The rebuttal letter written to my letter of March 2 caused me to revise my thoughts slightly, and I also realize that my tone might have been perceived as too harsh when I accused those who voted for Barack Obama of being "clueless."
There were a great many very concerned people at the time, due to the beginning of the economic crisis, and at stressful moments not everyone's judgment is sound. Few would argue that the results of the election might have been quite different in the absence of the financial meltdown. There is far too much harsh rhetoric, and we would all be better off if we as a country at least attempted to compromise.
I need to clarify one glaring error in Mike Tilton from North Tonawanda's March 9 rebuttal, but I appreciate his thoughts and love healthy debate. He attempts to credit Obama's leadership and application of the financial bailout as saving us from an economic disaster. In fact, it was George W. Bush who saw fit to bail out Wall Street prior to leaving office. Almost the entire plan to salvage the system was his administration's package.
The rebuttal letter threw around a lot of numbers disguised as substance. I've yet to see any statistics that haven't been argued as incorrect on either side of the aisle. In fact, at various moments throughout the debate since the crisis, leaders from both parties have had candid moments when they admitted that this financial crisis is "everyone's fault," including individual citizens who exercised very irresponsible financial habits.
All that the Obama administration did was carry the same ball after it was handed off in January of last year. In fact, on so many fronts we could call Obama "Bush II," which is why I specifically stated we need a third party.
This administration has lost almost all the support that placed it there. And not just on the left. Obama has lost the independents who hoped for real change.
I agree with the writer that health care desperately needs to be addressed, and the Republicans have done nothing in the past eight years on that front. But the answer is not to blindly force through a 2,000-page bill. It's easy to see the Democrats are in panic mode, and their motivation to pass any form of health care is more political than it is for the people. What is happening right now with spending is unsustainable.
My desire for a third party is not about what I want, as the writer stated. It's about what I feel is best for this country and our children. So it would be wise to do one's homework before seeing someone's statements as having "no substance." As a country, we really need to sit down and meet in the middle. To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, "A country divided among itself will fall."
| Niagara Falls Reporter | www.niagarafallsreporter.com | March 16, 2010 |