To the editor:
John Adams said in 1770: “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclination or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.”
Almost four years ago (Oct. 23, 2008), I wrote a letter to the editor describing what might happen to the country if we elected an inexperienced, unqualified and unvetted individual as the commander-in-chief. As it turned out, one didn’t have to be very prophetic about what has happened in the Obama administration during these last four years.
Using a ship-of-state analogy, I described his probable course: “stuck ... at ‘hard, left-full rudder’ and cruising in a circular pattern of a costly, bigger government in an endless sea of taxation and spending” and debt.” Is there any doubt now that this is exactly what has occurred? The glib “hope and change” mantra has devolved into empty, hot air bloviating. It could never then nor now be magically transformed into economic prosperity and well-being for our fellow American citizens.
I also wrote four years ago ... “when it comes to the selection of the next commander-in-chief, the traits of character, experience, credentials, judgment, integrity and credibility really do matter above all other issues in this campaign.” These traits are still, more than ever, applicable in this current presidential election.
Unfortunately, almost every aspect of this administration for the last four years has been tinged with mismanagement, non-transparency, poor judgment, disinformation, scandal, obfuscation and cover-up at an incredible expense and consequence to the taxpayers and the future of this country (and maybe even the world). With very few exceptions, most of the so-called mainstream media continues to maintain a complicit and cozy relationship with the administration. “Journalism” used to mean inquiry and reporting of the unbiased truth but now has been reduced to shilling, excusing and overlooking the obvious malfunctions of the current regime’s policies and personalities. Old cowboy Clint (Eastwood) was right on target ... an empty chair for an empty suit filled with empty promises leaving an empty U.S. Treasury and sticking the American taxpayer for the bill.
So I ask again ... is this really the voyage our citizens or the country want or deserve to take for another four years, and can we afford to be “Obamboozled” again?
R.A. Erbetta
Marblehead
