Our Election Tragedy ... Yet They Cheer

It is very tragic how this election turned out. Our country (not me and some 56 million others) just elected a person with an undefined past, no accomplishments to speak of, and uses words that make people "feel good". In fact, our new "President-elect" would probably even have a hard time passing a national security background check for a top secret clearance as a private citizen, or at the very least be given a second look.

His rise to prominence came at a time when our country was having some hard economic times and was in a protracted, but necessary, war. It came at a time when the bulk of the mainstream media successfully talked down the economy to the point that many people actually started to believe it even before it really happened. It came at a time when the same media bashed the existing President for carrying out a war to protect the American people without regard to the fact that we haven't been attacked again since 9/11 and are a nation much safer than before.

Of all the elections I've been through since I first voted in 1964, this is the very first I actually fear for our country and what may be around the corner. I hope that our new president will make good decisions for our economic and national security while keeping our nation free from further government and foreign interference. However, I have severe doubts based on what he has said, or not said, and the fact that he is basically an unknown entity that has been successfully hidden from the past with the support of the media.

In his victory speech he tells his loyal supporters that the road will be difficult but "we will get there". Where is that? He never defines it, but yet they cheer.

He wants to "redefine" America "block by block". What does this mean? Yet they cheer.

He wants to "spread the wealth" and give tax cuts to 95% of working people even though many people already do not pay income taxes. He funds this by taxing the very people who help create the jobs. He never mentions that taxes will go up for many when he lets the present tax cuts expire in 2010. Yet they cheer.

He says we don't need to drill for more oil and gas and open up our vast land and waters to harness the energy it needs to further our economic growth. Yet they cheer.

He wants to add 100's of billions of dollars to the national budget to fund health care and other expanded entitlements to make more people dependent on government rather than themselves. Yet they cheer.

Our new President-elect says he wants to start a "civilian national security force" probably because he has little trust in our military. He has also said he wants to cut the military budget in a time when our nation has a perilous and cunning enemy and countries that could become our enemy any time. Yet they cheer.

With the help of a very biased media, a lot of money, and some "white guilt", I fear our country has gone down a dark alley with very little chance that when we reach the end we will be the same America that made our country the most free and prosperous in the world. My hope is that any damage that may result can be reversed to restore our country to the principles that made it great. Time will tell. Maybe we will have an answer in time for our next election cycles in 2010 and 2012.