Is it any wonder that people around the world are undoubtedly shaking their heads in disbelief as they await the outcome of this fabricated “debt crisis” which President Obama has allowed himself to get cornered into?  Now, if you’ve been around this site at all you know that I have had MANY disappointments with Obama, whom I supported eagerly in 2008.  You can check the archives if you wish, but I’ve been railing against one capitulation after another – wondering if President Obama actually believe(s)d that the republicans, especially the “tea partiers” (who were carrying signs depicting him in all sorts of racist ways during the campaign) – who appear to be “running the show,” would ever “negotiate” in good faith with him.  The reason I put the “d” after the above reference to the word “believe” is because you would think by now that President Obama would “get it.”

It seemed obvious to me after the extension (the UNBELIEVABLE extension, I might add, from my perspective) of the “Bush Tax Cuts” – tax cuts which should have been repealed the day Obama took office – that the next “crisis” would be over the debt ceiling and, I predicted at the time, it would be the time when the “right wing” would “go after” Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid (little did I know that Obama, himself, would put all three programs “on the table”).  Despite the FACT that none of those programs (especially Social Security) are at the heart of the deficit problem, republicans have managed to manipulate the discussion away from the REAL causes of the “debt crisis” onto the remnants of the New Deal that they hate – and, President Obama has been MOST ACCOMODATING!  That all being said, tonight I hope to funnel my thoughts to where I believe the problem actually lies – if for no other reason than to give myself a little sanity in the face of a situation where the government of the country I love appears to be TOTALLY dysfunctional!

I recently finished a book about the presidency of James K Polk and I’m reading “A Team of Rivals” about Abraham Lincoln and written by Doris Kearns Goodwin.  What I’ve learned from both of these books is the backbiting in Congress, the people more concerned about their own futures than that of those they represent, the biased press, the insubordinate members of presidential cabinets and the military – all issues Obama is being forced to deal with while trying to bring America out of the “Great Recession” – NONE of this is new.  Both Polk and Lincoln had to deal with the insolent name calling, the disregard for the national interest due to personal issues and biases, and “in a nutshell” the Congress which the framers so wisely set up with ALL the members of the House of Representatives being elected EVERY two years.  That does give me hope that these “tea party” whacos can be voted out as quickly as they were voted in.  (of course – and, I might add, unfortunately that may depend on President Obama becoming more “progressive” in his response to their insolence).

So, what I’m trying to say is that I believe this entire “crisis” is the result of a minority on the republican side of Congress.  It kind of reminds me of when the Spotted Owl was used to get the Federal Government to stop overcutting the forests of the Pacific Northwest (at the time I was a “sawmill worker”).  The “tea partiers” are using the reqirement that Congress raise the debt ceiling as a means to “get their way” regarding their political and ideological agenda which would otherwise have NO CHANCE of passage in Congress.  They are essentially saying “We’re willing to crash the entire economy in order to get what we want – PERIOD!”  The problem, of course, is that “what they want” is TOTALLY unacceptable to the vast majority of Americans.  And, they are doing this “hostage situation” in a way where they believe Obama can be held accountable for the damage, should it become reality.

Now, I truly hope the American people are not so stupid – and, I hope that Obama FINALLY stops “negotiating” with these right wing thugs.  As I’ve stated MANY times on this site, one thing that is TOTALLY unacceptable to the American public is a leader who shows signs of weakness.  Obama is attempting to take the “role” of the “adult in the room” with Boehner, McConnell, Cantor, and the rest of these heartless republcans, but it’s become EXTREMELY important that he REFUSES to allow them to control this debate – even if it leads to an American “default.”  Of course, the “tea partiers” are “pooh poohing” the idea of default, as if it’s “no big deal,” but even if they’re wrong, Obama MUST NOT allow them to control this debate.  They are a LARGE part of the problem, and it’s become obvious there’s going to have to be some “pain” suffered by the rest of us in order to get RID of them.

The reason I say they are a “large part of the problem” is because what is probably a LARGER part of the problem are the corporations who have put these whackos in office and given them their “talking points.”  That is the real scarry part of what is happening right now in America.  Despite the fact America may default on August 2nd, there is NOTHING more important than getting CONTROL of the Multi-national corporations which are attempting – through this coalition with the right wing republicans – to gain a stranglehold on the government of the United States of America.  We’ve all heard recently how the Koch Brothers have bought their way into the state houses and governor’s mansions in NUMEROUS American states – such as Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Idaho, Florida, New Jersey, Ohio, to name a few off the top of my head – and how these governors and state legislatures are attempting to undermine the rights of workers to organize, they’re trying to sell off state owned assets to private corporate cronies (ie – I expect the Koch’s to own the “Public” utilities in Wisconsin if the recalls don’t stop governor Walker – and, at “firesale” prices), and they’re attacking state workers such as teachers, firefighters, policemen, nurses, social workers, etc. as “greedy.”  In fact, I still recall the governor of Michigan (I believe he was from there) pointing out that teachers are “the privileged elite.” (as a teacher myself, I didn’t know whether to be offended or to go “wow!, I never thought I’d make it to that level)  I guess, to these right wing governors, the fact myself as a teacher can still (barely) pay my mortgage payment means I’m overpaid.  And, the Koch’s are just the “tip of the iceberg.”

Not only are America’s “top” corporations “investing” BILLIONS in America’s congressional “leaders,” but they’re busy sidestepping their patriotic duty to pay their “fair share” of taxes while they’re “cutting off a fat hog” in the recent “recovery” as the rest of us are listening to their minions argue over the debt ceiling.  I recently read a report about how out of the “top” 100 of America’s corporations 85 have “subsidiaries” (around 2500 “subsidiaries” in all) in foreign “tax havens” where they are able to “shield” upwards of $100 BILLION per year in taxes that SHOULD be paid to America’s treasury (for anyone who’s math challenged, that amounts to close to ONE TRILLION over ten years).  What makes matters worse is that these corporations are receiving something in excess of $85 BILLION in government contracts and MOST of them pay either NO TAXES or a VERY low percentage of their profits in taxes.

One example that many people are familiar with would be GE – one of America’s leading defense contractors.  Last year their profit was approximately $15 BILLION – yes, that’s BILLION with a capital B – and they paid ZERO in American taxes.  Yes, we can all probably agree that “this is bad,” right?  Well, on top of that, they received over $3 BILLION in government subsidies – You’ve got that right, they not only paid NO taxes, but “we the people” gave them OVER $3 BILLION that we probably had to borrow from China.  Did I mention China?  Well, if ALL that wasn’t bad enough, it was announced today that GE is moving their giant X-Ray business and headquarters to China, “To take advantage of that emerging market.”  Finally, GE’s CEO Jeffrey Immelt is President Obama’s top advisor on his economic advisory board – supposedly the leading advisor on creating jobs.  Does this all sound convoluted, or am I just not seeing things well?

So, we have a congress that is totally dysfunctional and is being run by a “faction” of “tea partiers” who are funded by people like the Koch’s (who have a long history of anti-middle class, pro business, anti-environment, AND racist postions – the Koch’s father was a founding member of the John Birch Society) and advised by people like Grover Norquist (he the one who coined the phrase that the republican goal should be to “starve the government” until it is so small “it could be drained in the bathtub”), and pursuing Karl Rove’s “permanent republican ‘majority.'”  Washington DC has been virually OVERRUN by various lobbyists who are funneling UNBELIEVABLE sums into the coffers of the only people, theoretically, who can fix this problem – both houses of Congress – we have a Supreme Court (I haven’t even mentioned them yet tonight) who determined corporations to have “free speech” rights as if they were individuals, and we have a “socialist” president who looks more like a conservative republican to someone like me who “came up” in the 60’s.

In my mind, the greatest American president was Franklin Delano Roosevelt who was the president who originally put this corporate vehemoth in its place.  The “New Deal” was the turning point in American history which led to the greatest middle class in the history of the world.  Roosevelt’s administration supported policies that have transformed worker’s rights far beyond the shores of this great nation.  What is so sad to me is how many Americans have NO CLUE as to what happened in the 30’s and 40’s in America which set the foundation in place for many of the privileges which many of us take for granted today.  Since the inauguration of Ronald Reagan the extreme “right” in America has been pushing so hard to reverse the “New Deal” that the dialogue has shifted so far to the “right” that people like me who were once considered either conservative or moderate are now “flaming liberals.”  And, I can tell you this – I haven’t changed much.  The present debate in congress would have been UNIMAGINEABLE just a few short years ago.  Reagan and his followers have successfully transformed a significant portion of America into a “me” society from what was clearly a “we” society when I was growing up and in my formative years.  I have to tell you, from my vantage point, this has been a terrible trade off.

My hope is that the present FABRICATED “crisis” (raising the debt ceiling has NEVER been an issue in my adult lifetime – other than giving the minority party a chance for some “political posturing”) will FORCE the president and the democratic party to REVISIT their “roots.”  This republican POWER PLAY is so radical and severe that I’m hoping AT LAST we will see President Obama “draw a line in the sand.”  The FACT that America’s “full faith and credit” lies in the balance is not sufficient reason to continue allowing these radical whaco’s to continue bullying their way in congress.  Combined with their corporate “sponsors” they managed to essentially disable the health reform legislation in Obama’s first term (now, they’re trying to defund it), they’ve managed to say NO to virtually EVERY attempt by President Obama and the democrats to get us out of this recession (their stated FIRST PRIORITY is that President Obama – as Rush Limbaugh put it again today – FAILS – and, by the way, I can’t remember a time in my lifetime when a political party was so out front in their willingness to take the entire nation “down” so that a president in the opposing party would “fail”), and now they’re using raising  the debt ceiling (for debt they largely created) to hold the president and America hostage to their minority agenda.  Well, in the end, I believe these right wing republicans have made it easy for Obama to succeed (against their stated wishes).   I believe that if President Obama wishes to succeed, all he needs to do is say NO to the “tea party” republicans!

I’m beginning this post roughly 10 days prior to the date put forth by President Obama and Treasury Secretary Geithner (August 2, 2011) as the “due date” for the increase of the so-called “debt ceiling” which apparently would restrict the government’s ability to borrow money should it not be implemented, therefore causing a default on the “full faith and credit of the United States.”  I certainly am not one who fully understands what all is involved in this debt “crisis,” and I have to admit that it will be interesting to see what happens – whether the “doomsayers” are correct should the U.S. “default,” or whether the “tea partiers” are correct that it will be “no big deal.”  I tend to think those on the President’s side are correct, but at this point in time I don’t believe anything or anyone until I see “it.”  One thing that I am certain of is that President Obama has continually IGNORED the advice of people who think like me, people who were instrumentatl in his election, and now he’s been backed into a “corner” (that I predicted when he allowed the “Bush tax cuts” to be extended) that will be very difficult to get out of.  In fact, I was thinking today that the only way out for Obama is for the republicans to refuse to make ANY agreement, thereby preventing Obama from another “negotiation” or “compromise” or whatever you want to call it where the republicans extract ANOTHER “pound of flesh” from the middle class and working poor in America – the very people I believed Obama would be the champion for when I supported him in 2008.

We (liberals) have evolved to the place where we’re already talking about “holding noses” to vote for Obama in 2012 for reasons such as the Supreme Court nominations republicans would make that would extend their “reign of terror” for decades.  It’s almost as if that is what Obama is counting on – he is busy kissing up to what he considers the “independent voters” (I’ve got news for him – I’m an independent voter) and to hell with his so-called “base.”  What has been apparent to me since almost before Obama took the oath of office and is now well understood by the “pundits,” Obama’s “base” is not like the republican base.  They’re not going to simply “rubber stamp” whatever he decides to do.  I have to tell you that the FACT Obama WILLINGLY included issues such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and who knows what else into the “negotiation” for raising the debt limit on the debt MAINLY created by his republican foes is unbelievable to me.  President Obama is acting as if that is an act of courage because he’s “taking heat from my party.”  Do you remember Rahm Emmanuel calling people like me “f___ing retards?”  He was not reprimanded – in fact, since that inglorious time I’ve heard Obama himself extolling “liberals” as idealistic.  I believe, for many “liberals” such as myself, (and, by the way, in the 1970’s I was considered a “conservative”) what President Obama is doing is harder to stomach than what George W Bush was doing.  Obama was elected to FIX the abuses of the Bush administration and you don’t have to look very far to see that many of them are still ongoing – PLUS all the “compromises!” (should we call it “selling the farm?”)

Here’s another irony.  Have you seen much reporting about how President Obama is talking to democrats?  I’m sure it must be happening, but all I see is Obama and Boehner or Obama and the republicans “negotiating.”  And, it appears that President Obama actually expects the republicans to come to a sensible agreement to solve this debt problem on a long term basis.  Are you kidding me?  That would be good for the president and evidently he hasn’t been paying attention to the FACT the republicans HATE him and their NUMBER ONE goal is to destroy his presidency.  Does anyone seriously believe they will agree to a long term solution to the debt problem that would insure Obama’s re-election?  Does anyone besides me remember all the racist signs and rhetoric of the “tea party” during the 2010 election cycle?  I know that America’s “liberal media” (you know, the media that’s controlled by Rupert Murdoch) refuses to even discuss the reality racism plays in the republican OBSTINENCE, but you don’t have to be a psychologist to see that it’s there, and in SPADES! (no pun intended)

President Obama couldn’t have played into their hands better had they been allowed to script the political dialogue the day he was elected.  Whether “we the people” ever get the TRUTH about what’s really going on in Washington DC or not remains to be seen.  I’m starting to believe that even my acquaintences who’ve been BRAINWASHED by Murdoch and his Fox “news” (Republican TV) will soon start to realize what’s been happening.  That, of course, will require the Obama administration to suck up the courage to begin investigations of the scandal that has reached MAJOR proportions in Great Britain and UNDOUBTEDLY will do the same here unless President Obama pulls another “look forward instead of back” routine as he did in the face of MULTIPLE legal transgressions by the administration that proceeded him.  Personally, I have to admit that I have NO CONFIDENCE that Eric Holder will do what he SHOULD and FULLY investigate EVERY part of Rupert Murdoch’s “empire” that’s in America AND hold Murdoch accountable for the GANGSTER mentality that clearly permeates his organization.  American corporations BRIBING foreign officials is a CRIME, yet I have no confidence that Holder will even investigate (let alone prosecute) Murdoch, even though we know that “NewsCorp” officials have been busy bribing officials in Britain for some time now.

I honestly don’t like “beating a dead horse,” but President Obama’s first sign of weakness was when he CHEATED the American public out of learning about the crimes committed by Bush/Cheney et al when he blocked ALL investigations of their administration.  Since that time they have put numerous Justice Department lawyers to work investigating Julian Assange of WikiLeaks for printing the TRUTH about American diplomatic practices – because, contrary to what most of us think, some of America’s diplomacy is deplorable.  And, of course, as an “outgrowth” of that “justice” we’ve seen Private Bradley Manning being essentially TORTURED for the past year apparently in retrobution for ALLEGEDLY being the source of the material which was leaked.  (does that remind you of Bush/Cheney? – you know, indefinite imprisonment with no charges, inhumane treatment, etc.)  Holder’s Justice Department couldn’t muster the courage to investigate Bush/Cheney, but they’re right on the front lines of justice with a prosecution of John Edwards for mishandling campaign funds (I’m not justifying Edwards here, just making a point) and, the other day, I read where there were ONE HUNDRED Justice Department lawyers involved on the Roger Clements case (which was declared a mistrial) that was about whether Clements lied to Congress about the use of performance enhancing drugs in BASEBALL!  Are you serious, Mr. Holder?  Alberto Gonzales could sit in front of Congress for days LYING about the undermining of the very department you’re in charge of and instead of going after him you chose to send ONE HUNDRED lawyers after Clements!  Karl Rove and Harriet Miers refused to answer subpoenas before congress and that’s OK, but Clements is the target.  Just writing this makes me sick to my stomach!

There’s more that’s troubling to me.  I’ve read where one of the “solutions” to the debt ceiling “deal” is to eliminate the tax credit for mortgage interest and for employer provided health insurance benefits.  In other words, the interest I pay on my home mortgage would no longer be deductible (a tax increase for me of something over $1000 per year) and the benefit I receive for health insurance would become taxable income increasing my taxes another $1000 or so per year.  Of course, the “Bush tax cuts” would remain in force and probably, knowing Obama, be extended even further than the “last” extention.  This would raise, supposedly, the same amount as if the “Bush tax cuts” had been allowed to end AS THEY SHOULD HAVE!  The bottom line will be those of us in the middle class will AGAIN bear the brunt of the problem, and those at the “top” will continue the “tax holiday” they’ve been on since Ronald Reagan took the oath of office in January of 1981.  By the time President Obama is done with this next “compromise” he won’t need the republicans to vote him out of office.  Certainly, independents who think along what are presently defined as LIBERAL ways, will stay home from the election in greater numbers than they did in 2010.  And, I think I understand why (as one of them).  As I implied above, I would rather know it’s coming from the opposition – and put up a FIGHT to stop it – (and, here I’m referring to BAD legislation) than to be blindsided by someone whom I supported.

Had I even had an inkling that President Obama would utter the words that “Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are on the table” in 2008 I would have actively worked to stop his nomination instead of supporting him.  His willingness to buy into the “trickle down” philosophy of the republicans is difficult for me to even imagine.  I heard him say, out of his own mouth, after extending the HATED “Bush tax cuts” that this would lead to more jobs and would stimulate the economy.  Obviously, he’s spending too much time in meetings (and on the golf course) with republicans.  I believe all I have to say here is “where are the jobs?”  And, as I pointed out almost the SECOND I heard the bad news about Obama CAVING on the tax cut issue, “just wait until they turn the debt ceiling into an issue!”  At the time, I predicted their plan would be to go after Social Security and Medicare and I was concerned about Obama “caving” again.  To say I’m still concerned would be an understatement.

So, Is there a solution to this problem?  Well, as stated above, I feel that republicans in their zest to defeat Obama at the expense of the American economy, could solve the problem by refusing to do anything.  I believe the resulting chaos SHOULD be easy for the democrats to “pin” on the “tea partiers” in the House of Representatives – who are now in control of the republican agenda.  Should that not be the case, then “we the people” must rely on the democrats in Congress to stop any BAD deal from going through that includes cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.  When large corporate interests are sitting on TRILLIONS in cash, when the top ONE TENTH of one percent of Americans make over $300 BILLION per year and pay the lowest percentage of taxes in the history of modern America, and considering that Social Security and Medicare are NOT the problem and didn’t create the problem – they should NOT be part of the solution!  The reality is that it’s time for the democrats in congress to make a stand.  The reason a bunch of them were voted out in 2010 was because the American public HATES timid politicians.  These republicans will continue to push until the democrats decide to say “enough already.”  Just as in the “fight” for the “public option” in the health care debate, a large percentage of the population is AGAINST including Social Security and Medicare in this debate.  I can picture the 2012 election now, where republicans are blaming President Obama for “dismantling” Social Security and Medicare.  If President Obama can’t figure out how to do “the right thing,” then we’ve got to rely on the Democratic congress to do it for him!  This budget “crisis” should be “fixed” by the people who created it – the Wall Street bankers, the Wall Street elite, and the wealthy republican donors!

As I’ve tried to imply in my previous few posts, I’m paying less attention to what’s going on in America lately simply, I believe, because I’m getting worn out being disappointed with my country’s “leaders.”  I shouldn’t be – I’ve read several books recently on American history, and the polarization among leaders we’re experiencing in this nation today is nothing new.  And, the willingness of the parties with tangible interests in the “outcome” of, for example, the dispute over the “debt ceiling” to fabricate information to aid their cause is also nothing new.  Through America’s short history there’s been many a partisan “fight” which included fabrications by those involved in the disputes.  For example, looking at a major contemporary issue, today I looked up on the net info on the Social Security trust fund.  Now, anyone who’s been paying attention to American politics for any length of time knows that the republican party has been trying to get their GREEDY hands on all that “trust fund” money for MANY years. 

The original intent of the trust fund was to keep the program solvent (which it has) and to keep the politicians “hands” off the money.  It’s grown to be a large sum of money – by today’s estimates it’s grown to 2.6 TRILLION DOLLARS.  And, I’ve heard, like everyone else watching or listening to or reading the news that the Social Security trust fund is nothing more than a pile of IOU’s.  Also, today I read a column at Forbes.com, I think the author’s last name was Merrill, who was obviously a proponent of “privatizing” Social Security and who was claiming that there was no money in the trust fund – that it had all been borrowed.  So, what’s the deal?  Democrats say it’s solvent for the next 25 years.  Who’s telling the truth (if anyone)?

According to the Social Security’s own website, the fund is there and it will be there for that “another 25 years,” at which time, if there are no modifications to the system it would be able to pay out about 75% of the accrued benefits – not broke, but not completely solvent.  There are NO “IOU’s,” unless you consider the “special” government securities which the trust fund invests in as “IOU’s.”  (the securities are also purchased by state governments, retirement funds, and other large “conservative” investors) These are similar to US savings bonds, they are special securities that have always been paid back WITH INTEREST by the federal government.  Now, I’m not an expert on how our government functions financially, but they do generate money by selling savings bonds.  In fact, I can remember when I was a child (the fifties) it was considered patriotic to purchase savings bonds.  Many parents, mine included, purchased savings bonds for their children – I believe mine matured in 7 years and was then worth $50!  That is why, apparently, whoever’s in charge of the Social Security trust fund says the fund is solvent and backed by the “full faith and credit of the United States.”  Things are starting to make sense to me now.

 The person who was writing at Forbes.com (Merrill?) was lamenting that “had we privatized Social Security” we wouldn’t have to worry about whether or not the checks would go out on August 3rd (as President Obama postulated regarding possible effects of congress failing to “act responsibly”) – should the House republicans follow through on their threat to refuse the raising of the debt “ceiling.”  He’s (Merrill) saying the money would still be in the stock market and Seniors wouldn’t have to worry about it.  As I’m writing this, I’m wondering how some of these people manage to get jobs writing for business sites like that – honestly.  Of course, my first thought was – now, try to picture me responding to the Forbes.com author – “What do you think the stock market is going to do if the federal government defaults on its obligations?”  Again, I’m no expert – but the implication I took from that article was the guy was suggesting funds will be safe on Wall Street if the federal government defaults.  I’m going to try not to get too animated and simply say ARE YOU KIDDING ME?????

But, here’s another thought:  Do you think all these “tea partiers” (many who are collecting Social Security and enjoying the benefits of Medicare – I’m not kidding when I say I’ve met some devout “right wing” whackos who despise “government run health care” and “big government” while they are dependent on Social Security and Medicare – REALLY!) in Congress believe the way to destroy Social Security and Medicare is to force the government into default?  In reality, the Social Security trust fund IS backed by the “full faith and credit of the United States,” so if you attempt to destroy that “full faith and credit” maybe you could succeed.  Although, I believe there is a fundamental problem with that philosophy as well.

Fortunately, at present in my life, I’ve been able to pay all of my bills on time – for several years now.  However, there have been times in my lifetime (yes, I’m a “baby boomer”) when that hasn’t been the case.  And, guess what, EVERY time I’ve been late on paying a bill, the BILL DOES NOT GO AWAY!  So, should the “tea partiers” succeed in failing to raise the debt limit by the “due date” (actually, the due date has passed and Tim Geithner is juggling the books to forestall the issue) the problem won’t go away.  In fact, based on my previous experience, EVERYTHING will get worse.  I’m not claiming the world will stop revolving, but it makes total sense to me that the result will be that the debt will INCREASE because the interest on the TOTAL debt will increase, thereby increasing the annual budget deficit – that these republicans have suddenly become so worried about.  I really can’t see the United States simply saying that we won’t pay these debts – they’ll still be due – including the special securities owed to Social Security’s trust fund.  The “tea party” will simply have succeeded in proclaiming to the rest of the world that an irrational minority with the proper financial backing can bring America’s “great experiment” in self governance to its knees!  (by the way, as I was checking this all out, I found that many states invest in these “special government securities” as well, because they are so “safe.”  These “tea partiers” are really messing with a lot of trouble – national AND local – I actually heard Michele Bauchmann say defaulting on the debt wouldn’t be a big problem – It should be no surprise that she’s running for president on the republican side!)

In fact, it only requires a quick check on the internet to discover that the so-called “Obama budget deficit” of something approaching 1.5 TRILLION dollars for fiscal year 2011 is comprised of over $400 BILLION in interest payments on debt that accrued before he ever took the oath of office.  When you add over $400 BILLION for the “Bush tax cuts,” and over $200 BILLION for Iraq and Afganistan, it’s easy to see that the problem, while still significant, is much beyond Obama’s control (although, if you’ve read many of my previous posts, you know how I feel about him extending those tax cuts).  And, if congress decides to default on August 2, those interest payments could double – thereby making the debt problem MUCH more serious. (if you haven’t noticed, interest rates are at unbelievable lows at the time of this writing)  Oh yes, I must throw in here that the Social Security Administration has not contributed in ANY WAY to that national debt which is causing those huge interest payments – so why would it even be part of this discussion?

Here’s another thing I find interesting (and, since I’ve given President Obama some grief previously on this site, I think he deserves some credit for how he’s pushed this issue to the front).  While I was researching the debt I discovered that even during the last four years of the Clinton years the total national debt was increasing.  Well, they were telling us WE were running a surplus – which, technically, we were.  That is there was more revenue coming in than what was going out (do you remember, that was the original rationale for Bush’s tax cuts – the “people” could better spend that money) – EXCEPT for the interest.  When you calculate the interest, the total debt was going up about $100 billion in each of Clinton’s “surplus” years due to interest payments of over $300 BILLION (rates were higher then) which were not included in the “deficit” discussion.

George W Bush followed the same approach of not including the interest payments as part of the budget reportings so that his “deficit spending” – even though it was REALLY BAD – looke a whole lot better without the $300 – $400 BILLION in interest which was accruing each and every year he was in office.  To make matters worse, Bush/Cheney didn’t include the WARS in their budget projections and reports.  They included EVERY cent of the Afghanistan and Iraq FIASCOS on “supplemental” budget requests and that tactic made their deficits look smaller as well.  President Obama discontinued all these “accounting” misdemeanors and therefore his budget deficit looks HUGE compared to Bush/Cheney.  It’s larger, but when you consider how Bush/Cheney were hiding things, it’s not that much larger and – when you consider the economy Bush/Cheney left Obama with – it could be A LOT worse!

I’m pretty much unhappy with most of America’s political leaders (exceptions such as Bernie Sanders, Sheldon Whithouse, Dennis Kucinich, Alan Grayson, and Peter DeFazio to name a few) but it’s the people like the guy on Forbes.com who are driving this corporate takeover of our government who really bug me.  I have no idea where the guy got his information, but it doesn’t take long to look up the topic(s) when people like that are blasting one part of our government or another.  I’m OK with questioning what the government’s doing – in fact, I believe that is an obligation of America’s citizens – but, this effort to destroy the government for “privitization” is nothing more than a push toward fascism.  In this instance, Social Security’s trust fund really IS solvent – AND – despite the FACT there could be some kind of interruption in checks going out – should the “tea partiers” succeed in pushing the default – the debt (or assets, however you want to look at it) will still be there – presumably the change will be the interest on the debt will increase – and the checks will still be due.  Trying to “fix” government is one thing, trying to destroy it is quite another!  Since the day Grover Norquist made the famous quote about “drowning government in the bathtub” republicans have been busy trying to destroy the greatest national experiment of self rule in the history of the world, and it’s up to “we the people” to make sure they DON’T succeed!

I started writing this blog (if that is what it is – I really don’t do “blogs”) when I reached the point of total frustration with the George W Bush administration and their incessant arrogance toward our constitution and the oath of office Bush/Cheney took to uphold it.  The purpose of my writing was simply to get out my frustrations – kind of an outlet where I could throw my thoughts out into the vast cyberspace where they would “sit” until I chose to “revisit” them.  I had no idea that people would actually find my little section of cyberspace – but, when I discovered that several hundred “visitors” per day were showing up, it motivated me to write more often.  And, as I go back and “revisit” some of my thoughts over the past four or five years, it reminds me that those of us “ordinary” people often times get things “right” more often than the “experts.”  To me, this is simply confirmation to what most people on “Main Street” know, and that is in America right now we have a system that is corrupt right to the core.

I just finished reading “Ratification” by Pauline Maier about the debate which led to ratification of the constitution of the United States.  As I was reading this book (by the way, if you like history, it’s a great read) I couldn’t help but focus in on how the “framers” were confident that the system was set up to prevent “factions” from gaining control and forcing their “will” on the minority.  The one aspect of today’s issues that they couldn’t possibly have forseen would be the lobbyists and the ability of lobbyists to buy congressional “influence.”  In today’s Washington D.C. there is the perverbial “revolving door” between members of congress and the lobbyists who do the “influencing.”  As far as I can tell, when members of congress lose elections they are rewarded with HIGH PAYING jobs working for lobbying interests that take “advantage” of their “inside knowledge.”  It’s become a cesspool of corruption which will undoubtedly continue to get worse, because it is the congress itself which has the power to make the necessary changes to the system.  Reminds me of the saying where the fox is guarding the henhouse.  The amount of money involved is staggering (nearly a BILLION dollars spent “lobbying” the health care debate) and the result could be a MINORITY faction (the wealthy) forcing their will on the MAJORITY!

The system is set up with the “checks and balances” which are supposed to prevent the corruption we’re experiencing as I’m writing this post.  That is, between the legislative branch of government (article 1), the executive branch (article 2), and the judicial branch (article 3) it was planned that no single “faction” could corrupt the original intent of the constitution which was to “establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.”  Should one branch of government get “out of control” (my wording) the other two branches were there to “check” the out of control branch and keep things on an even keel.  This has worked well for over 200 years, but is presently under assault. (OK, it’s often been under assault, but nothing like what’s happening today)

If you’ve read many of my previous posts you know that I’m beyond fed up with the republican party.  And, the reality of American politics is that we have a “two party system.”  Therefore, those of us “fed up” with the republicans have essentially nowhere else to turn than to the democrats.  That is exactly what happened in 2008 when Barack Obama was elected as the 44th president of the United States.  In fact, Obama was given a huge majority in both houses of congress upon his election and I don’t think I was the only American who thought the “Change we can believe in” would be something different from what has transpired.  Here’s the dilemma people who think as I do have to deal with; it’s the republicans who have managed to undermine the fabric of the constitution and the intent of the “framers.”  It’s President Obama who we have to depend on to rectify the abuses of the republicans. 

For several years now we’ve been hearing about the republican’s plan for a “permanent republican ‘majority.'”  This plan almost reached “fruition” during the Bush/Cheney regime, but George W Bush was such a buffoon that he “blew it” when republicans had both houses of Congress.  They were soon to have a “stranglehold” on the Supreme Court plus, during Bush’s term in office, republicans were also consolidating their control of the nation’s “liberal media.”  The media (at the time of the framers were newspapers) was considered the “fourth estate” of the government, by the constitution’s framers, as the ultimate “watchdog” of what the government was doing for “we the people.”  (I’m confident they didn’t visualize Fox “news” when they were putting in guarantees for a free press) I was certain that with Obama’s election this plan would be PERMANENTLY put to “rest,” but that has not proved to be the case.  In fact, the republicans have responded to the election of Obama with an even MORE aggressive attack on the middle class which voted Obama into office.  Remarkably, President Obama, who I had given high marks for his intelligence, has committed one egregious error after another – and, like those presidents in my lifetime who have made mistakes, he doesn’t seem to want to own up to what’s “happening.”  I continue to try to remain positive in my outlook, but it’s getting harder all the time.  I have to admit, I don’t even care to listen to Obama’s speaches anymore.  To me it’s just a bunch of hollow rhetoric – his obsession with bridging the “gap” between the “right and the left” is leaving me a bit sick to my stomach.

There used to be an unwritten rule in American politics that you don’t negotiate with terrorists.  Well, President Obama has shown us why that is such an important principle to stand on.  He’s been trying to negotiate with republicans who have ONE WISH – and that’s President Obama’s defeat in 2012 – since the first day he took the oath of office.  In fact, I’m beginning to think Obama’s given more time to the republicans in “negotiations” than he’s given to members of his own party.  The republicans, to me, are like terrorists.  It’s as if they are holding the entire future of America “hostage” in order to “get their way.”  How this could not have been obvious to Obama during the first two years of his presidency I don’t know.  He’s been caving  in to republican demands from day one – and, where has it gotten him.  Can you even imagine Obama’s legacy if he’s the president that presides over the undermining of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid?  What is this man thinking? 

As I drive my car around I like to listen to “talk radio” and there are voices on the “left” who are trying hard to remain loyal to Obama, but it’s getting harder and harder.  If he “caves” on the issue of Social Security and Medicare I have no idea what the reaction of America’s middle class will be – but, I’m certain that Obama’s political career will be over.  In fact, at this point in time, I’m trusting the rank and file democrats in congress to be the ones to stop Obama if that becomes necessary.  I’ve been warning people about Obama since before he took the oath of office – and this despite the FACT that I supported him enthusiastically during the election.  I’m going to relist some of what I consider the egregious mistakes – but, as I said above, many of us on “Main Street” have seen what is wrong but it hasn’t seemed too productive to “shout it out.”  (I’ve written letters to Obama, emails, plus all the posts – like millions of other Americans – and, he seems to just “keep on keepin on.”)

Let’s start with the FISA bill that came up during the campaign.  Then Senator Obama voted in favor of the telecom companies who had been giving access to their phone lines and emails for the Bush administration to ILLEGALLY wiretap without warrants as required by the FISA law that had been in effect since the days of the Nixon abuses of privacy laws.  That was the only time I got any kind of response to a letter I wrote  him – I received an email response that indicated I wasn’t the only person upset with him and the email promised that, once elected, he would “fix” the FISA bill.  Well, of course, that not only hasn’t happened, I’m convinced the “eavesdropping” has continued under Obama.  Then, once elected when Obama started announcing his closest advisors I almost went into a state of shock.  If you look back in the archives of this site that’s when I started pointing out the “red flags” I was seeing – always hoping I was wrong.  I couldn’t believe President Obama would choose Rahm Emmanuel as his chief of staff.  Talk about your politician’s politician.  My first thought – how was Emmanuel going to mean “the change we can believe in?”  Then it was announced that Larry Summers – the man intricately involved with the dismantling of Glass Steagall during the waning years of the Clinton administration – one of the main underlying causes of the crash of 2008 – as his chief economic advisor.  I thought: “Are you kidding me?”  Then it was announced that Timothy Geithner would be Treasury Secretary – he was the head of the New York Fed at the time of the “crash” and intricately involved with the Wall Street banker crowd – again, I thought, “How will this lead to the change I can believe in?”

This was all bad and it all happened prior to the inauguration, but the HUGE BLUNDER happened right after the inauguration and, in my view, is the reason we’re even having all these absurd discussions about Social Security, Medicare, and the national debt today.  For some inexplicable reason President Obama chose to BLOCK all INVESTIGATIONS of the Bush/Cheney administration.  ALL OF THEM!  There wasn’t even a SINGLE congressional investigation of all the WRONGDOING that was committed during the eight LONG years of Bush/Cheney!  They authorized TORTURE; they OUTED a CIA agent; they undermined the Justice department (which, obviously, still hasn’t recovered); they refused subpoenas from congress; do you remember Alberto Gonzales – the United States’ Attorney General – LYING repeatedly to congress?  The aforementioned illegal wiretaps of Americans should have been investigated.  Entire government agencies were encouraged to ignore regulations on business – with results being the mine disasters in West Virginia and the Oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  And, this doesn’t even go into the illegal war started with LIES in Iraq and all the fraud and waste by the “crony” no bid contracts given to their “buddies.”  There was NO INVESTIGATION of the war profiteering by senior members of the Bush administration – including Vice President Cheney and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld!  And there was no investigation of Hank Paulson’s TARP “bailout” which saved him and Goldman Sachs a lot of money!  Again, what was President Obama thinking?  Did he think this capitulation would endear him to republicans?  Honestly, I still believe this decision will someday be considered one of the worst decisions a president ever made.  The investigations that were called for after Bush/Cheney would have prevented MUCH of the chicanery the republicans have pulled off since.  Obama’s “looking forward” was like a large GO SIGN to the republicans and their strategy of becoming the party of NO.  One thing republicans understand very well is that the American public will never be enamored with leaders who seem either timid or weak – and, that’s how this decision made Obama look – take your pick, timid or weak!

He may have been able to overcome that blunder had he not continued to capitulate.  Do you remember the “Stimulus” bill?  Well, it was at least half a BILLION dollars too small and it had too many tax cuts – money that could have been directed toward job creation – precisely because Obama wanted some republican votes for the bill.  When he had close to a super majority in congress it was imperative for him to show the leadership necessary to get his agenda passed – IN TACT!  Unfortunately, his EXTREME desire to “compromise” with these republican “terrorists” showed it’s “ugly face” right off the bat.  And, this continued through the painfully dragged out “health reform” legislation that included the same backroom dealing people were sick of and a capitulation to its most important ingredient – A ROBUST PUBLIC OPTION!  Since the passage of the “Affordable Health Care Act” my health insurance has increased over 25% in cost – that’s in less than two years!  Obama undermined his own constituency in the House of Representatives on this one – and, now look at what he’s dealing with.

Then, to top this all off, last December President Obama “negotiated” an extension of the “Bush Tax Cuts.”  (that fell into the unbelievable category for me) These tax cuts had added something approaching 2 TRILLION dollars to the national debt in the previous 10 years and I actually heard these words come out of Obama’s mouth shortly thereafter – “Extending these tax cuts will stimulate the economy and add jobs.”  Again, I thought: “Are you kidding me?”  To make matters worse, in all the negotiating I remember Obama pointing out that the Social Security “tax” (FICA) that comes out of our checks (those of us lucky enough to be working) would be reduced by 2% for the next year further “stimulating” the economy!  When I heard that I wondered; “Has this president read any of the history behind the Social Security system and its trust fund?”  That system and it’s money was NEVER intended to “stimulate” the economy – it was SUPPOSED to be HANDS OFF!  Now, we have a democratic president who’s allowing himself to be backed into a corner through his “negotiating” with terrorists (republicans) and the other day I even heard him say that Social Security is “on the table.”  My thoughts; “What the hell does that mean?”  or “He’s at it again!”

Had Obama simply let the Bush Tax cuts expire and had he actually brought the troops home from Iraq within the 16 months he PROMISED (there wasn’t time or space to get into that one this evening) half of this budget “crisis” would have been solved.  (he should have repealled them as soon as he was in office)  Obama can’t go back and make the original “stimulus” bill the size it should have been, but he could choose to join the fight working people are waging across America against the corporate elite who are, with the conspiratorial help of the republican party, trying to gain a stranglehold on our nation’s government.  If “we the people” lose this next battle – and, here I’m talking about 2012 – turning things around will become exponentially more difficult.  The republicans and their “sponsors” have control of a majority on the Supreme Court (hence, the deplorable Citizens United decision), they control the vast majority of the media (Fox “news” should be called Republican TV or GOP TV), and they’ve got a reasonable chance to gain control of both houses of congress in the next election (I don’t think many Americans have truly internalized the effects “Citizens United” will have on future elections). 

If President Obama turns off even more of his “base” by “negotiating” Social Security and Medicare with these republicans it’s even possible there could be a republican president in 2012.  After Bush/Cheney I thought “there won’t be another republican elected to national office for maybe a generation.”  I hope I’m wrong, but I feel that if President Obama ends up including Social Security in the debt “negotiations” the opposite could become true. (remember, Social Security has NOTHING to do with the debt – it hasn’t caused a DIME of debt since its inception and it’s SOLVENT for the next 25 years if we can keep the politician’s hands off of the trust fund – plus it wouldn’t take much “tweaking” to make it solvent for the next 75 years)  Honestly, I’m finding myself feeling incredulous that the subject of Social Security “on the table” could even be happening under a democratic president!  What on earth is America coming to?????