“The American people spoke out for a return to civility to the Capitol in Washington and how Congress conducts its work, and Democrats pledge civility and bipartisanship in the conduct of the work here, and we pledge partnerships with the Republicans in Congress and the president, not partisanship” – Nancy Pelosi

That’s the cry that I’ve been hearing since November when the Democrats retook the Senate and House in the elections. Every Democrat I speak with eventually comes back to tell me how the people have spoken and they want the Democrats to make a change. So, I figure, it’s been a few months, let’s just see what the people have spoken for and how their chosen mouth pieces are speaking for them.

First we have the author of the above quote Nancy Pelosi, who, as the first female speaker of the house and Democratic party head, has decided she needs a military jet the size of air force one to cart her back and forth from California to Washington. First the cry was that the current jet, a smaller 12 seat deal that was still rather nice and just fine for her the previous Speaker, didn’t have the fuel capacity to make it from Washington to California nonstop. I have two problems with this. First, after some investigating the plane that was being used has a 3000+ mile capacity. Secondly, is the Speaker of the House so important that she can’t stop somewhere to refuel between California and Washington? Not to mention, as the mouthpiece of the Democratic party who’s war cry lately has been “Global Warming is here”, shouldn’t she be setting an example and not using a 42 passenger jet with a state room and entertainment center? Hell, maybe she should fly commercial to stop even more greenhouse gas emissions. More perks for an already overpaid and over privileged representative. Is this what the people spoke for?

Next is our friend Dennis Kucinich and his Fairness Doctrine. This blatant attempt at limiting free speech was shut down in 1987 after it was deemedby the FCC to hinder debate instead of fostering it as the Act was supposed to when it was passed in 1969. However, with the increase in “conservative talk radio” and the blatant failure of the liberal counter to it “Air America”, Mr. Kucinich and his pals think they can use this Fairness Doctrine to leverage private broadcasting companies to “get their message” out. Even though it’s obvious from the failure of Air America that nobody wants to listen to the message. Hey, but why should the market or consumer demand counter our wise and all knowing leaders? I guess this is what people spoke for in November?

Speaking of private companies, while I’m in the habit of usually only putting one quote per article, I’ve been slacking lately, so here is another one from the esteemed junior senator from the great state of New York: “The other day the oil companies reported the highest profits in the history of the world. I want to take those profits and I want to put them into a strategic energy fund that will begin to fund alternative smart energy alternatives and technologies that will…” while it continues on I think we’ve heard enough Madame Senator. So, let me get this straight. A State Senator and Presidential candidate for the ‘08 election thinks that the government has the right to confiscate the profits of a private and legal company? What is she basing this leap in stupidity on? Why does she feel the government has a right to a single dollar that these people earned? Do I like big oil? No. Do I complain at the pump when I have to fill up? Of course. Does the government have the right to take the money from a private company due to record breaking profits? Of course not. Then again, I’m not one of those people that demanded change. Is this what those people asked for in November?

Let’s move on to the war in Iraq. The hot topic of the election. The supposed deciding factor. People were sick of the war. People want it to end. So these people again spoke and voted in legislators that were going to bring a swift resolution to the conflict in Iraq? How are these new legislators going to do this? By passing non-binding resolutions. How effective. Do they have the guts to cut funding? No. Do they have the guts to rework the presidential emergency powers? No. They will waste time and taxpayer dollars on a useless piece of posturing though. Is this what those people in November were casting their ballot for?

Finally, while I hate to be a homer, I am going to bring up one local instance of “the people speaking” from here in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is a state where the population is declining rapidly in the age range of 25-40. Pennsylvania is a state that sees business leave at almost as a high rate as the people do. So, what is our state government’s answer to attract new people and business? Raise the sales tax 1% to 7%. The second highest in the nation aside from California’s rate of 7.25%. So, in a state that is losing consumers and businesses, the idea is to make it more difficult for them to stay. I guess this is what those voters asked for.

Well, as we can see, it’s been quite a busy few months for our new representatives in the government. I guess my real question is to those people who voiced their opinions for voting these men and women in as their representatives. Is this what you asked for? Is this what you wanted? Did you vote for these people because you thought they were the correct candidate for the job, or did you just want to get “that nasty old Republican” out of office? Well, I look at it this way, at least I can say I told you so.

Last 5 posts by Jeff Hopkins

• The Yeti Rants: The Change has Come to Town! - November 26th, 2008
• The Yeti Rants: Wall Street, Congress and Bailouts.. OH MY - October 8th, 2008
• The Yeti Rants: Obama vs. McCain... what's the difference? - June 23rd, 2008
• The Yeti Rants: A Democrat form of Government... - February 29th, 2008
• The Yeti Rants: It's Good to be Back! - January 30th, 2008