This election is getting sillier by the minute...In response to the "big reveal" about Romney's views on 47% of the population (among other illuminating topics), his campaign responds with a 14 year old video (that is admittedly taken out of context-a point that is really irrelevant) where the President discusses his affinity for "redistribution". I guess the importance of the Obama video is that its supposed to finally highlight his inner socialist tendencies???? Folks, taxation is redistribution...If Mr. Romney has such strong view points on tax policy, I would love to hear them (and, we can start with the release of his tax returns and an explanation as to why his effective tax rate is so low in comparison to ther Americans who earn considerably less, yet pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes. Is Romney making an argument in favor of tax reform whereby the tax code is made more progressive or, is this more of the same?).
Apparently, the President appeared on Univision on 9/20 and stated that one of his bigest disappointments has been his inability to change the tone in Washington...He acknowledged that this (changing Washington) has to be done from the "outside". The GOP is now jumping all over this statement as a "gaffe", but guess what? The advocacy of change from the outside is called politics and it can be viewed as a component of our democracy (in as much as our elected representatives seem to believe that they have no responsibility to accomplish anything of substance). Further to the point, I think that its a sure fire bet that the banks, oil and gas, big-ag and the various and sundry other special interests don't stop advocating for their interests once an election is over (I think that Tim Pawlenty can vouch for this).
I am an Obama supporter, but the WH is not without complicity in this childish game (although, I am sick of the media's false equivalence b.s.---one party is clearly being obstructionist and anyone with a brain knows it)...For the last week, the WH has been pushing the ridiculous line that the attack on Ambassador Stephens and the 3 other Americans was in response to the stupid anti-Muslim movie. Finally, the WH acknowledged the attack for what it was---an act of terrrorism. I can understand the need to gather all of available facts before making a rush to judgment (see Romney, Mitt), but to continue to assert such a non-sensical reason is insulting to the American public and the international Muslim community. Internal politics (in Libya and Egypt) were at play, the stupid movie was a diversion and the murder of the four Americans was an unfortunate casualty. I understand not wanting to give your opponents ammunition to use against you (see Romney, Ann), but I will take the truth any day of the week.
These examples are only part of the story---there are plenty more. I/we could blame the mainstream media (justifiably) for either the inability or utter refusal to do their jobs, but we also need to blame ourselves for not demanding more from our elected representatives. I wish both campaigns (or, at least the Obama campaign, I don't really give a damn about Romney), would explain what they would like to do with Social Security and Medicare...I don't think that either program should be privatized or turned into voucher programs, but are there other viable options? Can we continue with these programs "as is" (I don't know the answer to that question, but I would really like a discussion on that topic). Given that our current economic problems seem to me to be structural (a point that was echoed on CNBC by a Harvard Business School Professor), what is the plan to rectify our structural deficiencies? I hear often (from business advocates) that there are numerous impediments to a growing business climate, but then I read about corporate soaring profits, sky-high executive compensation and how the 400 richest Americans have gotten richer. There seems to be a serious disconnect here (the Harvard Professor also stated that the government needs to reduce the corp tax rate, lessen corp regulation and build a supportive infrastructive...What is the role of business in building the instrastrure? What is the corporation's obligation to its communicty? Talk about takers...). What, if anything, can be done to fix what I perceive to be our culture? These are just some of the issues that I would like to hear discussed by the candidates, although I don't expect much to happen on this front.
And finally, can the deranged opponents of the President stop all of the Muslim hating/anti-American allegations/welfare attack pandering/anti-constitution name calling against the President? Not only is it not true, but its a huge part of the silly factor. It has reached the point where I don't even consider it offensive anymore. Its just down right stupid and it shows the ignorance of the proponents of such tactics. Face it- a non-white man has been President for almost 4 years. By most (current) accounts, he is leading in the election. If you (the proponents of such attacks) love this country as much as you proclaim, then offer the American people a substantive counter proposal that doesn't involve edited tapes, chairs hanging from tress, allegations of constitutional malfeasance and voter suppression tactics. If you can't do that, then get the h@ll out of the way and let the rest of us get on about the business of rebuilding the country.
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