A bad attitude is like a flat tire...
Posted on October 1, 2016
“A bad attitude is like a flat tire. You are not going anywhere until you change it” (Author: unknown).
Recent polls show that 64% of those polled said the U.S. is on the wrong track. Obviously, 64% represents more than just the 35-40% of core Trump supporters who feel we are headed in the wrong direction.
Much analysis and commentary has been spent on trying to determine why Trump and/or Clinton voters are angry and feel America is on the wrong track. Some say, that people are fed up with the status quo and feel a strong need for change. Others, say it is about the economy and point to those who have been left behind and are experiencing bad times because of the loss of manufacturing jobs and lack of good paying jobs post-Great Recession.
There is a need to change the “status quo” and to have Americans feeling good about our leaders and the direction of our Country going forward after the election.
However, we need to examine the root cause of our political discontent (i.e. bad attitude) and better identify that “status quo” we feel a need to change.
After President Obama was elected in November 2008, the Republican leadership met in December to map out a strategy for electoral success in the future. Unfortunately, for the Republican Party and the Country as a whole, their No. 1 strategic priority was to oppose anything and everything that President Obama proposed. To no one’s surprise, that led to partisan gridlock and a much slower than necessary economic recovery from the Great Recession.
That strategy allowed the tea party to come to power in the 2010 mid-term elections. Even though the tea party was a minority of Republicans in Congress, the Republican leadership let the tea party dictate the governance of the House and set the uncivil tone that still prevails to this day.
The anti-government rhetoric, lack of civility, and total disrespect for President Obama has dominated the last 6 years. That, in turn, has created the climate that allowed someone as crude, rude, disrespectful and vulgar as Donald Trump to become the presidential nominee of the Republican Party.
Much has been made of the disapproval ratings of Clinton and Trump. But the leader of the pack in disapproval ratings by far is Congress at 75%. And, the ratings are well deserved with nothing except gridlock, incivility, and much rancor to show for the last 6 years of a Republican majority in the House.
The “status quo” that needs to change is Congress. We need to boot out of office, both, the Tea Party types and those long tenured Republicans who failed to provide leadership by acquiescing to the negativity, divisiveness and coarsened rhetoric of the tea party. And, worse, they did so for their own selfish political gain instead of doing what was “good and best” for our Country!
You want positive change? Then, vote change by voting incumbents out and voting for candidates ready to go to work for the good of the Country regardless of Party affiliation.
Is Frankie Robbins a liberal or a conservative?
Posted Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Ohhhh! the labeling and name calling that goes on 24/7 in politics.
Politicians, talking heads, and commentators use labels like “liberal”, “radical”, and “conservative” to drive a wedge between us. They are being extremely lazy in their assessment and intentionally divisive. They think by applying a label it is the end of discussion, that we should close our minds, stop listening, and pretend only “our” side has the only “right” answers.
I am an independent thinker, open-minded, and most importantly I know I can’t learn anything while I’m talking. Listening is an essential skill for a Representative of the People. Seldom are resolutions to issues black and white. For example, there are good Christian people on both sides of the Pro-Life/Pro-Choice issue, an issue that has divided us for over 40 years.
There are a few names you may call me (i.e. labels I will accept):
The divisiveness, polarization, and negativity have become increasingly destructive to our democracy, our national spirit, and our unity as a nation and a people. Since 2008 that rancor and malice has grown harsher every election cycle. We must stop rewarding bad behavior by electing those who put political gain ahead of what is best for our Country and best for YOU, the people.
We can CHANGE that by voting for FRANKIE ROBBINS for a POSITIVE CHANGE!
My promise to the good people of Oklahoma: I will tell the truth as best I know it to be, put my Country and, YOU, the people first and partisan politics “dead” last, use common sense, act with common decency, and serve Oklahomans to the best of my ability! I will stand up for the truth and stand against the divisive politics and the purveyors of fear and negativity.
Bottom Line: United We Stand, Divided We Fail
