MIXED SIGNALS (Letter to the Independent Coast Observer)

Faced with an “across the ocean” crisis, American leaders typically look at two things: (1) which of our deeply held principles will best guide our actions? and (2) what actions can we take consistent with these principles that are in the best interests of our nation? As we watched events unfold in Egypt, we have searched in vain for a consistent application of principles and actions coming from our current leaders. Vice President Biden started the ball rolling up hill with his unbelievable gaffe that “Mubarak is not a dictator.” A few days later, President Obama’s special envoy to Cairo, Frank Wisner, stated that “Mr. Mubarak was indispensable to Egypt’s democratic transition.” The New York Times noted that the “trouble in sending a clear message was another example of how divided Mr. Obama’s foreign policy team remains.” (NYT, 2/12/2011)

The President has put forth an array of mixed signals in a frantic effort to put his administration on the right side of history. Jake Tapper of ABC News reported that early on the President supported Mubarak as a pillar of stability. But as the media increasingly portrayed the protestors as the real thing, the President scurried to catch up by aligning himself with the people in the street. His “jack-in-the-box” TV appearances were not reassuring to those who respect leaders with strong principles, principles that do not change with every news cycle. His premature announcement of Mubarak’s departure was embarrassing.

The President’s new-found passion for pro-democracy intervention would be more believable if he had found his voice in the summer of 2009 when Iranian thugs were killing student demonstrators. Or, if he occasionally pointed out that Israel is the only true democracy in the Middle East. We’d even settle for a shout-out to the Castro brothers to “Let your people go!”

Jim Littlejohn

CONFRONTATIONS (Letter to the Independent Coast Observer

Karel and I have spent the last two days soaring down the pristine slopes of Heavenly Valley. Is there any more beautiful view than standing near the top of those high mountain peaks looking down at the emerald green waters of Lake Tahoe? Yesterday the warm sun sparkled off the groomed snow like thousands of diamonds and the sky was painted a deep blue as far as the eye could see. But the weather here changes faster than the administration’s Egyptian policy. (Oops!) This morning the air was crispy cold, just above zero, and clouds covered the high slopes pushing the die-hard skiers down to the lodge for a few hours, and chasing us back to the warm condo.

On the drive down the mountain, we talked about our own little paradise - - what a blessing it is to live on the coast in the midst of such beauty and to have so many talented friends.  Local folks sometimes disagree on important matters but most strive to accept diverse opinions and to respect each other. In that vein, Karel and I particularly enjoyed the Confrontational Art show last Friday at Gualala Arts. A special thanks to Sus and his staff for separating the PG portion from the X-rated portion. (I worry about grandma and the kids.)

Confrontational art is not limited to what can be hung on a wall. Play writing is an art form that is almost always confrontational at some level. Readers Theater’s presentation of my latest play, A Second Chance, is no exception. The play’s heavy dose of political and cultural satire dovetailed nicely with the Art Center’s confrontational art theme. Some didn’t like the message. Others thought it was funny as hell! Tomorrow is sunny and warmer on the slopes.

Jim Littlejohn

UNCONSTITUTIONAL (Letter to Independent Coast Observer)

The recent Florida court decision declaring the individual mandate in ObamaCare unconstitutional is a step in the right direction, but it is only the latest in a stream of embarrassing revelations about the poorly-conceived law.

Recently we have learned that the administration has been quietly granting waivers to hundreds of organizations to prevent these groups from dropping their employee health care plans altogether. Ironically, a disproportionate number of these waivers will go to unions. Some of the more prominent are: the Service Employees International Union, the United Federation of Teachers Welfare Fund, and the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, a California-based cooperative that provides low-cost minimal coverage to farm workers. Unions represent only 6.9% of the private work force, yet 40% of the workers covered by these waivers are union members. (IBD, 1/30/2011) 

This massive waiver revelation comes on top of an earlier “discovery” that the requirement for businesses to send a 1099 to the IRS for transactions over $600 will add unprecedented burdens and erode profit margins for thousands of small businesses. Furthermore, we’re just now obtaining candid admissions from government officials that the costs of ObamaCare will far exceed the projections and that you probably won’t be able to keep your current doctor and/or health care insurance as the law moves toward full implementation.

I don’t blame the unions for obtaining the waivers. Their role is to look out for their people. However, I do blame the administration for providing a train load of misinformation to American citizens about this health care bill, both in terms of its workability and its costs. The President would take a big step towards being re-elected if he would work with the new Congress to repeal ObamaCare and replace it with a less intrusive, more effective and fully constitutional system.

Jim Littlejohn