Unthinking Legislators

We live in an age of willful disregard for the gift and obligation of original thought, the ability to think for ourselves – when everyone from bristling neighbors to irritating anchors punt, and do not think. Worse, federal and state legislators are doing that, no courage. We have unthinking legislators.

What have we seen this year? The list of stupid nonsense, dictated by politics, saying all “must be onboard” to stop “the other side” from winning, is long.

At the federal level, tormented budget and spending bills produced 6,000 “earmarks,” tens of billions for useless “pet projects.” We get thousands of lines of ambiguous language in appropriations bills, vaguely for a “hub program,” “innovation,” “training,” “development,” or “assistance,” non-transparent.

Unpacking this deception, getting behind it, and how spending can explode with no accountability, is like solving a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded, impossible.

Of course, what no one says is that is by intent. So the deceptively named “Inflation Reduction Act” was about massive overspending on everything from turbines and solar cells to quadrupling the IRS and arming agents. Obamacare was for raising premiums, reducing benefits, selling as reduced premiums, and better care.

Hokum, bunk, dishonest, arrogant – are words for it. Any wonder why people do not trust Congress, the president, or state legislators? Trust is earned. It has been betrayed.

For reference, the “Inflation Reduction” law accelerated inflation, oppressing all Americans. In the name of senseless spending, inflation – higher for seniors, young, and in places like Maine and the southwest, is up 19 percent under Democrats.

Nationally, the rate was 1.2 percent in January 2021, shot to nine percent, and has retreated to three times the level of January 2021. The average family spends 700 dollars a month MORE than in 2021 for inflation – a huge tax on the Middle Class. Credit card debt has soared to $770 billion.

Honestly, the list is endless, and we know it. Leaders talk a good game – not even – and do great damage by the absence of courage. We have $35 trillion in debt, a 3500 percent jump from 1988 when Reagan was criticized for a one trillion dollar debt.

Just for a good, sardonic (not happy) laugh, look at the zeros: $35,000,000,000,000. That is what you, me, and our kids now owe – because someone took it, for things like “bee-friendly highways,” $400 million for improved “border security” in other countries, the wokeness religion, and wind turbines. 

But the crazy, unaccountable, spendthrift “herd mentality” does not end at the federal level. If infects the “herd” at the state level, and in spades this year – 2024. Dozens of blue states, controlled by Democrats, have jumped the rails.

Look at Maine, a traditionally “Normal Rockwell,” hardworking, fiscally conservative state, not fond of overreach, top-down mandates, overspending, or overtaxing, constitutionally faithful, with independent people, “common sense.”

Under Maine’s Democrat-controlled statehouse and governor, aggressive one-party rule, this freedom-loving population has been hamstrung. Many are just fed up with it –mandates, taxes, top-down government, immoral acts in their name.

Examples are countless, many ugly. Original thinking, and courage from a few to say, “Hey, wait a minute,” is … nowhere to be found. Herd mentality.

In Maine, Democrat lawmakers moved in lockstep, blind party allegiance – and very “un-Maine.” Clearly, many did not read the bills before voting, convinced no one would notice, or notice contents, objectively hard to defend.

Put differently, elected Democrats – young and older – who would never personally take their hands and kill a baby “at birth,” who grew up with parents and grandparents who would be revolted, ashamed of a vote to do that, nevertheless voted to do that. Herd mentality.

Likewise, in Maine, where most own guns, are well trained, use them with care, learned in Boy Scouts, 4-H, and NRA “Safe Hunter Training,” from a caring parent or grandparent, most legislators would not grab a neighbor’s gun, be unreasonable.

Nevertheless, Democrats in lockstep passed a legally overbroad, objectively noxious, poorly drafted “red flag” law, readily convertible to a widespread way to confiscate firearms – no medical basis – if you are offended, feel “threatened.”  Herd mentality.

In another bill demanded by Democrat leadership, Maine impaled itself, Democrats permitting fellow citizens to be trashed, removing Maine from the electoral college, intended to protect small states. Why? Lockstep, big state wokeness. One-on-one, most could not defend that bill to Maine.

So, we live in a time of profound personal abdication, a running away from responsibility, “herd mentality” at federal and state levels, contentment with negligence, unthinking allegiance to Democrat leaders. Ask:  Is that you? Needed are … courage, original thought, not unthinking legislators.

Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, attorney, and naval intelligence officer (USNR). He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (2018), and is National Spokesman for AMAC.