HOWDY DOODY AND THE SHADOW

(Partially revised since late Monday evening)

The headlines scream that a resolution of the fiscal cliff  has been achieved.

If on the final days of 2012  and the hopeful start of a better new year doesn't piss you off, then please read no further.

Common sense dictates that we - regardless of our party affiliation - and who are actually VOTING citizens - need to understand that we were only a pawn in a political game waged by both political parties and by the media.

One tactic - and it was a good one that helps us to remember why and who won the last election - was to put the House Republicans in a indefensible chess position.

The media were quick to jump in. They would say or write anything to convince us that we were all going to go broke if the  party of the opposition ( for me it was a case of "pick one") did not compromise on their beliefs.

 We need to understand (Howard Kurtz aside) that the  original goal of the Press - "to inform"  has been replaced by one that seeks "to foment.".

Folks, once more, Washington has used and abused us - and the media folks only expedited their goal to do so. Unless you're really into human bondage (and I think I heard one reader shout out "Who's not?"  you got to think about this for a few minutes.( not the bondage stuff - the media)

 Once more, - strictly to sell papers, magazines and products - we were supposed to become convinced that, as an inevitable conclusion and - in true Henny Penny style  - the sky was falling.

It was hard - but not impossible - to find a responsible news source that was willing to say, "Hey, let's think about this for a minute." 

Hell, many people were still recovering from the so-called Mayan death scare - also repeated over and over again by the attention starved media. ( And, when we say "people" we're not just talking about the ones now busy recycling their tin foil hats).

Could have been a disaster? You betcha. Would have been a disaster? Depends on whom you choose to believe and just how long you've been following politics.

If we were scared - and which of us was not truly concerned - as to what might happen to us - our  children - and those we love - let's not forget - we were also being manipulated. Everybody - Republican and Democrat - had a finger in our pie - and something to prove.

What is apparent to all is that the resolution of the fiscal cliff is something that could easily have been avoided a long time ago.

Until we take the opportunity to determine the identity of the "individual" roadblocks to bipartisan politics - and vote them out of office - will we understand the power we could have had.

Unfortunately, during the last two elections, we did just the opposite and in many cases - voted out the few established reasonable minds that were remaining - and replaced them in the ballot box with the recalcitrance of misinformed youth.

How long are we going to allow this to continue? Maybe a better question is "How can we identify the worse of the worse?"

Is their a cottage industry for informed people who would be willing to release easy to read and understand monthly reviews of the actions of our congressional members - on both sides of the aisle? And if so, would we take the time to read those assessments?

Can we find an organization that we can trust to report responsibly just exactly who is getting the most money from special interest groups and the consequences for you and me? They are out there. They just can't get our attention.

Or would we only read what they concluded if  what they had to say agreed with our preconceived beliefs. When I was younger I was a huge James Baldwin fan - despite the fact I had no desire to be either gay or black.

When the morning paper arrives - which section do you go to first? Will "Time" magazine ever get the attention you give to "Sports Illustrated"?

Think about this. If you co-mingled funds as a banker, investment broker, or insurance agent - you have a good chance of going to jail with few opportunities for visiting rights for your kids . If, as a politician, you co-mingle with your so-called "re-election funds" - we are asked go look the other way.

But, if you want to find out who is a member of the last group you have to be willing to dig in and educate yourself . Warning # 2: - it's doubtful you're going to find any of them striking a Heisman pose - but with today's political egos - nothing is guaranteed...

We did have a fraud identification organization in Congress - that caught one or two - but our politicians refused to renew it. You have to ask yourself - "why?"

If you really do not care and are willing to accept short term political solutions  (like the most recent ones) that are designed only to obfuscate -  nothing in this blog applies to you.

 So relax - go back to the office sports and holiday engagement pools and get down to truly analyzing your Fantasy league choices.

But, if you still have some cajones - and deeply resent how some very irresponsible rich people have played with your heads  - and greatly increased your financial fears - there may be a way out of repeating what just took place.

You can start by rethinking the employment of our "Oh so American" coping process - (homeostasis) that enables us to forget tragedies like  Newtown - and the  "financial cliff" - simply because the memories are so disturbing and impede our unrealistic search for peace and tranquility - so the mind and body take over.

This healing tool - which is so needed in dealing with personal loss - is a great asset.  Unfortunately, when dealing with big picture items - other than personal loss - it inhibits our ability and willingness to do the right thing in the long run.

There is an irony here. If we just spent 10% of our life becoming better informed and vastly improved the quality of our bullshit recognition meter - we just might start to reclaim our life.

Warning: this may interfere with that life long male purpose to memorize every inconsequential sport statistic to achieve a goal of winning an argument at work - in your carpool - or a local bar. You know. The really important stuff.

There are two significant elections coming up. One is in 2014 and the
other is in 2016.

Before you wake up and realize those dates have arrived you might ask yourself the truly important question:

Why do so many of us who - day by day - seek to make informed decisions that shape the destiny of our families, continously refuse to apply those same decision making skills when it comes time to making intelligent political decisions?

Snake oil salesmen are alive and well and, trust me,  you're much too bright to allow this to continue - year after year.

One more time: We are all being used.

We are perceived as merely puppets by people who were - during the election cycle - and by dint of "Supreme Wisdom" in United - willing to invest a tremendous amount of money -( some of which was their own) -  to pursue the ultimate "con game" - and in doing so, satisfy their poor scary misguided egos.

And we - due to some misplaced priorities - bought into it  hook, line and sinker.
Now we're dealing with the consequences

Folks, "It's Howdy Doody Time." Regardless of your party affilition - please make an "informed" choice next time

And, we're not talking about the ridiculous political ads that did a better job than "Lamont Cranston" ever could have in developing the ability to "Cloud men's minds.".

That is, unless you enjoy having someone take a bite out of your rearend.

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