I Voted!

I actually voted early this year as I'm on the road.  I will agree with the majority and just say voting for President this time out was more painful than a root canal.  Doesn't matter.  I voted.  I won't let an election go by without voting no matter how tough it is.  I do hope we can get back to normalcy with the next election.  I've been appalled at what we've seen from both Presidential candidates this year.  I won't get preachy but I do hope everyone else took time to vote no matter who they voted for. 

I Voted!

While there are definitely millions of others who will vote today I want to note that I voted today.  When younger I was pretty cliché in my varied record for voting.  It is something that is so important and so easy I'm definitely not proud of my spotty past when it comes to casting a ballot.  But all that is behind me.  I make it a priority now and want my youngins to take the task to heart as well.  Tonight I, my wife and two kids all voted.  If asked I'll tell you I'm a Republican but I definitely won't hesitate to vote the other side of the aisle if I believe someone is the better candidate. 

Of course research is the key.  Sometimes that can be hard as much of what is out there pertaining to candidates is biased  That is one reason I've really come to like watching debates and the national conventions come elections for the president.  That way I get it straight from the horses mouth.  No matter who I choose it is always complicated.  There are pros and cons to all candidates so you have to go with your heart. 

No matter why or how someone votes it is just important that they get out.  I'm ok with someone clicking all Democrats or all Republicans.  At least their voice is being heard.  It is easy to dismiss some voters as not having all the facts or being narrow minded.  I am just happy they vote.  We've seen the numbers of voters at all-time lows in recent years and that is worse than my candidates not winning.  So I hope everyone got out today and voted. I'm happy I did. 

The Crisis at the Mexican Border

I don't jump into the political ring often and when I do it is definitely something that is important to me. The issue of illegal immigrants seems to have, not easy, but obtainable solutions.  Yet an answer hasn't been put in place over decades and it has again come to the forefront.  I just don't get it and it frustrates me to no end.  Some towns and farmers on the border must deal with illegals who can sometime be dangerous.  It is also sad to now see local governments and towns burdened with the current influx since the administration has decided to ship the people all over the country while they await hearings or deportation.  Those trying to enter the United States illegally are also at risk whether it be by their shady guides or just the elements themselves.  What doesn't help is the administration now having no firm answer for sending them right back.  By allowing them to stay for any amount of time over a day gives them all hope that they may be able to stay.  And hope keeps them coming.  I know this can't be fixed overnight but it can be fixed. 

I won't say I have the answer but I have liked some of the solutions that have been floated out there.  Using the military to defend the border is one.  The National Guard and Reserve units are activated two weeks out of each year.  Maybe some of those units can augment others that can be put in place.  A force year round would ensure little to no illegal immigrants make it across the border.  Whatever happened to the "giant fence on the border idea"?  I know it was a gazillion dollars but isn't the President asking for four billion dollars now to deal with the problem?   I know neither is an easy answer and maybe not even the right answer but it seems that over time something like these, or something completely different, could have been put in place to stem the tide of illegal immigrants.  Again the lack of all the administrations throughout the years is maddening.   

Some will argue that we are a country built on immigrants and that we should not be concerned.  There is truth in that but those were days when a good part of the country either hadn't been settled or was sparsely populated allowing for more growth.  Today we have too many issues with joblessness and the lack of job growth to absorb the current influx of people.  There is also the issue of caring for them when they arrive.  They don't walk into new jobs nor do they have medical coverage.  This means they are supported by the local and national governments.  Of course they can be productive citizens at some point but until then the taxpayers must pay the bill.  And then once they are established and have a job does that mean they are taking a job from someone already in the United States?  To my simple mind that means yes. 

I do understand there are issues in other countries from which people will want to flee.  This still doesn't mean we can accept everyone.  Smart people must figure out that happy medium.  I hope against hope the congress and the President will do just that.  It didn't start during Obama's administration nor did it start during Bush's.  This has been an issue for many many years and all those administrations failed to enact a proper solution.  Watching the stalemate on Capital hill doesn't give me much hope but that is where the answers must come from.  I just hope one comes soon for those having to deal with this issue directly as well as those making the dangerous trek with false hopes of permanent residency. 

Super Committee Super Bad

I won't jump into the political ring often in my blog but I will from time to time.  I feel compelled now because it warrants not only my anger but that of every American.  I'm speaking of the failure of the super committee to enact cuts in the federal budget to keep automated cuts from being enacted.  Congress is paid to do a job.  They increasingly fail to do what is asked of them.  In this case they had to find cuts in the federal budget.  No easy task so the "Super Committee" was formed to take on the task.  All they did was fail.  They even admitted it.  Because of that $1.2 trillion dollars in automatic budget cuts will be enacted in 2013 whether good, bad or indifferent to the overall fiscal health of the country.   

I'm not opposed to our system of government at all.  But I am opposed to a system that allows those serving in the government to not do their job.  We see this every year as they threaten a government shut down when they can't come to an agreement on the annual budget and deadlines are pushed back with federal spending is put in limbo.  We again saw this with the super committee but without the ability to push back the deadline they failed. 

How can we accept this?  They said they failed yet they still work on?  If you or I, or even a group within a large corporation, are given a specific task and deadline and fail we could expect repercussions, serious ones at that that might include firing if we continue to do so.  You'll say congress can be voted out of office but waiting until elections only means they can continue to fail.  My bottom line is we shouldn't accept it.  They were given a job and failed.  There should be some way in which we can get rid of elected officials who continue to fail.  Our country pays for these inadequacies with no way of ensure congress is accountable.  I don't know how we continue this to go on.  Why this may have tipped me to speak out but the frustration has been growing for years.  I hope that at some point we can change the way business is done in congress but I don't see anyone championing massive overhauls in how business is done.