The year of 2007 proved to be a challenging and turbulent year in American history. Last year, we reached levels in our equity markets that have never been achieved before, we navigated the gale force winds of a residential housing storm, and our soldiers made positive gains against the terrorist insurgents in Iraq. The “thumpin” our Republican leaders received in the congressional elections of 2006 ushered in the first Congress to be controlled by Democrats since the 90’s. Naturally, our new leaders in Congress promised our citizens a new direction and sweeping governmental reform. The first 100 days of our newly controlled Congress brought a lot of talk about change and accountability, but after more than a year our citizens are now wondering……..where’s the beef?
Disappointed Citizens
According to most polls the Democrats have a disapproval rating of 60% and most Americans cannot perceive any value in the newly elected Democratic majority. Our citizens were promised a new direction, but instead they continue to get the same political rhetoric about change and fresh ideas. Most of the Democrats have wasted their political energy on trying to micromanage the Iraq War, but Bush has proved to be a formidable opponent since waking up to idea of using the veto pen. In the end, Democrats have yielded to the power of Mr. Bush and failed citizens by not focusing on any key domestic measures such as immigration, healthcare, and tax reform. In reality, the only area our Democratic leaders are looking for change or new direction is in the War on Terror. What are their ideas for change? What is their strategy for a new direction in Iraq? Those same questions continue to baffle Democratic leaders as they come to grip with the fact they have no new ideas, and only have a desire to criticize the Bush Administration for their strategies. Of course, in recent months the cries to pull out of the war have quieted as the “surge” continues to prove successful in several areas in Iraq that were once considered killing grounds.
What have the Democrats accomplished?
Democrats must be applauded for passing legislation to raise minimum wages in our country, which was a change that was long overdue, and for going after the car manufacturers to increase fuel efficiency standards. In the recently signed budget, the reported number of earmarks almost reached 10,000 and they cost the American taxpayer over $10 Billion in “pork barrel” spending. This type of government largess cannot be sustained given our current national debt level of $9 Trillion. Our debt level is about 65% of our GDP and leaders on both sides of the aisle need to acknowledge this critical indicator and practice fiscal constraint in spite of political considerations. We must give our Democratic leaders a round of “kudos” for attacking such issues as unsafe cribs and high chairs, and requiring drain covers on pools and spas. Of course, I am sure they did not spend too much political energy on building consensus to pass either measure given the fact all politicians want safety for children and families.
Our citizens expected more out of their leaders and they deserved to receive more after a year of leadership in Congress. We all recognized the changing of guard on Capitol Hill was a result of the lack of leadership on behalf of George Bush over the previous six years. Our citizens have shown they are competent in using their “voice” to reflect their disappointment with our leaders and I am certain the Liberals need to be concerned with how our citizens evaluate their performance.
Same Direction…
Even as the international community becomes globally connected, Democratic leaders continue to sound the horn of protectionism. They spread an ideology that discourages free trade and outsourcing and ignore the real facts such as an economy that has created positive job growth for over five years consecutively and products that are made more affordable for average Americans as a result of moving manufacturing jobs to emerging economies. Spending on entitlement programs have ballooned over the last several years, but this fact did not prevent Democrats from trying to expand the liabilities of the American taxpayer by drafting legislation to enlarge SCHIP through increasing the minimum income level. No political capital was spent on trying to permanently reform the tax code and prevent millions of Americans from being caught in the AMT “trap”. During the last days of the session, our Congress passed the Budget, which included its annual patch to the AMT problem, but no permanent solution for an issue that continues to become increasingly larger. After 12 months at sea, most of our citizens have become to realize we are traveling in the same direction as when we started out, but the worst thing is now we are moving at a glacial pace. All I have to say is, “I see the $10 Billion in pork, but where is the beef?”
