Republican Majority in the Senate Gives Them Control of Congress
Politics, not our favorite topic, takes center stage with the Republican victory in the Senate. Now they control Congress, having already (in fact increasing) a majority in the House. Now comes the speculation about what "deals" this Republican majority will push beginning in January when the new members take their seats.
Do we Americans really want such deals? I suppose it depends on the specifics, but I remain rooted in the belief that a Congress that's divided serves us best. Yes, such a Congress generally can't come to any consensus, and so they sit on their duffs, with their hands tied behind their backs. But unless you believe these career power-seekers - and I submit that's what most if not all of them are in their heart of hearts - really act in the best interests of all of us Americans, you might prefer the divided Congress to one whose power to decide increases with the majority that's not been presented to us.
Okay, I'll keep an open mind here and look at what's proposed, to be followed by what legislation actually passes during 2015. But will the really important issues be addressed? By important, I'm not just talking about economic matters. There we'll probably see an outcry to free the mighty American economic engine from the constraints of high taxes and overbearing regulation, pushed especially by so-called conservatives and conservative libertarians like Rand Paul. This will free up the entrepreneurial spirit upon which prosperity is built - so the theory goes - and remove the heavy hand of government from pressing down upon those who would fire up a true revival of economic activity, still simmering from the flames of 2007-2008-2009.
On the other hand, we'll probably find those Republicans who aren't as anti-federal-government push for massive repair and development of infrastructure, something more spoken about than actually accomplished under the Obama-led Democrat majority. What form this takes will make all the difference, of course. Pushing more "environment-friendly," "carbon-free" industries such as solar and wind power, will not, I suspect, make the cut. Perhaps a conversion of the truck transportation industry from gasoline or diesel fuel to natural gas may see the light of day. That's one that could give a positive goose to American prosperity, given the plethora of domestic natural gas resources, and the potential to free our domestic economy at last from dependence on Middle East oil.
The point here is that rather than just remain the skeptic, just putting on a sour puss and scoffing at the very idea that a Republican victory will really produce palpably positive results, I'll step back and do my best to watch with a clear, rather than a jaundiced, eye. Let's listen to what these guys say, even better see what these guys actually do. Heck, we may be presently surprised.
And I'll stop right here before cynicism creeps in and sours the celebration of a Republican victory.
Do we Americans really want such deals? I suppose it depends on the specifics, but I remain rooted in the belief that a Congress that's divided serves us best. Yes, such a Congress generally can't come to any consensus, and so they sit on their duffs, with their hands tied behind their backs. But unless you believe these career power-seekers - and I submit that's what most if not all of them are in their heart of hearts - really act in the best interests of all of us Americans, you might prefer the divided Congress to one whose power to decide increases with the majority that's not been presented to us.
Okay, I'll keep an open mind here and look at what's proposed, to be followed by what legislation actually passes during 2015. But will the really important issues be addressed? By important, I'm not just talking about economic matters. There we'll probably see an outcry to free the mighty American economic engine from the constraints of high taxes and overbearing regulation, pushed especially by so-called conservatives and conservative libertarians like Rand Paul. This will free up the entrepreneurial spirit upon which prosperity is built - so the theory goes - and remove the heavy hand of government from pressing down upon those who would fire up a true revival of economic activity, still simmering from the flames of 2007-2008-2009.
On the other hand, we'll probably find those Republicans who aren't as anti-federal-government push for massive repair and development of infrastructure, something more spoken about than actually accomplished under the Obama-led Democrat majority. What form this takes will make all the difference, of course. Pushing more "environment-friendly," "carbon-free" industries such as solar and wind power, will not, I suspect, make the cut. Perhaps a conversion of the truck transportation industry from gasoline or diesel fuel to natural gas may see the light of day. That's one that could give a positive goose to American prosperity, given the plethora of domestic natural gas resources, and the potential to free our domestic economy at last from dependence on Middle East oil.
The point here is that rather than just remain the skeptic, just putting on a sour puss and scoffing at the very idea that a Republican victory will really produce palpably positive results, I'll step back and do my best to watch with a clear, rather than a jaundiced, eye. Let's listen to what these guys say, even better see what these guys actually do. Heck, we may be presently surprised.
And I'll stop right here before cynicism creeps in and sours the celebration of a Republican victory.
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