Why is it illegal to shout "fire" in a crowded movie theater, but it's ok to scream "crisis" at every possible vote in Washington?
Are we staring down the barrel of Armageddon again? For the second time in a month? For the umpteenth time in the last 4 plus years? One thing about this Obama administration, they know how to manufacture drama. So much for the no drama Obama we all were promised
It's been nothing but one, end of the world, apocalyptic, "we have to act now or the whole thing will come crashing down" issue after another.
The latest is the sequester cuts. This will mean, if Congress doesn't act now, an across the board cut in military spending. Now, let's be clear, it's not really a cut. It's a reduction in the amount of increase. Only in Washington would this be considered a cut. And only when it comes to the military would the administration be in favor of fiscal responsibility.
A few points on this. I am usually in favor of cutting as much spending as possible. It would be hypocritical of me to be against these cuts. I must admit, although I love our armed forces, they are as susceptible to waste and wasteful spending as the rest of the government. While I don't think the military is the best place to start cutting spending, at least it's a start.
I also don't believe that, in spite of what some may have us believe, that if these cuts go through, our troops will be patrolling the mountains of Afghanistan fighting the Taliban with only slingshots and sticks. We have the best-trained, best-equipped military in the history of mankind.
This is really the question we should be asking. Why is it that everything is a crisis these days?
Is the right, as the media would have us believe, really that much further right than they've ever been?
Is the left, as the right would have us believe, really that much further left than they've ever been? Or is this just good old fashioned, partisan politics?
The truth is that the stakes are so high, not for the nation but for the politicians and their parties, that they will stop at nothing to make themselves seem like heroes. If it comes at the expense of their opponents, so much the better.
There is more money flowing into and out of Washington D.C. each and every day than any of us can even imagine. In order to hitch a ride on the gravy train, politicians have to paint themselves as saviors.
You can't save someone if they ain't drownin.
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