ProgressOhio

If our democracy is sacred, why is politics such a dirty word?

Because power trumps principle, and fear buys votes. 

It’s a sad truth.  Power corrupts.  Not overtly, but in a seeping quiet shadow of dimming light. Most folks of influence begin with a pure heart, but they quickly learn the efficacy of the art of hate.  

The Attack ads we endure prior to each election are beyond shameful.  Political media “experts” spend millions of dollars, crafting demonic images of their opponents.  They Photoshop faces in dark shadow, play ominous music, use devilish voice-overs, and twist even the most innocent statements into apocalyptic terms.  No one likes these tactics.  Candidates hate them as much as the voters. But the fact is they work.  Psychologist Carl Jung taught “fear is the greatest of all motivators.”  People will move away from what they fear much faster than they will reach out for what the desire.   Its human nature and the power elite knows it.  

We must fight the fear.  We must reject the cries for hate used to buy our votes.  

Religious institutions also have a long sordid history of using hate and persecution to grow their membership, fill their coffers, and wield political power.  Powerful preachers use the pulpit to strike fear in our hearts, crying “The End is Near!” It might be the end of the church, the end of our way of life, the end of biblical prophesy, or even aliens riding by on comets.   The “What” we are to fear constantly changes, but the message remains the same. They know if we buy into this perception of attack, we will join their ranks and fight. And when we do, they remain on their thrones.  

Here in Ohio folks are all in a stew over illegal immigration these days.  Excuse me?  When I walk down the street I see nothing but white folks in Dockers pushing strollers to the mall.  If not for the giant propaganda machine of the far-right-elite-power-structure, this would be a non issue in this part of the country.  It is a function of fabricated hysteria designed to buy votes with the currency of fear and hate.  Why can’t people see that? 

Lady Liberty is a symbol and beacon of light to the world.  She represents all that is good and right in the structure of our government. She represents the ideal that a melting pot of people made up of different cultures and religions can in fact, live together in peace and harmony.

What a beautiful concept.

This principle is our gift to the world, and the standard we must learn to live by.   But alas, we struggle.  With each generation, we lose sight of the lessons of the past. With each decade we face the same old prejudices again and again.

In Mondays Dispatch, Washington Post Columnist George F. Will wrote a scathing editorial denouncing democratic economic policy.  He tells us the economy did not grow during early part of the Bush presidency because "He inherited the debris of the 1990's irrational exuberances."  He goes on to throw out all sorts of numbers to solidify his position that Democrats are "economic hypochondriacs" while defending the wisdom of Bushonomics.

I politely beg to differ.

Below is the article I sent to The Columbus Dispatch in response. Feel free to forward or share as you see fit:  

The Paris Hilton School of Economic Policy 

George F. Will’s editorial of Monday June 11, “Fearing the facts, Democrats shun their usual rhetoric on the economy” was a real humdinger.  He tossed around numbers like a half-drunk poly-sci student trying to impress a bunch of girls in a bar. 

Well.  I may be “just a middle class mom” but I know a shell game when I see one.  His hoodwinking punditry for Bush-enomics omits one tiny little detail.  The fact is our federal government reported a 214 billion dollar deficit last year compared to the $236 billion dollar surplus we had when Clinton left office.   

By comparing the borrowing habits of the two parties over the years, it is clear the big spenders in Washington are the Republicans. During the past half century, Republican presidents have increased the national debt an average of 9.7% per year while Democrat presidents have kept their spending to a tight fisted 3.2% per year.  Republicans consistently out borrow and out spend Democrats three to one, while telling us they are doing just the opposite.   

Will sarcastically mimics his critic’s complaints that “wealth is not being distributed in accordance with the laws of God or Nature or liberalism or something.”  When the fact is, GOP control makes the rich richer and the poor poorer.  Will doesn’t think we should care about that.  The truth is during the Clinton administration more middle class Americans became millionaires than at any other time in our countries history.  That’s the American Dream folks, and what we should be voting for. 

Clinton did this while reducing our debt by $114 billion dollars during his term.  He had a straight forward, down home policy on money management.  If you cut taxes, you make a corresponding spending cut - Pay as you go.  The same way I manage my budget at home. 

In my house we don’t spend more than we earn.  Period.  I don’t go on million dollar shopping sprees like a con man with a credit card, and then explain it by saying I am boosting our family net worth by passing the bill off on my kids.  That’s crazy.  This Republican policy of Paris Hilton money management is nothing but supply side voodoo for the rich.  It will leave our children with massive debt and destroy the middle class. 

It is not a legacy I am willing to live with, and neither should you.  

Mrs. Kelley L. Wenzlaff

Powell, Ohio

www.momforthehouse.com