THE MORNING AFTER

IN SPITE OF AN HOUR OF RHETORIC LAST NIGHT AT THE PRESIDENT'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS - AND DEMOCRATS CHEERING THEIR BLOCKAGE OF SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM - THE STATE OF THE UNION, THE MORNING AFTER, IS UNCHANGED. SPENDING PROGRAMS APPARENTLY REMAIN THE ONLY WAY OUT OF PROBLEMS. DEMOCRATIC IDEALS AND REPUBLICAN IDEAS REVERBERATED LOUDLY IN THE HALLOWED HALL OF THE CAPITOL BUILDING, BUT IN THE LIGHT OF THE NEXT DAY, THEY FACE RECRIMINATIONS FROM THE MOUTHS OF LIBERALS AND PUNDITS. MY MORNING WAKE-UP CALL SOUNDED WHEN A TYPICAL BASKETBALL COACH, WHOSE UNCONTROLLED DRIVEL TYPIFIES RAMBLINGS FROM POLITICIANS, TOLD ME THAT HIS TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO "DELIVER THE GET GO." SPORTS LINGO IS A POPULIST VERSION OF POLITICAL PALAVER.

SO WHAT'S THE SAME THE MORNING AFTER THE ADDRESS TO THE NATION? THREE SHIBBOLETHS STILL STAND. THE FIRST IS THE PUBLIC'S DISINTEREST IN POLITICS. ONLY A TINY PERCENTAGE OF CITIZENS LISTENED TO (OR CARED ABOUT ) THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH FILLED WITH A LAUNDRY LIST OF INITIATIVES AND COMMISSIONS. MOST AMERICANS' LAUNDRY LISTS ARE ON REFRIGERATOR DOORS AND THEIR LAUNDRY IS PROBABLY STACKED UP IN A CORNER AT REST. THE SECOND ISSUE IS AMERICA'S ADDICTION TO OIL. WE STILL GET AS MUCH FOREIGN OIL FROM SAUDI ARABIA AND VENEZUELA AS FROM MEXICO AND CANADA ( THE TOP 4 IMPORTS), BUT WHO CARES? THE AUTOMOBILE EQUATES WITH AMERICA'S SOUL. TO FOOL WITH THE SOUL'S EMBODIMENT IN THE FORM OF HORSEPOWER WOULD BE TO UNLEASH INNUMERABLE ANGRY BULLIES, A COUNTERPRODUCTIVE MEASURE, TO SAY THE LEAST, IF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS IS NOW PROMOTING A NATION OF WIMPS. THE THIRD SHIBBOLETH UNTOUCHED AT LAST NIGHT'S EVENT IS SINGLE MOTHERHOOD. SINGLE MOTHERS, A SINGULAR, CULTURAL CATASTROPHE, ARE ROUTINELY INVOKED AS AN EXCUSE FOR THE UNAFFORDABILITY OF EVERYTHING - FOOD, HOUSING, JOBS, EDUCATION, DAY CARE, INSURANCE, SAVINGS, THE FUTURE - WITHOUT THEIR BASIC, IMMORAL BEHAVIOR BEING CRITICIZED. WHAT WE CANNOT AFFORD TO NEGLECT IS THE FACT THAT THEY ARE, HAVE ALWAYS BEEN, ALWAYS WILL BE UNACCEPTABLE AND AS SUCH ARE A DETRIMENT TO THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THIS COUNTRY.

AMERICA'S MANDATE SHOULD BE TO PROMOTE INTELLIGENT, MARRIAGE UNIONS BECAUSE THE MORAL STATE OF THE UNION BEGINS AND ENDS THERE.