I'm not with them.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Sometimes I'm absolutely shocked that I belong to the same species as other human beings. Especially when they are in the same age group as me, but really overall, I just feel like I'm some sort of anomaly amongst people in general. This really comes up during election times, as I am decidedly in the middle while seemingly every other person I know is extreme in one direction or the other. It's not just that they are liberal or conservative, it's with that comes the resolute, single mindedness that makes politics a field I'm not remotely interested in.
The amazing thing I find is that you have two different sides who honestly believe that this one candidate will lead us to a glorious future while the other will lead us to ruin. There are no other options. That is simply the way it is. Of course both sides believe this, which means in all likelihood both are right and both are wrong to a certain degree.
That doesn't stop them from accepting no alternatives, from belittling candidates for things that they honestly probably don't understand, from saying "candidate A is clearly a liar, but candidate B has the best interest out for the American people." In my opinion, both candidates are liars. It's their nature, and they will say whatever it requires to be elected.
Sadly at this point, the key is finding which candidate fits your ideals the most and then choosing from there. There is no such thing as the perfect candidate (or in my opinion, a good candidate) so your best alternative is choosing the lesser of two evils. Whoever that is happens to be your best fit, but acting like Obama is the second coming of Christ himself or that McCain is the cure to all of our ills is going to be received with a shake of the head and a scrunched face from me.
Also, seriously people, destroying public property and causing riots at the Republican National Convention to show how you feel about the poltical system and war? Is that really necessary? I've been reading people defending those characters in Minneapolis by stating the Constitution allows for people to assemble. Yes it does, but if that coincides with the assembled groups breaking very logical and understandable laws (such as throwing bricks through businesses' windows and forming human chains on off ramps to block traffic) then you're going to get some tear gas thrown at you. Deservedly. Don't drop any "don't tase me bro" lines either, because you've earned it in this case.
I guess the point of all of this is for the first time in my 24 years of existence I want to vote, but the more I get involved with the whole process the more sickened I get. The more I feel disconnected from my age group and everyone around me as a whole. Maybe that's why young people are considered so apathetic when it comes to politics. All I know is every day closer to November 4th is just adding legitimacy to my joke of "I'm voting for Belichick/Brady '08." Better the devil you know, I say.
12 comments:
Sounds like anarchy ruled in some places in Minneapolis! All you can do is pick one with the ideology closest to yourself, otherwise you don't have the right to grip when the other doesn't perform. Any president is hamstrung by the congress, so therefore no miracles.
I think you are talking to the wrong people that obviously are being brainwashed by the media and not the facts. I'm voting for Obama based on what he is saying. Does this mean he is going to follow through? I'm less than certain. Do I think he seems like a better fit for the point the world is at right now? Your damn right I do.
Neither candidate is perfect, and most in our lifetime will never be I would guess. The times of selfless candidates and doing whats right instead of whats profitable is over.
This is how I align myself with a candidate. I check all of their policies on the issues that concern me most. There are some issues I believe are way more important than others. Including: health care, alternative energy, environment, education, stem cell research, and not attacking countries for no good reason.
I couldn't care less if my taxes go up if its improving the quality of life for people in this country. I'm sickened by people voting to safe themselves money in the face of the greater good, I'm sick of people voting for a candidate because they are pro-life or pro-guns, these are not the IMPORTANT ISSUES IN THE WORLD TODAY!
I'm basically voting for Obama because I feel he is our best chance at staving off disaster. The world is ready to explode and we need some sort of change. I'm cynical though and one way or another I think we're all screwed.
And could you really vote for McCain knowing he is just now learning how to use the internet? I mean COME ON ITS THE INTERNET! Our world leader can't check his email without someone holding his hand? Awesome!
/end rant
I realize that the email thing sounds a little over the top, but I'm using it as an indicator. I think technology is our only hope, so do I really want a president who doesn't appreciate it? Obama is strapped with like 2 Blackberries at all time, now that's a man who can appreciate and fund technology!
Also, I can't stress enough how Obama's background gives me hope also. I'm so sick of candidates having to go through the same motions to be president. People say he is inexperienced, which could be the case, but I see it as unspoiled.
I know this is rather ironic that I'm saying this over a comment on a blog, but your statement of "I'm basically voting for Obama because I feel he is our best chance at staving off disaster. The world is ready to explode and we need some sort of change. I'm cynical though and one way or another I think we're all screwed." is strange to me when combined with "I realize that the email thing sounds a little over the top, but I'm using it as an indicator. I think technology is our only hope, so do I really want a president who doesn't appreciate it? Obama is strapped with like 2 Blackberries at all time, now that's a man who can appreciate and fund technology!" because I think the only reason why people really think the world is in for a forthcoming disaster and the only reason that may be true is because of the insanity that the intarwebs inspire.
I love it, but at times I think it's the worst thing that could have happened to the world. It's amazing how something that is so good at bringing people together is also so good at being divisive.
But you really just validated my point of "no candidate is perfect, just have to find the right one for you." I do like most of your points, but I think my problem is that I see good points made by the democrats and by the republicans at the same time. It's really a catch 22 going either direction.
Also, one note about the taxing: I don't think people's complaints are that taxes are going up, it's that the tax increases are not uniform - they go up more for the people who are on the higher end of the income scale and less for those on the low end. I know you're going to say that makes sense because the lower end are the ones that need assistance more, but I tend to think that while some higher end folk don't necessarily earn their money, there are plenty of people like my parents and your parents who work hard to earn what they get, while there are others who get government subsidies for simply doing nothing and doing absolutely nothing to positively impact society.
I think that sums up my main problem with the democratic economic views in a pretty good nutshell. It's applying blanket concepts to a situation where that just doesn't work.
I really have no idea which way I'll vote, but I guess we'll find out in a little less than two months. Good responses though.
The internet really has nothing to do with my view that the world is going to explode. School did that too me unfortunately. When all you study is how messed up our environment is and when you process polluted samples all day and see what we are doing to the planet, things get a little bleak. Media hype definitely gives that impression though.
Your tax point is a good one. Did you know that Palin is for getting sex ed out of schools and teaching creationism alongside evolution? How could I possibly align myself with someone that believes in creationism!
I didn't think you meant that the Internet made you think the world was going to explode. What I meant by that was I think that the Internet is what could lead towards additional conflict because the exchange of information (and misinformation) at the speed of modern technology allows for misunderstandings and petty disputes to become far greater things than they would be without it.
Also, I think it's only made the differences between the two primary parties greater with every person who grows to accept the internet as a viable source for information and as a public forum.
I mean honestly, couldn't you see a civil war breaking out over some shenanigans on the internet? If someone told me there was an all out civil war starting in America within five years, I would likely not disagree with them.
I think we were looking at the catastrophe at different viewpoints though. You were looking at it from the environmental (a well deserved one) while I looked at it from the societal standpoint. Let's just hope they don't team up to really kick our asses.
And I never would imagine you aligning with a creationist. That just isn't how you roll, dawg.
I totally just read a book by Orson Scott Card in which the republicans start a civil war and try to take over the country. I think it was called empire. Unfortunately the book sucked.
If either of you gents, read a book called "The Little Red Hen", you'd know how the working people feel about "redistribution of wealth". Why reward those who won't do for themselves. Growing government, is not the answer, personal responsibility, is. Give people a hand up, NOT a hand out.
DEMOCRATIC MATH
If you don't understand the Democrat's version of tax refunds, maybe this will help explain it:
50,000 people went to a football game, but the game was rained out.
A refund was then due.
The team was about to mail refunds when a group of Congressional Democrats stopped them and suggested that they send out the ticket refunds based on the Democrat National Committee's intrepretation of fairness.
Originally the refunds were to be paid based on the price each person had paid for the tickets. Unfortunately that meant most of the refund money would be going to the ticket holders that had purchased the most expensive tickets. This according to the DNC, is considered totally unfair.
A decision was then made to pay out the refunds in this manner. People in the $10 seats will get back $15. After all, they have less money to spend on tickets to begin with.
Call it an "Earned Income Ticket Credit". Persons "earn it" by having few skills and entry-level wages.
People in the $25 seats will get back $25, because it "seams fair."
People in the $50 seats will get back $1, because they already make a lot of money and don't need a refund. After all, if they can afford a $50 ticket, they must not be paying enough taxes.
People in the $75 luxury box seats
WILL each have to pay an additional $25 because it's the "right thing to do."
People walking past the stadium that couldn't afford to buy a ticket for the game each will get a $10 refund, even though they didn't pay anything for the tickets. They need the most help. Sometimes this is known as Affirmative Action.
Now do you understand?
I wasn't referring to uneven tax increases, I meant in general if the government taxes everyone more across the board I'm not complaining if that money is going to things that are good and that this country needs.
I'm sick of Americans asking "what can my country do for me without me doing anything for it."
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