Nightmare On Pennsylvania Avenue

President Bush's administration has proved once again why Republicans should not be in charge of our nations safety or our economic/fiscal well being.  What has happened to our country and its people is a direct result of Republican ideology and arrogance.

 

After being sworn in as our 43rd President, Mr. Bush set a course to bring kingship to Washington where he would rule as such.  It started prior to taking the oath acting in tandem with the warped mind of Dick Cheney.  From that day forward, there would be no open government for the nation and its people.  Everything would be done in "hush-hush" and secret --- no checks and balances, no oversight, no regulation and above all, never answer to Congress or any other entity.  

 

They met secretly with representatives of the energy industry and made decisions that affect Americans and kept the details of those discussions and decisions secret.  The people would later find out the details in the form or $130/barrel oil and $4.00/gallon gasoline.

 

They started a war and occupation with Iraq over WMD that did not exist and payed only lip service to the people responsible for the tragic events of 9-11.  

They adopt Reagan's ideology of trickle down economics with tax cuts that benefit the wealthy instead of having a true economic and fiscal policy for a sustained economy, job creation, and balanced budgets.  They have since joined other Republican administrations in having one of the worst job creation records in the last 60 years and having ended their last year in office with job losses every month, stock market and financial market meltdowns, and a recession in many sectors of the economy.

 

They walked away from the balanced budgets and surpluses of the previous administration and committed the nation to record deficits and record debt.  With Bush having a 27% approval rating, we are a nation and a people without a true leader. 

Good news, however: The nightmare is almost over.

Time For Action

Both Presidential candidates and their party have attacked the excesses of corporate America, Wall Street, CEO's golden parachutes, and other extreme benefits to the wealthy.  It's a good sign but remember this is an election year.

 

If both parties are serious about this rape of America, now is the time for Democrats and Republicans in Congress to come together and demand, "no more."  They should put corporate America and their lobbyists on notice.  There will be regulation, oversight, checks and balances, and accountability. No more special favors and no more special access to members of Congress. 

 

The second thing both parties must do is review the tax code and eliminate all the loopholes that benefit the wealthy and well-off.  Loopholes and special favors do not get into the tax code by accident --- Congress put them there and Congress needs to fix it.

 

Reigning in the excess of corporate America won't be easy, but it can be accomplished if both parties exhibit backbone.  The time is right and the voting public should demand action and hold both parties accountable for their actions, or rather, inactions.