Pat Oliphant for March 27, 2013
Transcript:
Listen! The health care system here is laughable, as are the tax and education systems. The political system is loaded with venal politicians owned by people with enough money to buy them. The trains we have don't run on time, and if you're looking for bullet trains, go to Italy. The country is full of armed crazies with gun rights. American jurisprudence is completely flawed and nonsensical. Why would you want to swap your banana republic for this one? And you forgot to mention the banks.
It never ceases to amaze me how cartoons such as this denigrate our lifestyles, government, culture, social systems as if they were changed by some alien that swooped down and practiced mind control on us all.
Why is there such a large income disparity between the upper and lower wage earners? Because for years we sat around being fat, dumb and happy and let our politicians legislate the tax laws to their hearts content. Who bought all the cheaper products from overseas and supported the outsourcing of America? We did, right up to the point that our jobs started disappearing, because manufacturing couldn’t compete with cheaper overseas labor and the government did nothing to encourage self sufficiency for America. Who allowed the wars and defense spending to grow to the point that a huge portion of our economy is a nonproductive industry that is crippling our economy? We did, I sure didn’t see the people on the streets like we did over Viet Nam…
My point is this: we are now locked in a partisan blame fest that accomplishes nothing but “kicking the can” down the road on taxes, spending, education, energy policy, entitlements and the military. We have allowed this, democrats and republicans alike. Pick any administration and you will find they all grow the size and spending of government and become more detached to the real needs of the people and our future.
Until we communicate what we want to Washington (and your state and local governments) they all blithely bumble along spending wantonly and legislating our lifestyles. We will continue with these chickenshit wars in the middle east until we demand their end. We will waste billions on the military until we demand that it ends. Nothing will change until WE get involved. Write, telephone, email and show up in person to make your voice heard. Our problems and inequities didn’t happen by accident and they aren’t going to be solved until we get truly engaged in the process. Sorry this is so long. Thanks for letting me share…