That was when I had the opportunity to work at my first real job. It was in a small town pharmacy putting the Sunday papers together. This was when the NY Times came in five or six sections and even the NY Daily News and the Long Island paper called Newsday needed to be assembled.
I eventually had the opportunity to stay on as a clerk and my boss become my mentor and friend.
I wanted to follow in his footsteps and become a pharmacist, however it wasn't, isn't, in my nature to be a white collar worker. I tried a few times, it's just not me.
Why I mention this history is because that experience gave me the foundation for which I built my ideals.
A foundation that was supported by the structure of small business, entrepreneurship, and small government. There was more than one slow afternoon conversation about politics, the economy or society in general.
The arrogance of youth, even with knowledge, is rarely coupled with wisdom and it was those conversations that aided in keeping me grounded, somewhat.
At that time the republican establishment held many of the same ideals as I did, so I believed. Even more recently, the erosion of values didn't seem as bad. But in actuality the progressive movement has been undercutting the culture, education and value structure of the US for decades. We are the proverbial frog in a pot of water coming to a slow boil.
It is time to either jump out or die.
This Country wasn't founded by a good natured handshake with the King of England. It was fought for and birthed from bloody war.
The Constitution wasn't signed by a bunch of men all nodding their heads in agreement. Most points were argued over, debated and even then some of the signers were unhappy with the final draft.
The great Americans who built our Nation aren't remembered because of how well they got along with everybody, they are remembered for how hard they fought for their ideals, sometimes sacrificing all.
And now.
Now we have those in the seats of power, put there to represent the people, who avoid the very idea of conflict because somewhere, sometime, somehow, they got the notion that they needed to acquiesce to govern. They have decided to forfeit what makes our Country work- the fight, the debate, the need for both sides to prove to the people who elected them why the decision they are making is in the peoples best interest.
Now "crossing the aisle" is nothing more than double speak for allowing the progressive agenda with its divisive, destructive nature to further erode this Country.
Now it is nothing to throw ideals and values out the window to avoid the fight, to avoid being called names and avoid being accused of deeds propagated by progressives.
Is the expectation to win every debate, every fight? No. The expectation is that if someone is going to toss aside what they supposedly stand for the opponent better have more than name calling in their quiver. The expectation is that what is decided on is earned in battle, not surrendered to because there may be casualties.
Now, even worse, is that the republican establishment has decided to slide further to the left. They have decided to abandon those who have supported them in order to court those who would sell them out for a free cup of coffee. The republican establishment has become nothing more than a group of moderate progressives. They are a diluted group with little direction and no will to fight. I don't even know if they believe in why they're there.
Well, I guess that this last inaction by the Senate was my pink slip.
At first I could hear the Billy Joel lyrics "If that's what you have in mind, if that's what you're all about- good luck moving up, I'm moving out"... I think that's close. But then I saw Calvin on the rear window of a mini van saluting the car behind. You know, the one finger salute.
Yeah, keep that picture in your mind reince.