Symbolism Over Substance
Yesterday I talked about how Governor Bredesen’s State of the State Address was really a State of the Re-Election Campaign Address. Typical of a campaign speech, from a candidate of any political party, Bredesen gave us a serious and sober look at the problems we face as citizens of Tennessee. However, he offered no real solutions, only symbolism disguised as solutions, to explain how he planned to try and deal with these complex issues.Stacey Campfield was quick to point out in his blog yesterday, that Bredesen was keen to tell us how he wasn’t going to raise taxes, yet is going to insure every child in the state of Tennessee. In addition to that spending spree, the Governor also says he wants to increase education spending. I’ll agree that the education system in our State is in dire need of a serious overhaul. I don’t think an overhaul is what Bredesen really wants to accomplish however. I think he merely wants to throw money at our education problems, operating under the theory that more money will solve the problem. The fact is that most of the problems the Governor outlined in his speech are not problems that the government can solve, and they certainly aren’t issues that the government can deal with alone.
The fact of the matter is that children will be educated in Tennessee when more parents take responsibility for their offspring. More children will receive healthcare when people become willing to extend the hand of Christian charity the way that Christ says they should.
What’s more, I think it is fair to say that corruption would be less of a problem in our state government if the elected officials within that government, and those appointed to serve under them, take responsibility for their actions and uphold their oaths of office. In the end, the vast majority of Tennessee’s problems will be much improved if people take more personal responsibility and quit leaving it to the government to deal with the consequences of their poor decisions, bad judgment, and corrupt ways of public business. That goes for people at all levels of government, from schoolteachers to the Governor himself.
And yet, we heard much about what the government will do, but very little about what we must do for ourselves.
posted by Deacon David Oatney @ 9:48 PM
4 Comments:
Don't you think these State of the State addresses (as well as the States of the Union) are just totally useless?
I mean, after Hillary's smirking during W's speech, it just seems we might ought to throw the whole tradition out. Nothing's worth seeing that.
N
I think you are way off base when it comes to the educational system in Tennessee. The same people who do not want to "throw money" at education are the same people who don not believe in abortion but never want to pay for the social services to help these unwed mothers! I actually sit in College Classrooms and many of these students do NOT have the parental guidance they need! Is that there fault? So bascially your position is to demand more accountabilty of parents when the social service system fails to provide for them! That sure does sound familiar!
So bubba...how is taking care of someone else's child the answer? It doesn't seem to be working too well.
How many more trillions will it take to realize that the state can't simply replace the wonders of a mother AND a father raising a child.
Perhaps you should do some investigation regarding crime and poverty and the statistics that go along with them.
Nothing...not the social services you tout--not the state--not a teacher or a paid attendant for each child, can replace what a mother and a father can do for a child.
Great site Mr. Oatney--saw you on Rep. Campfield's site.
Neither the State of the State nor the State of the Union can be done away with. In both cases, they are required by the respective Constitutions that govern the State of Tennessee and the United States of America.
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