Friday, November 7, 2008

Sunday Scribblings - "Change" - 11/9/08

The predictable prompt of “change” will result in many equally predictable postings about how “now things will change.” I am 56 years old and every election in my memory has been the exact same. Every candidate campaigns on the promise of change. I have never experienced this change. Washington is pretty much business as usual regardless of who is in office. The talking heads are interchangeable, the message is the same. The only difference this time is that this candidate was black, so people came out of the woodwork who had never voted before. Never had an interest in their country or their government. They had no idea what they were voting for except what the mainstream liberal media and Hollywood told them. Well, don’t hold your breath for change. And that is ok as far as I am concerned.

I have spent my entire life on the bottom end of the economic food chain. That was totally my doing for my adult life, as I have always lacked the ambition to be a major earner. But living in America, that option was always open to me. No matter which administration is in charge, everyone has the opportunity to reach for the golden ring, or the golden parachute as it were. So you would think I would be all for the change that is promised. High achievers and hard workers will be asked to foot the bill for skaters like me. The promise of something for nothing got all the ne'er do wells to the polls quicker than a shipment of government cheese. I don’t believe it is the government’s responsibility to take care of us. I want them to keep the potholes in the highway patched and protect me from enemies foreign and domestic. Other than that, just leave me alone.


As soon as this inexperienced senator gets clearance to read intel and attend military briefings, he will realize his promise of immediately pulling out of Iraq is a pipedream. We have never pulled out of Germany, Japan, or Korea. We have a military presence in countries he cannot find on the map and has no idea we are involved, nor does the American public. Nor should they. If we know, so do our enemies. I am not saying it is right or wrong as I do not know enough to make a decision and neither do you. That is why we elect leaders and promote generals. He has a lot to learn about our foreign policy and defense of the US and its allies. He may have to make unpopular decisions. I am just saying not to expect immediate change in this arena.

I agree that Bush has not been a good president, but has any president since Lincoln had a tougher presidency? Starting with 9/11, it has been rough. I am not sure any president would have come through all of that with much of an approval rating. Well, maybe Reagan. But lets be honest, our stupid two party system didn't give us much to pick from. Two dunderheads, Al (I invented the INTERNET) Gore and Scary Kerry. And let’s remember one thing, the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac housing crisis that has steamrolled our financial structure was caused by Bill Clinton. His liberal opinion was that all Americans should be able to own their own home, regardless of ability to pay for it. This has proved to be stinkin’ thinkin’.
In 1995, Freddie Mac began receiving affordable housing credit for buying subprime securities.
In 1999, Fannie Mae came under pressure from the Clinton administration to expand mortgage loans to low and moderate income borrowers. At the same time, institutions in the primary mortgage market pressed Fannie Mae to ease credit requirements on the mortgages it was willing to purchase, enabling them to make loans to subprime borrowers at interest rates higher than conventional loans. Shareholders also pressured Fannie Mae to maintain its record profits
In 1999, The New York Times reported that with the corporation's move towards the subprime market "Fannie Mae is taking on significantly more risk, which may not pose any difficulties during flush economic times. But the government-subsidized corporation may run into trouble in an economic downturn, prompting a government rescue similar to that of the savings and loan industry in the 1980's.

The fact is I, too, want change. But only small change. I have a pretty good life now on the lower end of the economic food chain. I will support the new president as he was elected by the vote of the people, and I totally believe in that system. Though, in the future, I would like to restrict voting to people that are actually alive at the time they vote.

I even supported Jimmy Carter. I was in the military during his presidency and he was my Commander in Chief and I respected him as such, no matter how incompetent he proved to be. Do you remember the 18% interest rates? So, I am adopting a wait and see attitude about the president-elect. I hope he proves me wrong, does a great job, and America flourishes, but I am not willing to call him the second coming as many of you are.

I think his first task should be to learn proper respect for our flag. Particularly when he will be in command of those that lay their life on the line to protect it.


I read a comment by a woman who said that after the election she is finally “proud to be an American once again.” If you let a politician, any politician, affect the pride you have in your country in any way, you are a sad excuse for an American. My pride in my country will not waver, ever. Even if we become a socialist state.

16 comments:

Stan Ski said...

'Change we can believe in' - when we see it. Let's hope we do.

Rinkly Rimes said...

My worry is that Americans will expect a Messiah, and when they don't get one Obama will lose all his popularity. But who'd want the job?

Bet you didn't know that NZ has an election this weekend!

paisley said...

no one seems to want to acknowledge the fact that real change is born of pain... humans in genreal are rarely willing to suffer,, and more likely than not,, when they do,, they will turn on whom ever they deem as causing them what they percieve as a grievance.... i tried to broach this on my post, sheeple

but it seems the glow has not yet gone off the rose sufficiently for people to be able to see the nature of the rose itself...

i am not being cynical,, or at least i do not believe i am,, just logical,, based solely on my life experience... as i believe are you.....

i like rinky do not envy obama this position,, but i also know he has wagered his entire remaining career to undertake it,, so i am going to have to give him high marks for 'gonads' if nothing else....

linda may said...

I am interested to hear different takes on the weeks election from Americans. Good post. Thank you.

Linda Jacobs said...

You make a lot of good points here!

Lilibeth said...

I agree with you totally. I'm proud of my country, but full of disdain for a one-sided media, and a huge hoard of people who want "bread and circuses" over opportunity to work.

Anonymous said...

I agree with you on all points, especially the part where you stated that, other than fixing pot holes and taking care of our security the government should stay out of our lives. We are very lucky to be Americans. As such, we should be able to embrace our FREEDOM!!

Anonymous said...

I hope he proves us wrong too. Good post. Carly

Robin said...

With all due respect,I think you're wrong about this election not being different. I'm not 56, but I'm not 20 either, and this is the first time in my memory that my generation has been energized like this, ready to get out there and do the work, to really give of themselves to make this change happen. Yes, he's got one hell of a difficult road ahead, in no small part thanks to his predecessor and his cesspool of poor decisions), but he has an unprecedented mandate for that change, a broad acceptance that things cannot remain as they've been.

He won't be perfect, no man is, and not all of the changes we so desperately need will be feasible, but really, isn't it better to make a start than to accept the status quo, or worse, to sit back and wait for him to fail?

myrtle beached whale said...

Robin:

I always value your opinion. I wish you were right about the motives of all the people coming out of the woodwork and recruited off the streets to vote. If I didn't think it was totally racially motivated, I would drink that koolaid too. Unfortunately, all we can do is sit back and wait. I think the leftest media will give him the benefit of every doubt. I hope all you believers are right. I hope his is different than every politician who has said the exact same words for years. I did find it dubious that his victory celebration and speech did not include his family whatsoever. Now that is different.

Forgetfulone said...

Change - but what kind of change? Not all change is good. And at what cost?

I get so angry every time I see that picture with him standing there with Americans who know how to pledge to the flag, and he's just standing there all haughty and self-righteous.

I agree with everything you said.

Redheels said...

Well, I agree with you. I am waiting and watching to see what if anything he will be able to change.
I am hoping he will at least CHANGE enough to learn to respect the American flag.
Oh yes, he has changed something……where did Barry go? :)

danni said...

there's one thing to consider - he doesn't need to do too much to make a bad situation into the worst - he's got so many leftovers on his friggin' plate that the gravy is overflowing and going to waste --- i really hope he's the guy for the job!!!

myrtle beached whale said...

Redheels:

I had forgotten that he went from Barry to Barrack in college. He wanted to get back to his Moslem roots.

Anonymous said...

Well Mr. Ramblings once again you have made some very valid points. I refer back however to a post you made regarding "what if there were to have another depression?" I think that by far would make a big impression on those who are suffering from 2000.00 a month mortgages and 1000.00 a month car payments. All this liberalism hurts everyone because we don't want to sacrifice. Which is what started this great country.....sacrifice. Obama is nothing more than a representation of the opposite of sacrifice. He is a user of opportunity. I would guess that a lot of his education was funded by the NAACP or something to that affect. He had journalists and artists, who typically are liberal, funding his campaign and blatently spouting their support for him. They are on every channel and charmed with the ability to spin what he and his opponent had to say. I am positive that a lot of that is due in part if not in whole because he is black (kinda). Politics aside, it was racial. They support celebrating Black authors, black actors, black Christmas...whatever. In the name of equality....hooooeeeee! Just another feather in the cap of the likes of Sharpton, Jackson and Winfrey....about race.

Yeah, I hope your right and that he can learn to honor our flag and citizens who work to keep our country secure and make sure that the likes Mr. Obama can become President of the greatest country on Earth. I also hope that those who backed him because he was black remember he is half white, raised by whites and educated in a white community. Anyway, good luck Barry, and God Bless the USA.co P.S. Your comment back to Robin is spot on!!!!

myrtle beached whale said...

Anonymous:
Wow, powerful comments. I am glad you were anonymous or else the Obama enforcers might be knocking down your door calling you a hate monger as they will try to silence Rush, Sean, and others. Here comes the fairness doctrine which will severely limit freedom of speech. I actually heard someone in line to vote who said they hoped Obama wins because if he doesn't there will be riots like we have never seen before. Interesting reason for voting for a candidate. Personal safety.