Playing a Joke on Congress

Written : Sep. 28, 2010

Isn’t it funny? Stephen Colbert (pronounced Cole-bear), the political satirist and comedian, testified in front of Congress on Sep. 24. He usually puts on a persona and imitates what he imagines is a Bill O’Reilly-like character. At times he makes me laugh, but when watching him I always keep in mind that he’s a liberal who is pushing a liberal agenda, don’t you? Colbert used his one day of experience picking corn as justification to appear on behalf of migrant farm workers.

He stayed in character, though, while testifying in front of the Senate subcommittee. That prompted John Conyers (D-MI), to ask Mr. Colbert to leave. However, the chairwoman and the member who invited him, Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), let Colbert give his sarcastic, comedic performance in front of our lawmakers and the camera. And, you, the taxpayer, paid for it.

One wonders what Lofgren was trying to accomplish by having a comedian entertain at a hearing. Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), who has enjoyed his multiple appearances on Colbert’s TV show “The Colbert Report (pronounced Re-pore),” says Colbert is the best “fake newsman” around. Chaffetz also said that if we’re going to hold a fake hearing, “I guess that’s the best way to do it.”

Nancy Pelosi, (D-CA) said that Colbert’s appearance was “appropriate.” If anyone can speak for the Democratic Party, it’s the Speaker of the House. The Democratic Congress does not seem to respect our institutions: they don’t take the Senate seriously. Do you think paying for a comedian to speak before Congressmen or Senators is a good use of U.S. taxpayers’ money? What if your taxes were spent for a conservative to testify with sarcasm? He’d be given the opportunity to crack jokes, spout his views, push his political agenda, and try to influence our lawmakers. Would you support such an event? I don’t think it’s the right thing to do to let anyone abuse and make a mockery of our political system.

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Social Security and FDR’s Grandson

Written : Sep. 14 and 21, 2010

James Roosevelt Jr., a grandson of U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, appeared on CSPAN on 8/26/10, and spoke at the National Press Club about Social Security. Roosevelt is a staunch defender of the same program his grandfather is credited with starting. He said it’s not in danger [chuckle]. However, he suggested it would be able to provide about 75% of benefits after 2037. To put his comment in perspective, my children will retire (near age 70) around the year 2060, and I want them to receive 100% of what they’ll be owed. The way to pay for it, Roosevelt said, is to raise taxes on everyone across the board with a one percent FICA tax increase on workers and employers, and a higher estate tax on wealthy people. Do you really want more new taxes? I don’t!

FDR’s grandson said the enemies of Social Security want to privatize it, yet he suggested that the fund should be able to invest in private companies (just as many plans do today). James Roosevelt justified his version of privatization by saying that in his plan the risk would be spread over time.

Roosevelt’s predictable positions are full of holes. For example, I am not “an enemy,” and yet I want to allow recipients who are around 20-30 years old now to have the choice to invest their shares in market funds or stocks, as they see fit. They should not be forced into any similar plan, but they should be given a chance to make such a decision. What’s wrong with that? Shouldn’t each person take responsibility for the management of his or her own account? Ah, freedom!

The concern many have over the current Social Security fund is that the huge pile of money has been and is used to pay for other government programs. I don’t think the folks running the U.S. should be using our money in that manner, do you?

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Fires Can Destroy Everything

Written : Sep. 14, 2010

My parents taught me at an early age that book burning hurts mankind. It destroys a product of intellectual thought and creation. The Nazis burned books during World War II. Black and white films of those same fires appearing on TV in the 1960s became a symbol of thoughtlessness, savagery, and destruction to many of us who were learning right from wrong at the time.

Like it or not, an unknown pastor from Florida can draw national and international attention by threatening to burn books. Blame technology, blame our polarized world, but from now on we won’t be able to stop people from getting their 15 minutes of fame. These were not just books, but holy books, religious books, books of God. Pastor Terry Jones threatened to burn the holy book of Islam, the Quran. You may not agree with Muslims, or with their religion, but book burning of any kind is an act of brutishness worth the strongest possible condemnation.

Did Pastor Jones have the right to burn or even to threaten to burn the Quran? Of course, but was it the right thing to do? I’m sure it didn’t occur to Jones, but his threat matched the same level of insensitivity of the object of his protest. Do Muslims have the right to build an Islamic community center (with a Mosque inside) close to, near, or on Ground Zero? Of course they do. But should they?

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Common Ignorance

Written : Sep. 7, 2010

Glenn Beck is a talk show host, not the leader of a movement. Yes, he does have fans. Yes, he held a rally at the Lincoln Memorial on 8/28/10, the 47th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream speech. Yes, he did it for altruistic reasons. King captured the hearts of all men with his inspiring speeches. Yes, you can be white and love the man. Yet, some have questioned Beck’s motives for choosing 8/28. But, just because King spoke on 8/28/63 at the same memorial, does it mean no one else ever can, or should?

The right sees Beck as a sincere, intelligent, and enthusiastic individual, and most treat him as the talk show host he is, not as some kind of cult leader. However, the left sees Beck as they saw George W. Bush and as they see Sarah Palin, as an evil, fork-tongued, devilish moron. They do hate him. I cannot fathom why.

In order to understand how the left views Glenn Beck, you should follow Alexander Zaitchik on the internet and watch him on TV. He appeared on Laura Flanders’ GritTV show on PBS in August of 2010. If I were to lampoon him the way he ridicules Glenn Beck, I’d say Zaitchik was there to push his angry, mean-spirited, left-wing rhetoric and to hawk his book, Common Nonsense: Glenn Beck and the Triumph of Ignorance. But, I wouldn’t do that.

Zaitchik and Flanders, along with another guest, Rick Perlstein, all took turns slandering Beck as a racist nut job, among other things. I can say the name-calling was childish, and not in good taste. Like those who openly hate others, they delighted in exposing Beck’s lurid past as a drunk and a drug addict. Should we really treat people we disagree with this way? How does using derogatory language help our understanding in an intellectual discussion?

Beck does admit he’s a recovering alcoholic and says he experimented with drugs before hitting rock bottom. Shouldn’t sensitive people such as Zaitchik and Flanders show a twinge of sympathy toward a man who picked himself up off the floor of defeat and found success?

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