Put Your Money Where Your Politics Are

My comment from my Colleague's article from Behind the Flag: Political Traffic

I definitely agree with you. The tax dollars are definitely being spent frivolously on things that are more about face time that addressing the real issues. While I do agree that it was good for President Obama to make a speech that would resonate well with his audience (UT students); I doubt how much of it was "political fluff" and how much was actually a sound promise. I mean, how many candidates promise to lower taxes and revive the economy?! Almost all... and when it comes time to make good on their word they are met with anxiousness because such tasks are hard to make good on, and if they can... it takes a lot of time to fix large national problems.

I think that it is time for President Obama to stop talking pretty words about education, making scholarship promises and put our tax money toward actually accomplishing those goals rather then spending thousands and thousands on visiting and telling us what he's going to do. The traffic is definitely annoying from all the precautions taken for his safety but I am much more annoyed by all the things not being done. The US has problems specifically between the Congress and the President. So instead of taking a pricey trip to Texas, I would suggest to President Obama to walk out him front door to Congress and mend some seriously broken bridges and get something accomplished to fulfill his promises.

A Brief Victory... But Quite a Fight Ahead!

In San Francisco, Wednesday morning after the California's voters had voted with 52% in favor of "Proposition 8" (deciding that marriage was to be defined between a man and woman only) one man's word changed the outcome completely. Around 7 million California residents had voted for this ban of gay marriage, however Federal Judge Vaughn Walker changed the outcome with one motion of his own.

He overturned the decision on the grounds that the Proposition, is based only on moral and opinion, not on what is lawfully right. Walker states in his lengthy 136-page opinion explaining the ruling that: "Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license... Indeed, the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that opposite-sex couples are superior to same-sex couples."

Many Gay and Lesbian supporters are thrilled, others who voted for Proposition 8 are angry, but the biggest issue is that a boundary has been crossed. The people voted for what they wanted; and Judge Walker has basically thrown it back at them saying that he knows better. Whether or not he is right or not, he may have won quite a bit of popularity from those supporting gay marriage, but he will face the bitter majority who he over-ruled.

While many gay and lesbian marriage supporters are parading, celebrating and crying "Victory!" right now, there is still more to this ruling, it is already being fought and being sent to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and then potentially the Supreme Court. The case is sure to be one for the history books, whether or not they win favor, there are 45 other states banning gay marriage, and this kind of a landmark may be the spark that sets off change in the rights of gays regarding marriage.

Whatever the decision, people like Walker need to be careful not to overstep their bounds, trying to protect from the dangers of the majority is very subjective. In his mind he may feel that he has done the right thing, and many gay and lesbians supporters show him thanks. But the fact is the people spoke, and he replied with an "I know better" reaction.

Ignoring the rest of the picture

My comment from my Colleague's article from Filibuster of the Summer: Bridge to Nowhere...

I agree with your points about the bridge to nowhere, and other similar public projects that use up large amounts of money without much use, or without even their completion. The government should probably more carefully decide on which public transportation projects are truly needed, and which will be used.

I agree that wars we have engaged in have been costly in money and resources however unlike the "bridges to nowhere" I don't consider them to be a waste or fiscally irresponsible. We do often jump at the chance to aid other nations, but I can confidently say that our involvement has prevented situations from further worsening overseas, and has helped others find the road that would help them find liberty as well.

I feel that you have completely overlooked one of the largest contributors to our national debt; entitlement programs. In fiscal year 2009 alone, around 1.4 trillion was spent on Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security alone. Which makes the transportation, foreign/domestic military defense and all other things associated with defense budget look like spare change in comparison. Not to mention the new Obama-care will be taking a nice cut out of the budget as it is implemented over the next few years.

Overall I do agree that the government's debt has gotten way out of hand, that smarter spending over a long period of time is the solution. In the meantime we do need to stop spending money that isn't there, and stop building up the debt if we are going to deplete this growing amount. There is no "quick fix" to eliminate such an out of hand problem.