Reading David Brooks NY Times column

David Brooks has a column today which speaks to the disconnect between the government and the people of  our country.  To some degree I believe this but on many levels I think it is wrong headed.  First, I still don't know what "big government" is and I don't think any one else does.  I hear the phrase and the next breath is about issues dealing with local governing issues.  I hear about RepubliCants talk about small government but then they want to have access to my cell phone without warrent to track my where abouts or how my city spends its own funds or what I do with the privacy of my doctor and my body. 

I hear euphamisms about terms that sting so other terms are used and what can that purpose be other than to mislead.  Privatizing Medicare by a voucher program is now spoken of in terms of "premium support or enhancement."  Ugg Me like enhancement, enhancement good.  For me this is a naked attempt to mislead.  The Ryan Plan although voted on by the House of Representatives with the only logical conclusion would be to enact it into law.  But RepubliCant law makers say it is only a starting point.  Well did they want it to be law or not?  Knowing how it will mainly not take effect for a decade and still add trillions to the national debt, how can they do otherwise than vote for an increase in the debt ceiling?

These are the kinds of issues that lead to the thinking that our country is on the wrong path.  Stoking flames for political advantage does nothing to improve the lives of americans.  I hear anger about why can't the president get these gas prices down and wonder why would anyone think he could?  But these same statements come out of people who know better and expouse the free market but say they think the president not only can effect gas prices but should.  Is that big government intrusion.  I think we have  lost the faith not because of what is happening in China or the Middle East but how we handled Katrina and the Gulf Spill of last spring.  We are so feckless in our ability to right wrongs and deal with real world problems that are only about will, dollars and man power.  How can we even imagine we can deal with problems of debt or long term programs or the health of our nation. 

We can't raise taxes on the wealthy but we can cut programs for the needy.  A Chinese proverb:  when business is slow, paint the counter.  But when the president says we need to invest to grow there are those of us who say we can not afford it.  I beleive we can afford little else.  It is not that we have lost faith in ourselves.  We have lost faith in our leaders to over come their petty self interests for the good of the people and the nation