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Why all the Anger?

Monday, March 29, 2010

This past week was a tough one for conservative Americans as we witnessed the largest government takeover and expansion since FDR and social security. Congressional representatives from both sides of the isle complained of being victims of hate “crimes,” vandalism, ugly and nasty comments.  Some liberals have accused the right of being racists, bullies, uncaring and hate mongers.  Some on the right have have indulged in name calling (“it’s a baby killer”), “communists,” and so on.  There is a lot of anger in our country today.  We see this on the news programs, hear it on talk radio, and read it on Facebook of all places.  We’ve all heard it before that it’s taboo and an Emily Post  no-no to discuss religion and politics in social situations.  Of course that was long before social networking like Facebook.

I’ve been asked “where is this anger coming from?”  So I’m trying to think through this question.  Why are people angry at our politicians?  Why are we angry with each other?  Is there in fact increased anger today or is it more in plain sight because of increased visibility created by the blogosphere, the internet, success of talk radio, and of course FB?

I am very concerned anytime government expands and creates a larger dependent population.  I don’t  ”hate” anyone but I do hate high taxes.  It robs me of my  hard earned money and ultimately the more taxes I pay, the less I have to spend on manufactured goods, home improvements, travel, entertainment, and savings. Increased taxes results in less job creation. And where do the taxes go?  I posted a comment earlier this week asking if anyone could name a single entitlement managed by the government, funded by tax payers that was doing a good job.  There is none.  Why would anyone believe this entitlement is any different?  I’m angry because this is not the hope and change promised.  Obama never crossed the isle as a senator (for a full 18 months) and he has shown so far the same partisan politics. We were promised by Obama that “all this will be seen on C Span,” which was a lie.  This bill was passed with sleaze, deals, and largely behind closed doors. Is this the political transparency Obama promised?  Have you heard Obama speak lately?  Can any objective listener say that he doesn’t sound divisive and angry?

I’m angry that people apparently don’t understand what debt is and at citizens who have little concept of “pay as you go.”  It’s a simple concept, balance your checkbook.  Someone has to pay for government services but we hear little about how things will be paid for.

The liberals I’ve spoken with are still mad at Bush/Cheney.  They refuse to place any blame for problems of the past year on Obama or the Democratic leadership (Reid and Pelosi) who, by the way have been in power for several years now.

Yes there is anger.  Political and Religious beliefs go deep into the heart and soul of people. Individuals dig into their beliefs and refuse to listen and learn from each other.  When this happens, pride slips in and prevents us from seeing the “big picture.”  In this case, I believe the “big picture” is the growth, protection, and success of The United States of America, the greatest nation on earth.

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“Is this Mr. Creeeecy?

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Whenever our “land line” phone rings at any time of the day, and I answer it, a cheerful voice on the other end greets me with “Is this Mr. Creeecy?”  (they always mispronounce my name) I won’t take the time to phonetically spell all of their machinations and mispronunciations.  As soon as I’m asked this question, my  primary sphincter muscle begins to contract and tighten because I know what follows.  DO NOT ANSWER THIS QUESTION if you receive these solicitation calls.  As soon as you say “yes, who’s calling?” they begin their monologue selling their wares without taking a breath. For some mysterious reason, once I’ve  answered “yes” to “Is this Mr. Creeecy?” I feel like it would be rude for me to just hang up the phone. So, I patiently listen while my sphincter muscle gets tighter and tighter and my blood pressure rises. But in the end (or sometimes I interrupt the chirpy voice on the other end) I say “No thank you.” Then I hang up. No matter what they say, regardless of what they ask me, the answer is “No thank you.”

Apparently my membership to the “Pennsylvania Do Not Call List” recently expired.  I have been contacted in the last week by every charity known to humankind asking for my donation.  Political lawyers have also phoned to warn me of the impending doom which awaits our country (of which I’m already well aware of) asking for money so they can take our case to the Supreme Court.  I’m serious.  I received a recorded call from Dick Morris and one other dude (can’t remember his name) asking for a donation (I promised myself that I would not make this a political blog today).

So today, I’ve “re-signed” with the “Do Not Call” list and hopefully it will remedy this nuisance.  I’m not sure why we maintain the land line instead of switching entirely to cell phones.  Not a single person we know or friend calls the land line.  Of course our family and friends use the cell number.  Perhaps we feel more secure knowing that if the cell phone battery goes dead because we forgot to plug it in the night before, we still have a life line to the outside world of talk.

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Love in the Supermarket

Monday, March 8, 2010

Now that I’m “retired” from my regular day job, I’m on different routines.  For example, I might be at the grocery store during the day instead of on the weekend or at night as was the case today, after returning home from vacation, our cupboards were bear.  I got up later than usual and started to the gym.  Traffic patterns are different at 8 am  vs 5 am.  No joke.  School buses and school mom’s tried to kill me several times with their unexpected starts and stops.  At 5 am, there is no traffic to speak of, so I had the road to myself, but not so at 8am.  The gym is a bee hive at 8am compared to the 10 of us there at 5am.

So now, I’m off to the store.  Ok, first lesson, never, never shop at Wegmans on Monday mornings.  Their cupboards are also bear from the ransacking they took over the weekend.  The collard greens were yellow (for you yankees, they’re supposed to be bright verdant green),  No tomato sauce, or fresh grapefruit juice either.  Enough, you get the picture.  So now I notice  there are only two categories of people in the entire store; either the very old with grey hair ( I guess I qualify now), or young mothers with kids in shopping carts which look like model airplanes.  It’s dodge cars as you’ve never seen it (remember the dodge cars at the state fairs? The ones which have the electric sparking cable attached to the ceiling?)  Well that’s what its like.  Several grandmothers were nearly ran over by moms  rushing for the blue light special in the opposite corner of the store.  Wild as usual.

But what got my attention and brought me back to the present, a very enjoyable moment of course, was the red faced toddler standing up in the shopping cart (designed to look like a model airplane) who was announcing his unhappiness to the entire produce section.  Then I watched as the mom, bend over, without effort and softly plant a  “mothers” kiss to his sweaty forehead.  It was magical and facinating to see the calming effect of …what else…LOVE.  The tears dried up, and a big smile came on his smudged face.  See what a kiss can do?   Find the one you love right now and go plant a kiss on their cheek and see what happens…..

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