Shots Across the Bow

Do you like being lied to? Do you enjoy having the folks who represent you in Congress just make stuff up to win your vote?

Remember that $38 billion in reduced spending that Cry Baby Boehner so bravely forced the Democrats in Congress to fork over?

Yeah, well, it turns out then when you look at it through the lens of real world math, it's more like $352 million.

That's with an m.

Folks, by any measure, our fiscal picture is bleak. Real inflation is up, the economy is stagnant, the housing markets are on the verge of another collapse, states are teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, an all our President can say to those of us who see these problems is that we are pessimists.

Seriously? Like if we all join hands and sing a couple of choruses of "High Hopes" then all our problems will just disappear?

Talk about out of touch.

And just when you think it can't possibly get worse in Washington, we get Ross Perot: the Sequel, with another billionaire with bad hair running for President. I guess it's only to be expected. Obama is a Jimmy Carter retread; why not a reboot of Ross Perot? With an exciting new director and cast, I mean, campaign manager and staff, Trump might actually win this thing.

It's not like he's an unknown, untried, and untested Senate freshman or something silly like that.

I have to admit, I'd love to hear his victory speech come November. "Mr President, You're fired!"

Folks, I just don't know anymore. I don't see a clean way of getting through the mess we're in. More importantly, I don't see anybody in our government with the will to make the tough decisions that it will take to dig ourselves out of this hole. And ultimately, I don't think 'we the people' possess the moral fiber required to dig out. We're spoiled, soft and weak. We all want spending cuts, but only for the other guy. We talk a big fight but when it comes down to it, we vote for the guy that promises to keep us safe from the cuts.

Face it. Come election time, who will you vote for? The candidate that promises you rainbow farting unicorns, pie in the sky, and peace and prosperity all for the low low price of your freedom? Or the guy who looks you in the eye and tells you that you're going to have to cut back, pay more in taxes, accept fewer government services, work longer, harder and for less, forget Social Security, and accept a seriously reduced standard of living for at least a decade, probably two, and all to try to reduce a debt that's been building for a generation?

That's how deep the hole is. That's where we are. Most of us have experienced getting in over our heads with dept. We run up bills on our charge cards, buy cars or houses we really can't afford, and then we have to struggle for a couple of years to get back on our feet. America has overspeant way beyond that point, and instead of cutting up the charge cards, our politicians are applying for more.

It's going to end, and it's going to end badly. We're now to the point where instead of making good choices, we'll have to choose the best of the bad ones.

But we won't.

We'll try to keep the game of musical chairs going just a little longer, trying not to be the one caught standing when the music stops.

We're on a ship at sea that's sinking and instead of bailing out the water and patching the holes, we're all trying to be the last guy on board before she slides beneath the waves forever.

And folks, I'm not leaving myself out of that. I'm doing the same thing. I'm doing what I can to protect and provide for my family, and I am spending some effort at damage control, but in truth, I avoid thinking about this as much as possible. It's unpleasant. It's scary. I'd rather build a garden shed and play with my grandkids. I tell myself that I'm not infallible, that I could be wrong, that there might be some magical way out of the crushing debt we've laid on ourselves. Just because no other country in the history of the world has managed to find a workable solution doesn't mean that we won't. After all, we're America!

The illusion is comforting, but in the end, it is an illusion. The way forward goes through a very dark place and I don't know what America will look like when...if...it comes out the other side.

So yeah, I'm a pessimist.

Finally, something Obama and I agree on.

Shots Across The Bow,


My name is Barbara O’Brien and I am a political blogger. Just had a question about your blog and couldn’t find an email—please get back to me as soon as you can (barbaraobrien(at)maacenter.org)

Thanks,
Barbara

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