When it comes to Washington, how often do you ask, “How can they do this to us?” Here is a simple answer for you: Beltway Bubble. Our ruling elite operates within an impervious bubble. Its walls have grown thicker and more opaque. Those within are cut off from the rest of the country. They […]
When it comes to Washington, how often do you ask, “How can they do this to us?” Here is a simple answer for you: Beltway Bubble.
Our ruling elite operates within an impervious bubble. Its walls have grown thicker and more opaque. Those within are cut off from the rest of the country. They don’t hear you. They don’t see you.
This is no exaggeration. Within the Beltway Bubble are politicians and staff. And PR types and big media. And lobbyists and political lawyers. And bureaucrats. And hangers-on and influence peddlers. And, of course office holders. And political appointees.
They feed each other. They feed upon each other. They move from office to TV network news. From TV news to campaign staff. From government jobs of regulating an industry to lucrative jobs in that industry. From high-level government jobs to high-paying positions in law and lobbying firms. Where they “fix” things for clients within the machine in the bubble.
Within the bubble is a constant swirl of influence, money, power, leverage, graft, and corruption. It is all-consuming for the players. It also insulates them from the outside. As a group, they really don’t know or care what flies in Peoria. Those within the bubble live in the wealthiest corner of the country. And they don’t care much about the rest of us.
This is why we see so many programs from Washington that most Americans do not want. Those within the bubble concoct them without regard for the feelings of us in the hinterland.
Example: Obamacare. About 85 percent of us said we liked our health care. A majority of us have rejected Obamacare from its inception. Despite the endless selling job, companies, unions, small businesses are avoiding it like poison. Those who crafted this plan never listened to us, never cared. They listened only to each other — within the bubble. They convinced themselves Americans would love a massive power grab by government.
Example: Congress exempts itself and all its staff from Obamacare provisions. Could it be any more insensitive to us? It has truly earned our disdain. It deserves the 7 percent approval the public gives it.
Example: A monstrous tax code that most of us hate.
Example: The stimulus package. It totally ignored our precious jobs machines: small businesses. Then the bubble- elite threatened those businesses with taxes here and there. Then it whacked small businesses with Obamacare taxes. And tons of new regulations. It smothered small businesses with uncertainties.
This, of course, is why our jobs picture is so bleak. The bubble-elite painted it. They know so little about how our economy creates jobs that they clobbered the creators. And to this day, they don’t realize it.
This is why the elite — Democrats and Republicans — viciously attack the Joe the Plumbers, the Sarah Palins, and the Tea Party. They are outsiders who threaten to puncture the walls of the Beltway Bubble.
There is a compelling reason why this is not healthy for the country. It is simply a case of them versus us.
From Tom...as in Morgan.
Tom Morgan writes about political, financial, and other subjects from his home near Oneonta, in addition to his radio shows and TV show. For more information about him, visit his website at www.tomasinmorgan.com