The more legislation that is passed, the less freedom we have. The goal of legislation is to control, not to free. In most cases, like budget bills, the more that is spent, the worse it is for businesses and families. The less they have to grow, prosper and feel comfortable.
Then you have pronouncements, not followed up by action. This causes others not to trust or believe the word of government leaders. On a national level, this is how wars are started.
“Gone are the days when President Ronald Reagan’s bombing of Libya sent a strong message resulting in Middle East peace during his term of office.
Biden’s mishandling of foreign policy has provided a template for making grievous errors domestically.
During the Blue vs Red State debate last week between Gavin Newsom and Ron DeSantis, California’s governor praised Biden’s job of defending the Southern border. He conveniently failed to mention the number of immigrants allowed to enter our country pending a court date most choose to ignore.
Not to be forgotten are got-a-ways possibly including terrorists being allowed to infiltrate our territory. Newsom countered blaming Republicans for not giving the President enough funding to successfully do the job.
Biden by spending more money on the border seems like he is talking control. But the money goes to opening the borders and providing services for the drug cartels, human sex traffickers and terrorist cells he lets in on a daily basis. Our nation is at war and Biden has waved the white flag.
Confusing Activity with Achievement by Richard Eber
Richard Eber, Exclusive to the California Political News and Views 12/11/23 www.capoliticalnewsandviews.com
Like many young people, I struggled on my first real job after college. A chronic lack of judgement, maturity, and focus resulted in a substandard performance from me.
My hated boss often reminded me, “You must not confuse activity with achievement,”
He was right. These words have followed me ever since those salad days. In time such deficiencies were minimized, allowing for a productive career to follow.
Today, a similar predicament exists in politics. Elected officials are prone to confuse activity with achievement dealing with critical issues. Talking points and monetary appropriations are often substituting for problem solving.
Take the conflict in the proxy war going in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Iran. President Joe Biden has completely missed the boat.
Barack Obama drew a red line in the sand and dared Bashar al-Assad not to cross it. Nothing happened when chemical weapons continued to be used by the dictator. Biden has continued to follow this benign neglect approach in the region.
Hezbollah, funded by Iran, has continually attacked American military installations in Syria and Iraq. Following over 30 of these incidents, the United States responded with a few air strikes at arms depots when no one was present. As might be expected, these actions have not discouraged their advisories. Most leaders in the Middle East regard the Stars and Stripes as a “paper tiger”.
Added to this equation of weakness of Biden trying to reengage Iran on the nuclear arms agreement for which the Ayatollah’s have no attention of ever following. Add on bestowing the Islamic Republic 6 billion dollars in prisoner swap, we are left with the President possessing less respect than Rodney Dangerfield on a bad day.
Joe Biden’s current confusion of activity with achievement is illustrated by useless shuttle diplomacy. His Secretary of State Tony Blinken has often found himself snubbed by top leadership in several Arab Countries. Saudi Arabia is still upset with Biden’s verbal attack on their Crown Prince in the aftermath of the Jamal Khashoggi assassination.
While Biden’s blunders receive forgiveness in the liberal news media back home, this is not reciprocated internationally. As a result, Uncle Sam is considered to be a week sister overseas by foreign governments including Russia and China.
Gone are the days when President Ronald Reagan’s bombing of Libya sent a strong message resulting in Middle East peace during his term of office.
Biden’s mishandling of foreign policy has provided a template for making grievous errors domestically.
During the Blue vs Red State debate last week between Gavin Newsom and Ron DeSantis, California’s governor praised Biden’s job of defending the Southern border. He conveniently failed to mention the number of immigrants allowed to enter our country pending a court date most choose to ignore.
Not to be forgotten are got-a-ways possibly including terrorists being allowed to infiltrate our territory. Newsom countered blaming Republicans for not giving the President enough funding to successfully do the job.
How convenient? Excuses rather than problem solving!
This is child’s play compared to the administration’s hypocritical Green Energy policy. They are attempting to phase out natural gas despite Europe calling it a clean energy product. The EU laughs when they learn gas stoves are being banned in the USA.
While trying to ban use of coal in the United States, Biden is OK with China producing batteries for our electric cars using this fuel to power their plants. If the Biden’s bureaucratic restrictions and further regulation on domestic petroleum production continue, we will be even more dependent on Venezuela and hostile Middle East countries for our future energy needs.
Such policies have led to higher energy costs and increased inflation for the average American family. Despite denials by Joe Bidens press secretary, this group has seen their standard of living dropping like a brick since her boss took office. This has been exasperated by the Inflation Reduction Act and increased military expenditures abroad.
It is regrettable more funds continue to be spent on failed social programs for African American’s living in big cities across the country. Despite virtual total Democratic control of politics in these impoverished communities for several generations, the cycle of poverty and high crime continues unabated.
Showing up at Black churches at election time and dolling out billions of dollars in welfare is the blue solution. The President boasted “If you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump then you ain’t black.”
This same confusion of activity with achievement is especially prevalent in California. Gavin Newsom’s and his progressive cohorts in the legislature have strangled the economy while lowering the standard of living for the poor and middle class.
Examples include:
- Construction of affordable housing has not been helped by cumbersome laws and regulations from legislation signed by Newsom. Taking away local control from zoning and permit applications by Sacramento is not helping build much of anything. Neither are mandatory costly Project Labor Agreements (PLA’s) nor density discount schemes that hinder development.
- The State loves to talk about increasing water storage during times of drought; but just the opposite has occurred. Newsom has promoted tearing down dams while cow-towed to environmental extremists opposition to approving construction of new reservoirs including the expansion of Lake Shasta.
- Prison reform releasing dangerous felons without proper supervision when they re-enter local communities once again. Non prosecution of criminals in Sanctuary City’s to avoid their deportation. DA’s sympathizing with criminals rather than victims of crime. Going along with this is Sacramento’s general lack of support for law enforcement.
- While pledging to improve California’s low performing public school system, Newsom has failed to confront his allies in the California Teachers Association (CTA). This group has continually resisted meaningful reform while fighting productive Charter Schools because they are predominately non-union.
- Driving businesses out of California. They have imposed cap and trade, gigantic tax rates, over regulation, expensive workers compensation laws, and the highest energy costs in the 48 States. This has resulted in creating a hostile environment for commerce. Mounting budget deficits proves California is killing the Golden Goose of past prosperity.
The list goes on from high non-progressive gasoline tax’s to the ridiculous Bullet Train. When will this ever end?
Next year both nationally and in California, voters will be able to distinguish between activity and achievement in casting their ballots. As might be expected Democrats will try resorting to cancel culture arguments pertaining to race, gender, white supremacy, and abortion, and hatred of Donald Trump, to mask their dismal record.
Judging from past results, this approach will likely work once again.
