I had the opportunity to watch a video clip the other day. There were several individuals testifying before Congress about how they were targeted by the IRS. Their stories were reflective of how abusive an arm of government can be.
I was struck by the testimony of a lady who represented a tea party group. The gist of her opening statement was: I'm not here to grovel at the feet of my Lords. I'm a citizen of the United States testifying before my fellow citizens, yet it appears Congress has lost its way.
It was chilling to hear her say: I'm not here to grovel at the feet of my Lords.
The Obama administration is embroiled in controversy and numerous scandals. It seems like there's a new scandal being exposed every week. Yet, if we take the word of high-ranking officials in Washington there's nothing to see or be alarmed about - What's reality anyway?
Barack Obama claimed his administration would be the most transparent in American history. The exact opposite is true; but, what's reality anyway? It all depends on what you define the word "is" as -- as Bill Clinton so elegantly put it.
When Hillary Clinton was asked to testify before Congress about the Benghazi scandal she got quite agitated when asked about the death of four Americans and claimed: "What difference does it make!"
The president claims he was unaware of every single scandal plaguing his administration, until he read about them in the newspapers. A vast majority of Americans find that rather hard to believe and recent polls show that America's citizens have lost trust in their government. A New York Times editorial recently said: "The Obama administration has lost all its credibility." I couldn't agree more.
America's politicians should take heed of Psalms 62:10. "Trust not in oppression." Oppression being defined as: "The exercise of authority or power in a cruel or unjust manner."
I recently had a conversation with a gifted artist who travels the country. He's of the opinion America's been desensitized through culture, and has been since the 1960s. I must say, I can't find fault with his reasoning for desensitization in today's society is a rabid plague. "To have indifferent feelings or to be unaware" isn't anything to brag about.
The Democratic Party takes a liberal stance and has shown that its affiliates believe in big government and that government is the primary source for one's well-being in society. That couldn't be farther from the truth, but what's reality anyway?
The Republican Party claims to take a conservative stance and believes in small government and the individual rights of all citizens to be free from the oppressive tentacles of "Big Brother."
Yet, I've heard many say both parties aren't really all that much different.
With that in mind, one can only envision the outcome of future elections in one of three ways:
1). A majority of the population will continue to be desensitized to the socialistic road the Democratic Party wants to take America down.
2). A majority of the populace will grow tired of the scandalous ways government rules over its citizens and give Republicans a chance.
3). The wildcard is the Tea Party. If a vast number of individuals believe the Constitution is threatened, along with their liberties, a third party will arise to challenge the two-party system that at present appears to be woefully inadequate.
Actions speak louder than words and if the Obama administration is really serious about transparency, the rule of law, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness by all those pursuing it the president needs to come clean on the scandals. Yet, no one's been fired and those in positions of authority have become tightlipped, in some cases defiant towards Congress, with a disturbing lack of reverence, but ... who's looking through the prism of reality anymore?
For the government to say minor girls can have "The morning after pill" without a prescription circumvents the premise of parenting authority. The government, in essence, is promoting over-the-counter promiscuity and is "Big Brother."
For an administration to use the machine of government to punish or harass political dissenters it deems a threat is just downright creepy - but what's reality nowadays?
The political talking heads on television have repeatedly wondered whether Barack Obama will survive the entirety of his second term. On the other hand, several are asking will America survive the Obama exploits.
Yet ... what's the reality of it all anyway?
Greg Allen's column, Thinkin' Out Loud, is published bi-monthly. He's an author, nationally syndicated columnist and the founder of Builder of the Spirit in Jamestown, Indiana, a non-profit organization aiding the poor. He can be reached at www.builderofthespirit.org