How Far Away is it?

I wonder if politics are something that people grow into?  When I was younger I think my first real political awareness came with the impeachment trial of President Nixon.  I can remember sending a telegram to Representative Hamilton Fish, R-NY, to vote for impeachment.  Beyond voting, I really didn’t get involved.  Lately I can’t seem to escape the political implications for everything around us.  Politics affect everything, from the simple need for clean water in a nearby poor neighborhood to the politicization of the climate change debate.  It affects simple discussions like the banks decision to charge for use of the debit card, or whether President Roosevelt’s D-Day speech should be placed on the World War II Veterans Memorial.

Within that context, how destructive the political pundits, paid for the controversy and ratings they generate, become.  How inflammatory can speech become on a national and international basis before all civil discourse ends?  Can all of this divisiveness come from today’s President or is he just a clever politician who plays into the hands of the dynamic?  He came to office promising to bring unity and has done nothing to further that goal.  He has sided with unions against state governments in what is clearly a state issue.  He has argued for, and drove home, one-sided legislation.  He uses the press to pit one group of American’s against another.  When the congress does find something to agree on, he blames the other party for wasting time on the legislation he is hanging his hat on.

This post was not going to be about politics but it kind of flows out of me these days.  So, how far away is the possibility of change? By the way, what is the National Debt today?  National Debt Clock