Caveman politics.

To comprehend our present predicament, I believe the only way to move forward is to look at our past. I’m not talking a year ago, or a decade, or even a century. I’m talking waaay back.

Humans have always perceived reality through a sort of political looking-glass. In order to make sense of things, a person’s heart and mind must be in agreement.

We’re back in the stone-age, as a small band of hunter-gatherers stumble upon a watering hole. This little group is now in possession of something more precious than gold. Life is wonderful for a while, till that fateful day when another group of cave-dwellers spot the creek.

The first instinct is to fight to the death for the sole right to the water. Let’s say our original small band of warriors wins, but half the group dies in the battle. Time passes, and another group of outsiders show up at the creek. This time our prehistoric friends are divided.

They can’t just let the enemy take what’s theirs; but how many more men can they afford to lose? Two camps arise: one advocating to fight like the last time, the other wanting to share the water with the intruders. This is the birth of politics. Conservatives/Republicans/Nazis wanting to hold on to what is theirs no matter what; and Liberals/Democrats/Communists wanting to “share the wealth”.

So, which side is right?

Wrong question. It’s not a matter of right versus wrong. It’s a matter of winning or losing. And as Solomon so keenly observed, there’s a time when the conservative way is best suited for the situation at hand; and there’s a time when the liberal approach makes more sense.

Our great nation has been on a conservative course since Day One of the Reagan Revolution. I may be in the minority but I’m convinced it’s time for a liberal awakening.

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Hope that clears it up…

Washington’s debt ceiling showdown is nearing a dramatic Hollywood blockbuster conclusion sure to keep pundits and partisans on the edge of their seats till the final credits roll. This is clearly a case where right-versus-wrong logic fails us. There are many conflicting and divergent aspects to this situation.

Republicans generally believe taxes are a drain on the market, which is bad for jobs. Democrats generally believe the only fiscally responsible position is to look at both sides of the ledger, revenues and spending. Some on the left sincerely believe the federal government has an obligation to stand up for the disenfranchised. Some on the right sincerely believe in limited government. Many simply enjoy the brinksmanship. Some are wholly owned subsidiaries of interest groups. Most of them are worried about getting reelected. And I believe all of them think they’re doing what’s best for the country.

Hope that clears it up…

Question:

How can you negotiate with someone who won’t return your phone calls?

Where are the jobs?

The Labor Department reported Friday morning that the economy added just 18,000 net jobs last month, or roughly six figures below the consensus forecast from economic analysts. And although most experts concede this report demonstrates that austerity is killing the recovery, republicans still defend their proven wrong once again fiscal policies.

Republican excuses range from higher gas prices to the disaster in Japan to bad weather here at home. They have no answer to the facts staring them in the face; that private sector job growth was offset by republican statehouses slashing public sector jobs. It’s kinda hard to put much stock in their tiresome attacks on President Obama, especially when republicans swept into power last November promising the American people jobs, jobs, jobs – and thus far they’ve not passed a single piece of jobs legislation.