Rising Ageism in Obama's Amerika!

I've been trying to imagine what life would be like without some people that I am used to seeing either in person or on TV, sometime on a daily basis, sometimes less frequently.

I'll start with my Mom. She raised six children and went to work outside the home as a trainee for ATT when the youngest two were adolescents. The youngest of us is now 48, the oldest 62. Mom is still going strong except for arthritis. I hope that continues to be the case until she's 100+, but there are no guarantees. She has lived through the losing her mom at 18, being deserted by her dad, surviving the great depression as a young married woman, watching brothers and others leave to fight in WWII, sending a son into Vietnam with the Navy, burying my father just when the kids were getting grown and they could relax a little, dealing with my step-dad's Korean war injuries and of course all the failures, foibles and successes that come with raising six children in any era. She has more energy than most any person I know except my principal at school. She loves God and country and does the best she can every day. She knows more about her neighbors after first meeting than I know after 6 years - and she remembers it all.

Then there's Willie P. (anonymity to protect her) who every day volunteers in our cafeteria at school. She is raising at least 3 grandchildren. She never complains, just does what she needs to do. The kids are impeccably dressed in whatever she can afford and have been taught how to achieve in their lives and behave in society. I know they will be successful.

There are the current US Senators, 39 of them, over the age of 65. Now some of these folks I really don't know and others I see entirely too much of in the 24/7 news cycle. Sometimes they drive me absolutely to the edge of insanity. Actually, right now some of them have me outraged over their complete lack of concern over what is best for America rather than what is expedient to the furthering of their careers, or what benefits their constituents. Regardless of whether I agree or disagree with their methods or their policies, I would never doubt their intelligence, political acumen or life experience. In fact, I am concerned about the time when we will have a Congress that does not have the benefit of the lessons learned through some of those historical experiences that they share with my mom and Willie P. Have some been in DC too long? Absolutely! Should they be treated differently because of their age? Absolutely not, except to try to teach our young people respect for the senior citizens in our country.

Here is the list - Robert Byrd (D-WV) 91, Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) 85, Daniel Inouye (D-HI) 84, Daniel Akaka (D-HI) 84, Arlen Specter (D-PA) 79, Jim Bunning (R-KY) 77, Ted Kennedy (D-MA) 77, Richard Lugar (R-IN) 77, Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) 75, Chuck Grassley (R-IA) 75, Robert Foster Bennett (R-UT) 75, Orrin Hatch (R-UT) 75, Richard Shelby (R-AL) 75, Carl Levin (D-MI) 74, Jim Inhofe (R-OK) 74, Herb Kohl (D-WI) 74, Pat Roberts (R-KS) 73, George Voinovich (R-OH) 72, Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) 72, John McCain (R-AZ) 72, Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) 71, Roland Burris (D-IL) 71, Thad Cochran (R-MS) 71, Kit Bond (R-MO) 70, Ted Kaufman (D-DE) 70, Tom Harkin (D-IA) 69, Harry Reid (D-NV) 69, Patrick Leahy (D-VT) 69, Lamar Alexander (R-TN) 68, Barbara Boxer (D-CA) 68, Ben Nelson (D-NE) 68, Bernie Sanders (I-VT) 67, Max Baucus (D-MT) 67, Mitch McConnell (R-KY) 67, Joe Lieberman (I-CT) 67, Jon Kyl (R-AZ) 67, Byron Dorgan (D-ND) 67, Bill Nelson (D-FL) 66, Jim Risch (R-ID) 66.

Then there is our lovable V.P. who I still remember hating when he was on the Senate Judiciary committee. I will have to say that I enjoy seeing him now because I enjoy his silver hair, tan, affable manner and gaffe of the day. If I were to meet him in person though, I would ask him how he survived the death of his wife and child, how he found love again and does he regret leaving the Senate. I would have this conversation with respect for someone who has served our country for several decades.

There are three gentlemen that I cannot imagine my world without (and so many other class acts we have lost in the last few years). I cannot imagine not seeing Billy Graham, George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows in a stadium somewhere proclaiming the simple truth of the gospel. Men of integrity and spiritual strength who have been filling arenas for over 50 years by staying true to their beliefs and yet open to searching young people all over the world. All 3 still just as sharp as they come. All 3 faithful to their wives and families. Billy said, when they dedicated his museum in Montreat a year or two ago, "I feel like I'm attending my own funeral!"

This week I met a new senior citizen to admire. His name is Gerald Walpin. He is the Inspector General for the SEC. A delightful intelligent man with a keen wit who has prosecuted some very tough cases. I may not agree with all his views, but I can only pray that I am that sharp when I am his age (77, I believe). Well, he was just doing his job one day when he found some irregularities with how someone was handling monies received from the federal govt. That's right, mishandling our tax dollars. When he reported this, he was summarily fired by our President, given one hour to decide whether to resign or be fired and clear out his office. Not for misconduct, but for DOING HIS JOB.

It so happens that the person he was reporting is a friend of Mr. Obama's. That cronyism would be bad enough. However, our president's representatives publicly justified this wrongful termination by labeling Mr Walpin "confused" and "unable to carry out his duties". He will quietly fight this, because as he said, "I couldn't live with myself if I didn't". However I wonder where the other people are that should be standing up for him. Thank you Senator Grassley for stepping up to the plate in this and two other IG firings. I wonder where your peers are.

Now some may consider the next far-fetched. I do not. Many others do not. When I pair this firing and the slander involved i it with the thinly veiled health care rationing that is coming in the Obama Health Care Plan, I fear for the lives of all these fine senior citizens. When it is passed, the two knee replacements and cataract surgery that my Mom has had in the last 5 years will likely not be available to other seniors over 75. Long term, quality, assisted living insurance for those who need it? I don't see it happening. If one of our seniors develops an operable brain tumor, will surgery be an option under this plan if it does not guarantee at least 10 years of life? I doubt it. Unless of course you are a Kennedy - the plan is named after him after all.

I don't know all the details of the Health Care Plan and refuse to watch the ABC Obama infomercial about what they would like me to think about the bill. I'll read it myself on Thomas. I do know though that in the transition to this presidency we have moved from a White House that tried to deal respectfully even with those who viciously attacked them, to a bullying, power-grabbing, whining gang of punks. This gang is inserting itself into the management of our lives ad our free(?) enterprise system at every level and spending us into oblivion. They have NO respect for senior citizens and are moving us toward a European Socialist eugenics model of (lack of) Health Care.

The firing of Mr. Walpin has been the tipping point for me. I cannot stand by any longer and watch my Republic turn into a thugocracy. Its not just the White House. However, the WH occupant has the job of setting the tone for American public opinion and service. I am not at all happy with the tone being set.Mr Obama wants the world community to respect us but he snivels and derides anyone who does not buy into his grand plan and could care less what almost 50% of Americans (and that number in dissent is growing) think about his administration or his plans. Mr. Obama also could care less what the Constitution says or even bills that he endorsed. What matters is only what he wants in his power grab on the way to his goal of becoming King of the Known World

I don't know what my next step will be in trying to "fight city hall" - I only know there will be many. I am just starting the journey. if they want to come for me and lock me up - that's OK. I have no fear. I wonder if - with no children, no husband and the memory of an America that was a world leader - I was born for "such a time as this"?