Pappa Hardy's Musings on Life.

Several weeks ago the debt rating of the United States, once considered to be the standard by which all other nations were measured, was decreased from AAA to AA+ by Standard and Poors, one of the debt rating institutions in the United States. This action took place after months of partisan bickering had taken place which resulted at the 11th hour, in a compromise by the House, Senate, and White House on raising the debt ceiling of the United States Government.

Republican right wing Senators and Congressman, often called Tea Party members, were sure that unless we passed a constitutional amendment calling for a balanced budget, that we should allow the debt of the United States to go into default. Likewise, Liberal Democrats called these “Tea Party Members” extremists who had hijacked the heart and soul of the Republican party and who were going to put the elderly, the poor, and the sick out on the streets without any means of support.

Can I say that all of this partisanship is going to be the downfall of our government! The founders of this nation had hoped that the government of this nation would get above the petty bickering, posturing, and the desire to rule over our fellow man. Well, it lasted all but a few months in the history of this nation, and it has just become worse and worse in recent 20 or 30 years.

I have been fascinated my whole life by the history of an individual who promised to deliver the people of a foreign nation from all of their problems. I have been fascinated by the willingness of the people and their representatives to give up their freedoms for safety and stability. That leader was Adolf Hitler, who promised the German people that he would solve their economic problems in the Great Depression. He would put people back to work. He would restore national pride. He would right national wrongs. He would rebuild their military and take back parts of the county that was rightfully the property of the German people. He delivered on his promises, and also delivered World War II with its 50 million in war dead. He delivered the horrors of the Holocaust and the loss of life of 6-9 million Jews. Could it happen in the United States? I fear that it could.

Where is my heart? My heart is in a nation where those who represent the people actually care about and represent the people. Their first priority is the health and well being of this nation, not their own personal aggrandizement and lining their pockets at the expense of the tax payers. Their first priority is in making our government work, not in being right and the other side wrong. Their first priority is ensuring the fiscal well being of this nation. Their first priority is making sure that the government serves the people, and not the other way around. Their first priority is strengthening the form of government we have, not making the government stronger and more intrusive. There is a difference.

I have lived in a nation that was once considered the preeminent nation of the face of the earth, the model by which many other nations measured themselves. We have squandered our legacy as a nation, and our representatives have forgotten why they were elected. Where is my heart? I hope my heart is residing in a country that can overcome our problems and restore our greatness and honor.

We live in a land of a noble experiment. Can man rule himself through a representative government and for long remain free? We continue to see that drama unfold each and every day. We now live in a very perilous time in the history of that nation. We are facing a significant challenge to our financial independence. Can we navigate out of the deadly financial waters that now encompass this nation? So many forces pull at us. So many concerns. So many people who say, give me the power and I will make it better for all. Can we continue to walk a tight rope? I pray that we will have the wisdom as a nation to not hand the power over to those that promise an easy solution to our problems. I see too many lessons in history of free peoples who gave power to those that promised easy solutions. Instead, that only lead to ruin.

It has been a long, tough, winter. We have had economic collapse, long cold days, rampant unemployment, and the threat of depression. Maybe just a little bit of a challenge to live in these days. However, now comes the summer. We have warmer weather, the economy is moderating, and perhaps, just perhaps, we will all live to see another day. It has been a long, tough, winter, but I am hoping for a better more optimistic summer.

You know, somehow or someway, or maybe even someday, I must be famous. I get to sit next to “important” people when I am in meetings or dinners. For example, I have sat next to two of three of the Congressman from the State of Utah. I have met both of her Senators and the Governor. I have sat next to the Lt. Governor of the State of Utah in a banquet. I have met two or three Senators from the State of Wyoming and talked to them face to face. One of them even knew me when I would write letters about this or that item. I know all of the City Councilman in Payson as well as the Mayor on a first name basis. I have a son, Christofer, who actually has shaken the hands of former President Bill Clinton when he was running for President in 1992. Another son was a friend of the daughter of the Governor of Wyoming.

You would think with all of the associations I have had with other famous people like my wife, or my kids, or my parents, or my friends, or just my neighbors, that somehow I would be famous. Alas, I am just good old Mike, the guy who lives down the street in the house next to the two story house not too far from Rocky Ridge.

I haven’t yet figured out why I am not on the evening news, widely quoted in the paper or on the local TV networks, or why everyone I meet doesn’t already know who I am. Instead, I am just me, and despite all of my association with the famous, no one knows me. Well, my family and friends know me and that should be enough, don’t you think?

Last night I sat next to Congressman Jason Chaffetz of the Third Congressional District of the State of Utah. In college, I roomed with Robert Bishop, Congressman of the First Congressional District of Utah. The experiences have taught me a few things.

When I was much younger, I thought of these people as heroes of the largest order, larger than life, and as people I would never be equal too. Now having had the opportunity to know people who have influence in our country, I have come to know that they are human, just like me.

They are human, but they are good people because they care for and love this land the same way that I do. They are human because they are subject to the same foibles that we all are, but they doing their best to do what is best for this country. I think it is great that we can have the opportunity to know these people and share with them our love for our country. It was a wonderful opportunity for me. It was our annual Chamber Installation Banquet, and I enjoyed hearing about how they make a difference. I can make a difference too.

I was recently watching the inauguration of the new President of the United States, Barack Obama. I thought of America’s place in the world. Once, we were the pre-eminent superpower and our power extended throughout the known world. Now, we no longer have that luxury. We no longer can afford to be the world’s policeman. Our economy is no longer the dominant one in the world. We have loft our will to lead the world, both by our moral example but also by the example we set. We have chosen to give up our place and soon another may replace us. I never thought I would see this in my lifetime.

I saw the following article on the internet this morning concerning the price of fuel in America:

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Remember $4 gas? Soon it will be $2 gas.
As the nation’s economy worsens, the demand for oil and gas wanes. As a result, prices drop. And drop. And drop.

The price of gas fell overnight Sunday for the 60th consecutive day.

The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline fell 2 cents to $2.105 a gallon, according to a survey released Sunday by the American Automobile Association.
A gallon of gas has dropped nearly in half since hitting an all-time high of $4.114 on July 17. It’s been nearly two years since prices were this low, according to AAA figures.
At the high end, drivers in two states are paying an average of $3 or more: Alaska, at $3.181 a gallon, and Hawaii, at $3.049.

But there are now 16 states where the average price has fallen below $2. Missouri had the cheapest gas in the nation, at $1.816 a gallon.

The rapid decline in gas prices comes as the price of crude oil continues to collapse. Crude prices, which make up roughly half of gasoline prices, have fallen more than 60% since hitting a record $147.27 a barrel on July 11.

Crude for December delivery fell $1.20 to settle at $57.04 a barrel on Friday.

On Saturday evening I bought fuel for $1.92 which seemed to be the cheapest I had purchased it forever and ever. That is great news for the consumer in our country, but is just another indication of how bad the economic situation has gotten for everyone worldwide. These are scary economic times for everyone as the world, not just the United States, has come upon tough economic times. I am hoping that sometime soon we will have good economic news. With the significant drop in fuel prices, that has made the fall a little bit softer.

Today marks the end of the line. The Traveling Wilburys wrote a song called “End of the Line”.

(Chorus 1)
Well it’s all right, riding around in the breeze
Well it’s all right, if you live the life you please
Well it’s all right, doing the best you can
Well it’s all right, as long as you lend a hand

You can sit around and wait for the phone to ring
Waiting for someone to tell you everything
Sit around and wonder what tomorrow will bring
Maybe a diamond ring

(Chorus 2)
Well it’s all right, even if they say you’re wrong
Well it’s all right, sometimes you gotta be strong
Well it’s all right, As long as you got somewhere to lay
Well it’s all right, everyday is Judgement Day

Maybe somewhere down the road aways
You’ll think of me, and wonder where I am these days
Maybe somewhere down the road when somebody plays
Purple haze

(Chorus 3)
Well it’s all right, even when push comes to shove
Well it’s all right, if you got someone to love
Well it’s all right, everything’ll work out fine
Well it’s all right, we’re going to the end of the line

Don’t have to be ashamed of the car I drive
I’m just glad to be here, happy to be alive
It don’t matter if you’re by my side
I’m satisfied

(Chorus 4)
Well it’s all right, even if you’re old and grey
Well it’s all right, you still got something to say
Well it’s all right, remember to live and let live
Well it’s all right, the best you can do is forgive

(Chorus 5)
Well it’s all right, riding around in the breeze
Well it’s all right, if you live the life you please
Well it’s all right, even if the sun don’t shine
Well it’s all right, we’re going to the end of the line

I wish that I were that positive about what I see at the end of the line. Today marks the end of the Presidential Campaign process, which in this country started well over two years ago. I am sick of the process, of the incessant finger pointing that goes on in this country between the Republicans and the Democrats. If I had my way, we would through all of the office holders out and elect new ones. Unfortunately, that won’t happen.

We have got way too partisan. I fear that Barack Obama is going to be the next President of the United States. In my mind, he is way too liberal. However, we have got to make sure that our elected representatives get the work of the people done, and that hasn’t been happening for at least the last 30 years, if not longer. Whomever is elected, must get the work of the people done, doing it in the best interests of all the people, or we need to through them out and find someone who will do the work of the people. We can’t bicker any more.

I fear what is going to happen in a socialist America, because that is where I believe we are heading. However, if the voice of the people is to make this a socialist paradise, then let’s do what is reasonable and get the work done. No more pointing fingers. No more disenfranchising or favoring whole sections of the population. Lets do the work of the people, or this great nation will truly be at “The End of the Line”.

The Power of the Media in this country (The United States of America) is truly amazing. They reach into our lives everywhere, and while they have a great potential for good, it is the misuse of this power that bothers me. For whatever reason, it seems that many of those in the media feel it is their purpose in life to educate us as to what we should be doing.

Maybe it is because they feel that masses of the people are too stupid or uneducated to really understand what is best for us. Maybe it is because they feel they have a responsibility to help put in power those that align themselves with what the media feels is the real truth.

Perhaps it is just a matter of personal arrogance of those that have positions of power in the media. Regardless, those that feel they know better than us have their own agendas that they push, and with the media intruding ever further into our everyday lives, their opinions and agendas are more important to understand than ever. Why? It is because many times the things that they favor are just wrong. They can ruin this country, and I think they have way too much power and control over what we in this country think about the important issues of the day.

One of the talks given at the recent Semi-Annual General Conference of my church discussed the idea that “We Don’t Know Everything But We Know Enough”. The idea is, we can push forward even if we don’t have all of the answers. I find that idea mildly comforting when considering our current economic situation. We need to move forward and solve problems, rather than quivering in a mode of indecision because we don’t have all of the answers. Our current problems demand action, some kind of action in order for us to at least start to move forward in solving our problems. Not only can we move forward with regard to our faith in the Lord and his plan, but we also can move forward in solving the problems of our country.