THE SOLUTION TO THE SHUTDOWN THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED

 

Shutting down the government was a mistake for the Democrats.  A government shutdown is a pox on both parties.   It would have been better to let the Republican bill take effect, cut health care, and bring chaos to the economy. The Republicans would have had to carry the blame into the next election.

As it is, Republicans can blame the Democrats for people not getting paid.

I marvel at the ineptitude of the Democrat Party to message that it is the party of the people, and the Republicans are the Party of the rich and powerful.

 

Two options could prevent government shutdowns from ever happening again.

 A bill needs to be passed in Congress that, when the government is shut down, Senators and Congress members lose their pay for the duration of the shutdown, and they do not receive back pay when the government is reopened.

Of course, it is unlikely that Congress will ever pass a bill to their personal detriment.

 

The second option is a third party.

This nation would benefit from a third party.  It would take compromise for any bill to be passed.  A single party could not gain enough power to hold the nation hostage.

Common sense.   but there is no common sense in Politics.

the Ol'Buzzard

 

 

LET’S SUE THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESS!

I would love to see a class action law suit against each member of the Republican Congress for malfeasance. 

 Congressional Republicans wasted the Nations time and money voting 48 times to repeal The Affordable Health Care Act, knowing full well that the proposal was impossible to pass with a Democratic controlled Senate and a Democratic President holding a veto.  

They shut down the government causing a downgrading of the US world financial standing knowing full well that their effort was for naught.  

They caused serious damage to the nation over a partisan frivolity.  They did not act in the best interest of the electorate, the Nation, nor did they uphold the oath of the position they were elected.

Congress persons do have every right to bring to the floor bills asking for a symbolic vote opposing any law or government action; however, 48 votes on a proposal that can not pass is misuse of public power and position. Shutting down the government and allowing the Government to default on the faith and credit of our Nation and at the same time disrupting the pays and obligations to government workers and federal programs over partisan frivolity is malfeasance.

Would that we could…

the Ol’Buzzard

     

NAMASTE

TAKE A BREAK

TAKE A BREATHER

IF YOU ARE LUCKY

KISS A BEAVER

It was awfully easy to get worked up during the craziness that we experienced due to the Republicans shenanigans that happened over the past three weeks.  Everyone’s blogs reflected the exasperation felt by all reasonable people.  

You could almost see the combined blood pressures rising as an increase of tension escalated as each day progressed.   

Now it is over.   Take a breath.  Relax.  Think about kittens.

Because unfortunately, we are scheduled to do it again.  

 the Ol'Buzzard

A POX ON THE CONGRESS

It is probably my age.

                                       

Or perhaps it is the month of October: a month of ghost and goblins and ghouls – Oh my! 

                             

But, the debt ceiling fight and the government shutdown seems totally out of place at this time of the year: a time of harvest – a time of food and friends and fairs and celebration from a year of toil.  

I have said before that I can’t seem to get goaded into depression about what seems now to be business as usual in Washington.   

People are posting dooms day scenarios on what Rachel Maddow calls the internet machine.  

But in reality: all of this will end in just one way.   We will grow old and infirmed or diseased or suffer an accident – and then we all die.  We will get put in the ground, or cremated and have our ashes in an urn – or some not so lovable relative will flush us down the toilet.   Whatever the outcome; when this happens, we won’t care about the debt ceiling or governments or political parties. 

And then two or three generations in the future – when we are long forgotten – people will still be exasperated with their politicians; liberals will be disgusted with the way the rich treat the poor; and people with hearts and brains will be protesting the next war. 

Things move on but stay the same.    You can’t walk in the same river twice, but the river is still there.  This slipstream of time that man has created – and mankind him and her self – are relevant only in the small self-centered ego of our species.

We change the things we can and accept the things we can’t change. 

We are approaching the season of All Hallows Eve when the dead can walk - in our minds.  We should use this season to put things in perspective.  

Celebrate this season.

A pox on the Congress.

the Ol’Buzzard

WW-II VETERANS MEMORIAL IS CLOSED – GET OVER IT.

I am a veteran.  And Veterans of all wars are my brothers and sisters.   But let’s not get distracted here.   The WW-II memorial was closed – and that is regrettable; but in the totality of things this is a non-starter.

The Republicans have refused to fund the Veterans Administration at a rate to cover the increases due to vets returning from two simultaneous wars. 

Services have been cut back over the past year; and now due to the government shutdown VA staff is being furloughed starting today.    The local regional office in Rumford, Maine that handles my medical needs is closed, along with counseling services, VA hotlines, VA registration offices and more.    For all practical purposed the VA is in stand-down.  

So let’s stop bemoaning the parks and monuments closings that are inconvenience peoples vacation plans.

The whole country is taking a hit, and a photo-op of Michelle Bachman and the rest of the Mickey Mouse Club escorting WW-II vets past the barriers at the memorial was a disservice to all veterans. 

the Ol’Buzzard