The Absurdity of It All

Do you know why a can of soda loaded with sugar is so cheap while healthy fruits and vegetables are so relatively expensive? Its because of farm subsidies. While subsidizing sugar farmers, the government is increasing the availability of sugar in our food stream, increasing obesity. Yet, this is the same government that says it is now going to solve our health care system.

What Happened to Our Government

It seems as I look at our elected officials in washington and at the state level more and more, not with disgust (although that happens quite frequently), but with disappointment. Why? Because they are acting more and more like children. When was the last time we heard a civil discourse? When was the last time we went a week without our elected officials calling each other names?

I am disappointed because other countries have historically looked to America as a shining example of what to do. If we go back to our early days, yes there were insults, but people looked down upon others that refused to remain civil. We have stories of presidents and former presidents going at each other's throats in debate and yet maintaining a level of respect and dignity that the office demanded.

I am even more disappointed because the loss of respect and dignity is merely an indicator of our society. We no longer respect each other's opinions. We no longer appreciate differences. It seems as though we must be a plain jane country in order for us to get along. You know what, that is an awful awful place to be. The ability to work within our differences is what made America great. The respect and admiration of our differences is what made America America.

Yet, with the greed of power and money and our own inflated opinions of ourselves, we have lost that, and it shows in DC, in our state and at our local governments.

This is why I refuse to be a part of either of the two major parties. I like hearing people's differences. I apprecite the value system underlying the differences and I know the importance of taking differences into account.

I am a free thinker. I am an independent. I am a moderate. I am a Whig.

Prove It!!

America will come back from this economic downturn, but one thing is clear, both Republicans and Democrats are going to claim victory. The Democrats, and especially Obama in 2010, will claim that the stimulus bill was the key factor in keeping this great nation from going under. The Republicans will claim that the stimulus did nothing other than to delay recovery and add to our deficit. The simple fact of the matter is that, we have no idea what really happened. And that is how these parties operate.

Both Republicans and Democrats refuse, absolutely refuse, to put in real, measurable metrics to determine the effectiveness of spending bills, and for good reason. They both want to confuse and confound the unwary public of their alleged success or alleged failures. In other words, both sides refuse to hold themselves accountable.

But, while refusing to hold themselves accountable is clearly and issue, and one that needs to be corrected, this goes back to another issue that is not talked about, and that is the competency of Congress. Most in Congress have little to no business experience. Obama's administration has less than 10% of people with any experience other than academic experience. Yet, somehow, because of a misplaced belief in their own capabilities, Congress believes that it knows whats best. And that is simply wrong.

Now, take the issue of the refusal to hold themselves accountable. We know that it is a power play, but it also shows a complete and utter lack of fundamental business principles. Taxes are an investment by the public in its goverment. The government takes that investment and performs functions. Sounds like a non-profit business. Well, what non-profit business refuses to hold themselves accountable to their investors? What non-profit refuses to track and measure the money being spent? While a non-profit in the real world would surely be sued not only by its investors but also but the government if it acted this way, for some reason, the government itself does not hold itself to the same laws.

And that is pathetic.

Gay Rights

If you have read this blog, you probably already know that I have an issue with current state of affairs with regards to gay rights. But, you would also know that my issue is not due to any moral or religious belief (I do not want/need my government to enforce my religion), but due to a sheer Constitutional error.

Okay, in simple terms, according to our Constitution and to what we try to endeavor to be as a society, the rights granted to a man are the same as or equivalent to the rights granted to a woman. In other words, under our Constitution, Man = Woman.

Now, currently, under Federal law, a marriage is a man and a woman, e.g. Man + Woman = Marriage.

But, if we are true to ourselves and our belief in the Constitution, each component is substitutable because each are equivalent. In other words:

Man + Woman = Marriage
Man = Woman, therefore

Man + Man = Marriage or
Woman + Woman = Marriage.

So, those that oppose right given to gay people, do you oppose equal rights among the sexes or do you oppose marriage?