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America’s message: the Republicans must go

America's patience with Republican arrogance is finally at an end. After 12 years of the worst corruption since the Crédit Mobilier scandal in 1872, Republicans were swept from power in November's Congressional elections. The American public finally recognized that the promises made at the start of the "Gingrich Revolution" were empty, and that Republicans were also incredibly inept at governing.

The best example of Republican incompetence at the national level is their response to the crisis in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. If ever there were a place where rapid government intervention on a massive scale were needed, it was New Orleans. After first ignoring or minimizing the scale of the disaster, Bush and his administration tried creating photo-ops to make his team look like they were on top of things. It was all for show, and there was no serious effort by Bush to coordinate federal resources with state and local government. Rarely has a government so completely failed its citizens.

Instead, the Republicans used this national tragedy and the later rebuilding efforts as a pretext to divert billions of taxpayer dollars to corrupt contractors and political allies. The people of New Orleans, especially the poor, were told to look elsewhere for help.

Republicans take elections seriously. They are good at winning them. But leading the country seems to be a complete afterthought for them, and it shows.

“It’s no disgrace not to be able to run a country nowadays, but it is a disgrace when you know you can't and you keep on trying.” — Will Rogers

Republicans have proven that they don't deserve another chance to wreck America. Six years of one-party Republican rule at the federal level has turned the Clinton budget surplus — the largest surplus in history — into the largest deficits ever. Despite rosy predictions from the White House, most serious analysts expect the budget deficits to grow explosively over the next few years. Even the conservative Heritage Foundation predicts an annual budget deficit of over $800 billion by 2015. Our national debt — that's the money we've borrowed against our children's future prosperity — is increasing at a rate of over a billion dollars per day.

It would be one thing if this borrowing were being used to finance important national programs and to put people back to work, but it's not. Our national infrastructure is crumbling, our schools are decaying, and our workforce is less able to adapt to the changing economy than at any time in our history. If we don't stop the Republicans soon, the richest nation in the history of the world won't be able to meet its basic obligations to its creditors. We will cease to be a great nation because the Republicans don't know how to govern.

McHenry County wakes up to the possibility of change

Our local crisis has been 150 years in the making. That's how long Republicans have been in almost complete control of the County Board. It's been over 30 years since a Democrat served on the County Board. Not a single voice in support of better roads, better regional planning, and better economic opportunity for our citizens. That's why this county is facing a crisis. McHenry County is facing big-city problems now, but the County Board acts like it's still 1906, and is always surprised when reality outpaces their thinking.

Do we want more of the same head-in-the-sand mentality that's given us county-wide gridlock on our highways? Do we want more taxes with fewer services? Do we want our environment savaged by irresponsible sprawl and unplanned development? That's what Republicans offer us.

We have a real choice. We can stop our Katrina. Our problems may not compare to what New Orleans faces, but McHenry County faces very serious challenges. Just like the Bush administration, the Republicans on the County Board have already proven they are not up to the task. You have the power to throw out the Republicans who offer us nothing but more of the same. Elect Democrats who understand that government must serve the people. Elect Democrats who will work for you, not against you.

County Board District 5 elects a Democrat

James Kennedy was sworn in to the McHenry County Board on Monday, Dec. 4, 2006. Kennedy defeated District 5 incumbent Perry Moy, and becomes the first Democrat elected to the Board in over 30 years. Congratulations, Jim!

 

 

 

 

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it
is the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead

Want to make a difference? Come help us build the Democratic Party and break the one-party stranglehold on local government.

For more information, email us at: info@mchenrydems.com

Meetings

The Democratic Party of McHenry County meets on the third Wednesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. Our meetings are open to the public. We welcome new faces, and we hope you will join us at our next meeting. More…