Here’s some thoughts on the latest handwringing coming from the other side of the aisle.
I’m trying to put the typical conservative complaints in perspective relative to our long history. Now, I know that a lot of what they’re saying is just the same old political crap, regarding immigration reform, Obamacare, unemployment, taxes, etc. It’s all the same old stuff, really, what they usually complain about, and almost all of which has been debunked fairly thoroughly. But if you’re willing to give them some teeny tiny benefit of the doubt regarding their sincerity, there’s still a huge hole to be punctured in their position, and it simply ties into the cycles of history and conservative reticence over doing anything anymore. Follow me over the squiggle, if you wish.
In a broad sense, it’s funny how each generation insists that the US is going to Hell in a handbasket. We always seem to think that our situation is unique and that the country has never seen such awful problems before, especially conservatives. Well you know what, we've had problems like we’re dealing with now many times before, often far worse than now, and we've usually come out of each crisis stronger, as we will again this time. For what it's worth, my nickel analysis says that people want to feel special and believe that they live in a unique time and therefor face unique problems. History is remarkably cyclical. What we face now is no worse than previous generations have faced before and future generations will face again. Welcome to the circle of life. Those who think our times are worse need to get back to more productive activities like chasing those damn kids off their lawn! That is, after they get them to turn down that ridiculously loud music.
These observations about conservative obstruction and handwringing bring me back to the notion of limitless possibilities and John F. Kennedy's declaration 50 years ago when he said in a speech at Rice University regarding the space program, "we choose to go to the moon, not because it is easy, but because it is hard!"
Think about that statement and its deeper meaning. THAT is the spirit that characterizes a great nation. Which is why, when certain conservative politicians tell us we can't afford to do something as simple as insuring all of our people (something that virtually all other advanced democracies in the world already do) or as basic as investing in our infrastructure so that it doesn't collapse under the mere weight of our commute, I find myself disgusted by the petty near-sightedness and small-mindedness that is used to justify these positions and which the modern Republican party has come to exemplify. A great nation does big things. So do we admit we are no longer great, which is what the Republicans are more than implying, or do we roll up our sleeves and accomplish great things together. I choose the latter.