Biggest Issue, Biggest Threat

The biggest issue facing Americans in not the deficit, lack of jobs, foreign policies, taxes, or any of the other “hot button” topics heard in the words of Obama or Romney.  Today the biggest threat to lives and welfare of all Americans is whether any politician or political party will succeed in enacting legislation that forces their viewpoint and opinion on everyone else.  This was best illustrated in the vice-presidential debate when both candidates were asked specifically about abortion.  Paul Ryan answered by saying that he believed that life began at conception and he would try to enact legislation that supported that opinion.  On the other hand, Joe Biden, while admitting that he personally did not believe in abortion, said he would not force his beliefs on those who may have religious or other differences from his point of view.  Our country is in a mess because too many politicians will not allow others to have differing points of view and have a “my way or the highway” attitude when it comes to governing.  All one needs to do is to look at the senatorial filibusters or the TEA party ideologues to see this in action.  The best way to prove one’s opposing point of view to any policy is to allow the opposition the opportunity of putting that policy into place.  This is best exemplified by the Bush tax cuts.  This fiscal policy was supposed to grow the economy, create jobs, and help everyone succeed economically.  What actually happened was a massive loss of jobs, the economy in free fall, and 90% of Americans falling economically behind.  Economic reality is the best proof for or against any policy.  The fact that republicans continually filibuster the policies of Obama is testament to their fear that his policies will actually work better than their policies.  Of course, this argument is borne out by historical data that demonstrates the democratic administrations created far more jobs than republican administrations; democratic administrations reduced the numbers of non-military government employees where republican administrations actually grew the size of government; and, finally, republican administrations added far more to the deficit than did democratic administrations.  Certainty based upon fiction rather than fact is far more dangerous and damaging to our country and that certainty is something we all must guard against.