Departments



Articles

Less

Editorial: What Have We Learned?
September 3rd, 2005

Editorial: Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace
August 17th, 2005

Editorial: What Is a Consultant to Do?
July 5th, 2005

Editorial: Six Land Use Petitions in Play
June 25th, 2005

Editorial: Poaching & Plagiarism
June 13th, 2005

Editorial: Upward and Onward in 2005
May 24th, 2005

Editorial: Farewell Maureen
May 17th, 2005

Editorial: Speaking About Speak Out
May 10th, 2005

Editorial: Informed Voters Wanted
March 26th, 2005

Editorial: Health Needs Survey Well Received
February 12th, 2005

Editorial: Fire Protection, Fire Insurance and Tax Justice
January 25th, 2005

Editorial: Cedar Key Health Service Survey
January 14th, 2005

Editorial: New Year`s Resolution
December 31st, 2004

Editorial: Do We Need Better Healthcare in Cedar Key?
December 16th, 2004

Editorial: Help Defend Us
October 29th, 2004

More

Catching the Right Wave

Catching the Right Wave

Editorial

We have all seen spectacular videos of surfers catching a wave, dancing forward and back, and being driven into the sand as the wave breaks. We are continuing to see performances of our representatives in Washington as they ride the waves of bond default and international financial reputation. We must wait until the 2012 election to see which politicians get off the wave of emotion in time to avoid being "wiped out" in the ballot boxes.

The default wave is big indeed. A trickier wave is how far into the future the debt limit gets extended. But the rogue wave is cutting Medicare. Misjudging which wave to ride will end political careers. Some candidates for office promise to replace an incumbent and go to Washington with a new agenda. That agenda morphs into getting reelected soon after the reformer arrives in our capitol. The charm of the TV camera, excellent health care plan and the money that lobbyists lavish on incumbents no doubt explain the goal of reelection.

Reelection in "safe districts" is not uncommon. With reelection comes seniority and a surplus of money in the campaign war chest. That builds alliances and the courage to ride the big waves. The surfing videos seldom show the surfer lying on the beach with a concussion and contusions after overplaying the thrill of the ride.


The coming fifteen months will bring one big emotional wave after another. If you have faith that something positive can be achieved by legislation in the face of political campaigns dominated by the desire to be reelected, please write to your Representative and Senators. Tell them that a rational energy policy must not be put off. Regulated offshore drilling, alternative energy sources, biofuel boondoggles and recognition of global warming are crucial long-term issues.

Click for printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend

 

 

© 2013
Cedar Key News

cedarkeynews@gmail.com