STOP "BUTTING" IN

Notes of Concern…

                               …Jackson Blair

STOP “BUTTING” IN

I have an occasional email correspondent, the happily long-lived columnist Liz Smith. Ms. Smith has been writing outstanding columns, titled simply “Gossip,” for many, many years. She is a Texan who found fame and success in the “Big Apple” and she is the toast of every major screening, party or important gathering even at age 90.

In reading a recent column in which she uses the phrase “butting in” I began to think how seriously that phrase summed up many of our current international problems.

Specifically, she said: “There is some suggestion that the U.S. has brought this horror upon itself, with its international “butting in.”

This brought back an old saying we had when I was a child. We would call someone a “Butinski” who ventured where he was unwanted.

One might argue as a world super power we have an obligation to make certain all is well in that world.

Who says so?

I can argue that we should leave other nations to their own devices in working out their regional disputes.

One might argue that if the U.S. becomes more isolationist good people might die and friendly countries might be overrun.

I can argue that people are dying every day in these lands and in spite of all our efforts we do not seem to be able to bring stability anywhere. How does it fall to us to spend American dollars and risk American lives trying to sort out problems for other human beings who instead ought to rely on their own cunning, resources and diplomacy.

What we do accomplish when we play “Butinski” is making enemies of the enemies of our friends. 

Let us move on to a consideration of the state of our own union.

In case my readers have missed it, we have plenty of things to worry about right here at home. We have a staggering loss in the housing market. And if you remember economics 101 you know that most people have their largest investment in their home. For years it has been a safe investment and one that is the keystone to retirement planning and our “golden years.”

Today that investment for most is in serious trouble.

The government, those folks we send to Washington to look out for our best interests, is laughable.

“We the People” are not laughing.

Our representatives, however, are laughing.

They have tied us to retirement programs, health programs and other government run benefits from which they exempt themselves. One can only surmise even a poorly educated citizen can figure out if our representatives don’t want to participate in the programs they devise for the rest of us there must be an odor arising somewhere in close proximity to the Capitol building. And I am not referring here to the capital of Denmark!

If you had the medical program available to senators and representatives you would have few worries.

If you had the generous retirement plan available to senators and representatives you would have few worries.

If you had the office hours of senators and representatives you would certainly rarely be worried.

The only thing that worries these folks is that we will wise up and not return them to Eden (my choice for a new moniker for Washington, DC.)

But, alas, over many many years we have not wised up. We regularly return them to Eden. So again, in most cases, no worries for our senators and representatives on that front.

Recently, while the president shut down White House tours because of a serious threat to our economy, his Secretary of State went to the Middle East and passed out a gazillion dollars.

Did you notice?

Recently the salaries of people in the employ of The White House to do calligraphy on invitations to dinners and ceremonies were published. Shortly thereafter some company showed online that they could do just as good a job mocking up invitations that were every bit as fancy for “peanuts.”

The President recently said he had about six months to get something done.

Gee whiz!

We just gave him four more years. What will he do for the last three?

In fairness, he was acknowledging in our highly charged electioneering culture that in another six months all of “D.C.” will be engaged in the midterm elections. The GOP will be trying to hang on to the only arm of government they currently control: the House. The President’s party will be trying to take over the House and control the whole government.

Shortly after that is decided, lots of the president’s pals, as well as plenty of his enemies, will be off and running for the next presidential nomination. When our representatives are out and about in the land trying to hold onto their seats in Eden, gain more seats in Eden, to actually monopolize Eden, they do not have much time for productive work.

Perhaps it is time for we citizens to take the role of “Butinski” seriously. I think our country would be well served if the voters became “Butinskis” and started butting in on many fronts domestically.

Why not take some drastic steps.

The U.S. could require each country to be responsible for their own economy and their own safety. Hands off. None of our business.

The United States could have term limits. Two terms to U.S. Senators and three terms for Congressmen.

Foreign aid would become, well, foreign to us.

Because there would not be any.

There would be Social Aid. This would be money we would use to help in any area of the world hit by natural disaster. Our involvement abroad would be limited entirely to humanitarian aid.

We would ask the United Nations to relocate.

That organization, for all the high hopes and expectations, has been an unmitigated disaster. Not only do we house it in our country, we put up with all the shenanigans that accompany “diplomatic immunity.” We may be required to participate but we are not required to play host to guests who clearly have little respect for our country or our people.

Every elected representative would be required to participate in exactly the same governmental programs available to the people. No special deals or perks.

Citizen service would be what we would honor.

Our rallying cry will be to BUTT OUT of the affairs of other nations and BUTT IN to the affairs of our own country.

Simplistic?

You bet.