How we vote is a similar process. I voted for President Obama and other Democrat candidates. I am disappointed in some of his actions. I think he should have been more publicly supportive of a public option in the health care bill. I think he should have moved diligently to get us out of Afghanistan and Pakistan. I think the financial reform bill could have been stronger in preventing unbridled hedge fund and derivative action. I think Gitmo should have been shut down. I think DADT should have been put to rest. I think there should have been an immediate commitment to "jobs, jobs, jobs", with a major focus on infrastructure and clean energy projects. I think there should have been a strong push for environmental and clean energy action. I think there should have been a moratorium on foreclosures. I think there should have been a stronger movement towards immigration reform. I think President Obama should have been more like LBJ in arm twisting and political hard balling.
Likewise, I am disappointed in the few Democrat "blue dogs" who stood in the way of a more aggressive progressive agenda. Given the control of both houses of Congress and the Executive Branch, the Dems could have done better. An opportunity was shorted. Justice was too much denied.
Yet, ON BALANCE, much good was done to move the justice ball down the track. Consider the alternative! Yet, it is wrong to paint with too broad of a brush. The basic Democrat and Republican values are a good balance, WHEN THEY ARE IN BALANCE. However, when a side is so arbitrarily one sided in saying "No!" to nearly every legislative effort, one questions their concern for the country's well-being. The result is watered down results. How can one party be in such a blind lock step, finding little if any worth in programs of the other side? It is ideology run crazy! Individualism and the quest for profits for the able and powerful rule the day.
ON BALANCE, if the Republicans had been in control would we be drawing down in Iraq? Would there be financial reform? Would there be a vastly improved health care bill? Would GM have been bailed out? Would we have a progressive environmental and clean energy bill? Would DADT be moving towards legislative action? Would there have been a significant stimulus bill beyond the AIG and bank bailouts? Would there have been movement towards improving education? If the Supreme Court had not had a conservative majority would there have been a Citizens United decision? Would there have been positive movement towards immigration reform? Maybe, maybe not. But on BALANCE, I doubt it.
And now the Tea Party and the Rightward drift. What is the sense in proposing "Second Amendment" solutions and violent revolt against the government? What is the sense of continuing the flow of wealth to the highest 2% at the expense of the other 98%? What is the sense of unleashing anonymous corporate billions into an election system at the expense of "one person, one vote", all as the result of a most tragic Supreme Court decision? What is the sense of a seriously unregulated market? What is the sense of allowing corporations to outsource jobs for tax advantage and profit? What is the sense of unbridled individualism at the expense of the common good? What is the sense of a government when as a result of its actions is the rapid growth of armed militia movements?
ON BALANCE, the Tea Party and Republican Party actions have been unfriendly to "Lady Justice". ON BALANCE, the Democrat Party has been more friendly to "Lady Justice". Perfection is in the BALANCE. The BALANCE is seeing the big picture of who can lead us towards justice and peace? In my mind, the BALANCE tilts towards the Dems. Consider the future. Is it every person for themselves? Or, do we take care of each other?
This election is a MATTER OF BALANCE.
Peace!
Ron
It's really tough to fight the great imbalance of divergence between the rich and the poor...the rich can purchase the votes.
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