It's My Party and I'll Cry If I Want To!

I have spent much of my time watching C-Span and C-Span 2. Seeing and listening to our elected officials speak is both thrilling and enlightening for me. Thrilling since I get to hear some of the best orators of our day use their skills to debate on the world stage. Of-course not everyone of those speaking is a great communicator so one must listen to all to discern what is transpiring.

The enlightening happens when one hears between the words to understand what the speaker, she or he, is trying to accomplish. Although the subjects are many, and may be complex, it does not ensue that a clown like me, living in a somewhat rural and small city or town, cannot find the import and direction the speaker is trying to herd us to. In fact, it is relatively simple to judge the political alliance or mindset of the speaker. And if careful listening is not your thing, the vote tallies at the end show the aims of the words spoken. At the end of the day it is the vote that reveals the true colors of what's going on.

So, here we are. The first thing I would like to speak to is the way the budget is being held hostage to a political agenda. We know that a plethora of the budget is not the reason for the continuing impasse. It is an ideological divide and lust for complete power that is at issue here. LOOK AT THE VOTE TALLIES! I guess old George Washington was "right on" when he admonished us to avoid foreign wars and political parties!

The charts and studies all sides seem enamored of are of so little real value I view them more as a visual form of trickery than an informative tool. It seems that there is a chart to support any view if you have selective vision when searching for one. Nobody's right if everybody's wrong! We, the Electorate, need to do a better job minding the store and rely less on a proxy citizenry of paid actors.

I could provide links, but why?

To those that know who they are I really miss talking to you. I tried to keep it light. So sorry I let you down as a friend.

The View From Where I Sit

When I was young I would analyze. Purpose was the nugget I chewed and tasted to see if nourishment to a cause could be had. My analysis determined my actions. As time passed, experience shown its light on a mistaken belief that analysis was all I needed to know the true nature of something. This mistake was mostly due to the fact that the analyzer was me.

But then, instead of analyzing purpose, I spent my time as an observer. An observer of results. Though purpose was still important to me, the only purpose I could really be sure of was my own. Observations, on the other hand, could be seen by all. No matter the purpose, it is the results of an action that determines the action's value to me.

This is the reason I don't care to be part of any established political party. While ideology may fill my dreams, results rule my life. The results since Ronald Reagan speak volumes to me.

Now I analyze my observations. Is what I see really what is real or am I mistaken because I can see only what is shown?

Analysis+observation of results seemed to be the answer. In this way I could see beyond what was shown and come to know what was not known, at least to me.

But, alas, this did not take into account that I could be deceived. Thus, it seems, is the allure of the political gamesmanship that we endure. The purposes, the results, the game, all are suspect. Mine, yours, everyone's.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Results can be misinterpreted. Gut feelings can be wrong. Deceit can masquerade as truth. Self-interest can trump anything. Only Time reveals the truth. Until it does, your guess is as good as mine...