Bjcorbin's Blog

George Santayana said that, “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it” and after listening to much of the recent political rhetoric, I feel certain that he’s right. Whether it was the bipartisan debacle that preceded raising the Debt Ceiling, the gamesmanship of the Iowa Straw Poll or the president’s bus tour through the Midwest; Yellow Journalists on every side were provided with bushel baskets full of rotten fruit to hurl at one another. When done right, it all sounds very contemporary and cutting edge; but if one listens carefully, it’s really an old song, that’s been sung many times before. Ironically, it is not unlike many of today’s pop hits, which take a familiar hook from an old recording and surround it with a fresh array of electronic effects, to make it sound new. For those who weren’t around to hear the original tune, it can seem revelatory; but to those who were, it feels like a cheap imitation.

It’s amazing to contrast the timbre of pre-election rhetoric, with the tone of mid-term apologetics; and both were clearly on display in Iowa these last few weeks. With Republican presidential hopefuls packing up their tents to leave town, the president rolled into the state on his million-dollar, bullet-proof bus. Despite the precautions, the president took a few shots, not only from the Right, but from those within his own party; many of whom feel as though he’s not sufficiently stood for their cause. As he stammered through an explanation of the reality that made recent compromises (e.g. the Debt Ceiling deal) necessary, he seemed only a shadow of the thundering orator, who only a few short years ago, sparked the people’s imagination. There was little evidence of the seemingly effortless eloquence and self assuredness that accompanied his dialogue in those days; but then again, it’s always easier to paint in broad colorful strokes than it is to explain the details of an incriminating black and white photo. Listening to the Left gnaw at Mr. Obama was eerily similar to hearing the Right thrash George H.W. Bush with the phrase “Read My Lips”; and I couldn’t help but think that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Another interesting tidbit from the bus tour was Mr. Obama’s assertion that real job creation won’t come out of Washington, but that it will be accomplished by the people, in places like the Midwest. While I wholeheartedly agree with that sentiment, it seems a somewhat dubious admission given the grand expectations that were intentionally stirred prior to his election. Politicians on both sides of the aisle are guilty of perpetuating the myth that they can create sustainable jobs, stabilize the faltering economy and maintain our position in the global marketplace. The truth is that the government is not in control of those things and thus no politician can legitimately promise to restore or maintain them. While the government can take steps to help promote such a restoration, none of those actions amounts to a sure fire cure for what ails us. Of course, you wouldn’t know that from the swaggering bluster of GOP hopefuls in Iowa; they are all full of criticism for the current administration and for each other; but I guess that’s the nature of a straw poll. It’s more about hot dogs and hand-shakes than about genuine answers. As I assess these potential candidates, I can’t help but wonder if their mid-term explanations would be any more satisfying than Mr. Obama’s have been. If there is anything that “We the People” should have figured out by now, it’s that there is a world of difference between a gifted speaker, a problem solver, a deal maker and a leader. Unfortunately, we’re top heavy on gifted speakers and deal makers; and desperately short on leaders, who know how to solve complex problems.

As I watch politicians and political parties fall into the same holes that they always have, I find myself pondering whether voters will do the same. Will we seek a legitimate leader or will we run after yet another engaging personality, who promises to make our problems go away. We’ve seen what a Republican administration, with a majority in congress looks like and now we’ve seen the same for the Democrats. Has either party really had the answer for the issues we face? Does it really matter or will we simply vote the same way our parents did. Have we fallen into the trap of believing that the proverbial “they” are the bad guys and that the proverbial “we” are the good guys? In a truly democratic system, the government can’t help but reflect the character of the people and given the current state affairs, that ought to feel like some sort of indictment. Ultimately, we are going to get the government that we deserve; and it’s scary to consider that maybe we already have.

Dear Leadership of the Republican Party

I guess I should start by clarifying that I am not a member of your organization, though I have at times voted for your candidates. In my almost thirty years of voting I have never found enough common ground with either of the major political parties to affiliate with them; and at this point, it seems doubtful that will ever change. While I generally try to steer clear of the bipartisan brawl, my growing concern for the future of this country compels me to offer you a little advice for the 2012 Presidential election. Obviously, you can take it or leave it.

First and foremost, is that I hope the current rhetoric being spewed by many of the GOP presidential hopefuls is just the intro to something more substantive. Simply pointing out how bad things are isn’t much of a platform to run on. Don’t count on getting the free pass that the buzzword “change” got in the last election. I suspect that “We the People” will be looking for a definition this time.

Along those same lines, remember that we are a distinctly western culture and that aesthetics matter more than they should. Offering up a candidate who is nearly seventy years old, and whose political heyday was three administrations ago, would be a serious mistake. Barrack Obama was able to sell the idea that he’d be something different based largely on the fact that he looked and sounded different than the alternatives. Mr. McCain’s campaign was floundering until Sarah Palin entered the picture and her appeal was also rooted in the fact that she didn’t look and sound like everyone else. Those same aesthetics will matter in 2012.

Since I mentioned Sarah Palin, I ought to add that I believe that her political shelf life has expired. If she had remained the governor of Alaska and had led them as boldly as she presents herself, she might be considered some sort of credible alternative. Unfortunately, she quit that job, hit the talk-show circuit and her life has become tabloid fodder. At this point, she seems like a caricature; who has way too much in common with the Kardashian’s to be taken seriously.

Despite what the special interest groups will tell you, the number one issue on the minds of most American’s is the economy, and more specifically, jobs. If you don’t have some new ideas about how to turn things around, I’d get working on that now. Please don’t try to perpetuate the myth of the “Consumer Based Economy”. Low interest rates, more affordable lines of credit and tax breaks aren’t going to bring our economy back; we are not going to borrow, spend and consume our way back to prosperity. Our country has got to find a way to restore the balance between what we produce and what we consume. Trying to defy the law of supply and demand is the economic equivalent of trying to defy gravity.

Speaking of balance, I appreciate the idea that some of your guys have been trying to promote about government spending; it is absolutely out of control. Unfortunately, hammering the budget for things like Medicare and Medicaid, while discretionary spending remains largely unchecked, isn’t going to gain you much support with the American people. If you’re serious, you and your brothers across the aisle need to start axing all the activities that the government has no business being involved in. Using that criterion, you could probably cut the budget in half.

Finally, as a man who takes his morality pretty seriously, I like the idea of the “Moral Majority”. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen much evidence that such a group really exists. But as I’ve watched the last few election cycles, I have become convinced that there is a group of people who could rightfully be called the “Moderate Majority”. I believe that it is this group who represents the swing vote and that these are the people you need to reach. While staunch conservatives may feel that you’ve done a poor job of representing them, it seems doubtful that they’d be willing to re-elect Barrack Obama to another term. Though the extreme elements of both parties will attempt to hijack the primary process, the actual election will most likely be decided by this large group in the middle.

Well, that’s really all I had to say; hopefully something within this will be helpful to you. Good luck with all that, because there are an awful lot of lives and livelihoods that hang in the balance. See you at the polls.

Sincerely – Bryan J. Corbin (Ohio)