The recent movements (or stall tactics, as they are) in Washington, D.C. around the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) reveals some interesting overtones in our country today. First and foremost to fully appreciate what is at work here one need only look at the convenient timeline Mr. Obama has created. He promised future constituents that he would tackle the hard issues of DADT from the very start – and then did nothing. He promised to address the issue of same-sex marriage and did nothing. He promised to bring a tone of civility around these issues and to encourage a broader “conversation” about the issues – and then did nothing. Now he has proposed looking at DADT and trying to find a way to bring it to conclusion. The problem, of course, is that Mr. Obama set forth no timeframe in which this had to be done. So, the military will launch a series of investigations and internal reviews, as only the military can, to determine whether abandoning DADT is possible, and that process will take approximately 10-12 months to complete.

Of course by then the country will have gone through another election cycle and once again the real issue of basic human rights will have been clouded by the right-wing hypocrisy machine and we will all take one giant leap backwards. The right-wing will have vilified every aspect of individual rights because it makes them uncomfortable. What’s interesting about the right-wing approach to DADT is that the rhetoric you hear frames the debate as a moral/morale question that harkens back to a time when African-Americans could not serve in the full military.  It is this polarizing tradition of the right-wing that is the lifeblood of the GOP. In the 1960’s it was the Civil Rights movement, in the 1970’s it was the anti-establishment, anti-War, pro-Abortion Rights that fed the beast, and in the 1980’s it was the liberal intelligentsia that kept the GOP moving forward with pro-business/anti-government sentiment. The 1990’s were especially sweet for the party of hate as it focused on everything Clinton. But the past decade has been the best so far for the GOP.  You can basically define the last 10 years as the Age of War for the right-wing because it’s the period of time when the right was at war with anything and anyone with a thought contrary to the Kool-Aid formula, which conveniently means that terrorists and gays get lumped together.

Political systems generally understand that in order to maintain control they must exercise control. Some use military force to gain and retain control over the people, while others use mental torture. Our political system, not just the GOP, has elected to take the later.  Fear is a rich element by which to rule the masses. Today we have a fear of gays the way we had a fear of African-Americans 50 plus years ago.  Fear is also a powerful tool to control the moral beacon of a people.  Frankly, I believe that what our society really fears is the face we see in the mirror. If your moral convictions are so high, and your spirituality allows you to have a close personal relationship with a deity, then what do you have to fear by allowing gays to marry, or even serve openly and proudly in the military. That is, of course, unless your moral convictions are shallower than you admit to, or perhaps your spiritual connection is not as clear as you might hope.

In either case, grow-up America!

I think my colors are bleeding a bit. For my entire adult lifetime I have been a pretty liberal soul. Wanting the government to “do” certain things to make MY life easier, and wanting it to stay out social issues like gay marriage. But lately my views have shifted somewhat, to the point that I want government to get our of my life entirely and to let free markets and society decide what is best for me — and everyone else.

Healthcare is one of those topic where I sit back from the television with a disgusted look on my face and just think of how screwed up our sociopolitical systems are today. The first finger of blame goes to the President for having brought this topic to the table in the first place. I understand that he is looking at the legislative calendar and that he believes he needs to tackle the hard issue now to avoid severe repercussions in the 2010 midterms. But. Now? Really?

The second finger of blame points to the crazy mixed up leadership in Congress. You are never going to make anyone happy with this legislation as it stands, and the Democratic leadership in the House and Senate are the wrong people to lead this debate. (Sidebar: The current leadership is capable of leading this party into a deep dark hole, and that is about it.) Who are the people Obama is trying to help here? The poor? The displaced? The disenfranchised? Of course, and quite frankly that is not a great constituency that is going to remember the good things come 2010 or 2012.

What is needed right now is an open and honest debate about not only healthcare, but a complete redesign of tax code and entitlements.

I have a job. A pretty good job. One that helps me obtain health insurance through monthly payroll deductions. But I am afraid that government involvement in either providing, subsidizing, or otherwise participating in health insurance is going to serve as an impetus for my employer to stop providing health insurance altogether. Why shouldn’t they? The cost of healthcare is astronomical, and anyone who believes that the government entering into the fray to either compete or join with private insurance providers is going to somehow magically contain costs are just nuts. (Not just Manson nuts — Sarah Palin nuts!) I think many businesses will see this as their  opportunity to turn to their employees and say ‘We’re cutting costs by eliminating health insurance. But we have this nice brochure from U.S. Government that tells you where to get on its insurance plan. Good luck!’ How does the government keep this from happening? Well, through more legislation, oversight and regulation!

It’s time to stop the madness!

Let’s establish a flat income tax rate that creates a flat field of revenues. Eliminate tax credits that benefit those with children and those that are married. Tax entitlement payments as income. Make everything flat for every living and breathing person in this country. Need health insurance? Great! Step right this way and pickup your new universal membership card. Have health insurance through a private provider or employer? Great news! Step to the left and pickup your refund check. You just saved the U.S. Government tons of money and here is your reward. Still smoking after all these years? Tisk. Tisk. That’s going to cost you. Gave up smoking, and joined a gym? Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner — please pickup your refund prize on the way out.

Pretty simple (and yes, probably overly simple) really. Let’s tax everyone equally no matter how much they make or take, and reward those who take fiscal responsibility for their own welfare instead of those who depend on the government to fix everything.

Have you noticed that the media keeps telling us how ‘the next primary’ will determine everything. Yet, if you look at the delegate numbers remaining in the all primaries over the next +/- 6 weeks, there is plenty of play left and this thing will drag on until at least June. 

Shame on the media for continuing to put the spotlight on the delegate race, and shame on the media for sensationalizing this primary process. Shame on Democrats for making this into a circus. I don’t think the party is damaged (yet) by this process, but I can see where a prolonged and contentious delegate fight could easily divide the party. Democrats must realize that this race is theirs to lose.