Tuesday, September 8, 2009

The Elite and The Rest of Us

By Mr. Quarter.

Across America, ordinary people rise in objection to the actions our President and Congress are taking and direction of our country is heading. Yet how do our media portray this outpouring of the common man's voice? How do the media characterize this constitutional right of self-expression? With scorn, ridicule, dismissive and belittling comments, outright contempt. Today, an opinion by Bob Herbert published in the NY Times (a bastion of liberal thought and confident that it, rather than its readers, is capable of divining what the people need to know) exemplifies the contempt that the media elite and politically elite hold towards the common ordinary taxpayer. In his commentary, he bemoans the "birthers", "deathers" and "wackos" that have "poisoned" the political debate, lamenting that "The wackiness is increasing, not diminishing, and it has a great potential for destruction. There is a real need for people who know better to speak out in a concerted effort to curb the appeal of the apostles of the absurd." Does he really think that he knows better? How dare he and all those of his ilk.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. This is the precise wording of first amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Nowhere in the language of this amendment is there a limitation that specifies that only those who "know better", those with high incomes, those in the media, or those in elected office may speak out for or against an issue or cause, or may petition to seek redress of grievances. All who have an opinion may express it. All who disagree with the Government may petition it for redress of that grievance. There is no freedom more precious in the United States.

I have heard political hacks from Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reed to the President's Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, publicly denigrate and express their contempt for ordinary citizens that dare to speak out and disagree with the Obama policies. The media belittles the common person, except when it can use the common person for its own benefit by selling its reporting on the latest tragedy or trial . These elites sincerely believe that what they do, they do for the good of all of us that, in their view, simply don't have the intellect to discern what is in our own best interest. Well I have had enough.

This country is made up of 300 million common, ordinary people. Most don't have college degrees, most can't find Singapore on a map, and most couldn't tell you who is the Vice President of the United States. What most of them do know about is getting up every morning, going out and making a living. They know about paying their bills, stretching their paycheck to put food on the table, clothing on their backs and a roof over the heads of themselves and their families. They know about raising their children, caring for their parents, and burying their dead. They face every day's challenges with a cunning and perseverance borne of necessity - they know how to get by. The know about turning wrenches, operating machines, driving, digging, shoveling, raking, picking, dealing with customers, and a million other jobs. They know about getting up the next day and doing it all over again - until they are too old or too incapacitated to continue.

Many of those 300 million are ignorant of an entire universe of things that simply aren't too important to how they live their lives every single day. But, there aren't many that are stupid. They all know what is in their own best interest. They all know when their pocket is being picked. They all know when they are paying more for less in return. They all know right away when something is bad for them.

My advice to the Senators, Congressmen, and President is that you had better wake up and listen closely - and soon. That annoying ringing in your ears is the bell of liberty. That noise is the roar of the voices of all those ignorant voters that can't tell you who is the Speaker of the House, but can send you all packing in a New York minute.

1 comment:

The Deuce said...

Your best ever. Reminded me of me. Huzzah!