Peace Candy

February 2012

2012-02-01T13:03:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know it has been years since I fooled around with this blog. Time to get back into the groove. Obama is up for a second term and I haven't noticed much change. Not that I can blame him, per se, when the Republicans shoot down everything he says on principle alone. I'm so sick of the fighting and the useless Congress we have in place I could scream. And now we have the Occupy movement- basically a bunch of protesters who cannot accurately say what it is they are protesting. Ask any layman on the street and he will tell you it's about getting a fair share of the pie. He will also tell you that he is all for the movement.
Well, in my opinion, something needs to be done. However, sitting around and getting carted off to jail is hardly making a dent. Big businessmen and politicians are simply laughing it up. Reporters are having a jolly good time as well. This "movement" doesn't have a spokesperson, which they declare is part of its tactic. Sorry to say, it's not working.
What would work, you ask? Nothing short of a government overhaul, I'm afraid. Get rid of the old, white, rich Senators and replace them with middle-aged, blue-collar workers who score well on an I.Q. test. Let the people who know what it means to WORK for a living work for the American people.

Change

2008-09-12T05:40:00.000-07:00

Barack Obama talks about making a "fundamental change" in Washington. So what exactly are the fundamentals of our society? What defines the basic structure of our system? I think there are two answers to this- the Constitution and capitalism. These are the concepts around which we revolve.

The founders devised the Constitution "in order to form a more perfect Union." In this, they succeeded. However, they were not so presumptious as to assume that thier document was as perfect as it could be, so they left room for change. Considering it was only written a few hundred years ago, it stands to reason that there are still some kinks to work out. For instance, although it does grant women the right to vote, it does not specifically address equal rights in general regardless of gender. Proposed in 1923, the last time the Equal Rights Amendment was on the table was in 1972 when it was shot down. So it's still okay to pay women less for the same work. Ratification of such an amendment would certainly qualify as "fundamental change."

"There is nothing more dangerous than to build a society, with a large segment of people in that society, who feel that they have no stake in it; who feel that they have nothing to lose. People who have a stake in their society, protect that society, but when they don't have it, they unconsciously want to destroy it." -Martin Luther King, Jr. Which brings me to a statistic gleaned from my Sociology textbook: about 48% of Americans make $35,000 or less, while the poverty line for a family of four is drawn at $21,027 (U.S. Census). So, according to King, almost half of the country now unconsciously wants to destroy it. Capitalism is a game, and you can't win unless someone else loses. So many wealthy people in this country feel that they are doing their part by donating to causes- disease research, world poverty, etc. Is there any reason why they can't direct some of those resources to the working poor in America? Create an agency and send Christmas bonus checks to the very people who made them wealthy. The money will end up back in their own pockets anyway.

Purpose

2008-09-08T11:19:00.000-07:00

If I had to give a primary purpose for this blog, I would have to say to promote unity in this country. I for one am exhausted by the ceaseless political war taking place in America. I am frustrated by the attention to details when we should be focusing on the big picture. I am disappointed by the self-importance and greed running rampant in Washington. But I have not given up.

If you don't mind, I would like to make this a safe place to speak your mind. I will do my best to remain objective and non-abusive in my posts. I will try to provide food for thought rather than fuel for the fire. I pledge to hold on to the hope that mankind is not a lost cause and maintain that America is still the world's best example of tolerance, generosity, and beauty.

I think those of us who are paying attention recognize a change on the horizon. However the election goes, history will be made. Regardless of who wins, "We the People" have a responsibility to respect the President's position and give him the benefit of the doubt unless he gives us good reason not to. American citizens have failed in their duty to stand behind their Commander in Chief. With all the scrutiny and static, we have put him on the defensive in his own house. Just as Bush has done, our next President will spend his term playing referee between the Democrats and the Republicans. When will the sisters of democracy finally end their sibling rivalry and come together to strenghthen the American backbone? When will we learn to fight fire with water?

To our next President: please remember that you will be the head of the American household. Please treat the citizens of your country as you would your wife and children- protect them, encourage them, put them first. Don't be afraid to try new things and to pull back if they don't work. Resist temptation and lead by example. Raise the standards and give credit where credit is due. Follow your conscience and hold yourself accountable.

Discussion Topic: What is the American Dream and what should it be?