If You Want Change You Need to Own It

First I need to go on record as saying I have a great disdain for George W Bush. There are those close to me that will tell you I predicted most everything he has done within days of his being elected the first time. He's a transparent man that is easy to read, so the predictions weren't hard. I believe that history, 100 years from now, will judge him as the worst President to ever hold the office. Personally I view him a "Nero" who fiddled as Rome burned.

Furthermore, I need to say I like Barack Obama. I would have preferred Bill Richardson, but I think Obama has what it take to be a good President but you'll have to excuse me if I look at him through the eyes of a skeptic.

Barack you were given a mandate by the citizen of this great country because you promised change. Thus far the majority of your appointments look like a recirculation of the Clinton Administration and that is fine if they are the most qualified but it hardly is change.

During your campaign you promised the American people that you would implement stiff guidelines to remove the influence of lobbyists in the law making process. And true to your word you did exactly that, expect you put a waiver in for a chosen few, that some of your recycled bureaucrats want as advisers in your administration. That hardly sounds like limited influence.

You also pledged, as you stood next to John McCain at a dinner honoring him, to reduce earmarks, pork and wasteful spending from any new legislation. The following is some statistics put together by a guy on Craigslist:


http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stimulus

What is an earmark?

This economic stimulus bill is filled with earmarks. 817 Billion dollars of your money that was supposed to stimulate the economy is going to do nothing more than create a greater dependence on a welfare state.

Your congress passed the following:

50 Million for National Endowment for the arts. How does that stimulate the economy? This is an earmark.

2.1 Billion for Headstart. How does that stimulate the economy? This is an earmark.

2.0 Billion to Childcare block grants. Government paying for babysitting is going to stimulate the economy? This is an earmark.

120 Million to fund part time work for seniors working for community service agencies? How does that stimulate the economy? This is an earmark.

5 million earmarked to speed up the processing of social security disability claims. How does that stimulate the economy? This is an earmark.

20 Billion for increasing welfare / food stamp spending. How does that stimulate the economy? This is an earmark.

1.7 Billion to assist the homeless. How does that stimulate the economy? This is an earmark.

1 billion for low income home heating assistance program How does that stimulate the economy? This is an earmark.

200 Million for meals on wheels. How does that stimulate the economy? This is an earmark.

200 Million for Americorps. How does that stimulate the economy? This is an earmark.

5 billion for public housing. How does that stimulate the economy? This is an earmark.

87 billion for Medicaid. How does that stimulate the economy? This is an earmark.

He missed the 18 million for sod replacement in Washington D.C. and again does it belong here?

Now I am not going to start out of the gate lambasting you. I promised I would give you a chance and see if you were a man of words or a man of action but I have to say, so far, I'm a little disappointed. But not surprised. See first and foremost you are a politician, and politicians, regardless of their party affiliation tend to forget what they said on the campaign trail after the election is won. The problem is Mr. President, we the people, cannot afford more of the same.

Therefore I will not lambaste you. Instead I turn to the American people and say to them; if you really want change then YOU have to make it happen. You have to champion for it, you have to own it. Because if you don't....then all is surely lost.

The days of being the lazy American, sitting back and letting others do the dirty work are over! The baby boomers inherited a life that was paid for on the backs, the sweat and blood of our fathers and mothers.

We contributed free love and Dr. Spock! Oh and real rock and roll! That's our claim to fame. And because of Dr. Spock we have a couple of generations past us with this distorted sense of entitlement and lack of compassion for their fellow man. Its always been provided for them. They never had to create anything. Have you ever noticed they can't even come up with original thoughts for movies? They have to do remakes every year.

The CHANGE we need is not only in our politicians but in our society, and the people that live it. This so called stimulus bill reads like a democratic who's who checklist. Wasn't this bill supposed to stimulate the economy? To provide money for jobs so that the citizens of this country could keep a roof over their heads and food on the table for their family's? DO YOU HONESTLY FEEL THIS BILL DOES THAT? Really?

Now keep in mind that most of these earmarks are needed and there is justification for them, but I believe they belong in a spending bill, a budget, not a "stimulus" package. One of my pet peeves about Bush was how he treated the American people like idiots. He'd submit a budget to congress and forget to include the cost of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Duh!!! George, unlike you the last book I read was not an upside down children's book. And folks this is the same thing! Different type of idiot but the same damn thing.

Now the question is what do we do about it? Well people get involved! Instead of sitting on your ass and watching reality shows, look up your Senator and Congressman's email address and let them know, this isn't change, and it ain't gonna fly! And while Mr. Obama may be guaranteed a job for the next 4 years, he or she may not be as lucky. Tell them to stop playing politics with the future of your children and grandchildren.

Have you ever looked at what people in government are paid? The elected officials I mean. Have you ever seen a poor Senator or Congressman? Nope, me neither! Why? Hell if I have to explain it then you shouldn't be here reading. People you elected the man for CHANGE now DEMAND IT!! Because if you don't...I fear for this country.

Over the years I've been in a lot of political debates, with a lot of people, and the Internet has provided me with a broader spectrum of people of which I can interact and get their opinions, and that's good. It allows all of us to sense change and I have seen something uttered that I haven't heard since I was a young man in the late 60's and early 70's. That word is revolution. I seen it written and spoken more times in the last few years than I can keep track of.

The other day I called my brother to tell him what I had just heard on the radio, Mejier's was having a 50% off sale that included Winchester ammunition. A radio commercial for ammunition! Other than hunting season I have never heard of such a thing. The under-current is there people, look around and listen.

The problem is millionaire politicians are fooling themselves if they think the general population is just going to let the middle class slip away. They forget they govern the most heavily armed population in the world.

So, does that make you think? Do you see why we the people need to wrap our arms around change, and embrace it? This time words are not enough. Our leader need to drop the party line and put the best interest of this nation ahead of party politics. If they don't they may not like the consequence.

Now, for the record, again, I do not condone any form of violence, but as an American it is my obligation to question my leaders, and to let them know if I think they are not doing their job. But I do it with the written word, and I hope others will join me.

We've already had "Nero", but you can be sure of one thing. When Rome, the largest empire to ever rule on this planet, fell...nobody saw it happening nor did they believe it could happen, but it did. Never fool yourself to think it can't happen here. Work for change!