Plain Talk American Politics: The Greatest Show on Earth COLUMN BY ROB BUKSAR Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey claimed to be the great- est show on earth. Yet in their best days they | Ja. couldn’t hold a candle e to the American electoral process! The primaries have been the greatest warm-up act I’ve ever seen. The Democrats deserve an Academy Award for Best Actor, Supporting Role and Best Screenplay. Senator Obama gave a speech to the students and faculty at Westside High School in Gary, Ind. He admonished the students to remain in school and work hard to get good grades. In America today and in the future Senator Obama stated, ““You no longer can become suc- cessful by working hard. Most all of the factories and mills that occupied Gary and surrounded Lake Michigan are gone, never to return. “Having a superior education will be necessary to compete for the new high- tech, highly skilled, high paying jobs in the future.” Everyone gave the senator a standing ovation for his encouraging words, yet no one got around to asking the good questions like, “Senator, presently China and India’s economies are growing at unprecedented rates. Our economy is moving in the wrong direction and a day doesn’t go by without the news announcing plant closings, layoffs and downsizing. With that in mind, who is going to provide these new high-tech jobs, what will they be, where will they be, and when will they start becoming available? Furthermore, after four to six years of college, and a lifetime of stu- dent loans to repay, should there be con- cern about this new high-tech job that I’ve worked so long and hard and went into so much debt for being outsourced to India?” Senator Clinton was in Bronko’s Pizza in Crown Point, Ind. having shots and beers, mixing it up with a bunch of well-wishers and former steelworkers. She claimed NAFTA was a mistake and needed to be re-evaluated. Senator Clinton said once she became president, “T will bring industry back to northwest Indiana!” By the way, China or India was never brought up. The peanut gallery was too busy cheering over the fact that Hillary is going to bring industry back. Hillary lost. I guess we can kiss our industry goodbye. So what’s the point? These days, high office in the United States is seldom sought after by the average guy just try- ing to make a contribution, do his duty, and return to the private sector once his term is completed. Political office has become a career field. That wasn’t the intention of the founding fathers but lots of things weren’t and we will save that one for another time. You still need votes and public support to keep your elected political job. Over a billion dollars will be spent by candidates trying to become president. Don’t try to tell me that vocal organizations don’t have great impact on public policy in America. It is no accident that we are where we are. The present circumstances are benefiting those who lobbied for it and penalizing those who didn’t oppose it strongly enough or lobbied for something different. Many of us dislike politics and avoid getting involved. We find it distasteful to complain publicly and avoid it. This is understandable. Yet you had better set the macho atti- tude aside on this one. You know what I mean, “Take it like a man, suffer silently, quit your bellyaching.” It’s long overdue but still high time to start yelling like a stuck pig. Ihave heard every excuse from individuals and organization heads alike as to why we can’t get together or join forces with oth- ers and raise hell. Not getting involved or remaining indifferent makes a statement that you think everything’s just fine. Let me pres- ent the issue like Dr. Phil, “How’s what you’re doing working for ya?’ Are you happy with your present business condi- tions? How’s the future look to you? Are you getting your kids involved in the shop? Ha. I know better. Exxon, Wal-Mart, Costco, GE, FedEx, UPS, Citicorp, Bank of America, and others that size are doing great. Small business is being handed its hat and forced to leave the game. If you’d like to be dealt back in we need to check the indifference at the door and start making some real noise. God bless the small American busi- nessman. Rob Buksar is owner of Hoosier Electric Co., Gary, Ind.