Goals and Respect

So this year I've created a challenge for myself; accomplish 27 things, in this, my 27th year.
One of those things is to blog at least once a week...today is Saturday, a week from my birthday, so I'm going to say this qualifies as my first week, and therefore I haven't screwed up yet.

...the goal of doing sit-ups everyday, has already gone to pot...

I promised myself that when I moved home to start my own business I would leave politics in my previous life...for now. But I'm angry and appalled - and hopefully that this will be my only political blog of this, my 27th year.

As some people know my degree is in Political Science, I love politics, the study of it - but actually the human component is what intrigues me most. America is an amazing creation - I think its funny that in the last few decades we've done nothing but talk ourselves in circles -
A president, entering his first term has basically 12 months to accomplish everything he's promised an entire nation he believes in - all the while combating new relationships, lobbyists, campaign debts to big wigs, and moving into the White House - this is especially hard when you are a Governor moving from your home state to DC.
12 months - that's it - at month 13 you start worrying about the mid-term elections and as soon as you get over that loss (as it almost always is when the party of the President changes) - you are unable to accomplish anything because all the new people have something to prove and are therefore disinterested in working with anyone on a compromising agenda...for now
- then you have to get ready to run for reelection....if you win you're a second termer and no longer have the serious clout to push through massive policy changes ...small things yes...sometimes big things disguised as small things, yes...but really all you get is 12 months.

I find it ironic that for a country at the forefront of new technology and fast change we have one of the most anchored government processes in the civilized world...but probably that's not a bad thing.
We exist within the confines of a government that was founded upon slow change, and yet with each arrival of a new majority - or a new party in the white house - we want immediate results. Half the country is upset that agendas are being 'rammed through' and the other half is mad that compromises are inevitably made from the drawing board to the final floor votes and rarely is the original intent of any bill full realized. Both parties do it - when in the minority, both parties scream loudly in opposition - and they turn around a few years later and do it again.

My real dad is a Col. in the United States Marine Corps. For as long as I can remember, even when I was an overzealous teen and young adult completely engulfed in politics, he refused to talk about the President in any way other than to acknowledge him as the Commander and Chief - and therefore, his boss. He never told me who he voted for...although as a Texas transplant I had my suspicions. From Bush 41 to Clinton to Bush 43, 9/11 and now Obama, his tone has never changed.
I love politics - a wise Tennessee woman named Anna Belle Clement O'Brien once said "politics is a beautiful word to me" - politics is what makes things happen, it brings about change - not always good, but always creating an opportunity to learn and breeding desire in those who agree and passion in those with dissenting opinions.

Another irony I see as related to this topic; in business cutting deals makes you a good and savvy businessman, in politics it makes you dirty.

This past week a HUGE controversy has erupted over President Obama's desire to address our nations school children during the school day - school districts are opting out, parents are being given the option to pull their children out of the classroom during the address, editorial pages have been bombarded with very opinionated voices on the matter...all the while the people suffering most are our kids...in my humble opinion.

Why on earth would you want to teach you child that he or she doesn't have to respect the office of the President of the United States. I might not agree with President Obama, or past presidents -but I listened - I knew why I didn't agree.

Politics has become so BLUE and RED - and quite frankly the more ranting that occurs the closer the two move to a centrist view that is only distinguished by hot social issues like gay marriage or abortion. How many local and state elections have you suffered through were these two issues were at the forefront of a campaign's message? How many times have you followed up to even find out if that candidate would have had the opportunity to take a stance on that issue if elected (most of the time those are non-issues, especially in local, and often in state elections)?

Perhaps there was an underlying agenda in the original address; the general public will never know the truth - but regardless of whether politics existed in this instance, the fallacy lies in the fact that in this county, in the 21st century we don't have respect for our President.

My dad has taught me that regardless of who you voted for - Respect is paramount. I don't care what your politics are, I am embarrassed that in 2009 we still have members of this society that think politics is more important than respect for the Commander and Chief.


What if the tables were turned - what if the nations we work with everyday; Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia, Great Britain, Mexico, China - what if they decided they didn't like THIS President so they were going to sit the next 4 years out and just ignore America? If we can't garner respect within our own boarders, how on earth should we expect other nations to behave any different.