Because I Am A Glutten For Punishment

Because I like political debate, and I like to hear lots of different arguments, and frankly I like to argue, I listened to talk radio's coverage of President Obama's speech this evening on the way back from an errand I had to run.  This blog is going to be more a response to the response I heard on the radio than it will be a response to the speech itself.  I missed most of it but what I did hear, I actually like.

I would like to preface too my response with an aside that for the better part of my trip out I listened to the same radio station which was at the time lauding Rick Perry for his stance on Social Security.  My response to anyone who complains about Social Security is simply return the check everyone, or hey do us all a favor and don't pay your taxes.

The radio host's major arguments consisted mostly around the idea that the speech tonight was a campaign speech and that President Obama did not say anything new.  To the commentator, it was simply thirty five minutes of neo-liberal stumping that was only applauded by the Democrats in the Joint Session.  Several times the announcer complained that Democratic Presidents are always trying to fix education, or the infrastructure of the country.  My rebuttal is that those areas need constant attention.  I for one grew up with the understanding that the government, federal-state-local, was designed to provide services that otherwise would not be provided. 

I am certain that a majority of the hosts on the radio station in question would agree that we need military spending, because lets face it, people of that political persuasion love military spending.  I am nearly certain that host would have little trouble with the federal government allocating money to the erecting of a 9/11 Memorial, because it is the patriotic thing to do.  Without a doubt the host would love for the government to grant tax breaks for big business so that businesses will in turn give breaks to the working people of this country (because we all no how well Trickle Down Economics really worked)

I can only rebut with the fact that by arguing against government spend, the host only showed his ignorance to the actual workings of the government.  I understand that it is a political philosophy to disagree with big government and over exerting governmental power, but at the same time the government has to operate! The host forgets the fact that by the very fact that he wakes up in the morning, the governmental funded military can be thanked. The fact that when he flips the light switch on, it turns on, the House Committee on Energy can be thanked.  When he drives his undoubtly expensive car on paved roads (safely I might add) the state department of transportation can be thanked.  I could continue but you get my point. 

To simply wrap you, and attempt to keep my argument concise, I will simply say this.  If you disagree with how you tax dollars are spent, live without all that stuff the government provides and see how you like it. 

I still can't believe I listened to that and in turned got bent out of shape about it. What a waste of my time and brain power