down proved mostly disastrous for the Republican politicians who orchestrated it after lending too slavish an ear to the tea party extremists who’ve been holding the Republican Party hostage for the past few years. It looks like those Republicans, the majority of them anyway, learned a lesson. Good for them, and thank you. Americans don’t like cry-babies, especially cry-babies willing to put their ideological never-never lands ahead of the nation’s welfare.
Governance isn’t pretty. It never pleases all the people all the time. It doesn’t happen without compromise. The art of compromise appeared to have vanished since Barack Obama’s election, replaced by a fanatical attempt among House Republicans especially to defeat him and anything he stands for, come what may. But just saying no isn’t governing. It’s suicide. The 113th Congress that just finished its first year is on pace to be the least productive in history. That’s saying a lot when you think about the Congresses that preceded the Civil War, the Great Depression or even the lost years of the recent Bush administration.
By Christmas, the current Congress had passed just 58 bills, many of them the sort that grant honors or rename a stretch of Interstate after sports heroes. There’s been no reform of the country’s barbarous gun laws. No reform of the country’s racist immigration laws. No reform of the country’s debilitating tax laws. Forget about climate change or farm subsidies, corporate welfare or even a little compassionate help for the unemployed. Whatever may have passed the Senate was decapitated in the House, where that minority of tea party zealots held sway. It all culminated with the shutdown.
But on Jan. 16, the House approved a $1.1 trillion budget even though the 1,500-page bill was dropped in members’ laps only two days before. When they want to make a political issue out of it, members of Congress who’d never read a two-page bill make a big to-do about fat bills, claiming that they’re never given time to read them, as if their staffs of two dozen and Washington’s machinery of analysts don’t have every word combed and parsed within a few hours of any bill’s release. But cry-babies will seize on any red herring to make their case. They did that again on Jan. 16.
This time, they were ignored, as most of their colleagues have decided to grow up, at least for now. Just 64 diehard Republicans opposed the budget, among them, sadly but unsurprisingly, our own Ron DeSantis, who thinks being a Congressman is a game of grandstanding and TV time rather than dealing with the more prosaic business of compromising in Washington and constituent services in his own district.
In his recent appearance at a lunch hosted by the Flagler Chamber of Commerce DeSantis went on and on about the ills of Washington and how nobody up there gets it, he complained about the last minute budget bill, he repeated his rote speech about the evils of Obamacare and the presumptions of government (the government he is a part of), and of course not once proposed the sort of reasoned, compromising solutions that might get him or us somewhere. That’s been the tea party method. Shout down, but never deal. Then play the victim. For a moment last week Congress managed to look past the shouting. It’s unlikely to last as midterm elections approach.
DeSantis by the way also voted against the relief bill after Hurricane Sandy, forgetting that he lives in Florida, and he voted against the Violence Against Women Act, forgetting that he doesn’t live in Afghanistan. Here’s one bill that passed that he did vote for: the Pandemic and All-Hazards preparedness act of 2013. We may yet be protected from the hazards of tea party nuts after all.
Pierre Tristam is FlaglerLive’s editor. Reach him by email here. A version of this commentary was broadcast on WNZF.
Diana L says
The Tea Party Patriots as they call themselves are anything but patriot. They have hurt our country with their uncompromising obstruction. Grandstanding and playing to the extreme elements of either party gets us no where as a country. We deserve to have representatives that are focused on moving this country forward. The Tea Party is ruled by ALEC and David and Charles Koch, who would kill their own Mother to advance their power and agenda. I am ashamed that Florida has a Tea Party Governor and I am ashamed that we have Ron DeSantis to represent us.
BIG JOHN says
Vote for BIG JOHN for Congress in 2014. I promise to work hard to get some more jobs in Flagler County.
I promise to help my constituents in tangible, concrete ways…such as raising the minimum wage to at least $10 per hour….such as taxing Wall Street transactions to shift some of the wealth away from the top 1% and share it with the people who need help. Instead of balancing the budget let us restore the Glass-Steagall Act; and, let us, through an act of Congress, force the Federal Reserve Bank to issue credit to rebuild the national infrastructure thereby creating 20 million new jobs. Finally, let us review and revamp our military and let us withdraw our troops from places where they should have never been sent.
Steve Wolfe says
This is exactly what old-style candidates have been promising. How’s that workin for ya?
dlf says
Just another tax the rich to pay the ones who do not want to work. Who will pay the minimum wage, the owners will pass the cost on to the consumer,$8.00 Big Mac, $1000 for a ad on radio. Where do you get 20 million jobs? We have seen what this guy can do in the past, no second chance, stick to tires and radio.
Steve Wolfe says
There are several competing approaches to the same general end that Republicans have in mind. The Tea Party sticks to its principals of restoring a Constitutional government, which rules by the consent of the governed. Ron DeSantis has been duly elected to represent this District, and he is faithfully fulfilling his promises to oppose business as usual in Washington, namely over spending. The “born again Republicans” are the ones who lost their nerve in the current fight against budgets that are siphoning our national wealth into the black hole of the Federal Government’s insatiable appetite for more, always more, of other people’s money. Even as we have seen the Federal Government spend trillions on welfare, poverty persists. In fact, the welfare programs that were well-intentioned have instead created dependence, offering recipients no easy way out. The “no” vote is a valid tool, and it is the voice of the majority of voters in this district who in fact “get it.”
As for shutdowns, I wish Congress could be shut down for long stretches. The longer they are in session, the more they spend, and the deeper in debt they cast our children and grandchildren. That is simply immoral. Those who support this run-away train are deliberately placing a yoke of financial slavery on coming generations to pay for the irrational, selfish over-indulgence of this generation.
As for “never-never lands,” I wonder exactly what liberals envision for this country if they think we can sustain the current level of over-spending in Washington. Deficit spending is national suicide. In so doing we hand over our very sovereignty to our creditors. With your higher education, how can you not grasp such basic mathematical reality?
“Cry babies?” You call a man who faced death for a living in order to secure your literary liberty a “cry baby?” This very man you would in fact cheer if he simply voted “yes” to every item on the liberal wish list. Try to understand that Ron DeSantis has invested more of himself into the protection of the First Amendment than you have or ever will. I believe that he has thereby purchased the right to be taken very seriously, as he has experienced some of the very sacrifice that is required to enable any of us to speak freely. This liberty is actually under attack by the very government that is charged with protecting it (if you will recall the recent spate of IRS political persecutions against Conservative groups). I will remind you also of our Cry Baby in Chief, who pays only lip service to your vaunted “compromise.” Obama has the adoration and cooperation of every major TV news network, every cable news network except FOX, and most of the print media, yet whines that FOX News and Talk Radio alone are responsible for painting him a “caricature” which inhibits his effectiveness. Perhaps the reality is that Americans are fed up with the cancerous growth of our Federal Government, and seek to reign it in via their duly elected representatives. Fortunately, ridicule and name-calling won’t even slow down a man who has faced death in order to protect your right to insult him.
Thank God that we have in Ron DeSantis a man who will repeat unequivocally how bad Obamacare is. And I have not heard him claim to be anyone’s “victim.” There is no successful large Federal Government program. All of them are money pits, and Obamacare is possibly the worst of all. The one that is most justified is the military, because without that one, we have none of them. The Federal Government is the largest and most destructive monopoly ever. Agencies are run like rackets, unaccountable, always growing, always consuming more of the people’s money, and gobbling up liberty along the way.
Pierre, I really like you, and I admire that you have created a forum in Flagler Live. I wish I could understand what your beef is with Conservatives. I just can’t get a good read on it through all the personal attacks. But there is much to be gained through the free exchange of ideas. I say, let’s enjoy it as long as we can. If current trends continue, it could be eclipsed soon by chants and funny little stiff-armed salutes.
A.S.F. says
@Steve Wolfe says–You wish the government would shut down for long periods, in an effort to reduce spending??? Really??? The last shut-down cost us PLENTY! And I am sure that all the actual human beings whose services would be cut, whose jobs would be at stake, whose checks would not arrive on time (or, at all, if people like you had their way) would not appreciate your patriotic sentiments so much once it hit their actual pocketbooks. There seems to be a lot that you don’t appreciate about “the government” (as though it is Godzilla, intent on trampling us.) I don’t personally appreciate people who use the Constitution as a blanket excuse to do nothing to improve things in our country or as a blank check for the rich and influential to continue to write themselves in whatever amount they desire, no matter what it might cost the peons beneath them.
Steve Wolfe says
ASF, let’s be honest with each other and not misquote. I said I would like to see CONGRESS shut down for long periods of time, because all they do is promulgate more spending. The rest of the government can run stand alone—it is a well-oiled Godzilla, paid for by you and me. So nobody would miss a thing except the grandstanding and new spending that Congress would create. Let them legislate shorter sessions, please. Then they can spend more time in their home districts, listening to us, instead of each other.
BTW, during the government shutdown (a result of the Congress’ inability to agree on a budget for the fourth year in a row), I still got my retirement check. Yep, I’m a Federal retiree. So I DO appreciate the necessary and valid functions of the Federal Government, and the hard work that “people like me” perform(ed) for the American people. Some of the lost services were pure theatre by the president to coerce the public into pressuring the Congress to “settle” (such as the airport travel delays). Ah, politics… But we all MUST be vigilant about the use of the vast power the Government wields over us. We can’t afford to take our eyes off the prize. God knows they are watching us with vastly superior technology to what we can bring to bear on them. I pray you are not one of the people in the Federal crosshairs. I don’t wish that on anyone. There’s a patriotic sentiment for you.
I regard the Constitution as a rigid set of rules under which the Federal Government must operate. That’s how it is written, that’s how it was conceived, and that’s its purpose. The Constitution begins by outlining what the Government shall NOT do. It is intended to protect us from our own Government falling back into the tyranny like that of the King of England, from whose edicts and actions against us this nation was born. I think every American should keep and read, from time to time, a copy of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. That would clear up a lot of misconceptions, and keep us on the same page. It is inexcusable that civics and history are not more prominent subjects in public schools. Children must be prepared to operate within the framework of our Constitutional Republic. The Constitution is not “a blanket excuse to do nothing to improve things in our country.” We elect representatives to improve things in our country through the 3-tiered process. Some things pass, some don’t. There’s a reason for either, and it’s often not what meets the eye. For instance, a lot of legislation is killed because parasitic amendments are attached to the bills that sour the vote for them. You typically don’t hear that part.
I will stand with you on, “a blank check for the rich and influential to continue to write themselves in whatever amount they desire, no matter what it might cost the peons beneath them.” That’s an accurate portrayal in my mind of business as usual in Washington. That’s another reason for our vigilance. We should all unite to shine the sterilizing light on it. It is often powered by lobbyists, and is also a product of entrenched politicians. I think there should be no such thing as a “career politician.” That’s why I support term limits. If you have what it takes to serve and you have the nerve, by all means, go for it. Get it done for a couple of terms, then get out. Go home and earn an honest living, and be subject to all the laws you imposed on us. Lobbying should be banned in Washington. Just eliminated, not forced underground. I’d like to see illegal monetary influences punished as treason. Our reps should honor the oath they take to uphold (once again) the Constitution, and not uphold the wishes of the biggest donors to their re-election campaigns. I HATE that. “We elected you” should be the only influence, not “we PAID for you.”
Genie says
I wonder how many of your readers know that the US Chamber is pushing Congress to legalize millions of illegal immigrants? There is more… These immigrants would be placed in a special category for 10 years, one that would waive the require to pay them any benefits for a period of 10 years.
We currently have over 56 million Americans who are no longer in the work force. With this waiver, whom do you think will get the jobs?
I am grateful to folks like the Tea Party for their vigilance and hope they have no plans to “dim” anytime soon. This reader happens to think this country, the Constitution are worth it.
Genie says
I wonder how many of your readers know that the US Chamber is pushing Congress to legalize millions of illegal immigrants? There is more… These immigrants would be placed in a special category for 10 years, one that would waive the requirement to pay them any benefits for a period of 10 years and would also allow them to pay lower wages.
We currently have over 56 million Americans who are no longer in the work force. With this waiver, whom do you think will get the jobs?
I am grateful to folks like the Tea Party for their vigilance and hope they have no plans to “dim” anytime soon. This reader happens to think this country, the Constitution are worth it.
Right On says
Typical liberal trash spewed by the local leftist loon. Congratulation, you win this weeks “wiener” award !!!
Sherry Epley says
DeSantis does not represent any reasonable, intelligent citizen of Florida! He needs to go, and in the next election!
bill says
its funny how the left like this term compromise well to be honest only when it is those on the Right givein to the left.
Yellowstone says
It is interesting to watch these zealots (also the name of another group of ‘patriots’) use the American flag and the Constitution as a front – and at the simultaneously tear down the very essence of both. “Capitalism (wealth made by private individuals and corporations) at all costs!” – especially taking advantage of low cost labor and to those who are poor – and those that can not vote..
“If you can’t afford it – you don’t get it!” is a common refrain. BTW: Money now does talk – the US Supreme Court has ruled in their favor.
As an example, belittling the immigrant farm workers is an easy target. They can’t vote! Have no say. On the other side of this issue they pay taxes (sales tax), work hard, are usually loyal to their employer.
The employer loves them too and continues to attract them to their farms, food processing centers, mow your lawn, and provide maid service in your home. Why? Because you can pay them in cash, they are cheap labor; no pensions, 401(k)s, medical insurance, no unemployment compensation. What American would go for a system like that? Would you?
Tea Party is a Karl Rove front that was set up to corral the hostility that was artificially created to enrage a subsection of the GOP. The plan was to use that energy to garner further support from the evangilicals (another GOP subgroup) and the GOP Core Values group.
As we have seen, the Tea Party group is now being ridiculed by the GOP Core and made to feel like the idiots they played out to be.
Don’t any of you be fooled by the ‘trammeling of the Constitution’ rhetoric. Your are being used to disrupt the American way. The government is designed to represent the majority of the people – not just those who can afford things – and can influence the vote.
Now is the time to open your eyes and stop making a fool out yourself!
A.S.F. says
It’s zealots shout on…with the notable exception of one of Florida’s own Tea Party’s darlings in Congress, who has just announced his resignation in the wake of a cocaine conviction. Now, THAT’S patriotic!
Anonymous says
Unlike ANY on the left who would never never never resigne their post for breaking the laws!!!
A.S.F. says
@Anonymous says–It’s disgusting when ANYONE, Democrat or Republican, is as hypocritical and untrustworthy as Florida’s latest example. Or, Virginia’s ex-Republican governor, who is being charged with influence peddling and corruption…Or, Chris Christie’s mess on the bridge, which actually cost some lives…Or the Tea Party Congressional aide in Maryland who just, sadly, committed suicide after being charged with possession of child porn in his home (also Republican.) Yes, you are right–I can find many Democratic examples…But people who put forth their Christian virtues forth as a power tool to mow other people down and then get caught with their own pants down (sometimes, literally) deserve what they get–and that includes less credibility and votes in the next election cycle.
Steve Wolfe says
I believe that most Americans, no matter what political affiliation they profess, agree that things must change in Washington, D.C. Over spending by the Federal Government is universally identified as one of the leading problems, if not the most pressing issue. But current politicians are not the ones who will make the required changes. They are members of the parties that created the problem, and they continue to defy common sense and over spend. They are responsible for a culture of gluttony in Washington. Our Federal Government is now synonymous with over spending.
Does anyone realize that the overhead costs associated with Federal programs constitutes an insanely high cut of each budget? A well run charity, for instance, may consume 5 to 8% of revenue for management costs. Some are higher, like the Red Cross, but they still keep costs below 25%. The point is, most of their donations go out to the targeted recipients. Federal program recipients, on the other hand, get the smallest fraction of the revenue that is allocated to each program. The departments charged with distributing benefits consume the lion’s share of their budgets for things like salaries, benefits, new furniture each year, bonuses, seminar expenses, training, travel, and other things that have nothing to do with taking care of Americans in need. This is but one example of Federal waste. And the bureaucracies that oversee these programs are leviathan, inefficient, unresponsive, and unaccountable. One, in particular, has the power to seize everything you own, fine you more, and throw you in prison without due process. No, I’m not talking about the NSA, nor any other security-based or law enforcement agency. I’m talking about the people who make sure that you surrender your “fair share:” the IRS.
In order to achieve real change in Washington, Washington must stop doing business as usual. In order to bring an end to business as usual, we must stop sending the same people to Washington to conduct business as usual. That requires that we, the people who elect them, must stop doing business as usual in our own districts, and send someone who pledges to refuse business as usual. The best solution to business as usual is original intent: adhere to the Constitution, which outlines limits on the Federal Government first and foremost. Candidates who pledge adherence to the Constitution and its limits on Federal power will top my list. Candidates who offer ever more goodies from the Washington vending machine in order to procure votes and assure their own continued grip on power are the problem, and must be denied access to the halls of Congress.
Anyone can grasp the issue of personal health risks associated with smoking or weight gain. Anyone who wishes to reduce their risk takes appropriate actions. Changing the risks associated with a bloated Federal Government require us to put them on a diet and take their smokes away, because we are the enablers.
confidential says
Wolf and the rest do not get it here…
Since 2000 thanks to the wealthy self service demands and their yessing Conservatives our USA finances and economy have gone down the tubes.
Over 42,000 factories took our jobs overseas to increase their profits with slave labor, but still sell their foreign produced wares to us all while receiving federal grants (our taxes) for expansion. About the time that Enron got away with federal regulation and monitoring by majority GOP vote to allow giants like JP. Morgan, Goldman Sachs and other banks to start consolidating trades of oil futures contracts making them the real Barons, that gouge us at the pumps, contrary to the fraudulent reports that our gas guzzlers, OPEC, gas stations and supply and demand are to blame for the heist at the pumps. http://thinkprogress.org/report/koch-oil-speculation/
Also another square Conservative waste of time is concentrating against women’s choice and gays rights other than concentrating in ending our useless financially disastrous foreign wars initiated by Conservatives based on lies and instead use the wars dollars to repair our decaying infrastructure creating millions of jobs that will improve our faulty tax revenues and fix our pathetic economy recovering workers buying power and indeed generating sales.
We all pay plenty of taxes for the services that we are “supposed to receive” and we don’t, simply because the square GOP agenda lauds for cuts and more cuts of the government workers that are supposed to give us those services….and when they are unemployed the Conservatives vote to cut their unemployment benefits!! How more square cardboard box thinking their agenda could be?
2014 is here and is up to us all to vote for change. Day after day we see the thousands joining the unemployed lines while the GOP keeps battling against women, gays and USA born children of illegal immigrants, in Washington DC.
The sad reality is that forty percent of our citizens do not vote in election day… exercise your rights make a change and vote. Better do it if want to have a job again.
Steve Wolfe says
I believe that if you look deeper you will find that the market collapse was because of a financial tool that was mandated by Democrats, which required that mortgages be made available to people who would not otherwise qualify by bank rules (because of some feel-good “fairness” legislation). Conservatives would typically side with the banks’ desire to refuse to lend to people who have little chance of repaying. Factories are just doing what the financial forces on them require. If they are over-taxed and/or over-regulated, they will go where they aren’t taxed and/or regulated as much. That isn’t a Conservative thing, it’s just business. And the money that the Fed is printing as fast as they can is being dumped on Wall Street, because they are the only ones who can circulate it fast enough. That’s the chosen portal for the money’s entry into the economy. So it sits in banks, or goes into the stock market. Investing in oil futures is just one way for them to go that makes sense. The rich get richer. Thank the current president’s own monetary policy for that.
I can go along with your next premise that it is a waste to pursue social issues, to some extent. I think that the most critical issue is spending and deficit. No other issues matter if those are not settled. But our current president has been pushing the agenda of cutting military spending and using the money to create jobs. But without enough business to generate the jobs, that doesn’t float. So it goes into more services and benefits. Spending has increased, wars or not, on services and benefits. How’s that workin? There is so much waste in the Federal Government that we could cut around the edges and no one would miss a beat. The money should stay in OUR pockets. WE will generate the business that in turn creates jobs. Our spending is much more diversified than government spending, and we are better at choosing the winners and losers in the business world. The Government blew $500 Million on Solyndra. Down the solar tubes. Gone. Wasted. Just on one company.
I recall that we voted for “change,” not once, but twice. Even when Obama had both Houses of Congress, and the opposition was locked out of negotiations, the Democrats could not deliver change for the better. But they did deliver some change. How’s that change workin for ya? If it was for the better we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
Genie says
@ Confidential – WRONG! Bill Clinton took your jobs overseas with NAFTA. That’s when this began.
Genie says
We’re in the middle of the worst economy since the great depression. We have millions out of the work force, a 40% increase in food stamps, the poverty rate is skyrocketing, a healthcare system that is costing jobs because no one can afford the new rates, wages are going down, not up and not one zealot on this website is placing the blame on the regime in Washington.
Utterly amazing…what sheeple you all have become!
A.S.F. says
@Genie says–And all your stated “facts” are anything but. You really need to stop drinking the Koch brother’s Kool-Aid. It’s not good for you. It causes delusions. And, while we’re at it, let’s call a sheep a sheep. Look at something other than FOX news and listen to someone other than Rush Limbaugh for a change. There’s a whole wide world outside of that rhetorical tripe waiting for you!
Steve Wolfe says
Please share your unbiased, purely intelligent resouces with everyone so we can all become liberals and quit all the arguing. I am sure there’s a better solution than thinking. ;-)
karma says
You have to look no farther than Wisconsin to understand why many support the tea party.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/timstanley/100256645/how-scott-walker-and-the-conservatives-saved-wisconsin-america-take-note/
A.S.F. says
@karma says–From CNN, today: “A notable conservative and possible White House hopeful, Walker has refused to commit to serving out a full four-year term as Governor if re-elected later this year.” Ah, shades of Sarah Palin! Yes, it is truly awe-inspiring to see how committed Mr. Walker is to the citizens of Wisconsin…especially since he, himself, won’t commit to serving out the full-term of office that he is seeking re-election to…Again, by people who value their “principles” over the actual governance of their state. He obviously values the governorship mostly as a major stepping stone to other things he already has his eye on. How patriotic! Now, eat my dust, Wisconsin!
Steve Wolfe says
Presidential elections should only be held when Governors are otherwise unoccupied, right? If Terry McAullife decides to run, are you going to refuse to vote for him for the same reasons? If Hillary was still a Senator or Secretary of State, should she be disqualified from abandoning her post to run? Qualifications should be the basis.
Genie says
@ Steve Wolfe: Prediction….if Hillary runs, McAuliffe will be her running mate.
Steve Wolfe says
Quite possible considering their long relationship. And McAuliffe would no doubt attempt to use the superior record of job growth and business immigration in VA as his own achievement, even though that was the result of the policies of previous Republican Governors. But McAuliffe has always been a sophomoric jerk. I can imagine him being ruined by his own mouth during the campaign. And Hill has some ‘splainin to do for Benghazi. During the 2008 presidential campaign she predicted that our president could not respond appropriately to “that 3 AM call.” As Sec o’ State, she kinda blew her own 3 AM call. Then she reacted angrily to Congressional attempts to get her to accept accountability with, “What difference at this time does it make?” One might posit that she therefor would not be the best choice to sit at the desk where the buck stops.
confidential says
Since 2000 thanks to the wealthy self service demands and their yessing Conservatives our USA finances and economy have gone down the tubes.
Over 42,000 factories took our jobs overseas to increase their profits with slave labor, but still sell their foreign produced wares to us all while receiving federal grants (our taxes) for expansion. About the time that Enron got away with federal regulation and monitoring by majority GOP vote to allow giants like JP. Morgan, Goldman Sachs and other banks to start consolidating trades of oil futures contracts making them the real Barons, that gouge us at the pumps, contrary to the fraudulent reports that our gas guzzlers, OPEC, gas stations and supply and demand are to blame for the heist at the pumps. http://thinkprogress.org/report/koch-oil-speculation/
Also another square Conservative waste of time is concentrating against women’s choice and gays rights other than concentrating in ending our useless financially disastrous foreign wars initiated by Conservatives based on lies and instead use the wars dollars to repair our decaying infrastructure creating millions of jobs that will improve our faulty tax revenues and fix our pathetic economy recovering workers buying power and indeed generating sales.
We all pay plenty of taxes for the services that we are “supposed to receive” and we don’t, simply because the square GOP agenda lauds for cuts and more cuts of the government workers that are supposed to give us those services….and when they are unemployed the Conservatives vote to cut their unemployment benefits!! How more square cardboard box thinking their agenda could be?
2014 is here and is up to us all to vote for change. Day after day we see the thousands joining the unemployed lines while the GOP keeps battling against women, gays and USA born children of illegal immigrants, in Washington DC.
The sad reality is that forty percent of our citizens do not vote in election day… exercise your rights make a change and vote. Better do it if want to have a job again.
Genie says
@ Confidential: You need to go back and look at the 80’s in Congress. Before NAFTA, Congress would not even allow a foreign company to bid on a US contract. It was made in US, BUY in US all the way.
Both sides have allowed this mess to happen and the fact that people are still trying to place the blame anywhere else is a travesty to what has happened to every American family in this country. And as long as you are allowed to get away with that, NOTHING is going to get better, unless you like servitude and Communism.
The fact that Congress has refused to follow our immigration laws has nearly killed this country. We have been overrun with people who have come to suck this country dry and take the jobs. If you believe that crap that they are only taking menial jobs, shame on you for being so ignorant. Ask anybody in the construction industry what is happening in this country. Ask anybody in the high tech business what is happening. Ask anybody who used to work in travel reservations what is happening. The ONLY people being enriched by any of this are CEO’s, Congress and the administration.
And now we have a President and GOP getting ready to legalize these law breakers, with MILLIONS out of the jobs market. And you keep sending these SAME politicians back to Washington.
It is WE, in our own ignorance and unwillingness to talk things out, that are killing this country. NONE of the issues in your comments should even be on the radar….they are, for the most part, meaningless political claptrap. They may be important to someone, but they are not OF PRIMARY IMPORTANCE. Survival of our families is of primary importance. Being able to pay our bills is of primary importance. Being able to afford to pay for medical insurance is of primary importance.
Divided we fall. Why are you so eager to see that?