WSJ 9.6 Our Summer of Discontent, Jim Quinend

Alan Phillips wrote: Many of us are anxious to hear the President's reaction to the national attitude that has been forcefully expressed by many Americans this summer. The author has referred to this season as "the summer of our Discontent." I must agree with few of his observations that some tomatoes were underdeveloped, although ours were fine. I personally did not experience any Woodstock nostalgia since I wasn't a fan when it originally occurred. The author mentioned rain. It can be helpful when channeled and effectively used for irrigation particularly in the West near Fresno, California where it's been foolishly restricted by bureaucrats, causing lost jobs, 40 per cent unemployment and disappearing produce. The town hall meetings this summer, in most cases, were not the "brawls" referred to, merely an expression of concerned citizens about an out of touch administration.

Also, the phrase that "This is the summer when nothing exciting happened," doesn't seem to apply to America's 2009 summer. Front and center items which appeared included: continued loss of jobs, rising foreclosures, slow home sales, increasing crime and efforts to reach out apologetically internationally which seem to many a weakening of our resolve to fight terrorism. There was a strange endorsement this summer on a Honduras coup against a socialist dictator, cap and trade legislation, healthcare reform cram down efforts and clunkers subsidized by taxpayers. These examples are just a few of the many issues that tell us that this summer was anything but boring.

Was this summer of discontent a good season? I believe it was since it resulted in the awakening of millions of voters to the misdirection being proposed in Congress and at the White House. The summer of 2009 began to ask the question, "Will the President soon cross the Rubicon?" Crossing the Rubicon is what the President will either decline or attempt in this week's national address. The administration apparently believes, as do some in Congress, that "healthcare reform" is the marquee issue for the end of this summer. Many in the White House and Congress believe the "public option" is a non-negotiable requirement for passing a healthcare reform bill. Should he push a public option concept in his speech this week, this would represent on his part a crossing the Rubicon; such a crossing would be disastrous.

On the other hand, to decline to cross this treacherous river would indicate that the President has made a decision to ignore the small liberal wing in the nation and his party preferring instead to listen to millions of Americans who work the jobs, serve the military and provide the glue for this great republic. If the President takes this approach, it would mean that he has recognized a "critical" issue that must take priority over healthcare reform. The real issue in America today is the fear on the part of millions of voters, that their constitutional freedoms, including the American way of life, is at threat of being eroded and eventually lost. This is an issue to be found in hamlets, towns, cities and states across this great land. This summer has produced a concerned electorate that will not be impressed with additional empty rhetoric and broken promises. This has been a summer when many exciting things have happened, including awakened Americans, which can, if the President has been listening, cause a much-needed change of direction.