How to be a goon

In hockey there are generally 3 types of players, especially at the NHL level:
1. talented players, 2. marginal players and 3. really good players
who have the mentality to fight… or rather, to protect. Generally,
the fighter, or the Goon, grew up as a talented player, but not elite,
and they soon find out that if they want to stay in the NHL, they have
to protect the elite players. Note that these players are not mean or
devilish, they just want to protect their players, as well as their
incomes. These are players who, at 16, moved out of their family
home, went to a northern Canada farm town, lived with strangers, and
went to school on the ice. They have a stunted growth of appreciation
of culture, self, and often lack options for other types of
employment. The elite, on the other hand, are just as stunted, but
they never had to work for anything, instead relying on God-given
talent.

In America, this may be odd, as you often have choices, but the most
compelling example of similarities can be found in comics… Superman,
for example, just wanted to help, but was often loathed before lauded.
The reality of the Goon, is that he is just as ready to beat you up
as he would be to drink a beer with you afterwards. The Goon does a
job – you want to beat us up, beat ME up – save the great players.

I bring this up because today I read several articles describing
Obama’s first year in office as the most-polarizing, 75% think the
stimulus is wasted, and now the democratic agenda is on hold. While I
am not ready to label him as a talented/non-working elite politician,
I am ready to say that he has the opportunity to be the Goon – but not
just for his party.

This past year, he has been the Golden Boy – you don’t touch him.
Unfortunately, he, like his predecessor has failed to do any real
change. And, no, a balance of power from right to the left is not a
change, when partisanship is the only action.

Obama has the chance to be great; Obama has the opportunity to bring
us together. While the Democrat agenda has failed, an American agenda
can succeed. Obama must shed his partisan politics to protect the
elite players – the citizens. He must drop his steadfast,
strong-armed tactics, and adopt an ideology that favors America
united.

Vowing to fight and rehiring a campaign manager isn’t the right way.
This shows stubbornness. Getting past bush, and now a supermajority
that polarized a nation, more so, is the only route.

Fighting for healthcare, stripped down (you can always furnish the
house later), passing climate-friendly legislation based on tariffs
imposed on fossil fuel products and electricity generation, and
limiting congressional earmarks, would be a good start!

P.S. If fuel is taxed, power producers raise rates to protect profit
margins… why are millions unemployed, but profit is assured for the
rich?