O-mama - Opinionated Moms

UPDATE:  Good news!!  Congressional leaders have reached a bi-partisian agreement on the FAA debacle, so all those folks will go back to work on Monday!  Thank you to Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX), Max Baucus (D-MO), Harry Reid (D-NV) and Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) for making it happen.  Since that was just my latest example of obstruction, the rest of my rant still stands!  (-:

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Truthfully, this is a total partisian rant, but it doesn't have to be so here me out!  Are you kidding me that Congress is on “vacation” when millions of Americans want to go to work?!  Our politicians left town and left 74,000 FAA workers without a job.  Their irresponsible politics would cost the government $1.1billion if it lingers for the next 6 weeks?!  So, our elected officials managed to cut 74,000 jobs and add $1.1 billion dollars to our debt in one fell swoop. Huh?! That is absolutely counter-intuitive.  The stock market is reeling from their dysfunction and the shockwaves of instability are rippling through the Eurozone and, yet, our Congress is on a holiday.  Reality check:  Republicans don’t care about anyone’s job, but theirs.

As I sit here, frustrated by everyone in D.C., I’m wondering how we get our politicians to “get back to work” and fix the damn mess they’ve made.  I am not above shaming them into it, if necessary.  The more the stubborn Republicans take up space in the House while ignoring the real issue – JOBS – in favor of their agenda to cut government immediately (translation: cutting jobs) and take on social issues, the more the cynic in me thinks they just want the economy flapping in the wind so they can win an election.  But, I don't think the American people would reward those that don't do their job?!  So, the rest of us need to get our ASSES headed in the right direction!

We need to push the elephants out of the room and make more space for the rest of us to see clearly.  So, here is one OC housewife’s housekeeping list for Democrats and Independents:

• "Clean The House"  We need to get rid of the people who refuse to DO anything - anyone who refuses to negotiate in good faith, anyone who refuses to consider all options, anyone who signs any pledge (other than the Pledge of Allegiance or O-MAMA's Pledge To America's KID-Os, of course), anyone who isn't committed to the "common good" and "the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness" for every single American, then we need to identify them and get them thrown out!  I'm completely sick and tired of the crazy talk and the inability to solve our country's problems.  We will never solve them with people who don't understand them or refuse to budge an inch. They need to be required to take a history class, a constitutional law class, a government class and an economics class before they can legislate for the rest of us.

• “Establish House Rules” Make the argument for effective governance – we might be a little dysfunctional at the moment, but we still have the strongest government in the world because it is elected by the people, for the people.  The people decide when government is obstructing and government is doing the job they’ve been hired to do.  The Republican Congress has done nothing to create jobs or an atmosphere for job creation.  They have simply put forward an extremist agenda (anti-collective bargaining, killing Medicare, attacking women’s health issues, gutting public education).  We can check and see what bills have been brought to the floor this year – NONE have to do with the economy. They aren’t fiscally responsible?!  The unfunded wars, entitlement expansions and tax cuts with their "deficits don't matter" mentality when a Republican is in office, but slashing everything that provides the opportunity for people to have a shot at the American dream when a Democrat is in office?!  Republicans haven’t assumed responsibility for the mess they made, nor have they assumed any responsibility for fixing it?!  People want government, but we want to get our money’s worth.  We like it when we call 911 and someone shows up to help.  We like it when we can send our kids to public school and they actually learn something.  We like it when we are flying in safer skies.  We like it when we are buying healthier food.  We like it when we have social safety nets that protect our seniors so they don't fall below the poverty line.  We like it when the people we send to Washington actually work on our behalf for things that improve our lives.  Imagine that?  There are lots of things we like and are happy to pay for – it’s the stuff we don’t like and can’t afford that they seem to spend so much time on?!  We feel ripped off.  We need to boost up the good aspects of government and paint a picture of the alternative.  Republicans are indiscriminate.  They want to cut it all instead of asking us, the American People, what we are willing to pay for. It is about shared sacrifice, not adding insurmountable burdens on people that didn’t create the problems. It is about providing opportunity for each of us to achieve because there is a level playing field.  Republicans have completely changed the rules for the rich and big Corporations. Rich people and Corporations are not to blame - we simply take advantage of the rules that have been established.  Republicans have changed the game by widening the gap and making it easy for some and harder for others.  That’s called inequality - it’s not fair and it’s not American.

•           “Roll Up Your Sleeves And Get To Work” Do not sign anything that eliminates a job.  If Republicans propose something – put it into the context of jobs – how many jobs would that cost or gain?!  Their ridiculous political game on the FAA extension has cost tens of thousands of jobs this week.  Are they kidding???  We need to feel like every job gained is a victory and every job lost hurts our country.  Every time Republicans talk about cutting $1 dollar, define it in terms of creating jobs – that should be the country’s challenge.  For every $25K cut, one job needs to be created in it’s place.  They want to cut, they need to create a job.  Come up with smarter, structural adjustments that solve fiscal problems without cutting jobs.  Jobs should be sacred right now and thought of as an investment in our country - not the almighty dollar for the sake of saving a quick buck.  Call them out every time they put someone out of work.

•           “Paint The House” Explain your vision – people want answers.  They can’t see how we are going to get out of this mess.  We can’t visualize how to fix what is broken.  What exactly is the grand vision for our nation and transforming our economy from a consumer driven economy to a production driven ecomony…explain the short-term fix (coat of paint) vs. the long-term structural changes our nation needs to create jobs.  Paint the picture vividly.  Explain that the auto industry and batteries are but one small step toward a giant leap into our future.  Make us believe in brighter days…set more national goals, make all of us feel responsible in achieving those goals….frame them as American goals and Republicans will not be able to stand in the way of the will of the American people.  Republicans are only offering austerity measures and a “you’re on your own” mentality.  Democrats must remind the country that we are only as strong as our weakest link…let’s create an American chain of ideas to pull us out of this mess and build a better future for our kids.

•           “Fill Up The Piggy Bank” Reform Bush’s tax policy - tax cuts for the rich do not create jobs.  Trickle down isn’t trickling.  People get that.  We need a waterfall!!!  Every economist is talking about lack of demand – it is basic economics…demand, demand, demand.  Companies hire when there is demand for what they are selling, not when they have piles of cash but no one to buy their products?! If Republicans want to talk taxes, talk taxes.  Make the argument about how many private sector jobs were created under Bush versus under the Obama administration.  Explain the tax gap between the “job creators” (who aren’t creating jobs and have actually been incentivized by tax policy to be “job cutters”) and the real “job creators” - the middle class.  When people have jobs, they have money in their pockets and they spend that money and that is what grows our consumer driven economy.  The middle class creates that demand.  That’s what makes rich people richer.  A nex tax policy isn’t about disparaging the rich, but the means should justify the ends.  Business people shouldn’t get rich by improving their bottom line at our expense and outsourcing jobs. They shouldn't get rich by gaming the system with loopholes.  They should get rich by contributing to a growing economy, making quality products and building the American dream for future generations.  That is the type of business mindset and commitment we need to reward.  Why don’t we have a "tax trigger" – when businesses outsource, they are taxed – when they invest in American workers and communities, they are incentivized.  (It could work for the entitlements people want, too, yep - if the trust funds go below a certain $, there is an auto tax trigger - guess what? Our politicians would manage those funds a lot better and not borrow against them for things the American people don't want, instead of threatening to cut everyone off?!  I digress...)  People need jobs.  That is the only thing that will fill up America’s piggy bank, so use the tax code as positive reinforcement, not a negative one.

•           “Bake A Bigger Pie” Redefine small business. Republicans don’t really support small business, they are all for big business.  Be the party that is the champion for small business – mom & pop businesses that provide the American dream of independence and hard work paving the way for prosperity.  Give them tax holidays and regulation exemptions, not big business who needs to contribute more and be more accountable.  Give actual small businesses a break and challenge Republicans to stand in the way.  This will spark creativity and people to take chances on their own recipe for success.  We all need to be able to take a slice of the America pie – if the oven is hot, small business will start cooking!  Use small business as the example for big business – create carrots for big business, responsibility = rewards.

•            “Throw A County Fair” Create a national jobs fair for people who have been unemployed for more than 3 months – make an online list of every little job and every big job in every little town and every big town and get those jobs filled.  Fill stadiums across the country, create optics and let people know you are doing everything you can right now to get people work. Put pressure on the private sector.  Have companies come – big and small - and promote jobs in America and lift the spirits of Americans.  Those who don’t get hired, have them volunteer to do something America needs in the public sector to earn their extended unemployment check.  They’ll gain some self-respect and invaluable job experience that they can use to sell to a future employer.

•           “Wave Your Flag”  Create “patriotic partnerships” – challenge private business to put their money where their mouth is…for every 100 jobs created in America, big Corporations get good PR.  Give them an award, promote them on a website, encourage Americans to buy their products.  Whatever it takes to encourage them to invest their trillions here in America.  And, for that matter, why don't we tap into the prosperity and strength of our people?  Why not skip Congress altogether?  You know how schools have annual fundraisers - they have a goal and a measure of progress (either a big sign or something showing progress). How about the President uses his "organizational" skills to create 2 gigantic national fundraisers - and I am NOT talking campaign fundraisers.  I am talking about the American people contributing to voluntary funds to pay down our national debt and create an infrastructure bank.  A volunteer tax - how about that?  If there is no political will for a mandatory tax, why not call the Republican's bluff and just ask the American people/corporations instead?

The Debt Deal:  Yep - imagine everyone in the entire country completely focused on raising $1 Trillion dollars to directly pay down debt? Kids having lemonade stands and car washes to pay down the debt. Adults voluntarily contributing $5/$10 to help pay down the debt, not into campaign coffures, but to allieviate the political gridlock.  Have Corporations make donations and the wealthiest Americans make donations.  Let's have a big ticker in Time Square and let's watch the debt decrease by a trillion dollars.  Then, let's have the Secretary of Treasury write a giant check to China. We'll all feel like we did it together.  It will create unity, pride and a sense of national purpose.

The Infrastructure Bank:  There is talk of a fund to invest in our national infrastructure - levys, bridges, airports, rail, etc.  We know we need to do it because our country is crumbling.  We know it will put people back to work.  But, once again, the political environment won't let it happen.  So, let's make it happen.  Again, let's have a huge fundraiser to collect money to re-build our nation. We'll by-pass Congress and collect some cash to do the work that needs to be done. Let's have a big ticker that counts the number of jobs created.  We can do it!!!  We could see the changes taking place and know we contributed to it.  And, who knows, maybe our politicians would donate to the kiddy, too?

•           “Give Us Choices” My 5 year old loves when I give her a choice between this and that because it gives her a sense of control.  The American people need to feel a sense of control. We want more control, not less. Right now, it seems everything is spinning out of control and a bunch of irresponsible people are creating faux dramas when we have big issues to tackle. Draw the distinct lines between the parties, from women’s reproductive issues to the union debate.  Why would we eliminate the American people’s choices?  It is not about being pro-abortion or anti-abortion, it’s about protecting women’s choices.  It’s not about being pro-union or anti-union, it’s about protecting worker’s choices.  It’s not about being pro-gay or anti-gay, it’s about protecting people’s choices to live their lives with dignity.  Extend that concept throughout the debate – there are stark lines this year.

The raging elephants are creating havoc, not jobs.  Democrats need to lead the way or these elephants will continue their destructive stampede on the American economy.  And, frankly, I'm tired of cleaning up all the crap they leave behind.