"The Florist Thinks I Should Use A 9-Iron..."

This just in…

Obama’s approval numbers “remain high” although they have slipped from their highest point.

And most Americans would like to see him achieve legislative accomplishment in a more “bi-partisan fashion and not just because the Democrats have a majority in Congress.”

Well, there you go.

The American people have weighed in on the success/failure of the Obama presidency.

Which is one month old today.

Happy anniversary, there, Mr. Prez.

One month down, ninety five to go.

Or forty seven if the Republicans have anything to do with it.

And that’s as it should be.

This country is a republic and in a republic we choose people to represent our points of view in the hallowed halls of Congress.

And there shall always be, at a minimum, at least two sides to every point of view.

Admittedly, when the point of view in power is contrary to our own it can be pretty annoying.

But, I’ll take that over the alternative anytime.

The alternative is one point of view dictated to all with an iron fist, boot and/or military.

Think Hitler.
Or Kim Jong Il

Or your wife when she finally gets tired of your lazy ass staying parked on the couch watching ESPN all weekend.

Dissent and spirited discussion about it are the bedrock of the freedoms we enjoy.

And everyone, in this country, is absolutely and, without a moment’s question, entitled to his or her opinion.

So here’s my opinion.

Pollsters need to go away.
And get real jobs.

Let me try to share the madness that inspired the method.

Over the years, I, like you, have had my share of accomplishments.

For the sake of our chat here, let me pick one.

Author.

I have written essays, short stories, film and TV spec scripts, articles for magazines and periodicals and, of course, have blogged my little hoofies to the quick here for a little over a year or so.

(An anthology of said blogs, by the way, is in the works to be published in the coming weeks…tell friends and family and stay tuned….and now, back to our program…)

Here’s the point I know you’re patiently waiting for me to make.

I don’t make it a habit to ask the manager of the very well run Winn Dixie down the street if I should take out the third sentence of the fifth paragraph or if he thinks a strident tone will be effective in a piece than one that strikes a more conciliatory note.

And, quid pro quo, I don’t expect him/her to ask me if I think they should put the dairy section all the way into the four day by wagon train back of the store or not.

Obviously, we are both intelligent people.

And we could probably come up with respective opinions is asked for them.

But the act of asking for them is irrelevant.

As would be our answers.

He can’t know why I am constructing my written piece in the manner I am choosing.

I can’t know why I have to plan a long weekend just to get to the dairy section. (Even if I do, which I do, but only because I worked in the grocery business for a while way back when…but that’s another episode…)

We do what we do because we are involved in the day-to-day operations of our respective activities and we, and only we, have a complete and comprehensive perspective on what is required to get the job done.

I don’t want the pilot telling me how to write.

The pilot doesn’t want me telling him how to fly the plane.

I don’t want the doctor telling me how to keep my readers interested.

The doctor doesn’t want me telling him which gauge suture to use.

And those folks who stick the microphones in our faces and ask us to, essentially, do that would be of a whole lot more use if they would come up with some of more substance to fill the airwaves.

Like more Gilligan’s Island.

"Just Ahead...Van McCoy's classic tribute to DC..."The Hustle"!

Bitching about government is like making fun of Paris Hilton.

It’s far too easy and obvious an activity.

So, this will be short and sweet.

Check out this information from an online story about the stimulus package.

Government oversight: Board to oversee stimulus bill spending will get $84 million to do the job. House bill allocated $14 million while the Senate bill called for $7 million. There is also more than $100 million more for various inspectors general in different agencies.

Veterans: Nearly all items for Veterans Affairs were reduced and the $2 billion the Senate wanted for VA construction was wiped out altogether.

Take a couple of seconds and read those two one more time.

Like you, I understand I am a civilian and can’t have a full grasp of what it takes to govern and/or administrate on a day-to-day basis.

As much as we would like to think so, two and two doesn’t necessarily add up to four when you are dealing with complicated issues.

Nevertheless…

Even the professionals will tell you “politics is perception.”

And here’s the perception.

They couldn’t find the money to improve services or facilities for the people who sacrifice life and limb to protect our way of life.

But they’ll spend 84 MILLION dollars merely to keep an eye on how the rest of the money gets spent.

And 100 MILLION dollars for “various inspectors general”.

They, I gather, would be those appointed to keep the eye on how the rest of the money gets spent.

Wouldn’t you love to know how much each one is going to make?

Given what I know about people who work for Federal agencies, let me offer you this:

I’ll bet the rest of the money I’ll make in my life against your one-dollar that each and every one of them will be bringing home a six figure salary, minimum.

As I said, bitching about government is too easy and obvious.

But I, and I imagine you, can’t help but be a little curious.

Oh, not about how those who work in those jobs do those jobs.

More about how they sleep at night.