Missing: Courage to Admit a Mistake
According to Encyclopedia Britannica, in 2008 Obama won more
than 69 million votes. In 2012, more than 65 million. No other candidate has
ever surpassed 65 million votes.
The Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, was a key issue in the
2012 election. Romney promised to repeal it. But Obama got 3 million more
popular votes than Romney. Another main issue on which Obama won was his
handling of the recession.
Contrast that to support for the Koch and tea party. Eleven of their members were defeated. As of January 6, 2013, the their caucus had only 53 members. The House of Representatives consists of 435 members, the Senate another 100. Yet this small minority of House members have shut down much of the government and appear ready and perhaps able to force the United States to refuse to pay its legitimate debts. That’s what failure to raise the debt limit would do. It very likely would throw the entire world into economic chaos. It would soon shut down payments of Social Security benefits, veterans pensions, Medicare and Medicaid, and disrupt business and employment throughout the nation.
Contrast that to support for the Koch and tea party. Eleven of their members were defeated. As of January 6, 2013, the their caucus had only 53 members. The House of Representatives consists of 435 members, the Senate another 100. Yet this small minority of House members have shut down much of the government and appear ready and perhaps able to force the United States to refuse to pay its legitimate debts. That’s what failure to raise the debt limit would do. It very likely would throw the entire world into economic chaos. It would soon shut down payments of Social Security benefits, veterans pensions, Medicare and Medicaid, and disrupt business and employment throughout the nation.
Somehow this small group, most of whom have little knowledge of how
the government operates, have been able to scare a lot of Americans into
thinking they are in danger of losing their freedoms—unnamed “freedoms” that often prove to be valuable or even essential services that the government performs
for its citizens.
Why? Why do the American people put up with it? Why don’t the
people who voted for these members of Congress call their offices—either local
or in Washington—and tell them that they have had enough? Does it take too much
courage to admit, “I made a mistake, but I will not make it again?”
Will we continue to let a small but loud minority set the agenda for the whole country?"
Will we continue to let a small but loud minority set the agenda for the whole country?"
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