Thoughts

"These are times that trouble men's souls" - Thomas Paine, December 23, 1776

Although those familiar words were written in 1776, they have meaningful application in contemporary America as she struggles on the domestic and international scenes. Our nation suffers from an un-transparent, inexperienced president and an impotent Congress. As a result of their collective domestic and foreign failures, America's future, quite literally, swings in the wind.
These times do not offer us the luxury of continuing ideological battles between the two political parties at the peril of our national interests. These are times that demand intense planning, discussion and action. For too long, we have listened to the extreme conservatives who demanded less government when they should have been about the business of fixing the government that we have. For too long, we have listened to the extreme liberals who demanded that government fix everything when they, too, should have been about the business of fixing government.

The voting public must insist that these two political groups abide by higher standards of conduct. These times are much too turbulent, and the consequences too dire to allow for business as usual. The Republicans and Democrats must be told by the American people to reign in their extremist rhetoric and let them know that this November 2010 election is much too important for childish, schoolyard antics. Hopefully, the winning candidates will be the ones who take the high road - the ones who earn our votes, rather than the ones who engage in sleaze campaigning.

The stakes are too high. The consequences of inaction and triviality are frighteningly unimaginable. These are, for sure, critical times which try the souls of men and women - times which can make America victorious in its struggle or ensure its further decline. I would like to have every confidence that we will do the former ... but as a realist, not a pessimist, I do not.
G. Ryan