We All Lose In A Game Of 'Chicken'
As a kid growing up in Joliet, Illinois I was raised with the idea that politicians were patriots. Yes, patriots, and I have proof!
I was 4 years old when Dwight Eisenhower made a whistle-stop at Union Station in Joliet. My parents took me with them to hear his speech and when "Ike" walked down to shake hands in the crowd, my mom thrust me forward towards the World War 2 Commander and hero. He shook my hand, patted me on the head and told my mom to make sure that I grew up as a Republican. Oops...Sorry Ike.
I know that there were many times in our political history where smart, caring and successful citizens would put personal financial ambition aside. They would take a break from making big bucks in the private sector and run for office for a chance to advance the interests of the people.
In fact, there were Statesman in the past, not just Politicians. A "statesman" worries about the next generation and a "politician" worries about the next election.
Some will argue that President Eisenhower was not a great president, but he was to me and my parents. He was our biggest war hero, he could have rested on his laurels but he ran twice and won twice to become our president. And, he shook my hand and patted me on the head. Once again Ike, sorry that I became a democrat.
Unfortunately, politics has become much uglier since the day that I met Ike in 1952.
I have been stunned by the animosity between our 3 parties. Yes, three! The Democrats, the Republicans and the Tea Party. The politicians in all three parties are playing a giant game of highway chicken in which the driver who does not swerve will cause a catastrophic crash of our country.
Games of chicken are won by drivers who are able to convince their opponents that they won't swerve. All three parties have forgotten why they were elected as they fly down the highway in their deadly game.
Disagreement over the nations budget should be worked out through the constitutional process of majority votes in congress, followed by the Presidents signature or veto, and the right of Congress to override the veto.
Our legislators have created the disasters in our economy and now they are working to further destroy our economy when their demands aren't met.
I shudder at the thought of Medicare being turned into vouchers that are funneled to private companies and turning Medicaid and food stamps into block grants delivering less to the needy. Right Ike, I am a democrat. Sorry.
Standard & Poors has downgraded America's credit outlook All three parties are still pointing fingers at each other forgetting that when you point an index finger, three fingers point back at you.
Stop the game of highway chicken between the parties. Stand up...Do the right thing...Become Statesmen, not Politicians.
Once again Ike, sorry about the democrat thing. You are still a hero, a patriot and an honorable man.
We need many more of you now.
Cheryl Hibbeler
7:39 pm on Monday, August 8, 2011
Here, here, Jim. You are so right. Instead of "Let's do what's best for our country!" it has become "Let's see how we can sabotage our opponents"
don crozier
7:41 pm on Monday, August 8, 2011
Well said Jim!
Gabe Cotton
9:00 pm on Monday, August 8, 2011
I very much like this concept of "Statesman", as opposed to Politicians. Thank you for sharing, Jim! Well written, sir.
Jim Frain
9:26 pm on Monday, August 8, 2011
Thanks Cheryl...stop the sabotage of opponents and begin to focus on what is right for our country and all of its citizens. Thanks Don...I respect you and appreciate your compliment. And Gabe...You are such a passionate person who loves your country. Let's all hope that when congress comes home for recess that our citizens will get their attention to finally do the right thing.
Jim Pepper
8:03 am on Tuesday, August 9, 2011
The office of President is often referred to as the leader of the Free World. Isn't it about time for a leader to miracously appear? In my life time there have only been three great leaders in my opinion. They are Harry Truman (sorely under rated), John Kennedy and Ronald Regan. The rest pale in comparison. These leaders made the hard decisions, stood by them and accepted responsibility rather than try to blame others for their own inadequacies. That is what a statesman and leader should do. Liberal or conservative, Republican or Democrat, all should realize that the economy is not an open checkbook or unlimited credit card. Sometime it has to be paid back. I would prefer to leave a legacy to my grandkids and their kids of low or no debt. I can't run my household like that so why should the Feds.
Jim Frain
8:24 am on Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Thanks for your comments Councilman Pepper. I agree that we need leaders to appear, not just in the presidency but throughout the entire congress. And yes, we need "statesmen and leaders"...not "politicians and followers"...We hope for the same Mr. Pepper!
Elizabeth
9:16 am on Tuesday, August 9, 2011
I couldn't help but notice that you apologize four separate times in your article for being a Democrat. Why?
Jim Frain
9:22 am on Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Elizabeth, the "apology" was "tongue in cheek" based on the statement from Ike when at 4 years of age he shook my hand and patted me on the head, asking my Mom to raise a good republican. Obviously, President Eisenhower was a republican. Hope that explains it.
Elizabeth
10:17 am on Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Thank you. That clarifies the general "tone" I inferred from your writing. I'm curious, do you blame your own party equally for impasse? Or just those pesky "tea party" spoil-sports? True, you don't quite blame them directly, but the fact that you name them as a 3rd party (which is inaccurate, since it is a movement, not a party) speaks volumes. You admonish "our legislators" as being the root of our problems, but in the same breath use "tongue in cheek" statements to imply an air of superiority in your political leaning over that of a man you claim to respect. Maybe the bigger issue is that too many voters put politicians into office based on their party affiliation instead of their character and ideology. In other words, you get what you pay for. Yes, all of the "powers that be" were involved in creating this mess and participated in the "gridlock" of our debt issue (which still remains unresolved). But we gave them the power to do that. Every time a voter chooses to vote by party, we increase the percentage of politicians in office instead of patriots. We don't just need "leaders" in power, we need "leaders" to put them there. While the populous is busy pointing our collective finger at the politicians, we should be pointing it back at ourselves.
Jim Frain
10:32 am on Tuesday, August 9, 2011
A simple and uncomplicated response....Our legislators need to work together for the good of our county, they are not doing this now. Republicans and Democrats along with the Tea Party movement look at this as a daily battle to blame the other side. This is totally wrong. I have never voted by party...I vote for the right man or woman who I believe will do the best job. A large percentage of our citizens do not vote - therefore, they have "voted" not to care and they should remain silent. You are wrong on the "air of superiority" statement towards me.
Elizabeth
10:51 am on Tuesday, August 9, 2011
My apologies if you are offended by my comment. Text is a precarious thing, full of of supposition which is why I asked my question and later used the word "inferred" in regard to my understanding of your blog. I don't recall writing that you personally vote party ticket. I stated that anytime A voter chooses to do that, we as a country reap the consequences of that choice. You must admit that that happens at a formidable rate each election, from both sides of the spectrum. I'm curious why you bring up the citizens who choose not to vote. I agree that if a person doesn't vote, they have no right to complain. However, the same logic applies that those who DO vote. We are to blame for bad politicians and an ineffective government. After all, we put them there.
Jim Frain
5:38 pm on Tuesday, August 9, 2011
I leave you with a quote from President Eisenhower that should be listened to, understood and followed through by our President and the Congress to begin to pull us out of the problems our country faces...."I have only one yardstick by which I test every major problem --- and that yardstick is; Is it good for America?".....So please, ask your elected officials to do what's what's right for America now - not what is right for their re-election, their pocket book or their special interests. Throw off the dirty rags of a politician and wear the rich silk of a statesman...... NOW.
Christy Martin
8:28 am on Friday, August 19, 2011
On a news cast last weekend one narrator made an interesting observation. He said that the majority of our politicians are now made up of lawyers and lawyers basically make their living by arguing and debating. No offense to lawyers out there, but I think the man had a valid point. We need more people in office who have different backgrounds and may be able to bring in some new ideas and ways of solving the many problems we face.
Jim Frain
9:07 am on Friday, August 19, 2011
Thanks Christy...Interesting point about a majority of politicians being lawyers. The signers of the Declaration of Independence had a wide range of backgrounds..14 Farmers....13 Merchants...11 Security Speculators...8 Office Holders...3 Retirees....2 Scientists...2 Physicians....1 College Professor. Much more diverse than now...Did you notice? No lawyers! Good...Also, no women..Bad! It took way too long for women to earn the right to vote.