Home of Today's Common Sense

Published in the The Herald 1/15/2006
2005 drew to a politically bumpy close and a new season is starting for 2006, where the congresspersons will face the polls. A new Supreme Court Justice will face hearings amid rhetoric that he is out of the mainstream. In fact wherever you look someone or other is out of the mainstream.
My dictionary defines “mainstream” as harmonizing with the prevalent attitudes and values of a society. From what I can see that “mainstream” is not what is being referred to by the “talking heads”. Perhaps, it is political rhetoric!
It wasn’t that long ago that folks were “dropping out” so as to not be in the “mainstream” or “establishment”; and many of those folks are the very ones clamoring the loudest today.
Just a quick look at the various polls, studies, and recent local and federal elections – in particular the last presidential election would seem to demonstrate an assertion that there is no clear consistent mainstream as it is referred to by the politicians.
Just as when our little group of fiercely independent colonies declared autonomy from England a large part of the residents were opposed but there was a common thread that held them together; a desire for freedom and opportunity for self determination. That is our real “mainstream”.

That thread was also found in the many other immigrants, from numerous nationalities and cultures that came to the United States and melded into the great melting pot of “America”. Each of the new arrivals adapted and accommodated themselves to become Americans and share the ideals that made up the prevailing current of influence. Each of them added something and changed the tone of the “mainstream” but not the prevalent values.
The nation’s founders began with a clean slate declaring that the people were all powerful and very cautiously exchanged little bits of freedom for a bit more security either economic or for more peace and order.
It is not the same today – In today’s world our public servants for the most part have become professional rulers rather than citizen representatives and are usurping our freedoms at an alarming rate, promising all kinds of new benefits that never appear; or if they do, are here for only a most fleeting moments.
More laws are piled on daily, every time something goes wrong it must be prevented from happening ever again by a new law. No attempt is made to see if the situation could be ameliorated with the current ones being enforced, properly implemented, or most likely just rescinded. One only needs to look at our tax laws, the gun laws, or any number of laws relating to qualification for benefits. We now have so many laws that they frequently conflict, have been severely watered down by implementing regulation and judicial legislation or are routinely not observed and provide legal fodder for those who want to break down our system of government even more. This is not our true “mainstream”!
An example of the serious issues that our rulers refuse to deal with while blathering about “the mainstream” is real Immigration reform while maintaining our national sovereignty and others are social security and the horrendously confiscatory tax system. These needs are, a part of the real “mainstream”.
Is there any clear thinking in sight; I am sad to say that I don’t see much, right now.
However, I am optimistic that increased interest in third party candidates and the growth of parties like the Libertarians will precipitate some change. Amazingly, in a real newspaper, I read an Associated Press article entitled “The Libertarian Party fielding record number of Texas candidates.” I am heartened because the story was important enough to even be written by the Associated Press and that it got space in the print media.
One of the really important things we need is more voting choices – it is very frustrating to be confronted with the choice of the “least worse” candidate. “Real mainstream”
Potential independent and third party candidates should also be encouraged at this time in our history as many Republicans are very unhappy with their leaders for not aggressively pursuing the goals of small government and lower taxes but most of all – less government involvement in our lives.
Democrats are similarly unhappy with the circumstances in their party. The Party Chairman is routinely ignored because of his “out of the mainstream” statements; Many in the leadership focus on personal attacks that are designed not to make their party look better but to make their party look “not as horrible” as the other party. Rather than create solutions to the real problems of the “working person” that they were known for they create more rhetoric.
Both major parties need to examine what their real priorities are and focus on the issues not the rhetoric or the third and forth parties will overtake them. “Definitely mainstream.”
We all need to take a more active part in the political process, become involved and vote in primary elections. It is crucial to find out what the candidates will do, not just what they think – we need to ask them and look into their eyes!
Stop and “say hi” to me at the next “Good Government” meeting – while you are there; or tell the moderator that “Today’s Common Sense” sent me!
Most important we must vote! If the Iraqis can face the retributions from the terrorists and still vote perhaps we can get something better than 20-30% coming to the polls.