By DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, NOV. 5, 2014) — There is no joy in America. In last night’s elections, the Republicans added to their control of the House of Representatives. What little drama resided in the 36 Senate races nationwide. Going into yesterday’s voting, Democrats held the Senate 53-45. The two independent members usually vote with the Dems. Some 36 Senate seats were up for grabs.

The GOP needed six seats to take the Senate. They took it. It will probably end up something like 53-45-2 for the Republicans. This assures more gridlock for an America entombed in the amber of partisan sniping and the amplified irrelevance of President O. With the GOP controlling both houses, now nothing will happen — only more of it.

Hoo-ray or Just Plain Hoo-ey? Take your pick

None of it matters. Both parties are two conferences of the same league, like the NFL. There is no division, either philosophically or in action. It’s not Coke vs. Pepsi (Coke wins) or Brady vs. Manning (Brady, as this past Sunday proved). It’s two of one, a pair of the other.

Along these lines, THE PLANET shares this guest column, first published by the website rare.us.

DEMS v. REPUBS: SAMEY SAME

By BONNIE KRISTIAN

Special to PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (from rare.us)

Seven reasons there’s no difference between establishment Democrats and Republicans:

1. Both support endless war. It’s been more than a decade since the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, and America’s entanglements are far from over. Though Bush is remembered as the consummate hawk, Nobel Peace Prize winner Obama has used his time in office to start or maintain additional wars in Pakistan, Libya, Yemen, and Somalia. Now, he wants to add Syria to the list. My generation can barely remember peace—and there’s no end in sight for a foreign policy with devastating human and financial costs.

2. Both engage in out-of-control spending. Yes, deficit spending has accelerated under Barack Obama. But you know what? There was also a massive acceleration under Bush. The fact is, debt is a bipartisan problem, and neither party is innocent. With $17 trillion of debt (and rapidly counting) as the consequence of decades of bipartisan irresponsibility, the time has passed for pointing fingers and dubbing a slightly slower rate of spending growth a “historic cut.”

3. Both ignore our most basic rights. CNN recently asked “When can a government kill its own people?” but for President Obama and some old guard GOP leaders like Sen. John McCain, that question has already been answered: Pretty much whenever it’s convenient. In fact, the U.S. government has already assassinated a 16-year-old American citizen by drone strike, killing a boy who was neither accused nor suspected of any crime.

4. Both have no respect for the rule of law. Obama swept into office promising a new attention to the rule of law after years of (correct) complaints that Bush often ignored it. “I take the Constitution very seriously,” he maintained to a nation weary for lawfulness. Bush and his GOP Congress were rightly critiqued for rampantly flouting the Constitution, especially the 4^th and 5^th Amendments (rights to privacy and a fair trial). But as Gitmo remains open, the NDAA makes indefinite detention a possibility for any American, and the list of NSA abuses reaches absurd proportions, Obama’s campaign promise is overdue for a death certificate.

5. Both are bought and paid for by big business. You know what’s the best original idea in politics today? Making politicians wear suits like NASCAR drivers, which display their biggest corporate sponsors. Democrats and Republicans alike would be plastered with logos. So is it any wonder that many of these same businesses get massive favors from the government at taxpayers’ expense? DC spends upwards of $100 billion on corporate welfare annually, not to mention huge one-off expenditures like the bailouts.

6. Both care most about their own power. President Obama recently joked, “That’s the good thing about being president, I can do whatever I want.” And while he was just kidding around, his humor was in line with the bipartisan presidential mindset. In the recent State of the Union address, the President announced his intention to continue expanding the power of the Executive at Congress’ expense. Republicans were duly upset at this power grab, but historically GOP Presidents have actually averaged slightly more executive orders than Democrats have.

7. Both have a long record of expanding government and shrinking liberty. Finally, take a look at the big picture:

Our government is reading our emails and monitoring our calls.

It gropes us at the airport, wants to keep track of our cars, and plans to subject us to random security sweeps at concerts and train stations.

We can’t decide for ourselves what to consume, whether to buy insurance, or who to marry.

All our income until mid-April goes directly to the government.

America has the highest incarceration rate in the world, and minorities are subject to unfair, disproportionate punishment.

Is this really the land of the free?

In 2014, it’s very difficult to answer that question in the affirmative. But it’s easy to see that partisanship isn’t the answer—and neither is bipartisan big government. As America moves toward a new, liberty-friendly policy consensus, let’s toss this outdated left vs. right rivalry and focus on the real fight:

Washington vs. us.

——– 000 ——–

“Is this really the land of the free?”

Kristian’s question is not rhetorical. It demands authentic soul-searching, especially when you see many of these seven deadly sins crop up at the local level. Apply the seven to the mayor, council, and school committee in Pittsfield.

Out of control spending? Check. Ignoring citizen rights? Check. No respect for rule of law? Check. Care most about their own power? Check. Long record of growing government and killing liberty? In the pockets of their financial masters? Check. The only one not on this list is “endless war.” Even there, The Suits speak peace while sticking the blade in you for self-gain.

The only thing keeping the phony game together is apathy: the surrender of government ownership of, by, and for The People to the skunks.

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“You know I’ll never be the same if I don’t get her back again, because I know she’ll always be the only girl for me.” — The Beatles, “Don’t Bother Me,” (1963).

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.