It’s one down and at least 10 to go. The Iowa caucus
is over and if we can believe Michelle Bachman, her effort
to become the Republican Presidential nominee is over. Although
repeatedly declaring she was born and raised in
Iowa,
the caucus results; sixth with only 5 percent of the vote,
told her few
supported her ideas.
Iowa was the first of 10 individual challenges leading up
to Super Tuesday March 6, when 10 states will hold their
primaries.
I wish it had been the last. The circus surrounding events
thus far to single out a Republican candidate any consensus
of people will support is a mockery of our electoral process.
We can only wonder if a final candidate will emerge prior
to the Republican convention scheduled to open Aug. 27th
in Tampa,
Fla. What we can be certain of is the fact there will be
a number of debates between the parties leading up to Election
Day Nov. 6. All of this election drama would not be so mind-numbing
if there were any hope for real change.
A change in Congressional activities would be my greatest
hope. Everyone except the participants must realize how ridiculous
it is to see elected officials bicker like a bunch of children.
It is discouraging to see a speaker at the podium during
a
session of Congress addressing an almost empty chamber. The
lack of respect is evident throughout many Congressional
presentations.
In
years past, little time was wasted on selecting superior
representatives, yet the results usually offered highly
qualified politicians. They were able to present an
appearance of the
capability to do the job applied for — facing the country’s
problems head on. They also presented a feasible plan
of action to resolve them.
AS
I SEE IT, we have been the leader in enough foreign conflicts;
we have done more than enough donating of
our wealth and
manpower to benefit others. It’s time to tackle
our own problems here at home on our soil. If foreign
countries
need help, they
should look around the globe and find others to aid
them.
It’s
time to correct our past mistakes, reset our priorities and
let tax dollars collected from
our citizens
be used to
help those that contributed those dollars.
Let’s rebuild our bridges now instead of waiting until
they collapse and kill those forced to use them. Let’s
rebuild our roads before pot holes swallow the
ever growing number of vehicles using them. Every
aspect
of our infrastructure
is in need of repair or rebuilding. Why are we
waiting to begin the overhaul?
We need to do whatever is necessary to stop the activities
that are bringing our country to its knees. We need to impose
stiffer fines on those who import, distribute and even manufacture
illicit drugs that are harming our youth. We need to launch
an investigation and study the adverse affects on our youth
from the use of all the new electronics; grade schools are
using computers and pre-school children are given cell phones.
We
need to support with all our resources the efforts of our
country’s youth seeking
advanced education both in our colleges and
in other educational avenues.
We need
to develop
trade schools that offer hands-on training
such as those we have had in the past. Major
manufacturers
who build
automotive
equipment; homes, appliances and shipbuilders
need to provide funding for the effort. They
can be
encouraged
to do so
via special tax incentives.
Our
police and fire departments need to be better financed so
that when cuts become
necessary, they are not the
first to suffer. Perhaps local “homeland security” systems,
financed by our federal government, could
be established.
Let’s
find ways to put our people to work and ensure they do not
lose their
employment.
We need
to create
jobs that will help control and solve
problems facing our nation.
More
jobs will equal more taxes paid by a larger number of our
population
who all
expect
the
benefits of government.
If we don’t stabilize and ensure
a secure job market, it will be difficult
for
our country
to move
ahead.
Looking
forward to the next 10 months, we must select officials willing
to
do the job
we elect
them to.
They must develop
strategies and procedures to help
our country’s
citizens and work with all party
representatives to accomplish that
goal.