I don't know if it's against blog policy or etiquette to post more than once in the same day, but I was just reading at article on Huffington Post - one of my favorite sites - in regards to the Minnesota State Government shutting down and it got me thinking.
Okay maybe it didn't specifically get me thinking because these are thoughts that I've had, but it got me wanting to say something.
Isn't it like WAY past time in this country that we just put our differences aside and start looking at what's best for everyone and not just our political party or those funding them? I know that's pretty simplistic and I'm not naive enough to think that Republicans don't believe they have the plan that's best for everyone, as much as I believe that Democrats think the exact same thing.
Personally, since it's probably relevant, I consider myself an Independent with strong leanings toward some of what the Liberterian and Democratic parties believe. Although there are issues that I think the Republicans are more 'right' on. I guess you'd classify that as Independent.
And oh by the way, this is an area that I am interested in and although I do read the news, watch the news, talk about the news and consider myself at least somewhat knowledgeable about what is going on.... I don't profess to be an expert on anything political. Partly because I think there is so much 'grey' stuff in politics the whole idea of being an expert or being right or wrong, confuses my brain.
I have my thoughts and opinions on what I believe but am ALWAYS more than willing - in fact relish in the idea - of hearing others speak their minds because that is how I learn.
So anyway I was reading this article about the Minnesota State Government shutting down and I got a little mad. Not really because they shut down, but just some of the reasoning behind it. One side thinks they are right, the other side vehemently disagrees and are sure they are right. And as always somewhere in the middle are the people. The lockdown obviously isn't right for them, but they seem to be the least of concerns. And this is directed at either/both parties. I don't think either of them really give a damn about you or me.
I'm sure at some point I'll go more in depth in my thoughts about this but I think we have COMPLETELY lost our way as a country. I think we have become so focused on this 'us against them' philosophy - which includes America against the rest of the world, not only Americans against Americans - that we're struggling to decide who we really are any more.
The 'rich' in this country - well at least the Republican party that seems to speak for them - seem to think that this country can survive quite well if they get to keep all their money, not pay in anywhere near a 'fair' share, have all sorts of tax loopholes, create corporations that also have tax loopholes and they'll be quite happy. On the other side the 'poor' in this country - seemingly represented by the Democratic party - seem to think that they just deserve handouts and that money is evil... all the while creating one government program after another that is supposed to solve all the problems in this country.
In my eyes, you're both wrong.
I said I'm Independent while leaning in a lot of ways Democratic because I do believe in helping people. I do think that not everyone gets a fair shake in this world and that sometimes people need a helping hand or a light at the end of the tunnel. Heck, right now that doesn't just mean the 'poor' but the working middle class as well which have been beaten down, knocked around and are really disappearing off the face of the Earth as it is anyway. Really, it's just the 'haves' and 'have-nots' now.
I'm not screaming for some socialist agenda. I fully believe that if you earn money, you should keep money. If you run the company and put your hard work into it and took the risks of building it and you earn millions, congratulations to you. I think the VAST majority of that should stay in your pocket. Whereas if you're the worker and chose to take that job then you should earn what was agreed upon when you took that job and you have little right to moan and bitch about what your employer does or earns. If you're unhappy, quit. Start your own business.
Of course that's in a perfect world and we're far from being perfect right now.
So here's the problem. I don't care Republican or Democrat it's ALL just bull-crap when it comes to wanting to limit government and government spending. They BOTH spend too much money. They BOTH take care of those that took care of them. They BOTH have their little special interest groups that they funnel money to. They BOTH hand out contracts to friends and family members. The BOTH lie, cheat and steal. We have a long history to support that. So the little hypocritical remarks and smirks and sneers when one side or the other is caught in another scandal is just exactly that, hypocritical.
Look, nobody is perfect and to be honest I don't necessarily care if a member of the government is caught cheating on their spouse or any one of a hundred little indiscretions they might get caught at. If you want to take issue with that, look in the mirror and if you're perfect, then take issue. If you're not, shut up. Now, granted, you haven't been elected to office and I do understand the whole 'morality' thing when it comes to public office. I understand the thought process of if they are cheating on their spouse what else are they doing. Well maybe they are doing something else and maybe they aren't. If they haven't been caught doing anything else, maybe they should be considered innocent until proven guilty.
Okay, looking back I've really got off target here. Let me finish this thought process up, since I am definitely rambling now.
We have HUGE problems in this country that need fixed right away. We have a runaway government with spending that is completely out of control. We fund completely unnecessary projects. We spend BILLIONS on wars that need not be fought and continue to do so. Our priorities are so out of whack that it's almost mind numbing that anyone could think that not funding our own infrastructure or teachers or police officers or that assisting those that need help right now isn't 'job 1' but that the incessant arguing about who did what or how much more money we should spend in this war or whether or not we should send another billion dollars to 'x' country because we think it makes us look good is more important.
Anyway, that was much longer than I thought it would be starting out and I have a lot more to say on the subject but am properly worked up over it now and can imagine eyes being tired from reading so we'll call it on this for now.
Live life,
Richard B.
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