It's time to pay attention! Yesterday afternoon "our" House Of Representatives slipped through an environmental bill that is going to cost us a bunch of money and not only will we be taxed for this, we'll see higher prices on goods and services that we purchase. Add to this the fact that the bill was somewhere close to 1500 pages (does this sound familiar?) and was introduced hours before the vote, do you really think our representatives had a chance to read the bill in its entirety?
As many of you that have visited this blog site before have probably guessed I'm a bit of a tree hugger...but a well balanced one. I have come from a city upbringing, worked for the forest service during my college summer vacations and am a retired farmer. I've either had my hands in the dirt, cleaned it up or studied it. But when the activist organization Green Peace and others hold up a red flag about environmental bills I tend to take notice. When other countries around the world try such changes as are inflicted upon us in this new bill and then change directions, my eyes get wide open. But, like many of you, I'm a bit of a neophyte when it comes to politics, especially since I have a little contempt for politicians as a whole.
Since the last election I've had my face a little closer to the nightly news programs and during the past 5 months the sweat of fear is glistening across my brow. I have become firmly convinced that we, the people, have got to be better informed about the "smoke and mirrors" in Washington, and our own local and state governments, to have a heads up on where this country is headed and the personal agendas of not only our representatives, but our President. It has become increasingly clear that what is said on the campaign trail stays on the campaign trail and what is done in Washington is totally different.
The morality in Washington is not the morality out here in the farm states or homes in suburbia. The hundreds of thousands of dollars that our representatives receive to run their campaigns all have a significant price tag attached. If you think lobbyist walk the halls of our capitol just to make nice or drink tea with our reps, you need to spend a little more time becoming acquainted with the slanted news media! Every single donation has a reason and every single large donation from private or corporate sources has a hidden tag. After the elections it's payback time. Of course you also have to spend the time in figuring out which way the media slant is in order to make informed decisions.
Just like many of you I have usually felt that I don't have the time to listen to the drivel of the news media and also figured these elected officials have our best interest at heart. Guess what? They all don't. All you have to do is hear a few bars of "someone is sleeping in my bed" or "have I got a deal for you" and we all get a little wiser about what the true meaning of agenda is and trust me it doesn't mean "order of business" at the next church social meeting.
Start reading, listening and writing. Yep, it all takes time, but in 5 months this government has been bent on putting our financial lives at risk and crippling America. And just so you don't think I'm a right wing nut...Both parties of this country have had an arm, leg and a finger involved in wrecking the future of this country.
Do you know who your congressmen and senators are? Get the facts and then write them. A tall trees health is dependent on its roots. Good government is dependent on its roots, too. Guess who we are?
By the way, ask them to support the arts, too. Like I said, everyone has an agenda! Oh, and take in a local "Tea Party". Contrary to left wing assertions, it is grass roots.
For more views of my work visit:
"A Piece Of Work", Spirit Lake, Iowa
Art Of The Vine Gallery http://www.artofthevinegallery.com
"Art On 16th, Spirit Lake, Iowa
Artisans Road Trip www.artisansroadtrip.com
"CR Gallery", Milford, Iowa
http://www.betterphoto.com/Premium/Default.aspx?id=251674&mp=V1
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