"Our State Of Disunion..."

It would be interesting to learn what the overall television ratings were for last evening's State of the Union address. I dare say it wasn't anything to write home about. Unless one is a political junkie, as am I, the allure of watching allegedly gown up men and women acting like spoiled children has as about as much appeal as undergoing a root canal. I dutifully tuned in just to witness once again the spectacle of our congenial elected officials embracing each other's differing ideologies with respect and mutual admiration. (Have you by now detected my deeply seated sense of sarcasm?) I don't know which has greater command of my emotions - profound disgust, profound disillusion, or profound sadness. Probably an equal mixture of all.

The American people should justifiably be outraged at the total lack of leadership that is vested in the highest seats of our government. Congress has a public approval rating that is just slightly above moldy bread and the Bush administration has only served to divide this country, delving it into a quagmire of apathetic disgust and distrust. The promised revolution of change promised by the newly emboldened Democratic party has resulted in nothing more significant than Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi instituting the switch over from plastic to paper straws in the Congressional mess hall. The pledge to eliminate earmarks hidden discreetly in committee appropriation bills have proliferated two-fold rather than decrease, the result being that our children's, children's children will be attempting to pay off these selfish examples of government wastefulness. Each political party seems hellbent to win the battle of oneupmanship that results in chocking smoke and heat, but no benefical fire. Stalemate is the state of our union...pure and simple.

One of these days, I pray, the contingent of Americans that actually give a damn about the state of our union, who care more about getting government out of our lives and out of our back pockets, who aren't looking for what government can do for them or owes them, will say "Enough!" If it were up to me I wouldn't pay another dime of income taxes to support any duly appointed government on any level that didn't restrict itself to the promotion of free enterprise without untold regulations and to provide protection to its citizens so that the American people could go about the business of what we do best...providing for ourselves and our families.

Based on the arrogant display I witnessed last night, we have a long way to go. I just pray that eventually we will get there...but I am losing hope that will eventually be the case.