Who and What are We Afraid Of?

Do you ever wonder why with all of the questionable decisions by our President, government and lawmakers that almost no one is standing up and saying "what the heck is going on"? I hear lot of people talking about it, but I see almost no done actively try to stop it. Why is that? Is it we are too busy? Is it we want someone else to do it so we don't have to "get involved"?

I will tell you what I think it is and it comes from a saying you have heard before. "The best way for evil to overcome good, is for good people to do nothing" Are you saying to yourself right now, "well that's not me, I am doing my part" Really? What "part" are you doing? Is this another case of "I don't care who else's ox gets gored as long as it isn't mine? When was the last time you challenged an elected official about "anything"?

If we go over the "fiscal cliff" you can bet your ox is going to get gored. Now don't get defensive! Its both parties so lets not start pointing fingers. In fact I believe that what has caused most of this is that our elected officials and "we the people" have set in motion a "we versus they" mentality in this nation to the point there is no "us". It is so easy to talk blame when those being blamed have a title or name. Why are we so anxious to set up mechanisms that foster division rather than unity? From football rivalries to politics we delight in "putting it to" the other side.

If we stand up who is going to "get" us? Our friends who disagree with us? Why can't we even have a conversation anymore without being concerned about hurting someones feelings? Is the government going to get us, the IRS, the FBI or NSA? Just who are we afraid of that makes us keep out mouths shut? If we don't start talking with each other about all this, there soon won't be anything to talk about because those that would control us will have won by our own default. Thank about it!!

IOWA - Much ado about nothing!

TV talking head political pundits say things only for one reason. To get you to watch. It doesn't have to be truthful, politically correct or reasonable as long as it is designed to get talked about. What is at stake in Iowa? Not much. Iowans would like you to believe that they set the trend for who will eventually be the Republican nominee. History is not on the side of that argument. They love all that attention until they get sick and tired of all that attention. Now which way do you want it? As of today 41% say they could change their minds by tomorrow. Boy they sure are decision makers. Why haven't they been able to make up their minds? Sounds like they don't know how to or that they have to check and see which way the wind blows tomorrow. Talk about flip flopper's, where is all the angst about that among the Iowa caucus goers. At least we get the chance to question the candidates about their changes of mind!

If we end up with a statistical dead heat where there is only 2 or 3 percentage points between the top two or three, those three will go on to New Hampshire and the rest of the field will for all intents and purposes be finished. Remember "it's the economy stupid"?  Well in this Republican Presidential race "it's the DELEGATES, stupid". For better or worse the Republicans don't do "winner takes all"! We could go to the convention with someone who won all the Primaries and still get a different nominee, after the first ballot! The Republicans have tried to design a system that allows for a person to get the delegates, who they don't like, Mitt Romney for instance, and still decide who will be the nominee "because those poor dumb primary voters didn't get it right".

Drama, it's all about drama! The candidates understand how the system works even if the public doesn't. That's why some, if they have the money, may try and hang on after Iowa in hopes of getting to a brokered convention. So unless one candidate just blows out the field in the primaries, the political bosses can still get their way. So go ahead Iowa and play those silly games you do for TV coverage. And for those of you who sit on the sidelines "because you just can't make up your mind", move to Iowa!