This political season has been filled with firsts. Firsts are often considered striking events... things never to be forgotten. The capturing of the presidency by the first African-American (well, sort of... his mother was white) was one of those events that made history. Mr. Obama's seizure of the American state was just the beginning. Soon thereafter, he seized elements of Wall Street and GM too. The government taking ownership of private business, if not technically a first, is certainly extremely rare and unusual. It's something you'd expect in Venezuela, but the United State of America.
If that were all, it would be enough... at least for me. When was the last time the Democrat's ignored the polls? During the presidential campaign they followed the polls religiously. But what do we find now? Congressional and presidential approval ratings are the lowest in decades. American's have clearly spoken and the direction the country is heading is not what is wanted. And yet, the once religious poll watching Democrats act as if there are no polls. A political poll? What's that?
Just today, the Senate voted (just barely) to impose floor debate on a very unpopular Health Care bill. Most Americans have expressed a desire for health care reform, but not a public or government run option. Well, the Congress ignored the polls and voted in a public option health care bill and sent it on to the Senate. And now the Senate has chosen the same path. Both houses of congress are dominated by Democrats. Personally I oppose both of these measures. I hope that, when given the chance, their constituency stomps loudly as they give these hard of hearing Democrats the boot.
I'm a Republican, but I'm a conservative American first. I believe in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. I believe in free enterprise... that it is the engine that allows this country to run and provide an opportunity for the American dream. I believe in a strong central government... but a lean one. I believe that government must live within its means like every entity in this country. Government should have a balanced budget and should stay out of way of states and the private sector. So everything that I'm seeing now is very troubling. The Democrats seem hell-bent on pushing this country into a very large government that controls every sector of the economy.
If the Democratic agenda is forced upon this country, regardless of the loud voices from every state in this nation, then I'll hope for yet another "first." What would that be? Throughout our political history there have been some weak moments when Democrats have succeeded in ramming a government option through the system. One example is the Social Security administration. Once these "government options" get their foot in the door, they never leave. They become government entitlement programs that become a serious drain on the American people... who pay for these entitlements whether they work effectively or not. Well, if insanity succeeds and we see a national health care plan rammed through the system against the will of the majority, then I hope for the first time, that it becomes the first entitlement to get the axe.
A season of firsts? I hope so.
