There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza

There’s a Hole in my Bucket, Dear Liza

The View from the Middle

It saddens me to say that our President has taken the “blame game” and the “credit grab” to a whole new level.  Now that the country has rejected his claims that we would experience locusts, plagues and pestilence as a result of the sequester budget cuts, he has a new strategy.  He is now blaming Republicans for results that haven’t even occurred yet.

He claims, with confidence, that these automatic cuts will cost 750,000 jobs in the future and reduce growth in our GDP (Gross Domestic Product) by over half a percent.  And we all know how accurate his past forecasts have been.  Unemployment never did go over 8%.  Oops, yes it did.  But, he was “dead on” with his original estimate of the cost of Obamacare.  Oops, the CBO (Congressional Budget Office) now admits that the cost will be DOUBLE the original estimates.  Oops, might be triple.

The President suggests that no matter what the results are in the future they would be better if we followed his plan.  If results are below expectations, it is the Republicans fault, but if the outcome is good – of course he gets full credit.  That’s a pretty cozy position if you can get it, a “no lose proposition”.

Of course, his suggestion is absurd, since he doesn’t actually have a plan to compare to.  He claims to be in favor of more tax increases (eliminating deductions just raises someone’s tax burden) and possibly some spending reductions.  In the true spirit of Washington DC, the taxes would be immediate but the spending cuts would come later (maybe).  However, since his plan has not been specifically defined, it can’t be scored.  Any more tax increases he could suggest would come with its own package of job losses and slowing economy. 

So, let me prognosticate.  The sequester cuts have gone into effect and we WILL have poor economic results this quarter.  There, I said it.  But, to blame these results on the sequester is like suggesting that the rooster’s crow causes the sunrise.  Chronology does not prove causation.

What will cause our future economic woes are the massive tax increases the President unleashed on America in January, and taxes are to an economy as holes are to a bucket of water.  Can you drill a few holes and expect to maintain the water level?  Actually, yes, if you have a hose filling the bucket faster than the water is leaking out.  But our economic hose is down to a trickle, so every hole can be devastating.

The first hole the President drilled was the elimination of the payroll tax holiday. This affected almost 80% of Americans.  According to the Tax Policy Center, this will take $900 to $1,000 a year out of the average Americans’ paychecks.

I can’t tell you how many people approached me in January to complain that their take home pay had mysteriously gone down.  After I explained the “mystery”, I asked them what they planned to do.  Without exception, they planned to delay a purchase or go out to eat less often.  This will give restaurant owners and staff insomnia.  Imagine this happening to 100 million families across American and you can feel the economy shrinking around you.

Next, we raised the tax rates on the top 1% of wage earners.  So what, I’m not in that group.  However, that 1% are the great employers and spenders in our economy.  If they don’t have the money, they can’t spend it on your product or give you a raise or a new job.  If you work in a plant that produces luxury cars, a layoff might be in your future.

And then there is Obamacare.  According to the “Obama Care Facts” website, this law will invoke 21 new taxes over the next year that will cost taxpayers $700 billion over the next 10 years!!  Now, I don’t care who is paying those taxes, this money will not be spent in our economy.  It is just 21 more holes in our economic bucket.  As a side note, one year’s worth of these taxes ($70 billion) is almost as big as the sequester cuts by itself.

Finally, the government has no incentive to make things better.  In fact, because of Obama’s claims, it has an incentive to make things as painful as possible.  Like canceling White House tours.  Really?

So, when the economic numbers come in below expectations for this quarter, remember that you heard it here first.  You can’t raise taxes on the spenders and job creators in our society, cancel the payroll tax holiday on 80% of Americans AND lay 21 new taxes on the backs of Americans through Obamacare, and expect our economy to substantially expand.  

What if parents had to be elected?

Would a Kid Vote for a Spanking?

The View from the Middle

Brenda and I have had the joy, challenge and responsibility of raising two daughters who are now grown and married, but the other day I was reflecting about what transpired, especially in the early years. 

First, I remembered the good times.  Parents get to do some great things with their kids.  There were the gift giving times like birthdays and Christmas.  For those of you who don’t have children yet, there is nothing like watching a little girl or boy come down the stairs for their first Christmas morning.  There are big eyes, laughter and hugs all around. 

Birthdays are special too, even when they don’t completely understand what is going on.  As early as two they understand that this is their special day, and they grasp the concept of “presents” early on.

Then there are the times when parent get to be heroes.  Children will always get sick and parents get to (have to) nurse them back to health.  There are skinned knees that we get to bandage and bumps and bruises galore that we will sooth.  If this was all there was to parenting, parental approval ratings would always be 100%.

But unfortunately, there is also the discipline side.  Parents must teach lessons that will benefit children later in their lives, but cause pain in the present.  A spanking at age two can teach a child that they have to respect others and their possessions.  Not everything is “mine”. 

Later in life, parents may have to tell an extravagant child that there is no more money for their latest desire and they may actually have to do without.  Resources of all kinds are not unlimited and the sooner a child learns this, the better.

This got me to wonder.  What if parents had to be elected every year?  Would they cut back or even eliminate the discipline side of their jobs?  Would the children have the wisdom to vote for discipline that will benefit them in the long run?  Would they actually vote “for” a spanking?

That’s when it occurred to me, “Doesn’t this highlight the problem we have in Washington?”  Our government has a dual responsibility to its citizens.  It clearly performs a protection role.  Our military is an obvious example of that function, but we also have social programs that are designed to help people when they have figuratively fallen and skinned their knees.  Unemployment insurance and Medicaid are examples of taking care of people who need the help and these are popular programs, especially if it is YOUR knee that is skinned. 

Then there are programs that act a lot like Christmas or birthday presents.  Our government offers grants and tax incentives to millions of people across the country to help make their particular dream projects come true.  You can bet that these programs are very popular, especially if it is your project that gets realized.

But our government also has a disciplinary responsibility.  If a person violates the law they need to be punished as a penalty and a deterrent for future violations.  This is not as popular as gift giving for sure.  How do you feel after you’ve received a traffic ticket?

Washington also has the responsibility, as parents do, to say “no” at times in order to act responsibly or to teach a lesson.  While we all may want to give everyone everything they want, and to eliminate poverty and suffering everywhere, we must realize two things.  First, that is impossible, and second, even trying may be fiscally irresponsible.

We (the government) have made promises that are impossible to keep.  These promises were well intentioned, but we know now that keeping them will endanger the very freedom and liberty that our country was founded on.  We must say “no”, but that creates a dilemma for both politicians and citizens.

Do we have politicians who are honest enough and courageous enough to eliminate or reform programs that we just can’t afford?  Can they withhold excessive support that will teach their constituents valuable lessons about work ethic, honesty and living with the consequences of their choices?

  Finally, can we as citizens muster the wisdom and character to elect a government that can protect us when we need it but also discipline us when we require it.  Can we channel John Kennedy’s spirit when he said, “Ask NOT what your country can do for you.”  Can we admit that we shouldn’t expect our government to rescue us from the consequences of our own poor choices? In other words, are we smart enough to vote for the potential of a spanking when we need it? 

Unity is Born of Humility

The View from the Middle

Have you ever had an epiphany?  You know, that instant acquisition of clarity on a problem that has plagued you for years.  You can feel the answer, but can’t quite explain it, then, in a moment, with a flash the answer becomes crystal clear.  You ask yourself, “How could I have been so stupid?  The answer was so simple!”  These are wonderful moments, and we’ve all had them to one degree or another, and I had one this last Sunday.

The issue was “unity”.  Why don’t we have it in Washington when leaders throughout the centuries have proclaimed its importance?  Aesop said, “In union there is strength” almost 3,000 years ago, and Helen Keller said, “Alone we can do so little, but together we can do so much.”

Wise men and women have also warned of the consequences of the lack of unity.  In 1858, Abraham Lincoln said, “A house divided against itself can not stand” as he warned of the divisiveness of slavery.  Many don’t realize that Lincoln was just paraphrasing another noted philosopher, Jesus Christ, from the gospel of Luke.  Not a bad model!  And finally, Benjamin Franklin, at the signing of the Declaration of Independence said, “We must hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.”

We all know the power of unity and the destructive nature of division, so why don’t we have more of it in Washington?  This is where the epiphany came in for me.  I was at church, and our pastor, Mickey Rapier, was summarizing the teachings of Paul in his letter to the Philippians. 

The apostle Paul was trying to drive home the importance of “unity” for Christians, and for all people in general.  In Chapter 2 he says, ”Do nothing out of self ambition or vain conceit.  Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves.”  Wouldn’t that make for a better world?

So, if our politicians followed this guidance, what signs would we look for?  We would see people who admit that they don’t have all the answers.  We would see people who actually wanted to listen to others, even their political opponents, because what they really wanted was the truth.  Is that what you see?

What I see is just the opposite.  Arguments that bend the truth beyond recognition, omit inconvenient facts and demonize the other side’s motives simply because they have the audacity to disagree.  But, since we will never totally agree on every issue, does that mean that we are doomed to a future spiraling into hatred, vitriol and division?  I don’t think so.

John Kennedy famously said, “The unity of freedom has never relied on uniformity of opinion.”  We can disagree, but stay united if we keep one priority in common, and that is the advancement of the United States.  As the View From the Middle continues to point out, there is wisdom on both sides of the political argument.  If we are going to answer the staggering problems that we face as a country we will need leaders who can unite our people in truth and humility, not divide them with stubborn pride and selfishness. 

Recently, Dr. Ben Carson suggested that the most important thing we can do as a people to change the country is to be informed voters.  This is not a new issue, however.  Over 200 years ago, Thomas Jefferson warned, “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free…it expects what never was and never will be.”  So, if you are looking for humility and unity, what will that look like?

It would look like the gang of eight senators (four Democrats and four Republicans) who are working together to fashion a comprehensive immigration bill.  It would look like Alan Simpson, former Republican Senator, and Erskine Bowles, former chief of staff for Bill Clinton, “giving and taking” to find answers to our debt and deficit. 

What it doesn’t look like is blame, accusation and finger pointing (repetition is intentional for emphasis).  There is nothing more damaging to teamwork and progress than this type of behavior.  Imagine a sports team where the teammates are continually blaming each other for their mistakes.  This team is dysfunctional and doomed to defeat.  Great teams encourage each other, help each other and (heaven forbid) build each other up.  Those teams are destined for victory. 

In the end, it truly is up to us.  We need to reward humility and unity and throw out “selfish ambition and vain conceit”.  We need representatives in Washington who are more about unity and country than about “self”.  If you are honest, you will know it when you see it, then all you have to do is vote for it!

Hillary Clinton Hearings

“What’s the Difference?”

The View from the Middle

Today, as congressional leaders were supposed to probe Hillary Clinton in order to get to the bottom of what happened in Benghazi, I got an affirmation of why the congressional approval rating continues to approach single digits. 

Anyone who watched this fiasco had to have their personal opinion of congress plummet.  As you might expect, “The View From the Middle” was disappointed with both sides. 

If nothing else, however, both sides were very predictable.  The left was sickeningly sweet with glowing tributes to Secretary Clinton and softball questions that she knocked out of the park.  It was interesting that Hillary had a three ring binder (not full of women) but full of information that she used to answer questions from both sides of the aisle.  Forgive me for suggesting this, but I’m guessing that while she was recovering from her fainting spells, she somehow found time to have her staff research every angle of this issue and every conceivable question.  I will guess further that she probably found the strength and time to rehearse. 

On the other side, senators and representatives alike attacked and or monologued, but left little or no time for Mrs. Clinton to answer even one question.  Between the five-minute questioning format, which clearly favored the Secretary, and the ineptitude of the right and the deflection of the left, Hillary was the clear winner.  Unfortunately, the real losers in this debacle were the truth and the American people. 

If there is any justice, however, the media will pursue two very questionable answers given by Mrs. Clinton.  First, in a heated exchange with Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) about the root cause of the attack, Hillary nearly shouted, “Was it because of a protest or was it because of guys out for a walk one night who decided they’d go kill some Americans? What difference, at this point, does it make?” 

What difference does it make?  Are you kidding me?  It makes all the difference in the world.  In fact, THAT is exactly what this entire hearing was about.  It makes a difference, because we as a country would respond very differently during and after the event if this were a terrorist act.  More importantly, however, it is about honesty and trust.  Can the American people trust our government to tell us the truth, even when it is politically difficult, or will they distort the truth and manipulate the public for their benefit?  It makes a HUGE difference.

Finally, when asked why Susan Rice did the Sunday talk shows just five days after the Benghazi attack, the Secretary nonchalantly said, “Going on the Sunday shows is not my favorite thing to do.”  Really?  You had five months to prepare for this obvious question, and that’s the best you could come up with?  America has been attacked at one of our embassies and four Americans are dead, one a dear friend of yours, and you just didn’t want to be bothered to do the right thing?  Instead, you send someone who you later confirm knows nothing about the event to take your place. 

This seems to me to be the height of callousness, deception or incompetence.  Take your pick; there is no good choice here.

This whole scenario reminds me of the old saying, “Oh, what a tangled web we weave…” Personally, and I think most Americans agree, I don’t blame Hillary or the President for the attack on Benghazi.  It is a dangerous world and there people out there who hate us and who want to harm or even kill us.  The government has done a remarkable job of protecting us since 9/11/01. 

But once anyone goes down a path designed to manage and manipulate rather than inform and educate, they begin to trip over their own words.  In one sense I have to agree with Hillary when she said, “what difference does it make?”  The origin of this event is far less important than how it was portrayed by our leaders.

According to Pew Research, only 22% of Americans trust the federal government.  This is well below the average for this measure and battles for the lowest rating in trust for the last half-century.  Obviously, it takes more than words like “transparency” and “unity” to build trust.  It takes honest and forthright actions.  Here’s some advice for all of our politicians in Washington.  Bite the bullet!  If you want the trust of “We the People”, tell the truth!  It is easier to remember, and doesn’t require ridiculously contorted explanations for your actions.