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.