A Third Way

Much has been made of Obama leaving Bill Clinton to conduct a presidential presser. It’s even worse than it appears: Both Obama and Clinton are effectively endorsing Bush (tax cuts), fueling the conviction of some that there’s not a dime’s worth of difference between the parties.

Both parties are under assault. It makes no difference, Democrat or Republican. The American version of British royalty must fall. They no longer offer viable alternatives. All either one can say is NO. There is no leadership on either side. Our nation is running on empty.

Now, here comes the tricky part: What will replace them? The tea parties? Unlikely. They have the spirit, but lack organization. The hard-left commies? No. It goes against the grain of everything our country stands for. Independents? No. Everyone is in mortal fear of them ever since the Perot debacles in the 90’s.

What may be needed is a ‘third way‘. Those who may be familiar with the term’s connotations (especially on this site) will bristle at this. It, like most terms used for political purposes, has been corrupted to favor one side over another. Even in its preferred usage, it refers to a compromise between the Left and the Right - hence, Center. None of this will work. A ‘third way’ must shun both Left and Right, and start from scratch. It must have an appreciation for what has made our nation great. As such, its approach must be practical. Its creed must be to preserve and protect. It’s thrust must be problem-solving.

If and when such a force were to arise from the shambles of our current political landscape, all this will be embodied in a leader. We will not fail to recognize him (or her). Current leadership has strayed from doing what’s good for America, concentrating instead on what’s good for the party. The Obama - Bush - Clinton paradigm has spent itself. There are only two ways in which a third way can assert itself: One is for a leader to appear; the second is by outside events conspiring to forge a ‘third way’ from our existing reservoir of the myopic and the timid. At this point it looks like that the proverbial Zen slap-in-the-face is what's needed.

It is interesting to note that every one of our enemies possess that which we lack: identity. It is identity that fuels their passion. We must display an equal or even greater passion in order to defeat them. They are growing stronger. We must lead by example. We must learn the definition of ‘winning’ - not whining. I understand that’s a tall order for a people who still have to learn what the definition of ‘is’ is.

http://pkoelliker.blogspot.com/

Thinking Outside the Box

It has been noted that if the Chilean mine collapse had happened in the U. S., the trapped miners would have died. After a suitably scripted period of rhetoric and hand-wringing, Obama would have imposed an immediate moratorium on all mining operations, and appointed a committee to propose a series of new regulations; and another to determine ways of exacting damages (fees) for the government to exploit. Such assessment is an obvious slap at our current administration and can obviously never be substantiated . It nevertheless is based on what we have come to know about our leadership thus far - thinking strictly inside the (wrong) box.

It’s the same with our current fiscal problems. Our government’s only solution appears to be beggaring the dollar (as in printing more money). This policy is sure to cause dislocation worldwide. It is likely to hurt us even more than others by making things more expensive, killing jobs even further, and reducing our influence abroad.

Some say that this is actually what Obama wants to happen. If it is so, he’s on the right track. If not, he’s barking up the wrong tree. The only thing that can turn things around in the U. S. is not mere smoke and mirrors; but a single-minded emphasis on growth. Growth is the only sane way of absorbing our debt. Yet every policy proposed by this administration so far, without exception, has been is anti-growth. Go figure!

In order to stimulate our economy, we have to, first and foremost, bring back confidence. This would involve primarily an all-out political effort. We have to convince the business community that the government is not out to destroy it. We have to erase uncertainty by stating in plain English what government policy toward business across the board will be going forward. We have to make investment in American businesses attractive. We have to improve the business climate to attract the best minds along with capital from overseas. We have to quit punishing success. We have to reduce taxes. And we have to stop bad-mouthing capitalism.

To turn our economy around, it will require bold, decisive action. This is what Obama promised us during his campaign for the presidency. Thus far, we have seen only small thinking; tinkering on the margins and all of it wrong. Perhaps he’s aware of the Vedic parable which claims to show that ‘every act of ours reverses itself in its results‘. But I doubt it.

When Shankaracharya (Hindu theologian; 8th or 9th Century), was still young, he decided to renounce the world and become a wandering monk. Monks are never allowed to return home. When his mother died, none of her relatives came forward to cremate her body. Shankaracharya then decided to break his oath. As his mother’s body was too heavy for him alone to carry to the pyre by the river, he is said to have cut it up into portable pieces.

He was a man credited for his ability to think outside the box in search for solutions

He would later be credited with the revitalization of Hinduism which had become corrupt and ineffective and Buddhism was rapidly gaining ground. He established four mutts (monastic schools), one in the north, one in the south, east and west of the sub-continent. These still exist today.

http://pkoelliker.blogspot.com/

Impeach the President

There are two reasons for why Obama won’t extend the Bush tax cuts: one is Bush, the other is ‘tax cuts’. Obama’s sole support came from those opposing Bush. He’s already had to swallow hard and continue some of Bush’s signature policies, especially in foreign affairs. This has already eroded his base of support significantly. Then there are those who have changed their minds about Obama in general. It is fair to say that Obama has very little support from the electorate overall. Caving on the issue of extending the Bush tax cuts will surely erode his base even further, though it is difficult to see how this is even possible at this point.

Two, if, as I have come to believe, that it is Obama’s intent to implode our economy, it would be silly of him to extend the Bush tax cuts. Doing so, would only serve to stimulate the economy.

POTUS may know that even if the economy were going full tilt by the time 2012 rolls around, he would still not be re-elected. In short, he has nothing to lose but his ideological principles. As far as the electorate is concerned, POTUS is dead meat no matter what he does.

I still say, his next target will be our electoral system. Without it, he is free do what he wants, whenever he wants to do it. He’s practically there now with his army of czars and regulators and left-wing judges. The window is closing fast on all those who still maintain that Barack Hussein Obama wants to do us no harm. The only way out for Republicans is to impeach the president as soon as possible.

http://pkoelliker.blogspot.com/