From the 28 May 2007 Greater Niagara Newspapers

POLARITY IGNORES VICTORY IN IRAQ

By Bob Confer, www.BobConfer.net

American sentiments concerning the war in Iraq fall into a rather polarized pattern. Everyone from politicians to talk show hosts to average citizens has an opinion about the war that tends to fall into one of two categories. Those on the left believe we are in a war that can’t be won and therefore we must cut and run. Those on the right identify this as a war yet to be won and demand that we stay the course.

This duality of propaganda-driven thought has unfortunately driven a wedge between all Americans, creating an emotional situation amongst all of us that is a powder keg waiting to explode. Everyone holds steadfastly to their opinion and aggressively defends it while looking at the other side as being completely in the wrong. This divide routinely makes for uncomfortable social situations and initiates some rather disturbing conflict between our citizens and our leaders on a daily basis.

Despite this controversy, it has to be acknowledged that difference of opinion is a good thing as it is a differentiation of ideals that drives good civics. Sound legislation and regulations as well as good governance and citizenship are derived only from contrasting opinions and a variety of concepts.

But, alas, sometimes things do go wrong in civics. Situations like this Iraq controversy can arise where debate and philosophy are driven or unduly influenced by only two sides, not by a wide variety of beliefs. This inspires a sense of tunnel vision that limits thought and can ignore the reality of an issue, causing both sides to be grossly incorrect.

Opinion has become so polarized here that most Americans fail to see that in the most basic definition of what represents warfare the Iraq war has already been won. The accomplishments of our armed forces have been lost in the shuffle – if not completely overlooked - in this politically-driven debate. Even those who are supposedly most pro-military are so dependent on the normative belief of the Right (that the war is still winnable) that even they cannot recognize that victory has been ours.

Our brave men achieved the ultimate goal of changing Iraq’s once-dictatorial landscape. They toppled a maniacal despot in the form of Saddam Hussein and aided the people of Iraq in constructing a democratically-based system of government. Bringing down a dictatorship and turning over the reigns of government to the people don’t represent victorious battles amidst a war, they represent victory in the very war itself. Wars are won by destroying the enemy’s leadership and causing that rebuilding nation to start fresh. That is exactly what our military has accomplished.

Following such logic, the Iraq war is a victory that should be recognized as a defining and successful moment in American military history if not the history of Middle Eastern affairs. Our men gave of life and limb and fought through blood and tears to achieve the goal of removing Hussein from power and granting personal liberty to those who were once oppressed. Their sacrifices have started Iraq on a path to change. The people of Iraq are so determined to live a life of democratic rule and its rewards that they continue to move forward with their efforts despite the constant blood spilled by terrorist activities. Such efforts in democracy - no doubt inspired by our valiant soldiers - will bring about a better tomorrow for millions in the Middle East.

But, because of the duality of American politics we don’t realize this. Most Americans – and it seems every one of our leaders - believe that we still have an outright war on our hands. This is not the case, for everything our military is doing now is not war per se, but rather a police action following-up the end of an identifiable military action.

To many this claim may seem nothing more than semantics and to them bloodshed is bloodshed. It is important that they and every one of us detract from such thoughts and those ingrained into us by the Left and Right. We really need to give credit where credit is due. So far, our men have not been appropriately recognized for their great efforts in achieving the primary goal of a military victory in Iraq. And they won’t be, either, until people ignore political polarity and the lack of respect that comes with it.

From the 14 May 2007 Greater Niagara Newspapers

GOOD PARENTING A LOST ART

By Bob Confer, www.BobConfer.net

“What’s wrong with kids these days?”

That’s a common question, one that every generation asks of subsequent generations. Over the years it has been asked so often that it has developed a lack of substance. But, in this day and age there seems to be some value in asking the question. One can’t help but wonder what is wrong when you see the nearly indescribable behavior of some of today’s youth. Be it the use of vulgarity by elementary school students, the embodiment of the hip-hop culture by tweens or the me-first attitude and apathy of teenagers, there are many symptoms that show something very disturbing with those who represent America’s Tomorrow.

While it can be said that the vast majority of youth are good-natured, well-raised souls that make you know there is hope for the future, the population of troubled kids seems to be growing. Punk kids were once rare but now they seem to be a dime a dozen. It would not be a stretch to say that too many of today’s youth are quite disappointing at first glance, nowhere near the standards set by previous generations or their own peers.

But, for as guilty as these youth may be of expressing poor behavior, there is a group much guiltier of what has gone wrong. These troubled kids became this way not through natural tendencies but rather through learned behaviors picked up from those around them. Therefore, the question is better asked: “what’s wrong with PARENTS these days?”

This thought can be posed with confidence because kids are kids. Children growing up today really are no different than those growing up a century ago. They are born uncorrupted and follow a relatively standard progression of developmental stages. They are made who they are from a number of environmental factors such as peers, schooling, income, media and more.

Yet, through this all, the most important thing affecting behavioral traits is the firm yet loving hand of a responsible parent. Proper parenting is an art in itself, requiring an attention to detail and a strong focus on values and responsibility. As made evident by today’s youth, this is becoming a lost art.

This begins with a domino effect set from society’s emphasis on materialism and “keeping up with the Joneses”. Misguided parents think they are doing well by inundating their children with numerous electronic devices or assigning them to sports five days a week. In both scenarios, the kids lose. In the former the children become shut-ins whose behaviors are molded entirely by the morally-defunct entertainment media images that they ingest. In the latter scenario true familial interaction cannot be gleaned from a parent watching afar in the stands or racing a kid to and fro. Both cases could be considered “absentee parenting” as many parents, though physically nearby, do not spend quality time with their children and therefore have limited direct communication with them as they mature.

Something far worse than this disconnect is an important skill set lacking from modern parenting: the ability to instill responsibility within children. Many youth are lacking in self-discipline and gumption because proper discipline was never levied upon them by parents. This leads to an inability to cope or improve when school - or eventually the Real World – becomes difficult.

This lack of responsibility has arisen from two distinct sources, one being softness, the other being a “hands-off” approach.

Many parents have developed a kinder-gentler philosophy, not wanting to yell at the kids or hurt their feelings, aiming instead to maintain a “friendship” with them. When this approach is applied to the outside world it becomes a travesty because many parents end up blaming teachers for their failing child or school administrators for wrongly disciplining their child, when truthfully it is the irresponsible child at fault. From this the child never learns the true lessons of life.

The “hands-off” approach is just as troublesome - if not more so - with many parents washing their hands of their child’s transgressions, not disciplining or educating the kid following discipline from a third party. Therefore, the parent forgoes his or her own responsibility while implying “you’re on your own”.

These issues represent only a very small piece of the puzzle. Many more parenting skills have eroded and caused a good number of youth to be lacking in respect, discipline, and personal ethics. It’s a sad predicament. But, there is a glimmer of hope. There are many great parents raising wonderful kids in these harried times and it is from these people that the lost art of parenting can be rediscovered and put to use. All it takes is some tough love and a focus on things that truly matter.

LEGISLATIVE RAISES WOULDN’T FLY IN REAL WORLD
By Bob Confer, www.BobConfer.net

The past couple of weeks featured another round of political pugilism in the State Capitol, pitting a hard-nosed Eliot Spitzer against the heavyweight state legislature again. This time the battle was over pay and Spitzer scored a major victory for all taxpayers in the Empire State.

In late-April the Senate quickly and secretly threw together a bill that would have increased their wages. When the idea was introduced the Senate was unanimously in favor of the bill. But, Spitzer swore that he would veto it and then leaned heavily on his party of affiliation - the Democrats – in the Senate minority in regards to the issue of campaign finance reform. He declared that in order for a legislative victory to be achieved with pay raises they needed to simultaneously drop something near and dear to their hearts: a huge chunk of their special interest receipts.

Because of this threat and the importance of party politics the Senate’s support swung from unanimous approval to a 34 to 24 vote in favor, a number that could not override a gubernatorial veto. In one fell swoop Spitzer managed to halt the raises while demanding a cleaning of house. Whether the raises do come fruition sometime in the future remains to be seen due to old habits being hard to break in Albany, none being older (or dirtier) than campaign funding.

For now, let us believe that the raises are a dead.

Even so, the mindset behind the concept of a raise remains very much alive. Prior to the Governor’s threat every Senator (and probably every assemblyman) to a man believed he was worthy of a significant pay raise. Those shouldering the burden of such a giveaway – the taxpayers - cannot help but look at this with disdain, especially when it is taken into consideration that this would not happen in the private sector.

A similar position of entrustment in a typical company might be something akin to a top-level manager, an individual employed to oversee a distinct function along the lines of sales, operations, logistics, personnel and the like. Such an individual would typically receive a raise only if the company itself was successful and/or the function under that manager’s realm of responsibility was successful. Conversely, if that individual failed in his or her responsibilities or the company was not up to par the manager would not receive a raise.

The latter is the approach that should be applied to legislative raises. Essentially, the Senate and the Assembly are glorified managers running an enterprise known as New York State. They have been empowered to create the laws, regulations, and catalysts necessary to promote a healthy socio-economic environment in this state. They should not be granted any semblance of a raise for they have failed miserably in the their responsibilities.

Despite being the second highest paid legislature in the United States with a base salary of $79,500 they have shown a level of success not equal to their level of pay. The legislature named the Nation’s “most dysfunctional” has driven up taxes and regulations to the point of driving out good companies and good citizens. Statistically stated, economic growth has been stymied by a business climate that ranks a pitiful 47 out of 50. This, in turn, has caused New York to rank dead last in terms of personal Economic Freedom (which measures the obstacles that a state has cast upon its residents). These combined factors have led to an exodus of New Yorkers that totaled some 1.9 million people in the 1990’s and 422,000 more in the 2000’s.

To put this into perspective, were NY to be looked at as a private corporation, it could be said that it is offering far too expensive of a product that has caused it to lose customers. No private sector manager would deserve nor receive a raise under such circumstances.

You understand this. I understand this. But, those who are running our state - and running it into the ground no less – don’t. Looking at the world through a strange kaleidoscope they all believe that they have done and are doing a bang-up job worthy of even greater riches. Thankfully, Spitzer set them straight for a while.

But, understand that this fight should not be Spitzer’s alone. Completely oblivious, under-performing managers like our legislature would probably be fired in the Real World. Thus, this state legislature should be fired and you, the voter, should issue their pink slips in the next election.