Tomorrow's voters

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I started a new job in July, after leaving a company I worked for - for 25 years.  It was a tough decision but one I needed to make.  One of the biggest adjustments has been to find myself in the midst of several twenty-somethings, right out of college and full of knowledge they think they have. 

Sometimes I feel out of place.

My job is health care, health care I.T. to be more precise.  One of my co-workers in 22 years old and her specialty is medical billing, CPT codes and all of that fun stuff.  That's great but she doesn't know how any of it applies in the real world which is to be expected to some degree.  But what frightens me is how she will say things so casually as if they are fact.

"Y'know Mitt Romney wants to get rid of Medicare."

Before I sprayed my tea out of my nose, I managed to calmly say "No, no he doesn't.  He will have to make changes to it so it can survive, but he does not want to get rid of it.  And if those changes aren't made, Medicare will go broke anyway."

She looked surprised that I apparently disagreed with her "fact".  I mean, wasn't this just KNOWN?

My boss, who knows me from my prior job jumped in and gently explained to my young colleague that it's generally not a good idea to talk about some things at the work place.  Things like - oh - religion and politics.  She seemed surprised by that too but on the other hand, this is the person who looked at me the other day and said "If you don't mind me asking, how much money do you make?"
Yikes!

People wonder why I am so concerned about the youth out there.  They have been told over and over how important a college education is, but no one has told them that every scintilla of information they get there can actually be questioned.  So many don't.  That frightens me. Especially since most universities these days are bastions of liberal thought. 

They learn, are influenced, and they vote. 

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I'm glad I didn't vote.

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Not too many years ago people would say to me - don't complain - you didn't vote.  And my reply would be that I didn't have to vote to be able to complain, that's what's great about the United States - free speech extends even to people that don't vote!

Why didn't I vote?  Because politics bored me silly and when I tried to pay attention it just didn't sink in.  My eyes would glaze over and off I'd be onto something else.  I'd convinced myself it was all too enormous - the economy, foreign policy, domestic policy, the house, the senate, secretaries of this and secretaries of that.  I knew who the main people were but beyond that - the whole subject didn't compute for me.  I reasoned that I was uninformed and would rather not vote than place an uninformed one. 

I thought I was a democrat because at some time in my life I remembered someone (no idea who) telling me that democrats were the party of the working man, and republicans were for the rich.  So I must be a democrat, right?

Then September 11th happened.

Suddenly I paid attention.  I found myself drawn to the news, day in and day out.  Suddenly, people who I rolled my eyes at in the past when they said they were political junkies started to make sense to me.  I was hooked and I realized - I wasn't a democrat.  Not sure I'm actually a republican either but much more on the right than the left.  It took the next few years for me to realize what I believed and who I believed in and to form strong enough opinions to confidently feel like I could vote as an informed member of the electorate.

In November of 2004 I voted in my first election, ever.  And I voted with both of my children who were voting in their first national elections.  We went together.

Every citizen in this nation has the right to vote.  But I sincerely wish that if they cannot say they are truly informed - they would wait to vote until they are.  Especially in this election.  It is too important to be a popularity contest or a response to the slickest campaign.

I'm glad I didn't vote before I educated myself.  Because I wouldn't have been voting for the right reasons or with the correct information.

I mean really - the People of Walmart vote.  It's scary out there.

Do you allow dissent?

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Many blogs I frequent are of the crafty sort, full of vintage images and clip art, home ideas, decorating and feminine decor.  Most are not political blogs but sometimes in between the yellowed lace and recipes a political opinion slips in.

Apparently the photo ID thing has some people up in arms, enough to sully their pretty blogs with strident calls to spread the word - thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of people may not be able to vote because 11 states now have voter ID laws on the books.  The writer also noted that the idea that there is voter fraud is ridiculous, as only 10 cases have been prosecuted in Pennsylvania in the last such n' such years. GASP! 

I confess that I generally do not comment on most of these blogs, I look at the pretty pictures and read a bit of the fluff and move on.  That is what I enjoy about them, not a lot of commitment, they're nice to look at.  But I commented on a post about picture IDs - something to the effect of -

do you really believe that citizens will not be able to vote? Today I went to a casino for lunch (not my usual practice) with some co-workers, and we had to have picture IDs to enter.  If I wanted to buy a pack of cigarettes in the next town over, I would have to produce a photo ID to do it.  And if I wanted to fly on an airplane or buy a bottle of wine, I would need a photo ID to do those things as well.  Also, I live in the Chicago area where people brag about voting early and voting often, so I suspect voter fraud is out there, it's just not being acknowledged or discovered.  So .. the law may keep non-citizens from voting, but citizens?  Not so much.

Curious, I went back to the blog today.  There were several comments agreeing about the voting thing, how requiring photo IDs was unfair and horrible .. but funny .. my comment was not published.  Made me wonder - did anyone else have the position I did - but like the main stream media, they were just ignored too?

Obviously, a blog is rarely objective, and the only rules are ones the blogger wants to have.  But a different opinion that isn't vulgar or abusive or rude being left out?  Seems it's easier to ignore the facts and just play to people's emotions.  Seems to be a lot of that going around these days.
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MIA and Dear Sweetpea ..

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I haven't written here in so long .. and I find myself longing to, daily.  Changes in my life have given me less spare time but one of the main reasons is my daughter.  I could not love this child more, but on politics we disagree.  We don't just disagree, when we try to discuss the issues it makes her cry. I have never quite understood why except that she feels just as strongly about her views as I do about mine, and it distresses her to be so opposed to all I believe, and it distresses me too.  But I never meant for her to see this blog, I created it using a pseudonym to keep it separate from my other non-political blogs and mainly - from her.

But she found it quickly, due to stupidity on my part.  So Honey - please - do not read this blog.  I don't want you to.  I don't want to feel that what I say is directed at you - or worry about what you may be thinking or feeling about what I do write. 

For this post I just want to say the difference between us can be described by some wise words from Rob Lowe - yes - Rob Lowe.  He said "Democrats are long on empathy and Republicans are long on logic." 

So Sweetie - you are a tender-hearted, dear, wonderful woman.  I love you more than I can ever express.  But please - allow me this space - this place - to talk about my beliefs without worrying about hurting you.  And if you read this post and read on anyway - please try to be logical and not emotional about what I say.  If it hurts you - just don't stay.  Please.

I love you.

Mom~
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Nobody wrote a headline like Breitbart!

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Today is the first day of a two and a half week stay-cation so I was out of bed later than usual this morning. On my way to the kitchen I turned on the TV only to hear the last bit of a sentence and as I turned it was accompanied by a full screen picture of Andrew Breitbart with the ominous 1969 - 2012.

After a quick about face I sat down and quickly stumbled over the keys trying to sign onto my computer all the while unknowingly mumbling "not Breitbart, not Breitbart, it can't be Breitbart .."

But the time I realized I was saying it, I had confirmed it was indeed, Breitbart.

I just started to cry.

Did I know Andrew Breitbart? No. Was I a huge fan? No. Did I realize what a huge force he was in the conservative movement? Yes. But I took him for granted like oh so many other things in life.

And now he's gone.

Thank goodness he lived life to the fullest with enthusiasm and passion, loved by many and hated by an equal number. He wore that animous as a badge of honor so while I find the vile commentary all over the internet to be repugnant and disgusting .. we need to remember that up there in heaven Breitbart is repeating every remark with glee. He fully enjoyed retweeting all the filth thrown at him on Twitter to reveal the character of the progressives who attacked him.

Yes, Andrew Breitbart is gone from this earth, but he has left behind an army.  #IAmAndrewBreitbart

RIP Breitbart. Your work will continue.

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I love it when Steven gets angry

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Speaks for itself ...

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Unknowingly voted for a pink slip.

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On Monday my office mate was let go. She has worked for the company I do, for 26 years. At a point in her career when she should be able to expect a gold watch, she got a pink slip instead. Her name is *Jane.

Jane had a choice to leave on Monday or to stay and tie up lose ends until the end of the week. She chose to stay. Before the end of the week she had 3 competitors asking about her, and the managing director of our location (we are a national, no - international company) coming to have a closed door meeting with her. Jane will not have trouble getting a new job. I don't think anyone is worried about that for her. She is not one of the lucky ones, she is one of the smart ones. She has a couple of degrees and certifications in different aspects of the business as well as one particular certification for something that only about 50 other people in the U.S. have.

The part that stinks is the way it feels to be the one who gets picked as expendable. Even with all her talent, even with all her contacts, Jane's number came up. Why? We don't know. She worked too long and made too much money? Maybe. She had changed positions lately and was the last hired in her area? That's a possibility too. But whatever cost reducing measure they were implementing when they let her go is going to cost the company in the long run. The amount of skill and knowledge Jane takes out the door with her cannot be replaced.

Jane and I have worked in a small room together for the last 2 years or so. I have learned more from her than from many other people I have worked with. But it has also been a love/hate relationship. So the little part of me that she annoys - the part of me that is angry that she doesn't apply her intelligence to current affairs - that part of me that wanted her to just listen to a different point of view - that little evil part says -

YOU VOTED FOR HIM!!!!

The other part of me is angry with the corporation with it's nameless, faceless pink slips, and I will miss Jane very much. But damn girl! Use your brain!

You probably voted yourself right out of the company you planned to retire from one day.

*Not her real name, duh.

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Who the hell does BHO think he's speaking for?!

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What on earth is Obama up to now?  Why is he doing this to Israel?  And to Netanyahu?  This is the second time he has cut Netanyahu off at the knees and insulted him.  Prime Minister Netanyahu is on his way here.  And Obama undercuts him like that the day before!  Obama has treated Netanyahu shabbily, has not done the dual podium appearance with him when he was here, had him leave by the freakin back door, he has treated the leaders of China and Mexico with much more deference!

 

When he demands so arrogantly that Israel push back their settlements to the 1967 borders - he is NOT speaking for me.  How DARE he do this?  Israel is our ally, and the only reason they still exist is because we have been theirs.  Having the threat of the U.S. jumping on any country that attacks Israel has been a huge deterrent for idiots like Ahmadinejad who are just waiting for a chance to wipe Israel off the face of the planet.

What will become of Israel if we don't have their back?  Doesn't Obama care?  

The man disgusts me.

When he said he wanted to fundamentally transform this country it was only partly true.  The man wants to and thinks he can - fundamentally transform the world! 

He's an idiot.

We have to vote him out in 2012.  We have to.
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Whoopi is playing cards with racists!

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It's very apparent that while many conservative bloggers write very smart and well researched posts, I write emotional ones. Lately I haven't posted much at all until something reaches a fever pitch (and that may only be in my brain) and I feel gray matter threatening to decorate my walls if I don't just say something.

It's probably more just putting it down in writing that helps, but whatever.

This time it's the freaking race card. ARGH-H-H!!! Apparently Whoopi felt justified in playing it today because doggone it - someone finally backed the president into a corner and made him produce his long form birth certificate and then had the nerve to question how he got into Harvard if he was a crappy student! It's TRUMP for goodness sakes! He has more nerve than anyone!

Trump said something today that I wanted to plant a big wet one on top of his swirly haired head for. Reporters were peppering him with questions after he responded to hearing about the birth certificate, with barely disguised hostility, I might add. Trump made a remark about how the press "is very protective of the president".

HELLO!!!!

So here's my beef. Why is it so hard to believe that people dislike Obama so much because of his policies, his unparalleled arrogance (okay, Trump is right up there) and his unwillingness to listen to the people of the United States because he has an agenda and thinks he just knows better than we do? And the fact that the whole mainstream media protects the average viewer from anything that makes the president look bad, in stark contrast to when they highlighted anything and everything (and even made some things up) that made president Bush look bad and oh my gosh - stupid???

So yes, people are looking for what they can to discredit Obama because the press isn't investigative (apparently) anymore and are painting Obama as the happy, shiny president, and not the one that flat out lies - on-camera and in print - to the American people! Or maybe people are frightened of a president who is making our nation weak in the eyes of the world and is ruining our economy because he is incompetent and ineffective and people don't want him in office one minute longer than he has to be? Just maybe?

So Whoopi reached her limit today (much like I did) and proclaimed she was playing the race card now.

Well congrats Whoopi. You just joined the others that can't see past the color of someones skin and can't think a tiny bit outside the box to figure out some other reason people might be unhappy with an elected official.

So, just who is the racist in this equation?

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