Midterm elections are just around the corner and the so-called “Progressives” are whining louder than ever. Please note that although I have been labeled a “Progressive” I still prefer the old moniker of Liberal. Hell, yes! I am a tree hugging, oil spill angry, health care happy, cracking the glass ceiling Liberal — and proud to be one. But, I am also confused by both sides of the political spectrum.
Beginning with the Conservatives, the Tea Party gang, and the Republicans, I must say that I am baffled. At best they remind me of a child stomping his feet in the grocery market line. No matter what the present administration does, they cannot be happy — even for a moment. It is as if they have two mouths and speak from both at the same time.
For example, Bobby Jindal, the Louisiana Governor. He is the perfect example of wanting his cake, but wanting to eat it, too. He is at one time walking the Gulf shore pointing out tar balls and talking about barriers to prevent the oil spill from washing ashore. The next minute he is complaining about a 6 month moratorium on drilling for oil in the Gulf.
Well, to be honest he is in a tough place. His state needs the oil revenue. He wants the oil revenue. That’s his super-Conservative capitalist side — the one he claims — showing through. Jindal has ranted and raved about the loss of revenue and the loss of jobs caused by the moratorium. We get it!
Yet, in the next breath he is talking about the government (the big government) not doing enough to clean up the mess in the Gulf. Jindal was against the stimulus package, but he sure would love more of it right now. So, he chooses to call upon the Federal government entities to fix the spill. Of course, he says BP should pay for the damages, but he will take help from Washington, DC in the meantime.
That’s a bit confusing to this old bird who sits on the left side of the fence. On the right hand, leave us alone and let us make all the money from oil revenues we can. On the left hand, the government (Big Brother) needs to get down here and help the people. Well, of course, we need to help the people. I grew up in a fishing environment. I know the pain those folks are feeling. But, Bobby…. you are sounding like Wall Street. We want all the big bonuses and the freedom to do as we please but once we have all but toppled the world economy, come bail us out! Bobby wants the oil and the offshore drilling, but when that threatens to pollute the entire Gulf it is time for the big government to come clean it up. Granted, Jindal is trying to please both the oil companies and the residents of his state — all the residents.
Okay, so I have been picking on B.J. but he is a good example of what confuses me about the Republicans. They want tax cuts and they do not want regulations. They prefer to talk about those on the left (as they refer to us) wanting to socialize America. Yet, they want to claim Christianity as if they not only own it, but created it. “In the beginning, the Republicans …. “ Maybe they did not read the New Testament. I’m not a religious person but it seems to me that while they are screaming about the “Progressives” — LIBERALS — trying to socialize America, I wonder what they think when they look at that little plastic bracelet on their arms that reads “WWJD”. Maybe they think he would have taken his loaf of bread and his fish and gone home. Oh, well — another paradox of the Conservative Capitalists.
Now to the rest of us. That includes those who sit with me as we man the phone lines calling Obama supporters and potential supporters. I will be the first to say that I have felt my share of disappointment during the past 18 months. In fact, just scroll back over a few past articles and you will see some of my tirades against the President. At one point I even offered that he should read a book on management. Well, the new administration has certainly left me shaking my head from time to time. I have even been so pissed off that I have deleted emails from Organizing for America, vowing to act like a disappointed kid and take my marbles and go — stay — home.
I was livid when President Obama announced that he was going back on his campaign words, as he had decided to allow offshore drilling for oil. Of course, the Gulf spill happened and if I had remained loyal to my Catholic upbringing and my ancestry, I would have said that the spill was a sign. For anyone who is not familiar with Catholicism, although we have been told not to look for signs, everything is a sign to the devout. Anyway, I was so disappointed and upset with President Obama that I deleted all the OFA emails for almost a month.
Here’s the bottom line as I see it — my opinion. And, yes, I have been angry this past 18 months and I have been disappointed during the past 18 months. President Obama has not done everything I had hoped for or everything he promised during the campaign. I am extremely disappointed that we are just getting around to “Don’t ask. Don’t tell.” Let’s face it, there is little hope for real gay rights during his first term. Immigration? Well, there are plenty of disappointed folks on that one. Health care reform? I worked my ass off for it. And, what did I get? I am still falling through the cracks. In fact, what I need will not come into effect until I am old enough to no longer need it — unless Congress screws up Medicare. The Lilly Ledbetter Act? Well, I was so damned stubborn during my work years that I decided to work for myself rather than settle for less pay. As Americans we can still do that and get paid for what we do. Financial reform? I cut up my credit cards several years ago. Call me stubborn, but it finally registered with me that banks can act as the “massa” if we are willing to sign on to financial slavery. Instead of owing our souls to the company store as our grandparents complained. Many of us have ended up owing our souls to the credit card banks — and no! They will not take your first born as payment in full.
BUT, there are millions of Americans who are benefiting from health care reform now or within the next few months and over time more and more of us will see the benefits. There are millions of working women who work for companies or employers who would love to pay them less than the employed men, but are now prohibited from doing so. And, financial reform? Well, if you have a credit card you may still have the debt, but at least you have a fair shake at understanding the rules of play now.
None of the legislation passed during the Obama presidency has been perfect. But, it has all been a step in the right direction. The steps may be small in some cases and bigger in others. But, we are progressing. And, for all my gay and lesbian and immigrant friends — I know you are waiting and I know you are tired of waiting. And, yes, you should keep the pressure on so your cause will not be forgotten or pushed aside. However, let me just say that I have been angry and disappointed, too. This is not the pace of change we had hoped for. But, when the campaign was going on, no one knew the world was about to collapse around us. No one knew we would see 10% unemployment. No one knew millions of homes would be in foreclosure. No one knew.
In the last 18 months, as many of us have struggled to stay afloat, have stood in unemployment lines, and have sent out more resumes than we could afford, we have seen the “take care of yourself, you are not my problem” Conservative Tea Partying Republicans stall unemployment benefits citing the fact that many of us are unemployed because we are too lazy to look for work. We have suddenly heard all this talk about balancing the budget. The budget was balanced before the last Republican administration took office. When President Clinton left office, our nation had a surplus. When the Republicans left office we had a deficit, two wars, and a economic collapse.
Eighteen months into the present administration, we have fair pay for everyone, health care for almost everyone, and we sent the Vaseline back to the banks. Those are the big victories and they have come with little (very little) or no Republican support in Congress. On a more personal note, I have not actually directly benefited from any of the legislation that has passed in the past 18 months. But, I know that whether the new laws affect me directly or not, they are good for the country.
That brings me to the mid-term elections. There is lots of talk about people staying away from the polls, having lost interest in the progress of the country. I know unemployment is still too high. Everyone knows it. But, if left to the Tea Partying Republicans, the unemployed would be without benefits today. That’s something to think about. Many would be without health care. And, the banks would be self-regulating and chances are there would be another TARP in our future.
As the mid-term elections approach I can only think that as bad as things are, they would only be worse for the majority of us if we had to depend on those fiscal Conservatives who spent us into debt starting wars and fighting to keep the “free market economy” dependent on taxpayers for bailouts. You see, it seems to me that every time the federal government does anything to help the masses, it is called entitlements or socialism. The next time one of those Conservatives discovers that his house is on fire, I wonder if he will call the socialist fire department to put it out.
We have not come far enough, but we are making progress. Now is not the time to let go of our dreams for the future. Now, more than ever is the time to cast your mid-term election vote. The President is making great strides, but he cannot do it by himself. He needs the support of Congress. Rather than talking about losing seats in the House or the Senate, we should be concentrating on picking up a few.
Like many Americans I am tired and there are moments of doubt. I have had to stretch my dollars to the point where the face on the front of the bill is unrecognizable. I have had to cut back on things that I once considered a necessity. But, I know that at the very least, the present administration is not attempting to socialize America. Rather it is trying to put a solid footing beneath all of us. As taxpayers, each of us deserves health care, fair pay, protection from the big companies and banks who prey upon our wants and needs, offering us terms and conditions that have been debated in courts of law without resolution while expecting the average man and woman to have a full understanding. As a nation we need to be assured that each of us has the right to receive medical care and our children need to be educated equally. That is not an entitlement or a hand out. It is a solid foundation from which to rebuild our great nation.
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