Congress needs to sober up and get off the train.

"Riding that train - high on cocaine. Casey Jones you better watch your speed."

These words by Robert Hunter, made famous by [the] Grateful Dead have been ringing in my head for weeks as I struggle to understand how Congress lost it's way. Rather than eying the tracks for trouble, they've jumped on board and driven it right down our throats.

There was a time in our nation's history when duties of the US Congress were clearly defined and limited. Ditto for the executive branch. But decades of action - completely unimagined by the framers of the constitution - have built on the precedence of previous and ill-gotten entitlements to power.

It seems that every time the idea pops up that "Somebody ought to ..." the US Congress or President steps in and assumes control - whether it's appropriate or not. Now it seems every action they take is geared to "save" us from their snowballing failures.

So what is Congress supposed to do? Protect us. Not "save" us, but protect us.

Protect us from countries who want to destroy us. Protect us from hurting each other by defining boundaries of acceptable behavior. Protect us by providing oversight and wisdom in complex situations that trickle down to the general population.

Instead, Congress has been indulging us like the parent of a teenager with a princess complex. Anything you want, honey. Crash your car? We'll get you a new one. Credit cards maxed? We'll pay your balance. Just love us in return.

The princess gets what she wants without sacrifice or consequence. Sound planning and lessons in sustainability are replaced with easy outs and instant gratification. When she gets into trouble, she bats her eyelashes and someone comes to her rescue.

The story ends with the princess divorced and over-forty, decorated in worn-out Jimmy Chu pumps and a blanket of debt. No inheritance will bail her out - the money was spent it in her teenage years.

Congress needs to stop indulging the princess. Teach her the hard, uncomfortable lessons that prepare her to interact with the world. Cut up her credit cards. Stop saving her from the consequences she's earned.

Congress has been drunk on the affections gained by enabling the princess - which naturally will erode from gratitude into a sense of entitlement. Now that those affections are gone (a 10% approval rating for Congress should be suitable proof) Congress needs to deliver some tough love.

The bottom line: Congress has no right or duty to buy up private paper. The market will adjust dramatically, but we will recover. And just like a grumbling teenager who just heard "no" from her parents for the first time - we'll get dramatic and freak out. But that's what needs to happen if we're going to be allowed to grow up.

Nancy Pelosi--Wine, Woman and that same old liberal song

Is anyone alarmed that Nancy is third in line to the president? Can I see a show of hands please?  Anyone?  I'm sorry, are you still getting over the shock of that question?  It's okay.  It took me awhile to wrap my head around that one too.  

 What surprises me most about this presidential election is not the Jeremiah Wright Sermons, or the fact that someone wants to change my country, or a woman 2nd in line to the presidency.  What surprises me most is that this election, according to the bloated news coverage and the screams from the left, is really not about the presidency after all. Nope. This election in November is about the Vice Presidency.  We should rename it, the "Vice Presidential Election."  Has a ring to it.  I like it.  Even sounds, well, presidential.

 I have been voting for nearly 20 years and I cannot remember a time when I was so strongly encouraged and warned to carefully consider my vote for the Vice Presidential nominee. Dan Quayle was laughed off the podium for talking about that inane and ridiculous thing called "family values." Oh yes, and let us not forget the first woman VP nominee, Geraldine Ferraro............   So, hey, while we are at it, let's talk about the great Napa Valley Wine Star, Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. Because if we are talking about 2nd place, we should talk about 3rd place.  Potatoes, potahtoes.

9/23/08:  Nancy Pelousy, in her regally coifed manner, essentially stated,  "our current economy is the prime example of why free markets do not work."  She then chastises the Bush administration's lack of regulation and blank check policies, blah blah blah.  Nancy, Nancy, Nancy.  

 That statement  would make sense and would be true if we, the educated public, were never taught in elementary/middle school about how our government works.  GOVERNMENT 101: Congress has the authority and is responsible for the general welfare and financial and budgetary matters of the United States.   I clearly remember referring to Congress as providing checks and balances over the Executive Branch.  Furthermore, Congress has what is called "Congressional Oversight."  This oversight is usually delegated to Committees.  Allow me to list the Chairs of Certain Committees:  Chris Dodd (D), Chairman of Housing, Banking and Urban Affairs. Barney Frank (D), Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, and who, along with his Democratic colleagues in 2005, opposed a Republican bill that would have created an agency within the Treasury Department to provide oversight of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.  The fear of the Democrats, as explained to us by Barney, was that the bill would be taking away affordable housing from the lower and middle class, AND, as he further stated, "Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are fine."   Now,  Ms. Speaker, free markets, as you loosely stated, lacked oversight,  so just where was the Congressional Oversight?  If free markets do not work, what markets do you believe, do work?

Nancy, we hear your whine; we know you know about wine.  But please, do us middle class Americans a favor and sing another song...maybe something along the lines of UB 40's Red Red Wine.  That song is old, but I can dance to it.

I am Miss Tory, and I approve of this message.  

  

Let's Do It by the Numbers

It seems so much is about simple numbers lately. The price of gas, the amount of the next federal bailout handout, John McCain's age (Whoa! Nellie!). So it's time we look at a few numbers that matter.

Speaking of the economy, it seems our "friends" (I do type that with a sniveling sneer) on the left wing of this free bird we call America seem to be following Senator Obama's lead and are reading a lot of Leninist literature lately. In typical mob-mentality fashion they are bloodthirstily screaming for the rape of the rich who are unfairly hoarding the fruits of their years of gainful, diligent employment and ingenuity (um, I tried to write that with a straight face. Let's just assume that statement is true. Come on, pretty please? With a cherry of credibility on top?) And so they demand the taxation of the rich. That is, the increased taxation of the top earners in this great nation. They claim the rich are not taxed enough.

Shall we take a peek into the Swirling Kaleidoscope of Truth? a.k.a. the .jpg image? The evil rich are not paying enough taxes when they are paying nearly 90% of the nation's taxes. The truth is, in fact, that the top 1% of income earners in the U.S. pay the same amount in federal taxes as the bottom 95% (source). Leave the tax issue alone. We pay enough taxes--and if you want more tax income for government programs, that income is going to come from the lower tax bracket folks. Just look at the data again. So let that old dog just die. And quick kicking him.

And how about the recent report that came out about our well-to-do friends in Congress? I'm wondering how Mr. Kennedy ended up in the #9 slot. John Kerry was #1. Take a look at the roster of our lawmakers and wonder at how they can sympathize with the common folk. Tax holidays? Who needs 'em? In fact, those sorry civilians surely can cough up an extra $700 billion to give to our friends--er, irresponsible big banks and lenders--you know, to save our country and whatnot. God Bless America and whatever.

And that's our first session of By the Numbers. Thanks for counting with me.