J. D. Pendry

It is Inauguration Day. Either you voted for or against the person taking the oath. Or, you sat at home due to apathy, disenchantment, because you wished to make a personal statement or for some other as yet undefined rationalization. Either you fulfilled your obligation as a citizen to the greatest representative republic in recorded history by voting or you did not. It really is that simple. Your rationalization is irrelevant to a nation on the brink of becoming something none of us can recognize anymore. What is relevant is that if you did not participate, you forfeited your voice either for or against whatever follows the inauguration speech

Across the globe, in places you have never heard of and in places that are also in the news every single day, American fighting men and women confront people that wish you and me dead and who do not like the idea of free people choosing their leaders. They are trying to help nations of oppressed, terrorized people progress into nations of free people with the opportunity to vote for the leaders they want. They are doing just what they did at the beginning of this free nation. Voting and choice is something you value when you never before had either or maybe when it is gone.

Here in the world’s best example of freedom, a place that some scholarly types have dubbed the world’s last great hope, we consider anything approaching 50 percent as a great voter turnout. Less than half of us, who can, often choose the leaders for the rest of us. When we look at the products of some of those elections, it is not always obvious that it was the brightest 50 percent who actually went to the polls. Yet, it was the 50 percent that fulfilled an obligation of their citizenship and helped choose the direction of our nation through participation rather than consternation. If you, for whatever reason, sat it out then by your action you expressed contentment with that direction whatever twists and turns it brings. That great silent majority we hear so much about does not amount to a hill of beans if it indeed is silent on Election Day.

Following his speech, President and Commander in Chief Obama immediately began to fulfill his promises. Trying to correct what he called America’s greatest foreign policy mistake, he ordered the immediate stand down and cessation of action by all United States Military Forces currently in the Middle East. He reiterated his position that this is a war that should have never been started, should have never been waged and has resulted in wasting the lives of the bravest young Americans. He reminds us that the money wasted on George Bush’s war could easily fund many programs here at home such as his plan for subsidized and socialized medical care. While US Forces are in stand down, President Obama fulfills his next promise to hold a summit with Muslim nations for his stated purpose of improving America’s image. He then follows through on his commitment to meet unconditionally with Raul Castro, Hugo Chavez and other dictators. Michelle Obama reiterates that for the first time in her life, she is proud of her country. The question left in the minds of many Americans is what country is that exactly and is this the change with which we thought we could live?

Following her speech, President and Commander in Chief Clinton began to fulfill her promises by ordering the stand down and immediate redeployment of all United States Forces from the Middle Eastern theater of operations. She instructs the Democrat led Congress to give her legislation to sign into law that immediately repeals the Bush tax cuts and adds new taxes on energy company profits. She also wants legislation that provides a $5,000 baby bond to each of the nearly five million new babies born each year. A gift that will likely cost that baby more in a lifetime of taxes than it will actually ever be worth. She also asks for legislation that begins the national health care payroll tax deduction. This is to ensure that all Americans do, in fact, purchase health care coverage. This of course will be a proportional tax, one that distributes the total cost to those most able to pay it. Then she asks for a new payroll tax. This one she needs to fulfill her promise of a 401K retirement plan for every American. This is in addition to the increases needed to sustain the current social security and Medicare systems. Her promise of taking from some of us to the betterment of all of us is fulfilled. Somewhere Karl Marx dances a little jig. Bill Clinton continues to be Bill Clinton.

Following his speech, President McCain… Oh, sorry, there was no President McCain …

Copyright © J D Pendry 2008 All Rights Reserved