We're back from our two weeks away - and it's not as though the world paused while we were gone. For each of us, during these last two weeks, we wondered how we could have even taken time away in the first place.
More than a few things happened while we were gone; more unrest in Middle Eastern nations - and maybe even peace in Libya, continuing disaster in Japan - including another earthquake, and continuing attacks on the rights of working Americans in various places across the country.
All things being equal, you could say we missed a few things while we were away these last two weeks.
The infantile behavior of those in both major political parties wasn't one of the things we missed.
When we left, the U.S. Federal budget was still at a stalemate between Democrats and Republicans. Last Friday, they almost shut the government down because of their inability to agree on financial matters - and to agree to disagree on social ones.
We've watched this "debate" go back and forth for some time - and frankly, we're appalled at both sides.
President Obama and the Democratic leadership stated what we knew to be true at the outset of these fiscal wranglings - that America has a revenue problem, NOT a spending problem. Yet instead of holding their ground, the Congressional Democratic leadership did what they seem to do best: capitulate to the ignorant, whiny voices of the extreme right in the Republican Party. Programs that help the poorest and least able to succeed, programs that Democratic lawmakers have pledged, promised, and pleaded that they'll protect? They didn't.
Republicans haven't been any better than Democratic politicians. Initially, Congressional Republicans said they'd be willing to settle with Democrats for $33 Billion in cuts from the Federal budget for the rest of fiscal 2011. The Democrats gave them $39 Billion in cuts - but suddenly that wasn't enough for the extremist Republicans, even though they got more than they wanted.
All the while, most Americans don't seem to notice how badly they're getting screwed. Citizens have gotten so frustrated with the whole political environment, they'll do nearly anything to tune out reality. As long there is beer, ignorant propaganda with pretty faces and exciting graphics, and an educational system that continues to slide toward third-world mediocrity, too many "Middle Class" Americans are either too busy keeping the meager jobs they have, too frustrated to care, or too ignorant to realize what's going on. Very few seem to understand that those who still have the most wealth - both individuals and corporations - are still not being asked to make any real sacrifices, especially by the Republican Party.
Meanwhile, The Democratic Party seems to have once again lost its nerve to stand up to the insane Tea Partiers.
We honestly wish President Obama had the spine of the television President Bartlett from the TV show "The West Wing". Instead, he seems to be missing. or continuing to worry about what the independents think and how close they are to the Tea Party - even though more Americans seem to be coming to their senses and abandoning the extremist rhetoric and methods of that bunch.
By the way, if you think this budget fight is over because a shutdown was narrowly averted while we were away, then you've been away from the news longer than we have. Congress still has to approve a budget for THIS year, 2011 - and then the fighting, wailing, temper tantrums and capitulating will begin on the 2012 budget. And they have yet to address the looming debt ceiling.
We're glad to be back. We just wish someone else had cleaned things up while we were away.
