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Diary of a Mad Voter: Dan Rostad

We have all heard the saying, "All politics is local" and for the most part, that is correct. Or at least that is something we hope would happen. We all want to have our voices heard and the best way for that to happen, is for the power of the voter and the taxpayer to be close by and local.

When it comes to how money is being spent on a federal level, the voice was given back to the locals in many ways, during the second half of the Clinton administration, when with President Clinton, the Republican controlled Congress decided to not only give the voice back to the states, counties and cities, but they gave the tab back to the locals as well.

Editor's note: Dan Rostad's weekly blogs are NewWest.Net/Politics feature called "Diary of a Mad Voter," a group blog, published in partnership with the Denver Post's Politics West intended give a glimpse into the hearts and minds of several independent-minded voters and thinkers in the Rocky Mountain West in the '08 election cycle. [more]

Diary of a Mad Voter: Dan Rostad

Dear Diary:

We in the West have been yearning for years to have our voice heard over the larger urban areas in the United States Congress.

The rural voter is a precious commodity, just as rarified as this great landscape in which we have chosen to live.

In one of the biggest betrayals of the rural voter this year, the newly elected Senator from Montana, Jon Tester, a Democrat, recently voted in favor of giving the District of Columbia a vote in the United States House of Representatives. The legislation, Senate Bill 1257 would have made the District's non-voting delegate a voting member of the House, empowering yet another urban voice to drown out the voice of the rural Western landscape. [more]

Diary of a Mad Voter: Dan Rostad

You can't separate capitalism and democracy. You can't--or shouldn't--pit one against the other. They are as intertwined as clouds and rain.

Our country is the democracy it is because of a free-market capitalist economy that funds, in great part, the prosperous ways of the American dream.

Bill Clinton's former labor secretary, Robert Reich, recently released his book "Super Capitalism" in which he discusses how America has drifted from its democratic free-market economy, to one controlled by the super rich corporate big wigs and their kept politicians.

Editor's note: Dan Rostad's weekly blogs are part of a new feature on NewWest.Net/Politics called "Diary of a Mad Voter," a group blog, published in partnership with the Denver Post's Politics West intended give a glimpse into the hearts and minds of several independent-minded voters and thinkers in the Rocky Mountain West in the '08 election cycle. Check back this week at www.newwest.net/madvoter.
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Diary of a Mad Voter: Dan Rostad

We all watched the video and photographs of the Minneapolis bridge collapse in horror. The scene has left us with many images pain and suffering and now the country faces real problems regarding our roads and bridges.

Two phrases now common in our conversations are "structurally deficient" and "decaying infrastructure."

The problem the country faces now is paying for the repairs to the many bridges and miles of highway in need. The answer to the problem is staring us in the face. Let’s fix all the bridges that need repairs or rebuilding and, in order to get everyone in the Congress to appropriate the money, let’s name these bridges after our politicians.

Editor's note: Dan Rostad's weekly blogs are part of a new feature on NewWest.Net/Politics called "Diary of a Mad Voter," a group blog, published in partnership with the Denver Post's Politics West intended give a glimpse into the hearts and minds of several independent-minded voters and thinkers in the Rocky Mountain West in the '08 election cycle. Check back this week at www.newwest.net/madvoter. [more]

Diary of a Mad Voter: Dan Rostad

It seems that in this day and age, politics rarely brings out the best in people. In fact, it seems to be that it brings out the worst in people more and more. Heck, Keith Olbermann has made a living out of labeling, who, in his own slanted, left-leaning opinion, are the "Worse, Worser & Worst" people in the world.

Don't get me wrong, it isn't just those on the left that are out there swinging their ignorance around by trashing anyone who would disagree with them or make them defend their positions. It just seems that the list on the left is so much longer than on the right.

Editor's note: Dan Rostad's weekly blogs are part of a new feature on NewWest.Net/Politics called "Diary of a Mad Voter," a group blog, published in partnership with the Denver Post's Politics West intended give a glimpse into the hearts and minds of several independent-minded voters and thinkers in the Rocky Mountain West in the '08 election cycle. Check back this week at www.newwest.net/madvoter. [more]

Diary of a Mad Voter: Dan Rostad

You gotta love those insurance commercials with the caveman fighting to be recognized as an intelligent human being and given the respect he deserves.

Being a old fashioned "redneck" from the Rocky Mountain West, I certainly appreciate the implication of being thought of as a caveman. However, I have come to appreciate being regarded as a caveman these days.

The past few months the national debate on energy has droned on and leaves me wanting to shout out, "WHAT!" Both political parties are thrusting forward their experts because they want to be the leader on saving us from ourselves and our caveman ways. But the solutions they're coming up with are shaky and propped up with weighty consequences.

Editor's note: Dan Rostad's weekly blogs are part of a new feature on NewWest.Net/Politics called "Diary of a Mad Voter," a group blog, published in partnership with the Denver Post's Politics West intended give a glimpse into the hearts and minds of several independent-minded voters and thinkers in the Rocky Mountain West in the '08 election cycle. Check back this week at www.newwest.net/madvoter. [more]

Diary of a Mad Voter: Dan Rostad

A few years ago, I was invited to have coffee with a man who was CEO of a large department store chain. We met in his big office at their flagship store. In the midst of our conversation, his assistant brought in some paperwork from his recent hospital stay, which made him sigh with exasperation.

Since my wealthy friend was over 65 years old, he had to put all his medical care through the Medicare system and use his regular insurance as the secondary insurer. He wanted to pay his own way, but the government wouldn't let him. Seems like a problem that if fixed, could free up some money for other health care needs.

The new Democratic Congress likes to talk about their new ideas for changing health care in this country. New ideas are great. But what's so new about raising taxes to pay for expanding government programs? Senator Max Baucus came back to Montana trumpeting about the new expansion of the State Child Health Insurance Program just passed by Congress. But the increase meant raising taxes when other options were available.

Editor's note: Dan Rostad's weekly blogs are part of a new feature on NewWest.Net/Politics called "Diary of a Mad Voter," a group blog, published in partnership with the Denver Post's Politics West intended give a glimpse into the hearts and minds of several independent-minded voters and thinkers in the Rocky Mountain West in the '08 election cycle. Check back this week at www.newwest.net/madvoter. [more]

Diary of a Mad Voter: Dan Rostad

I hope you didn't miss the episode of MSNBC's "Hard Ball" with Chris Matthews that featured conservative political pundit & author Ann Coulter. There she was sitting in a chair built just for her and her long legs, calmly taking on all the questions and comments from Matthews about the political issues of the day, all the while, stroking back her long blond hair.

Quite a sight!

Then near the end of the show, out of left field and I really mean "Left Field", came a phone call from Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Democratic presidential hopeful and former Senator John Edwards. Ms. Edwards was intent on making Coulter apologize for her less than thoughtful remarks that she has made in the past about Senator Edwards and their family.

Editor's note: Dan Rostad's weekly blogs are part of a new feature on NewWest.Net/Politics called "Diary of a Mad Voter," a group blog, published in partnership with the Denver Post's Politics West intended give a glimpse into the hearts and minds of several independent-minded voters and thinkers in the Rocky Mountain West in the '08 election cycle. Check back this week at www.newwest.net/madvoter. [more]

Diary Of A Mad Voter: Dan Rostad

I am sure we have all seen the new House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stand in front of the news cameras proclaiming a "New Day" for America now that the Democrats have control of the Congress. I am more inclined to proclaim "Same old... Same old" on their progress so far and I am not alone.

Would you be surprised to know that among the very few pieces of legislation that the "New Day" Congress has passed that really has an effect on the American people, is a bill that gives themselves a pay raise?

Editor's note: Dan Rostad's weekly blogs are part of a new feature on NewWest.Net/Politics called "Diary of a Mad Voter," a group blog, published in partnership with the Denver Post's Politics West intended give a glimpse into the hearts and minds of several independent-minded voters and thinkers in the Rocky Mountain West in the '08 election cycle. Check back this week at www.newwest.net/madvoter.
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Diary Of A Mad Voter: Dan Rostad

Having always had an eye focused toward politics, I have seen a lot of presidential elections, but never have I witnesses such an early and eager start to the campaign for president.

Already, the field is full of willing candidates for both the Republican & Democratic camps and already the positioning has reached a feverish pitch.

Both sides are scrambling to set the agenda and be heard (with a prepared statement) on all of the hot button issues of the day. Iraq is the hottest button around. It is amazing how the demands for an apology have trickled down from the president to those who want to be president.

Editor's note: Dan Rostad's weekly blogs are part of a new feature on NewWest.Net/Politics called "Diary of a Mad Voter," a group blog, published in partnership with the Denver Post's Politics West intended give a glimpse into the hearts and minds of several independent voters in the Rocky Mountain West in the '08 election cycle. Check back this week at www.newwest.net/madvoter. [more]

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