OFF TO A GOOD START!

The first Political Convention has started and you have to feel good to be an American!  The first speaker focused on Love; the second on Respect.  Both speakers were standard barriers for family values.  The candidate for president, and the president  he is  trying to deseat, are both prime  examples of the highest family values.  Both parties are dedicated to preserving "the American Dream."  It looks like we might have a sane debate on the real issues between the two party approaches to do what is best for America.  Praise God!

A little shadow has started to creep into the picture on the second night when a speaker who is supposed to represent the Prince of Love and Respect, diluted the fundamental differences in the religions of the two candidates in an attempt to gain political points.  This was inappropriate and has no place in this campaign.  Hopefully this speaker and  his views can be dismissed and forgotten.

The fundamental basic issue is "The American Dream;" its definition and the strategy to be used to achieve that dream.  Both candidates are near perfect examples of their parties definition of the American Dream, and their strategies for achieving this dream should be the focus of the debate.  Politically, the dream is based on the accumulation of wealth and materialistic goods.


The Republican Dream is to let everyone be all he or she is capable of being.   The Government  should not aid or restrict this pursuit.  Individual rights are parimount. The extreme contention is that it is a contest, no holds barred and their moral values should be a mandate for all .  The more moderate view  is that everyone has an "equal chance"  and if successful,
there is a moral responsibility to give some assistance  to help the less fortunate  who  have worked hard and played the game.

The facts are that financial success cannot be achieved without assistance from the government.  Our society has become complex and interdependent so that no one is completely self sufficient and they must depend upon the government and others for survival.

It is also a fact that it is a proud and highly competitive society completely
committed to the free business enterprise system.  The society also includes a segment that wants rewards without the work and effort reqired to gain these rewards.

The Democratic Dream is to make the American Dream available to everyone.  The Government should  enforce an equal playing field for all players and provide basic survival needs for those who don't catch the brass ring.  This includes rules and regulations for the game and entitlements for the "also rans."

The two main issues that will be the focus of the debates will be taxes  and
spending cuts.   The problem of taxes is the least complex and easiest to solve, but the most difficult to sell.  The reality is that everyone must pay taxes and possibility that those that have a bigger share of the wealth may have to pay a bigger share of their income, at least until the debt is brought under control.  The thought that increasing business production to gain more revenue thus gaining more taxes may backfire when the problem is that many consumers have purchased more than they can pay for now, and the over supply  will simply extend the recovery period.

There may be also a need for a change in attitudes.  The American Dream might have to include more than just accumulating wealth.  Family values and morals may have to  be expanded to include human values and morals.  We may have to return to the old standard of fair play; and the way you play the game is just as important as winning.

The issue of cutting costs is the most difficult problem.  Cutting waste and corruption is the most difficult to solve because both are difficult to find.    Just eliminating spending without considering  what the spending is for could be counter productive.  Funding for such items as Education, Law Enforcement, Homeland Security, Fire Protection, Infrastucture, Financial Services, etc are survival costs and necessary for any chance of economic recovery.  Cutting Government costs just to have a smaller government could be parimount to cutting off your foot so that you can run faster.

Private Business Enterprise is a major part of the American Dream and is the most equitable way to distribute materialistic wealth, but it is not the sole solution for economic prosperity.  The key is Government leadership from the President and members of Congress, from all political parties.

An issue that may have to be addressed to keep vital necessites affordable is the switch of some businesses from the private sector to the non profit sector, or at least a combining of these businesses in both sectors as we do in the area of Education.  One of those areas could be health care, including insurance for health care.

Regardless of which party gains power, it is highly unlikely that all or many  of the probems will be solved in the near future, but we will survive.  If the Democrats gain power,  the government will take a bigger share of the profit for those making $200,000 to $250,000 per year, and the working Middle Class will have a mixed living standard with  those making  $20,000 to  $30,000 and those that are unemployed struggling but able to survive.  Unemployment will ease quicker with needed teachers, policemen, government service workers becoming immediately employed.
If the Republicans take power some of the higher level investors will become richer but some will fail and loose.  There will be chaos, confusion  and the  possibility of a longer  depression.   Some of the Middle Class will prosper, but most of the  Middle class will live at a lower economic level with the poor and unemployed at the poverty level in dire straits.

The rationale for this is based on the principles of supply and demand and the free private  business enterprise  system.   Business can only  profitably produce what can be consumed and paid for.  Over supply will  cause loss and unemployment.  There will always be winners and loosers but in a weak economy the number of winners will be less and the number of loosers will be more which results in more unemployment.  Just increasing business increases supply which decreases the  value of the supply and will decrease the income and profit which will postpone and lengthen the recovery.  If the government increases the supply of money through payment to teachers, policemen and other government workers that are needed to provide the environment for business to grow and survive, the excess supply will be consumed and eventually, if prudent and efficient action is regulated by the government, a normal balance of supply and demand may return.

With multiple forces involved, rules and regulations must be provided.  CEO's for example should not gamble with other people's money and take unreasonable risks in the hope of gaining a bigger bonus.  If CEO's were personably liable for their gambles there would be more gains and fewer losses.  Since CEO's are not personally liable for their actions, there must be rules and regulations to protect investors. (If we didn't have rules and regulations on food prioduction, how many Americans would be poisened each year? Without law enforcement, how many more crimes would be committed and how many more scams would there be?)_Would  you watch a ball game  without officials to  enforce  the rules and regulations?

Make my day!  Rip this apart!