Cass St. Chronicles

2009-07-21T17:22:00.000-07:00

2009-04-14T20:13:00.000-07:00

Conservatives base their future decisions on past experiences.

Liberals base their future decisions on wishful thinking and feel good ideas.

2008-12-22T20:00:00.000-08:00

I feel it is time to update Tytler's prediction regarding the life cycles of Democracies. The election on November 4, 2008 shows voters continuing to move toward politicians who promise to give them the most benefits, benefits which lead down the road to bankruptcy. Our country is virtually
bankrupt. At this time, the worst in our financial history, the United States is a nation of citizens who depend on the government for things that should be their own responsibility. We are now in the next to last phase of Tytler's predictions, DEPENDENCY! We are becoming a nation of citizens who cannot or will not function on their own. How many more years before this once great country collapses? What a shame. This is not what our founding fathers had in mind.

2008-03-16T17:15:00.000-07:00

WHERE'S OUR FLAGSHIP

I thrust my finger to the wind
To test how things were going
I found a ship that's rudderless
Only half the crew is rowing

Storm clouds starboard, rocks to port
Few leaders to be found
Our ship of state is on a course
To surely run aground

A once mighty ship none dare attack
Now flounders on the sea
A bridge filled with clueless leaders
Forecasts gloom and misery

Without a captain at the helm
Who understands the seas
Small chance there is to stay afloat
Fending off our enemies

Times past we've had great captains
With resolve both firm and strong
Who kept us safe upon our ship
Where have those captains gone

The leaders who now lead us
Have not the slightest clue
As how to right our mighty ship
What can the masses do

A bloodless revolution
Just might do the trick
Let's cleanse our seas of ner-do-wells
Let's make our country tick

The only revolution
Where no blood is spilled
Is at the polling site
Where a ballot box is filled

We need to gain a foothold
There is scant time to ponder
If skillful leaders are not elected
Only darkness greets us yonder

Time is not our friend these days
The ship is sinking fast
Throw out the scurvy at the helm
With a vote only you can cast

When leaders will not lead us
People must assume the role
To throw out the incompetents
And make our country whole

Now's the chance to right our ship
The vision is quite clear
Remove those blocking self sufficiency
Cast them out within this year

October 22, 2008

2007-02-17T02:06:00.000-08:00

My post of August 16, 2006 titled, "A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government" is being updated as of this date. We have now moved from "complacency" to
"apathy" along the time sequence set forth by the author of this article.

There are individuals who have a passionate agenda about how others should act and behave.
Then there are those who have little regard about how they treat people or how their actions might hurt others. The actions of people like this have changed the landscape of America these past 25 years. Because this behavior is being accepted into ours lives it is moving us further along the path of destroying our democracy and way of life.

We have politicians accepting bribes, a government who won't protect our borders, individuals afraid to speak out because of being politically incorrect, spending by politicians for the sole purpose of buying votes, and voters voting for politicians who they think will give them something for nothing. And on the other side of this equation is a large group of apathetic people, of voting age, who don't care and don't vote.

We are just two phases away from the final chapter of Tytler's prediction, "dependence" and then "dictatorship". As we get later in the cycle the time between phases shortens. This train to our demise is gathering steam and looks like it cannot be stopped.

What a shame. What a great country we had.

2006-12-20T20:41:00.000-08:00

Whatever happened to term limits for politicians? I just heard (12/20/2006) that the 2008 presidential race will cost over a billion dollars for the first time. We all know what "cost" means when it comes to elections. Television, radio and newspaper adds.

What's so important about getting elected that would-be politicians and their sponsors will spend this kind of money? Is it because there is a burning desire by these individuals to foster a better America? Doubtful, when someone or some group shells out that amount of dough they are looking for a return on their investment. And that investment return is your money, my money and all of us who pay taxes. Can this faulty practice be corrected?

You bet. One term for elected officials. Sounds draconian, but our system is failing, and if we don't change soon we won't be able to enjoy our way of life much longer. We are spending our way into oblivion. If elected for one term only, once in office, politicians could not campaign for re-election. Without campaigning, politicians won't be buying votes for the next election. Pork barrel spending should be substantially reduced with huge savings to taxpayers. This won't stop politicians from trying to pay back those who were instrumental in getting them elected, but with only one term there should be enough politicians who will put country before self worth.

Most federal politicians have law degrees. We need a much greater representation from the general populace. Ideas from one group, i.e. lawyers, does not lend itself to practical, constructive legislation. A one term mandate would give incentives to a much more diverse group of citizens to run for office. Individuals will look at running for office as a privilege to serve their country, not a long term job opportunity. Once elected, this diverse group of individuals would enact practical, everyday common sense laws learned from life experience outside the legal community. After serving their country, gaining fame and recognition, these one term heroes could retire from politics, return home, and continue with a productive, meaningful life.

It would be nice to have this current group of privileged legislators replaced with the everyday common man. Only you, with your votes, can elicit change.

2006-11-13T12:45:00.000-08:00

For some time I've wondered where our elected representatives come from. I don't mean geographically, what I'm curious about is who they were growing up. What sort of environment shaped their thoughts and ideas. Of all the individuals I've known- at school, work, play, socially- I don't believe I know any who ever became a politician.

I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has had extensive exposure to one or more of these individuals. What sort of person were they growing up, as an adult, etc. How would you describe their character, popularity, leadership, intelligence? E-mail me with any experience you may have had with an elected official.

The following sentence was gleaned from the internet, by an unknown author, and reflects my sentiments on many of our politicians.

"POLITICIANS & DIAPERS BOTH NEED TO BE CHANGED OFTEN, AND FOR THE SAME REASON"

2006-08-16T13:56:00.000-07:00

A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government.

The previous sentence was penned be Alexander F. Tytler, economist and professor at
Edinburgh University, writing around the time the American Constitution was being drafted.
Tytler's observation supposedly was about "The Fall of The Athenian Republic" some 2,000 years earlier.

Why was he writing about a democracy so soon after the United States won the war for independence but had not yet ratified it's own constitution? Was this a coincidence because he was a university professor and this is what he did, write papers, or was he trying to foretell the future of the United States, or for that matter all democracies?

His main thoughts are as follows:

"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship."

"The average age of the worlds greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence:

1. From Bondage to spiritual faith;
2. From spiritual faith to great courage;
3. From courage to liberty;
4. From liberty to abundance;
5. From abundance to selfishness;
6. From selfishness to complacency;
7. From complacency to apathy;
8. From apathy to dependence;
9. From dependence back into bondage."

My estimation of the United States today is as follows:

1. 1607 to 1752__Bondage to spiritual faith.
2. 1752 to 1776__Spiritual faith to great courage.
3. 1776 to 1790__Courage to liberty.
4. 1790 to 1966__Liberty to abundance.
5. 1966 to 1982__Abundance to selfishness.
6. 1982 to present__Selfishness to complacency.

Can we stem the tide of electing politicians who will spend us back into bondage? This chapter will be written by our children and grandchildren. Time is running short. Tytler's last three predictions, I feel, are not far off.

Take care,
Bob Snider