widely
available on the Internet and observed some of the videos offered there as
well. I followed
some pundits ~ those I like and those I dislike. So, I
captured a reasonable facsimile of what went on
in Tampa .
I did watch a lot of the Democratic
National Convention, even joined a group of supporters at a local home to watch
the major speeches by Jill and Joe Biden, and of course, President Obama.
For the record, let everyone read,
hear and think on this one quote from the President’s speech:
“We don’t want handouts for people who refuse to
help themselves, and we don’t want bailouts for banks that break the rules. We
don’t think government can solve all our problems. But we don’t think that
government is the source of all our problems – any more than are welfare
recipients, or corporations, or unions, or immigrants, or gays, or any other
group we’re told to blame for our troubles.”
Now that’s straight talk. No
entitlement mentality. Just partnerships that work. Recognition that government
has a positive role to play in all of our lives and is not the enemy. Tools for
us all to use; your tools and your ideas; my tools and my ideas; and agencies
who can pull together programs that the private sector simply won’t get
involved with.
Partnership ~ you and I and 330
million Americans ~ working together to get things accomplished for the good of
all America .
I’m gay; I didn’t cause the
problems that surround us today, nor did any of my gay friends. My immigrant
family has worked on the American dream for 382 years! And we continue to
welcome new immigrants to our shores and our culture. We want to share that
with them like our ancestors had their new home welcome them. Medicare and
Social Security are not welfare programs. Not all corporations are users or
takers; many of them are contributors and builders of the American Dream.
I believe government is a good
thing if we all do our job in participating and monitoring it. That takes
reading and studying and working at it. It is not an automatic partnership. It
is a participatory one.
Along the way we will find people
among us who need a helping hand. Sometimes the need for such help is too large
for a few churches or charities to do by themselves. It takes more than the
village to help; it takes national resources until those folks are back on
their feet. That’s not entitlement; that’s common sense help to restore strength
to those temporarily weakened.
It also takes national government
to pull us together in needed research, defense initiatives, educational
standards and coordination of enormous infrastructure needs. From those efforts
come jobs and highly successful businesses and corporations. It is good for
everyone, not just a few.
That last paragraph represents
national investment that pays dividends to all of us. Those benefits include
new revenues to reduce national debt once the engines of commerce and education
are loosed upon the land! This is federal expenditure that eventually pays for
itself. Just ask Bill Clinton. That’s one of the ways he was able to increase
household incomes, reduce annual federal deficits and reduce the national debt.
The exact opposite of that
discipline is what led the nation down its current slippery path – all thanks
to George W. Bush and his cabal in congress! And they have the balls to blame
the mess on Obama. What utter intellectual dishonesty.
But now we have the straight scoop.
The Democrats have repaired the operating base of the nation so we can move
forward. That base could have been in better shape had the republican naysayers
cooperated even a smidgeon. But you know what? With your help, we can return America to
health on our own, without the childish braying of the republicans. In fact our
journey will be more pleasant without them.
So, we are ready to re-elect Barack
Obama. Let’s get started! Now!
And remember this quote from Maya
Angelou:
“I
think a hero is any person really intent
On
making this a better place for all people.”
I see Barack Obama as a hero. I see
you as a hero, too. Shall we start our work together?
September 10, 2012
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