I've been amazed watching and listening to folks who come out against President Obama and his policies. These are folks that are so dead-set in what they believe that they swear to high heaven that he's evil incarnate. These folks focus on the man, not the policy. They focus on other things, not what he has done and what he has been doing. That's why I opine that these folks really don't know why they are against the President except they are told to be against him.
The birther incident: The allegation that the President was born in another country and the tremendous (and quite elaborate) conspiracy cover-up that happened to right the record ... has to be the most insane waste of time and effort ever created by man. Folks - we're talking about official records. Official records that are nearly impossible to forge without covering up about a thousand steps in the process. Obama and Hawaii officials released his birth certificate ... no that wasn't enough. The birthers all jumped up and down pounding tables like some errant child. Okay - Obama and Hawaii officials released the long form ... but the birthers still finding resolve within their extremely baseless case ... started saying the birth certificate was fake ... yada yada yada ....
FACT: The state of Hawaii has certified that the birth certificate they have in their possession is the true and accurate copy of the President's birth certificate. Our United States are founded on the common principles and acceptance of said records when someone moves from one state to another. If this weren't the case, every state would have folks that couldn't leave -- because if their records couldn't be authenticated then they wouldn't be allowed to relocate. States must observe the official nature of the records contained within - or else run the risk of watching the system fall completely apart.
Obama wants to take away my health care: The scare tactics of the right went unverified. Because there is no evidence that Obama wanted to take anyone's health care away from them. If anything - he wants to make it easier for folks to get health care and to make it more affordable for EVERYONE. It's a very simple process ... one that tries to work with the health insurance lobby ... but the basic reality is that health care costs have soared in the last decade while coverage has shrunk. Someone is benefiting from this ... and the media decides to ignore the 800lb gorilla in the room. Republicans decry that Obama is trying to make the United States into a socialist country ... and these folks have absolutely no idea what they're talking about.
FACT: The Affordable Care Act ensures that folks can get help - who need help. Yes it's going to cost ... but that's nothing new since we're already dolling out billions (if not more) in premiums every year as a nation. At least under ACA the money is going where it's supposed to go in the first place ... between patient and doctor. If folks can't wrap their mind around why the health insurance lobby wants to stop Obama ... and can recognize the the lobby has a vested interest ... then these folks shouldn't be allowed to vote. Seriously - if you're blinded at the lights and mirrors the lobbyists are shining on you - you have no business pulling a lever in November. There is no defense against that.
Quit blaming Bush - he's had three years to fix this...: When folks say things like this - I just shake my head because they absolutely acknowledge that there was a problem to begin with. The country was already heading downhill at the time of election. The housing market popped, markets scrammed and oil prices began their climb. Folks were laid off, companies relocated overseas, and businesses were still receiving hand over fist in subsidies and other tax breaks. Any plan Obama or McCain had leading into the 2008 election became null and void. There - I said it.
FACT: The simple reality is Obama inherited something very ugly from his predecessor. He did stave off a larger, deeper recession as many experts believe. Obama warned all of us that this was going to take a long while - and it has. No one likes the fact that the recession hit and hit all of us ... but markets have continued to rebound, unemployment hasn't continued it's downward slope and the GDP is coming back. Recessions take awhile to correct ... and while the Republicans are seizing the opportunity to make this into a political issue - they themselves are partly to blame.
It's all Obama's fault: This has to be the largest falsehood put out in the PAC commercials and media. They don't report on the numerous times Obama shunned his party to reach across the aisle to the Republicans who did nothing but slap it away. The Republicans had their own plan - wrench everything up and just wait ... folks won't remember that they stalled on key segments of Obama's plan so that they could then blame him for "failing America."
FACT: When most of the Republican Governors that were awarded stimulus money that would've gone to pay for jobs in their state ... they denied it. When the Republicans could've latched onto the single largest health care reform act in this country's history - they balked, derided and showed nothing but discontempt for something that could HELP millions of Americans ... but gosh - not at the expense of the health insurance lobby. Capitalism trumps morality ... and when the Republicans want to rail Obama for failing this country - they shouldn't look too far away from the mirror.
Bottom line: I challenge folks to come out what exactly they are against when it comes to this President. He has maintained the same tax breaks on the upper 1% which hardly any of us know ... and he wants to do more for middle and lower America who have been hit really hard thanks to the Bush legacy. Make your list and allow me to ask you questions regarding it. Because you may find that you have been sucked into protoplasm of the Republican message machine which controls a heavily flawed bias. Journalism as we once knew it - is dead ... and has been dead. Both sides - Democrat and Republican latch on to their friendly reporters who then pen glowing recommendations of their fabled leader. It's a problem when there's no credibility in the press anymore ... and when the supremes awarded unlimited power to corporations to channel money in to campaigns then tilted balance of the political system made it impossible for the common man to have his voice heard ... much less his views tainted, slanted and biased.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Saturday, August 11, 2012
The Ryan Card....
So Romney picks Ryan ... as much as it is a concidence, their initials R&R seem to match how America would be if the Republicans win in November: rail roaded...
What stands out about the Ryan pick is that it does nothing to bring independents or Democrats to the Republican side of the ballot come November. In fact, Obama has been handed Florida ... in one fell swoop.
Appealing to the Tea Party fan base is one thing, but extending beyond your core beliefs to dabble into the extremes of your party isn't a winning strategy either.
Let's face it.
Mitt has had many problems of late ... as he continues to lead a gaffe-filled campaign into the "home stretch." But let's give an analysis of how his campaign is shaping up:
- His foreign policy is nothing short of a disaster. Gaffes in Britain, Israel and our allies in Europe only make him look weaker when it comes to how he'll handle world affairs.
- His own skeletons he's very very protective of. His tax returns continue to hobble him - even though he probably could release them and watch the dust fade away ... he has guarded them - and has increased their importance by not releasing them. Now there's more questions as to "what's he hiding" ... that may or may not amount to anything ... but it's very telling.
- He can't try to invoke privilege when it comes to his finances since he's using his business practices as his credentials for running the country. It doesn't work on a one way street Mitt ....
- The war on women, I feel is going to have a profound amount of pain this election for the Republicans. They have done a lot to alienate and invade on women's rights - from abortion and health to equal pay (which Republicans fought so strongly on.)
- Even though Mitt may have his heritage somewhere in his Hispanic lineage, he has no plan strong enough to withstand the smell test when it comes to immigration reform.
- Yes Ryan puts some more credibility in the economy and government spending ... but this doesn't poll well with independents and democrats.
So as far as I can tell - a Ryan pick is a wasted one. He should've picked someone more moderate to bring in independents and snag a few democrats along the way. That pick would've been Ron Paul ... not Paul Ryan. Which is fine by me because this is good news for Obama and the Democrats. The more red-meat out there, the more Obama can lean into the middle ground and draw in the center while holding onto his base.
The real problem I can see ... is how well Biden is going to do against Ryan in the debates... If there's a soft spot in the Dem ticket ... it would be the bottom half.
What stands out about the Ryan pick is that it does nothing to bring independents or Democrats to the Republican side of the ballot come November. In fact, Obama has been handed Florida ... in one fell swoop.
Appealing to the Tea Party fan base is one thing, but extending beyond your core beliefs to dabble into the extremes of your party isn't a winning strategy either.
Let's face it.
Mitt has had many problems of late ... as he continues to lead a gaffe-filled campaign into the "home stretch." But let's give an analysis of how his campaign is shaping up:
- His foreign policy is nothing short of a disaster. Gaffes in Britain, Israel and our allies in Europe only make him look weaker when it comes to how he'll handle world affairs.
- His own skeletons he's very very protective of. His tax returns continue to hobble him - even though he probably could release them and watch the dust fade away ... he has guarded them - and has increased their importance by not releasing them. Now there's more questions as to "what's he hiding" ... that may or may not amount to anything ... but it's very telling.
- He can't try to invoke privilege when it comes to his finances since he's using his business practices as his credentials for running the country. It doesn't work on a one way street Mitt ....
- The war on women, I feel is going to have a profound amount of pain this election for the Republicans. They have done a lot to alienate and invade on women's rights - from abortion and health to equal pay (which Republicans fought so strongly on.)
- Even though Mitt may have his heritage somewhere in his Hispanic lineage, he has no plan strong enough to withstand the smell test when it comes to immigration reform.
- Yes Ryan puts some more credibility in the economy and government spending ... but this doesn't poll well with independents and democrats.
So as far as I can tell - a Ryan pick is a wasted one. He should've picked someone more moderate to bring in independents and snag a few democrats along the way. That pick would've been Ron Paul ... not Paul Ryan. Which is fine by me because this is good news for Obama and the Democrats. The more red-meat out there, the more Obama can lean into the middle ground and draw in the center while holding onto his base.
The real problem I can see ... is how well Biden is going to do against Ryan in the debates... If there's a soft spot in the Dem ticket ... it would be the bottom half.
Wednesday, August 01, 2012
Jesus Loves Chicken....
I just don't buy into the whole: "Jesus would want me to hate people, so
I'm ordering a chicken sandwich in show of my support..."
Monday, July 09, 2012
The Bartender - Taxation .... fraud
(seen this before - but good for laughs another time around...)
But in that analogy - it's the 10th man that keeps promising to pay the bartender - but never does. He keeps benefiting from the beer he drinks, but the comes to pay up the 10th man is full of excuses ... "the Swiss have my money," "I have stockholders to answer to," "the big spill wasn't really my fault, but I'll give you a $20 for it and we can call it good", "I really don't think it's fair that I should be limited to three yachts this year because last year I could buy four," "I'm G.E. and have lost so much money - I shouldn't have to pay my bar bill."
According to your analogy every time the bartender comes with the bill - the 10th man dashes out the door because he feels like he's paid his fair share ... even though his dad, his grand dad and great grand dad all paid the bartender promptly each and every time. It's a legacy every generation has embraced to make the tavern a better place for the next generation.
Problem is - the tavern has been subject to the promises of a lot of people who are in the same class like the 10th man. Each time the bartender threatens to raise the price of their drinks - they keep threatening to leave and go to the Swiss bar or the Cayman Island bar. So the bartender keeps accruing debt so that at least he has some people coming in. Because he knows the 10th man has money - he offers incentives (even though he can't afford them) "free meals," "half-priced shots," "free ride on the buckin' bronco" ... but like where we are today - eventually no one will lend the bartender any more money because he's tapped out. Finished. Dried up.
All of the 10th men out there - have ALREADY taken their money, their capital and their jobs out of the country. We've been hemorrhaging for decades now ... because the 99% of us believed that if you give the 10th men their tax breaks, incentives, tax subsidies - the jobs will come.
They haven't.
I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but the 35% tax rate on the rich is the LOWEST rate since we were in high school. When we were born - 1969/70's ... the tax rate was 70%. When there isn't enough revenue - we borrow - and that's why we have the deficit that SOARED in the 80's and where we are today. It's the rate Republicans are fighting for today.
Ever since Reagan did his little trickle-down economic trick ... tax revenue dropped, the country had to borrow and the deficit soared. Companies did invest in American jobs because tariffs and other trade embargoes were in place to ensure that the jobs stayed home. When the Great Big Outsourcing began - the jobs left - and companies were STILL rewarded with lower tax rates.
If history teaches us anything - we should be investing at home first. We already have a man running for the Presidency that has embraced the ideal of taking your money elsewhere ... and I hate to disagree with you but that sends the wrong message to the country.
The fact we can have this discussion, the fact you can choose your career, own a car, own a home, freely leave the country on vacation, move, buy 10 flat screen TV's along with the sledgehammer to smash them up, send your children to wherever you want ... all makes it about freedom ... not socialism.
But I do agree with you on something though. A beer summit would do wonders to resolve this ... the more trashed everyone is - the less painful it feels like some days.
Cheers!
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100…
If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this…
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7..
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
So, that’s what they decided to do..
The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve ball. “Since you are all such good customers,” he said, “I’m going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20″. Drinks for the ten men would now cost just $80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes. So the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men? The paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his fair share?
They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody’s share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer.
So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man’s bill by a higher percentage the poorer he was, to follow the principle of the tax system they had been using, and he proceeded to work out the amounts he suggested that each should now pay.
And so the fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% saving).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33% saving).
The seventh now paid $5 instead of $7 (28% saving).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% saving).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% saving).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% saving).
Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But, once outside the bar, the men began to compare their savings.
“I only got a dollar out of the $20 saving,” declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man,”but he got $10!”
“Yeah, that’s right,” exclaimed the fifth man. “I only saved a dollar too. It’s unfair that he got ten times more benefit than me!”
“That’s true!” shouted the seventh man. “Why should he get $10 back, when I got only $2? The wealthy get all the breaks!”
“Wait a minute,” yelled the first four men in unison, “we didn’t get anything at all. This new tax system exploits the poor!”
The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.
The next night the tenth man didn’t show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had their beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn’t have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!
And that, boys and girls, journalists and government ministers, is how our tax system works. The people who already pay the highest taxes will naturally get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas, where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier. It's not so much people mind helping out, but when you have a government that spends $1 Trillion more than it takes in, it is not a revenue problem, it is a spending problem. Get that in check and I am with you.
But in that analogy - it's the 10th man that keeps promising to pay the bartender - but never does. He keeps benefiting from the beer he drinks, but the comes to pay up the 10th man is full of excuses ... "the Swiss have my money," "I have stockholders to answer to," "the big spill wasn't really my fault, but I'll give you a $20 for it and we can call it good", "I really don't think it's fair that I should be limited to three yachts this year because last year I could buy four," "I'm G.E. and have lost so much money - I shouldn't have to pay my bar bill."
According to your analogy every time the bartender comes with the bill - the 10th man dashes out the door because he feels like he's paid his fair share ... even though his dad, his grand dad and great grand dad all paid the bartender promptly each and every time. It's a legacy every generation has embraced to make the tavern a better place for the next generation.
Problem is - the tavern has been subject to the promises of a lot of people who are in the same class like the 10th man. Each time the bartender threatens to raise the price of their drinks - they keep threatening to leave and go to the Swiss bar or the Cayman Island bar. So the bartender keeps accruing debt so that at least he has some people coming in. Because he knows the 10th man has money - he offers incentives (even though he can't afford them) "free meals," "half-priced shots," "free ride on the buckin' bronco" ... but like where we are today - eventually no one will lend the bartender any more money because he's tapped out. Finished. Dried up.
All of the 10th men out there - have ALREADY taken their money, their capital and their jobs out of the country. We've been hemorrhaging for decades now ... because the 99% of us believed that if you give the 10th men their tax breaks, incentives, tax subsidies - the jobs will come.
They haven't.
I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but the 35% tax rate on the rich is the LOWEST rate since we were in high school. When we were born - 1969/70's ... the tax rate was 70%. When there isn't enough revenue - we borrow - and that's why we have the deficit that SOARED in the 80's and where we are today. It's the rate Republicans are fighting for today.
Ever since Reagan did his little trickle-down economic trick ... tax revenue dropped, the country had to borrow and the deficit soared. Companies did invest in American jobs because tariffs and other trade embargoes were in place to ensure that the jobs stayed home. When the Great Big Outsourcing began - the jobs left - and companies were STILL rewarded with lower tax rates.
If history teaches us anything - we should be investing at home first. We already have a man running for the Presidency that has embraced the ideal of taking your money elsewhere ... and I hate to disagree with you but that sends the wrong message to the country.
The fact we can have this discussion, the fact you can choose your career, own a car, own a home, freely leave the country on vacation, move, buy 10 flat screen TV's along with the sledgehammer to smash them up, send your children to wherever you want ... all makes it about freedom ... not socialism.
But I do agree with you on something though. A beer summit would do wonders to resolve this ... the more trashed everyone is - the less painful it feels like some days.
Cheers!
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Beyond ... dumb
Someone posted the uneducated meme about how Florida, Kentucky and Missouri are requiring welfare recipients to undergo required testing. It doesn't work ... it creates more government and it even costs these states MORE than it saves.
But then some idiot posts that it doesn't matter because the Supreme Court and the 9th Court will rule it unconstitutional. The stupid comment that came after?
"They no longer have our backs."
Really?
It's always astounding to confront folks like this because they lack the basic reality of civics and how our nation was founded. The Constitution is a revered document that seeks protect everyone ... and yet it's idiots like this that which look at our frame work in terms of "victory" ... like someone might think of a gang.
...and it's these same folks that have the audacity to criticize at how the Democrats are ruining civilization....
Credibility - zero
But then some idiot posts that it doesn't matter because the Supreme Court and the 9th Court will rule it unconstitutional. The stupid comment that came after?
"They no longer have our backs."
Really?
It's always astounding to confront folks like this because they lack the basic reality of civics and how our nation was founded. The Constitution is a revered document that seeks protect everyone ... and yet it's idiots like this that which look at our frame work in terms of "victory" ... like someone might think of a gang.
...and it's these same folks that have the audacity to criticize at how the Democrats are ruining civilization....
Credibility - zero
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Healthcare -1, GOP corporate protectionism - 0
Very happy to see the Supremes do the right thing on "Obamascare."
The Republican party should be ashamed of themselves and drop their moralistic dogma ... if they think it's more humane to deny health coverage to those who can't afford it ... just to protect the profit of those who provide coverage.
Republicans had a chance to meet in the middle and strike a deal ... but they don't want Obama's legacy to be permanently rooted in what was the right thing ... when their own party has roots in providing health care for all.....
The Republican party should be ashamed of themselves and drop their moralistic dogma ... if they think it's more humane to deny health coverage to those who can't afford it ... just to protect the profit of those who provide coverage.
Republicans had a chance to meet in the middle and strike a deal ... but they don't want Obama's legacy to be permanently rooted in what was the right thing ... when their own party has roots in providing health care for all.....
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Anger & the GOP
Folks that support the Republicans heading into the 2012 elections really need to ask themselves if they support the hate-filled, very un-Christian-like agendas they're rolling out.
If you identify as being in support of the GOP and their failed policies - then turn in your cross to your pastor and tell them that you've been living in sin ... lying ... and being hypocritical. Renounce your faith in God - who loves all of his children - regardless. If you condone the behavior and antics of giving more money to the rich - then you do not support the principles that Jesus has tried to teach you.
The Republican party caters to the bible out of convenience for their causes - not because they subscribe to the true meanings contained therein. They practice a form of heresy ... and should be held accountable for their outlooks.
If you identify as being in support of the GOP and their failed policies - then turn in your cross to your pastor and tell them that you've been living in sin ... lying ... and being hypocritical. Renounce your faith in God - who loves all of his children - regardless. If you condone the behavior and antics of giving more money to the rich - then you do not support the principles that Jesus has tried to teach you.
The Republican party caters to the bible out of convenience for their causes - not because they subscribe to the true meanings contained therein. They practice a form of heresy ... and should be held accountable for their outlooks.
Sunday, June 03, 2012
The Pot Problem
Marijuana is a drug.
...so is ibuprofen, baby aspirin, cigarettes, alcohol, etc.
I understand the 420 folks wanting the freedom to light up - to get high. They don't perceive a danger in it - mainly due to the mellow side it invokes whenever one inhales. Additionally - folks often cite marijuana as safer than alcohol because folks don't get violent . It can quiet their minds, get them to loosen up, etc. in a state of mind that they perceive as not being a threat to anyone.
okaaaaaaay.....
Then there's those where medical marijuana actually improves their quality of life with very little if any side effects. Anything we can do as a society to help improve one's condition - I'm strongly in favor of.
Again, I understand the arguments and I believe in a narrow sense medical marijuana is a very beneficial thing. However we're still talking about impairment and this is the argument that goes largely ignored. It's where the 420 folks equate marijuana smoking to the likes of cigarettes ... which is a flawed argument on many levels considering that cigarettes are far cheaper than MJ and obviously more legal to possess and use than MJ.
Again - if smoking MJ was comparable to smoking cigarettes - then - folks would be smoking cigarettes.
Studying the effects of MJ and attempting to devise an acceptable standard of consumption is still widely ineffective. The medical marijuana patient will naturally have a higher concentration of the drug in their system because their body forms a resistance to the point where the person can still yield positive effects from smoking it ... but the level of their impairment diminishes the longer they continue smoking.
The medical marijuana patient is not going to show signs of impairment while the recreational users will have their cognitive and decision making centers compromised when they light up. They often slip into a relaxed state, sometimes euphoric, and make it difficult to concentrate. This is the underlying reason why laws are in place for using marijuana in the first place. I understand it's just like alcohol in this regard and yes, we do need laws against drinking and driving. That's why law enforcement agencies have used blood and breath testing throughout the years to determine if someone is under the influence of alcohol.
With marijuana - it's different. At this time there's no reliable scientific test that can be administered that can determine whether or not someone's ability is impaired. Law enforcement folks rely on their observations and their experience with other folks who have been under the influence - as measured guide to determine if someone has their faculties in place.
I'm not trying to suggest that we should be keeping MJ users at bay ... but the MJ people also have to realize that their ability does get impaired just as it does for alcohol ... and until science catches up that can prove whether your tolerance to the drug is impairing you, then accept the laws as they are. I'm with you that it should work the same way with alcohol ... but then the tradeoff is that anyone with THC in their system is always going to be considered under the influence....
Which way do you want it?
...so is ibuprofen, baby aspirin, cigarettes, alcohol, etc.
I understand the 420 folks wanting the freedom to light up - to get high. They don't perceive a danger in it - mainly due to the mellow side it invokes whenever one inhales. Additionally - folks often cite marijuana as safer than alcohol because folks don't get violent . It can quiet their minds, get them to loosen up, etc. in a state of mind that they perceive as not being a threat to anyone.
okaaaaaaay.....
Then there's those where medical marijuana actually improves their quality of life with very little if any side effects. Anything we can do as a society to help improve one's condition - I'm strongly in favor of.
Again, I understand the arguments and I believe in a narrow sense medical marijuana is a very beneficial thing. However we're still talking about impairment and this is the argument that goes largely ignored. It's where the 420 folks equate marijuana smoking to the likes of cigarettes ... which is a flawed argument on many levels considering that cigarettes are far cheaper than MJ and obviously more legal to possess and use than MJ.
Again - if smoking MJ was comparable to smoking cigarettes - then - folks would be smoking cigarettes.
Studying the effects of MJ and attempting to devise an acceptable standard of consumption is still widely ineffective. The medical marijuana patient will naturally have a higher concentration of the drug in their system because their body forms a resistance to the point where the person can still yield positive effects from smoking it ... but the level of their impairment diminishes the longer they continue smoking.
The medical marijuana patient is not going to show signs of impairment while the recreational users will have their cognitive and decision making centers compromised when they light up. They often slip into a relaxed state, sometimes euphoric, and make it difficult to concentrate. This is the underlying reason why laws are in place for using marijuana in the first place. I understand it's just like alcohol in this regard and yes, we do need laws against drinking and driving. That's why law enforcement agencies have used blood and breath testing throughout the years to determine if someone is under the influence of alcohol.
With marijuana - it's different. At this time there's no reliable scientific test that can be administered that can determine whether or not someone's ability is impaired. Law enforcement folks rely on their observations and their experience with other folks who have been under the influence - as measured guide to determine if someone has their faculties in place.
I'm not trying to suggest that we should be keeping MJ users at bay ... but the MJ people also have to realize that their ability does get impaired just as it does for alcohol ... and until science catches up that can prove whether your tolerance to the drug is impairing you, then accept the laws as they are. I'm with you that it should work the same way with alcohol ... but then the tradeoff is that anyone with THC in their system is always going to be considered under the influence....
Which way do you want it?
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Socialism, really?
...yeah because capitalist greed has really worked out since the R's controlled the barn, hasn't it....
...unless you enjoy 9.x% unemployment, a fledgling housing market and wages that have actually gone down while corporate profits continue to rise while they enjoy the lowest tax rates in 60 years.
Yeah - I don't think you're grasping what Marxism actually is because it's a nice portable talking point that lacks any real depth of understanding of what it means to be a Marxist or a Socialist.
- Do you still have the right to own things?
- Do you have the right to own an automobile?
- Do you have the freedom of choice to determine where you can live?
- Do you have the freedom to choose who you can socialize with?
- Do you still have the right to leave the country's borders whenever you want?
- Do you still have the ability to voice your opinion? To vote? To criticize your elected officials?
- Do you still have the right of self determination?
- Has the government told you what you can and can't achieve in life?
- Does the government instruct you that you'll be a laborer with no chance of being an artist or a entrepreneur or a doctor or an accountant?
- Does your public school system advocate serving the state and to dedicate themselves to serve their leader faithfully?
- Does the government prohibit how you worship to your god of choice?
- Do you still enjoy receiving your news from Fox?
Next time you want to fling the Marxist/Socialist banter ... take a moment to understand exactly what that means. Don't become easy prey to a mere talking point mishap.
...unless you enjoy 9.x% unemployment, a fledgling housing market and wages that have actually gone down while corporate profits continue to rise while they enjoy the lowest tax rates in 60 years.
Yeah - I don't think you're grasping what Marxism actually is because it's a nice portable talking point that lacks any real depth of understanding of what it means to be a Marxist or a Socialist.
- Do you still have the right to own things?
- Do you have the right to own an automobile?
- Do you have the freedom of choice to determine where you can live?
- Do you have the freedom to choose who you can socialize with?
- Do you still have the right to leave the country's borders whenever you want?
- Do you still have the ability to voice your opinion? To vote? To criticize your elected officials?
- Do you still have the right of self determination?
- Has the government told you what you can and can't achieve in life?
- Does the government instruct you that you'll be a laborer with no chance of being an artist or a entrepreneur or a doctor or an accountant?
- Does your public school system advocate serving the state and to dedicate themselves to serve their leader faithfully?
- Does the government prohibit how you worship to your god of choice?
- Do you still enjoy receiving your news from Fox?
Next time you want to fling the Marxist/Socialist banter ... take a moment to understand exactly what that means. Don't become easy prey to a mere talking point mishap.
Drilling? Drilling? Gone?
An interesting quote from an LA Times article:
"Without a predictable process, companies are going to look at other parts of the world."
Really?
So all this talk about 'drill baby drill' really doesn't mean anything when companies are wanting more reliable, more predictable processes when they want to harvest oil from the ground.
Imagine that.
"Without a predictable process, companies are going to look at other parts of the world."
Really?
So all this talk about 'drill baby drill' really doesn't mean anything when companies are wanting more reliable, more predictable processes when they want to harvest oil from the ground.
Imagine that.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Republican Skew
According to the Republican mantra:
It's not okay to marry if you're gay or lesbian ...
- but it's perfectly okay to marry your cousin or get divorced 4 times
It's not okay to give to the poor ...
- but it's perfectly okay to continually help out the rich
It's not okay to nationalize our energy needs ...
- but it's okay to leave that to corporations who continually abuse the public trust - all in the name of profit while industries, families and our government continue to pay for inflated gas prices.
It's not okay to complain about Republican hypocrisies ...
- but it's okay to attack those that are liberal minded who actually have good sound ideas that happen to conflict with the Republican ideology.
It's okay to espouse a moral Republican agenda ...
- but it's not okay to be free to do as you please ... so as long as it has a stamp of approval from the Republican overlords.
It's okay to tax the lower class who have nothing ...
- but it's not okay to take the upper class because they pay for everything.
It's okay to put an innocent man to death ...
- but it's not okay to afford that man a reasonable appeal process in an effort to exonerate him or prove his/her innocence.
It's okay to own, possess and carry firearms ...
- but just not everybody.
It's okay to criticize a black president and claim it has nothing to do with race ...
- but it's not okay to point out their racial blinders if it was a white man who was opined the same idea and they agree with the idea.
It's okay to repeal laws that help equality ...
- but it's not okay to refer to it as "the war on women"
It's okay to end affirmative action ...
- but it's not okay to call out the racially charged statement if a Republican says that because a black man became president, that's why we can repeal affirmative action.
It's okay to enact laws to do away with labor unions ...
- but it's not okay to enact laws to help protect against corporate abuse at the expense of American jobs, wages and way of life.
It's okay to drill baby drill ...
- but it's not okay to hold corporations accountable when they drive up gas prices because they rest their laurels on "it's what the market will bear."
A woman's right ends the moment she has sex with a man ...
- but it's okay to cut social programs while allowing churches to hold the right to dismiss health insurance simply because they offer/cover women's health coverage as it pertains to her vagina.
It's okay to vaginally rape a woman to guilt her into not having an abortion ...
- but it's not okay to hold the man who impregnated her to be bound by his obligation.
It's okay to practice social/economic Darwinism ...
- but you can't teach its science equivalent in class because it clashes with the Christian belief structure...
It's okay to say things you don't mean ...
- but it's not okay to hold them accountable for it.
Do as I say ...
- ...not as they do.
It's not that I don't believe that democrats aren't capable of their own hypocrisy - they are. But when the Republicans keep hammering home their hypocrisy draped with the American flag and a bible in their hand ... well - then I think that speaks volumes. Trusting someone with so many faults - becomes nearly comical.
Folks wonder why Americans hate religion and hate politics. When one's word carries nothing ... then they could be the most articulate person on the planet ... and it won't mean a single damn thing....
It's not okay to marry if you're gay or lesbian ...
- but it's perfectly okay to marry your cousin or get divorced 4 times
It's not okay to give to the poor ...
- but it's perfectly okay to continually help out the rich
It's not okay to nationalize our energy needs ...
- but it's okay to leave that to corporations who continually abuse the public trust - all in the name of profit while industries, families and our government continue to pay for inflated gas prices.
It's not okay to complain about Republican hypocrisies ...
- but it's okay to attack those that are liberal minded who actually have good sound ideas that happen to conflict with the Republican ideology.
It's okay to espouse a moral Republican agenda ...
- but it's not okay to be free to do as you please ... so as long as it has a stamp of approval from the Republican overlords.
It's okay to tax the lower class who have nothing ...
- but it's not okay to take the upper class because they pay for everything.
It's okay to put an innocent man to death ...
- but it's not okay to afford that man a reasonable appeal process in an effort to exonerate him or prove his/her innocence.
It's okay to own, possess and carry firearms ...
- but just not everybody.
It's okay to criticize a black president and claim it has nothing to do with race ...
- but it's not okay to point out their racial blinders if it was a white man who was opined the same idea and they agree with the idea.
It's okay to repeal laws that help equality ...
- but it's not okay to refer to it as "the war on women"
It's okay to end affirmative action ...
- but it's not okay to call out the racially charged statement if a Republican says that because a black man became president, that's why we can repeal affirmative action.
It's okay to enact laws to do away with labor unions ...
- but it's not okay to enact laws to help protect against corporate abuse at the expense of American jobs, wages and way of life.
It's okay to drill baby drill ...
- but it's not okay to hold corporations accountable when they drive up gas prices because they rest their laurels on "it's what the market will bear."
A woman's right ends the moment she has sex with a man ...
- but it's okay to cut social programs while allowing churches to hold the right to dismiss health insurance simply because they offer/cover women's health coverage as it pertains to her vagina.
It's okay to vaginally rape a woman to guilt her into not having an abortion ...
- but it's not okay to hold the man who impregnated her to be bound by his obligation.
It's okay to practice social/economic Darwinism ...
- but you can't teach its science equivalent in class because it clashes with the Christian belief structure...
It's okay to say things you don't mean ...
- but it's not okay to hold them accountable for it.
Do as I say ...
- ...not as they do.
It's not that I don't believe that democrats aren't capable of their own hypocrisy - they are. But when the Republicans keep hammering home their hypocrisy draped with the American flag and a bible in their hand ... well - then I think that speaks volumes. Trusting someone with so many faults - becomes nearly comical.
Folks wonder why Americans hate religion and hate politics. When one's word carries nothing ... then they could be the most articulate person on the planet ... and it won't mean a single damn thing....
Monday, May 14, 2012
Drill Baby .... drill?
I watched a news program that talked about Chesapeake natural gas - which is the second leading producer of natural gas in the country.
Now I will admit that I don't know all of the nuances of why the CEO is under fire - but one of the allegations that the news story reported was .... they were mining too much natural gas.... and that by flooding the market with cheaper natural gas.
Wait. Wait. What?
It's the mantra of the Republican Party: Drill, Baby, Drill.
But it's not about making America energy independent ... it's about making profit by drilling and making more profit while the government continues to award subsidized tax breaks on the shoulders of tax payers while enjoying wonderful profits.
It's stuff like this which makes me crazy.
It's soooo disingenuous to say that they want the country to be energy independent from the oil-mongers of the Middle East. The reality is - the GOP is jealous of the profit the Middle East barons make ... not that they have any real interest in weening off the country off of foreign oil. It's their selling tactic ... sleight of hand ... diversionary tactics.
It's the foreign profits THEY are after.
Now I will admit that I don't know all of the nuances of why the CEO is under fire - but one of the allegations that the news story reported was .... they were mining too much natural gas.... and that by flooding the market with cheaper natural gas.
Wait. Wait. What?
It's the mantra of the Republican Party: Drill, Baby, Drill.
But it's not about making America energy independent ... it's about making profit by drilling and making more profit while the government continues to award subsidized tax breaks on the shoulders of tax payers while enjoying wonderful profits.
It's stuff like this which makes me crazy.
It's soooo disingenuous to say that they want the country to be energy independent from the oil-mongers of the Middle East. The reality is - the GOP is jealous of the profit the Middle East barons make ... not that they have any real interest in weening off the country off of foreign oil. It's their selling tactic ... sleight of hand ... diversionary tactics.
It's the foreign profits THEY are after.
Wednesday, May 09, 2012
The Day the 'verse went right
Mark this day down. It's an important one.
Today marked the day that a sitting President, who is able to do many things from his position - acknowledged that gays and lesbians deserve the same rights as their heterosexual counterparts. Today marked the first time this President went on record - into the camera and said: "...I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married."
Kudos Sir. Kudos.
But while the universe finally smiled on something positive for a change ... I caution that now is not the time to break out the streamers and noise makers.
The hard part is going to be approaching ... very .... quickly.
I know Gay and lesbians have been frustrated with this President's stance on gay marriage. Understandably so. I can draw the same inferences of a black man - who has ridden against the same bigotry waves towards his ascension to the White House. Many feel that the President should be more empathetic towards gays and lesbians - as they draw the same bigotry lines that have plagued this country when it the issue was racial equality or giving the women the right to vote.
Again - I understand.
The country's opinion towards same-sex marriage is changing faster than the Republicans who are trying to throw up laws and roadblocks ostensibly to push their own societal agenda contrary to the 70% who are in favor of domestic unions of some kind. But the reality is that this is a political hot potato and in an election cycle and it's a hot potato that neither candidate can control. Not when they are trying to do the things they need to win and be the leader for the next four years.
I understand the President's plight.
I also understand the frustration by gays and lesbians who see their window of opportunity fading with the growing masses on the right. While my political side-kick will disagree with the potential outlook for this upcoming election cycle, there is a possibility that President Obama will be a one-termer ... the topic of gay marriage only bumps up the political temperature a few more degrees.
This will now become an active torpedo in the water for his re-election bid. The Republicans have been begging Obama to take up the measure so that they can run their ads confirming everyone's fear that he is single-handedly destroying America. That's the message. Fox confirmed that on their website tonight. That's the platform and that's the reason why he has been tentative about going all in even though he knows it's the right thing to do ... but this position alone could swing some Democrats to stay home because they themselves don't believe in that rights should be extended to gays and lesbians.
I know that's a hard pill to swallow - because as a liberal - I would hope that my democratic brethren would be open-minded to the concept of gay marriage. Instead - I find some democrats fearful about the direction the platform would take the country. I understand the fear - but I consider it an irrational one. This issue isn't going to be the tear in the fabric of society that's going to bring civilization to a halt. It's not that grandiose as the Republican message machine says about it.
The movement is about doing what's right. Just as women's suffrage was in the 1920's or the civil rights movement of the 50's and 60's.
This country is founded on momentum ... and there finally is enough to start pushing outward and onward.
So while I want to take a moment and be happy for so many friends ... I'm looking forward ... and I see problems. This can only work if the country can unite behind the idea that no group - no matter your background - deserves any kind of maltreatment, bigotry and condemnation by those who believe in their own self-anointed morality.
The simple truth is people deserve to be treated as people - and that's exactly what happened today.
Today marked the day that a sitting President, who is able to do many things from his position - acknowledged that gays and lesbians deserve the same rights as their heterosexual counterparts. Today marked the first time this President went on record - into the camera and said: "...I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married."
Kudos Sir. Kudos.
But while the universe finally smiled on something positive for a change ... I caution that now is not the time to break out the streamers and noise makers.
The hard part is going to be approaching ... very .... quickly.
I know Gay and lesbians have been frustrated with this President's stance on gay marriage. Understandably so. I can draw the same inferences of a black man - who has ridden against the same bigotry waves towards his ascension to the White House. Many feel that the President should be more empathetic towards gays and lesbians - as they draw the same bigotry lines that have plagued this country when it the issue was racial equality or giving the women the right to vote.
Again - I understand.
The country's opinion towards same-sex marriage is changing faster than the Republicans who are trying to throw up laws and roadblocks ostensibly to push their own societal agenda contrary to the 70% who are in favor of domestic unions of some kind. But the reality is that this is a political hot potato and in an election cycle and it's a hot potato that neither candidate can control. Not when they are trying to do the things they need to win and be the leader for the next four years.
I understand the President's plight.
I also understand the frustration by gays and lesbians who see their window of opportunity fading with the growing masses on the right. While my political side-kick will disagree with the potential outlook for this upcoming election cycle, there is a possibility that President Obama will be a one-termer ... the topic of gay marriage only bumps up the political temperature a few more degrees.
This will now become an active torpedo in the water for his re-election bid. The Republicans have been begging Obama to take up the measure so that they can run their ads confirming everyone's fear that he is single-handedly destroying America. That's the message. Fox confirmed that on their website tonight. That's the platform and that's the reason why he has been tentative about going all in even though he knows it's the right thing to do ... but this position alone could swing some Democrats to stay home because they themselves don't believe in that rights should be extended to gays and lesbians.
I know that's a hard pill to swallow - because as a liberal - I would hope that my democratic brethren would be open-minded to the concept of gay marriage. Instead - I find some democrats fearful about the direction the platform would take the country. I understand the fear - but I consider it an irrational one. This issue isn't going to be the tear in the fabric of society that's going to bring civilization to a halt. It's not that grandiose as the Republican message machine says about it.
The movement is about doing what's right. Just as women's suffrage was in the 1920's or the civil rights movement of the 50's and 60's.
This country is founded on momentum ... and there finally is enough to start pushing outward and onward.
So while I want to take a moment and be happy for so many friends ... I'm looking forward ... and I see problems. This can only work if the country can unite behind the idea that no group - no matter your background - deserves any kind of maltreatment, bigotry and condemnation by those who believe in their own self-anointed morality.
The simple truth is people deserve to be treated as people - and that's exactly what happened today.
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
The World We Live In
Nice to see the nice fine homophobic folks of North Carolina have upped the ante when it comes to gays and lesbians. It's tragic to witness such discourse while they hold a document (the Bible) that supports love, compassion and support for those who need it.
Let's not forget that the Bible says nothing about homosexual relations between men ... or women.
And even if the Bible did say anything ... I'm reminded of the Bartlet episode on the West Wing that definitively proves that the most literal parts of the Bible have been washed and forgotten about ... until some Bible-thumping activist wants to start quoting scripture as though they hold some sort of moral high ground over the rest of us.
They don't ... No one does. Because this land was founded on the principles of practicing whatever you want to, however you want to, without the tyranny and fear to do so.
The tragedy is that those who vote in favor of the North Carolina measure are now living contrary to God's laws when having absolutely no idea that's what they're doing. God wouldn't want any of us - to condemn others - even though that has been done under the guise of religion for hundreds of years. Countries have been conquered for being different and for not practicing their religion as stringently as others were.
The message of kindness, morality and having a strong sense of self that binds us, not divide us ... is the message of God. Those who hold the Bible to the contrary - simply lacks the comprehension of that notion.
Let's not forget that the Bible says nothing about homosexual relations between men ... or women.
And even if the Bible did say anything ... I'm reminded of the Bartlet episode on the West Wing that definitively proves that the most literal parts of the Bible have been washed and forgotten about ... until some Bible-thumping activist wants to start quoting scripture as though they hold some sort of moral high ground over the rest of us.
They don't ... No one does. Because this land was founded on the principles of practicing whatever you want to, however you want to, without the tyranny and fear to do so.
The tragedy is that those who vote in favor of the North Carolina measure are now living contrary to God's laws when having absolutely no idea that's what they're doing. God wouldn't want any of us - to condemn others - even though that has been done under the guise of religion for hundreds of years. Countries have been conquered for being different and for not practicing their religion as stringently as others were.
The message of kindness, morality and having a strong sense of self that binds us, not divide us ... is the message of God. Those who hold the Bible to the contrary - simply lacks the comprehension of that notion.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Vigilante justice begets vigilante justice
The State of Florida has a vigilante law which has basically excused a murder that happened.
In the last couple of days, the special prosecutor assigned to the case has ordained that she won't seek a Grand Jury on the matter - thus eliminating the possibility that this case would end up with a murder charge for Zimmerman.
The issue is shining another light on the glaring flaws with the second amendment. Having a vigilante law - as exists in Florida, Arizona and other places only elevates the situation. Someone with the background of Zimmerman had a license to carry and under Florida Law ... had the right to chase someone and shoot them in the back when their own life was not in harm's way - but the use of deadly force was somehow protected.
Gun rights folks will defend their right to do what Zimmerman did. Except I don't own a gun ... I don't see the need to escalate a situation to the point where someone can get really seriously harmed. I do believe in the notion of self-defense ... but that's not what the vigilante law does. It gives folks like Zimmerman a license to kill.
It's wrong.
It reinforces the belief that guns in the wrong hands - lead to really unfortunate consequences.
Race plays a big part too. Because if it was Trayvon who was pulling the trigger and not Zimmerman ... you can BET the resulting outcome would be totally different. It's time to stop pretending and start acting on vigilante justice when it's convenient for those disturbed who shouldn't have been allowed to carry to begin with. Zimmerman needs to see his day in court and let a jury of his peers decide his fate.
But thanks to the flawed system of Florida - Zimmerman is now missing - becoming a poster boy for Fox News and a crusader of the NRA.
Zimmerman clearly fears for his life - for good reason. Vigilante justice begets vigilante justice.
When does it stop? When will the insanity finally stop?
In the last couple of days, the special prosecutor assigned to the case has ordained that she won't seek a Grand Jury on the matter - thus eliminating the possibility that this case would end up with a murder charge for Zimmerman.
The issue is shining another light on the glaring flaws with the second amendment. Having a vigilante law - as exists in Florida, Arizona and other places only elevates the situation. Someone with the background of Zimmerman had a license to carry and under Florida Law ... had the right to chase someone and shoot them in the back when their own life was not in harm's way - but the use of deadly force was somehow protected.
Gun rights folks will defend their right to do what Zimmerman did. Except I don't own a gun ... I don't see the need to escalate a situation to the point where someone can get really seriously harmed. I do believe in the notion of self-defense ... but that's not what the vigilante law does. It gives folks like Zimmerman a license to kill.
It's wrong.
It reinforces the belief that guns in the wrong hands - lead to really unfortunate consequences.
Race plays a big part too. Because if it was Trayvon who was pulling the trigger and not Zimmerman ... you can BET the resulting outcome would be totally different. It's time to stop pretending and start acting on vigilante justice when it's convenient for those disturbed who shouldn't have been allowed to carry to begin with. Zimmerman needs to see his day in court and let a jury of his peers decide his fate.
But thanks to the flawed system of Florida - Zimmerman is now missing - becoming a poster boy for Fox News and a crusader of the NRA.
Zimmerman clearly fears for his life - for good reason. Vigilante justice begets vigilante justice.
When does it stop? When will the insanity finally stop?
Monday, April 09, 2012
The Republican Identity Crisis
Confused about the Republican Party?
You're not alone.
This election cycle has really illuminated the Republicans to a whole new level of: "Really?" Take the case of Joe Walsh, tea party darling who hails from the 8th Congressional District of Illinois. He called out the President in what could be seen as the biggest flop in recent times: "I call on the President not to meet with or recognize groups that do not respect women's rights and basic freedoms," Walsh said in a statement, adding that the group has one of the "worst women's rights records in the Middle East."
Really Joe?
If we were to not meet with or recognize groups that don't respect women's rights and basic freedoms - then we would have no choice but to ignore the Republican Party. The "War on Women" has gotten really out of hand, but when you have a US Representative stand up and decry another country's treatment of women while tacitly or overtly making the case to strip women's rights in this country.
Whether it's the invasive rape of a transvaginal ultra-sound, or forcing women to watch horrific videos of abortions, to secretly repealing equal pay provisions that should be the law of the land ... it's the full blown assault on women's rights.
This is fairly reminiscent of Governor's Scott ill-advised drug testing program for food stamp recipients. The effects were staggering. The general population has a drug-addiction rate of about 7%. Since it's inception, the drug-addiction rate found in those applying for food stamps was much lower: 2%. The State of Florida LOST money rather than what it would've cost to have the 2% continue to get food stamps.
It's a common theme among the Republicans and you have the likes of Fox and Rush to thank for it. The seeds they plant about malcontents, how every food stamp recipient drives $50k SUVs while owning 3 or 4 big screen TVs drive the Republican anger base. The perception is that most of these folks have no concept, no idea why or how these folks come to being homeless, unemployed or needy to begin with. There's a story with everyone - and it's the Republican thick skin that repels such things because: "I'm a self-made man, these people should be to." Which brings me to the biggest identity crisis plaguing today's GOP: being pro-capitalist while singing in church on selective Sundays.
These folks identify as being "good Christians" based on "family values" ... when the reality is to the contrary. God doesn't want self-made men on the planet. Is that what Jesus was really about? Putting yourself above others? Doing so in a condescending, "tough love" kind of way? Would Jesus be proud of the way you lead your life? I know that's what you try and convince yourself of .... but really?
I doubt very seriously that Jesus would pass a homeless person asking for a dollar - so that he could scream at them and condemn them for not getting a job, for being a slacker and a waste of space while lashing out for having to pay for everything for them while they sit and do nothing. Find me a Republican that believes Jesus would rather you spit, scorn and protect your capitalist endeavors ... and then ask them why they aren't more Christ like.
When the R's start wanting to preach about morality when they have deficits in the way they approach their own life ... then I'm disinclined to follow the path of someone who believes they are better because they have more money or are lucky enough to have a job that provides for their family. Capitalism laughs and mocks Christianity ... and it's sad to watch those that lead the dual life.
What happens when a Republican looks in a mirror? That ... is the $64,000 question.
You're not alone.
This election cycle has really illuminated the Republicans to a whole new level of: "Really?" Take the case of Joe Walsh, tea party darling who hails from the 8th Congressional District of Illinois. He called out the President in what could be seen as the biggest flop in recent times: "I call on the President not to meet with or recognize groups that do not respect women's rights and basic freedoms," Walsh said in a statement, adding that the group has one of the "worst women's rights records in the Middle East."
Really Joe?
If we were to not meet with or recognize groups that don't respect women's rights and basic freedoms - then we would have no choice but to ignore the Republican Party. The "War on Women" has gotten really out of hand, but when you have a US Representative stand up and decry another country's treatment of women while tacitly or overtly making the case to strip women's rights in this country.
Whether it's the invasive rape of a transvaginal ultra-sound, or forcing women to watch horrific videos of abortions, to secretly repealing equal pay provisions that should be the law of the land ... it's the full blown assault on women's rights.
This is fairly reminiscent of Governor's Scott ill-advised drug testing program for food stamp recipients. The effects were staggering. The general population has a drug-addiction rate of about 7%. Since it's inception, the drug-addiction rate found in those applying for food stamps was much lower: 2%. The State of Florida LOST money rather than what it would've cost to have the 2% continue to get food stamps.
It's a common theme among the Republicans and you have the likes of Fox and Rush to thank for it. The seeds they plant about malcontents, how every food stamp recipient drives $50k SUVs while owning 3 or 4 big screen TVs drive the Republican anger base. The perception is that most of these folks have no concept, no idea why or how these folks come to being homeless, unemployed or needy to begin with. There's a story with everyone - and it's the Republican thick skin that repels such things because: "I'm a self-made man, these people should be to." Which brings me to the biggest identity crisis plaguing today's GOP: being pro-capitalist while singing in church on selective Sundays.
These folks identify as being "good Christians" based on "family values" ... when the reality is to the contrary. God doesn't want self-made men on the planet. Is that what Jesus was really about? Putting yourself above others? Doing so in a condescending, "tough love" kind of way? Would Jesus be proud of the way you lead your life? I know that's what you try and convince yourself of .... but really?
I doubt very seriously that Jesus would pass a homeless person asking for a dollar - so that he could scream at them and condemn them for not getting a job, for being a slacker and a waste of space while lashing out for having to pay for everything for them while they sit and do nothing. Find me a Republican that believes Jesus would rather you spit, scorn and protect your capitalist endeavors ... and then ask them why they aren't more Christ like.
When the R's start wanting to preach about morality when they have deficits in the way they approach their own life ... then I'm disinclined to follow the path of someone who believes they are better because they have more money or are lucky enough to have a job that provides for their family. Capitalism laughs and mocks Christianity ... and it's sad to watch those that lead the dual life.
What happens when a Republican looks in a mirror? That ... is the $64,000 question.
Friday, March 30, 2012
The Trayvon Insanity
I don't get it.
In any other jurisdiction, in any other state or city -- Zimmerman would've been arrested and formally charged.
Why?
Because that's what our system has become. It seems like those that are rushing to Zimmerman's side are the same ones that wanted to throw the switch on Troy Davis. There's a blindness when it comes to certain artifacts on our society. A willful ignorance to a prejudice that a lot of people just outright deny.
So it's not surprising that the Trayvon matter has become a divisive racial issue - except for those that still maintain that race has nothing to do with it because both parties were minorities. Just because they're both minority - that means race can't become an issue?
It's a tragic event that continues to grow and fester with each day Zimmerman remains free. It's interesting hearing and reading the reaction to the story. It's equally troubling in some respects just how much a title like: "neighborhood watch security guard" somehow elevates that person to some sort of exalted status.
It's troubling because Zimmerman has documented incidents involving a domestic violence case against his wife and incidents involving altercations with law enforcement. All it appears Trayvon was guilty of was an empty bag with residue that got him kicked out of school. Drugs didn't play a part into Trayvon's behavior despite law enforcement's tactic of tainting the victim as some sort of drug addict to gain sympathy.
The Trayvon incident underscores the importance of impartiality. Society becomes skewed the moment a law enforcement officer states something - because there's an implied trust with that. Dredging out Trayvon's completely unrelated "drug case" is how the law enforcement side of things likes to taint the case. To paint Trayvon in a particular light. That public trust that goes into the likes of law enforcement becomes an instrument of manipulation and subsequent hand-picking of information that is being disseminated. It happens everyday and yet - there are those that are privately (or publicly) satisfied with blindly following that trust.
It's a convenient marker in a day where media scrambles to get better ratings, more hits and sell more papers. The more sensational and intriguing it becomes, the more they sell in kind. The Trayvon case underscores incredibly GLARING problems with the system - from the way law enforcement reacted, to the prosecution's bizarre rationale for not prosecuting the case, to the press that has covered the case, to the society that has reacted to it.
It is a classic fishbowl of what's wrong with the process ... and yet most Americans really don't care because I don't think they want to know how bad it is. It's better to dream than it is to live your life in reality.
In any other jurisdiction, in any other state or city -- Zimmerman would've been arrested and formally charged.
Why?
Because that's what our system has become. It seems like those that are rushing to Zimmerman's side are the same ones that wanted to throw the switch on Troy Davis. There's a blindness when it comes to certain artifacts on our society. A willful ignorance to a prejudice that a lot of people just outright deny.
So it's not surprising that the Trayvon matter has become a divisive racial issue - except for those that still maintain that race has nothing to do with it because both parties were minorities. Just because they're both minority - that means race can't become an issue?
It's a tragic event that continues to grow and fester with each day Zimmerman remains free. It's interesting hearing and reading the reaction to the story. It's equally troubling in some respects just how much a title like: "neighborhood watch security guard" somehow elevates that person to some sort of exalted status.
It's troubling because Zimmerman has documented incidents involving a domestic violence case against his wife and incidents involving altercations with law enforcement. All it appears Trayvon was guilty of was an empty bag with residue that got him kicked out of school. Drugs didn't play a part into Trayvon's behavior despite law enforcement's tactic of tainting the victim as some sort of drug addict to gain sympathy.
The Trayvon incident underscores the importance of impartiality. Society becomes skewed the moment a law enforcement officer states something - because there's an implied trust with that. Dredging out Trayvon's completely unrelated "drug case" is how the law enforcement side of things likes to taint the case. To paint Trayvon in a particular light. That public trust that goes into the likes of law enforcement becomes an instrument of manipulation and subsequent hand-picking of information that is being disseminated. It happens everyday and yet - there are those that are privately (or publicly) satisfied with blindly following that trust.
It's a convenient marker in a day where media scrambles to get better ratings, more hits and sell more papers. The more sensational and intriguing it becomes, the more they sell in kind. The Trayvon case underscores incredibly GLARING problems with the system - from the way law enforcement reacted, to the prosecution's bizarre rationale for not prosecuting the case, to the press that has covered the case, to the society that has reacted to it.
It is a classic fishbowl of what's wrong with the process ... and yet most Americans really don't care because I don't think they want to know how bad it is. It's better to dream than it is to live your life in reality.
Friday, March 23, 2012
It's about the defeat, not the plan
The GOP has one mission, one plan, one goal.
They don't have a roll out of policy and substance.
They are fixated by a single quest: beat Obama.
They admit it. They don't deny it. They won't even attempt to walk it back.
It's their bed.
So when November rolls around - and I really hope Americans are watching what's happening, there single most important thing to remember is: do you want someone who has a plan for America ... or do you want someone who is only interested in getting the current President outed.
Our founding fathers would be incredibly disappointed in how the GOP has bastardized the election process this time around. The nation is founded by those who want to lead ... LEAD ... not trying to turn this into a Gladiator event. The only platform this party of choice has is: "beat Obama." Beat the man, not the policy. Come up with a better plan? Put it out there, but if Republicans are going into the voting booth this fall to vote for "the other guy" ... then I would really hope that they could honestly say why they were voting in the first place.
They don't have a roll out of policy and substance.
They are fixated by a single quest: beat Obama.
They admit it. They don't deny it. They won't even attempt to walk it back.
It's their bed.
So when November rolls around - and I really hope Americans are watching what's happening, there single most important thing to remember is: do you want someone who has a plan for America ... or do you want someone who is only interested in getting the current President outed.
Our founding fathers would be incredibly disappointed in how the GOP has bastardized the election process this time around. The nation is founded by those who want to lead ... LEAD ... not trying to turn this into a Gladiator event. The only platform this party of choice has is: "beat Obama." Beat the man, not the policy. Come up with a better plan? Put it out there, but if Republicans are going into the voting booth this fall to vote for "the other guy" ... then I would really hope that they could honestly say why they were voting in the first place.
Invasion of the GOP Body Snatchers....
I'm not sure what's the deal with the war on women the GOP insist on fighting.
For a political party that strongly advocates "less government, less government" and decries at all the ways the government is invading into our lives ...
...this ... takes .. the cake.
How much more invasive can one be by advocating doctors to vaginally rape a woman just so that they can guilt her about her unborn child? Gary Trudeau's comic strips were spot on - even if a little hard to swallow for the Republican Party.
It's what it is, R's....
You've created this barbaric invasion of a woman's body ... and give not one consideration to the plight of women or how some twisted sense of supreme morality trumps basic common decency.
It's another example of how Republicans espouse themselves to a fuzzy blind layers of "do as I say, not as I do or would want to have happen to me." Such hypocrisy needs to be met with action and I would imagine the women's groups are pretty much lining up against any Republican that is going to throw their support in this.
Reap what you sow R's ...
For a political party that strongly advocates "less government, less government" and decries at all the ways the government is invading into our lives ...
...this ... takes .. the cake.
How much more invasive can one be by advocating doctors to vaginally rape a woman just so that they can guilt her about her unborn child? Gary Trudeau's comic strips were spot on - even if a little hard to swallow for the Republican Party.
It's what it is, R's....
You've created this barbaric invasion of a woman's body ... and give not one consideration to the plight of women or how some twisted sense of supreme morality trumps basic common decency.
It's another example of how Republicans espouse themselves to a fuzzy blind layers of "do as I say, not as I do or would want to have happen to me." Such hypocrisy needs to be met with action and I would imagine the women's groups are pretty much lining up against any Republican that is going to throw their support in this.
Reap what you sow R's ...
Thursday, March 08, 2012
The Poison of Rush Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh is a disease.
There's a vile nature to the man and his self-anointed, self-importance, "woe is me, screw you" mentality that lacks any sense of compassion. To those who aspire a God-like path in life, should really evaluate whether or not Jesus would harbor such anger, such resentment and do so without compassion, empathy and love. Those that believe in the tenets of Rush Limbaugh - are un-Christ like.
Yes, he's built a successful money-making empire that's forged on the precepts of hate, sociologic-economic Darwinism that can be whittled down to: "Angry old man, get off my lawn." But he's just an entertainer. An orator with an endless running banter about how the system is failing and it's the liberals that are causing it.
He conveniently applies the history that matters only to him. He, along the likes of Drudge and HuffPo become running commentaries of our daily lives. Each part carrying a significant bias whose slant is dedicated on the base they serve. Our media outlets have become an entrenched version of the Sharks and the Jets ... West Side Story.
But it was Rush that started it.
It was Rush that inspired it.
And there was a fatality that happened along the way: the truth.
Journalism died and prevailing biased commentators prevailed.
History dictates that profound orators sway public opinion and can brainwash people into whatever you want them to think. That's why the likes of some rather notorious dictators have been successful in wooing the masses to follow them wherever, however, whatever.
How does this make it Rush poisonous?
There's a divisiveness.
There's a "you're with me or you're against me" mentality.
There's only one way - his way.
There's hate.
There's vitriol.
There's hypocrisy.
There's self-serving.
There's loathing.
There's self-absorption.
There's very un-Christian-like rhetoric.
There's very counter-intuitive, counter-productive, pro-business, pro-greed, anti-assistance, anti-government, anti-liberal, anti-Christ like behavior.
There's intolerance.
Truthfully ask yourself if this is something Jesus would approve of.
He keeps using the same tagline: "Talent on loan from God," - but there isn't a God out there that would loan out their talent to someone who preaches to be some sort of political deity. It's sad that Rush doesn't get it ... and how he continues to feign superiority when intelligence, morality and common sense trumps someone who gets rich off of instilling his poisonous beliefs on others.
Once you can clue into Rush's tactics ... you can see through the jaded glasses and see the man for who he really is. As the fervor from slut-gate lingers ... it has pulled back a few layers of what kind of man Rush Limbaugh is. As much as I deplore most of what this man says ... I feel sorry for the masses that continually absorb this man's vileness.
We see it in forums.
We see it in our editorials.
We see it in our protests.
We see it in the chain letters and other political discussions.
Rush overestimates that there are more conservatives than liberals. His numbers are artificially created thanks to his longevity on the air. He feeds the red meat base and when those people age and have children ... they indoctrinate them to the likes of Rush and the cycle grows and continues. That's why I say he's a disease.
Rush takes what angers you most ... and makes you more angry about it ... Drudge, Breibart and Fox do their part to shore it up on the media side ... with the slant, bias and lies leaning their way. I won't say that MSNBC and other media outlets don't do their fair share of leaning left ... but when I look at the goals of both sides - I look at the fate of mankind as being a higher priority than those on the right hold important.
The morality of what makes us good ... is being eroded away with the likes of Rush. Most addictions require that moment of epiphany when the clarity of the problem emerges. This recent issue helped jolt some into realizing the "real" man they've been adamantly defending all of these years.
...and they finally opened their eyes.
There's a vile nature to the man and his self-anointed, self-importance, "woe is me, screw you" mentality that lacks any sense of compassion. To those who aspire a God-like path in life, should really evaluate whether or not Jesus would harbor such anger, such resentment and do so without compassion, empathy and love. Those that believe in the tenets of Rush Limbaugh - are un-Christ like.
Yes, he's built a successful money-making empire that's forged on the precepts of hate, sociologic-economic Darwinism that can be whittled down to: "Angry old man, get off my lawn." But he's just an entertainer. An orator with an endless running banter about how the system is failing and it's the liberals that are causing it.
He conveniently applies the history that matters only to him. He, along the likes of Drudge and HuffPo become running commentaries of our daily lives. Each part carrying a significant bias whose slant is dedicated on the base they serve. Our media outlets have become an entrenched version of the Sharks and the Jets ... West Side Story.
But it was Rush that started it.
It was Rush that inspired it.
And there was a fatality that happened along the way: the truth.
Journalism died and prevailing biased commentators prevailed.
History dictates that profound orators sway public opinion and can brainwash people into whatever you want them to think. That's why the likes of some rather notorious dictators have been successful in wooing the masses to follow them wherever, however, whatever.
How does this make it Rush poisonous?
There's a divisiveness.
There's a "you're with me or you're against me" mentality.
There's only one way - his way.
There's hate.
There's vitriol.
There's hypocrisy.
There's self-serving.
There's loathing.
There's self-absorption.
There's very un-Christian-like rhetoric.
There's very counter-intuitive, counter-productive, pro-business, pro-greed, anti-assistance, anti-government, anti-liberal, anti-Christ like behavior.
There's intolerance.
Truthfully ask yourself if this is something Jesus would approve of.
He keeps using the same tagline: "Talent on loan from God," - but there isn't a God out there that would loan out their talent to someone who preaches to be some sort of political deity. It's sad that Rush doesn't get it ... and how he continues to feign superiority when intelligence, morality and common sense trumps someone who gets rich off of instilling his poisonous beliefs on others.
Once you can clue into Rush's tactics ... you can see through the jaded glasses and see the man for who he really is. As the fervor from slut-gate lingers ... it has pulled back a few layers of what kind of man Rush Limbaugh is. As much as I deplore most of what this man says ... I feel sorry for the masses that continually absorb this man's vileness.
We see it in forums.
We see it in our editorials.
We see it in our protests.
We see it in the chain letters and other political discussions.
Rush overestimates that there are more conservatives than liberals. His numbers are artificially created thanks to his longevity on the air. He feeds the red meat base and when those people age and have children ... they indoctrinate them to the likes of Rush and the cycle grows and continues. That's why I say he's a disease.
Rush takes what angers you most ... and makes you more angry about it ... Drudge, Breibart and Fox do their part to shore it up on the media side ... with the slant, bias and lies leaning their way. I won't say that MSNBC and other media outlets don't do their fair share of leaning left ... but when I look at the goals of both sides - I look at the fate of mankind as being a higher priority than those on the right hold important.
The morality of what makes us good ... is being eroded away with the likes of Rush. Most addictions require that moment of epiphany when the clarity of the problem emerges. This recent issue helped jolt some into realizing the "real" man they've been adamantly defending all of these years.
...and they finally opened their eyes.
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