Vote – Couldn’t have said it better myself

I think this vid says it all. WC

Voter Dissatisfaction

I know they say one picture is worth a thousand words, but what about bumper stickers?  I guess we don’t have to wonder where this guy stands, eh?  Wow, who knew one vehicle could sport so many stickers?  😉

(HT to my friend Tom)

WC

A Day of Independence

There is an interesting story about this painting you might enjoy.

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor. (emphasis mine)

— John Hancock

New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts:
John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

Connecticut:
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

New York:
William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

New Jersey:
Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

Delaware:
Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Maryland:
Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia:
George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

North Carolina:
William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Georgia:
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

The above is the reason for this holiday – so while you’re enjoying your hotdogs and parades and fireworks, maybe give it a read.

WC

What’s so good about being moderate?

Back in the 90’s (I think) the term moderation took on a mantle of respectability and desirability in politics. Perhaps it was Bill Clinton who made the idea popular, although since Bill stole every platform he ever used I doubt he is the originator, but I digress…

So somewhere during the slick willie days (funny how that term has pertinent meaning today) being a moderate or approaching issues with moderation became important. Yes, moderation was goooooood – whereas sticking to political core principles was baaaaaaad.

And as is often the case, pop culture took on the mantle of moderation too. Exercise in moderation, eat in moderation, one must never over-do things. Because employing moderation is safe, everybody will like you, you won’t risk injury to your body, nor seem extreme to others.

And lately of course the non-moderate media (NMM) hails the current nominee for the Supreme Court as a moderate. A true moderate. As opposed to what? A false moderate? A pretend moderate? A moderate with exceptions? Again…I digress… Anyway, here’s the question that keeps roiling around in my head: Why is being a moderate good? Seriously, what’s so damn wonderful about moderation?

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines moderation:

transitive verb 1 : to lessen the intensity or extremeness of (the sun moderated the chill)
2 : to preside over or act as chairman of
intransitive verb 1 : to act as a moderator
2 : to become less violent, severe, or intense (the wind began to moderate)

So, essentially we see that moderation speaks to less intensity. Hmm…and this is good why? To me, intensity speaks to passion and passion speaks to commitment. A true belief or desire in what one does or says. I can certainly see why one would want to moderate electricity or water flow, because then we humans can control the darn stuff. But when it comes to people, to beliefs and to principles is moderation truly that desirable?

Isn’t moderation what got us into the whole politically correct approach to language, achievement, education, and everything. Hasn’t moderation modified us all and I mean that in a not a good way.

I don’t know about you but I don’t want to address food with moderation. I love food. I don’t want to be moderate I want to embrace it with passion and enjoyment. Same with love. And really with any activity or endeavor. Otherwise why get involved at all. If one addressed everything in their life with moderation who would invent things? Who would create wildly new and exciting innovations in science, medicine, art, music, literature, technology. Do you think iPods, the Internet, automobiles, movies, and great works of art came about through moderation? Do you think that great leaders are born out of moderation? Do you think cures for diseases came from moderate individuals? Is the SuperBowl won by athletes who approach the field with moderation? How about the Olympics, are we celebrating moderation or excellence and passion?

So, then why would we want a Supreme Court Justice who was moderate? Who was dare I say it, almost bored at the prospect of serving their country and the most sacred of our documents the Constitution? Why would we want someone who would put fairness above the law?

Contrary to popular opinion, we are not a democracy. We are a republic and we use a democratic system of government – meaning, we allow individuals to participate in government and legislation and to have a voice through their individual vote.

Again I turn to Merriam Webster:

Republic:

(1) : a government in which supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and representatives responsible to them and governing according to law

Democracy:

1 a : government by the people; especially : rule of the majority

And if you don’t see the difference let me point it out. A republic is governed by the rule of law – a democracy is governed by majority rule. A fine distinction perhaps but a distinction nonetheless. And that my friends is why our Constitution is so important because it is in fact, the personification of the rule of law. And thusly, that is why nominees to the Supreme Court are so important. Because we want someone who understands and adheres to the rule of law. Not someone who seeks to modify it, to make it fairer, to level the playing field, to add to it, to make it a living breathing document. What document can be that? Living and breathing? If the founders wanted the Constitution to be a living breathing document as some would have you believe then why would an entire process of amendment be included in the document itself? It is the amendment process that enables the Constitution to be changed/expanded, not some yahoo’s idea of what the document should be. And those who promote this concept of living breathing also seek to deny you your rights and the protection of the Constitution. They seek to bypass the law of making amendments which again must be ratified and agreed upon by the majority of the country – you the governed.

Whether you like it or not, our government serves at our pleasure and with that concept comes grave responsibility. If we do not insist on our government following the rule of law, we will soon be following their rules and this country will cease being a republic.

And speaking for myself, I have no interest in moderates. To me, a moderate is a person who cannot decide, who does not have any passion in their life or activities and who seeks to destroy that in others. Who seeks to nullify any personal excellence and achievement in others and prefers to force us all to be the same. All average. All boring. With every ounce of passion and individuality bred out of us.

So moderate? Exuse me while I yawn. Give me someone who is passionate about what they believe and do any day of the week.

WC

Does Anyone Want a Solution?

There is a lot of stuff happening in this country and the world today. I suppose that is always the case, although in the last several months it seems worst than it has been in the past. And honestly, much of what is happening I find personally scary and alarming. The deficit, the apparent disinterest on the part of our leaders in what the average citizen is concerned about, states going bankrupt, no legislative body showing any real concern about approving a budget much less making budget cuts, giving unelected officials the right to rule and regulate our personal lives, making the EPA part of a shadow government and in the future will tax us for exhaling, politician’s accosting private citizen’s and being defended for their actions, dissention being targeted as hate speech and terrorism, government taking over entire industries, the blame game left and right…..

In my opinion anyone who isn’t alarmed by such actions and much more is either delusional or has been living in a cave for quite a while.

But I for one, would really like to stop the blame game, the partisan rhetoric, and the gotcha games and pose a very simple question: Does anyone really want a solution? Seriously, let’s consider this shall we? In private life, most people when they encounter problems whether large or small tend to want to solve the problem. They may not always succeed but there is certainly an effort to find solutions to those things that work against us. Whether they are created by another person, a circumstance or a natural disaster. For example, last year we had horrible fires at the end of the summer in my community. In fact, I posted many pictures of the fires, some of which were literally down the block from me. I’m proud to say that my community, the firefighters, the police and so forth focused on the problem and did everything in their power to solve it. It did take a while and not everything tried work but I can truthfully say that a solution was everyone’s focus. And in the end, solutions were found, used and the problem was handled.

So, when it comes to larger problems, national problems, international problems, etc. why then is not a solution the focus? Why is the American public by and large satisfied to just let our leaders lay blame. It’s so and so’s fault because he did this and now this is why I can’t do that? A person elected to be a leader is supposed to be a leader and a leader is supposed to be the guy or gal who knows how to solve problems, right? Whether it is the president of the United States or the local city council member. But rather than solving problems PR damage control is the focus. Anecdotes about conversations with children are offered rather than finding solutions, nice speeches or not so nice speeches filled with excuses and finger pointing.

And all the while, while our leaders fail to solve existing problems they legislate more rules, regulations and attempts at taking over parts of our personal lives. Laws now exist that say American citizens must buy certain products or be fined or imprisoned. The government now must decide what we may eat, breathe, think, say and do. Those are not solutions those are impositions upon personal freedoms.

And then the causes….don’t get me started on those either. When was the last time you saw any cause that was for something rather than against something? In my mind being for something is much more likely to bring it about than being against something is likely to stop it.

I admit that I am a bit of a political junkie and I find the field interesting, fascinating and somewhat nauseating – and I love debate because I think it is debate that brings about different views, and can in reality if done sincerely can bring about real change. However, most political debate is about hating the side you are not on. About smearing and belittling people and degrading them in public forums. And I’m not talking about satire I’m talking about venom, hatred and vitriole.

I wonder if some of the most popular people to attack were on ‘the other side’ if they would be so hated. If Bill Clinton had been a Republican and gotten sex in the Oval Office while he was supposed to be doing the people’s business would he have remained in office? If Sarah Palin were a Democrat, would the ladies on the View be fawning over her left and right? If Al Gore had been a conservative would anyone have gone to see An Inconvenient Truth? If George Bush had been a liberal would his bailouts, prescription medicine initiative, and budget and deficit fall-out been hailed by the media? If Maureen Dowd spewed her venom about liberals would she even have a job? If Chris Matthews loved Chris Christie and got a tingle down his leg every time he spoke, would MSNBC issue his pinkslip?

The point I guess I am trying to make is maybe if we stepped back and viewed any leader whether public or private on the merits of what they were actually saying and doing from the standpoint of truly wanting to add to the solution to the given problem, rather than adding to turmoil would things change?

Personally, I think the time has come for Americans (at least) to stop and think. Forget what ‘side’ people are on and really evaluate if that person is trying to solve anything (particularly those things for which they are responsible for solving) just trying to get you worked up into a lather about something so you won’t notice that they are solving nothing.

No one would accept that kind of behavior in their private lives. Bosses who seek to bring the company down and fire good and effective workers are hated not revered. Co-workers who goldbrick and get paid for doing nothing and resented. Businesses that treat their customers with resentment and condescension don’t long remain in business, pastors and priests who exploit members of their congregations soon find their churches empty, criminals who steal, harm and injure other citizens are thrown in jail. Why do those who supposedly lead get a pass?

At the very least, it may be something to think about.

WC

More Fun Videos

Doctors serenade our new healthcare bill. 🙂

If you want to get the lowdown on Goldman Sachs this vid explains it. Caution – math involved!

We Should be Thanking Him? Eh?

In case you missed it, the president was quoted as saying rather than criticizing him, the tea partiers should be thanking him for lowering their taxes. Hmmmm….methinks he hasn’t been keeping track of his own broken promises. This article from Investers Business Daily does a nice recoup of all the taxes that somehow slipped the notice of the prez. Emphasis mine.

Thanks For What?

Downsizing: Rather than protesting the greatest expansion of government in U.S. history, Tea Party attendees should be thanking Big Government for all it’s done. At least, that’s what President Obama thinks.

As the Associated Press reported Thursday, the president said he was “amused” by the Tea Party faithful gathering in cities across America to protest soaring government spending, ballooning debt and the explosion in taxes that will be needed to pay for it all.

“You would think they’d be saying thank you,” he said.

And why should they be thankful? As the president himself said on his weekly radio address a week ago, “one thing we have not done is raise income taxes on families making less than $250,000; that’s another promise we kept.”

In fact, that wasn’t his promise at all.

Here’s what candidate Obama really said in September of 2008: “Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes.”

Got that? “Not any of your taxes.” The claim of no tax hikes on those below $250,000 as a result of the current administration’s policies is completely and utterly false.

A report from the House Ways & Means Committee’s GOP members notes that, since January 2009, Congress and the president have enacted $670 billion in tax increases. That’s $2,100 for each person in America. At least 14 of those tax hikes, the report says, break Obama’s pledge not to raise taxes on those earning less than $250,000. Roughly $316 billion of the tax hikes — 14 increases in all — hit middle-class families, the report says.

This comes in addition to recent data from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office showing U.S. spending and indebtedness growing at an alarming rate. Government spending now totals 25% of GDP, a quarter above its long-term average. By 2035, it will hit 34% of GDP at current trends — a 70% increase in the real size of government in just 25 years.

More spending means more debt. In 2008, total federal publicly held debt was about $8.5 trillion — an amount Uncle Sam took 220 years to accumulate. By 2020, that will soar to $20.3 trillion, a 139% jump. No surprise the Government Accountability Office last week said the U.S. is on “an unsustainable long-term fiscal path.”

So let’s see: The administration and its allies in Congress pass what can only be called the most financially irresponsible series of bills in our nation’s history, imposing a crushing tax burden on our children and our children’s children, while lowering all Americans’ standard of living, and we should thank them for it?

This is the delusional thinking that’s led to the Tea Party Movement’s soaring popularity. The hundreds of thousands that turned out around the country on April 15 were objecting to the systematic ruin and loss of liberty that massive fiscal irresponsibility brings.

Given all this, no one should be shocked that 52% of Americans in a recent New York Times/CBS Poll said President Obama’s policies are moving the U.S. towards socialism. It’s that serious.

The president can belittle people all he wants. That’s his prerogative. But he ignores Tea Partyers at his own political peril. They will not go away or be mollified by the usual prevarications.

Democrats ridicule Tea Party followers as yahoos, racists and illiterates, a mob willing to be led. They are anything but. Indeed, they have shown their seriousness by putting out their own “Contract From America.”

It’s a common sense document, proposing 10 concrete steps to bring sanity back to our government and make it accountable once again. Sadly, the mainstream media won’t cover it. But if you’re interested, go to http://www.thecontract.org, and see if you don’t agree.

So much for hope and change and no taxes on the middle class. WC

Am I a Rightwing Nut?

You know, I’ve noticed there is an awful lot of discussion about ‘rightwing nuts’ lately. And it seems that really it doesn’t take much to be one based on what I’ve read. In fact, some might say that just being conservative qualifies a person, because apparently, all us conservatives have flak jackets, extra ammo and a spare set of fatigues in the garage ‘just in case.’  And it’s got me wondering if I actually qualify as a rightwing nut, just based on my politically conservative views.

To be sure if I believed what the media in general has to say I’d have to conclude that I am.  After all for heaven’s sake, I …

think that people who work hard shouldn’t have to give a significant portion of their income to an out of control, spend-crazed government to throw it into the black hole they laughingly call the ‘budget.’

I think that people who don’t work hard and/or are comfortable living by another person’s hard work shouldn’t get any special breaks or privileges.

I think people should be helped when they deserve help rather than those who are the victims du jour.

I think that charity is a private matter between the giver and receiver and that forced charity is slavery.

Yup, I must be. However, I’m not sure I fit the stereotype. What may make me not a rightwing nut:

1. I am not male though I am white
2. I don’t own a gun, although I do think that those who want to own guns have the right, also known as the 2^nd amendment
3. I don’t spit on people even if they deserve it
4. I don’t call people names based on their religion or ethnic background, although I sometimes give people silly nicknames because I think it’s fun
5. I don’t do any kind of training in the woods
6. I have never worn fatigues
7. I don’t hate Obama because hate to me is actually personal and since I do not know the man I find it impossible to hate him. However, I do believe he is dangerous to our country, the way a child playing with matches is dangerous to the family home
8. I still have most of my teeth
9. I have a high IQ – not Mense high but a ways above average
10. I do oppose Roe v Wade because it is a state issue and not a federal issue (certainly not a constitutional right). Pro or con, to me is a personal and I really don’t want to know what anybody thinks about it one way or the other
11. I am not pro-war but I am not opposed to going to war when necessary. And yes, I do believe there are times when it is necessary. Care to argue that point? Let’s talk the Revolutionary War that actually brought this country into being, shall we?
12. I’ve never owned an RV and am not likely to.

And to be fair I suppose I should list the things that may make me a rightwing nut:

1. I am white – can’t really get around that one
2. I do not believe in mass or blanket amnesty in immigration matters
3. I do not want to be forced to buy healthcare or any other product that I do not personally want or need
4. I completely reject the idea that man caused global warming since it’s been around for like a bagillion years regardless of what man was doing. However, I do believe in conservation practices and utilizing resources wherever possible
5. Electric cars – thus far are a bad joke. Likewise hybrids.
6. I believe in God
7. I think we already pay too much in taxes. Not just in direct taxes that are called taxes but the sneaky taxes too, such as usage taxes on fuel, sales taxes on products, tax costs worked into the price of goods passed on to the consumer, tobacco taxes, phone and internet regulatory fees, alcohol taxes, junk food taxes, and so on
8. I see the tea partiers as justifiably angry taxpayers who want real change and seem to be getting traction
9. I don’t believe in class warfare and find it a despicable political practice designed to turn people against each other to distract them from the real source of the problem
10. I do not believe in wealth redistribution – meaning just because I make more money (because I work 70 hours per week) than my neighbor Joe (who works as little as possible) I don’t think he deserves to benefit from my work by getting special considerations, cheaper food, cheaper housing, paying no taxes, etc. etc. And no it isn’t unfair that I have more money if I work harder and come by my money honestly. No one is stopping Joe from working harder too.
11. I don’t believe that the sex education of children is anyone’s job other than that child’s parents.
12. I put my hand over my heart during the pledge of allegiance and the national anthem.
13. Next to Christmas the 4^th of July is my favorite holiday.
14. I know that the Constitution is not now nor was it ever intended to be a ‘living, breathing’ document. If that was the case, there would have been some mention of it in the document itself, however, since there isn’t I’m thinking not so much.
15. Though I think I might have voted for a Democrat once, I don’t make a habit of such things – but mostly because I can’t find one who I can in good conscience support.
16. I do not want the government involved in my life any more than they absolutely have to be. Not that I have anything to hide but just as what I do or decide in my life is not my neighbor’s business, neither is it the government’s business.
17. While I don’t believe the government is conspiring against me, us or them, I do believe they should be watched, like a toddler in a swimming pool.

Well, there you have it, my lists. How do you think I come out – nutjob or ordinary citizen?

WC

Forgive and Forget or Fighting Back?

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about depression and what drives people to it. I’m not talking about clinical depression and this is no reflection on what  some people consider a serious disease. It’s more about garden variety depression, that feeling that you cannot change a circumstance no matter what you do. That things haunt you and are hard to get over. That kind of depression. Or maybe you would call it something else—no matter what you call it, it can sure be confounding.

We go through life, for the most part minding our own business and doing our best to pursue our goals and dreams. Large and small. Those things that we believe will make us happy. Of course without setbacks and obstacles, life would be rather boring, so we encounter stops and slows along the way. Sometimes, we encounter those stops in a deeply emotional way.

Someone we care for betrays us. Hurts us. Messes with our heads. It’s deep. It’s emotional. It makes you want to crawl into a hole and stay there indefinitely. After a while, it starts to affect other things, other parts of our lives—things go downhill. And suddenly it seems everything is just a big pile of shit and each day brings more shit to add to the pile.

We have searched our souls. Sought counsel. Prayed. Tried to forgive and forget. Because…well, because that’s what society expects of us. Whether through some religious philosophy or a military attitude, life tells us to suck it up and move on. Much as we’d like to, we can’t seem to. No matter what remedies are employed, logical or illogical, we simply can’t move on. We can’t forgive and forget. Why?

Certainly most of us try to be a bigger person. A better person. The lessons of Christ teach us to turn the other cheek. To bless those who trespass against us. To open our hearts with love and see that the perpetrator of our pain is also in pain. Perhaps lost. Doesn’t mean to do what they do. Is just acting out of fear or pain or something… Even the non-religious philosophy seems the same, though perhaps more crude. “Suck it up.” “There are plenty of fish in the sea.” “You’re too good for them.” “They are just jealous of you.” “Don’t waste your time and energy.” “Stop worrying about things you cannot change.” A whole litany of catch phrases designed to make us feel better and empower us. Restore our self esteem. Enable us to move into tomorrow.

Does it work? Sometimes. Maybe half the time.  And sometimes just through sheer perserverance we get through it. Past it. The impact and power of the thing fades and we become immersed in other things. Though I don’t think it ever goes away. It lurks back there, in some ways affecting your future actions. Affecting how you deal with people and situations in the future. Perhaps curtailing your trust or belief in people or things. Changing you maybe in small ways, maybe in large ways but changing you.

What’s the alternative? Seriously, what choice do we have? Society prohibits us from causing bodily harm to another, no matter how much they may have hurt us. We aren’t allowed to have duels when we are insulted or hurt. We can’t punch out somebody’s lights. In short we can’t fight back. Too bad, because I believe therein lies the problem.

I believe that one of the reasons we can’t let go. Can’t move on. Can’t get past certain things is because our hands are tied. Because we can’t fight back, or at least we feel we can’t fight back. Hence the reason for lawyers? (Okay, just kidding).

Seriously though, imagine a world where when someone hurts you, you could challenge them to a duel. You could punch their lights out without being punished further. You could loudly and freely object. Doesn’t that feel better?

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t advocate violence. I honestly don’t think it solves anything. But I guess I also don’t advocate forgive and forget. I think you can fight back, retrieve your self respect and self esteem without issuing blows or black eyes. I think you can fight back with the truth.

Telling someone who had done you wrong that you forgive them, when they have done nothing to deserve forgiveness, in my opinion only acts to enable the person to continue doing wrong to others. You included. On the other hand, telling that person the truth, the unvarnished truth, without worrying about how they will respond or sugar coating anything is good for the soul. Again, no need to be violent, but honesty I think is the best weapon of all. Forget societal rules, forget about how you might sound or what others may think. Tell the truth. Tell that person or group, or whatever exactly what you think of them. Exactly what they did that was damaging. Let them carry the burden of their actions. Don’t let them get away with it. If they have any integrity, after the shock they may truly make amends for any hurt they may have caused. And if so, then you probably could quite easily forgive and forget.

You may have helped them change their ways. But even if they don’t, at least you don’t have to own what they did. You can move on. The bible even says that the truth sets you free. It’s my opinion that it does.

What do you think?

copyright 2010

WC

Toon in….

Here you have a pictorial commentary of today’s most pressing events. Well, at least for us Yanks. Tomorrow will probably be even worse…so much for ‘land of the free and home of the brave.’

(Can’t say I blame him- I know they’re talking but all I hear is blah, blah, blah)

(This would be funny if it weren’t so pathetically true)

(It’s not what has been said about healthcare that concerns me, but what has been written and hidden from view)

(Oh yes, he is our most charming and articulate president, isn’t he?)

(Well, I guess they told us, eh? Funny, I thought we had a representative government, meaning our government represented our interests and not their own. )

Look, I know that this healthcare issue has got everybody’s panties in a twist and rightfully so. But to me there is a bigger issue in play here that I think a lot of people are missing. And that is the issue of control.  Historically, politicians have proven they do not have their constituents’ best interests at heart. Scandal after endless scandal has proven that. In fact, in recent years I’d say that many of our esteemed politician’s have proven that their goal is power, pure and simple. They live as elitists in ivory towers, above the reach of the law and certainly common sense. There isn’t one average American who could do what many of our ‘leaders’ have done and not be sitting in federal prison right now. You know it and I know it.

Yet so many seem to believe that in the case of healthcare there is some altruistic motive at play. So, this is the exception? I think not. This is the proverbial carrot being dangled in front of our noses, serving to distract us from the fact that the government wants to control our lives in ways they shouldn’t.

Healthcare is not a right. Really it isn’t. While it might be an ideal scene to have healthcare for everyone, just as it would be an ideal scene for everyone to have enough money, food, shelter, clothing, etc.- that fact is that it doesn’t make one entitled to it. Making healthcare a ‘right’ simply means this, that someone else is going to pay for those who can’t or don’t want to. It means that the fruit of my labor, my hard work is going to be rewarded to someone else. Not because they deserve it or did anything to deserve it but because I have something they don’t.  Common sense tells you that if you take something of someone else’s because you want it and for no other reason that is theft. Pure and simple.

I don’t give a damn how anyone justifies that – the government is condoning and trying to force wealth/resource distribution so nobody owns anything and everyone has everything. Well, they’ve been trying that on this planet for centuries and it’s always failed and generally results in the ruling class having the resources and everyone else having nothing but hard and dismal lives.

In America our rights are as follows (emphasis and comments mine):

The Bill of Rights: A Transcription

The Preamble to The Bill of Rights

Congress of the United States
begun and held at the City of New-York, on Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.

THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.

RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all, or any of which Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.

ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.

Note: The following text is a transcription of the first ten amendments to the Constitution in their original form. These amendments were ratified December 15, 1791, and form what is known as the “Bill of Rights.”

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. (typically known as freedom of speech-the framers knew that governments not held accountable by the people would soon become despots. this right is speaks especially to political dissent and freedom to express it thereof. in other words, we cannot be punished for expressing same and fighting the government’s will to imprison us or quiet our voices when we disagree with laws they want to enact)

Amendment II

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. (yes, guns can cause harm, but they can also protect you from being forced into servitude by a power hungry government. the first thing that dictatorships do is disarm society, so resistance is impossible)

Amendment III

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. (simply stated your home is your castle and your belongings are yours and may not be taken from you. nor may the government intrude upon your castle without just cause, generally proof that you have broken the law.)

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. (You cannot be imprisoned without a jury trial of your peers -due process. Nor can your possessions – and I believe that would include your income -be taken and given to someone else, even if they need it more than you.)

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

Amendment VII

In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. (States rights)

These rights were determined by the framers because they amount to allowing every American citizen the right to a free life, without government intrusion, and provides the ability for anyone to pursue their goals as they are able and see fit.  You’ll notice that government forced charity is not among the list. Just something I thought I should point out.

Anyway, there you have it. I don’t know what’s going to happen to our country and frankly I’m quite worried that my country is changing in ways that are both dangerous and frightening. Is it really worth giving up your personal freedoms so you can maybe get a free doctor’s visit if you need it sometime? Think about it.

WC