People, You've Got it All Wrong - Politics

There are a lot of good ideas out there.  The problem is that people go and eff things all up.  "Hey, look at this beautiful new Cadillac I just got.  I think it will look great with spinners!"  Why?!?!  You may laugh at this; but, it is a nice lead in to a couple things that people, heck mankind, should never have messed with.  Some things are just fine the way they were created and there is NO reason to screw them up.


First is politics.  Political parties are a RIDICULOUS idea and do not work.  They may have worked in the beginning as our forefathers built our country.  But, they sure as hell are NOT working today!  Why did we ever do this?  Why does ANYONE do this?  I can only speak for politics here in the US; but, I will bet that things are similar in some other countries as well.  Do you know what political parties do for America?  Not a DAMN thing!  Do you know why the government is so fricking messed up right now?  It's because of political parties.  Sure, there are also quite likely a lot of incompetent people serving us.  "Democrats vs Republicans" is why good legislation does not happen, is why the welfare system is messed up, is why there is less and less money for education, is why we are directionless in Iraq and Afghanistan, and so much more.  These clowns who run the government, mainly the President (whoever that is at a particular time) and the upper echelon of government, senior senators and others, create such hostility between the parties and try to FORCE their fellow party members to follow the party line.


Look, there are a lot of people out there with some very good ideas.  However, they are silenced or worse by their own parties because their ideas go against the party beliefs.  Come on!  Are we not all Americans first before we are Republicans or Democrats?  If an idea is good, it is good.  If an idea is bad, like this healthcare plan that the President is trying to FORCE through Congress / ram it down their throats, then it is bad.  Do we need healthcare reform?  Absolutely!  Is the current plan on the table a good one.  No way!  Why?  I will keep it simple - it is a bad idea because the government cannot manage ANY of its other programs!  Why on Earth would I think THIS will work??  Do we need a way for the uninsured and just as importantly the under-insured to have proper affordable healthcare?  Darn right we do!  Do we need to get control of skyrocketing insurance costs?  Definitely!  The parties should work HONESTLY together to find a plan that can reel in the insurance companies and find something reasonable so that everyone can be insured.  Should the government actually RUN a program?  No effing way because they have proven time and time again that they cannot manage even the most simple government programs.  This is IMPORTANT people!  And it is VITAL that the government rethink this rather than have the Democrats force through THEIR program.  The President wants this feather in his cap.  I would prefer he try to push something through that is valuable to him as an American rather than something that he will try to hang his hat on in his Presidential resume.


What can we do to prevent this mismanagement and lack of good direction?  Well, first, we can make damn sure to get out and vote every time we have a chance.  Does your vote make a difference?  It depends on whether you see only what is front of you or if you see the big picture.  Your vote, as a single solitary vote, does not mean much when millions are cast.  BUT, if you believe this and decide to stay home and not "waste" your time voting, your vote will not be counted.  Considering that we regularly see 70% of voters stay home when it's time to vote, this means that only 30% of people vote for those who are there to represent ALL of us.  If we can get another 30% (that's only 3 of every 10 non-voters) to come out and place their votes, we can DOUBLE the number of votes!!  This will at minimum get us elected people who more accurately represent the "majority".  Likewise, some of these referenda that show up on our local ballots might have better chances of passing if more of us vote.  And if you are uneducated about one, ask questions!  Read!  So often, we only look at how much it will cost us.  Is it not worth a few more dollars a year to make your community better?  I will give you an example.


My fiancee's hometown has had a referendum the past couple ballots.  One of the local high schools is in desperate need of repairs, renovations, additions, etc.  The state has agreed to pay for the majority of this required work.  The cost to the taxpayers is relatively minimal.  Okay, so give me an example of how this high school is lacking.  With pleasure.  One of my fiancee's sister's classes RELIES on students missing class.  Yeah, it's true.  If all the kids in the class show up, the classroom will be short three desks.  No, there will not be enough desks for the kids.  Where would they sit?  The floor?  Folding chairs?  This is ridiculous!  Keep in mind, these kids might be our future leaders.  Rather than half-ass things with them and just bitch about "kids these days", why don't we support them, give them what they need to have a healthy worthy education and fill them with the knowledge and confidence they need to run our country RIGHT when the time comes!


I got a little off track there.  But, I do want to say one more thing about voting.  I look at voting as my right to bitch.  I go, place my vote, have my say and that's that.  I vote because I want to improve my community and my country. Personally, I think that if you don't vote, you keep your effing mouth shut when it comes to government, taxes, and everything else!


One more thing about politics before I leave you.  We need to keep an eye on our politicians.  We vote them in and we can vote them out, too.  What sucks is that everything is a crap shoot.  When politicians are campaigning, they will say ANYTHING to secure your vote.  Yes, they will lie.  And I fear that they lie more than they tell the truth.  Wait, I KNOW that's how it is!  It's because once they are elected, they no longer represent you and me.  Heck no!  They represent their fricking POLITICAL PARTY!  Also, we have people campaigning saying they have "plans".  But, you know, they NEVER disclose these plans!  Come on, spit it out.  There is enough media coverage that if you are the first one to come up with a good idea and another candidate "steals" your idea, EVERYONE will know it's your idea in the first place.  We need to stop electing Republicans and Democrats and start electing Americans who will share their ideas and who will truly be out there trying to represent us in a proper way.


If no one shares their plans with us, how can we develop an opinion?  If you agree or disagree with someone/something, at least you will develop an opinion!  At least you might start talking about it and try to understand it.  Or better yet, maybe you will think of something better.  And then you share YOUR thoughts with anyone who will listen.  Let's stop thinking as political parties and start thinking as Americans.  We are ALL in this together, folks.  And if we all unite and MAKE our leaders do the right thing, we will once become the best country on Earth.  And if not, we will see ourselves continue on this downward spiral on our way to being some second-tier country.  Do you want that?