Saturday, April 25, 2009

A Political Thought

As I read the newspapers daily, I am confronted with dread that our country is headed in the wrong direction. Every day its something new: congressional show-trials, divulging CIA interrogation secrets to our enemies, a ballooning spending plan and resultant obscene deficit, a health-care philosophy that will severely limit its effectiveness - yet significantly increase its cost, bailout after bailout, etc etc etc.

It got me thinking back to those heady days before Nov 4, 2008. You know....when the majority of Americans thought Barack Obama was the new Jesus Christ and he was going to save the world. When adoring crowds treated Obama speeches like it was The Beatles at Shea Stadium in 1966.

The Democratic movement - by most accounts - usually represents the young, new, hip generation (think: Bill Clinton on MTV, playing saxaphone on late-night talk shows, banging his subordinates with cigars, etc.). These are the people who generally want "change" and want to do away with the "old way of doing things." We are the "new generation." Etc....

Meanwhile, the Republican movement is generally thought of as the old, out-of-touch, stodgy way of doing things. The media loves to portray Republicans and their ideas as "the old guard" and make fun of their age whenever possible (think John McCain). These old codgers want to return to the glory days of the 1950's, The Greatest Generation folks. yada yada yada. 

I've had a thought. There is an old saying that I think most people can agree with: 

"EXPERIENCE IS THE BEST TEACHER"

While people who side with Democratic ideals generally don't do so with malice or intent to harm others or their country (though ACORN supporters may have a different take), they unfortunately lack a real perspective of how government affects them personally, and their country as a whole. 

The reason Republican supporters tend to be older is because as they've lived and gained experience with the world they live in, they've come to recognize the effect big Government has on their present and on their future - and it scares the hell out of them.

The young Democratic idealists just haven't had much exposure to how big Government can limit their future. This comes with time. Or Education.

P.S. Can anyone please explain to me how divulging our military secrets to the world (and therefore our enemies) will make us safer? 

P.P.S. Does anyone really believe that dragging ex-CIA officials and CEOs before congress in an effort to assign blame for things that have gone wrong is in anyway beneficial to our country? Will it fix our problems? The energy that is wasted on Capitol Hill is MIND BLOWING.

 

No comments: