Yes, I am basking in the warm feeling of the inauguration of the man I voted for. But I still have close conservative friends who really think our President is going to bring this country to its knees. Since the former President already did that, I cannot even begin to understand their concern. My conservative friends are smart and hard working and devout and wonderful people...well, one of them has an obsessive compulsive disorder in fearing germs ...really, but as a medical doctor I will forgive him his use of cases of paper towels. I just wish I could crawl inside their heads.
I understand the fear of socialism. It is, like communism, an ideal that if left unguarded, can ruin a democracy. I would like to see more control over welfare programs and unemployment benefits. Many lazy folks take advantage and I need to do more research on this. I think the earned benefit programs need to remain supported though. It seems that Paul Ryan has indicated that Social Security is a "Ponzi scheme" which is a gross misinterpretation on his part. Yet, Representative Ryan used the same benefits of this "Ponzi scheme" to get through college. So, send me a politician who is not rich and/or has not taken advantage of any government program and I will be willing to listen to his/her side of the story. If they can prove to me that most people on these programs are lazy and refuse to work than I will begin to understand their fear.
If there is a man who lost his job at the age of 60 and who for 8 months looks for a job, and gets discouraged with being turned away time and again, and finally says he will just collect unemployment and wait until he can get his social security benefits, do you begrudge him this failure to continue to search for work...if he has worked hard all his life? I know someone who is doing to do this. I cannot judge him.
I know there is common ground. It seems that a meeting of the Tea Party and the Move-On founder opened a window recently. This little snippet gives me hope. We may always disagree on any number of significant issues, but we really are good people under all the rhetoric and we really can compromise on most of the issues in a way that can move this country forward. If we keep the moneyed lobbyists out of the argument, I fee that we can reach reasonable compromises.
I would like to believe we can find reasonable compromise. I'm not so sure about it though. I was very pleased with Obama's speech and the possible change by the Senate for filibuster reform. We can get it together but it will take all of us being involved.
ReplyDeleteYou wrote:"We really can compromise on most of the issues in a way that can move this country forward." I hope you're right because the conservatives have chosen to define compromise as a dirty word. In my opinion those incapable of compromise don't deserve to be in Congress, a place created on compromise. But I do love everything you wrote.
ReplyDeleteI hope we can make progress, but I think it will be hard fought and slow to come. Partisanship in entrenched so deeply that it defeats common sense. We the people will have to let our voices be heard.
ReplyDeleteJFK said something to the effect of not looking for a Republican answer or a Democratic answer, but the right answer. Somehow, i think the correct answer is somewhere between the two extremes.
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice if only there was room for compromise, maybe even some plain, old-fahioned civility in the governing of this country. I should have remained polite when I got a call the DNC asking once again for money, but I really thought I was going to get a little break. You'd think the $25 i sent last year would stretch a bit farther!
ReplyDeleteIn our current political system, there is no room for compromise. If you compromise on anything, it is seen as a weakness by both sides and neither want to be seen as having a weakness. I'd like them to forget compromise and substitute the words "common sense" in their dealings. Not common sense for their political parties but common sense when it comes out of their dealings but for the country.
ReplyDeleteThe Conservative movement moved far to the right the last few decades. Some of us on the far, far left moved more to the center. I find it all interesting but a bit frightening. I truly hated seeing someone in a blue tie speaking out against the "left" yesterday. He was saying the same old stuff as if he had learned nothing.
ReplyDeleteYes, I knew a 64 year old man who used to volunteer with G. His company laid him off not only because of the downturn but because he couldn't learn computers. His son bought him one for his home, G went out week after week to teach him, and as he faded more he couldn't get a job. Then his wife divorced him, and he had to move to AZ to live with his son. His unemployment kept him going for that last year till his well earned SS kicked in.
There has to be compromise but not on the shoulders of our elders.
RYN: Hormones. I certainly never wanted to take them, and I didn't start taking them for more energy. I had a hysterectomy at age 40, and over the years my tissues have grown very fragile. By using the lowest dose hormones available, I no longer fell all apart bleeding from the corners. It's another compromise especially as there is much cancer in my family.
ReplyDeleteLove to see all the ceremonies of the Second Inauguration of Barack Obama, by CNN. Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteAMEN!
ReplyDeleteFrom the UK - it feels hopeful for all of you. I hope that is indeed true, Every Blessing
ReplyDeleteAn interesting blog post.
ReplyDeleteI am Harry from Jakarta, Indonesia, I like your blog so I have followed on Google Friend Connect (No. 100).
Please follow back, thank you.
www.multibrandx.net
Your sharing
ReplyDeleteis always meaningful to me.
I stay concerned about the future of my children and grandchildren as they have many years ahead of them.
I hope you're right.
ReplyDeleteI was glad to hear Obama state in his inaugural address that the social safety nets strengthen our society; they don't bring it down. Hear hear!