Yes, this is another one of my "boring" political blogs dealing with the subject of economics.  If you don't like reading about these things, I suggest you move on to something that is more of interest to you.  It contains something from the bible at the end, so if that offends you, you might want to move on as well.

There is plenty of blame to go around for America's downgraded S&P rating.  While most of the blame, in honesty, is on the shoulders of the Republicans, the Democrats have to share some of the blame.  Our Democratic president seems to be wanting to be liked by the Republicans so much that he isn't firm enough with them and seems to be afraid to use the veto pen.

The major cause of the crash of the economy was during the Bush administration with unnecessary wars, enlarged government task forces to enlarge the "War on Drugs," Homeland Security, etc.  The Republicans don't want to admit to that, being the party that is supposedly for smaller government.  Obama continuing Bush policies by giving even more bailouts to companies with poor business practices, extending the Patriot Act, etc.

President Obama didn't do what he should have when he had a Democratic majority in Congress.  He has also backed down to the Republicans at almost every turn in the name of "compromise" as if he didn't have veto power.  Yes, he threatened a little to veto, but he didn't follow through.  The worst thing he did, though, was offer the Social Security fund, which is NOT part of the deficit, to the Republicans to reduce the deficit.  The old phrase "Robbing Peter to pay Paul" seems to fit the situation.  The Democrats who stood with the Republicans are to blame as well.

The word "entitlements" has been thrown around a lot to make it appear as if people are getting something for nothing.  They seem to forget that people worked long, hard hours to pay the FICA tax.  You couldn't make enough working 40 hours a week to pay the full amount of FICA some years.  When the company didn't offer enough overtime, it was impossible to pay the full amount.  That is not "getting something for nothing." 

The Bush tax cuts obviously did not create the jobs that were promised.  The multinational corporations who benefited most from the tax cuts took the money and put it in offshore accounts where it couldn't be touched by the government and did not reinvest in the U.S. economy.  Nothing has "trickled down" to the average American, yet it is the average American who is being asked to foot the bill for the extremely large bailouts which are crashing the nation's economy.

At this time when the economy is in such dire straits, rather than doing what FDR did by creating government work programs so that people can make enough money to survive, the rich are singing a Dire Straits song... "Money for Nothing."





I suppose all the poor and lower middle class in the Tea Party think they're going to get money for nothing, too, but they're sadly mistaken.  I'm curious to see how they react when reality slaps them in the face.  I think it would be safe odds to bet that they will be singing a different tune when that happens.  Of course, they may be too brainwashed to realize what it is that happened to them.  They may just continue to think that what happened to them happened just because there was a "black Kenyan" in office.

I think there is some hope for the country if people consider the truth of what happened.  That will consider some realizing that just because a person claims to be representing Jesus that he really isn't.  That might be a big step for a lot of people, though I have seen a few of the more honest ones make that determination by themselves.

The rigged voting machine issue hasn't been addressed much and that could be a problem considering the power that the Supreme Court has given to corporations.  As a reminder, here is the courtroom testimony.  If you don't watch the whole thing, you will miss the most important point.






Those with enough money and power, it seems, can make the outcome of an election whatever they want it to be.  Sadly, some programmers will do anything for enough money, even if they know what they are being paid to program the machines for.

If the outcome of elections can be so easily and undetectably changed to suit a particular party or representative, the polls may not be particularly useful in making a real change.  We can maintain hope, but let's be aware so that it's not false hope.

For those that are overly worried about the current situation and what the future holds, all I have is this to offer.

Matthew 6:25-34

New International Version (NIV)

Do Not Worry
     Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?

    And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe youyou of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear?  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Footnotes:Matthew 6:27 Or single cubit to your height