In the long run, the combination of blind political/religious ideology coupled with the power of special interest money to corrupt politics is going to be very difficult to change. Nonetheless, I think increasing discontent with the 2 parties is sowing the seeds for that kind of change sometime in the future. At least, I hope it is. I don’t think a real awakening is going to happen in 2012 or 2014 – that’s just too early for the heavy fog (spin, propaganda, an inept press, etc.) to clear. Maybe 2016 could be interesting – that’s when people may begin to realize how deep a hole we are really in and how clueless the two parties are in terms of having nothing for a fix except to offer more useless status quo ideology and self-serving nonsense.

The Financial Times had some interesting articles today about the election results from the offshore perspective. They seemed relieved that some of the more extreme candidates were defeated, but remain confused why the US seems to keep voting for dreams rather than real possibilities (they see the Tea Party as people who want to re-create an America that is no longer possible in this world). I like what you write here, and am delighted to see you resume this commentary.

brad crothers

As you already know, you can only change the world within, but know that your column is helping some of us change our internal worlds, too. That’s a nice secondary benefit.

Here was another observation I made today responding to a friend’s Facebook comments critical of Blue Dogs in the House:

It’s easy to say it’s the Blue Dogs’ fault. It isn’t of course. It’s also Labor’s (and therefore Liberals’) fault for not accepting taxation of employer benefits or not insisting upon a plan that at the end of the day means a reduction in medical expense outlay in the aggregate. That has to be part of the deal and Blue Dogs are right to insist upon it. I favor a national plan but it has to come with cost containment including things such as rationing. Thus I believe the challenge, if it’s even possible in today’s system, is to overcome politics as normal in both party’s and do what needs to be done even if it requires saying no to powerful constituencies (Labor, health companies, TRIAL LAWYERS!!!). We have a unique opportunity here and it would be a shame to squander it.

You’ve done a good job presenting a balanced near-insider view of what is going on in DC. I’d miss it if it disappeared. But I understand that doesn’t pay the bills either.

Do you get something out of it that can’t be quantified monetarily?