I apologize to the three or none of you that still take a look at this page. I have grown languid by other distractions, such as breathing and sleeping. Of course, that is no reason to deprive such a grand audience of my thoughts, so I will provide a brief opinion to tide you over and provide myself with more impetus to re-visit the vigor for this endeavor that I once held.
I had an interesting conversation today with an elder man who happened upon a side comment I made about Reagan and the deification that he received, and continues to receive, by a certain political party that is involved in a current "Big Issue" that will come to terms within a fortnight. He averred that there were two horrible terms present in his memory: Carter and Bush II. He was forthright in stating that Bush 1 may have had some potential, but was sabotaged by the Reagan Administration that left him without a possibility of being "fiscally responsible" with what was left to that President. Bush II was too friggin stupid to deal with the events presented to him, and was taken by the advice of idiots formerly employed by his father -- kindly provided to Bush 1 by Reagan.
I write this only because there are those existing with longer memories than I that do not depend upon a history book, a web page dedicated to a certain political strain, or any particular reason to offer an opinion but for the fact of actual BEING and living through such times. As we move through the current Presidency and concern ourselves with the issues at hand, it is good to know that there are other and sundry voices that do not stem from any particular news network, webpage, or blog. There are voices and opinions uttered from people that have existed under different Administrations, have been through oil crises, terrorist bombings, multiple wars sold to the public, and still offer a dissident opinion.
So as the debate over the National Debt rages, I would like to remind the reader that decisions are made by politicians, are suffered moreso by us commoners, and are bought and traded on suspicion by the International Market. At this writing, the discussion is about the deal to be made between Democrats and Republicans. Those are two parties vying for your vote, all trusting that the voter will understand the issue and side with one or the other.
They are not the ones that will rescue YOU, the voter, from a similar decision that you may make in your own life. If you owe, are you able to call your loaner and ask for an extension without some excessive charge to be paid later? How is this concept of debt any different from the individual citizen to the Federal or State government to which we individuals pay "rent" to secure the basics of infrastructure and security?
Our Federal Government -- as well as many State Governments -- must learn to live as they expect us to live. The current issue tends to be portrayed as black and white: either raise the debt ceiling, or cut government expenses. It is not "either/or." It is necessary to raise the debt ceiling for the same reason that it is necessary to raise the minimum wage from time to time. Inflation, stupid. As the value of the dollar expands, things also cost more, and therefore the agreed-upon ceiling that went into effect many years ago no longer holds the same applicable value. At the same time, there is an urgent need to cut certain expenses and entitlements to rein in the government spending.
Therefore, the answer is simple: a dirty word in the political sphere known as "compromise." The debt ceiling must be raised to address the past years of inflation, and certain funding needs to be cut as rampant deals cut on the side for other legislative approval have bloated various budgets. Our representatives in office should be held to account for their finances as much as many others have been in their personal lives over the past half-decade. Perhaps we could start with less funding to the military, focus our energy more upon saving our own citizens' quality of life rather than destroying the lives of nations half a world away, and in turn demonstrate that OUR government can work together to ensure that the greatness of the American ideal continues.
J.B., thanks for getting me riled up a bit a few weeks back. I know I have been lax in this, but it has provided me a good release that I do not often receive at my place of employment.
