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Hernando Today

'Change' Is Same Old Thing

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 8, 2009

After reading Don Plezia's piece on the "new" administration in Washington, I have to say my high hopes for "change," as it was called, seem to be nothing more than just hopes. President Barack Obama told us all it would be time for "new thoughts and ideas" and a "new direction" if we elected him.

Well, many of us crossed party lines and voted for "change" because we felt our country needed fresh, new ideas and less of the old, crooked politics. We are now seeing our self-proclaimed "man of change, and of the people" surrounding himself with "old" politicians. These "old" politicians are the same ones who for years have used their positions and power to apparently misuse our trust by doing all sorts of things that most Americans would never consider doing, but these politicians do because they mostly feel they are "above" the laws the rest of us have to follow.

I can tell you, I know of families who went through tax hell because of mistakes by paid preparers that totaled less than $2,000. They were hounded, threatened with liens and had refunds confiscated. You can also read about people going to jail or prison daily who broke the law, but these politicians, well, they apparently can violate the very laws they swore to uphold with impunity. Then they just pay the money they owe (only after they are caught, mind you) by getting "help" most likely from their friendly local lobbyist or simply "withdrawing" and going on doing whatever they were doing - mostly drifting back into government positions where they can waste our money and give gifts to their benefactors without oversight.

I have to begin asking myself, "is this the change we were promised?" Because if it is, and Obama continues to surround himself with the same old lifelong politicians instead of experts from the private sector, or young bright minds as we were led to believe, then, sir you have brought us nothing but the same old politics. And I will regret giving you my hopes and support.

And since I am venting, stop with the spending already! This whole mess with our economy was started because of speculators making millions, heck billions, from people unqualified to borrow or who were flat out lied to about investments. And what does our government do? We reward these speculators (whether they are individuals or corporations) who scammed or lied with a $700 billion package of bonuses and perks including cruises, trips and private jets, while the people who needed help lost their homes, businesses and lives.

A report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office the other day said officials can't even track most of the money because of "lax standards." Sends a good message to our young people. No wonder they don't get involved in government. Again, government at its best - protect those who give money to the politicians and the politicians themselves! When is government going to step up to the plate, stand up to lobbyists and help real people who need help?

My educated guess is never, because that is where the real power in Washington comes from - the money and influence they can peddle to and from lobbyists and the politicos definitely don't want to give that up, mainly because it would be only a public service job and not a means to get wealthy, powerful and be immune from the laws the rest of us live by.

As any economist worth his degree will tell you, the government sector of the Gross National Product equation is the most inefficient, wasteful and ineffective sector to grow the economy. So what does our president propose, more government spending, not helping people, but helping campaign contributors, lobbyists, lawyers and other politicians keep the same old "pay-to-play" system they all deny exists?

I ask you, President Obama, are you going to be the same old thing or are you going to actually fulfill your pledge to the American people and change government?

Dave Parker

Spring Hill

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