Political Rantings

Well, I had a big long post written and realized all I was doing was complaining about politics.  A couple of quick thoughts instead:

1.  If corporations have rights, including free speech, why don't people?  As in, if a corporation can unlimitedly pour money into politics, why can't nonprofit organizations, including me?  Why don't high school valedictorians?  Why do people fuss about Tim Tebow's speech?

2.  If winning the Massachusetts Senate seat was a good thing for the Republican Party, if it's the beginning of a Republican resurgence, do they have a real plan? Yes, the pseudo-socialist agenda of Pelosi/Reed needs to go away.  However, the Saints aren't in the Superbowl simply because of defense.  Although it helped (tremendously) denying the Vikings the ability to score wasn't the only thing.  It took some positive motion.  What's the plan guys?

3.  H&R Block wants Congress to do more regulation of tax software and tax preparers.  H&R Block? Really? How about we either simplify the tax code (flat tax, anyone?) or eliminate it, go with a national consumption tax, and be done?  Or at least let Consumer Reports or some non-involved party push the regulation.  Besides, the last time I let H&R touch my taxes, they screwed them up. Not exactly the best example…and would you trust Ford to be the push for auto regulations? Wouldn't you expect they were out to help their business as much as anything?

4.  Does anyone think that Congress will actually ever listen to people again?  Unless we unemploy 434 Congressmen and 34 Senators this fall, the nonsense won't stop. (There's probably 1 worth keeping.)

5.  Book banning is back in the news, thanks to some knuckleheaded decisions by people that didn't do adequate research before proposing to ban specific books.  First observation: book banning is a lousy term.  Nobody banned a book.  They prohibited it in a certain forum, which is done on a daily basis in education.  You are required to read certain books.  You are, in some classes, given freedom to read your choice from a list of books.  Literature teachers and academic folks are constantly requiring you to read their preferences over your own.  That's just life.  Second: you make everyone who shares a portion of agreement with your viewpoint when you prohibit things like dictionaries look silly.  Stop it.

6.  Just a quick reminder: everyone's problems aren't the same.  There are times your psychological issues should be solved with the effort of the will.  There are other times when you need help.  Guess what? If someone expresses that some people should "get over it" don't be so hypersensitive that they have to be insulting you.  As a pastor I have recommended some people seek out medical-based care that included the possibility of *GASP* medication for their issues.  For others I've told them to build a bridge and get over it.  Mental and emotional issues are diverse and have diverse solutions, just like physical injuries.  Some pains need surgery, some need rest and Advil.

7.  I'm certain that the 25 million plus people out of work are glad Congress is digging into NCAA College Football Championships and NFL head injuries.  First of all: if the colleges feel bad about their system, let them change it.  Second, are we concerned that football impacts have deprived us of rocket scientists?  The recent revelation that the Florida State Football team had many players that read on a 2nd Grade level should allay those fears. (although the recent action in a Texas school system to not allow Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See? has many FSU and University of Texas players concerned they'll never know how it ended.)  Seriously.  We're fighting 2 wars,  (according to France, we're also conquering Haiti. I'm not sure why we'd want it) having massive unemployment, and not even the Treasury Secretary understands the tax code.  Can we fix a real problem?

 

Amazingly, that's the calm version of my ranting….

 

Doug