February 2009 Archives

The Obama administration came into office with great hopes that there would be real change in Washington at last, but so far that hope has been for naught. We have been given a treasury secretary that cheated on his taxes to the tune of $40,000 and the nominee for Heath Secretary failed to report a million dollars in income. Hardly a clean start for the new administration! What is worse is the easy manner in which these so called “mistakes” are shrugged off. No prosecution and not even a fine are thought of. How many of us taxpayers could expect the same treatment?

Speaking of taxpayers, our newly elected officials are on the verge of passing a nearly one trillion dollar “stimulus bill” that gives just $35 billion to infrastructure but has room for $150 million in insurance for bee keepers and makes sure that government employees receive new cars. In every industry and in every state jobs are being cut but the federal government is set to grow in employment numbers by an amount not seen since the 1950s. Federal employees will receive their raises while the rest of the nation suffers. Our Congress complains about the private planes of companies receiving Federal funds while keeping their own private planes and first class air fare. It sounds to me like not much has changed or plans to change in Washington.

This is something that can’t be blamed on one administration versus another. It demonstrates that our government is no longer in touch with the people they govern. The government bailout is not designed to uplift the economy as much as it is to pay back political favors. The bailout of the auto companies is really a bailout of UAW wages that are already almost three times the national average. Our bailout of the banking industry resulted in one billion dollars in bonuses to those who caused the problem and yes, Citibank is keeping its new corporate jet that we, the tax payer made possible. Just as we make possible for Nancy Pelosi to fly in a luxury air force jet to work and back.

In California the state government is $40 billion in the red this year alone and they are still trying to increase spending. Nobody in State government has even mentioned cutting back on their staff, salary increases or multiple benefits. Our governor wants us to drive mini cars that get 40 miles to the gallon while he flies back and forth between the capital and his home in his private jet and SUVs. It seems that on every level our government has lost touch with the people they serve and this is the cause of great injustice. Funds do not go where they are needed; they go to those who have political influence or to buy votes. The will of the people is often ignored. The state attorney General is actively trying to overcome what is now the second vote of the people to protect marriage as being between a man and a woman.

The American public has made it clear that abortion is not to be freely available and that there should be at least some restrictions. The majority of Americans have now turned pro life, yet the government is quickly moving towards lifting all restrictions on abortions and making them a right that the tax payers have to stand ready to provide. The Freedom of Choice Act working through Congress and promised to be signed by the new President would make partial birth abortions a right and no restrictions of abortion for minors or a need for notification of parents would be allowed.

All of this means that it is time for the taxpayer and voter to be heard. It needs to begin with our calls, letters and postcards and it needs to continue with a turning out of those who have become part of the ruling elite, divorced from the needs of their constituents. Perhaps it is time for a new political party to rise up. It is time that we had a government that lives up to the standards of justice we crave. Our government needs to reflect the moral standards of its people, not force upon them a moral standard set by a minority. It is time that the government allows our society to operate and not impose its will on all of its citizens. It is time for us all to live within our means, and that especially means public servants and government entities. Perhaps it is time for a real change. Unfortunately the new administration seems to be more of the same or worse.