What Is Happening To This Country?

Hi Everyone:

I am sure everyone is very aware of the Health Care plan overhaul that was passed by the House this past week. Today's blog is not about whether the Health Care plan is good or bad, but rather the reaction to it.

In the not to distant past, it used to be that if people either agreed or disagreed with a law that Washington passed they took to the streets and either extolled its virtue or protested against it. Both of those things happened last week. But there were some very nasty things that extremists added to their protesting bag of tricks towards the congresspeople who voted for and against the law.

From my own count, 10 Democratic and 2 Republican congresspeople so far have had more than just verbal protests aimed in their direction. It now seems that it is OK to to use intimidation, threats and personal info against elected officials who voted either for or against the law. Congressman John Driehaus' name, home address and home phone number were posted on an anti-health care blog. As you can guess, his home was inundated with calls that were of a threatening and intimidating nature. Now his wife and children live in fear for their lives. Is it OK for his family to now live in fear for their lives? The obvious answer is no, it is not OK and never will be OK. But that didn't stop the fanatical, moronic people from leaving the messages anyway. There was also supposed to be a protest outside of his home this weekend. If you want to protest, the common sense answer would be to protest outside his DC office or his home state office, but leave his home alone!!!!!

Some Democratic congressman had the windows to their offices broken by rocks being thrown into them.

There were threatening phone calls made to Republican congressman who voted against the law. There were also threatening phone calls made to Democratic congressman who voted for the law. Some of the calls actually threatened their lives with physical harm and some even mentioned death.

I believe that the increase in threats and intimidation is being fueled by the political leaders. A prime example is when the hearings were being conducted, a bunch of Republican congressman, stood on the balcony of the Capital building and held the same signs as the protesters while cheering (egging) them on. What violence some of those people may take back home with them remains unknown at the present. But who knows what they may do? Will the violence, threats and intimidation increase all in the name of their beliefs? I hope that does not happen, because that means we are really sinking into a sad state of affairs for this country. In addition, Sarah Palin thought that it was OK to write on her Facebook page, "Don't retreat, instead reload." There were also the cross hairs of a rifle scope aimed at some blue states. I am sure that there are some morons out there that will take that statement as a call to arms, literally and some bad violence will happen because of her words, which she makes no apologies for. Which means that it is OK to talk in gun related terms and pictures when speaking about your opponents. It seems to me that there are more civilized ways of using the English language.

If you start a forest fire, you will be held liable for any and all destruction that the fire (that you started) caused, including any deaths. I think that political leaders should also be held liable in the same way because it seems that they are the ones who are fueling the increases in threats and intimidation with their own words. If they start the fire, hold them liable and accountable. That would stop them in their tracks. There are too many crazy people living in this country that just need a little nudge to push them over the edge for them to do some crazy and unthinkable acts. Then those same political leaders who said the words that started the violence, will denounce the acts. But those same people will not ever, ever admit that maybe, just maybe, their words were the catalyst that started the acts of violence. THE ENDS DO NOT JUSTIFY THE MEANS no matter what spin you put on this!

So what appears to be happening in this country is that if you disagree you are threatened with with physical harm to you and maybe even your family, including death. Is this the type of country we want? I dare say that it is not! Using common sense mandates that there are other ways i.e.: legal ways to oppose something that happens in DC. Violence is never, ever the answer. I dare anyone to try to convince me that threats and intimidation are the avenue to take. It isn't and that person would be wasting their time.

With leadership comes responsibilities and you would think common sense. Politicians have no shame and it seems to be getting worse every year since 2000. How much more worse can it get? On 3/24/10 Republicans shut down all Senate hearings regarding any topic and they now have said that they will not work with any Democrats. Not for nothing, how childish is that? The elected officials are to do work for the American people and not stop the process just because they lost and now hold a grudge. Get over it and move on.

Til next week.