THE OTHER WHITE MEAT
Back in the eighties, or whenever it was, that the nation's pork producers decided to launch an extensive advertising campaign aimed at extolling the virtues of eating "Pork, the Other White Meat", I used to joke about it with my friends. You know, how this may be a dangerous message to some New Hampshire residents who already found that social line a bit blurred. Or, wondering aloud what was being inferred by the use of the term "other", which plainly implies that there is a "common-meat" and we all know it, but don't like to talk about it. Nothing halts a party quicker than a guest blurting out that he is a chicken-addict, or a "beef-jerky", street-lingo for someone who can't put down the red meat.
Today, however, I am painfully aware of the "other white meat" that I was warned about so many years ago. And after the House on Friday passed the now almost-a-trillion dollar Bail-Out Bill, laden with the moist white meat fondly known as pork, I am considering the vegetarian route. True, there will be less meat of any kind in my diet, because, like most Americans, I am preparing for an even tighter household budget as we all do our "patriotic" duty, but I learned a valuable lesson through all of this.
First, addiction is a disease. It must be. There is no other plausible explanation. That at this time, during a meltdown of our financial institutions that is unprecedented in American history, while our country is at war, and on the brink of a most critical Presidential election, the familiar "oink-oink" can be plainly heard, rising above the din of the late-night congressional sessions and heated debates.
Calls for bipartisanship and swift action led to hold-outs and finger-pointing. Republicans had concerns about over-reaching, Democrats were asking for even more. What began as a ten page document began the usual morphing into a cumbersome stack of over 450 pages. What is appalling is the text and the fact that there is, depending on who you listen to, some 150 - 200 billion dollars in "sweeteners". I am assuming that "sweeteners" is meant to confuse us and to prevent any more over-use of the "stuff that bacon is made from." I'm thinking of something like this..."Pork-The Other Sweetener". Not much of a ring to it.
This has convinced me that our politicians are indeed addicted. This is akin to purse-snatching from your own Grandmother. While the middle-class, for whom all politicians are so "in-touch with" and "concerned about", are already reeling with increased energy and food costs and paychecks that don't grow and cover less and less ground, our elected officials cannot, even now, discipline themselves. It is absolutely astounding. Think about it. They can't help themselves. They can't do it. They cannot pass a piece of budgetary legislation with out jumping in naked and roiling around in a full vat of pork stew funded by you and me. It is shameless. Even Senator McCain, who I have supported and touts himself as a reformer, signed this bill and has been silent, as of this date, with regards to the obscene confiscation of tax dollars that are part of this bill. Millions for a bow and arrow company. Millions for the tropical Rum manufacturers. Incredible.
Look, I understand something needed to be done and I stand ready to pitch in, like all Americans. But show a little respect. The Republican version, a more restrained bill with more oversight and money doled out in portions with strict accounting and transparency would have had my support. Senator McCain missed a political opportunity here that may cost him dearly, but moreover, in my estimation he didn't make the "hard-call" for which he is known for. I am left wondering what has happened to him, or if there is anyone left who sees any of this, or even cares.
On top of all this, no guarantee that this magnificent band-aid will stop the bleeding, never mind turn things around. We'll never know if things may have shaken themselves out with a more reserved approach to the bail-out, and if that shaking out would have been, in the long-term, better for all of us, and for the country. I don't know about you, but I am left with a haunting feeling that this isn't over yet. That we have extended ourselves into oblivion and are now more vulnerable to the world than ever. And in just about thirty days, we'll know who the country believes is going to lead us out of it. More bacon, please.
Karl From New Hampshire