Voters need to take control back from the politicians
For most of my adult life I didn't pay much attention to politics. I would simulate one of the pundits I heard on TV or, of course, repeat what my father said. I just wasn't interested.
But before the 2008 election, I had a hunger to know what this great nation stood for. Through all my digging and probing it hit me, how can a people govern themselves if they're not paying attention. I think I was to busy living my life paying no mind to the fact that in this country we are suppose to govern ourselves. "We the people."
So am I partly to blame for our economy being in serious trouble, gas and food prices rising, and being 15 trillion dollars in debt and rising? I started educating myself.
In the very beginning of our county’s history, we were called "The Great American Experiment." The question asked was: “Could a country of free people govern themselves?" The answer is an astounding yes! Not only did we govern ourselves, but 200 years later we became the most prosperous country in the world.
How did we get there? Our government would like you to think it was all them, but I've learned that what made this country great were the people. Free people who invented, created, discovered, and innovated this great nation into being. Thanks to our Constitution, the wonderful document that our Founding fathers worked tirelessly to create, we have a system based on natural law in which free people can live in a stable society with a system of justice. The founders knew this system was something special. It would guide citizens in a loving, law-abiding way.
For the first 100 years it went pretty well. There were flaws, but they could be corrected with amendments. The second hundred years were not as prosperous. Government started growing and hasn't stopped since. Now it's bloated, out of control, spends more then it takes in, and infringes on our freedoms with all their regulations. Now they want to raise taxes on the rich.
We don't have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem. This is our hard earned tax dollars being spent irresponsibly. Every bubble that has burst in our economy has happened because our government has been overreaching, taking more control then our Constitution states, and by the way they swear to uphold the Constitution. They try to micromanage the economy and all they have done is completely destroy it.
Capitalism and the free market built the United States, and is now being replaced with corporatism and cronyism. Both parties are to blame and it's been going on for years right under our noses.
"We the people" are waking up. It's time to take control back. They work for us.
Elections are coming up and we need to put the right people in these positions. I urge you to really investigate all our choices and ask yourself what kind of country you want to live in. Don't just listen to talking heads, dig for the truth. Information is at our fingertips. I believe we not only have a right to vote, but a duty to vote. God blessed this great country and our Constitution. His fingerprints are all over it.
Cindy J. Fischhaber
Chelsea
Comments
outdoor6709
Mon, Mar 5, 2012 : 3:31 a.m.
My suggestion would be to make some attempt to cut deficit spending. In 94 when the budget was balanced, Congress looked for ways to cut spending. What attenpt is anyone in Washington to cut spending? The 10 year budget starting in 2013 calls for an additional $12 trillion in deficits. You are only kidding yourself if you think our current spending level is sustainable. The problem today is whoever is in power uses the budget to payoff their political donners.
outdoor6709
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 9:39 p.m.
For all of you liberals that want to keep blaming Bush, There is a gov website called debt to the penny. <a href="http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np" rel='nofollow'>http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np</a> On 3/1/01 the debt was $5.7 trillion at end of Bush presidency 3/1/09 the debt was $10.8 trillion. Bush added $5.1 trillion in 8 years. Way to much. Maybe a democratic congress that spent to much starting in 07?? When Obama became president the debt was on 3/1/09 $ 10.8 trillion, today it is 15.5 trillion. That is $4.7 trillion in 3 years. Do you really believe we will have a country in 5 years if we continue to spend $1.23 trillion more in a year than we take in? Wake you people or we are doomed to loose everything.
Mike K
Mon, Mar 5, 2012 : 2:20 p.m.
Facts are facts. No interpretation required to observe these facts.
Jake C
Mon, Mar 5, 2012 : 1:53 a.m.
So your argument is that Bush inherited an awesome economy, and then raised the deficit by $5.1 trillion in 8 years. Obama inherited a crap economy and raised the defecit by $4.7 trillion in 3 years. So... we should go elect another Republican? Orr.... People should have elected Ron Paul (even though that's not ever gonna happen). What is your suggestion, exactly?
ffej440
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 6:11 p.m.
@ Peter- Unfortunatly this is from our public schools. People need to read "The lies my teacher told me" by James Loewen. Sometimes the truth is not pretty, but it is the truth.
Peter
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 4:20 p.m.
American exceptionalism is a jingoistic myth, and the sooner we realize just how much it hurts us as a society to blindly pretend that we're fundamentally different from and better than the rest of the world, the sooner we can actually grow as a people.
Mike K
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 4:49 p.m.
Legal immegration to the US is still one of the highest in the world. That speaks to something.
taxpayer united
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 3:40 p.m.
You failed to mention Lobbyists. Who really run the government. This is the real problem of this country. Lobbyists are allotted billions of dollars from big corporations to make sure there agenda's are protected and where do you think the billions go to. Exactly, politicians votes are paid for. This is the real crime in government. Career politicians like John Dingell's whose wife Debbie is a Lobbyist. This should be outlawed seems like a conflict of interest there. But, nobody says anything and the same old same old keeps happening. Oil Lobbyists are why this country is still dependent on oil. This country should of turned to alternative energy's 40 years ago except for the oil lobbyists control in government. You need to look at the real culprit of a failed Government. Lobbyists...........
Mike K
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 5:54 p.m.
Right now it is. Want nuclear? Let's mandate each homeowner replace their roofs with expensive solar panels. What is the carbon footprint of solar energy? How about Cadmium? Any thoughts on the proliferation of toxic metal? And are these rare metals finite? I'm talking about Indium, Gallenium..... Here's the best idea yet. Let's use all of our corn to make ethanol and starve the world? Here's one for you. <a href="http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/on-energy/2011/09/14/abiotic-oil-a-theory-worth-exploring" rel='nofollow'>http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/on-energy/2011/09/14/abiotic-oil-a-theory-worth-exploring</a> Anyone can criticize. Brought to you by a true man - oil or otherwise.
ffej440
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 5:42 p.m.
Mike K- Spoken like a true oil man. So a finite supply is viable, the cost at the pump and spill clean up is inexpensive and environmental damage caused by fossil fuels is effective. Are you related to Bob lutz?
Mike K
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 4:05 p.m.
I'm not sure I agree with your take on oil. My take is that it is viable (inexpensive AND effective).
outdoor6709
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 3:31 p.m.
The issue with the federal spending is a process called baseline budgeting. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseline_(Budgeting)" rel='nofollow'>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseline_(Budgeting)</a> Underbaseline budgeting the budget increases every year based on increases in inflation and population. Amount of revenue is not considered. Congersman DIngel & Senator Stabenhow both support baseline budgeting. This allows them not to have to make tough choices on priorities. All cuts are just cuts in the rate of growth not real spending cuts. Canada balanced their budget when liberals stepped up and put caps on spending. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/25/world/canada-presents-balanced-budget-the-first-in-almost-30-years.html" rel='nofollow'>http://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/25/world/canada-presents-balanced-budget-the-first-in-almost-30-years.html</a> When will our liberals step up and make an attempt to restrain spending. The US currently spends $450 on interest payments. In 2018 we will spend $660 billion, if we can keep interest rates at 3%.
Veracity
Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 3:21 a.m.
Interesting comparison with Canada which is more socialistic than the United States with its universal health care and bank regulations that prevented the excesses that were disastrous to our financial system and caused our recession. And do not forget that Canada has not sustained two wars and has enough resources to export to other countries.
ffej440
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 5:36 p.m.
if you look at where our deficit came from you will see the largest increase under presidents Reagan, Bush Sr and Bush Jr. Not what I would call liberals. War has cost us a lot and gained nothing. Try some other sources, Wikipedia and NY Times are not real sources of information.
Mike K
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 3:19 p.m.
Magnificent! You capture my beliefs 100%. We have the greatest nation on Earth for a reason, and yet some still want more government intervention and mandates into all of our lives. Author Brooks captured our current status very well in his book, The Battle, How the fight between Free Enterprise and Big Government will shape America's Future. Sadly, Big Government is winning and will continue to win as demogoguery and class warfare do in fact work. I still find it crazy that many American's actually believe Government can solve our problems. <a href="http://www.arthurbrooks.net/" rel='nofollow'>http://www.arthurbrooks.net/</a> I agree the Republicans and Democrats and their extreme rigid ideologies are to blame. I'm still waiting for the great independent.
Mike K
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 6:56 p.m.
Actually, I read the book. The message is that income inequality is real, and there are two possible solutions - government or free enterprise. Free enterprise was noted to promote "earned success" as opposed to the materialistic approach of redistrubtion. The premise being what enables the "pursuit of happiness" - giving someone money, or earning success. I would love a solution to China that everyone can agree to.
ffej440
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 6:43 p.m.
I went to the site you list and i think you misunderstood the message. The middle and lower class americans have been beat down to a point where our labor is worth very little, nobody can live on our minimum wage. This gives only two choices: 1) Government intervention in trade so we can compete in a fair market against China, raising the value of our labor. 2) Government change of the tax code, moving wealth down the classes. i agree about the great independent, but fail to see how "we" can solve our problems. I can't tell Walmart to quit importing junk from China so we have factory work here. I can't make Mitt Romney et al pay more than 15% tax.
JohnnyP
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 3:06 a.m.
A2james shows his progressive ignorance. This is the fallacy that the the left has propagated for too long. The same men who drafted the constitution are the same that helped draft more than a few state constitutions. These same men who you want to convince everyone in their intent of your version of separation of church and state specified that you had to be a follower of a Christian religion in most state constitutions and Articles. Up until 1965 you couldn't hold a public office in Connecticut as a non-Christian according to their constitution. Why don't you actually learn real history instead of pushing your faulty agenda.
1bit
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 1:02 p.m.
JohnnyP: You should read Thomas Jefferson's writings on this a bit more. He disagrees with your interpretation of the US Constitution. But then again, what does he know, he only helped write it...
Sparty
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 4:02 a.m.
But not in the US Constitution!
Reason-able23
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 2:25 a.m.
It seems like you continue to "simulate" pundits and repeat things you heard other people say. Glenn Beck would be proud, if he wasn't mad about being plagiarized/paraphrased without being cited.
G. Orwell
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 1:57 a.m.
Well said. It is either liberty and prosperity or creeping tyranny that will continue to grow as our federal government grows ever larger and larger. Here is a taste of that tyranny. "None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe "Illegal Everything" <a href="http://www.brasschecktv.com/videos/defending-civil-liberties/john-stossels-illegal-everything-.html" rel='nofollow'>http://www.brasschecktv.com/videos/defending-civil-liberties/john-stossels-illegal-everything-.html</a>
Mike K
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 3:32 p.m.
The policy of the American government is to leave their citizens free, neither restraining nor aiding them in their pursuits. (Letter to M. L'Hommande, 1787) The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground. (Letter to Edward Carrington, 1788) Thomas Jefferson Thanks for the link.
scott
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 1:20 a.m.
What a disappointing ending of a letter after a great title..... This is the great solution? To change by voting differently? No wonder this will be the first generation that can look at its elders and say you have no right to say anything derogatory about us with the crap you've created for us....
ussubmariner
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 12:48 a.m.
So I think to myself, what courage it takes to sit down and write something that you feel or would like other people to know. A person may not have or claim to know the expert version of everything that has ever happen in the history of our country.. Good forthose of you that do, or think you do? Unless you were there, you don't know the truth. You only know what was documented by those who wrote what they thought they had seen or remembered and you happen to read up on it or study it. Cindy is brave to acknowledge her recent arrival on the scene, and she accepted partial responsibility! Most of us won't even do that. Good for her.
Hemenway
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 12:33 a.m.
Are any elected officials honest? I can't say I know of one.
Sparty
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 3:59 a.m.
And how many citizens are 100% honest? Exaggerating on your income tax forms by chance? Your weight? Age? Sexual history? Please, be hypocrites in glass houses if you like but you sound like fools when talking of politicians honesty.
Stephen Landes
Sat, Mar 3, 2012 : 10:31 p.m.
Ms. Fischhaber -- I applaud you for your approach and for taking personal responsibility for bringing our Country back to the government that our Founders intended as expressed in both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. No one can cover the history of the United states in a single letter -- you did a fine job of expressing you understanding of history in broad strokes in a short space. Please don't let the critics (who carp about everything) get on your nerves. There is a misunderstanding abroad in the public about the Founders and their views on a Creator. No less than Thomas Jefferson included in the Declaration of Independence reference to where our rights come from -- "from nature and nature's God". Far from wanting to keep the Creator out of our lives and government, the Founders knew He was instrumental in establishing the basis on which we could be self-governing. What the Founders did not want was the establishment of a state religion as with the Anglican Church in Great Britain. The Founders were of many faiths, but did agree on the source of our rights -- and those rights don't come from government. That's why the Bill of Rights is written in such a way as to tell government what it cannot do rather than what citizens are allowed to do. Unfortunately many who desire a cradle to grave, nanny state are upset with the Bill of Rights and would prefer it to be written to affirm government as the source of our rights and our care-giver. Therein is a disaster waiting for us to be so slack as to allow these people to take over. Be vigilant and vote for people who understand both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
golfer
Sat, Mar 3, 2012 : 10:22 p.m.
First of all if anyone believes what politicians say is in a dream world. They are the only ones whom talk out of both sides of their mouth. First of all they tell you want they think you want to hear. You look at what we have in Washington. So so many games played. It is what it is. Take Detroit if kk ran again he would be elected. Each politician protects his own state. Some timesPORK is the magic word. just remember we put them where they are.
1bit
Sat, Mar 3, 2012 : 10:04 p.m.
Wow, Ms. Fischhaber, you're going to get hammered on this site and it's mostly going to be by your own making. You traverse the history of the United States in broad black and white strokes (the allusion to slavery is intended ) and ignore parts of history not suitable to your argument. Corporatism and cronyism have been part of this country since its inception. Using jargon repetitive jargon like "We don't have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem" is pointless and meaningless because both are needed. This is the same problem we always have with politics - I don't like your candidate and you don't like mine. For the most part, the candidates are very similar and instead of accepting the results of our elections and trying to work together we spend all of our effort to try to stymie any progress. I have a better idea. Vote your conscience. If your candidate wins then encourage them to work with the opposite party to foster the growth of this nation. If your candidate loses then acknowledge that the majority has spoken and, while staying true to your own beliefs, try to support the elected representative or candidate as your are best able.
eagleman
Sat, Mar 3, 2012 : 9:44 p.m.
Ms. Fischhaber, it required more than amendments to correct the "flaws" you mention. It took a nasty civil war that killed 2% of the population, a civil rights movement that required the federal government to send in troops twice to support it, and decades of violent conflict between business and labor. Your understanding of history, Ms. Fischhaber , is poor.
snoopdog
Sat, Mar 3, 2012 : 9:12 p.m.
I agree with you Cindy and knew people would come after you for saying "For the first 100 years it went pretty well", just didn't know it would be the very first poster. Those changes have been made and we are all better for it and glad it happened. The problem we have now, is a mentality where almost 50% of Americans have their hands out and want someone else to take care of them. Envy and greed has taken the place of hard work. Back when I was in my twenties, I would see a guy in his 40's or 50's driving a Corvette and I would think to myself, some day, I am going to make enough money to buy one of those. I was not jealous of those guys driving Vette's, I was perhaps a bit envious but not in a bad way. I knew if I worked hard , spent less than I earned, I could have one some day. Government led by Mr. Obama has turned our country upside down. He has encouraged class warfare, promoted and enlarged government social programs so as to ensnare and pimp the electorate. Vote for me and I will soak the rich and take care of you. We are moving slowly down the tracks toward socialism and have been for years. It just so happens this current President has greased the tracks with WD-40 and sped the process up. Republicans+Democrats= Republicrats Ron Paul is the only candidate who could lead us to restoring the USA as the Republic it was , and should have remained. But he is not electable so now we are left with voting for the lesser of two evils. Good Day
Diagenes
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 5:56 p.m.
Townie, The beginning of the current mess started in 2006 when the Dems took over congress. Barney Frank D MA prevented GWB from reigning in Freddy Mac and Fanny May. BHO has put the brakes on recovery with Obamacare, a failed energy policy that has driven up gas prices, and uncontrolled governement spending on things like Solndra and "shovel ready jobs".
Mike K
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 3:42 p.m.
Townie - American politics is more polarized than ever. In the last 5 years we have the Tea Party and OWS. Can you read into this a little? Why is there so much polarization? I ask, yet I know your answer. The "right" has moved to the "right" while the "left" remains "center".
Mike K
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 3:36 p.m.
I hearby nominate this as "line of the year"!! "pimp the electorate" So true it is. Demogoguery is what it is called. You are sadly right on Ron Paul.
Richard Wickboldt
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 2:46 p.m.
This mess we are in didn't happen overnight or the flip of a switch after a presidents oath of office. The current economic and social environment presently in this country is only the voters fault. We voted in the politicians who gave away the candy store over the past few decades and waged illegal wars. Some of the politicians have been voted back into office decade after decade. We the voters must change our voting habits! Ron Paul talks the talk. I want to give him the chance to execute the talk.
Townie
Sat, Mar 3, 2012 : 9:53 p.m.
'Government led by Mr. Obama has turned our country upside down. Could you provide some examples, please? We have an economic mess on our hands as the result of two terms of GW Bush who cut taxes (saying they would pay for themselves - they did not), started two wars (paid for with credit not real money), gave seniors a Medicare pharmacy benefit (paid for with credit again) in hopes they'd vote for him. Then our banks were given license (by both Democrats and Republicans) to operate like casinos and bet on things with money they didn't (see the theme yet?) and they gave away mortgages like cheap candy, knowing full well the people they sold them to would not be able to pay. The entire economy system crashed and we came within a hair of plunging into the largest depression in world history. Bush gave the banks their money back (TARP was started by Bush, fact) so we ended up holding the bag as tax payers. Obama has done a decent, but not great, job of digging us out of the mess despite the Republican attempts to derail any attempts to create jobs. All they want is austerity (check on Ireland, Greece, the UK and see how well that's worked!) so they can gut social programs they don't like (rich people - the Republican core constituency don't need them). So please explain to us how Obama has created the mess. Ron Paul? Please.
A2James
Sat, Mar 3, 2012 : 8:46 p.m.
The Founding Fathers would disagree that "God" blessed this country...in fact, they were vehemently for the separation of church and state. Which is ironic, considering how many politicians use religion to base their misguided decision making.
Mike K
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 4:07 p.m.
There are a lot of references to "natural law" in our founding. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_law" rel='nofollow'>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_law</a>
thinker
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 5:12 a.m.
I believe they said that we were endowed by "our Creator" with certain inalienable rights. What separation of Church and State meant was, that there would not be a State religion, as some countries have. I have not seen any "misguided decisions" based on religion, but rather those misguided decisions based on no beliefs, or no religion.
Charley Sullivan
Sat, Mar 3, 2012 : 8:25 p.m.
"The first hundred years went pretty well." Would that be the hundred years where our economy was built on the backs of slaves to a large degree, when anytime we saw economic pressure build, we moved west,taking over the land of people who lived there? Would that be the 100 years when women, deprived ofthe vote, were not a part if "We, the people?" I fear this editorial reflects a highly selective, I would even say highly imaginitive view of American history, and particularly of American economic and political history. I may share the author's apparent desire to see changes in the system, but this ahistorical argument leads me to suggest that along with her late-breaking interest in politics, she might also consider developing an interest in history, as it was, not as she imagines it to have been.
DonBee
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 5:01 p.m.
Charley Sullivan- " Would that be the hundred years where our economy was built on the backs of slaves to a large degree" I would love to know where you came up with this. Tobacco and Cotton, two southern states crops used slaves. No other part of the US economy did to any real extent. The north was far more prosperous than the south and was to a very large extent slave free. The bulk of the US economy was built on the backs of immigrates who were free. They left "slave like" conditions in their home countries in many cases, to come make a better life. Today, many of the most driven, successful people are new immigrates and children of new immigrates. These people still come with the drive our ancestors did.
Richard Wickboldt
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 : 2:35 p.m.
"consider developing an interest in history". History of human beings is a large and long story distorted by the writers over the ages. I have a passionate interest in history. The history I have knowledge of is by experience of living it and reading many books over the decades. The history of humans clearly shows woman have always been treated as second class human beings. Cultures, religions and races throughout history have continuously been conquering others with armies whereby they murdered and enslaved people. History shows people with power and immense wealth have no object care or feelings for those who do not; and consider them serfs. History shows that when religion is the government you have corruption, wars, murder and persecution. History shows whenever most of the power and money is in the hands of very few the government and it's country either gets conquered and enslaved or there is violent revolt. Our Constitution's historical roots actually goes to European middle ages prior to the Magna Carta with thed Charter of Liberties also known as Coronation Charter. The past 200 year history of our country and it's Constitution is not perfect nor has past history been any better. But, I think we all should be glad in our days of living and writing history; we do live in this country and under our Constitution instead of a place like Republic of Rwanda or Afghanistan. In my younger years. I was a merchant marine officer and travelled by ships to most parts of this planet. On many occasions in the underdeveloped or autocratic suppressing countries. People would approach me in desperation; pleading, begging, bribing, crying for me to take them aboard the ship and to the United States. While we are not perfect, We should realize we have the best country. We have the vote.... and you better use it wisely! Because history shows if you do not. You will the one begging in desperation for a better life.