State of the Union

The condition of our nation is not very good. We have loads of problems that need attention. Problem is those are not very likely to be fixed or improved upon by the very people we elected to do those tasks. We can hope they get their act together in time to do some good for the rest of our sakes, but the chances of that are not good.

The President laid out the case very well. Yes I’m an Obama supporter and proud of it. But I’m not a nut case supporter. He is the right person in the right place at the exact right moment of our history. He has a brain and uses it. He has common sense and uses it. He is kind and gentle, not mean spirited. He understands multiple points of view. He cares about you and I. He does his job with energy, purpose and dedication.

President Obama believes in Abraham Lincoln and what he stood for. So do I. Perhaps that’s the connection Obama and I have. I’m a Lincoln adorer, always have been, from grade school to this very day.

Lincoln had an impossible job to do. But he did it. And history records his work as not only successful, but game changing for all American time! He made the future brilliance of our nation possible. So much done at a time of so much vitriol and distrust. But he lived to do the job. Assassinated, yes; that’s a mark against bigotry and small mindedness. It does not reflect poorly on Mr. Lincoln. It reflects poorly on the American public for letting the vitriol get out of hand.

Like today. Gridlock in Washington DC is matched by gridlock in state houses across the nation; at least in most states. Public airwaves are filled with the ugly rancorous statements of people out of control. People who distort facts, records and logic. For their own gain. For their own ego. For their own power grabbing. Politics at its ugliest.

Politics were ugly during the Clinton years. Not by those in power, but by those not in power. Politics were ugly in the Gore/Bush campaign; not by the ‘ins’ trying to stay in, but the ‘outs’ trying to get in. Politics were ugly in the Bush years. Not by the ‘outs’, but the ‘ins’ trying to rule the roost with their smug superiority.

And politics were ugly in the Obama/McCain campaign; again, not the outs, but the ins trying to remain in. And this record continues throughout the Obama administration as well, with the outs trying to get back in while the ins continue to do the work they were elected to do.

Politics. Disgusting. Misleading. Destructive. Of our nation. Of our soul. Shame on us!

If the politicians cannot do the work we ask of them, then it is our job as voters and citizens to get the job done ourselves. To restore the soul of the nation, we must do our work with dignity, purpose, commitment and common sense.

This is no Tea Party group. This is no republican or democrat group. This is just us. You and I and our friends, neighbors and family. People who can get along with others. People who believe in each other. People who are seeking to be proud of our nation and return it to common sense.

I go back to the President’s State of the Union Address the other night. It was to the point and blunt. It spoke truth without damning others. It sought a way forward with dignity. A way out of the current mess toward what you and I are more used to: order, fairness, growth, inventiveness, purposefulness, gracious sharing with those less fortunate.

It’s time we made this happen. Not one republican candidate has distinguished him or herself with truth and grace. So either they change their tone and focus, or we look to the President and give him the support he needs to get the rest of the job done.

Face it. Our economy has experienced several years of damage caused by runaway federal spending on two wars, the aftermath of 9/11, Katrina and undeserved tax cuts to the wealthiest among us. This eliminated all federal surpluses. It sucked vitality out of our investment in infrastructure, and the investment we once were proud of in education and medical support for our entire population.

Fixing these problems beginning with jobs formation (infrastructure and public services) will take cooperation and collaboration among the best minds of our country. No bickering and ill humor allowed. This is the job for serious people to do serious work because it has to be done.

Tell or yell at your elected representative to get back to work! Work to unelect those who are unworthy. Expect your elected officials to study their jobs and back-issues so they know what needs to be done and understand the options. This is hard work. If they want to laze, fire them.

We have work to do. It’s up to us to get it done.  Are you ready?

January 27, 2012