I will probably never make it as a politician. I don't do sound bites. I do try to simplify points in the context of others perspective, but sound bites don't do it for me. I am sure every politician is trained to respond in only very specific ways so that the media can't catch phrase and use it to wedge in their own agenda.
But, the time comes to stop routine.
Day by day, almost accelerating now, the free press has given up on any form of critical thinking. The press seems compelled to drive speed and controversy in a way that is destructive to their own purpose. We as viewers let this happen. Politicians let this happen.
My tipping point, as if there aren't 100's, was an NBC expose today on the RNC's expenditure of $1,900 for some club, $17K for a jet, and some other things. NBC went on to interview various democrats who said "And the Republicans think they should manage the nations money?". Very cute, but..... Nancy Pelosi flies back and forth from San Francisco and DC each week on a plane designed to care 250 passengers at a cost of probably a couple million per year. She spent something like 200K in the last 2 years on food and beverages for the plane. A rational person would say "So mister DNC person, what does it mean that Speaker Pelosi spent 200K on food for her plane?"
There are those great moments where after much frustration, leaders speak out and challenge the moment. The Joe McCarthy Moment where Joseph Welch challenge the senator with the famous line:
"Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?"
Or,the Reagan "I am paying for this microphone" moment. In these and other cases people paused and realized we were moving the wrong way. These leaders rejected the powers in front of them and went a different direction. We need more "Have you no sense of decency" moments, holding government accountable for its actions. When people fear government, its called tyranny. When government fears the people, its liberty. Time for more liberty.
Politician and others need to ask questions of reporters, challenging the question they ask. They need to challenge the reporters that have not done their job, are a mouth piece for a point of view, or simply lack critical thinking skills. Here are some examples with a recommended challenge (We will call the reporter Jane or Joe):
Corporate Write-down for Health Care
Jane: Senator, It seems big corporations are trying to embarrass the president with these big write downs. Rep. Waxman will hold a hearing. How will these big companies justify their actions?
Senator: Jane, every corporation is legally bound to comply with a range of explicit accounting rules. With the implementation of SOX, new criminal rules were put in place that directly impact the CEO and CFO. Why aren't you asking Congressman Waxman why he failed to comprehend FASB, SOX and other financial regulations when he wrote the health care bill. In the United States the Government is responsible to the people. I am not sure why AT&T needs to show up in a hearing to explain US law to the congressman who wrote the bill? Maybe he did not read it before he voted for it.
Bush Budget Deficit
Joe: Senator, President Obama arrived with an unprecedented financial crisis as a result of deficits run up by the Bush administration. Isn't he doing what is needed to make up for those failures.
Senator: Joe, a large portion of the Bush deficits came about from the global war on terror. That is an expenditure with a known end point, unlike something like health care which will go on forever. You might recall, the global war on terror was a result of 3200 Americans dying in an attack on our country. 70% voted yes in the senate and congress for the Iraq war. Do you understand the difference between a war and an entitlement?
Tea Party People Calling Congressman the N Word
Jane: Senator, with all the nasty comments being made by tea party members how do you see the country coming together to make progress. Given this vindictive why should the government try to be bipartisan.
Senator: Jane, do you have any video showing these nasty comments in which a congressman was called the N word? I assume it happened, but normally you all have video when reporting facts. Or maybe a few corroborating sources? If we go back to the principle of a free press, the press is sort of focused on questioning government facts on behalf of the people. So, I would ask you, should the President leverage unsubstantiated comments to push forward partisan legislation? Does the press like being used as an arm of the government to achieve a partisan objective?
Deregulation
Joe: Senator, as a result of Bush Era deregulation the financial system is in Chaos, what other choice did President Obama have but to authorize all these stimulus programs
Senator: Bush era deregulation? Like Class Stiegle reform, which happened under Clinton? Or the thousands of pages regulation added during the Bush administration? Joe, which of the banks that have been bailed out were deregulated as a result of Class Stiegle? Which continued to operate under the old scope. Do you know? Do you care? If you interview a single mortgage broker from the last few years, can you find one of them that thought the Government driven FHA no money down loans were safe? Do you think these loans came about because of Bank deregulation or because of acts of Congress dating back 15+ years?