Everyone's Favorite Topic: Politics

Posted By: Adam 5 Comments
This originally started as a Sideblog post, but I guess I have more to say about it than I had originally thought. When I had finished writing it, I realized it was entirely too long to stick over there. I'm kind of disgusted that more of the Presidential Hopefuls didn't participate in 10 Questions. Any one of them could have completed it in under an hour on the back of their tour buses, but so many are 100% absent that it makes me think they don't believe in the spread and influence of "the Internets." Even though I won't be voting for Huckabee, I'm impressed that he was the only GOP candidate to chime in. I certainly respect him for that. And what about candidates like Ron Paul who whine all day and all night about not being given the chance to participate in debates, but who is a total no-show here when the stage was his for the taking. Methinks he doth protest too much. (If he really had anything to say other than, "Let me debate!" he would have said it.) Hasn't Hillary prided herself on her outreach and honesty? (She does have to, after Bill's impeachment hearings…) Not a single response from her. This is no piddly little website, either. 10 Questions is in cahoots with the NY Times, MSNBC, and a host of other organizations spanning the entire political spectrum. I commend Edwards, Gravel, and Kucinich (… Who?) for at least sending in a response to every question. It could be argued that some of their responses skirt the question, but at least they responded. That's like getting some base points for spelling your name correctly on the SAT's. What drives me insane about this is that the overwhelming reason that candidates ignore or dance around issues is so that nobody will know for sure where they stand on the issue. All so that they can remain in the gray area and maybe get a few votes that they wouldn't if they admitted they were pro-whale-hunting, or whatever. I could just smack the whole lot of them. As far as I am personally concerned: I don't care what your viewpoint is, I just want you to pick one side or the other, and believe in it. Show some courage. Take chances. (Grow a pair!) I bet it would net you more votes than it cost you.

5 responses to “Everyone's Favorite Topic: Politics”

  1. Good for you! I agree wholeheartedly.

    I work around a LOT of politicians (and their staffers). Have to deal with them entirely too much sometimes- just to get something done that seems so right, so common sense - that in any other context the word NO would not dare cross their minds- but because their politicians they have to hedge their bets and all at the cost of lives and/or livelihood. Its sickening.

    The best thing anyone can do is: Do your homework. Read as much as you can find about the candidates and delve into their backgrounds. Seek out reputable information, from reputable sources. Dot.GOV websites actually show voting records for current Senators and Congressmen. See for yourself how they voted. ALL Senators and Congressmen have their very own websites, too. If nothing else, you can read what they say there, which also usually have a link to their voting records. (for instance www.clinton.senate.gov) (THAT IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT, IT WAS JUST WHAT FIRST POPPED IN MY HEAD).

    The ONLY way to change the way things are run in our government is to change the people we elect to fill the governmental seats. We do that by voting. If we vote without doing our homework, or we don't vote at all, then we get our just desserts.

    Get out and VOTE and better yet, make sure your friends and family get out and vote!

    MomT

    MomT ~ Aug 4, 2008 at 9:57 PM

  2. I agree that self education on candidates is important.

    For example, I agree with Huckabee on Privatization of Social Security, and Line-Item Veto, but not anything else (that I can find). I agree with Hillary on Stem Cell Research, Gay Marriage, Abortion, and Gun Control, but disagree with her on Capital Punishment and Iraq (to some degree) - among other things. I agree with Obama on Universal Health Care, Immigration, Energy and Environmental issues, but disagree with him on Social Security Privatization and Education.

    In the end, I'm going to pick the person that I think best represents a conglomerate of my interests and whom I also think has a chance of winning. No sense voting for Dodd if he's the new James K. Polk.

    I am pretty curious about why so many Democrats are against Social Security Privatization and Line-Item Veto. These seem like no-brainers to me.

    Adam

    Adam ~ Aug 4, 2008 at 9:57 PM

  3. Well, I WAS all for line-item veto until I started my job here. Then I found out that some of these earmarks are the ONLY way Indian Tribes get funding. Seriously. And considering MOST Indian Tribes (but not all) are well below the poverty level, and are NOT eligible for social security, food stamps, welfare or any other social reform program. . . . Their average life span is 20 or so years less than the average "American". The alcoholism and drug use rate is 40x the "national average".

    AND NO. NOT ALL TRIBES HAVE CASINOS and are rolling in the money. For that matter, very few Tribes have casinos. But those that DO, have raised their overall lifespans, have increased their high school graduation rates, their college attendance rates, and reduced their drug/alcohol use rates. Its proven that some influx of money to Native Americans HELPS these people, who so desperately WANT to HELP THEMSELVES.

    So, you can see, I have a soft spot for earmarks. Something I admit I never would have thought I would have heard myself say 2 years and 4 months ago, for sure. I DO believe that there should be a way to police them. . . but then we are back to "what makes YOUR earmark better than MINE?". i.e. The southern city (I don't remember which one) that was just given $1M for a jail museum! To build a friggin museum that looks like a JAIL. NOT A JAIL. A tourist attraction. Maybe. I don't consider that my tax dollars well spent. However, I absolutely would have NO problem approving money to buy a school bus to take rural Indians to school, that most would otherwise not attend because they have no transportation. Or to run water lines to rural Indian housing so they can enjoy INDOOR plumbing.

    Ugh. I digress. I'm sorry.

    I, too, am like you. I like a little of this candidate, and a little of that one, and in the end, will vote for whichever one checks off the most blocks in what is important to me.

    BTW: I'm all for privatizing Social Security. Thats just a good business decision.

    MomT

    MomT ~ Aug 4, 2008 at 9:57 PM

  4. You're right bout Social Security: Right now it's circling the drain and privatizing it would make it a for-profit enterprise, which would ensure that it's around for future generations (which looks unlikely, at best, currently), and probably affect the quality of benefits positively, if at all (given multiple providers to choose from).

    I still disagree with earmarks, and what you're talking about is ignoring a big problem to fix a little one. Your cause needs more publicity and better funding, but not at the cost of approving earmarks like the one you mentioned - the jail museum or whatever. Line item veto is the right thing to do. Better funding for Native American Advancement is the right thing to do. They are not mutually exclusive.

    Adam

    Adam ~ Aug 4, 2008 at 9:57 PM

  5. Ah yes. True. They are NOT mutually exclusive.

    That said, however, public opinion is a very difficult thing to change, and it seems that the general population thinks that all Indian Tribes own casinos and are rolling in dough and are just taking the Federal government for what they can. So. Untrue.

    It is very unpopular to support Tribal opportunity. The "[not necessarily so] white man" hollers about, "why do they get this or that?" "where's MY share?". . . . Obviously the elected officials want to be re-elected, so they have to cater to public opinion, and try to fit in helping the underdog where they can.

    I'd dare any one of those people who think all things are equal, or that the Native Americans "choose" to live that way. . . to just live in their shoes for a day, week or month.

    We need policy change and we need commitment and understanding. Unfortunately, I dont think it is something I'll get to experience in my lifetime. :(

    MomT

    MomT ~ Aug 4, 2008 at 9:57 PM