"If We Keep on Doing, What We Keep on Doing . . ."
By William Bailey (11/15/07)
“We’ll keep on getting what we keep on getting.” - I don’t remember where (or from whom) I first heard that statement, but the older I get the more I realize and accept the truth contained in it. And, as it pertains to government, it has certainly proven to be the case. There is one irrefutable fact . . . if you keep turning left (or right), you go in circles.
The activity of those seeking the nomination of both parties has already reached a level of craziness even though it’s months before the conventions of the parties and a year until the election. While it may get somewhat tiresome enduring all of the hype from the hopefuls, it does allow time to consider some things and to consider the various “wannabes” in a number of areas.
It might also be timely to reconsider the “fine art of cooking frogs”.
For those who are not familiar with the proper method of cooking frogs, let me share it with you. You start with the frog in tepid, lukewarm water . . you slowly, gradually increase the heat until the water reaches a boil . . . voila . . . the frog is cooked. But, if you place the frog in a pot of boiling water, the frog will make a quick exit. In the tepid, lukewarm water, the frog feels good and does not notice that the temperature of the water is increasing.
I believe that this is what has been happening to “We the People” by those in power at all levels of government. They have perfected the “fine art of cooking frogs” and have applied it to the art of governing, “keeping on doing what we keep on doing”. And, like the frog in the tepid water, “We the People” have grown comfortable with the warmth and have been misled into believing that things are just fine.
Let’s move quickly to some specifics . . .
Currently, the National Debt exceeds $9 trillion. Now, before anybody starts pointing fingers, let’s agree that both political parties played a role in getting us there. As you consider that staggering amount, take a look at what your own personal liabilities total . . . now, add to that total (approximately) $30,000.00 for each member of the household. That’s the share of the National Debt owed by every single American . . . without regard to age, income level or economic status. No, you didn’t borrow it . . . but you (we) owe it.
One would think that, by now, we’d understand that you don’t get out of the hole by digging it deeper. And yet, those in positions of power just keep on grabbing shovels and digging the hole deeper. I suppose it’s easy to do when you, mistakenly, believe that all of the trees out there have dollar bills for leaves. And, of course it helps if you believe that government can be “all things to all people”. But, of course, that’s not the case . . . somebody will have to pay for it. That somebody is “We the People” and our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
“If we keep on doing what we keep on doing . . . “
Statistics are not exciting things to consider, however they do help understand just how vast and deep this particular situation is. So, consider the following:
According to the Congressional Budget Office (supposedly a non-partisan agency), mandatory spending increased from 32% in 1962 to 58.2% in 2003 and is expected to reach 73% by 2009.
Ever hear of “earmarks” . . . also known as “pork” ? Despite the pledges to rein in the pork, the Democratic controlled Congress has included a combined 11, 351 pork projects in the House and Senate appropriations bills. How about just a few examples . . .
** $2,000,000 for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Sevice-City College of New York
** $1,500,000 for the AFL-CIO Working for America Institute-Washington, D.C.
** $7,500,000 for the Harkin Grant Program, Iowa Department of Education
** $5,925,000 for the Benjamin Gilman International Scholarship Program-Houston, Texas
** $3,000,000 for the Raza Development Fund of La Raza
** $9,069,000 for the Fryingpan Project-Arkansas
** $10,695,000 for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
** $6,000,000 for the Central Corridor Light Rail-Minnesota
** $5,000,000 Tuscaloosa, Alabama (no project specified)
** $7,000,000 Arctic Energy Office-Alaska
**$34,500,000 Alaska Native Educational Equity Assistance Program
** $5,000,000 Norfolk (VA) Light Rail Project
( Source: Taxpayers for Common Sense, FY 2008 Appropriations Bills database at http://www.taxpayer.net/budget/fy08approschart.html )
Please understand . . . all of these may be worthwhile and meritorious projects. If they are, why aren’t they submitted through the regular committee/budget process and presented for consideration openly ?
“If we keep on doing what we keep on doing . . . “
I continue to believe that the Founders of this Nation had great vision when they drew up the “road-map” to form and guide this Republic. They knew what they were doing. They could see the dangers of an ever-growing, centralized and all powerful Federal government. That’s why the Constitution provides for just the opposite.
In a recent article entitled, “Why Congress Is In the Dump”, writer Henry Lamb states, “Sadly, it seems the only thing that unites this nation is a national disaster. And even this unity fades quickly. In a free society, there must be diversity of ideas, and freedom to argue and advance those ideas. But when the goal changes from producing the best possible solution, to nothing more than simply prevailing in order to retain power, the society is destined for tyranny. Tyranny by Republicans is no better than tyranny by Democrats. We need a new crop of representatives who are more concerned about this country than about the next election.”
In the same article, Lamb states, “There are a few honest, conscientious people in Congress who work hard every day to advance ideas that will benefit the nation. They, however, are a distinct minority. They are overwhelmed by leadership that wants nothing less than complete power in Washington, in the White House and a veto-proof majority in Congress. This is the primary goal of congressional leadership from now until the election.”
As we get closer and closer to the time that we will mark our ballots and choose those whom we will elect, let’s remember that our Declaration of Independence states “That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” We are the governed !
I don’t presume to speak for anybody but myself, but I’m tired of this business of “keeping on doing what we keep on doing”. I’m tired of business as usual. And, I’m tired of the increasing temperature of the water. I’m ready for politicians and bureaucrats who really understand that their purpose is to serve those who put them in office, to honor the oath each takes to protect and defend the Constitution, and that “We the People” are not subservient to their own agendas.
So, how do we stop “keeping on getting what we keep on getting “ ? The only way is to stop “keeping on doing what we keep on doing”. “We the People” can change “business as usual” . . . if we really want to.
William D. Bailey
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