Rant on the State of Politics!!

I have not blogged for a little while I know, but today I just have to do something. As I look at the political landscape this country now sits in, I just want to cry. I have never seen eye to eye with Democrats, mostly because their passions tend to cloud their common sense, but even after sticking with the Republicans through the Bush administration, I must now say that I am neither. No, today, I start my own party. Today is the day I say goodbye and good ridden to all the hateful, irresponsible and ridiculous so called conservatives and liberals out there that have failed in their responsibility to this country. Welcome to the American Party (working title LOL will take suggestions).

I have never known what it means to be a Democrat/Liberal, so I will not try to expound on the way it supposed to be for them, but what makes me sad is how lost conservatives have become. The way conservatism should work, for those who have learned only from the current “conservatives” is that we want less government, less government in our homes, in our jobs, and in our lives. And with this we address issues: yes is it an ideal that the country provides free health care, absolutely, but folks we are going about this all wrong. It is not the responsibility of the Federal government to provide health care; it is that of the states. Yes we all look to Canada and their health care system as something amazing, but they struggle as a result of that. I am not opposed to free health care; I just feel is not the Federal government’s place or responsibility. If people want free health care allow the states to institute it and then the people can vote and pay for it. Why should the middle class of this country be paying for other’s health care, without choice or option? The founding fathers knew that there were going to be issues like this someday and that is why they want all Americans to have a choice. If Florida wants free health care, great, but if I do not want to have free health care, then I should be allowed to move to another state that has legislation that fits my liking. Democrats that say, “Oh well, if we did that no one would live in Florida, except those who do not work and it would collapse,” well guess what then all the passionate folks that feel that way can move there and help support them, or find a better system, one that works.

Also there is this little line, in this little document we call a constitution that states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”, meaning a separation of church and state. It says NO LAW respecting an establishment of religion which means that no law should be created that directly reflects on the values or beliefs of a specific religion. It is designed to keep this country from picking favorites folks. For gosh sakes folks, read the Treaty of Tripoli! Christians are no better or worse than Muslims, Jews, Hindi, etc. Can someone please tell me when the Republican Party became the Christian Party? If I had known I would have jumped off the bus then and there. As some may know, I do not follow any of the established religions, least of all Christianity, but I understand the need for them. I both admire and appreciate people’s passion for them, but I hate bringing religion in to politics for the same reason I will never be a democrat. Folks, too often people become so passionate about something (myself included) that they can no longer see the forest for the trees. Passion in politics is both necessary and dangerous. You have to have a little bit of passion and drive to get there, but the problem is that passionate people forget that there are others that have valid concerns and beliefs that may be different from theirs. They too often fail to compromise or show understanding. It does not make them bad people, just bad politicians. We all must learn to leave our passions, both religious and otherwise at the door, if not completely at least partially, or we will never grow as human beings and as a country.

As I am writing this and thinking of all the things I want to say I realize this has a real chance of getting out of hand, so I am going to try and bullet some points here:

• I want the Federal Government to handle interstate trade and relations, protect our borders (not your place Arizona), provide a national military, and carry out foreign policy. That’s it folks it is not rocket science. Look the President and the Legislature are to focus on these things and the Supreme Court makes sure its legal. That’s it.
• I want people to get out of each other’s business. Look pro-choice pro-life, it is all pro irrelevant. Do I think abortion should be allowed, no, but would I ever support a law against it, absolutely NOT because it is not my right to tell someone else what they can or cannot do to their body. Am I gay, my wife would like to think not, but what harm is there in giving them their rights and privileges as citizens of this country. Look you show me one person’s whose life is perfect and self sufficient and then I will say you can comment on others but otherwise, folks mind your business.
• TAXES, folks look we are so financially irresponsible. This country should be able to pay a simple percentage tax and be just fine. We spend poorly and we tax even worse. And the government needs to realize what taxes, MONEY, means to the folks that have to go out and earn it. Never forget you earn the money that runs this country. You are the ones out there earning the money that is paying for someone’s food stamps, social security benefits, or any number of other programs that allow people who do not want to work and get to live without consequence.
• Lastly, part of the reason that the government ends up getting involved in things that they do not belong is because we as American’s do not take care of them ourselves. I drive by BP gas stations all the time and see people buying gas. I on occasion walk into a mall and ask a jeweler where they get their diamonds from and they ask me to leave their store, but there is always someone buying something. Look I do not expect people to care about everything that is going on in the world, but get involved folks. Be aware of the world around you! It is the narrow view of our generation, and that of the one before us, that is raising a generation that cannot see past their Facebook accounts and texts.

Look I realize we have to work what with what we got, but at least do me this favor, when you go to the voting booth, know what you are voting for. Be informed, or please do not go, an uninformed vote is more dangerous than no vote at all. We have to change this country, we the people, because if we do not eventually, as in every country in the history of the world, our time will end, and it will not be pretty! Just I know this is all a little scattered brained, but my feelings are true and I would imagine they reflect the concerns and feelings of others too.

Ok this is getting long so I will end it, but know that there is always so much to say!!

Some Kids Poems I am working on...

Kids Poems

Itsy Bitsy:

The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the little baby,

She started to wiggle and go all crazy.

“OUCH” said the spider, “You crushed my leg,

Now I have to walk with a wooden peg.”

Texting Terry:

Texting Terry texted twenty two times a second,

She walked, talked and ate without stopping I recon.

But then one day her brother came bouncing along,

And broke her cell phone while singing this song.

“Texting Terry Texting terry, you look like a fool,

When reading all those texts you always start to drool”

Terry was angry, sad and frustrated too,

What was poor Terry going to do?

No phone to text, no apps to buy

“Mother” she said “I think I am gonna die!”

Her minutes went unused, her downloads incomplete,

But then one day she found that she also had two feet.

She went outside and took a walk then met someone new,

Texting terry found her boyfriend, a boy named download drew.

So all you texters watching life pass you right on by,

Take a lesson from Terry and give this a try.

Go walking once a week, no ipod, cell phone, or drool

And just maybe you will find that you meet someone cool.

Johnny Robot:

Johnny robot was built half past two,

While the scientist that built him went to the loo.

His birth always shamed him and brought him much grief,

For who wanted to be the robot that was built during relief.

His friends all got a laugh and called him silly names too,

But clever old Johnny knew just what to do.

He went back to that bathroom of his shameful, shameful birth,

And built it into a mansion of beauty and great worth.

His friends were then all jealous and asked if they could come stay,

And little Johnny robot said, “No thanks” and sent them away.

So listen to me close, and heed this warning as true,

Do not make fun of others, for someday, you may want to be them too.

Do not laugh to fast:

Everyday circle went to school in shame

The squares and rectangles all laughed at his circular frame.

He was different without sides, corners, or angles too

And the rest of the shapes all thought he looked kinda blue.

Different he may be but do not laugh too fast

Because when it came to a race circle never came in last.

MySpace:

My space is black dark and vast,

It contains all life now, future and past.

Your space is cluttered with whiners and wieners,

It contains garbage and people like lemurs.

My space is beautiful filled with the stars,

Your space is creepy filled with people from mars.

My space wonderful and I hope to someday see,

Your space is dangerous so listen to me.

Remember when you parents taught you not talk to strangers,

MySpace is filled with them and other great dangers.

Never meet someone or call them stay far away,

In fact why don’t you just go out and play.

Arizona Non-Sense

This is my first post in a while but if I intend to be a know-it-all blogger I guess I need to get to work. Let me begin by saying that I have not read the new Arizona law that will not only allow, but require law enforcement to validate that Latinos are in the state legally, and in turn allows the justice system to treat these people as state criminals, but hey do you need to read anymore than that?

Technically, Arizona is correct in saying that it can create such a law. The Constitution does not address immigration well and technically, anything not addressed is left in the hands of the states. I also do not feel that it is the federal government's place to get involved with most things that are not explicitly defined in the Constitution, because lets face it, they have been doing a lot of that lately and have been getting it WRONG! I will though say this, President Obama needs to step in now.

Where do I begin with the slippery slope this presents. First of lets talk about the reality of immigration. It is an American way of life. We are almost all immigrants by one way or another. You have few families in this country who can say they have more than 10 generations here. Part of what makes this country so great is that we are a melting pot from all over the world. Yes, do I feel that our neighbors to the south take advantage, they do, but wouldn't you if the roles were reversed?? We cannot have it both ways, we cannot be this great open world leader and not expect be hated and worshiped, it comes with the territory.

If you were to ask if I feel some immigration reform needed to take place, I would say absolutely for a couple of reasons. First, there is an abundance of immigrants coming in willing to work for less than the average American, or act simply as increased competition for any job. Secondly, I think that our present Federal System is lazy and ill equipped for the task at hand. I think they are poorly trained, use out dated tactics, and are grossly ineffective.

All of that being said, here is the reason that this is such a difficult job, and why this law is not only wrong but unconstitutional: How can you tell if people are illegal or not? You really cannot, particularly in the south west were there is a large population of LEGAL Latino citizens. This law takes away all of their liberties, because it allows the average beat cop to walk up to them and demand proof of citizenship. How long before a cop takes that too far? How long before someone is falsely imprisoned? I will take bets, and I will put money on less than 6 months. Now what do you do Arizona, the lawsuits that are going to come of this would easily equal the salaries of several new border patrolmen. Not to mention some new training and equipment.

Oh and lets not bring up the fact that law enforcement resources are already spread extremely thin all over the country. This law is a massive undertaking for LE, which means less protection for the rest of us from real crime.

It also condones racial profiling, while we are at it lets make a law that allows us to search all Black people for weapon permits and all White people for drug prescriptions. When is this country going to learn that its leadership is failing them. That until we get some people with a bit for perspective leading us we are quickly becoming the next FALLEN empire.

Finally, I will say this, if this law is allowed to stand, we should all take note, because it is a bad sign. It is not hard to see the events leading to the falls of the great civilizations and all the signs are here folks. Parents be prepared to make your children citizens of the world, because there is a good chance that the USA may not be the best spot 20 years from now. Don't get me wrong, we are still a better country than most, but remember freedom and independence are what made this country great, and tell me when was the last time you saw a law passed that protected either of those?

Until next time, thanks for reading!

JP