Ms. Smarty Pants Know It All

As the protests continue in the Middle East, I can’t help but smile at a reason beyond the awesome positiveness of people demonstrating their displeasure at their government and demanding responsiveness and change from their leaders.

President George W Bush left office a very unpopular man. He, however, believes that History will temper his reputation and allow him the credit that we, his contemporaries, deny him. I’ve always hated this assumption and believed it to be false. For one, he made his decisions with a huge lack of understanding about basic historical principles. For two, there is too much relevant documentation and analysis to do much legitimate spinning of primary documents in the future.

He, his cabinet, and his supporters are on record thousands of ways about their goals and motivations. And those have always been wrong.

Ok, so now, with the people of these countries raising their voices, it shows that successful revolutions must be carried out by those who are hurt by the tyrant and/or corrupt government. Iraq posed no immediate threat to the United States, and the US has never (as far as I can remember) been able to set up a valid interim “puppet” government.

The country in question has always had to kick us out before they can finally get down to the business of governing themselves.

President Obama has received a lot of criticism about his handling of recent events, but I fail to see the problem. These countries’ internal governance are out of our control and should not be determined by United States policy. Beyond giving appropriate words of support and condemnation, just what is a president supposed to do?

This is my perspective and based on that, I think History says “HA!” to George W Bush. “HA!”

Tags: Governance, History by Ms. SP
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Fifty years ago yesterday, these famous words were delivered: “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”

Well truthfully, I don’t feel I have done a lot for my country. Sure I pay my taxes and vote, but I have not really had to sacrifice or serve or endure hardships for the security and prosperity of my country.

There have been a few economic downturns but I’ve gotten through them (/knock wood). I’ve also lived through several wars with very little inconvenience. (Frankly, that just seems ridiculous to me.)

But now, our country is broke. Our states are broke. Our cities are broke.

By all accounts, the 2% Illinois income tax increase is going to go through soon. According to the numbers, this tax increase, which is scheduled to go for four years, will give us a surplus by the end of that time. Our $13 billion deficit will be erased.

No, it’s not a perfect solution, but it is one that can work. Can’t we just stop arguing and whining and just do this? It’s an extra 2% of my income.

This time, I’m willing to sacrifice.

Let us be brave. Let us be stalwart. Let us leave the next generation of leaders a new start and an even ground instead of a hole.

We, the citizens of Illinois, need to insist that all subsequently elected legislators hold spending and cut costs where they can. No increases in spending. Reductions as we go. And yes, they can have the increased collection of revenue.

It’s four years. Surely we can do this.

In a democracy, we always get the government we deserve and to stand around pointing fingers is meaningless. We all let the debt happen. We were too busy. We were too lazy. We were too apathetic.

We didn’t want to try.

Now, we can actually solve this problem with relatively little effort. If we can really hold additional spending (meaning no new programs), we won’t even have to do any work. It’s sit around and let the math work itself out.

Yes, 2% will hurt. But it will hurt a whole heck of a lot more later.

Tags: Governance, Life, Politics by Ms. SP
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Yesterday, I learned that James Madison, a Virginian, spearheaded the idea of a strong central government that superseded state governments.

Today, I learned that the Federalists got around this contentious idea by having the people be the source of ultimate sovereignty. Any government is merely the agent of the moment, and no government can be fully representational of the people.

The people hold the final power. The national and state governments are always subservient to the sovereign entity that is the citizenry.

It’s a pretty amazing idea, and one that we’ve kind of lost sight of these days. We’ve grown accustomed to having Washington be in charge.

I’m going to think about this for a bit.

Tags: Governance, What I Learned by Ms. SP
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