Today I was reading about Mitt Romney’s campaign speech that jabbed at the Obama administrations handling of Chen Guangcheng, a Chinese activist.  I know it’s common place for election year campaigning but personally I think it backfired because it wasn’t much later in the day that it was announced that the US negotiated passage to the US for him and his family in a manor that prevented serious implications to the progress being made with China as we speak.  Not many are a fan of the Chinese government…not even many of the citizens (sound familiar, some times we need to look in the mirror.  We have a better system of government, but seriously, who really enjoys the necessary evil government is?).  Either way the jobs that our fellow citizens do as foreign diplomats isn’t easy.  Negotiation, unlike this generation has seen in american politics, is necessary to improve relations over time and to even have influence the desired changes we desire.  Not everything is through military force.

Someone help me understand this dynamic?  What am I missing?  What was wrong with how this was handled?

So as my first post I thought I would start with the deficit/budget.  Nothing lengthy but just some initial thoughts.

There is something I don’t understand.  From what we are told, both parties agree something needs to be done about the deficit.  Both parties agree that there should be a balanced budget.  Both parties keep raising “solutions” that they know won’t get through the congress either because it won’t pass the senate or won’t pass the house.

So why can’t we make progress?  I’m a personal believer in the balanced approach promoted by the president.  The issue for many is that balance means an increase  in revenue (tax increase) and a decrease in expenses.  We as the american people have to understand.  We entered into two wars and the start of each was followed by a tax cut.  We can’t run a country where our men and women in uniform are put in harms way and we back home get a gift in the form of tax cuts.  It’s unsustainable.  And I blame both parties for that because each approval for war and tax cut passed with support from both parties.  So, I know the wars aren’t the only drivers.  Our economy issues drove NECESSARY investments by our government.  I give both president Bush and Obama credit for making the hard decisions.

Despite all the rhetoric, there is a simple fact.  The math doesn’t work if we just keep reducing budgets without a tax system overhaul.  I think we need to revamp the entire code but I don’t believe it’s fair for the rich to pay an overall rate lower than their secretary!  Note, I’m not saying they should necessarily pay a higher percentage, but less is not an answer.  Another topic for discussion is “Money in Politics” but that’s for another day.

So what do you think?

As my first post, I find expressing all angles of a topic difficult but I truly look forward to discussion!