I was raised to believe that love, compassion, equal opportunity, hard work, and fair-play, were Christian. That government was to serve the people and budgets should be balanced. Not by subsidizing corporate farms at the expense of small family farms at home and abroad. Not by raising the national debt ceiling every year. Not by allowing the balance of payments to remain at a suicidal upward spiral. Not by allowing defense contractors no-bid, unlimited contracts.
People are not the driving force to our government. Insurance, banking, and oil companies lead a loosely held cabal of lobbyists who hold the reins of enough powerful congressmen to rule us like a dairy herd and milk us like cows. Why are the upper three percent getting richer? Who gets the tax cuts?
Why are the general population losing ground? Taxes rising and people getting less for their money? Tax money is being redirected not just to an obscene war, but to projects and people connected to this administration. Sadly, this is not being challenged because most of the opposition party has become complicit. The Democrats are supposed to be our counterbalance, but they are almost as corrupt. Remember the trite but true quote: “power corrupts.”
Yes, the checks and balances have been compromised. The Supreme Court has been subverted, and every department of government has become a plum for political appointees. “Good job Brownie,” has become normal as the requirements for a cushy job are how much you helped a particular campaign, and not what your record is.
America must be very aware of the smear campaign tactics used in the past. The neo-cons hide behind the reputation of Barry Goldwater”s party, but they do not represent small government or fiscal responsibility.
Dave Gebhard
Lakeport
