Put a fork in it
It’s done. For all practical purposes, the results from the 2010 elections are in, and Republicans are the victors.
The problems started at the top, as the president we had great hope for has not delivered beyond that vision. Pres. Obama has proven that he is a great speaker, but we are now seeing that talk is just talk. We need action, and we need it now.
In our state, Gov. Culver alienated so many in his own party from the moment he took office that he etched his own writing on the wall. Couple that with our economic woes, and Iowans are apparently ready to go back to the days and policies of former Gov. Branstad.
The often bumbling, constantly tweeting and always entertaining Sen. Grassley will cruise to yet another victory, this time over the capable Roxanne Conlin. The results may have differed in better economic times, but it’s unlikely.
And despite the self implosion of the locally popular Brad Zaun, the usual sure thing and ageless Sen. Boswell still has a contest to deal with. Don’t ever count Zaun out.
Although there are a few exceptions in other races, the story remains the same in most other contests.
Iowans will appropriately cast their votes based on one subject — employment. We have learned the hard way that government can not create long-term jobs. We need to let capitalism work by creating incentives for those who have money to take risks that will create opportunities for those of us who do not. That’s the stimulus this country needs. And, yes, the rich will get richer, assuming their gambles pay off. That is a tough pill for some to swallow, we know. Even so, we need to keep in mind that when those who take risks with their money win, we all win with better jobs, better benefits and better personal opportunities. When those with money decide to keep it under their mattresses, none of us benefit.
These elections are a reminder that the public sector can not create real, long-lasting jobs. But let it also be a warning to Republicans that as they pull the fork out of this election cycle, they must be careful not to insert the knife. CV
