Symbolism vs. Substance

I once heard a political pundit say something that struck me. A sign by a school that says something like “this is a drug free (or gun free) zone” is only symbolism. He was right on the mark. Saying it and making it so are two different things.

You can take that and translate it into this year’s presidential campaign. Some candidates speak only in symbols, but there is no substance behind what they say. Enter Barack Obama. I listened to one of his speeches and in the words of former Presidential Candidate Walter Mondale, “Where’s the Beef?”

While Barry ranted and raved and people fainted and cheered (even when he blew his nose), he said nothing of substance. Ok Barry you want change and so do your minions. What are you going to change? How are you going to do it? Who’s going to pay for it? At last Hillary Clinton to her credit answers the first two questions. It’s the who’s going to pay for it that always gets neglected.

But if you’re charismatic not being able to answer those questions is unimportant. But if charisma is your thing remember, Adolph Hitler was charismatic, too. Look what happened to Germany. Do we think they thought enough about it to consider the ramifications? At the outset even Germans of Jewish heritage backed Hitler. Remember, you too might end up paying for the change that everyone else expects.

Least you think that’s not possible because you don’t make enough money—wrong. You make 50,000 or less so you won’t be taxed. Are you sure? How about if you made only $13,000 last year? No taxes right? Wrong? My daughter found that out the hard way one year when she was in college, worked 3 part time jobs to pay for her college education and paid taxes on her job-related income. Unfortunately $3,000 of her income was capital gains from stocks we cashed in to help pay for her college education. Her taxes that year were $1,300. She was hysterical because she didn’t have any money to pay it. Now, I’m sure her grandparents paid taxes on the money before they gave her money for birthdays, Communion, etc so it was taxed twice. So remember even if you earn $50,000 or less a year, if any part of it was capital gains, you’ll still pay taxes, because you are among the much maligned rich who will be taxed for health care for the poor, etc.

The fact that the taxes have put you in the poor house is a fine point that Barry, Hillary, et al don’t want you to even think about. You’re just thinking that you’re getting even with Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, etc because they’re rich and you’re not. Now, they can afford to give ¾ of their income and still have lots of money, but if you earn $50,000 or $60,000 and you get taxed even more, you will need government funded health care, because you won’t be able to pay for it on your own when more than half your money goes for taxes. 

Ah symbolism, ah substance, ah choo.

Is the water hot enough for you yet?