Random thoughts on an afternoon that could become "historic" in a very bad way. . .
What does it mean to be in "leadership" in our media driven, poll-sensitive, "ear-to-the-ground" political version of democracy?
Constituency concerns and opinions should always be received, acknowledged and followed whenever the elected leader feels that such advice is sound in view of the nation's overall well-being and health.
But a huge part of leadership involves informing constituencies about "the rest of the story" or the larger picture that comes in the context of naitonal leadership alongside other national, elected leaders.
At times, being a leader means going directly against the grain of popular opinion created by ill-informed or inadequately informed constituencies.
Voting along ideological lines, especially in a time of national crisis, is worse than foolish.
Allowing political concerns and campaign "wisdom" to completely overrun the national good is immoral.
These are hard times.
Possibly the Congress will come back over the next few days to act responsibility.
I know that my very low-income friends will survive.
Here's what may sound like a surprising prediction: If the very worst comes to pass economically, our nation will see how the poor rise to the occasion to care more deeply for all of us than most of us in positions of relative wealth today have cared for those crushed by the weight of a poverty that has made life feel like the Great Depression has been here for a very long time.
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18 comments:
Check this article out.http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/29/miron.bailout/index.html. I know it will send alot of you off the deep end to know that yes in fact your Democrats played a pivotal role in bringing this debacle on. In fact, your leaders Chris Dodd, Barack Obama, and Barney Frank were the top 3 recepients of cash from the Freddies in the last 10 years and Obama has only been around for 4 years so you can see how much he got.
Anonymous,
I've known Larry through his blog for some time now and seriously I can't believe that you'd be so inflammatory with your difference of beliefs. You can have your own opinion, but to call people off the deep end and to blame dems exclusively for prolonging this mess when in fact the unbridled, unregulated "free markets" of the right created the mess in the first place is just plain silly.
Ramblin'Red - You apparently have not been reading this blog for the last week when the majority of those who write on this blog have blamed the financial crisis on the rich, Wall Street, republicans, etc. I agree with you that everyone has had a hand in the results we have now, but many who comment on this blog daily blame everyone but the Dems.
Ramblin Red - please note that in your first few sentences you chastise anon 357 about the tone of the comment and then you end your comments with the same type of tone. Sounds to me like you have a double standard. Also, I think you have your history a bit wrong. The mortgage crisis began when Democrats forced banks and mortgage companies with the threat of "discrimination" claims to make loans to people who could not qualify or afford homes and as a result mortgage companies were forced to ignore the usual qualifying terms. The Democrats actually "regulated" the free markets and as a result the free market was no longer "free" but "bridled" with a cram down on mortgages to those who could not otherwise qualify. Lets get the facts straight.
No single party can be blamed for this mess. Everyone had a hand in it and it is not all due to sub-prime loans. It was greed driven by individuals who flipped one house after another, by realtors and brokers who knew how to work the system with creative financing to make a sale. How many people do you know who purchased a home knowing they could afford it when they purchased but are no longer able to make a mortgage payment due to job loss?
There are so many variables involved in this and it is dumb as dirt to point the finger at one party or cause. We all had a hand in this because we sat back and allowed it to happen knowing all good things must come to an end but everyone wanted a piece of the pie. Some gambled and lost. Others took the money and ran. The lesson learned is to put safe guards in place to make sure this never happens again and that means regulation whether we like it or not no matter what party is in office.
It was a disaster mandated by the government and propelled into law by the democrats. You don't have to be a history major to figure this out.
Larry,
Back to your post... I appreciate your prophetic words today regarding the strength and resiliency of the marginalized. We are all likely to learn a lot in the coming weeks and months about where we have put our trust.
I watch this unfolding and realize the decisions I made years ago were right. I did not jump on the home ownership bandwagon, stopped using credit cards, eliminated all of my debt and started saving. All I have to worry about is shelter and food which is enough to worry about considering I am very low income by most of your standards.
I appreciate what Larry is saying. Learning to live within or below your means is a humbling experience but I found it much healthier lifestyle because I have peace of mind. Those of us who are already there will not have the difficulties of those who are on the way and you know what? I have always given and shared with those who had less and will continue to do so.
I saw this coming and changed my lifestyle and habits. What planet were the rest of you on?
Try blaming it all on the democrats as much as you want. It won't hold water. Deregulation got its start in 1980 with Ronald Reagan. No one has completely pure hands on this one.
Belinda,
You are the democrat version of Chris. Talking points and no substance. Do you ever comment and defend your opinions? Nope. Hit and run Belinda. Ignorant, uneducated, Belinda. I'd suggest you take a hiatus from commenting on blogs on subjects where you have absolutely no education, read some books, and learn how to defend what you believe with a decent, rational, argument.
Belinda, I'm glad you post here. I think anyone who is respectful and uses their name should be encouraged to voice an opinion. However, the anonymous names and "My name is an attack" names simply reflect a problem with this country. Those who choose not to publish their name realize they have an untenable position and are simply playing the role of a rabble-rouser.
Daniel,
Follow Belinda around the internet for a couple of days. You'll realize that while she agrees with you to some extent, she hurts your position with her inability to frame an argument. She is talking point fluff, black and white world, Republicans are evil and stupid, Democrats are geniuses. Its ignorant.
And I haven't seen you criticizing any other anonymous posters when they agree with you. Take it with a grain of salt, but I've been around Belinda online a lot, and I've finally lost the ability for her to get away with her asinine comments. So I've decided I'm going to troll her, in the hopes that she learns to think about what she says. She doesn't need to change her mind, just make a friggin argument.
Best I can tell, this is for comments, NOT an entire story. I voted republican until 2004, except for Jimmy Carter in 1976, my first election to vote in, because he was from the south. I have been totally disappointed in everything the republican party has put on the table since 2000. I believe GWB to be an evil and arrogant man.
and this "following" me around . . . not sure what you mean by that. I don't use the same name on every blog I read.
I'm aware.... bpb is another alias of yours.
You don't have to write a treatise... but you often accuse people, or make general statements with zero support. If you don't have support for your "comment" then why even post? Nod your head in agreement... but don't make statements like "Bush is evil" or "republicans are bad" without backing them up. That is one of the biggest problems with our political system. People make statements from the right like "if you can't get behind the troops, you should stand in front of them" or "we can't take 4 more years of the last 8 years"... politics has become the place to go for the ignorant, media obsessed American. Don't make me think about anything, just give me a slogan.
Frankly, I am sick of your incessant agreement with all things liberal, and making statements about how stupid it would be to believe otherwise. So, from now on, before you comment, think about how your troll is gonna respond. Cause I promise, I will be there, calling you out for your ignorance.
Call me out all you want. If it makes you feel so powerful, go for it. Like I said, I believed in the republican party. It has let me down in so many ways.
bpb . . . maybe I'm anonymous like you . . .
you know there may be others out there that feel just like belinda . . .
If I remember correctly, wasn't it Belinda that called our soldiers "murderers"? And then she proceeded to tell a soldier's family what a piece of garbage their son was for fighting for the USA in the war? She is such such a sweet heart. Don't you know she makes those around her feel great all the time.
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