Hold On For Dear Life

Now that the Dems have recaptured both houses, maybe they can move this country forward. Let's hope last Tuesdays's election results have taken some gas out of the windbags who were trying to spook their disenfranchised voters away from the opposing candidates.

"Beware ... the Democrats (Liberals) are going to raise your taxes."

Nevermind the fact that when the Republicans cut taxes (and programs), the financial burdens ("No Child Left Behind," for one) shift to the states and, subsequently, state (or municipal) taxes are significantly increased instead. Of course, many large corporations are rewarded with enormous tax breaks or exemptions from those states so the burden inevitably shifts back to the middle class tax payer (again). Talk about sloppy seconds. It's just a shell game, folks!!!

I saw a political cartoon from the 2004 Presidential election that contained a caricature of Bush and the text read:

"Vote for me once, shame on me. Vote for me again, shame on you!"

I remember on that last Presidential election day, an associate (who was in her mid-50s at that time) seemed perplexed and wasn't sure who she should vote for President. I said to her (matter-of-factly): "If you have to think about it, you should vote for Bush. And enjoy your golden years!"

Unfortunately, some political experts have suggested that Tuesday's victories were merely a reactionary swing and could easily fall the other way in another two years. So the Dems have a very narrow window to regain the public confidence.

Hopefully, the soon-to-be-released movie, "Bobby" (the forthcoming biopic of Robert F. Kennedy, one of my lifelong heroes), will remind people that, at another time in history, altruism and idealism weren't bad attributes to possess. And helping the less fortunate was actually considered a good deed. Maybe the public will be remember a time when government existed to serve the people not those who served within it, before the word liberal (progressive) had been twisted into an ugly pejorative muck.

I am now stepping off the soapbox and pouring the contents into the toploader (wash cycle).


Artwork: Adri Berger/TSI Images