It's Only Just Begun
By Richard Olivastro
August 31, 2009
Doubt is spreading across America. That doubt is feeding individual worry and anxiety.
As personal awareness seeps further into the minds of more Americans, the doubt deepens. It has now taken root.
As a result, growing numbers of America's citizens are so upset, with their incumbent elected representatives in Washington, that anger is a more appropriate descriptor.
Then, when citizen constituents show-up at town halls to voice their concerns, worries and anger to their "representatives" about the incumbent's position on issues affecting everyone, they are called mobs by so-called "leaders" in the U.S. Congress.
When people get angry, reason is almost always put at risk.
That's why dismissive and even hateful, comments by such political luminaries as Sens. Dick Durbin of Illinois and Chuck Schumer of New York that the "protesters are irrelevant," and worse, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi saying that "some were carrying swastikas" is particularly disturbing.
Schumer knows better; Durbin should know better; and, Pelosi, well, who knows?
In any case, their comments, as well as comments by many other incumbents, seem indicative of apparent statist attitudes of political power -- including arrogance and belligerence -- that confirm perspectives reported numerous times in this space during the last several years.
Comments like those noted above say more about specific congressional leaders, who are the legislative cause of citizen frustration and anger, than the reaction by those citizens attending district town halls.
As a result, the increasingly obvious disconnects between representatives and represented is the major cause of the doubts, the concerns, the worries, and the fundamental loss of trust in elected officials and government. Such disconnects also reflect the out-of-control arrogance and elitist mindset of almost all incumbents in Washington.
Why do so many incumbents go along with the worsening disconnect?
Perhaps Edmund Burke provides insight into the working mindset of the energetic statist in government and other institutions when he said: "this unprincipled facility of changing the state as often, and as much, and in as many ways, as there are floating fancies and fashions, the whole chain and continuity (of the country) will be broken."
Is that the objective?
Is that their agenda?
Some will think or say "no."
Some will think or say "only time will tell."
While others, demonstratively, have thought, concluded and then went to district town halls to tell representatives to stop the shenanigans - and to start representing them.
The response from many incumbents has been to cancel district town halls or reschedule them in order to buy time in order to pack the hall with supporters. While other incumbents switched from in-person town halls to telephone conference calls in order to control and filter questions rather than face constituents.
Such actions by incumbents confirm the unconscionable D.C. disconnects as well as the attitudinal comments quoted here.
Continuing such actions will further fuel the doubt, the anger and actions of Americans.
For some Americans, just beginning to awaken, the doubt has begun.
For many other citizens, more fully awake, the doubt has taken root, worries run deeper, anger is increasingly apparent, and in growing numbers, they are moving into the alert phase.
---
Richard Olivastro is president of Olivastro Communications, a professional member of the National Speakers Association, and founder of Citizens For Change: www.CFC.us. He can be reached at Rich@Olivastro.NET or 877.RichSpeaks.
--------------------
Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA.
++ Discuss this topic in The Forum
Current rating:  5.0 out of 5.0 (14 total votes)
| 
