“If we don’t learn the mistakes of history, we are doomed to repeat them.” – Winston Churchill

The talking heads are constantly pontificating about the virtue of the great Ronald Reagan. They long for a time when in their mind things were slower and better. They admire his ability to deliver the quote that will be replayed until the end of time. They admired his strength, courage, and positive attitude. Republicans long to model him; even our little man Governor Jindal.   I did some elementary research and found FACTUAL information about his time as President; not that the right worries about fact.

So why is he the darling of the right? He wouldn’t be a darling of the tea party.  I call it “Word Magic”; saying something that sounds good but has little substance. Reagan didn’t fool with social problems. He famously said that when he grew up “America was unaware it had a race problem”. He didn’t mention the word AIDS publicly until 1984, giving the deadly virus a 4 year head start. He increased national defense to fight communism which was already beginning to fail. He made us feel safe and proud again when we were bruised by inflation and the Iran hostage crisis. He was polished because he was an ACTOR and knew all about word magic.

Trickle down economics is the biggest con job ever perpetrated on the American people. Cutting taxes for the most wealthy will allow them freedom to make life better for those beneath them in the great chain of being?????? People who have money want much more; helping other people or being philanthropic is secondary. Nobody is naturally responsible when it comes to profit, wanting it to increase while reducing cost by cutting corners if possible. And I don’t blame them one bit. But don’t tell me that life will be better for those at the bottom of the chain waiting for the trickle.

 Reagan did something for the national self esteem. I credit him for that. However, he was not the conservative everyone fantasizes. He gutted regulatory agencies; creating an atmosphere where big business makes up the rules as they go along. This cavalier attitude toward rules and regulation started by Reagan and reinstated by Bush II is why Louisiana is soaked with BP oil. These antiquated attitudes toward financial, housing, and oil markets caught up with us in the last 5 years. Obama needs to fix the problem, which he is doing slowly, and continue to remind the people how this mess started. The right doesn’t like it, which is fine by me. After all, the Obama hating industry makes a mint in books, speakers, and websites. So hate as much as possible; revert to banal racial and personal insults when the argument is lost showing your true colors. Meanwhile, America is slowly healing. Our best days are still ahead. I’m just sayin……

I am a Democrat. I never voted for a Republican in my life although I am considering voting for Jay Dardenne for Lt. Governor this fall. First and foremost, I am a Louisianan. Observing the latest disaster to hit our state has made me quite disenchanted with those in power. I feel we are being treated like a political football as there seems to be no incentive for this administration to help. I know the President has been here 3 times to observe and listen; maybe all he can do at this point. He exclaimed he was looking for ‘whose ass to kick’; but I don’t think it will do much good. Criminal charges might punish those responsible, but I want to see a stronger sense of urgency. BP has 600 workers cleaning beaches, why can’t the National Guard assist. I think 6,000 might be needed to thoroughly clean beaches, skim oil, and save wildlife. BP will pay for it- last year they made $230 billion dollars in profit. I am unclear why the Federal Government won’t just assume control, give us the resources and manpower to clean up and dictate to BP that it pays for all damage. My feeling is that Louisiana is not an important state for this President. It is red and becoming burgundy. We won’t help the President get re-elected. Imagine if something happened tragic in Florida, Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, or Missouri. We would see the full might of big government everyone fears fixing the problem. 

I feel the same way I did during Katrina. I don’t want people feeling sorry for us, and we can take care of our own business. But I thought one of the fundamental precepts of the federal government was to protect its citizens. This oil spill threatens our way of life, much like airplanes that crash into buildings. We need federal money to fix this problem. We can accept it by holding our nose, but right now it’s about our Louisiana economy. The Governor seems to be doing a good job here; even demanding federal assistance (which he detests). Seafood prices might increase a few dollars around the country and nobody will realize the difference or complain. Yet, legal Louisiana/American citizens lost their source of income as they rely on the seafood and oil industries for their livelihood. Our Federal Government could handle this in an efficient and prudent manner but doesn’t seem at all interested.

The Katrina abortion was due to incompetence. We had political operatives in the White House actively trying to dilute the minority voting population in New Orleans while people drowned. They succeeded for a while, but many have returned despite entire neighborhoods still looking like disaster areas. This time I feel as if the White House seems too casual about the situation. Where is the emergency spending bill for the gulf region? Where is the public assistance when we really need it? Not only must we face indifference, we listen to the likes of Rand Paul exclaim that accidents happen and the government is not responsible for fixing it.

I don’t know what the answer is to this reoccurring dilemma. Maybe we could change from a red state to a swing state so people will pay attention to us, but I am not sure that will work. I know that the Chairman of BP is ‘ready to get his life back’ and we know that ‘Louisiana isn’t the only place that has shrimp’. As they sleep in their ivory tower at night, many Louisiana residents are also ready to ‘get their lives back’. I’m just sayin………..

I have trouble understanding the current political climate in America. The Tea Party movement is disturbing. I don't know much about it, other than the protestors are loud, shrieking at the clouds as if something can be done about it. They don't like difference, or seek to understand a position opposite from their own; anyone who doesn't believe in their dogma is termed communist, socialist, or un-American. The de-facto leaders seem to be Dick Cheney, Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin. So, I've created a moniker for them: Palinstinians.

 

I am of average intelligence. I attended college and would like to think that I am educated. I was taught to help my fellow citizens. I was taught to pledge allegiance to my flag. I was taught to judge people on their character rather than race or gender. I was taught to work very hard and then I could accomplish anything I set my mind to doing. I was also taught that it is OK to give a hungry man a meal. Alas, I was also led to believe that I should not give something to someone who does not deserve it; the more unearned benefits a person receives, the less likely they are to have dignity, self worth and self sufficiency regardless of circumstance. I think I was raised well.

 

From what I can tell, the Palinstinians are all white and quick to exclaim how they are not racist. Yet, they have the gall to compare their plight to the Civil Rights movement. At no time do I see the police beating these protestors, or attacking them with hoses and dogs. It is trite and I fear is the rebirth of the ultraconservative right wing on the political spectrum. I am as American as they are; and I think there is a place for them in the national dialogue. But, I am not sure they feel the same way. They write it on their palms: no taxes, and less government control over our life, and no more stimulus plans. Sounds good- but it is just word magic. I think there is some waste in government that could be eliminated. I don't feel controlled by our government unless I am at the airport. Their philosophy is one they don't want mentioned; they simply don't want a black man controlling their tax dollars or telling them how to live their lives. They think that some people have more rights than others.   This same mentality caused this great nation to justify discrimination against people of color, women, the disabled, and homosexuals. It seems that race is never a question when you are white.

 

I believe the movement is all about race. The Palinstinians are angry. But I still don't know why. They don't know what it is they really want, they just know they don't have it. It is mob rule and almost Fascist. It is the recycled Perot political stance on steroids. It shows us at our worst. They have done a nice job decrying who is to blame for their supposed poor lot in life; instead of looking in the mirror. They have no substantive approach to governing except to castigate a mythical "them"- which is code for the less fortunate and poorest members of our society; most of whom are minorities. Lest we forget however, that the new silent majority are those minorities that helped elect our current President. The Palinstians might have a moment in the sun; but I do think they will end up eating each other.

I am sure they are decent people. So were the Germans before Hitler took power. While I haven't researched their membership lists; I am sure I would know someone who is active in the movement. As the average man on the street, this is my view. I'm just sayin………..