Returning to the "Run"

It is Tuesday, June 15, 2010, and tomorrow we will be returning to Boston Mass. We will soon be making our way to Vermont, and begin our northern, and then eastern trek across America. We have been home for a week, and it has been great seeing our loved ones and friends. The past week has been trying also, since we have been watching the destruction of the southern beaches and coastline, an area we rode through just a couple short weeks ago.

Our goal was to travel America, talk to Americans, and determine for ourselves whether Americans across this great nation share our views. We have traveled the southwest and the entire south, and have spoken to many people. It was not difficult to start up conversations with the people we met along the way. The California license plates...our distinctive shirts showing our route...or...just a simple comment making reference to the economy. This latter method always resulted in comments, and not once did a person state his or her belief that the economy is getting better. All across the nation, everyone we spoke to on the subject was very concerned about the direction this country is going, and most stated their belief that our way of life cannot be sustained if we keep spending and borrowing.

The problem in the Gulf may be helping Mr. Obama redirect attention away from the economy and his blatant incompetence and inability to lead. For almost three weeks after the explosion in the gulf, the administration did nothing. We know that he does not seem to handle emergencies well (except those economic "emergencies" which enable him to borrow more and more money from our children and grandchildren). When Tennessee was hit with the worst flooding in 100 years, resulting in many deaths, we know that Mr. Obama did nothing. When 20 people were killed in Arkansas, and Oklahoma City was ravaged with flood, he did nothing.

In our humble opinion, there are at least two reasons why Obama did not visit the gulf, and did not take any aggressive action for so long. First is his belief that no crisis should be wasted, and he will use this crisis to slow the oil industry and push his cap and trade legislation, both liberal points of view destructive to our way of life. The second reason the administration did nothing for so long, and ignored the international maritime community offering to help, was because of his desire to protect unions. The administration has cited the Jones Act which prohibits the use of international ships in US waters. Scores of ships had offered their assistance, including oil skimmers, which clearly would have lessened the impact on our beaches and coastline. What the administration is not telling America is that the Jones Act was enacted in 1920 at the behest of certain trade unions, run by self proclaimed communists involved in the labor movement at the time, to protect union jobs from international shipping and competition. It was intended to benefit the rights of union sailors and longshoremen, and protect them from foreign vessels operating on the navigatable waters in and around the US. The Jones Act has resulted in eliminating competition from abroad, and has been under attack for years. The administration could have waived the Jones Act, but instead it waived off the offers of assistance. Rather than offend the ILWU and other unions which put him in power, he permitted this disaster to occur.