March of Thoughts

Like a parade, time marches on. So do ideas, history, discoveries, scientific breakthroughs and so forth. Here’s a  modest collection of quotes that you may find interesting. Not just for their content. But also for the authors. 

First, from Barry Goldwater, conservative republican of the 1960’s:

“When you say ‘radical right’ today, I think of these moneymaking ventures by fellows like Pat Robertson and others who are trying to take the Republican Party and make a religious organization out of it. If that ever happens, kiss politics goodbye.”

I wish we could kiss politics goodbye on just this basis alone. Unfortunately we seem to be saddled by it. Pat Robertson and others did hijack the republican party. In the ‘60’s and ‘70’s. Their beat has accelerated. Politics are now like a catechism. Only it’s not on Wednesday afternoons. It’s all times and days.

Second, from President Dwight Eisenhower, November 8, 1954:

“Should any political party attempt to abolish Social Security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. Among them are a few Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or business man and they are stupid.”

Spooky isn't it? Republicans are the very ones pressing these issues today even though we were warned a long time ago by a Republican and respected leader. This is not what the party was supposed to be about. This is not the party of Lincoln today. It is something entirely different. Yet we have the party mechanism etched into our political process that is hard to break. No wonder so many young people avoid the current nonsense.

Third, unlikely as it is, Charles Barkley gave us this quote, and I've used it here before:

            “I was a Republican until they lost their minds.”

I couldn't agree more. Enough said.

Fourth, Harry Reid, Democrat and Senate Majority Leader said this:

“Every American should have the same ability to influence our political system. One American, one vote. That’s what the Constitution guarantees. The Constitution does not give corporations a vote. And the Constitution does not give dollar bills a vote. From what I've heard recently, my Republican colleagues seem to have a different view. Republicans seem to think that billionaires, corporations and special interests should be allowed to drown out the voices of Americans. That is wrong and it has to end.”

The Constitution hasn't changed. Politicians are changing what the words mean. There’s a difference here. It must be resisted.

Fifth, Anonymous has been busy again and gives us this thought:

“It’s not the People that are on welfare or on unemployment that are the freeloaders. No it’s the People in the US Capitol that are…They need to be reminded that they work for Us the American People…Not the large corporations. Vote in 2014!”

Amen. We the People paid for the benefits we occasionally need to use. It is our safety net. The Constitution does not provide a safety net for politicians. Yet they have built one for themselves haven’t they?  Perhaps they should not have special benefits, but live on the same ones we all do!

Vote in 2014 to redress these issues. We voters do have the power. But do we exercise it intelligently? That’s the challenge.

June 20, 2014