Need to separate rhetoric from reality
Americans haves spoken in re-electing Barack Obama president. In the end, I really don’t think the world is going to change that much.
It seemed like we put a lot of time and effort into this election with people on both sides of the aisle acting as if the world was going to come to an end if their guy didn’t win. When, in reality, the world will not be much different come today or possibly four years from now.
Taxes will still be too high. The threat from terrorists will still be there. There will still be too much government regulation and the price of gas will still be expensive.
While the Democrats and Republicans talk a good talk, they really don’t walk it. The two parties are really far too similar for this country to move forward and really begin addressing the many problems we face. Those problems are not going to be addressed by either party because they are both responsible for those problems. Those so close to their party that they cannot see the forest through the trees like to blame the other guy for all the problems and give their guy all the credit, when in reality they are both to blame.
It is as if politics has become a sport or maybe even a website where people simply root for their team or “like” a candidate without really digging into the issues and what the candidate stands for. Many people blindly vote depending on if the name is followed by a D, or an R.
I had a co-worker a few years ago who was clearly sold on the Democratic party, so much so that he argued that the economy was never any good under President George W. Bush. I guess being educated didn’t mean much because all you had to do was look back to find that some of the best economic times this country ever had were under Bush.
From 2005 through 2007 the unemployment rate in Tulare County got as low as 7% and was under 10% for most of that period. Today, it is 15% and hasn’t been below 14% since 2008. Unfortunately, some of the worst economic times occurred under Bush as well. But, the facts don’t matter if you cannot take a strong objective look at the parties and separate the rhetoric from reality.
To be fair, there was a lot of good Bill Clinton did as president, but few staunch Republicans will ever give him any credit.
There will be those who feel the country is in for a huge downfall with Obama back in office. There are those who think his re-election will save the nation. I think it really won’t make that big a difference. The difference can only come with a third party that is not so aligned with big business and big money. And, don’t let anyone tell you that the their party is not tied to the big bucks. If you can show that both parties aren’t tied to the big dollars, then I will purchase you one of those $250,000 a plate dinners that both candidates held several times this past campaign to raise money and rub elbows with the people who are really calling the shots.
On another election thought, it was interesting to see California voters soften the Three Strikes Law by requiring that the third offense must be a violent crime, but rejected a proposal to eliminate the death penalty.
It just goes to show you voters are sometimes difficult to understand.
Rick Elkins is editor of the Porterville Recorder. He can be reached at 784-5000, ext. 1040, or by e-mail at relkins@portervillerecorder.com. You can also follow him on Twitter.
