They won!

Friday – July, 16, 2010

They won!

Sorry for being late on today’s FORUM. There was a terrible storm that hit our area last night. We had rain, wind, toppled trees and downed power lines. Our electricity was out for about 10 hours and in that time we had dinner, a walk and a midnight snack. No electricity, no computer and no news. It was relaxing, quiet and under the light of candles, we had a chance to talk.

In any case, I am back on the computer now and writing about another conversation I had with a friend of mine that is a Democrat.

He is a small business man and does have great ideals along with values. This is why I get along with him. We can discuss politics and we can agree to disagree. I don’t think he is too pleased with the President. However, I believe he thinks we need a National Health care program, because as a small business man he can’t afford the coverage he has now.

I believe he doesn’t think we should be fighting a war, but since it is Obama’s choice he will go along with it. I believe his business has suffered, because of the recession, but he believes the President is doing the right thing, because George Bush caused the Recession. But he still is not pleased with the President.

After a brief exchange of ideas and conservative versus liberal bantering, he said we won! We won, so let us do what we think is right. The complaining, the whining, the partisan politics will not change things. He also said because of the partisanship nothing is getting done. I said what do you think needs to be done? He said the poor, the sick they all need help! Well, at this point I asked if he realized that there are more poor people now and there will be more sick people, because of the healthcare bill, it’s provisions and it’s limited access that will result, because of the regulations and mechanism’s that will limit care to those that need it.

He looked at me a little perplexed and said see, this is what I mean. We won, so let us do what we think is right. You guys lost and it’s up to you to win again, so you get to do what you want.

Then it dawned on me. With the “you won” approach, no wonder things are the way they are. With the “you won” approach and attitude are we supposed to just let the other party do what they want, because of ideology and an approach that is deliberate because of the agenda? It is the liberal policy agenda that I believe conservatives are saying no to.

When we had this discussion there was the echo of talk radio in the room we were in. My friend said this is the problem too much talk radio, too much negativism and too much reporting that is not true.

My friend went on to say if George Bush wasn’t the President, we would not have had the recession. I asked, did you ever here about the Glass Steagall Act? He asked what was that something the Conservatives put into place that failed? I explained, the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 effectively removed the separation that previously existed between Wall Street investment banks and depository banks and has been blamed for exacerbating the damage caused by the collapse of the subprime mortgage market that led to the financial crisis of 2007 – 2010. I also explained that the repeal occurred in 1999. under Bill Clinton. Bush had nothing to do with it.
In any case, the result on the conversation was he went away thinking he was right and I walked away knowing that I was right.
Think and knowing are to different things. You really have to think about how to destroy something, like the U.S. economy and liberty and freedom. When you know something is right in your heart then it becomes easy. However, the next election will be a hard fought battle of agenda and ideology. 56% of republicans are highly motivated to vote this fall and only 46% of Democrats are motivated to vote. Could it be that they know in their heart that something is wrong? It should not be enough to just let what is going on now, go on just because they won.
Today’s FORUM was not that exciting let’s blame it on the weather, but as you know, every Friday I end with a quote to think about over the weekend. I hope this will excite you more!

Daniel Webster said: "I shall stand by the Union, and by all who stand by it. I shall do justice to the whole country...in all I say, and act for the good of the whole country in all I do. I mean to stand upon the Constitution. I need no other platform. I shall know but one country. The ends I aim at shall be my country's, my God's, and Truth's. I was born an American; I live an American; I shall die an American; and I intend to perform the duties incumbent upon me in that character to the end of my career. I mean to do this with absolute disregard of personal consequences. What are the personal consequences? What is the individual man, with all the good or evil that may betide him, in comparison with the good or evil which may befall a great country, and in the midst of great transactions which concern that country's fate? Let the consequences be what they will, I am careless. No man can suffer too much, and no man can fall too soon, if he suffer, or if he fall, in the defense of the liberties and constitution of his country."

Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives

A footnote: I believe that these words are what most Americans are now coming to realize and this is what most Americans will be voteing for in 110 days.