Finally It’s Over!

by Kerry Thomas

November 5, 2008

After all the mind numbing political slogans, after all the mudslinging and haranguing ads, after all the pre-recorded robo calls, after all the glossy flyers, America has finally elected a new President, and a new Congress.

Change is on the way. The new Congress takes over January 5. The new President will be sworn in January 20. President Bush will be out of the Oval Office. The new President will be able to roll up his sleeves and get to work “changing” America.

The new President’s budget is supposed to be approved by Congress and signed into law by October 1, 2009. Democrat Congressman David Obey, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, and his colleagues in the Congress have failed to meet the annual October 1 deadline for a fiscal year budget in each of the last two years. So maybe the new President’s budget, reflecting the new President’s spending priorities, will kick in October 1, maybe not.

We all remember how candidate Bill Clinton promised a middle class tax cut, only to end up raising taxes, retroactively, once he moved into the Oval Office. It won’t be long before we’ll know which candidates were lying most egregiously to us in their ads this year, and which ones will keep their promises. I, for one, won’t be too shocked when all those promises begin to be broken by career politicians who routinely lie to us for our own good. I’ll be disappointed, but not surprised.

The power of We, the People, to change our government must of necessity be tempered by our responsibility to choose our elected officials wisely. Foolish choices or wise, we get the government we deserve.

Despite the new President’s best intentions, Islamic terrorists will still hate America. China will continue to produce goods cheaper than American-made products. Illegal immigrants will continue to cross our borders. And the costs of energy, health care, education, and government will continue to rise. Problems caused by politicians cannot, and will not, be solved by politicians.

Republicans will blame Democrats; Democrats will blame Republicans. Both sides will insist that the answer lies in you donating more of your money to their cause. Because there are only 727 days until the 2010 Congressional elections, and just 1462 days until the 2012 Presidential election.

The next election cycle has just begun.