What’s Wrong With This Country
February 29th, 2008 at 10:03am Don R. Gugliuzza
Every problem this country faces can be traced to our national government. The war in Iraq, an energy policy that was written by the oil companies, the declining dollar, huge budget deficits, foreign trade agreements that are called “Free Trade” that are only free to the other countries, the outsourcing of jobs, just to name a few. All of these problems can be traced back to the President and his administration and our Congress. It doesn’t matter which party controls both branches of our government. Whether Democrat or Republican, the results are always the same. But, it’s not our system of government that is the culprit; it’s us. We keep believing the rhetoric that candidates spew out. Words that are written by someone else who is a master at telling us what we want to hear. Hollow words. We have to vote smarter. We have to challenge the candidates on their rhetoric. Once elected, we have to let them know what we want and that we are monitoring their actions. Another words, we have to hold them accountable and let them know that we do. No more free passes for our elected officials. Either they represent us or they get sent home the next election. We have to be the lobbyists they listen to. We don’t have the big money that the lobbyists have but we have something bigger and more powerful…. our ballot.
Don R. Gugliuzza
Entry Filed under: Uncategorized
5 Comments Add your own
1. Matthew | February 29th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
I don’t disagree with a lot of what you have said. It is very insightful, and should be the case. Unfortunately, those Democratus (the few who rule over the many) won’t be so willing to release that power.
People need to do their research on each candidate, not accept “face value”-type comments, and who the media and/or local news papers “hype”. I challenge people that I speak to, just as you are saying, challenge yourself to examine each candidate’s stance on current (relevant) issues, and campaign platforms. We all know that you and I still hold skepticism in any promise proffered, but nonetheless, which candidate do we agree with?
I’m truly no fan of Senator Clinton, but she has a fairly well defined platform, with explanation of her plans in place. She also has experience in the White House, and a definitive Senate history, and with provable accomplishment. Once again, this is no endorsement of Senator Clinton, of whom I can say I am personally no fan.
I challenge the public to name one accomplishment that can be accredited to Senator Barack Obama in the Senate. He states a “Universal Health Care Plan”. What is his (definative) plan? He is charismatic, and has had a truly meteoric rise, especially for a politician. But, name any true accomplishment acreditable to Senator Obama. It’s not easy. There really isn’t any. Even well registered Democratic Politicians (Senators, Governors, etc.) can’t provide any. He really just doesn’t have much experience. But, does the common voter know these things? Would they still vote the same if they did?
Senator McCain is a war hero (as are every one of our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who serve everyday in our defense), and a straight shooter with experience and a proven track record in the Senate. But, do we, as voters, agree with his issues on immigration? I don’t. The economy? The Iraqi War? He’s got some very good platforming issues. Some with which I agree, some with which I don’t. He’s also got some very poor ideas, in my opinion, that he, as President, would like to implement.
(Former) Governor Huckabee also is experienced, and proven as a politician. But, how does he stand on the issues that are important to each of us as individuals? How much does the common voter truly know about his stance of the issues that are important to them?
There is an old adage: “If you don’t vote, you can’t complain”. There is truth to that. But, an ignorant voter, of which there are very, very many, is as damaging as someone who doesn’t even bother to vote.
I hate to ramble on, but, too many people take what they read in the paper, of hear from a TV news anchor as “unspun fact”, without researching issues on their own. Especially in the internet age, in which we live, there is no excuse not to do any research before voting. If we vote with a trend, or haven’t educated ourselves on the issues each campaign is platforming, how can we expect a change for the better (if we don’t even know what we are voting for).
These are dark times in our world, and there is a lot at stake for all of us. People just need to be aware of whom the are voting, and why. Unfortunately we have a lot of voters who don’t educate themselves on each of the issues each candidate is platforming, and cast their vote in ignorance, or in followance of a trend.
When that becomes the case, we sometimes get just what it is that we ask for (although some voters didn’t even realize that they were asking for what they got in voting for whomever was their candidate of choice).
2. Traci | February 29th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Matthew you are right on 100%. While voting is a wonderful right we as Americans enjoy, it is not a right that should be practiced by those who choose to rely on the media as the only source for information. I can say that as a young, naiive college student I did not know much about the candidates and went for Al Gore in ‘00 because he had a “D” behind his name, and I knew that’s how my parents voted. After the election, I actually took the time to examine my own belief system and found that I identified more with the conservative perspective so you can imagine how silly I felt about my vote in 2000 and my own ignorance. Now I am a well-educated, well informed working woman who takes time to really look into the nitty-gritty of each candidate. For example, has anyone looked into Clinton, Obama, and McCain’s voting records in the Senate? That information is there for those who seek it, but as you mentioned- how many Americans are THAT informed? I truly hope that Americans can vote with their heads in November and make an educated decision. That single decision will influence where our country (as well as our friends and enemies) will head in the coming years.
3. Don R. Gugliuzza | March 1st, 2008 at 4:06 pm
I agree with you that people only remember what they read in the newspaper or what they hear on t.v. Unfortunately, they fail to realize that what they’re reading and hearing is the product of some “spin doctor” and processed through a biased filter.
The founders of our country knew that democracy could only exist if there was an educated, well informed electorate. That’s why they initally limited who could vote. We have attempted to provide universal education for all our children so that we could have that type of electorate. Perhaps in our efforts, we should have instilled in our children that the voters are the ones who will determine the direction that this country may travel. Therefore, voting is not something that is only done when convenient, but rather a sacred trust that will allow us to maintain the strongest and best nation on the face of this planet.
We need to educate people to the realities of our government. They need to know what the candidates stand for; what they’ve done as much as what they say they will do. We need to wean them from the blind adherance to a political party and become independent political thinkers. We need them to get out and vote.
4. thedudeabides | March 2nd, 2008 at 11:30 am
Then why not have a national holiday for voting? Does anyone really care about Casimir Pulaski? Or Columbus?
We so have many religious-based holidays, but given that we’re supposed to be a nation without a national religion, why not make Voting Day just as important as Christmas?
5. Jeff Rushing | March 2nd, 2008 at 9:30 pm
The fact of the matter is we are at quite possibly one if the most critical times in our countries history,and we have a population that on a large scale does not realize this.They think this is just another one of those elections.It worries me…On the one hand we have a party that wants bigger government and has moved to the left because it must cater to its liberal move on.org agenda.
The other party has lost its way as well.In my opinion Mitt Romney is the guy that would have made an excellent choice for President he was the one true conservative his problem was Mike Huckabee who split the conservative vote and forced Romney out.Thats another story in itself.Traci is correct when she mentions that we should actually look at what these people have done.Clinton has done nothing meanigful,Obama even less.On the other side of the aisle MCcain is always talking about reaching across the aisle.He is a RINO.I will vote for him because he is the lesser of 3 evils.The final lineup this election year is pretty sad.
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