Election 2010

I don’t like it when people say they are ALL crooks. It’s a cop out; an easy way to not make a decision. The nature of politics is dictated by the nature of people. It is, in fact, nature. It’s both good and bad. Rain is good in places that suffer drought, and it’s bad in places that are prone to floods. So, when people cop out of political discussion by saying they are all bad, it’s neither logical nor probable. It's just a way to stay out of it.
In addition to human nature, I would like to address my ideas on partisanship. Yes, it’s true that cable T.V. and D.C. polarize and make a mockery of political discourse. After all, it sells. People love a good blood bath. But, in the spirit of not copping out I would like to recognize the clear ideological conflict at the center of American politics. Aside from independents—who are not taken seriously enough—there are republicans and democrats. There is a legitimate conflict between them and it’s a healthy one. Well, it’s theoretically healthy. Unfortunately however, the lively tug-of-war all too often becomes bitter and ridiculous. My point being is, there are party lines. It's a fact that can't be ignored.

Keeping with the spirit of not being afraid to sculpt a textured opinion, I am going to say, that hands down, Republicans are the worst about muddying up the crucial balance and making it a joke. There are certain kinds of people who identify themselves as proud, commonsense, conservatives. They mostly share, what I have come to learn, is a popular human trait. Anxiety. They’re the people who build arsenals in their basements, alongside their panic rooms; assume the most sinister conspiracy behind every American event; run to their pastors when they have a tough life decision because they’re naturally fearful, and letting Him decide their life helps calm their panic. These are the people who will run screaming, like Ichabod Crane, to the voting booths at the mere mention of the word socialist. These people are like green mold on a bread loaf. They’re toxic and they spread too easily.
There is, however, a respectable group whom I like to refer to as the Republicans. They’re not overly tormented by anxiety. They have just logically concluded that the republican platform makes the most sense. They believe in the illusion of the American dream. You know what, there are probably times when this ideology works. Unfortunately, now is not the time.

Republicans think (although they don’t like to say it this way) that the best way to manage an economy is to keep the rich people rich. It’s based on a theory that says the best way to stimulate the economy and create jobs is to give people who already have a good business, more money and incentive to expand. Hopefully, they will then hire more people who, in turn, spend money. Actually, I don’t think that sounds bad. However, it doesn’t work now. Why? Because if we are not considered an oligarchy, we will be soon. I don’t know how we’d measure for that sort of thing.
Oligarchy means there is a small portion of wealth and privilege that own everything. Tax-break rhetoric that dominates party debate actually doesn’t affect middle-class people, and certainly not the poor. The tax differences are minimal for us . . . but not for the rich. The Republican tax breaks help out the rich; the teeny tiny portion of people who own it all already. Then, the poor, jobless, Republican, Ohio voter sits waiting after Election Day for a trickle down that never comes.
The rich, taxation liberated business owners start investing alright, right back into Washington where they purchase other incentives that allow them to “expand” their businesses overseas. Or, they persuade politicians to invade other countries so we can start exploiting their people and natural resources, too.


What's my American dream? I dream of a political party that doesn't manipulate their anxiety prone voter base. Instead, I want a compassionate, intelligent leader not to be criticized as being arrogant because he's trying to explain politics in a fearless, logical way. I dream of a working class Ohio that doesn't accuse leaders of being socialists because they won't let banks secretly raise interest rates. God forbid we side with the working class. I want an Ohio that doesn't want banks to buy school loans and keep college educated people in debt all their lives. I want an Ohio that doesn't refer to funding for eduction and basic health care as "handouts."That's the commonsense American dream in my book. As long as we keep worshiping an ideology that doesn't fit our needs, while bitterly attacking education and logic we will continue to be population of people who vote against themselves.