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First I believe that the President and Congress need to remember that there are a large number of Americans that weren’t here in the 1970’s and early 1980’s, they either weren’t living in the United States or weren’t born. Our leaders need to reassure the people that the country will survive, instead of saying that our economy is going to crash if the other guy doesn’t change, try reassuring that political differences are being set aside for now to develop a solution. To those reading this that weren’t around in the 1970’s take it from someone that was this country, you will get through this. As the saying goes, Been There, Done That! Like the saying goes those that don’t know their history are doomed to repeat it, so let me give the President and politicians a brief history lesson.
First, Mr. President if you’ve been conducting this as your advisors have recommended, you need to fire them and get someone else because they are failing you and the country. If you are not, maybe it’s time you tried doing so and see how it works. Next and I say this with all respect, unless you have something constructive, a specific detailed plan to announce to the country (and world) don’t go near a microphone. When the media, and critics, ask why we haven’t heard from the President your aides can say that you haven’t had time because you are working on this. Especially don’t go near a microphone in the East Room or Oval Office. Your giving a speech without citing specifics is part of what is causing the markets and rating companies’ serious concern about our economic stability. If you think I’m wrong just look at the market trends and compare them to the dates of your speeches and interviews.
The last two things I will tell you, for now are that you need to reconsider the speed in which you are doing things, as well as reconsidering your vision of what the government should be doing. I can prove my point very easily by taking a look at the budget you proposed for this current year. You proposed this year’s budget when the Democratic Party, your party, had control of both the Senate and House of Representatives. As a matter of fact there was a veto proof majority in the Senate and your proposed budget failed unanimously, not a single democrat voted for your budget.
The final thing I will say, and I believe if you heed this advice you not only will be reelected you will be more than a notation in the history books as the first African-American elected President. You like to bring up past Presidents; you talk about them as examples of our greatness. In keeping with that theme I’ll mention two Presidents, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan (who you’ve mentioned a lot lately). I lived through both administrations so I’m basing this on my experiences and not what I read. President Carter failed because he lectured the American people; the Sunday school teacher was scolding his class. Try talking with the American people, not to them; speak as if you were having a conversation instead of presenting a lecture when you were teaching.
This brings me to President Reagan. When he spoke to the country he didn’t talk about hope, he actually gave people hope. President Reagan reminded us of how great the country had been, still was, and could be continuing into the future. When people are going through hard times they sometimes forget that. Finally, and perhaps more important, you’ve been talking a lot about what President Reagan accomplished. What you need to remember is that during President Reagan’s term the Democrats were in the majority in Congress, yet despite that he was able to pass a lot of his legislative agenda. According to both Democrats and Republicans he did that by working with the Congress. President Reagan would give them details about what he wanted and then he and his aides would work with Congress to draft legislation that would accomplish the objective and also address all sides concerns. Like I said the Democrats had control of the Congress.
Lastly I have a brief history lesson for the Democrats, Republicans, and Tea Party. Democrats remember 1994, the Republicans gained control of the House of Representatives for the first time in over 40 years. They were able to accomplish that because the American Public was complaining about the growth and spending of the federal government, they felt that the Congress wasn’t listening to what they wanted. The people sent to Congress to represent their interests were putting Party interests ahead of the constituents. Sound familiar?
Republicans, remember what happened after you took control in 1994? You started off good, but then it seemed as thou you decided to make up for the past 40 years and spent, spent, spent. You lost touch with, and the confidence of the voters. Just like the Democrats you put Party interests ahead of the constituents!
The Tea Party needs to remember Ronald Reagan as well. Like you, he talked about smaller government and more control on spending. He was able to accomplish a lot because he worked with others and compromised when necessary. I know you think government spending is out of control and that government has grown too big and more powerful than the founding fathers intended, welcome to the club. However, you may have to accept some change now, more next year, the year after that and so on without violating your principles. You may not like it but being extreme gives those that want to label you as nuts (and worse) an argument for attacking you, and it gives their attacks credibility in some people’s minds. It allows you to become the reason for any future hard times people suffer, when things are bad people always look for someone else to blame. You have good positions, however, not being willing to compromise could end up with your being voted out of office if things don’t improve. Why can’t the changes you want be implemented in two or four years.
The President, Democrats, Republicans and Tea Party need to stop worrying about the next election, stop worrying about their political career (Congress was never intended to be a career) and start worrying about today. Voters will tolerate a lot, they will forgive a lot (if someone says they’re sorry and asks for another chance they’ll give it), but they do reach a point in which they are so fed up they’re willing to throw the baby out with the bath water.
In case you were distracted by the metaphors and old sayings let me make this simpler. Stop acting like children on a playground trying to blame someone else for the bad and act like an adult. If you do that the markets and rating companies will calm down and stabilize. Otherwise the country’s credit rating won’t be the only thing tanking; your political career will be in the basement with the ratings.
That’s My Opinion, What’s Yours
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