There is an absence of real leadership. The political pontificating from the left to the far right is not creating jobs and is not offering any sense of hope. The federal government has turned on itself like a pack of rabid dogs, attacking each other, and the President. by Russell W. Dickson
(libertarian)
Monday, March 7, 2011
While Congress went on break last year, unemployment hit 9.6 percent nationwide, according to gallup.com. In 2011, gallup.com, pointed out it rose again to 10.0. The economy, after all of the mudslinging, name-calling and stimulus, has stopped its collapse and gone "stagnant."
This should be an occasion for bipartisanship, and common sense. But there isn't a lot of common sense in Washington. Instead, from the White House to Capitol Hill, everyone has their opinion, and they are all pointing fingers at each other. Absent from all the banter is a willingness to develop and execute bipartisan problem solving.
The Republicans had hoped that the November 2010 elections would allow them to gain complete control. This didn't happen because the Republican Party is still so bruised; they are desperately trying to retrofit their party with Tea Party idealism. They have embraced the Tea party in a half-baked attempt at rebranding itself. With the help of independents, they are capitalizing on economic unrest in America. But, many of the Tea party candidates are too simpleminded, and refuse to see the big picture; their main objective appears only to be, destroy everything Obama. Tea party candidates have successfully frightened large numbers of Americans, particularly independents who had been supporters of President Obama, by demonizing his administration. This was easy for them to do because many independents have either lost their jobs or are deeply worried their losing them and their 401(k) retirement plans.
Democrats hoping to hold on to their dwindling support base are condemning everything Republican by labeling them the party of "no". Even now when Americans are worried about our economic outlook, they still can't stop the partisan antics that have destroyed the social fabric of our country.
There is an absence of real leadership. The political pontificating from the left to the far right is not creating jobs and is not offering any sense of hope. The federal government has turned on itself like a pack of rabid dogs, attacking each other, and the President.
Years ago, according to politicsdaily.com,Congress was playing "hot potato" with the Social Security solvency dilemma, but Sens. John Heinz (R-Pa.) and Patrick Moynihan (D-N.Y.)put aside partisanship in an attempt to broker a successful resolution. Their efforts were focused the common good of all Americans, rather than what's good for their political agendas. This was an example of real leadership, who would have thought it was possible for two congressional leaders to put the interests of the nation ahead of their party's political agendas?
America's economic outlook is fragile to say the least. There is no silver bullet. If there were, the Obama administration and/or the congressional Republican leadership would have used it by now. The only thing that is going to take us forward is true bipartisanship.
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