Should I Change My Title?

Some of you may have noticed that I haven't posted a blog in a while (at least a while for my blog), Well hopefully a lot of you have noticed....... but I doubt that,  LOL!   Anyway, I've lost some of my "mo-jo" and I am considering a change in my blog title to reflect a different direction I'm considering, to get the thing more focused.  This blog is political.  I rarely mention anything personal, religious, antecdotal, cinema, popular cutlure...... it's all political.  That,  of course, has been on purpose.  I believe more stongly than ever that the Independent voice is the most important but also the most ignored voice in politics.  So, since I am a vocal Independent I want to focus on that very fact.  BTW, I decided not to re-join the Republican Party, at least not yet.... until it suits my goals as an independent so..... why stress over it?  I may even join the Democratic party if it suits my goals as an Independent... but more on all that later.  I will use the parties to my own needs,  they will be the handkerchief  to receive the snot of my discontent.

So, my devoted readers.... I was hoping you might weigh in on what I should call this little blog of mine.  FYI, since starting this in April of this year, I've had 2300 "hits" (probably about 70-80 regular "readers", but nobody has been brave enough to become a "follower"- can you blame them?). 

Here are my choices:

"An Independent Voice"
"The Middle Ground"
"Marshall in the Middle"
"The Marshall Plan"

OR, do I keep "Chuck Marshall's Humble Opinion?"  You can vote on my blog, at the right of what you're reading right now.  So, go ahead and vote ! 
If you have your own ideas, feel free to submit them on my comments section, or on my facebook wall.... but hold the sarcasm, ie: "Chuck, I suggest you call it "I'm no longer writing this Blog".  

In my humble opinion,

Chuck Marshall


 

Presidential Debate Reveals An Honest Candidate

As I watch the Republican presidential election I hear most of them happily confess their determination to defeat President Obama, repeal Obama-Care, and of course NEVER EVER raise taxes.  Right now my biggest concern is what is going to be done with our deficit.  None of them, that I heard, had an explanation as to how we will ever pay off the $14 Trillion that they and Obama have run up over the last 10 years.  Do they sincerely believe we can ever take care of this deficit simply by cutting everything?    They all even raised their hands when asked if they are offered an option where the cuts would be 10 times any raise in taxes that they would still not raise taxes.  It's that kind of stubborn "herd" approach that really concerns me about this group of people.  Never ?  It doesn't make sense that we simply walk away from these debts we ran up in our recent history and I guess hope the whole thing will simply evaporate. 

Something about these debates always makes me feel uncomfortable.  I don't think its well done, always encouraging arguments between each of the candidates.  That's not productive, all it does is display their ability to be get really nasty and but I'm not sure that's necessarily a skill imperative for a President.  What are their ideas for solving America's problems?    The press, as usual, encourages discourse in these elections and the political parties are only happy to oblige.  It's the same old dog and pony show.  Who can zing the other person the best.  But this isn't a game, this is the process of selecting the most qualified person to lead our country. 

I wish I had counted the number of times they have mentioned how much they want to remove President Obama from power.  They all have said it at least once, (with one exception whom I will get to in a minute).  Why do they say that?  It's obvious they want to get rid of Pres. Obama or they wouldn't be there.  To me, it's insulting. 

Anyway, as an Independent I think what I often crave are the ideas that are most likely to work in reality, not the usual "blah, blah" against the opposing party.  So, in my opinion Ms. Bachmann was by far the worst of all the candidates with her very predictable "boogie man" portrayal of President Obama and her continual announcements about "what Americans want",  when what she really means is what the Tea Party wants.   Mitt Romney did exactly what he needed to do to maintain his position as the leader of the pack;  look presidential and don't say anything stupid.   The only really honest person on the stage was Ron Paul.  I found myself, like the audience., cheering him on.  By far, the best part was his rebuttal to Pawlenty who mentioned we've been at war with Iran since 1979 when the Americans were taken hostage.   Ron Paul rebutted that the war actually started in 1953 when the US government set up the Shah of Iran as its puppet government and that the US needs to bring its troops home,  mind its own busines, and stop spending trillions of dollars on the problems of foreign governments.   Right on, Ron Paul !  I really like Ron Paul, he says what he thinks and nevermind what Republican traditions are.  Also, unless I missed it I didn't notice him running his mouth about how much he can't stand President Obama.  Who would I vote for out of all them for President?  At this point I'm looking at Romney and Ron Paul, but Huntsman caught my attention also.  Not too much "blah, blah" from him and alhough rather stiff, he did seem to be speaking his mind. In the end, that's what I'm looking for, honesty and fresh ideas. 

In My Humble Opinion,

Chuck Marshall

The Problem is the Parties

After watching the debacle that happened in Washington, DC for the past several weeks (over the debt ceiling), I am more firmly convinced than ever that the political parties are the reason our government is not working.  Maybe there was a reason for their existence at one time, but today they are a throwback and the partisan process of running a government simply doesn't work.  Absolutely nothing gets done, and all fresh ideas are squashed by the opposing party. 

The solution?  We need Independents to gain more influence in the government.  If the Independents control the reigns of power there is more likely to be communication.   Fresh ideas will have a much better chance of being acted upon.  Independents would break the gridlock between the two parties (Republicans/Tea Party and Democrats/Socialists) and help give fresh alternatives from any political philosophy a chance.  Yes, we would finally have compromise, and that is not a dirty word. 

So, what's the first step to getting power for the Independents ?   All primaries should be open primaries in all states.  It is simply unconstitutional that independents are not allowed to vote in primaries for either party.  Because the Dems or Repubs will control our government, and the Independents aren't allowed to participate in the nominating process for either of the parties (at least in Florida and most states) ... then the Independents are being denied their constitutional right to select their leaders. 

Second, we need leaders !  I don't know how to get middle of the road, fair minded Independents to step up as leaders,  but the I's need to start getting together to discuss possible leadership.   That's the real challenge is that the I's by nature aren't interested in agreeing with a herd of cattle.  But, for the good of the country we have to agree that we don't agree on everything other than all Americans have the right to be heard and America deserves much better than it has been getting this past 10-20 years.

Third, the process of government is now skewed and monopolized by the parties.  The entire process of government revolves around them as if  they are the sun and anyone outside their circle is but a pale moon, a substandard satellite.  Eliminate the old, established "way of doing things" that the two parties have set up for themselves,  the processes that are conducive to their stranglehold on power in our nation's capitol.

Spread the word., drop out of the parties.  The fewer members they have, the less likely they are to keep screwing up our country with their juvenile bickering and partisan politics. 

The biggest problem in politics is the political parties., they've forgotten they are there for all Americans and to represent American interests not any one way of seeing things. There is no plurality, there is no compromise, and it's " my way or the highway". Very dangerous situation and reminiscent of totalitarian regimes going back through history including Nazis and Communists.

In my humble opinion,

Chuck Marshall