I used to be a certified news junkie. First I got fed up with TV news so I started getting my daily "news fix" first thing in the morning - every morning - from my computer. I'd pull up all the major news sources. Then, I felt as though these sources were becoming more tabloid in content than I cared for. Besides which, they were also beginning to read more like opinion pieces than news pieces. (JUST my opinion. . . . ) Now, I read only two news sources - npr.com and bbc.com
I was especially a political news junkie.
The only political "news" these days scares the hell out of me, or it just flat makes me crazy.
Let's see - we have people who are actually being considered as viable candidates for the highest office in this country who don't know American history, and/or think it's okay to revise it to suit.
We have a bunch of people who were elected to SERVE this country, but who instead want to pander to their own selfish wants and needs by engaging in a never-ending pissing contest. A constant game of "if I can't have my way, I'll take my ball and go home. Nah nah na boo boo." At the very least, it's embarrassing. Let's not even try to bring the word "ethics" to the table.
Wonder if any of them have ever read this:
 © Abraham Lincoln Online | The Gettysburg AddressGettysburg, PennsylvaniaNovember 19, 1863 On June 1, 1865, Senator Charles Sumner commented on what is now considered the most famous speech by President Abraham Lincoln. In his eulogy on the slain president, he called it a "monumental act." He said Lincoln was mistaken that "the world will little note, nor long remember what we say here." Rather, the Bostonian remarked, "The world noted at once what he said, and will never cease to remember it. The battle itself was less important than the speech." |
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
Source: Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, edited by Roy P. Basler. The text above is from the so-called "Bliss Copy," one of several versions which Lincoln wrote, and believed to be the final version. For additional versions, you may search The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln through the courtesy of the Abraham Lincoln Association.
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I think not.
And what do they care even if they did?!
Poor ol' Abe seems to be out of favor in today's politcal environment. Now it's for each his own. Spend a beezillion dollars to get elected and in turn get a decent salary, with health benefits and a pension. The things every American citizen would also love to have, right? Add in those speaking engagements they'll have after they leave office. How much will the average American rake in in speaking engagements by comparison? Add in those book deals. How much will the average writers make in book deals by comparison?
I am not even going to ponder what some of these people "might" receive in gifts from special interest groups.
In my ever so humble opinion, this particular crop of politicians "serving" us these days could give a flying fig about us. And I don't really think I'm alone, or even in the minority, in my feelings. The following polling data was found at RealClearPolitics.com I'm using this source only because they appear to average out the polls from multiple sources. You may, I'm sure, find different numbers elsewhere. But, you know - this is my blog and I can rant if I want to (with apologies to Lesley Gore).
Here's the deal in a nutshell. According to the latest polls, most people don't care for the direction of the county (see below). Congressional job approval is in the toilet (see below). President Obama's not doing so hot either (see below).
Direction of Country
Polling Data
| Poll | Date | Right Direction | Wrong Track | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RCP Average | 8/1 - 8/28 | 19.0 | 73.8 | -54.8 |
Congressional Job Approval
Polling Data
| Poll | Date | Approve | Disapprove | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RCP Average | 8/1 - 8/22 | 12.3 | 84.0 | -71.7 |
President Obama Job Approval
Polling Data
| Poll | Date | Sample | Approve | Disapprove | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RCP Average | 8/16 - 9/1 | -- | 43.7 | 51.3 | -7.6 |
So. What do you think? What the HELL is going on here? WHAT is going on with this country?
First off - Where are our jobs???? Call a customer support representative for almost any major company and you tell me - are the jobs here in the United States? If so, then how come I have a hard time understanding what these people are saying? Before you call me an ignorant isolationist slut for being cruel to or about other cultures and about having to deal with a person I have a hard time understanding, let me just say this. Back in the day when I took some business courses in college, I remember learning a very basic tenet. That business was all about "communication." Well, you know, I'm sorry, but my liberal ol' self finds it hard to justify that tenet these days when it's so hard to communicate with the business you wish to communicate with. Either you can't reach them, or you reach them but then no one understands what the other person is saying. I'm sorry, but this is just wrong. And I'm not blaming the people from other countries who are doing the jobs - I'm saying it is just plain wrong for our government to have given those jobs away when we have people right here in our own country begging for work.
So.
We're short on jobs.
We're short on affordable health care.
People have lost their homes - and are still losing their homes.
So.
We're a country with a rising population. The homeless population is on the rise. Not just the homeless men we used to see in big cities. We were scared to death of those men. Now we're facing the fact of homeless families. Men, their wives and their children. HOW CAN THIS BE???? This is way more scary, in my humble opinion, than those dirty old men begging for a buck.
I mean - Hey. This is THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Right?!
UNITED.
Except that somehow we now have the government on one side of a large divide, and "we the people" on the other side of that large divide.
UNITED?
Really?
are we?
Is anyone in our governement in danger of losing their home?
Being laid off?
Is their job going to be privatized or sent abroad?
Are they in danger of losing their health care?
UNITED??
Pfft.
Do they have to worry about how they're going to feed their children?
If one of their kids is suddenly very sick, do they worry about the cost of hospitalization? Do they face not being able to afford a doctor's visit?
Do NOT tell me that there are NO doctors or hospitals in this country turning patients away. That is simply not true.
Yes, Yes, Yes - I do tend to rant. And I cry. And I worry about this country. But no, I don't worry about the members of congress - they'll be fine fine fine. They don't worry about me, why should I worry about them?
Has your salary increased at this rate (see below?) :
| 1965-1969 | $30,000 | per annum |
| 1969-1975 | $42,500 | per annum |
| 1975-1977 | $44,600 | per annum |
| 1977-1978 | $57,500 | per annum |
| 1979-1983 | $60,662.50 | per annum |
| 1983 | $69,800 | per annum |
| 1984 | $72,600 | per annum |
| 1985-1986 | $75,100 | per annum |
| 1987 (1/1-2/3) | $77,400 | per annum |
| 1987 (2/4) | $89,500 | per annum |
| 1990 (2/1) | $98,400 | per annum |
| 1991 | $101,900 | per annum |
| 1991 (8/15) | $125,100 | per annum |
| 1992 | $129,500 | per annum |
| 1993-1997 | $133,600 | per annum |
| 1998-1999 | $136,700 | per annum |
| 2000 | $141,300 | per annum |
| 2001 | $145,100 | per annum |
| 2002 | $150,000 | per annum |
| 2003 | $154,700 | per annum |
| 2004 | $158,100 | per annum |
| 2005 | $162,100 | per annum |
| 2006-2007 | $165,200 | per annum |
| 2008 | $169,300 | per annum |
| 2009 | $174,000 | per annum |
| 2010 | $174,000 | per annum |
| 2011 | $174,000 | per annum |
