Is Congress filled with Choirboys?

I want to make a few remarks about religion constraining and exploiting politics. And vise-versa. First of all religion has no place in politics. And politics has no place in religion.

But before we get started, to me religion is an organization. Not a spiritual form or Holy commitment before God and man. The Bible does not talk about religion. Religion is membership and money. Not love peace and joy. More like belonging to a poor mans country club. You must follow the rules or be at risk from being shamed or ostracized.

What I see and hear on TV news and most recently from the Republican debates is more religious fervor and not Holiness. More intent on country club bylaws rather than Holy Scripture. More dogma instead promoting goodness and truth.

In today’s political world, religiosity and its member structure needs willing politicians to do its demagoguery. Do it bidding. Likewise willing politicians need organized religion to fund their campaign. Both feed on each other. Making strange bedfellows. Sort of like sleeping with the devil. However, not sure which one is the devil.

But anyway, what really provokes my sensibility is the moralist politicians claiming to be the chosen voice of the “Evangelicals.” Evangelicals? What is a Evangelical? Jesus didn’t call himself an Evangelical. So it can be surmised Evangelicals are not necessarily Christian. At least Evangelicals behavior suggests they probably are not Christian.

Christians are loving, peaceful, serving people. Not self-serving opportunistic politicians. Christians will give up much of their own worth to help others. Helping the sick. Helping the homeless. Feeding the hungry. Visiting the imprisoned. And maintaining a humble and self-denying presents. “Religion” and it rigid structure is quite the opposite of Christianity. Evangelical is just code word for “do as I say or else.”

Well, enough is enough. More about this later. God bless America and it’s errant politicians

Who are those guys and what do they want anyway?

What do Republicans want? Are there not any proactive programs they wish to present to America? What positive suggestions can they offer to bring the USA back to prosperity?

I know we have heard all about the “Shovel Ready” projects Congress has been railing about. However those jobs are temporary and have no meaningful benefits. No health care, education, and retirement benefits. America wants jobs that have longevity. Americans want careers not part-time/temp jobs that only benefit shareholders. Americans want jobs that benefit the greater good of all American.

Now, Congress wants to get rid of the “Fed.” Along with a dozen or so agencies. Agencies like the Department of Energy, Federal Housing Authority, Environmental Protection Agency, Consumer Protection Bureau, and other agencies that benefit and protect all Americans.

The only discernable goal the Republicans want is to get rid of Obama and rid the whole country of Democrats and Liberals. Is this a worthy goal for America? Will this benefit us creating a one party system? Well, I guess it worked for Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Is this what we want? This is certainly what we will get if we continue to support a do nothing congress that’s only interest is to say No to every progressive proposal. No compromise. No give and take. No sharing of ideas. No measurable progress. Just sit on it.

Nonetheless, Republicans are not offering any significant plans to help America dig its way out of this current economic mire. Just blame the President and criticize any suggestion that isn’t of their own making. No thought on how to revive the economy. No suggestions on how to extend health benefit to all Americans. No thoughts on how to clean up the air and water environment. No ideas on how to better educate our children. No thoughts on how to maintain peace in the troubled spots of the world. No thoughts and no reasonable workable ideas at all. What do Republicans want anyway?

Saving your children's lives is a job killer

One could only conclude that the protectors of the old fashion incandescent light bulb personally must have lots to lose. Losing as in investments in the coal burning electric company. More like losses in coal and hydrocarbon types of dirty generated energy.

As most of us know, the old fashioned incandescent light bulb is to be phased out come January one. The Edison light bulb is to be replaced by a more efficient lesser electricity-consuming bulb. Consuming less energy at least by 25-percent.

However, the coal burning power companies and their Congressional representatives don’t want this to happen. It will cut into profits. Profits made by selling mega watts of electricity. Also cut into profits from the coalmines. All of which seriously pollute the air, water, and ground. Polluted smoke filled air saturated with mercury and other heavy toxic metal particulates.

And it seems that only the Republicans are the defenders of the old style bulb. The bulb, which is more heat than light. Thus drawing more electricity that a more efficient CFL or LED light.

And we can only conclude that the Republicans in Congress are receiving the lion’s share of coal burning power company lobby money. Right? Right!

Republicans have created legislation to stop the energy saving bulbs. Plus encouraging the usage of the old fashioned Edison energy draining bulb. All done by claiming the government is interfering in our lives. More like interfering with the profits of the coalmine and electricity company’s shareholder profits.

So what the Republicans are saying in actuality is they must pollute the air and risk your lives and the lives of your children in order to make a profit. Right? Right! How else could it be? “Inefficiency and Pollution trumps good health. Get over it.”

Just sign the stupid thing and go home.

It appears Wall Street is trading down this morning. One reason is Congress. Congress unable to compromise.

And, one of the chief compromisers is unwilling to compromise. John Boehner (pronounced Boner) won’t negotiate because the TEA party warlords won’t allow reasonable compromise. Bohner, Speaker of the House, is on a tight leash and refuses to compromise. Never mind the rest of America. America wanting to get this done and get the Congress struggles off the news headlines. Headlines most damaging and embarrassing to the Republican Party. Making House Speaker John Boehner look like a monkey on a string.

What is there not to negotiate? Why can’t this happen and all go home. The Senate has gone home and left with the House a bipartisan Senate Bill. What more could the House want? Surely we are not playing junior high games here are we? Come on guys. Compromise and go home. Your Lay-aways are waiting to be picked up.

Congress is the ball and chain of progress.

While the rest of us are struggling with congress to pass meaningful legislation, a few champions of hot button issues, countermand our efforts. A few people, well meaning I’m sure, hold our entire efforts hostage. Held hostage by one maybe two self-serving issues. Issues like Don’t tax the rich” or “anti-immigration laws” or “Oil pipelines built across America” or any number of single issues that enable a few congressmen or special interest groups to roadblock meaningful laws. Laws that could benefit the greater population. Legislation that would enable the hiring of more teachers, more police or fire professional, or create beneficial public works jobs. Nonetheless, single issues that hold America and it’s needed progress at bay. Stopped. Shut down by misguided congressman and lobbyists. Bringing the entire government to its knees. Just for the sake of “Having it our way.” Never mind what is really needed in America. Health care, education, good roads and bridges, better mass transportation, better public safety, and the list of worthwhile projects are endless. All thwarted by egomaniacal creeps who only purpose is to facilitate the few and powerful. Big Oil. Big Banks. Big coal and gas. Bigheaded morons commandeering government. Hijacking our constitutional process. How do we stop this? Vote!

You read the news. You decide.

Let’s step back and look at the big picture. What are we doing to make America strong and benevolent? What is our government doing? What do we see is happening in our little town and in Washington?

While Washington is in boiling disparity and can’t seem to come to some kind of agreement, we citizens can’t to find reasonable leadership in DC as well. All we can observe is strutting politicians tossing about slams and gottchas. Making the Russian government looking better all the time. Well, maybe not but almost.

If you were to ask my own opinion, it is time to totally sweep out the entire of congress. Swish! Swept off the game board like Monopoly pieces. Cleared away. Gone.

The real question is, why do we keep reelecting the same old warthogs? Mental pigmies whose intent is to just keep on being reelected and nothing more. Indicating the problem lays with we the voters. Voting mindlessly as others tell us to do. Others like Talk Radio or Cable news. Two entities with questionable intent and glaring partisanship.

Go back to your newspapers. Newspapers with professional journalism. Mostly unbiased accounting of what is really happening in Washington and in our hometowns. Yes, it does take a little longer to read and decide. But it’s well worth it. You read. You decide. It’s that simple.

Ladies and Gentlemen of congress, please step aside, or else.

How long is it going to take the American citizen to realize that the Republican leadership in Congress is the firewall between big business and consumers? They are the obstacle preventing reasonable laws to protect we Americans from establishing fair business practices, clean air legislation, clean water regulations, and just reasonable environmental protection laws. They are the guys who get in the way of common sense.

It doesn’t take a scholarly writer of public policy to see that the Republican leadership in congress is the hired protectors of Wall Street, big banks, big oil, and hydrocarbon purveyors. You can easily read about what congress is perpetrating against the American citizen. Just read the daily newspaper. Read the weekly magazines. Watch the nightly news. It’s all there. It is easy to understand.

Congress does not like anyone or any organization that stands in the way of “Making Business.” Business at the expense of America and its human and natural resources. No matter if good laws benefit the health of American, such rules or regulations will be labeled as Job Killing and vigorously opposed by the Republican Congressional leadership. And if the truth be known, seldom if ever are such laws ever cause jobs to be lost. More like a smoke and mirror mantra from the leadership.

So, it is easy to see that the Republican leadership is bought and paid for by big business, big oil, and big banks. Republicans want the American consumer and citizen to keep their collective noses out of Washington legislation. Congress is the hired “security guards” to keep America at bay. Holding Americans from entering the decision process. Which if you think about it, is totally against the constitutional process. More like Anti-American. Democracy is dammed. Congress is not our friend.

Wake up Americans! Call your congressman or congresswoman and let them know if they can’t protect the general interest of the constituency, then it is the voters duty to get rid of him or her. It is your responsibility as a voter to find somebody else to represent the best interest of your district. Better yet, all of congress needs to be replaced. Swept out. Start afresh with someone who cares about you and your interests. God bless America.

Nada senor. Congress has done nada. Zip zero!

So far, the current Congress is the biggest “Do Nothing Congress” since the Truman administration. This is according to the latest statistical research. Not much has been accomplished since 2010. Barely much has happened. Nothing. Zip. Zero. Nada. Blank. Just an empty space. Batting .000.

How did this happen? Or, should I say, how did this not happen? What went wrong? How is it that nil was accomplished? Or, unaccomplished? The congressional records only have two and a half pages in its logs. All the invocations, flag pledges, and break for lunch motions and seconds going back to Jan 2011. That’s it. Nothing else. Fade to black.

How could it be that four hundred plus U S Representatives couldn’t get anything done? Was there not a quorum? No House bills to debated and vote on? Could they have been all asleep? Maybe more like out to lunch? Drunk under their desks? What?!

There are no excuses. The zeros speak for themselves. You cannot deny numbers or the lack there of

I think we might have a good case here for an all-new congress. Empty out the house and hire a new batch of Reps. Start all over again from scratch. What do you think?

Letter to our local Editor

Letter to the Editor: Coburn's old news. Janice Lawrence, Sand Springs. U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn's report, which was published Nov. 15 in the Tulsa World, is old news. Who in this United States did not know the wealthy are benefiting while the rest of us are getting cut? Millionaires received $9 billion in Social Security. Did it worry them when they didn't get a cost-of-living raise and their Medicare fees went up? It was a blow to those relying solely on Social Security, local food banks and free clinics to survive. Millionaires received $74 million in unemployment. When their benefits ran out did they have to take their kids to a shelter when they couldn't pay rent? Nearly $114 billion in tax deductions and credits were given to the very rich. More than $21 billion claimed in gambling losses as deductions. Congress claims that because millionaires create jobs and stabilize the economy, their taxes should be lower than the average American. By last count most millionaires moved plants to foreign countries, putting Americans out of work. While Congress is cutting women's programs, children's programs, education programs, Social Security and Medicare, millionaires are exempt. As Republican voters turn a blind eye to this Republican Congress, the segregation of the classes will continue. How much proof, how many more billions need to be reported, pointed out, posted on a billboard for public viewing, before you admit this Republican Congress has and is still cheating, lying and stealing from main-street Americans to keep their millionaire benefactors in their mansions? Letters to the editor are encouraged. Send letters to letters@tulsaworld.com..

No surprise here.

Is anyone really surprised the so-called Super Committee failed? I am almost certain it was set up to do so. Just an exercise to draw heat away from the bigger body of congress. Sort of like a lightening rod away from the house.

So, why is everybody in a big fuss? Get over it. Move on and get ready for some huge spending cuts. We all will have to suck it in.

Nonetheless, I still don’t understand why Congress refuses to pay its past due bills. They borrowed the money. They can tax the rich and pay it back. It’s a simple principle of shopping. You buy whatever on credit. You pay your bill or the bill collectors will come a knocking. Please pay now!

The debt we created must not be left for future generations. It is time for all to bite the bullet and pay off two costly wars and two huge tax cuts to the rich.

Paying off the debt with real money is not a job killers. The recession created by the Bush administration was the job killer. Military personnel coming back from these horrific and pointless wars are what drove up the unemployment numbers. Never the less, the debt was created over the past ten years and it is now due. The collectors need your money now. Pay up.

Tax the rich. Take away loopholes from extremely profitable corporations. The shareholders can pay as well. It’s an equal opportunity debt. The poor and the middle class have already paid dearly. Now it’s time for the Rich to pay the big debt kitty. The military needs your money. Homeland security needs your money. The FBI and the CIA need your money. Servicemen need your money. Border patrols need your money. Our Interstate highway system needs your money. Our harbors and airports need your money. States and municipalities need your money. It’s the patriotic duty of the rich to pay off their debt. You supported Bush. Bush bailed you out. Now it’s time to pay. Big bills or small bills. It doesn’t matter. Just pay it off.

Attention Haves and Have mores!

Let’s get real. It’s time shareholders take a hit. We who live by modest means are tired of shouldering the economy’s debt.

The getting real part is, it’s time for large profitable corporations and the “well off” to also participate in lifting the economy from it’s depth. Yes. You guys must also pay taxes. You’ve been on holiday too long. Paying very little in taxes. Some paying zero taxes. Do you think you are some privilege class? Did president Bush put you on permanent sabbatical from sharing your bountiful revenue? No, I don’t think so.

Secondly, why must congress (if I didn’t know) protect and shield the super rich? Why must you guys be exempt from paying up? Don’t give me those old job maker/job killer foggy excuses. Excuses proven time and time again to be untrue. Bogus. Contrived and manufactured to protect you and shareholders. The national debt is still unpaid. The national debt is old and needs to be paid off. You guys owe this. Step up to your responsibility and pay the government.

The government bailed out you money mongers and you owe them big time. No more skating on ice without paying. No more free hall passes. It’s now time and passed time to pay for your free-float.

Congress really doesn't know this but...

It’s oh so easy to berate Congress. Congress is at its lowest ratings according to a CBS/New York Times poll. Congress is now a Nine Percent Congress. Only 9-percent of the American electorate approve of congresses performance. Hmm. Who are those nine percent? Relatives? Lobbyists? Girlfriends? Boyfriends? Hookers?

But anyway, Congress is easy to besmirch, malign, demean, disparage, put down, and generally poo poo. A person could go on forever. Writing, pointing, laughing, wise cracking, joking, and sometimes wetting one’s pants. Congress could easily be The poster boys and girls of “do nothing.” A representation of how things can easily become inert and useless. Stuck in a mire of distrust of others like myself and too much time spent yapping with interns and eating fried chicken.

Yes, I could say and write all that but I wont. Have a nice day. God bless America anyway.

Gove. Supercuts is suggesting more cuts.

Once again Governor Rick Perry has alienated yet another group. He has spoken. And again without regard to the people or subject. He has once again shot himself in the foot. Who is it this time you ask. This time it is congress. Yes, the U S Congress. Adding to his people and groups to alienate like pearls on a string. He has besmirched our beloved and very low rated United States Congress.

I don’t know of any other individual who besmirches and writes-off people places and things with such dispatch as Texas’ Governor Rick Perry. He focuses, draws his gun, and fires with skill and disregard. Blasting holes in any target as well as himself.

Gov. Rick ‘Supercuts’ Perry has proposed before an Iowa audience to cut Congresses pay by fifty percent. Yes, cut it in half. Reduce it to a wage most unemployed would love to have. Something close to 85k dollars per year. A pay base many Middle American would love to receive.

However, congress (most of whom are Republicans) may not agree with Rick. Thus reducing his chances to become the Republican nominee at the national convention this next August. Gov. Perry’s recommendation is like stirring up a hornet’s nest. And in this case the hornets are self-important congressmen and women. Just the wrong folks to mess with.

Congress neither wants their wages reduced nor do they want any self-appointed numbskull to pry into their personal finances. However, I would guess it would be fair for congress to suggest Rick Perry take a pay cut as well. Actually both ideas are pretty good. Let’s do it!

Congress is madly driven by inertia

The moment the 2008 elected congress took office Jan 2009, all began their reelection campaigns. All were planning their campaign finances just after being sworn in. It was like the starter gun was shot in the air. They’re off!. Never mind previous campaign promises. Never mind assisting with reforms promises as lauded to their constituency. Just make sure reelection campaign funds are in place and just try not to be noticed. Fly low and come out swinging two years from now.

In other words, this is the congress newly elected President Obama had to work and deal with in his first term in office. Resisting, unfocused, and playing to each congressman’s own lobby constituency. Go where the money is and stay away from controversy. Play it safe. When in doubt, just vote no.

So, when these misguided polls come out each week stating how Obama is weak and can’t get the job done, just think Congress. Congress was the roadblock the president had to hurdle. It’s the roadblock that turned good reform ideas into watered down pottage. And, it has only gotten worse since the 2010 mid-term election. Congress still resisting and planning for their Congressional reelection. Thus, a “Do nothing Congress.”

So when you read these polls always look at congress. Congress is the group of nare do wells that created all this inactivity. Congress has sat on their collective hands. Just sitting around waiting for the next election. Could you imagine a football game played with the same rules? “Just hold the ball and hope no one gets hurt.” Buzz!!! “Take these do-nothing guys off the field!!!

Congress caint hellp it

There was an editorial in today’s USA Today. Which is most normal. An editorial asking the general American public not to disparage Congress. It’s not Congresses fault it has very low ratings. Like at nine percentage points. And, with such weak ratings naturally is the whipping boy for all things mucked and mired. “No sir, we didn’t do it.”

The editorial which was written by a member of congress who strongly suggested the problems in congress lay in the office of the President. After all, he has higher ratings. Forty-six percent to be most exact. An intimidation factor for sure. Yes, the president cause congress to roll off the track. Got them all distracted and flustered. “That president guy keeps asking we congress guys to do what we don’t want to do.”
It was the president who wrecked the percentage curve. If he hadn’t achieved shuck high ratings, then maybe congress would have had a better chance at looking better. Are you following me? Looking better through the eyes of the general public. Did I lose you?

But anyway, the president just by being in Washington DC caused congress to fall into a congressional quagmire. Possibly the president had looked out his Oval Office window and cast a spell on congress. Yes! That it. Looking at the capitol building sent microwaves of jinks and rendered all congressmen’s brains into Jell-O.

Please don’t make fun of congress.

Arr. Vote the spineless blaggards off the island.

I am afraid it’s now time to look for a third party candidate. We are not getting the bang for the buck with the current tank of spineless jellyfish. We need energized candidates to run for congress. A blazing and most angry candidates to run for President. Candidates who are willing to resist the allurement of huge sums of corporate and special interest money. Candidates whose own bias can possibly be changed by the wishes of the average voter. A man or woman willing to knock on every door in his or her district.

Well then, If not just a third party candidate, how about a third party. A party without rigid ideology. A third party with wiggle room. A collective of people wanting more from their representatives than snarky bloviating answers.

It’s time to tell the Republican and Democrat parties they have lost relevance with the grass roots. Both parties have morphed into a stodgy circle of covered wagons. A bit too defensive and following the drum of easy money. And for sure blinded by the lobbyist’s warm and fuzzy headlights.

While Congress is in the muck and mire of septic tank politics, the constituency back home is becoming more and more angered and frustrated. Frustrated over the “Do Nothing” congress. A congress that has lost its wheels and lays in the ditch. Uncompromising, self-absorbed, narrow minded, self-righteous, and totally in lock step with partisan dogma. Never mind what real problems exist back home. A bunch of three ring circus beeping-chuckling-water squirting-grease painted-red nosed clowns. Blustering buffoons all of them.

But anyway, a viable third independent party could easily change politics, as we know it. I’m not talking TEA Party. I’m not talking one issue monkey wrench politics. I am talking about a third way that could have the clout and determination to pressure the old ways into non-existence by sheer grunt work. Push the partisans into a middle lane and hopefully get something done for the people. Something like compromise and for the greater good. Mr. Smith goes to Washington kind of politics and getting it done. Think independent. Think real change. Think past party boss politics. Let the people do the talking and make the representatives do the hard walking. It’s time to fix and flip congress. Go Independents!

Letter to my congressman

Dear Congressman,

Back in 1938 my mom and dad were struggling to put food on the table for their young family. They lived in southern rural Oklahoma on a 40-acre red dirt farm. A farm suffering from drought. They had no electricity, no running water, and Living in an almost third world existence. Plus my dad had no steady employment. And as you know the effects of a serious economic depression was still lingering as well. This is not to mention both having survived the horrific rolling clouds of red dust.

Then my dad heard about Roosevelt’s Works Projects Administration. The WPA was hiring strong and willing men to build new county roads and school buildings. My dad quickly signed up and almost immediately started receiving a steady paycheck. Not a lot of money but it helped. The work was hard and dirty but it put food on the table. He and thousands of other men were glad to have such an opportunity from the WPA. It had saved many children from starvation and possibly from early childhood death.

Nonetheless, you can also help provide the same benefit for today’s tens of thousands of out of work Americans. All you need to do is support the A. J. A. The Americans Jobs Act as recommended by President Obama. President Roosevelt had his nay Sayers but they were proven wrong. President Obama also has his detractors and doubters. However, you can prove them wrong as well by supporting the AJA and put thousands of Americans back to work. Please support and vote this Act into law. Thanks for your help. God Bless America.