Let's Keep America First
Posted: Tuesday, August 03, 2010
by Robert Bregman
There is a group of Americans that are known, in certain circles, as the Tea Baggers (TB's), they belong to an organization called the "Tea Party". I've only seen them on TV, but they look like neighbors and family that are willing to get off their butts and be heard. What are they saying?
The original TB's were reacting to a tea tax levied by the King of England and their war cry was "No taxation without representation". The present day TB's don't seem to have as coherent a message, at least not related to taxation and representation, unless it's the fact that they aren't represented, but some are being taxed. They carry signs at the various rallies that I've seen. The signs say what they are against; higher taxes, bigger government and what they are for; carrying weapons, freedom of speech and to generally do what they want to do without government interference; and I'm for Santa Claus, Mom and apple pie. What I'm for is easily delineated, what they are for is a little more complex. Why did these folks really get off their butts to demonstrate?
My unofficial count had the "We want smaller government" or "Government is too big" signs as next most popular. Government smaller than what, or too big for who? To get smaller government, what would one cut out? Defense (3/4 of a trillion), Highway repair, hospitals (VA), Medicare, Social Security, US Postal Service, courts, FBI, CIA, SEC, National Park Service, SEC, EPA, IRS, FDIC, Federal Reserve and the list goes on. What about agricultural subsidy payments to farmers, and education? Speaking of education here's a fact for you, China and India graduate 7 times as many engineers as we do. In 20 years the United States will be a second rate nation. Is that what we want? I saw Michelle Bachmann on C-Scan the other day, screaming at the top of her lungs, "Get rid of them all". "We don't need government, leave us alone!" I saw some older people with signs "Don't touch my Social Security" and "Don't touch my Medicare" and I'll bet dollars to doughnuts that within 5 years a new sign will appear; "Don't touch my health care, unless you want to give me more". I don't see any signs that say "Educate our kids better" or "We need more engineers". Is there any thinking going into these demonstrations?
Some commentators on radio, TV and in print ask, "What has the government ever done right? I don't know what country they're asking about. My personal answer to that question is the U.S.Government does a lot of things extraordinarily well. Believe it or not, the US Postal Service is the best in the world. There is less corruption in our government, there is more responsiveness, our service academies are the envy of every nation and all the people in the United States who work for the Federal, State and Municipal governments spend their money here, not in Argentina , Brazil or India . The US Government doesn't outsource to China or India like our fat cat corporations. The TB's should look at all the government financed inventions and the products that came from government sponsored R & D. Our government has changed the world with its research backed products; the internet, transistors, solar panels and hundreds of others. The United States has 18 of the 20 best universities in the world, and our government is their largest supporter. I'm proud of what my government has accomplished for the betterment of mankind and its citizens. Little government can't do these things and corporations won't do it. They want a return on investment immediately, government has more patience.
Where does big government come from? How did it get so big? I know that I didn't do it and I'll bet that you didn't do it either. So who did the dirty deed? My guess is that a nonvoting entity called the U.S. corporation. Why do corporations spend so much money on lobbyists and campaign financing? Surprise! They do it to get more money for their special interests and all this money goes to make for bigger government in the form of new and bigger projects. Corporate America is involved with everything. If the corporations weren't putting so much pressure on the congress, the government would have never got to the size that is. The congress would never have come up with all the programs that it has over the years except for the corporate pressure that has been applied over the years. This is why our defense budget is so big. We spend more on defense than all the other countries in the world added together. The "military, industrial complex" runs this country, and they don't have one vote. Not one Vote!
Where are the trillions of dollars that we've been spending on wars, that aren't even near to being necessary? They, the dollars, went to the "Military Industrial complex". One of our greatest generals, President Eisenhower, warned us about the "Military Industrial complex", he was extremely distrustful of them. Nobody was threatening to invade the USA with millions of troops, but the Bush/Chaney cabal managed to get us involved in two wars that are unwinnable. Instead of spending the money on promoting alternative fuels, they send our troops out against ghosts of the cabal's making to protect an oil supply that is not protectable. The corporations have the money and they buy the votes.You, I and the TB's have no say in the process. The politicians tell us to go out and vote. Vote for what, vote for whom? You tell me.
The people of the United States have to start thinking of the future. If we spend on educating more engineers and R & D, the new industries that develop will create well paying jobs which will create the taxes to pay off our debt. The debt will never be paid off by a second rate country . Let's keep America first!
Bob Bregman is a graduate of the US Naval Academy, Class of '51. He is probably not the youngest author on SearchWarp (might be the oldest)
, just an old sea dog. He flew B-29's during the Korean conflict. He spent 25 years in Wall Street as a trader. He then went into the corporate world, a very ugly place. Cheating, lying, stealing and bribery were SOP from DuPont to Exxon. He retired in 1990 and went back to trading. Oiy! So then he went to selling computers, it was lonely trading. Selling was more fun. Then he sold Nissans, Hondas, and finally Fords. That was fun. Started to get old so he retired again. Now writing, because he's really irritated with his country's direction as personified by the Republicans & Tea Party horn blowing.
, just an old sea dog. He flew B-29's during the Korean conflict. He spent 25 years in Wall Street as a trader. He then went into the corporate world, a very ugly place. Cheating, lying, stealing and bribery were SOP from DuPont to Exxon. He retired in 1990 and went back to trading. Oiy! So then he went to selling computers, it was lonely trading. Selling was more fun. Then he sold Nissans, Hondas, and finally Fords. That was fun. Started to get old so he retired again. Now writing, because he's really irritated with his country's direction as personified by the Republicans & Tea Party horn blowing. This Article has been viewed 723 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (10 total)It was nice to read facts in place of emotional bad fiction, Bob! Thanks.Thanks for the comment Jenn. I'm glad that you enjoyed it. There is plenty of fiction out there, parading as fact.As always, good luckBob
It's all true Robert. Thank you.Eddie, I finally found your name. I really didn't like using ERR. Thanks for the support.Good luckBob
Not bad. Everyone has some special interest in mind, yet America is its own interest, is it not? I don't hear anyone screaming about keeping 'the people' honest, either. Good job.Thank you Michael. Boy wouldn't it be nice if FOXNews & MSNBC turned honest. I think the whole country would get back to thinking America. Great comment.Thanks again and good luck.Bob
I agree Robert, we (the United States) must begin to look at the future with open eyes, not blindfolds we must face the reality of the times.Amen, David. Thank you for your comment.Good luckBob
Very well written, thought provoking article here--thanks for writing it.SteveThank you Steve, Writing it was pretty easy, the hard part was keeping my enthusiasm for the subject reined in. I could go on and on. I do love this country and feel so lucky to have been born here.Thanks again and good luckBob
Robert, I'm surprised to hear that the Tea Partiers call themselves "Tea Baggers". For some reason, I always thought that term was offensive to them. Oh well, I guess you learn something new everyday.Terry, you're right. "Tea Bagger" is an offensive term and I've heard them called that but it's probably not what they call themselves. I owe the Tea Partiers an apology. I apologize.Good luckBob
Yes our deficit is well beyond its limits. The American government will be increasing taxes I'm sure to fill the gaps.Hi James, I think that the government is going to have to raise taxes and also cut spending. A good place to start the cutting would be Defense. Thanks for the comment.Good luckBob
An interesting article. I have to say though that lobbying didn't become as large as it is until the last quarter century. Our government had been on an expansion explosion long before that. Having social backed programs is nice but why have the federal government pay for that type of thing? Take that money instead and invest in educational programs so that society as a whole can benefit from innovations and increased technology. That doesn't mean kowtowing to the teachers union lobbyists either. If we got rid of the lobbyists maybe we would see the TB's, as you call them, back off and the country can get back to taking care of business.Grace, thanks for adding some common sense to this discussion.Terry, thank you for thinking my comment had a perspective worth responding to. Alas I am afflicted with the need to bring two sides to the table when it comes to certain subjects. Makes for a more interesting and thought provoking intercourse.Intercourse. Sounds like what America is getting, a good intercourse!Thanks for the comment Grace. #1. Lobbying has been around since Julius Caesar was in the Roman Senate. In the 1800's in this country the lobbying was done by the "Robber Barons" and it keeps on going right up to today. Some times I think that government was invented so that there could be lobbiest. #2. Where the money is spent is always a matter of personal opinion. I prefer to spend money on social and educational needs rather then the "Military Industrial Complex", who want war so that the government has to order more weapons. Disgusting! #3. I'm with you, let's get rid of the lobbyists so the country can get back to the country's business!
Good luck
Bob
Robert Bregman, where have you been all my life? Thought has no place in the American conservative dictionary. Of the corporation, by the corporation, for the corporation, Amen.Hi David, thanks for the comment. Americans are not free! We live under a corporate dictatorship and it's not benevolent. They have destroyed the American middle class.Good luckBob
I agree whole heartedly with pretty much everything said here. The problem is, the vast majority of the people in this country care about one thing, and one thing only: feeling important.That's why the Tea Partiers have no real discernible message...because the message is actually, "Look at me, I have a message! This makes me important!"It's why people ally themselves with Republicans or Democrats...because they think that if they're voicing someone else's opinion, it makes them more important. Therefore they choose whichever one they most closely align with. If they can't find anything to align with, they go with whoever screams the loudest.The saddest part, in my opinion, is that the American people really don't want this country to be fixed. They just want it to be more like them.Thanks for the comment, Anthony. That's an interesting perspective you have. I certainly won't disagree with it, except perhaps that it's not the most important problem. Thinking, that's where I think the American people fall short. They don't think of what they are saying or what the consequences would be if we did what they're recommending. Do away with Social Security, Medicare, Federal Reserve, everything! Scary that people can be so shortsighted, or as you say so interested in themselves.Thanks again for the comment, you can see you pushed a button.Good luckBob
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