All government or no government is no choice at all

Randy Blaser

Updated: September 14, 2012 1:16PM

I still recall watching my first national convention from the comfort and safety of my living room sofa instead of from Michigan Avenue, where protestors were getting their heads bashed in by Chicago police.

I remember the quagmire that was the 1972 Democratic convention when Mayor Richard J. Daley and his slate of delegates were kicked out. I think I was the only one left awake when George McGovern pleaded, “Come home, America.”

In 1988, I got mad when George Bush declared his “1,000 points of light.” He’s ripping off W.H. Auden, I thought.

Of all the other conventions since that first one, there isn’t much of consequence to remember. So it goes with 2012.

Unfortunately, Americans are looking for answers to the serious problems facing this nation — unemployment, loss of individual wealth, massive government debt locally and nationally — and the looming problems abroad — the rise of China, change in the Arab world, Europe on the brink and war drums between Israel and Iran.

But all we get are platitudes and extremes.

At the risk of alienating my friends on either side of the aisle, I will try to offer a critique more in keeping with those of us who have to live out the consequences of the fringe positions mapped out by both sides when most Americans find themselves wanting
compromise somewhere in the middle.

Democrats still pin their hopes on hope, but I’m betting most Americans are done with hoping things get better. Hope doesn’t feel so good when you continue to cut back to make ends meet or, worse, dip into your greatly diminished savings to keep the house that is worth much less. Hope won’t deliver much more than just getting by.

I’m too old to swoon over a speech full of platitudes magnificently delivered. That’s the sizzle. I want the steak.

paying the piper ...

Republicans may be correct when they say we’re nearly out of funding for entitlements. Too much has been promised to too many. Something’s gotta give. But cutting more taxes just seems foolish when the Bush tax cuts coupled with two wars got us into this fix. Someone has to pay the piper. But the infirm, the aged and the poor shouldn’t be the ones footing that bill.

All government all the time, or no government ever, is a false choice. But that’s what they’re giving us.~.

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