Bashing is fun

President bashing is fun, legal and increasingly popular. I’ve bashed my share: LBJ, Nixon, Ford, Clinton, Bush Jr. The last president I truly admired was John F. Kennedy. That was in fourth grade. I remember my Dad badmouthing the entire Kennedy family. He disliked Harry Truman too. He liked Ike (so did I).

Myths about presidents abound in imaginative partisans. Sometimes they build up; mostly they tear down. Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction.

Some remember (or have heard of) Ronald Reagan as a popular and conservative Republican. Few realize he spent most of his life in the Democratic Party and left office with a federal deficit higher than any previous administration. There were some shady deals made with the hostage kidnappers (Iran) too. He was an actor, but not a cowboy.

Seven states seceded from the Union when they heard a Republican won the presidency. Who knew these United States would eventually consider him one of her greatest. We weren’t very united then. Honest Abe didn’t start the Civil War; he inherited it. All presidents inherit their predecessor’s handiwork.

Someone told me about a president who wanted to get God off all American currency. Even if this were true, I think God is more concerned about world peace than our motto. We are told to love our neighbors. All nations are created equal, aren’t they?

I heard this election could spark a violent revolution. Granted, there is dissension: Occupy movements, tea parties, political parties, righteous indignation, etc. Still, I expect the country will survive, regardless of whom dominates the electorate on Nov. 6th.

Presidents are human (imperfect). Are all Presidents liars? Probably (politicians). Are they all evil? I think not (they can delegate that to the VP). So...why vote? I think it’s important to vote, if you can, but voting wisely is tough. There’s just too much freedom of speech to believe everything you hear here.

It may be prudent to check the facts before voting, especially after the debates. I don’t care to advise anyone on a candidate, but there is a lot of BS floating around that may influence an uninformed public. Intimidation, emotion and fear are prevalent these days.

Wisdom and prudence remain available, but you have to read past the front page to find them.



Bob McCarty,

Pinedale



For the complete article see the 10-09-2012 issue.

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