The Indulgence of Pursuing Our Own Interests

Some of you who have been following my articles on the Obama White House Diaries and A Hollywood Republican undoubtedly noticed that nothing new has been posted from me for the month of June.  This was intentional on my part.  You see, I needed to take a break from all the daily drama coming out of Washington DC.  It now appears I missed a few things during my self-imposed political sequester.

For example, I missed the sordid details of Anthony Weiner’s locker room photography.  Apparently, one photo caused quite a stir and was questionable enough to force his resignation.    Although I’m not quite sure what all the commotion was about.  Weiner is a small topic that probably would not arouse the interest of most women.  Feel free to read whatever you like into that last sentence.

I also missed hearing Obama’s class warfare speech in which private-sector business executives were vilified for taking advantage of existing tax law that encourages ownership of private jets.  Our Community Organizer In Chief seems to believe that his federal budget and out-of-control spending can be balanced, in part, by dramatically increasing taxes on the general aviation community.  If you have done the math, then you already know that this assertion is simply ludicrous.  It does, however, serve nicely to further divide this nation and stoke the fires of class envy.  Conspicuously absent from his speech, however, was the fact that many American politicians, who crisscross the landscape in Gulf Streams and Citations, pay no taxes whatsoever for the privilege of private jet flight.  Their wings, fuel and engine maintenance reserve are paid for by us.  Scratch that.  Only Americans in this country who actually pay federal income taxes foot the bill.   That’s about half of those filing W2s.  Yes, class warfare is indeed a primary tool of this administration, unless of course, it points the finger back towards politicians.

I missed the latest great idea to come out of the California legislature.  It seems they feel entitled to taxing Internet transactions routed through servers residing in the Golden State, even in instances where neither the buyer or seller are California residents.  Simply brilliant.  After all, it’s unthinkable that someone might move an Internet server to another state, like say Nevada.  Is that even possible?

There were, however, a few things I didn’t miss.  I didn’t miss the feeling of dread and disappointment when pondering our nation’s future.  I didn’t miss the anger I feel inside when I think about the lies and manipulation exercised repeatedly by this White House.  I didn’t miss the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach as I watch our nation become more and more divided within two categories.  Those who produce out of a sense of obligation or even inspiration, and those who simply consume and take from others out of a sense of entitlement or litany of excuses.

No, I missed none of those feelings.  And for about five weeks, I found myself thinking more about my own life, my own interests and my own ambitions.  For about five weeks I didn’t need to concern myself with Wiener’s outbursts on Capitol Hill.  I was free from worry over California’s self-inflected bankruptcy as it continues to push progressive social engineering and suffocating regulation.    I was no longer within earshot of Obama’s daily narcissistic utterances and self-serving proclamations that now seem to pass for news.  Instead, I focused on family, my friends and myself.  Life was just fine in June without a bloated, micromanaging government demanding my full attention.    And it was wonderful.

Maybe someday I’ll be able to live in a country again where something as fundamental as pursuing our own interests while trusting politicians to protect those interests will not seem like an indulgence.   For now, however, it’s time to get back to business, pay attention to politics, connect the dots and keep writing.

Because the fireworks under the North Texas sky last night reminded me that freedom is not free.  It takes effort.

Tags: Anthony Weiner, California legislature, federal budget, general aviation, internet sales tax, North Texas sky, Obama, Taxes

This entry was posted on July 5, 2011 at 1:36 pm and is filed under Conservative, Craig Covello. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.