Elmont Online

It used to be that there were leaders you could count on. Men and women who made things happen. Throughout our history, there were such great people. Think, Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy and Reagan.  Each of these individuals had very profound character traits. They made decisions. They stood for something. They led.

Today’s generation are seriously wondering what’s happening to our country and world. Our problems grow bigger and all you hear from Washington DC politicians is simplistic blather. The talking points uttered by these politicians on television are so insulting that even a kindergartner doesn’t believe them.

Unfortunately, there is no outrage. There is no questioning. Many ask why. The answer is simple. People no longer feel the anger. They don’t believe. They’ve lost faith in our leaders. There is no trust.

Drive by a synagogue, church or mosque. Notice the lots are becoming more filled? People yearn for truth. They yearn for something to believe in. The reason is simple. People are worried.

When you turn on the television, 24 hour cable television “news” shows with talking heads yell at each other and say nothing. Programs on CNN, MSNBC and FOX are thinly veiled propaganda rants aimed at manipulating public opinion. Is this what we’ve degenerated into? Watching propaganda? Where are the programs that demand accountability from leaders?

If we sit back and think about it for a while, this real-life drama is frightening. The stock market continues to tumble. Jobs are lost at astonishing rates. Taxes are through the roof. People have lost their health care. Retirement packages evaporate. Countries like Iran are developing a nuclear bomb. States are essentially bankrupt. And, the list goes on.

Just a month ago, there was an election in the United Kingdom. The election issues were eerily similar to what we have simmering right here in our State and country. The election battle was different. On the Labour side, the answer was spend more. On the Tory side, the message was cut to get back on track.

The governing Labour party, in power for over a decade, was shown the door by the voters. In its place, a new Tory government that stood for something was given the chance.

The new Tory government, led by British Prime Minister David Cameron, has promised what some dream of, but fear to speak out loud. Cut government spending by billions of dollars. Slash discretionary programs by over forty percent. Put young people to work through internship-job programs. Promote green technology. Renew inner cities with real investment in job creation, training and building incentives. Eliminate programs that no longer work. Work with the private sector to create jobs. Raise standards in education. Let Doctors do their work in caring for patients instead of doing paperwork.

Why such a radical platform? Cameron did it because his country was nearly bankrupt. Do we need to go bankrupt before an adult stands up and speaks truth?

The voters in that election knew that there was going to be bitter medicine to take in order to get their economy rolling again. They held their noses, closed their eyes, and voted for a new way. They knew it was going to hurt. But they did it anyway. Refreshing isn’t it?

Maybe the answer for the Washington elite- those members of Congress who won’t give it to us straight is this: we won’t vote for you until you make the tough decisions to get this country back on track. If you won’t, we will vote for another way.