What is it about politicians and infidelity? Why does it seem as if a disproportionate number of them are embroiled in scandalous affairs of one type or another? Do people who are in positions of power believe that, because of their inflated sense of ego, their indiscretions will go unnoticed, and if caught can be swept up under the rug?
This isn’t a uniquely Democrat or Republican problem, either. I’m not calling out one side or the other. What I’d like to see is a bit more responsibility from my elected officials. And just because you apologize doesn’t mean you’re forgiven. Positions of power demand a higher sense of purpose. Heck, when I was in the Air Force, it was drilled into you that everything you did reflected upon you, and because of that, you were held to a higher level of accountability. Believe me, people took their jobs seriously. If a bunch of Airmen whose jobs aren’t necessarily as important as those of an elected official are held to a higher standard of behavior, why aren’t elected officials treated with the same iron fist?
Cheating on your spouse says a lot about your character. If you can’t be faithful to your wife, how can your electorate believe that you have their best interest at heart? As an ever-increasing number of politicians are exposed for unfaithful, questionable, and even indecent behavior, we’re less and less shocked by the mounting revelations…and I think that’s one of the most shocking side effects of this situation. When we as a people become numb to the pain of yet another one of our elected leaders falling to indiscretions, what does that say about the entire political process?
And to get off topic a bit here; why aren’t elected officials drug tested? Professional athletes are drug tested. Doctors are drug tested. Even grade school kids are drug tested. Why aren’t our politicians?
Some days I just feel as if our elected leaders are giving us a mouthful of crotch and we’re expected to think that it tastes like fine wine. It’s no wonder we’re losing faith in the whole process. I have an idea…instead of in-fighting and one-upsmanship, how about all of the politicians get together and just do your damned jobs? No more pork. No more dogears. No more special interests. One bill, one purpose. Tick what needs to be ticked off, and get your jobs done.
Stopped at a red light while on my way to the bookstore this past weekend I noticed this bumper sticker on a filthy yellow SUV to my right.
What caught my eye was the fact that the globe prominently featured in the “O” isn’t centered on America. In fact, we see more of South America and we do the United States. Oddly enough, Africa takes center stage on this graphic.
I’m not sure what I’m supposed to take away from this bumper sticker. Is Obama the president of the USA, or is he trying to portray himself more as a “world” president?
Wow. Just….wow. I never thought I’d live to see the day when Mexico legalizes drugs for personal consumption. Well, actually, they haven’t yet…but they’re standing on the precipice and looking straight down the barrel of that particular gun. I guess if you have the one of the largest and deadliest active drug wars being waged in your own front yard you have to come up with something to combat the uncontrollable violence that’s rotting your country from the inside out.
This could also serve as a great case study to see what actually happens when a country as large as Mexico decides to cast aside the War On Drugs mantra and allow the people who are already using illegal substances to do so in a legal manner.
Let’s hope this won’t be a half-hearted attempt at changing a failed policy. If Mexico is to do this right, they need to not only stop prosecuting harmless users, but also offer an alternative to illicit sources. With drugs legalized and regulated, less money will find its way into criminal organizations. It might even go so far as to persuade the drug cartels into going legit, pay taxes on their products, and transform themselves into honest businessmen. Yeah, keep dreaming. Right?
Come to think of it, this could usher in a rebirth and resurrection of sorts for Mexico. No longer would people have to travel to Amsterdam to party, they could simply skip on down south of the border. Mexico could reap in the new tax dollars, and with the violence quashed the tourists would return and prop up the economy even more.
If it comes to fruition, this first step at legalizing drugs in Mexico will effectively push the cost of the War On Drugs back across the border and squarely on the shoulders of the United States. I’d be curious to see how the U.S. reacts.
I’m not saying that legalization is the cure all for what ails Mexico, but done responsibly it’s a step in the right direction. Look, it’s either legalize the stuff or continue fighting a losing battle. What would you suggest?
I dunno…at the very least if Vicente Fox signs this into law this is going to be something very interesting to watch. Desperate times call for drastic measures I suppose…
There are quite a few topics I’d like to address, but as I sit down to write this post I’m not sure which one to focus on:
1- Air Force One doing a low-level flyover of Manhattan and ground zero. What moron thought that was a good idea? Whatever happened to “the buck stops here“?
2- Swine Flu: What’s the real story? Why is Mexico taking extreme measures to combat this illness while America sits back and does nothing? Is this a case of hype over facts? Did you know that 36,000 Americans die every year because of the flu? The victims are typically the very young and the very old. This Swine Flu (no, I’m not going to call it H1N1) seems to be killing people of all ages. I’m not quite sure what to believe about this illness, but I’m not about to panic.
3 – Arlen Spector: The man who created the “single bullet theory” switches political parties, jumping ship to the Democratic ticket. This is the same Arlen Spector whose key vote helped pass Obama’s pork-filled stimulus bill. Face it, he switched sides because he had no chance in hell of being re-elected in the upcoming Republican race. This is yet another example why nobody should be forced to vote along party lines.
4- The University of Central Florida has developed a new technology which could allow for a single disc to store over 4 terabytes of information. Call me jaded, but I won’t get excited until I can hold a data crystal in my hands.
But above all of this dire news and political flack one thing really had me questioning my faith in humanity and all that I hold most dear in this world. I thought I knew everything, that nothing of this magnitude could have possibly escaped my finely honed observational senses for all of these years.
Did you ever notice who the supervising producer of Who’s The Boss was?
You doubt me? See for yourself:
Sometimes I shock myself at what I find newsworthy…
I’ve never been very political, a practice I try to maintain on my blog. Democrat, Republican, Independent, Peace And Freedom Party, New Black Panther Party…all the same old same old, just dressed up in different uniforms. I don’t have an inclination for any one party, but I do like to consider myself a pseudo-independent with conservative tendencies. It’s a shame there’s not a check box on voting ballots that covers my unique flavor of leaning.
But what really gets the vein on my left temple thumping is when a holier-than-thou, self-congratulatory columnist such as Paul Begala calls people who peacefully assemble in an attempt to bring attention to certain woes of this country “cranks”, “clowns”, “goofballs”, and “whiners”. Mr. Begala, these Teaparties were not organized by any one organization. They were inspired by Rick Santelli and his on air rant. Rick Santelli’s words were spread via the internet and talk radio. They inspired a grassroots campaigned that culminated with Wednesday’s nationwide Teaparties.
What Mr. Begala and his arrogant brand of yellow journalism attempted to do was belittle and discourage those who don’t share his obtuse point of view. His name calling and lack of supporting facts would be more at home on the playground than on CNN. You’ll forgive me if your editorial doesn’t have the desired affect on me. I will continue to pay my taxes, but I won’t refrain from questioning authority, especially when it’s trying to pull the rug out from under me. Feel free to kowtow to whatever golden calf and false idol you choose. I won’t fault you for that. It’s a free country. Please do me the same favor and don’t tell me to blindly accept whatever is shoved in my face.
I’m not sure you know what it means to be called an “American”, Mr. Begala.
Thanks go out to Paul Begala for inspiring me to participate (in the loosest of terms) in my first protest. I didn’t do much, but I did hang around and talk to several of the nice people who were peacefully gathered at one of the local San Diego post offices this afternoon. The only thing missing was milk and cookies, but I do believe this group got their message out.
Political rant *OFF*. Back to our normal posts. Thanks for indulging me.
