Civility in the Modern Political Era

With this week’s death and funeral services of President George H. W. Bush, we have seen a great deal of civility and national unity. It always does my heart well to see this sort of camaraderie in our country, especially considering the constant bickering, name-calling, and hateful talk that normally comes from Washington, and the rest of the nation on a daily basis.

Regardless of your feeling for the former president, one thing that is apparent is that during the time of Bush 41 and before, there was greater cooperation and thoughtfulness in every part of the political arena. Prior to and during Bush 41’s presidency, there were disagreements over issues and differing plans on what was best for the country, but those disagreements were generally handled in a professional and respectable manner even when members hated the other members.

In today’s government it’s quite the opposite. Today, the hatred is openly displayed and even if the members of the two parties actually get along, they can’t be seen as such in the public eye. It’s too hard for these members to admit that while they don’t agree with the other side, they actually can have a friendship with each other. It’s too hard because we as a society can’t believe that we can be friends with those who have different political views.

When Jack Kemp died a few years back, thee was talk about how to bring civility back into politics. When John McCain died recently, there was once again talk of bringing civility back into politics. And this week once again, we talk of how civility has been lost in the halls of government. Yet in reality, all this talk will fade in the next week.

This time next week we will once again be in a place where one state party is trying to boost membership by offering bumper stickers that don’t promote their party, but make fun on the other party’s losing nominee. Next week will see the leader of one party spewing venom at the other party’s leader and vice versa. We will see on PAC running ads not promoting their stance on an issue, but attacking the values of the alternative view. Not telling us why they’re right and the other view is wrong, but simply why those who believe opposite of them are a racist, or degenerate, or whatever attack they can make not to give their views substance, but to denigrate those who subscribe to the opposing view.

Can we get back to a place of civility in American politics and government?  I don’t know.

But regardless of the leadership we are to follow, civility starts like all things in politics – at the local level.

We must learn to be civil to each other, we must learn to be respectful of each other, and most importantly we must learn to make our arguments in support of what we believe and now to denigrate those who believe opposite of us. Until we learn to do that, we are doomed to the same partisan bickering that has our country in a death spiral. AND make no mistake, that is the direction America is heading.

God Speed 41 and God Bless America,
Bill

Spending Bill My Foot!

In the last 24 hours the Congress passed yet another bill so they can keep their doors open. When Congress does this it's called a Spending Bill, when a company does this it's called Fraud, and when we as individual Americans do this it's called Bankruptcy.

But not the government!

For them it's business as usual.

Why do they call it a spending bill?

Because it would be too long it they called it the "we can't live up to our obligations as responsible stewards of the public's money and are completely incapable of balancing a budget" Bill - which is entirely what it is.

Oh, make no mistake about it, both parties are complicit in this charade. When one party is in the power they say it's necessary to keep the country (Code for government) working and the other party says it financial irresponsibility. When the other party is in power they just change jerseys and play the others parts.

In reality, a spending bill means that once again the elected officials and bureaucrats have let us down and are kicking the Washington bar tab farther down the road. A road that is unsustainably deepening with each subsequent Spending Bill.

10 years age, 15 years ago, 20 years ago, it doesn't matter. Every few years we hear how this new budget will put us on a "path to a balanced budget" in the next decade. How's that working out for us?

Basically, the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over expecting a different result. Think about that the next time you rush to the polls to vote for your favorite incumbent. Until we hold them accountable for their inability to meet the demands of the fiscal responsibility that only a balanced budget can deliver, then nothing will change.

Oh, and before some politico or their staff asks you how you would fix the problem, remind them that they were elected to make the changes necessary to do just that. AND if they can't, then they need to get out of the way and let someone in there who can lead.

The answers to fiscally responsible governing aren't hard to find, but they can be, and usually are hard to follow through on.

Cha-Ching – There They Go Again!!

Later,
Bill

The Oval Office and Grandmother's Rules!

Many years ago, folks had respect at all times in the Oval Office. In his book "A Different Drummer," former Reagan White House Aide Michael Deaver tells a story that epitomizes that respect.

As the story goes, he was accompanying President Reagan back to the Oval Office from the front lawn following the White Easter Egg Roll. Deaver describes the day as unseasonably warm and of how everyone was hot and sweaty upon their return. As everyone begins removing their suit coats and loosening their ties, he noticed that the President was not. Deaver suggested to the President that it would be fine if he did the same. With that, the President looked up towards his staff and remarked that his respect for the office and the hallowed they were occupying prevented him from doing so. With that Deaver said the entire staff tightened their ties, put there coats back on, and never again thought of entering the Oval in anything less than a suit and tie during the workday.

This last week, President Trump  invited presidents and administrators from Historically Black Colleges to the Oval Office for a meeting. During the meeting a photographer took a picture of the event. Everyone was standing around the President in a normal staged setting for photographers, except for White House advisor Kellyanne Conway who was sitting with on her feet on the Oval Office couch.

As for me, I’ll just say that she should have been standing and standing out of the way, not sitting in front of everyone on the couch, on her feet on the couch. BUT that should be a minor Protocol issue that can be corrected and not happen again; however, the press and liberals blew it up and then the ensuing retorts from the Right have followed keeping this in the news and making it a much bigger issue than it should be. Meanwhile, the realists of society sit here and give it the much-adieu-about-nothing head shrug.

But here’s the truth, the Oval Office is not just a work place, it’s not a lounging area, and it’s not a hangout spot. The Oval Office is a special place. This is the office of the Commander and Chief of the United States of America. This is where the people of America expect the work of the President to occur. It’s the one office where Americans demand the utmost of respect and decorum.

So whether it’s Kellyanne Conway’s feet on the couch, Obama’s feet on the Resolute Desk, or other frolicking in the Oval Office; it really doesn’t matter, disrespect is disrespect.

But like everything else in the last twenty-five years or so, both sides of the political aisle are trying to one-up each other on who has had the most, or the least respect for the Oval Office. As usual, it’s political gamesmanship, and another episode of the venomous back-and-forth that weakens us as One Country.

So how about rather than making it a Democrat/Republican issue, we simply use Grandmother’s age old test of, “Would you do that in your own home and with your own furniture?”

For the Record, that was a trick question. If you answered no, she would respond with, “Then don’t do it here.” If you answered yes she would respond with, “Well this isn’t your house!”

So just like Grandmother’s house, it’s never alright to disrespect the Oval Office, even unintentionally.

Keep your feet on the floor,
Bill

School Choice or Public-Education Abandonment?

Everyone has the right to a free public education – THAT’S IT! No more or no less.

Just as when the United States was created, the Constitution of Texas also allows for the right of a free public education through high school. It also allows parents the right to put their children in a private school and/or to home school if they so choose (at their own expense).

These days we are seeing an even bigger push away from the public education system in favor of other alternatives. Alternatives such as Private Schools (religious or secular), Charter Schools, Alternative Schools, and Home Schooling. All of these options have their positive attributes and all have shown to have positives as well as negatives.

Which is right for you or your children? It’s hard to say because each child, and each family is different. Are public Schools broke? That depends on which schools you look at, but it has as much to do with the community around that school system as it does the school itself.

Not a single school system can be successful without community/parental involvement in the education process. Schooling our children is an active process. It must involve the parents as much as it does the children and the teachers. Unfortunately, far too many parents only become involved in the education process when there is a problem. Far too many parents are absent from their child’s daily school life.

Regardless of the many issues facing Public Education, removing resources from the public education system is not the way to handle the issue. Our problems with public education have come from the state and federal government confusing oversight with micromanagement.

Unfunded mandates, mandatory testing, and financial manipulation by the state and federal government are the root causes of the educational failure in this country and this state; furthermore, robbing the public education system of more resources will not change that. Stripping away at these resources will only serve to deteriorate the already frail inner-city schools, weaken strong schools, and steal from the small-town local education that is a key part of the very fabric of rural Texas.

I hear many folks say that they want to use the tax money they pay for public schools to pay for a private school for their children. OKAY, but there are so many flaws with that system. First, take me for instance; let’s say I pay roughly $500.00 a year in school taxes on my home. That hardly seems enough were I to elect to send my child to a private school, or to home school them. But I have/had 4 kids in school at one time – YEAP – No Where Near Enough!!!

But what if the state or federal government gave me something like the $4,500.00 a year voucher or credit such as Indiana gives out? That sounds great too; however, what about all the hidden fees associated with private schools or home schools. There’s uniforms, books, lunches (no free lunches in private schools or home schools), equipment fees, extracurricular fees, and facility fees to name a few. I doubt that voucher would cover all that.

Then there’s testing! Yeap, testing is an inevitable part of accepting public money. What about the fact that once private schools accept public money they will most likely no longer have the ability to select the enrollment of certain students over others as they do now. Oh the strings that come with accepting “government” money!!!

In all honesty, vouchers tend to favor people who can already afford private schools. Vouchers help to offset their costs. But vouchers really won’t make much of an impact on those who are most affected by the failing public education system.

Instead of stealing resources from public education might I suggest a few items that will make things better:

1.       More emphasis on local control and less (Or No) emphasis on Mandatory testing!

2.       More emphasis on vocational and agricultural education.

3.       Appropriate emphasis on college prep.

4.       Less emphasis on athletics. Do we really need $60 million-dollar football stadiums?

The problems that plague out public-school system can be summed up with the following: Testing over Learning, Athletics over Academics, College Preparedness over Vocational/Agricultural Education, and Parental/Community Management over Government Controls.

Vouchers, Credits, etc. won’t fix that.

Want to know more? When was the last time you asked public school teachers about this?

I bet it’s been too long!

Later,

Bill 

You’re Not Boycotting Trump…You’re Boycotting America!

                There are few men in America that garner the respect than Rep. John Lewis, but this boycott is not a reason for reverence. Lewis and some 60 or so of his peers in the House of Representatives are boycotting the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45^th President of the United States.

                I can understand being opposed to a candidate for office and not being happy for their election; however, they were elected and they serve as our President. Just as Barack Obama was elected, Just as George W. Bush, Clinton, Bush-41, Reagan, Carter, and on and on. They may not be our choice, but once they take that oath of office they do indeed become “OUR” President – AND the inauguration is a celebration of “OUR” Country.

                When Obama was elected, I heard a lot of folks who wanted him to fail or called him “Their” or “The Democrat’s” President. That was wrong. Regardless of how you voted, the man elected to sit in the oval office is indeed “OUR” President and to wish him to fail is in turn wishing for our country to fail.

That’s why the members of the House who are boycotting the inaugural aren’t just boycotting Donald Trump, they’re boycotting America.

Yes, that’s a strong statement, but it’s the truth. Whether you voted for or against Donald Trump, this is the transfer of power that makes our country such an amazing place to live. Since 1797 there has been a peaceful, respectful, and amazing transfer of power that is unique for all Americans. Boycotting this event shows contempt for the process, and in turn for our country.

By starting this page of history with a boycott, these boycotters have only shown that they are already starting out on a foot of negative wishes, thoughts, and purpose. Yes, it is their right, But that doesn’t make it right.

John Lewis has a tremendous history in the Civil Rights Movement and was a friend of Martin Luther King. I think Dr. King would have looked to start this chapter of our history with good will in hopes of working together for the betterment of America. I believe Dr. King would attend the inauguration with respect, Christian reverence, and in prayer not only for our President, but for our country.

God Bless Us All,

Bill

Private Manning's Communtation!!

In the final 72 hours of the Obama Administration we are witnessing the pardon and commuting of prison sentences taking place at a disturbing pace, and in a disturbing manner. Yesterday’s commutation of Private Manning’s 35 year prison sentence is one of the icings on the cake.

Private Chelsea Manning, formerly Bradley Manning (I refuse to get into the whole transger issue), was convicted of violations of the espionage act and sentenced to 35 years in Federal Prison for his actions. Specifically, Private Manning illegally shared over 750,000 classified documents with WikiLeaks and, in turn, other outlets. These documents were of many different types including items as sensitive as troop movements, incident reports,  and after-action reports.

Documents that explained what our forces were doing, when they were doing them, and how they were doing them. Documents that gave out valuable data that allowed our enemies to know how, when, and where our forces would be conducting operations. Information that exposed the places our forces worked from, when they would be working there, and from what sources our intel was coming from thereby putting those sources in danger.

And even though the press or elected officials won’t say it, most military folks will tell you that the information that Private Manning exposed did put many people’s lives in danger, and most likely cost people their lives. This information was found on multiple terrorists computers including the one taken from Usama bin Laden’s computer. Safe to say they weren’t holding it for posterity, they were using it to attack our sources, our troops, and our security.

Private Manning deserves his term in prison. Actually, he probably deserves worse. The good American Veteran in me says he needs to serve his prison term, as a man. The spiteful, revenge-seeking Veteran in me says he should be released after he is given his sex-change operation, and then he should be flown over and dropped off with ISIS. Let's see how those who benefited most from his treason treat him as a woman (or whatever). Doubt he’d be happy with that.

Instead, he will be released sometime this summer, long after the Obama Administration is forgotten and most of the “Obama Legacy” is corrected. The concern for Private Manning should be his shelf life on the streets of a country he betrayed. He won’t be “just a citizen.” He will be a marked man….or whatever.

48 Hours To Go!!

Later,
Bill

Be Careful with Your News!!

There’s been a lot made of the 24-hour news cycle, false social media news, opinionated journalism, shock-value journalism, and major cable news services in the pocket of one party or the other. To an extent, it’s all true.

But it doesn’t have to be.

I have a close friend who is a newspaper man. He and I have been friends for years even with our differences on many political issues. I consider myself right-of-center to his left-of-center. At one time, we were on rival sides of the political fence as far as holding office as Party Chairs for our small Central Texas rural county. It was the most harmonious of times two party chairs could enjoy as far as working together to ensure smooth elections. Then he moved and…. well that’s another story.

One common issue we both have is where people get their news and how what they perceive a talking heads position as actual news. Twenty years ago, and before, most people got their daily news from three main sources: a local or regional newspaper, the nightly news, and the radio.

Today people are bombarded with news from a variety of sources beyond the aforementioned traditional sources. Twitter, E-Mails, Facebook, Instagram, Talk Radio, text-messaging, Snapchat, and cable news organizations are a wealth of information….AND Disinformation.

I was talking to a gentleman the other night and his line of reasoning came right from the ultra-conservative, conspiracy-theorist, talk-radio game plan. I’ll not mention what programs or sources he had gotten his “news” from, but obviously they came from “news” programs hosted by today’s brand of typical opinionated talk-show hosts – NOT real newsmen.

Listening to him talk I realized how much people rely on all these forms of news and how much they are impacted by this over-saturation of “news.” It made me want to share where I get my news and information and what I feel are good news sources.

First (and foremost), I have subscription to both of our weekly county papers, and I generally read one of larger daily papers as well (Houston, Austin, or Dallas). This gives you the local and regional news.

Lastly, radio and TV news. I know everyone has their preferences but here are mine. Along with our local radio news programs, I watch or listen to three radio/TV programs fairly consistently as I feel they offer the most honest coverage and present viewpoints from both sides of the political spectrum. In the morning, I prefer “Morning Joe” on MSNBC. In the afternoon, I listen to Jake Tapper’s program on CNN and Bret Baier’s program on Fox News. If those programs aren’t on I listen to a mix of the BBC news and Public Radio news with a smattering of C-Span. Yeah, I’m a news junkie/nerd.

And while I am a news junkie/nerd, thanks to my friend the Newspaper Man, I also closely watch what is reported to make sure I know what the truth really is. I do browse the internet for stories, but it’s not hard to get tripped up on a false story from the web, an e-mail, Facebook, or the other web-based sources.

In closing, I often keep this in mind. My Grandfather always told me to be careful and don’t believe anything you hear and only half of what you see. Basically, in regards to the news, what he was saying is if you want to know the truth go out and get it. Don’t be lazy and wait for someone to bring it to you.

As a concerned citizen, gathering honest news is an active process. If you want the truth you will go get it. If you want to be ignorant…. well that’s pretty easy these days.

Extra, Extra…..

Bill