Recently in Status of American Politics Category

Ever heard of Vertical Democracy? Did you know America's democracy is termed a horizontal democracy? If not, you are missing out on world history in the making, as America will, by its political structure, lose ground against China. I highly recommend to those who wish to catch up on this history in the making, and peer into the future, John and Doris Naisbitt's new book, China's Megatrends, The 8 Pillars of a New Society.

The Republican Party, also known as the Grand Old Party, or GOP, has evolved from a very pro-America Party in in 1994, to an anti-America Party through the last decade, taking giant strides in that direction since Americans threw them out of power in 2008. Greed, duplicity, anger, vengeance, and paranoia have taken over the group think psychology of Republicans in Congress, as well as a great many of the remaining supporters of the GOP. It is time the GOP be labeled for what its member's actions demonstrate.

The President's State of the Union (SOTU) speech was realistic, mostly accurate, and proscriptive. It was not a "feel good" speech. It accurately summarized where the nation is domestically, divided and behind schedule in addressing many of its most pressing issues. His speech pragmatically stipulated that he alone cannot bring the solutions to pass (a campaign refrain); Congress and the people have to carry their share of the load, the confidence, and responsibility.

The Supreme Court, a conservative court on the belief that money is protected speech as far as elections are concerned, overturned a century of precedent and laws moving in the other direction. Republicans continue to sabotage America, even after being deposed from majority power to rule, via their Supreme Court activist judges. As usual, Republicans say one thing and do the opposite. For appearances they rail against activist judges, all the while appointing their own activist judges to the federal benches.

Political decisions must, by definition in a diverse society, alienate some in that society. This truism is dictated by the concept of opportunity cost. For those without business school backgrounds, opportunity cost is the cost of not having selected the other choices. Every decision anyone ever makes, carries an opportunity cost. Example: The wife takes the shortest route to work. In doing so, she avoids alternative longer routes which may make her drive more interesting, less hazardous as the lesser traveled routes, or less fortuitous in passing up the opportunity to give Bill Gates a ride after his HumV broke down, which he appreciates with a sizable thank you check of a million dollars.

In a nutshell, the Republicans cannot permit a Health Care Reform bill to pass. The Democrats must pass health care reform to hold their majority in government. That is the politics of Health Care Reform in its simplest form. Following are the reasons why this has become such a pivotal political issue.

Most of us witnessed someone getting angry at someone else they can't strike out at, and going home and kicking the dog, instead. Poor dog. Nancy Pelosi has become the Republican's dog they love to kick because they can't seem to land a blow on Obama. She is a liberal and a female with power in a traditional man's role, and for many Republicans, that makes her the 'bitch' they love to kick if they can't undo Obama.

When you are one of more than 300 million people clamoring for a voice in government and the direction of your society, you have to feel you have no voice. But that feeling stems from a lack of awareness or acceptance of the concept of big country democracy. In a large population, democracy moves on the choral voice of groups. If you want your voice heard, you must become a joiner, or become enormously wealthy. Groups and money are heard in a large democracy: usually, only groups and money. What groups have you joined or supported with dollars?

If you have been abused by your credit card companies, don't look to the government for redress of abuses. The legislation which has passed both houses of Congress and making its way to Pres. Obama for signing, offers nothing to those consumers who have already been raped by their credit card banks and companies. The bill offers prophylactic measures only, going forward. Nothing retroactive for the millions hit by usurious rates and fees.

Former Democratic Congressman and presidential candidate Richard A. Gephardt (Mo.), is saying Obama should not attempt universal health care (UHC) this year. His argument is that without first lowering the cost of health care delivery, the funding additions to create universal health care will cause the effort to fail. Gephardt recommends a more piecemeal approach. Pres. Obama bills universal health care as essential to future productivity, economic growth private sector competitiveness with other nation's whose corporations are not burdened by shouldering the costs of health care for employees. Who is right?