An Open Letter To Both Political Parties

Dear Democrats and Republicans,

First, I would like to remind you of something our first President and the only President that did not belong to ANY political party, George Washington, said.

"However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion".

GEORGE WASHINGTON, Farewell Address, September 17, 1796

In this election year, I hear both of you leveling charges against one another.  It reminds me of small children fighting. Normally I would not care, but you are spending a lot of money to do this bickering in public. Exorbitant amounts of money, millions if not billions of dollars between the two of you.  Since there isn't a citizen in the country that needs a single thing, this is fine. Oh wait, this country is hurting, badly.

You both claim to "care" about a number of issues (your platforms).  I'm sorry y'all, but I just don't buy it.  If you truly cared, you could take all this money you are spending to educate us on who the "better man" is, and help those you claim to care about.

To the Democrats - I wonder how many medical bills you could pay for what you are spending on your convention and political ads (on all levels for all offices). How many tuition bills could you pay this fall for college students? I wonder what the millions you are spending would do to help the middle class or poor people of America.

To the Republicans - I pose the same questions to you. What could the millions you are spending to get elected or re-elected do toward decreasing the national debt? What could the millions do to bolster national defense?  Better yet, since you care about the economy and business, what could all the money do for small businesses if it was invested there? How many jobs could it create?

Instead of helping your fellow Americans you care so much about (and make campaign promises to), you spend an obscene amount of money to fight each other. As best I can tell, all it does is make the decision this upcoming November a choice between evil and marginally less evil (you, Dear Reader, get to decide who is who on that charge).

As far as I'm concerned, you both need to be sent to time out while responsible, common-sense Americans sort this mess out. A mess you BOTH created. Go ahead, keep pointing fingers at each other, because in the end pointing fingers solves all of our problems.

I realize this blog will probably not shame either party into changing.  It is my hope that the "adults", my fellow Americans, will read this and see the truth in what you are doing. You are dividing us and not uniting us.  My fellow Americans, let's unite against the real enemy here, the politicians.  Let whoever you vote for this November know you are on to them. Let them know that you are tired of the childish shenanigans and you expect some adult problem solving and some adult compromises. My name is Melissa Creamer and I approve this message.

Until tomorrow - Melissa

Land of the Pampered, Home of the Entitled

I love America. I'm proud to be an American.  I am proud of how my ancestors helped shape this country and made it into the great nation it is.  I love hearing the family histories of how my ancestors came here as French Huguenots fleeing religious persecution, or how some came over as indentured servants.  My great great grandma Ida and her husband Wray were some of the first settlers in Kearney County, Nebraska.  Their first house was a sod house (aka soddy) and Grandma Ida was the post mistress and ran it out of said soddy.

Example of a sod house

I imagine how hard life must have been for my ancestors, settling this new land. Most everything had to be made by hand. There was no Wal-Mart to run to. In fact, to get anywhere, you had to go by wagon, hitching up the horses in preparation; there was no hopping into your car to run to Wal-Mart.  Meals were made from scratch; there were no such things as pre-sliced bread or a microwave oven.  Fields had to be turned with an ox or horse hooked up to a plow.

Think about it, no TV, no radio, no internet, no cell phones.  Want to communicate with someone across the country quickly? In the days before telephone and telegraph, there was Pony Express.  It only took 10 days.  It only cost $0.25 for a 1/2 ounce.  A quarter might not seem like much today, but keep in mind the average laborers' wage without board was $0.90 per day and one could buy an acre of land for between three and five dollars.

Pony Express poster. Wonder why they preferred orphans...

When I think about all the hardships my ancestors went through settling this country, I have to wonder what they would think if they could see how we live today.  I think they would marvel at the speed at which we can travel and communicate.  I think everyday appliances such as a refrigerator, microwave, and washing machine would seem like wonderous inventions.

What would they think about our society?  Would they see us an advanced Utopian society?  Or would they see us as lazy, whiny cry babies?  Would they shake their heads in disbelief at how "hard" we work?  Would they be shocked at what we expect our government to do for us? Would they still see us as the land of the free and the home of the brave, or would they see us as the land of the pampered and the home of the entitled?

Just a few random thoughts to ponder...
Until Tomorrow
Melissa

And The Masses Rejoice…

In case you haven’t heard, President Obama announced today that he is for same sex marriage.  And social media exploded.

What this blog is not about is the debate of same sex marriage.  I don’t get political on my blog.  In all the rejoicing, what I didn’t see was anyone questioning motives.  I’m cynical, I’m sarcastic, and I agree with Dr. House (everyone lies).  I don’t trust politicians, Right, Left or Center.  What I don’t understand is how our politicians (liars and cheats) continue to get elected.

When I saw the news of the announcement, here is what I thought:  “Huh.  It’s an election year.  The President’s numbers aren’t the slam dunk they were in 2008.  Admittedly, he got ‘shellacked’ in 2010.  If this was such a conviction of his, why didn’t he announce this when he was inaugurated?  Or at any point in 2009, 2010, or 2011?  Well, they weren’t election years.  But it’s 2012, and he’s up for reelection.  What does that mean?  It’s time for people to hear what they want to hear, until November 7^th, when we go back to business as usual.”

It has been my experience that, short of epiphanies, people’s viewpoints don’t radically change, even over time (unless you are running for an office, in which case you flip flop).  I’m in my mid 30’s.  The people in high school that were liberal, well, they’re still liberal.  The people that were conservative are still conservative.  Based on this anecdotal evidence, I’m going to run with this assumption (I know it’s not terribly scientific, but the government hasn’t given me big bucks to study it.  Also, I’m a jeweler; it’s more of an art.  Additionally, my BS is in Sociology, which my husband likes to point out is not a real science).

Here’s what I’d LOVE to see this election year.  I’d love to see the voters hold politicians’ feet to the fire.  Make them accountable. Question them and then question them some more.  The only place I know where you can continue to screw up and keep your job is the government.  Let the politicians know they work for us, the citizen of the United State, not corporations.   I’d love to see journalists DO THEIR JOB and investigate stories, dig into them and report on them, not editorialize.  You want to be a PR guy, go be a PR guy.  Don’t dress yourself up as a journalist.  You only disgrace yourself (wait, I need to modify my ‘you screw up and still keep your job’ list…).

And that, Dear Reader, is my random thought for today.

Until Tomorrow - Melissa