Log in to become a member of JP Bender's Fan Club!
For those of you who follow the American political scene, let me assure you that our problems are minimal compared to other countries on the earth's landscape. It's not great of course but, over the past seven months with our new President, our political scene, while not harmonious, has improved just look at the increase of various shenanigans in other countries.
When Teddy Roosevelt served as the 26th President of the United States (1901-09), he enjoyed sipping tea in the afternoon at the now famous Willard Hotel in Washington, DC. A few special people always wanted to talk to the President about current events and issues, and knowing his daily habits and they would wait for him to show up for tea.
The hotel management didn't want their number one famous customer to be bothered, so those people were instructed to wait in the lobby for him and conduct any business there, not in the dining area, where management considered the situation as disturbing' to guests.
Those people who sat in the lobby to meet with the President became known as lobbyists.' Life in America has never been the same, especially after lobbying enjoyed the reputation of being an acceptable profession.
In earlier times, lobbyists served a useful and not necessarily nefarious function. They worked to educate legislators and the executive administration.
But lobbyists learned they could manipulate the elected bulwarks of governmental integrity (an oxymoron, no doubt) to get favorable governmental treatment for their clients clients who often couldn't care less about the citizenry. Since then, America has become a cesspool of political and governmental corruption.
Today, to a large extent because of lobbyists, the executive and legislative branches of government are in dire need of an aggressive purge in the form of a no-confidence vote. Legislators and executives, whose integrity is less than stellar, appoint most members of the judicial branch. Or voters who have no concept of how the judicial branch is supposed to function elect them.
As a result, all three branches of America's government are in need of reconstruction. Unfortunately, American citizens have no Constitutional device to rid themselves of desiccated people in government and the special interests that tell them what American national policies should be. Sometimes I think what this country needs a good enema.
It's a shame, since the election of Barack Obama as President you remember him on the campaign circuit promising that the day of the lobbyists was over in Washington - if he got elected. Well lobbyists have garnered more influence than ever. In a feeble attempt to rid the reputation of political corruption, his administration merely repackaged the status quo and sold it, under the banner of slick advertising, as if a new-face equals a new policy. What sheer nonsense.
It would seem that no matter who is elected as president or which party controls Congress, the odds are that America will remain on the same course towards more war (Iran); more economic pain (fuel, food, foreclosures and tighter credit); more infrastructure problems (decaying bridges, roads, water and sewer lines); and more [unnecessary] security intrusions into our daily lives and routines. The quality of life in America is definitely on the decline.
Granted, there are fundamental flaws not in the constitutional construct of the United States, but in the people who are occupying important positions in all three branches of the US government.
The executive and legislative branches, according to various polls, are sincerely and justifiably reviled, and that means both Republicans and Democrats get equal measures of disgust. But the two parties and their interested lobbyist backers simply don't care because they know the American people have no choice but to vote for one or the other.
So the game continues to be played. It's about the two parties bickering with each other for dominance, lobbyists intruding into that competition with campaign donations and even bribes, and all of them seeking to please or curry favor with the top 20% of Americans and American corporations that control over 90% of America's wealth.
If we are not vigilant, our country is headed for an internal war a revolution of sorts between those who have and those who have not. If it happens, the Civil War of the 1860's will look like a friendly Independence Day fireworks display.
At fault in it all are the American people. They're like the main character, Wesley Gibson, in the thrilling movie Wanted, a guy who is willingly tied to a chair and takes punch after punch in the face until he finally "gets it." But in reality, America today is no movie where the main character recovers. The American people need to wake up and stop taking sucker punches before they have no blood left to bleed.
Americans need to stop listening to lobbyists who create myths (outright distorted lies) generated by special interest groups, cable media airheads (both Conservative and Liberal), and influential politicians orating for themselves and their favorite party candidates. We do a lot of pretending about life in the past and then listen to mesmerizing speeches of a hope for a brighter future.
America is not the shining city on the hill but is more an equal member of the world community. Study the facts and you will see that the quality of life, our life expectancy, our national security and the long-range outlook are not that bright and citizens no longer are confident that the quality of life will continue even at this current falling level. Our confidence level is in a free fall like a skydiver who has jumped but forgot to strap on a parachute.
Unfortunately, the mantra of the two major parties is predictable. Republicans claim that America is still the greatest place to live then defend their position by telling of all the illegal aliens who want to come here to live. If further questioned, they have no other claims to support their allegations and then turn the conversation to "Well if you don't like it here, why don't you leave?" This is of course is a typical response of a three-year old.
The Democrats claim we need to rebuild because everything is broken, and we must develop a vision for the future because our arrogance has cost us dearly in world standing. Talk about Chicken Little running around in a panic yet both are right and both are wrong.
Yes, there are foreign competitors around the world and many are as good as the Americans in manufacturing, computing, medicine and aerospace. Nobody could have made that claim, with any credibility, 30 years ago. If the top elected politicians don't realize this and reject lobbyist influence, and then take the courageous steps to advise corporate Americana that they should learn to compete with the foreign competition, then we as a nation are doomed to become part of their business systems.
This even exists in the competition of sports. In the upcoming Olympic year, it is worth noting that Americans hold just six world records in track and field competitions. Thirty years ago that statement would have been laughable. If anyone had predicted this would occur back then, the comment wouldn't even have made it into any column on the sports pages. And if some radical newspaper allowed that to be written, the laughter would have been heard on the moon. As to records Americans hold none in weightlifting because Americans have become fat and lazy.
Americans are now crying about increasing high gas prices. I can only imagine it's because they can't buy as many hot dogs or beers at the baseball stadium. They need to adjust and adapt. Americans have always been told that they are the best at everything, so why aren't they? I guess it's because we are not the best at everything. Americans are not entitled to anything more than the rest of the world.
We want education systems, roads, bridges and levees that function properly. Well then, we need to stop whining about taxes and pay up and make those who pay nothing, pull their weight. My inner circle friends won't agree with me but they will whine about the deplorable conditions and of course blame it on what is taking place now that the Democrats are in power.
They're right, of course, but they should also blame it on what took place with the Republicans were in power. Before Reid and Pelosi took over Congress, the Republicans out Democrated the Democrats.
Do Americans really want to continue the war in Iraq and then go to war with Iran and possibly Syria, and destabilize Turkey and Pakistan for natural resources? Well, if they do, then do it. Quit whining and crying about everything and be a little like Tiger Woods you know, "just do it."
Activate the selective service system, militarize one million Americans (women too) and invade them all everybody that our elected officials think are out to get us or who are thinking about building a nuclear bomb. Declare war and keep the Almighty busy for a few weeks sorting out the good guys from the bad guys. With this in mind, we will have a clear choice to vote next November and determine who will control Congress.
If Americans are as tough as they think they are, they would get it done and damn the suffering of the military families and the maimed in action; onward with torture medals for Obama, Biden, Gates and Don Rumsfeld.
Oops sorry about that Rumsfeld no longer can be the whipping boy he quit. The Democrats must not have liked it when Rumsfeld quit he was such an easy target.
Do the American people even want the government of Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Adams, et al? With the privatization of governmental and military functions and with states now contemplating selling off bridges and roadways for money, it seems they find government of any kind is too much of a burden. Americans really don't want to pay for anything and they don't want to be accountable to or for themselves.
I can't help but notice in the past two years or so, that five states had the mythical 500-year rains and floods. The great Mississippi river was the cause of chaos. Levees broke, homes were swamped, crops were destroyed, livestock died and people were left homeless all in the Midwest, where people have learned to fend for themselves and don't do a lot of complaining.
I mention that because in New Orleans (with hurricane Katrina), a small insignificant community, built below sea level, is still whining and complaining about how the government "forgot them in their time of need." I must point out in that state, at that time, the governor was a Democrat; the mayor of New Orleans was a Democrat; the two United States Senators and most of the members of the New Orleans Congressional delegation were Democrats but the media, politicians and the residents blamed former President Bush, a Republican.
Billions (over eight) were appropriated to the New Orleans recovery effort money out of our pockets and into the hands of inept and corrupt politicians and special interests. But no matter how much money Congress threw at the problem, the problem remained; and according to locals and some national leaders,' it was all FEMA's fault whine, whine, whine.
Natural disasters abound around the world from tsunamis, earthquakes, mudslides, hurricanes, etc., and those people have learned to cope and live. Some even had to survive because their own government wouldn't allow foreigners to come to give aid. But you don't hear them whining.
Too many Americans have become whining supporters of entitlements entitlements that are not earned, but should exist because of accident of birthplace. Politicians, anxious for votes from the whining masses, give the whining voters what they want; and hope for reimbursement at the polls. What did you think the undocumented' immigrant flap is all about? It's about votes. The pablum fed the press and the public is bull manure. It's about votes.
I think that the founders or our country would be appalled to see what we, as a nation, have become. On the other hand, I think I would be appalled to see what we will become in 50 to 100 years. I don't have to worry I will be dead. I do however fear for my grandchildren and great-grandchildren, just as my ancestors did. I just hope mine will be survivors and not whiners, and that their country (and lesser governmental entities) will no longer need that enema.
JP Bender is a retired award winning investigative reporter with 35 years experience in the profession. He now spends his retirement living in Maryland with his children and grandchildren. He still reports on issues of national interest, while his peers claim he does not fully understand the meaning of the word“retired.”
» left by Bob from York, Maine (73 days 8 hours ago.)
JP, thanx for your article. I'm sorry to say it definitely fits the description of today's American. Great background on how lobbyist came to be called lobbyists. They are a disgusting bunch. Did you know that corporations invest $1,400,000/day in lobbyists. I followed up with a small article "What Happened to Our Democracy?", I'd be honored if you read it. Comments are always welcome. Sincerely yours, Bob Bregman
type="text/javascript">_popupControl(); Respond to this comment
Bob, thanks for your comments. I just had the opportunity to read your article, "What happened to our democracy?" I can appreciate your passion and thoughts, albeit I don't necessarily agree with all of your positions. That of course is what makes for a great debate. I would be very skeptical of anyone who agreed with me 100 percent of the time; I would learn nothing and my mind would never be challenged. Thanks for sharing with the writers community your thoughts. I look forward to reading more from you. Best personal regards. JP
» left by davea0511 from Newark, DE (66 days 12 hours ago.)
Great points ... but where do we find the leaders we need? We voted in a populist who's whole campaign was about change ... and all it seems he's changed is for the worse. But then again, he is a puppet and the main problem does seems to be the fact that America has become a nation of people who expect entitlements. A wise man once said: you can take the people of the slum, but unless you take the slum out of the people they'll go right back. That seems to be where we are. If only there was a leader who could inspire people to change and make hard choices, sacrifice, and work for a better country as a labor of love. That's what we need. No more candy coating ... and no more favors. Just good hard American work and the traditional American ideals that made this country great.
Dave, thanks for the comprehensive feedback. I could not disagree with anythng that you say. I hope we have not lived the best of times. I have four children, 14 grandchildren and one great grandson - and it would deeply bother me if they never had the chance to see what I lived. Thanks again. JP
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
tweet this!
