Political Correctness - The Tool of Cowards

In the aftermath of the Fort Hood massacre, the American public has, once again, been injected by another poisionous dose of governmental "tweaked speak" as a way of diverting attention from the simple facts leading up to this cold blooded slaughter. As more evidence about the shooter's history is revealed, the alarming assault upon one's sensibilities is NOT the fact that a radical Islamic devotee undertook a bold suicide mission to eradicate the enemy. No, the American public well understands that in a time of war against an enemy that utilizes suicide missions as a prized and effective weapon, there is little, if any difference between Major Hassan's brutal attack and the suicidal Japanese pilots who sacrificed their lives during World War II in order to assure their explosive-laden planes hit their targets. War, by definition of exterminating the enemy, means people are killed .

What shocks those who have not yet become completely anesthetized by the unrelenting stream of distortion flowing from reporting lips in Washington DC is the stumbling and albeit heavily postured response by the Obama administration to this stark reminder that America is, indeed, engaged in 2 foreign wars against enemies who will say and do anything to further their cause. And the almost laughable way this event - like so many others - is being portrayed to the public as if the public is made up of simple-minded, sheeple people who will believe any scripted sound-byte handed out to them as a rational explanation of how things are or why things happen.

Where publicly available news is concerned, the much-needed brash "if you build it, they will come" attitude that characterizes unbiased and forthright fact finding has been replaced, yet again, by a twisted parody of "if you say it, they will believe it" deviance. In this instance, we are told that Major Hassan's slaughter house killings were not the act of a jihadist. Rather, this tragedy is presented as the inevitable consequence of a mentally unbalanced soldier who suffered from undiagnosed PTSD. And that it should be swept under the rug in the name of maintaining social diversity. A silly notion in a long string of other inventive explanations that might have slipped past the public radar if not for mounting contradictory evidence that tells the tale of a devout man who admired suicide bombers and sought to educate those around him about the dangers of entertaining secular devotees who believe their enemies must be annihilated. An ignored forewarning by one and all who were prompted by self-serving fears to follow a social mandate of political correctness versus the natural plainspokeness that is necessary to protect the greater good. Errors in judgment that ultimately cost 13 people their lives; and -- in the larger sense, a reprehensible testimony about the all too pervasive habit in social and governmental cultures that demand the suppression of natural honesty in order for its members to advance or find favor.

In spite of how many blatant Washington lies have been exposed in recent months, it is still hard to believe that national leaders and the media entrusted to accurately report factual news continue to foolishly compromise on honesty by playing a man-made game of deception they call political correctness. A game of "tweaked speak" that when viewed dispassionately reveals itself as the nasty habit of cowardly deceivers whose every utterance is a deliberate political expediency to gain something for themselves.

Sadly, there is a striking parallel between news media personalities who knowingly engage in skewed and biased reporting for the purpose of enabling a political administration to unceasingly present falsehood as truth and those who would harm or destroy the nation by insinuating themselves into traditional roles for the purposes of inflicting as much damage as is possible on their enemy. The same can be said about a political administration that habitually panders misinformation to the populace while positioning itself as the moral exemplar of ethical behavior even though it endorses duplicity and utilizes intimidation to threaten or punish all who would question the veracity of its obvious fabrications.

Shameful as these comparisons may be, this latest tap dance to avoid facing the realities of war in favor of politically expedient insincerity coupled with today's feeble excuses for an even longer delay in decisive military action in Afghanistan are reminiscent of the many reasons cited by Hillary Clinton during the 2008 presidential campaign about why then candidate Obama was unfit for the high office of Commander-In-Chief. In the matter of Major Hassan or foot dragging over increasing troop strength in Afghanistan, President Obama is simply conducting business as he always has -- speaking whatever words are necessary to manipulate an outcome favorable to himself.

Over the last 32 months since Mr. Obama first announced his presidential candidacy in February 2007, the public has been told every imaginable story and spin on issues ranging from healthcare to homosexuality If the latest Rasmussen approval poll is any indicator, 70% of the voting public is finally catching on that something is terribly amiss in the White House.

Whatever members of the U. S. Government who still possess something of a spiritual conscience or a shred of authentic patriotism must eventually grow weary of the constant deceptions that characterize the way the nation is being governed. May they soon join the ranks of the disenfranchised voters who do not approve of President Obama's job performance since it does not seem that Mr. Obama will soon discover the folly of attempting to lead the nation using inventive stories that do not hold up under scrutiny.

The trust of the American people is the single-most precious asset for any sitting president. It is not lightly given, and when betrayed by corruption and pandering to special interests - especially in the guise of political correctness, the consequences do not bode well for the nation or the public.

Go Left... No! Go Right...

What About The Middle?

To thoughtful Americans, every administration comes to a critical moment and a burning issue where leadership must choose whether to serve its own party's best interest -- OR -- rise above rank party politics and serve the well-being of the nation as a whole.

In case anyone has forgotten, the United States is comprised of over 305,000,000 citizens whose lives are effected by every new federal law, every treaty, every new expenditure, every currency fluctuation -- all of which are determined by every 'yay' and 'nay' vote cast in the U. S. House and Senate. In spite of a 2-party system that has grown accustomed to U. S. Representatives and U. S. Senators voting for party solidarity by voting the 'party line', Democrat and Republican ideologies and desires do not represent all the people.

A May 2009 Pew Poll reported: "average of surveys conducted this year, 36% say they are independents, 35% are Democrats, while 23% are Republicans."

Yep, at that time 36% identified themselves as Independents who are not beholding to any party. A number that has surely grown (although hard to verify) given recent poll number showing a 76% disapproval rating for Congress and dropping ratings for President Obama across the board.

So how are the Congressionally Disenfranchised being represented by a Democrat-controlled White House and Congress?

To put it bluntly, they aren't.

Independent voters - similar to the 1.4++ Million active duty members of the U. S. Military - are not on the radar screen except as potential voters who can be swayed to elect another Democrat or Republican in 2010 and 2012 elections. Potential voters who will be wooed and possibly seduced again by sleight-of-hand trickery designed to disguise fiction as fact such as attempting to conceal more deficit spending for economic stimulation as being something other than one more costly 'stimulus' program. (SEE: Pelosi Refuses to Call New Spending Another Stimulus Package.)

The 2 burning issues of the day: Health Care Reform and the Obama Paralytic Tapdance over much-needed troop support for Afghanistan.

On Health Care
Traditional media, insurance and medical industry analysts, and plenty of "pajama bloggers" are covering the Health Care debate. And numerous credible sources are fact-checking information as it unfolds. And plenty of political action groups and events are available for anyone who wants to get actively involved.  So what can be added to this thorny topic?  Speaking as an average citizen -- not going left or right:

Mr. Obama has the opportunity to distinguish himself as something far more than the first African-American president or the first sitting president to ever appear on Letterman. He has a singular and rare opportunity to actually act in the best interest of the nation as a whole. He can stop serving factional interests any time he so chooses. He can -- if willing -- start serving the American people without regard to their race, creed, or color.   More urgently he could -- if willing --stop pitting factions against each other at a time when the nation desperately needs political unification by credible leaders.

He could stop beating the drum for more deficit spending. He could -- if willing -- elaborate about the process that led him to determine that health care reform without tort reform first is the best possible way to reduce un-necessary medical spending.

He could - if willing - provide substantiated facts resulting from diligent research that detail the proposed Medicare cuts. Something desperately needed if only to ease the concerns of the elderly who will bear the brunt of any change to Medicare.. He could - if willing - end all arguments around health care by demonstrating the wisdom and depth of his plan -- not by repeating orchestrated messages, but by providing facts that everyone can examine and question.

He could do all these things and more, but he doesn't.

It is no wonder that conservative talk show hosts -- like Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, and Shawn Hannity -- question both his actions and motives. As are more and more people who are bone weary of Democrat and Republican name-calling. Sound-byte hype just doesn't cut it any more. Especially as diversions to reasonable investigation into the consequences of proposed sweeping legislation before it is signed into law.

With news headlines like these below reporting more infantile cat fights on both sides of the aisle - it becomes more and more apparent that Democrats including Mr. Obama do not care about anyone or anything except those who toe the party line and support the left exclusively.

Grayson: Republicans are 'the enemy of America'
Today: Grayson said on MSNBC that the GOP is the enemy of anybody who wants "anything good for this country," including health care reform, climate change legislation and "certainly the enemy of peace."

Do What They're Told: Obama takes a swipe at GOP
"Democrats are an opinionated bunch. You know, the other side, they just kinda sometimes do what they're told. Democrats, y'all thinkin' for yourselves."

U. S. Military In Harm's Way

1.4+ Million U.S. citizens are currently serving on active duty in the U. S. Armed Forces. While they do not constitute a large enough voting block to influence Republicans or Democrats with promises of future votes, these people are the sons, daughters, sisters and brothers of other voters who understand that when Mr. Obama as Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces delays and delays sending requested troops to secure not only the goal, but to reduce escalating troop casualties something is not just amiss... it is flat-out broken.

The loss of one more American soldier's life on an Afghanistan battlefield that could have been prevented by increased troop strength is a heavy burden for anyone to bear. 

54 days have elapsed since General McChrystal requested additional troops.

On Tuesday, October 20th, Lance Cpl. David R. Baker of Painesville OH was killed in Operation Enduring Freedom / Afghanistan. He is 39th American soldier who lost his life in October. 70 others lost their lives in September.

54 days is a long time to a soldier fighting a war. It is a long time to parents, friends and family who carry a 24/7 burden of concern for all who are serving in combat zones. And it is an agonizingly long time for a general to wait for an answer from his commander-in-chief on a matter he feels is not only urgent, but one that will keep costing soldier's lives with every passing day.

During this time, Mr. Obama has tapdanced his way across television studios, ballrooms, and town meeting halls -- telling jokes, entertaining the plain folk, and pushing Health Care tweaked-speak sound-bytes in front of every camera that would record and broadcast his words without question.

As criticism over stalling tactics began to mount, the public was treated to some film footage of Situation Room sessions that have still provided no answer to General McChrystal. Although to his credit, Obama gave a hushed nod to deploy 13,000 troops as a bandaid..

Sadly, the bandaids did not arrive in time to save Lance Cpl. Baker or the as yet to be identified soldier who died yesterday. His or her death brings the death toll to 40 for October as of the 21st.

Some Suggestions

1. If you are an Independent voter or a disenchanted Repubican or Democrat, express your disapproval to those who currently represent you and your state..
2. Express your disapproval to the White House.
3. Express your disapproval to any media source that is endorsing and perpetuating Anita Dunn and company "TWEAKED SPEAK".
4. Vote for the most honest and able new representation available in 2010 elections.
5. Rally around and support the most honest and able potential presidential candidate you can find for the 2012 presidential campaign.
   

In the meantime, the addage: "You will know them by their fruits" is a timely reminder that when reasonable and legitimate questions by anyone who will suffer the consequences spawned by another's decisions are met with sharp-tongued invective and obscuration, the fruit is rotten.

Sadly, the rotten fruit in both parties do not care about the middle Independent or the Military.  Though they will both gladly accept Visa, Master Card, Checks and Cash campaign contributions.  

Hoodwinked by Propaganda

Fool me once, shame on you...fool me twice, shame on me

The Anita Dunn video about how "selectively enhanced" information carried the day for the Obama presidential campaign is another powerful warning to the nation about the dangers of tolerating any more glib politcal posturing that is characterized by invective, personal attacks, and vague generalities as way of obstructing fact-based, lucid debate about the critical issues of the day.

In the video, Dunn outlines the Obama strategy of controlling the media and hence the public through selectively presented information as the winning fundamental of their campaign. By her very words, Anita Dunn is a self-admitted propagandist. One who - through her own gift for gab - has placed herself and those she represents in the ranks of other nation-changing propagandists such as Hitler, Stalin, and Chairman Mao who relied upon disinformation schemes to seduce the populations of Germany, Russia, and China respectively.

Dunn's revelation also goes a long way in explaining her summarily dismissive response to yet another inquiry about a June 2009 speech she gave to impressionable graduating high school students in which she named Mao Tse Tung as one of her 2 most trusted philosophical exemplars. Her response to Glenn Beck's queries was to say references to Mao were an ironic, meaningless play she called  a joke, even though her speech presented Mao as a source of inspiration for these student to carry with them into the future.

As repeated by many in recent days, Dunn's candid comments in these videos are premonitions of things to come if the majority of American people continue to accept "selectively enhanced" mis-speak from the White House or Congress. Though, to her possible dismay, they have also provided much-needed insight into Obama's mystifying reluctance to assume the mantle of governance and  explains his disposition for creating a list of domestic 'enemies' who need to be silenced.

Dunn's description of how then candidate Obama was deliberately kept away from the media except as permitted to deliver calculated remarks suggests that the criticism made about his continuing campaign-mode even after inauguration is not without merit.  When all that matters regarding the public well-being is the sound-byte, not the substance behind it, then we can expect that Obama and his teleprompter will continue their uninterrupted publicity tour while the nation languishes from presidential neglect.

What the average citizen "gets" is that Dunn's instructive comments implies that these very same campaign tricks have been carried over to the governance of the nation.  They tell us to be wary of being hoodwinked again.  And urge the studious to read for themselves how propaganda shapes the fate of nations. 

The research article PROPAGANDA TECHNIQUES OF GERMAN FASCISM(1) details how Hitler successfully used the following propaganda strategies that when placed in today's context bear an uncanny resemblance to the posture and conduct of the Obama campaign and now the White House:

1. "Name Calling" is a device to make us form a judgment without examining the evidence on which it should be based. Here the propagandist appeals to our hate and fear.
2. "Glittering Generalities" is a device by which the propagandist identifies his program with virtue by use of "virtue words." Here he appeals to our emotions of love, generosity, and brotherhood.
3.  "Transfer" is a device by which the propagandist carries over the authority, sanction, and prestige of something we respect and revere to something he would have us accept.
4. The "Testimonial" is a device to make us accept anything from a patent medicine or a cigarette to a program of national policy.
5. "Plain Folks" is a device used by politicians, labor leaders, business men, and even by ministers and educators to win our confidence by appearing to be people like ourselves—"just plain folks among the neighbors."
6. "Card Stacking" is a device in which the propagandist employs all the arts of deception to win our support for himself, his group, nation, race, policy, practice, belief, or ideal. He stacks the cards against the truth. He uses under-emphasis and over-emphasis to dodge issues and evade facts.
7. The "Band Wagon" is a device to make us follow the crowd, to accept the propagandist's program en masse. Here his theme is: "Everybody's doing it." His techniques range from those of medicine show to dramatic spectacle.

Sound familiar?

Considering all of that together with the five major phenomena characteristics of Fascism in Germany (listed below), one cannot turn a blind eye to rapidly evolving national events.

1.  The destruction of labor unions.
2. The destruction of "free enterprise" to bring business under the absolute control of the Führer.
3. The destruction of "free enterprise" in agriculture.
4. The destruction or silencing of members of the intellectual class—editors, professors, teachers, clergymen and others who by reason of native gifts, training, education, and experience are among the best equipped to analyze and appraise the policies and acts of the Führer and the hierarchy of Nazi officials.
5. A monopoly of propaganda, accompanied by coercion, to keep all the people subservient to the authoritarian will.

Dunn and company have already set a dangerous precedent for future campaign hopefuls who, by emulating a campaign strategy based on trickery, will ensure ethics and morality have no further place in the annals of American politics.

It behooves all thoughtful Americans to consider the many countries where populations are suffering the whims and fancies of despotic rule before dismissing due consideration to the many warning signals that something is truly amiss in the halls of the American government.

Today, Republican Senator Lamar Alexander (TN), who served in the Nixon White House, provides his observations about the dangers of today's unsavory political climate in this Roll Call article: Alexander to White House: Don't Create 'Enemies List' in which he describes some of the White House tactics that are deliberately being used to discredit anyone who objects to their policies. That's No. 4 on the list of Characteristics of Fascism in Germany.

Even more perilous is the interlude between now and 2010 elections when more bail-outs and costly entitlement programs can and will be signed into law unless the American public stops it now by petitioning the government with their grievances and concerns.

Today, Roll Call also reports: Pelosi Refuses to Call New Spending Another Stimulus Package. That sure smells like a hybrid of "Card Stacking" and "Testimonal" given this excerpt: " After trotting out a handful of economists who each backed another stimulus package, Pelosi said Democrats would consider a host of ideas to spend more money and cut taxes next year."

Yep, false campaign promises fooled a lot of plain folks. But dropping presidential approval ratings and party defections offer the promise that people of good conscience will speak up before it is, indeed, too late.

Transparency...at last!

"oh what a tangled web we weave when we first begin to deceive.."

2009: October 18 Headline: White House Boasts: We 'control' news media - Communications chief offers shocking confession to foreign government - contains a video that is well-worth watching by anyone who is concerned about the Obama administration's mystifying refusal to meet the public's growing questions with forthright and honest answers.

The video is an accurate record of remarks made by Anita Dunn, the White House spokesperson who recently shocked some in the nation with her startling announcement that the Obama administration has just declared war on a new adversarial entity - FOX News.

Yes, you heard that right. A war that escalated over the weekend with 2 more White House spokespeople, Rahm Emmanuel and David Axelrod, publicly imploring other news networks, media outlets, and journalists to NOT follow FOX's lead in investigating matters that can and will effect 305+ Million U.S. Citizens. Matters such as health care reform, rising debt, the safety of troops in Afghanistan and more. A request that appalled many, including journalists, as it should since it was a plea to the media at large to turn a blind eye to the workings of the Obama adminstration.

Fortunately, Dunn's video comments explains in detail why the White House has proclaimed a domestic war on FOX News in addition to the foreign wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. They explain why Obama's closest advisors and representatives are taking to the national stage in a deliberate attempt to create a schism within the media community that can be widened by selectively branding networks and journalists as good guys or enemies based upon whether their reporting, editorials, and selection of talk shows are deemed "favorable" to the White House or not.

QUOTE: "Very rarely did we communicate through the press anything that we didn't absolutely control," said Dunn.

Take careful note of the word "control".

Captured on camera in an undeniable way, Ms. Dunn ticks off every step of how the success of Obama's campaign - first against Hillary Clinton and then against McCain - depended upon the tight control of what information was actually made available to the media. Media who would then broadcast those deliberately controlled messages to a public hungry for any information that could help them maked an informed voting decision. An admission that might be of some solace to Hillary Clinton who repeatedly complained about her opponent's disinformation tactics, but one that brings chills of horror to those who are so utterly weary of political trickery and schemes that they voted for Obama in hopes that he would, indeed, prove to be a man of his word - honest and true.

In spite of the heartbreak in discovering the sad fact that Barack Obama is no different than any other politician who has plotted and schemed his way into office on the wings of half-truths and cryptic sound-bytes, Dunn's video remarks provide the first blush of much-needed transparency into Obama's philosophy and approach to governing our large and diverse nation. To those whose first loyalty is to upholding the U. S. Constitution for the sake of all U.S. Citizens, this sobering behind-the-scenes peek is both an illuminating disclosure and further proof that a controlled media that unquestionably reports what it is fed by an individual, a group, or a government is the bedrock upon which every dictator and despot throughout history has founded his kingdom.

As Thomas Jefferson said:

"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent."

Mindful of this timeless insight, in the days ahead - the poisonous weed of a government controlled media planted by Ms. Dunn and other contrivers during the Obama campaign years can be uprooted by swift and diligent investigative efforts and public reporting by any and all members of the media who refuse to blindly accept and propagate "selectively enhanced" information without question.

At this juncture, it might also serve the country well to review more of the insightful observations made by Hillary Clinton during her campaign since her complaints about dirty tricks are now proven true - courtesy of the Anita Dunn video.

"This is, you know, a, a — an unfortunate story line that the Obama campaign has pushed very successfully,” she said. “They’ve been putting out talking points. They’ve been making this — they’ve been telling people, in a very selective way, what the facts are.” ~ Hillary Clinton (Politico, Jan. 2008).

More so, it might well serve the country if Mrs. Clinton, in good conscience, stepped forward as a vocal public servant whose intimate knowledge about dirty politics and scheming ploys can help expedite a government that must become trustworthy enough to place the best interest of the nation as a whole ahead of divisive party politics serving highly selective special interest groups.

It is easy to muse that Hillary Clinton is far more palatable and probably far more useful to the American pubic in a new distinguished position such as Speaker of the House versus the vacuous Ms. Pelosi. And in times of war and economic struggle, the nation truly needs savvy fence-menders, not bumbling fence makers.

Perhaps Mrs. Clinton is one of the rare few who genuinely understands that the majority of citizens are fed up with immature bickering that consumes precious resources for the benefit of the few without any consideration for the anguish it is causing the American people. In fact, in an act of boldness, she might even articulate that such infantile antics are just a continuation of the same-o Obama story line: use any deterrent and any means whatsoever to obstruct authentic fact finding. Something that is both beneath the dignity of the Office of the President of the United States and an insult to the nation.

America's Most Fearful Peril

As seen by George Washington at Valley Forge, the winter of 1777

(excerpted from George Washington's Prophecy of America)

THIRD AND MOST FEARFUL PERIL
“Then my eyes beheld a fearful scene. From each of these continents arose thick black clouds that were soon joined into one. And throughout this mass there gleamed a dark red light by which I saw hordes of armed men. These men, moving with the cloud, marched by land and sailed by sea to America, which country was enveloped in the volume of cloud. And I dimly saw these vast armies devastate the whole country and ~ the villages, towns and cities which I had seen springing up.” “As my ears listened to the thundering of the cannon, clashing of the swords, and the shouts and cries of millions in mortal combat, I again heard the mysterious voice saying, ‘Son of the Republic, look and learn.” Where the voice had ceased, the dark shadowy angel placed his trumpet once more to his mouth, and blew a long and fearful blast.”

HEAVEN INTERVENES
“Instantly a light as of a thousand suns shone down from above me, and pierced and broke into fragments the dark cloud which enveloped America. At the same moment the angel upon whose head still shown the word UNION, and who bore our national flag in one hand, and a sword in the other, descended from the heavens attended by, legions of white spirits. These immediately joined the inhabitants of America, who I perceived were well-nigh overcome, but who immediately taking courage again, closed up their broken ranks and renewed the battle.” “Again, amid the fearful noise of the conflict I heard the mysterious voice saying, ‘Son of the Republic, look and learn.’ As the voice ceased the shadowy angel for the last time dipped water from the ocean and sprinkled it upon America. Instantly the dark cloud rolled back, together with the armies it had brought, leaving the inhabitants of the land victorious.”

“Then once more, I beheld the villages, towns and cities springing up where I had seen them before, while the bright angel, planting the azure standard he had brought in the midst of them, cried with the loud voice: “While the stars remain, and the heaven send down dew upon the earth, so long shall the UNION last.” And taking from his brow the crown on which blazoned the word ‘UNION,’ he placed it upon the Standard while the people, kneeling down, said ‘Amen.”

THE INTERPRETATION
The scene instantly began to fade and dissolve, and I, at last saw nothing but the rising, curling vapor I at first beheld. This also disappeared, and I found myself once more gazing upon the mysterious visitor, who, in the same voice I had heard before, said, ‘Son of the Republic, what you have seen is thus interpreted; Three great perils will come upon the Republic. The most fearful for her is the third. But the whole world united shall not prevail against her. Let every child of the Republic learn to live for his God, his land, and UNION” With these words the vision vanished, and I started from my seat and felt that I had seen a vision wherein had been shown me the birth, the progress, and the destiny of the United States.’”

12-Steps For Government Shop-A-Holics

From the playbook of Alcoholic's Anonymous...
the only way to stop excess spending is to just stop <period>

Sounds simple, right?

It should be that simple unless the people who are over-spending have become hooked on spending money.

Controversial FOX Radio and TV host Glenn Beck inspired this article. Not so much because he is a recovered alcoholic. Rather, that he has taken a bold stand in trying to identify what is behind the unprecedented shift in the way national government is conducting both itself and the affairs of the nation. And has candidly murmured that he feels people who are practicing a  recovery program can help the recovering nation in some way.

In the rooms of AA, it is common to hear that 1 drink is too many and 1,000 are not enough. In the halls of Congress, it is common to hear that $1Billion is too much and $1Trillion is not enough.

Sounds about the same, doesn't it?

Yesterday's breathtaking AP news report titled "2009 federal deficit surges to $1.42 trillion"  includes another mind boggling CBO projection:

"The Congressional Budget Office projects that the nation's debt held by investors both at home and abroad will increase by $9.1 trillion over the next decade, pushing the total to $17.1 trillion (by 2019) under Obama's spending plans."

As the National Debt Clock keeps chalking up bigger and bigger deficit numbers, it doesn't take an economist to figure out that something is terribly wrong. Or to notice that the U. S. Congress and the White House are indulging in a free-for-all spending spree with no end in sight while the Treasury is still churning out new currency because there are no cash reserves to draw upon. Even before adding proposed big dollar programs like the $2 Trillion price tag on health care,  the debt meter rolls on adding a few more billion here and few more billion there - calculating expenditures for things we can't even afford today, much less in another year or two.

Continuous spending without restraint is commonly called a shop-a-holic binge. Something anyone who has been through a 12 Step Recovery Program knows is a sure symptom of reckless, if not dangerous, behavior. Conduct that is not much different from how untreated addicts or alcoholics behave. Getting the fix - regardless of economic or human cost - is far more important than anything else in life. The problems get bigger and worse as time goes by. Lying, cheating, hiding, and stealing become a way of life. Eventually, the shop-a-holic or gambling addict will go bankrupt. The drug addict or alcoholic will experience something catastrophic or life threatening.

Regardless of which addiction expresses itself, the storm path of increasing destruction and misery is all the same. And no one in the path of an out-of-control binge is immune from the wreckage. Without corrective action, families, businesses, corporations, and yes -- even governments are at grave risk and can be devastated.

Those in recovery know the stages of addiction and the needed curative steps because they have lived them. AA founder Bill Wilson said:

"The alcoholic is like a tornado roaring his way through the lives of others. Hearts are broken. Sweet relationships are dead. Affections have been uprooted. Selfish and inconsiderate habits have kept the home in turmoil."

And:

"the alcoholic is an extreme example of self-will run riot, though he usually doesn't think so."

Add the river of denials that have been flowing from the lips of those who are pushing and riding the federal spending train into the observation and it becomes crystal clear why people in recovery can't help but see the exact same downward spiral that happens when the average person who becomes hooked on gambling or shopping, drugs or alcohol.

In this case, the nation is in turmoil. Turmoil that can only grow worse until the spending stops and sane discussion about how to resolve the nation's problems comes to the fore.

The President's job approval rating has dropped to 49% to 51% (depending upon which poll you read) while Congress's approval rating stands at 24%. Numbers like these cannot be ignored.

When 76% of voters cannot approve the job performance by those who are responsible for how national funds are used, then hearts are truly broken. Sweet relationships are dying, if not already dead. And all the while, Congress and the White House are pushing for costly health care changes and muttering about more bail-outs, more ear marks, more...more ... more. The entire scenario is surreal.

Bill Wilson is right. The tornado is, indeed, roaring its way through the lives of others. 305,000,000 others!  All of whom now have an equal share of the U. S. National Debt to the tune of $38,730.00 and rising.

Government over-spending could be stopped in its tracks and ultimately cured. But like any addiction, stopping the progressive destruction and reaching a cure requires certain radical changes. The first is admitting that there is a problem.

Yes there is a way out. Even a government can stop its excesses. A budget can be balanced. It's not easy. But it can be done. Millions of people worldwide have recovered from far worse indulgences than uncontrolled spending. But to do so, each and every one had to stop tap dancing around the problem with denials and accept a helping hand.

Sadly, the White House and Congressional leaders appear to be in an entrenched state of denial. This means things will probably get much worse before they can improve. Almost every day, some news news media reports yet another attack on the many messengers who are coming forward to protest or challenge the way the nation is currently being governed.  Some are labeled racists. Others are called liars. Some are laughed at. Others are scolded. Many are treated with disdain. And some, like FOX News, are labeled the enemy.

In a "it takes one to know one" way, anyone who has ever been in denial about anything knows what this type of reaction means.  It is the same abuse "those in the know" hurled at anyone who dared question their own destructive behavior before they agreed to earnest corrective measures. If you have ever witnessed a substance abuse "intervention" or confronted someone about problematic excesses, then slurs and adversarial posturing are not shocking in the context of addiction. Yet in the context of governing a nation, such behavior is about as mind boggling as the latest $17 Trillion estimate in the CBO report until one remembers that the nation is now being governed by over-spenders - a/k/a shop-a-holics.

Too bad there isn't rehab for politicians. And that voters have to wait until 2010 to elect some replacements.  It's a long shot to think that political enablers will suddenly stop enabling each other. Or that those in denial will miraculously find 'ears to hear'.  But one can hope. In the rooms of AA, there is always hope.  May it be so in the nation as well.