As we watch the peacock-like strutting of our Republican friends (the limousine "CONSERVATIVE" class) in congress and listen to the call of their voices, so reminiscent in effect and beauty to that of the peacock, let us remember that beneath it all is a very simple, easy to discern perspective and mantra:

Government programs, whether tax cuts or investments are only to be approved if they benefit "I," myself, those whom I perceive to be like "ME" in attitude, income and social standing, and/or if they help me to ensure that "MINE" as in MY family, MY children, MY grandchildren, MY (private) school, MY church, MY favorite causes will prosper not only now but throughout the rest of history.

In other words, although at the core of their beings, the current crop of Republican leaders often lie themselves into thinking that what's best for them is best for all of us, they actually care nothing for the nation as a whole. Their only motivation, as they strut and call continues to be, as it has been since the days of Reagan, "WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME."

When it comes to choices between the good of the nation (or even its survival) and what's good for themselves, they will choose for themselves (and to he__ with anyone and everyone else).

Consequently, whereas, when the Republicans have been in control of congress, the Democrats have often agreed to bills they found wrong-headed and distasteful only after the Republicans agreed to include provisions which helped those in need in the country (in other words to benefit others, rather than the Democratic members of congress, themselves), the Republicans are now demanding that, if government programs are going to help people in need, they will not support them unless the Democrats include provisions that will help the Republicans, themselves, and their cronies (who are not, by any stretch of anyone's imagination in particular need).

To turn the famous phrase on it's head, from the perspective of our Republican friends, the purpose of government is the opposite of what we have so admired. For our Republican friends the admonition, and their modus operandi is "Ask not what you can do for your country, ask what your country can do (by hook or by crook) for you."

Time to roll up our sleeves and start building a good solid marriage, and oh, if you thought that good marriages were made up of the honeymoon followed by "happily ever after," you've seen one too many Disney bastardizations of much wiser fairy stories.

As in marriages, so in presidencies: you have to build your own "happily ever after," hour-by-hour, day-by-day, week-by-week, month-by-month, year-by-year. If we build solidly, based on regulations which require transparency, if we regulate existing practices, reserve the right to set up regulations for new investment vehicles (before they can be sold), require adequate cash reserves to back up insurance (no more unregulated and, therefore, imaginary "credit default swaps"), set maximum allowable interest rates and fees charged to customers and allow for sustainably moderate profit margins, along with placing limits on all the other ways stupid, greedy humans can game the system to their own benefit (and the detriment of everyone else) we can begin to build a new sort of "happily ever after."

Hereafter, let the only way to get rich be the invention and development of a product or idea which benefits all humanity in wonderful ways. No more should the richest people in our society be those who accumulate their wealth by playing games with money extracted from the rest of the economy and the people who do the actual work of society.

I believe his full handle is "Wherever I am, something stinks." You may draw your own conclusions...