Some thoughts about a very fast year
They say that the older you get, the faster time ies by. I guess I have reached that dubious milestone because 2013 has been mostly a blur. It seems like just recently I was thinking about my New Year resolutions, which I never found the time nor the inclination to ful ll. So, I guess I will recycle them for 2014 and see how that works out.
There never seems to be enough hours in the day to finish everything I have to do. I am supposed to be officially retired, but I guess it is just not part of my make-up. Sometimes, I feel I am working harder and longer hours now for much less pay than when I was on Capitol Hill in Washington. That is the lot of a political journalist, I suppose, which I have now become. Few journalists ever become rich and, therefore, regard their efforts as a labor of love.
I find that I am often critical of others and impatient in almost everything I do, whether it be writing, shopping, driving and other tasks. I guess I am not alone. Most people seem to be in a similar mode. Always in a hurry. Let’s face it. Life is no longer as simple as it used to be.
I sit and wonder sometimes about how parents cope with raising their kids in this day and age. How does a mother hold down a full-time job and still do all the chores she needs to do, such as cooking, cleaning and looking after the kids. I have admiration for them, and maybe that’s why some women drivers always seem to be in a hurry and often speeding when driving their vehicles – even through school zones with children in the car. And I guess that’s why a lot of us are not very friendly to strangers and take out our frustrations on those in jobs, many at minimum wage, that serve the public. As some psychologists put it, “Boss yells at wife, wife yells at husband, husband at daughter, daughter at son and son kicks the dog.”
What’s up with children these days?
Some are rude and impolite to their parents and adults in general. They are either stuck inside playing video games or outside focused on their electronic devices, forever talking or texting. On the other hand, it is not an easy world these children are growing up in today much too fast. There is the peer pressure, bullying, cyber stalking, drugs and sex – you name it.
I am not saying that everyone falls into the categories I have mentioned above. You know if you do. So Resolution No.1 for me in 2014 is to slow down, take time to enjoy life, and be a gentler and kinder person. Yea, good luck with that. But when it comes to writing about politics, I will likely remain an old curmudgeon because our governmental entities and officials need to be taken to task – and often.
That’s probably the most frustrating thing for me as a political journalist – the inability of government officials to represent all of the people and get things done. I am befuddled by people who are so rigid in their partisan political philosophy to the point of hating everyone who disagrees with them. And I’m talking about those on the extreme left and the extreme right. There should always be a middle ground, and compromise is not a dirty word.
The stage is set, therefore, for 2014.
We will be bombarded by negative political ads – some have already started with regard to the U.S. Senate race – because this coming year with be a banner year for politics with federal and local elections on tap. The political climate will be so nasty that many voters will become disgusted and stay away from the polls in November. As a reminder, at the local level, we will have an election for mayor and city council, school board, district attorney, coroner, judges and public service commissioner – all positions which affect our daily lives. Of course, the big one is the U.S. Senate race, as well as U.S. House races.
And so we bring the year 2013 to a close. We have had super storms and tornadoes, shootings and bombings by mentally deranged persons, continuing wars and unrest in the Middle East and other parts of the world, and the resignation of a Pope, to mention a few major events. We even survived a government shutdown because the U.S. Congress is broken and can’t get pass partisan politics. And it is a good bet that voters will return most of the incumbent senators and representatives who are up for reelection in 2014 back to Washington.
This is the final issue of 2013 for The Forum. I appreciate all of you who read my column, whether you agree or disagree with my opinions. I am always pleased to receive feedback. All I ask is that you disagree without being disagreeable. Whether you are a Democrat, Republican, other party or no party, it is important that you know what your governmental entities are doing with your tax dollars. And please vote.
From my little corner of the world, I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Lou Gehrig Burnett, an award-winning journalist, has been involved with politics for 44 years and was a congressional aide in Washington, D.C., for 27 years. He also served as executive assistant to former Shreveport Mayor Bo Williams. Burnett is the publisher of the weekly “FaxNet Update” and can be reached at 861-0552 or louburnett@comcast.net.
