Entries from May 1, 2008 - June 1, 2008
Too Much NPR
kmsqrd
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I don't like talking politics, though that's all I seem to think about when it comes to writing here - stuff in my personal life isn't meant for public consumption at this time - I can't even deal with it in my personal life.
As bored as I am hearing about the 'extended' primary process the DNC faces in trying to determine a nominee for the big chair, part of me feels like it's a good thing. I voted in the Georgia primary in March (I think) and got a kick out of the idea that my voice would actually count for something in the Republic. It sounds goofy but as mindful democrat in this somewhat ridiculous republican state it often feels like I'm pissing in the wind when I vote. (That's harder than usual given I don't have the pointy thing.)
But, this year, for the first time in a long while there are people in states - like Indiana and Pennsylvania - who actually have a say in how the nomination process falls. In fact, they may have even more of a say than New Hampshire or Iowa. It seems to me to be a good thing to keep all the voters engaged in the process.
As for my two cents - if you really want to know:
HRC is too strident and she paints herself with an unbelievable brush. You can be a strong woman without being rough around the edges (I haven't figured it out yet; but I've seen it done) - I get an over-educated dockworker vibe from her sometimes that exceedingly off-putting. While that vibe may be how she manages to sell the idea that she knows what working middle-class is, I don't buy it. She's the money half of that political partnership - she grew up with it and while she and former President Clinton may have done without for awhile, I'm reluctant to believe it lasted long enough to overcome the 'burden' of having money.
McCain is some kind of crazy. I have difficulty with his insistence that the whole Iraq war thing was a good idea. In general is more 'middle' stance on basic life issues make me mostly comfortable with a Republican; but, from a foreign policy standpoint he scares the tar out of me. Both he and HRC strike me as being overly brittle - with tunnel vision tendencies - neither of which is good in the position they're trying to win. If it came down to HRC and McCain, the only choice I'd have is to study more McCain and choose to vote for him or right in my mother.
Obama is my favorite - while I wouldn't be overjoyed with his nomination. He could have used another couple of years of large government seasoning whether in DC or Illinois. While he may have trouble convincing the public of it, he's demonstrated (in parts of the Wright thing) a form of informed independence - ability to listen to people with varying degrees of influence and then construct a framework for decision/belief based on a synthesis of several points of view. There's something about him that's hopeful, that lacks cynacism that encourages me to believe. And, that, I could (and did) vote for.
As bored as I am hearing about the 'extended' primary process the DNC faces in trying to determine a nominee for the big chair, part of me feels like it's a good thing. I voted in the Georgia primary in March (I think) and got a kick out of the idea that my voice would actually count for something in the Republic. It sounds goofy but as mindful democrat in this somewhat ridiculous republican state it often feels like I'm pissing in the wind when I vote. (That's harder than usual given I don't have the pointy thing.)
But, this year, for the first time in a long while there are people in states - like Indiana and Pennsylvania - who actually have a say in how the nomination process falls. In fact, they may have even more of a say than New Hampshire or Iowa. It seems to me to be a good thing to keep all the voters engaged in the process.
As for my two cents - if you really want to know:
HRC is too strident and she paints herself with an unbelievable brush. You can be a strong woman without being rough around the edges (I haven't figured it out yet; but I've seen it done) - I get an over-educated dockworker vibe from her sometimes that exceedingly off-putting. While that vibe may be how she manages to sell the idea that she knows what working middle-class is, I don't buy it. She's the money half of that political partnership - she grew up with it and while she and former President Clinton may have done without for awhile, I'm reluctant to believe it lasted long enough to overcome the 'burden' of having money.
McCain is some kind of crazy. I have difficulty with his insistence that the whole Iraq war thing was a good idea. In general is more 'middle' stance on basic life issues make me mostly comfortable with a Republican; but, from a foreign policy standpoint he scares the tar out of me. Both he and HRC strike me as being overly brittle - with tunnel vision tendencies - neither of which is good in the position they're trying to win. If it came down to HRC and McCain, the only choice I'd have is to study more McCain and choose to vote for him or right in my mother.
Obama is my favorite - while I wouldn't be overjoyed with his nomination. He could have used another couple of years of large government seasoning whether in DC or Illinois. While he may have trouble convincing the public of it, he's demonstrated (in parts of the Wright thing) a form of informed independence - ability to listen to people with varying degrees of influence and then construct a framework for decision/belief based on a synthesis of several points of view. There's something about him that's hopeful, that lacks cynacism that encourages me to believe. And, that, I could (and did) vote for.
Community Debt?
... aka, it's twenty 'til two and I can't sleep.
I stayed up late waiting for the Indiana primary results to post. I can't tell you why - I only peripherally follow politics. I leave the nuts and bolts of that field to Squid - he cares way more than I do. Or, maybe, he still has faith that his voice counts for something. What got me thinking about debt, is indirectly related to the primary races that won't end - namely the issue of race and the reverend. I haven't really followed the story - clergy men and news cameras are rarely anything but a toxic combination.
Reality: I feel like I live in a world where nothing is owed me. Bossman doesn't have to employ me. Drivers don't have to stay on their side of the double yellow. If I pack it, I carry it. I'm not owed courtesy (though it tees me off when I don't get it).
Idea: Debt can only be created on the micro (individual) level by the person accepting the burden of the debt. That debt can be to another individual, an institution, or a whole passel of people.
Idea: Becoming a debtor requires a personal decision to accept the perceived reality of something being owed to others.
Idea: Attempts to assign debt to an individual or group don't assign debt - only punishment. If restitution (of what ever flavor) is assigned, the individual/group assigned the punishment lacks the personal agreement with the idea that something is owed to others.
This was going somewhere seventeen minutes ago; but, now I don't know where. Except to say that neither the World nor the Man nor God owes anyone anything. You may be dealt a hand of sucky cards, play them and stop whining for a re-deal. And remember, many of live in a personalized version of hell and won't have much sympathy for yours.
I stayed up late waiting for the Indiana primary results to post. I can't tell you why - I only peripherally follow politics. I leave the nuts and bolts of that field to Squid - he cares way more than I do. Or, maybe, he still has faith that his voice counts for something. What got me thinking about debt, is indirectly related to the primary races that won't end - namely the issue of race and the reverend. I haven't really followed the story - clergy men and news cameras are rarely anything but a toxic combination.
Reality: I feel like I live in a world where nothing is owed me. Bossman doesn't have to employ me. Drivers don't have to stay on their side of the double yellow. If I pack it, I carry it. I'm not owed courtesy (though it tees me off when I don't get it).
Idea: Debt can only be created on the micro (individual) level by the person accepting the burden of the debt. That debt can be to another individual, an institution, or a whole passel of people.
Idea: Becoming a debtor requires a personal decision to accept the perceived reality of something being owed to others.
Idea: Attempts to assign debt to an individual or group don't assign debt - only punishment. If restitution (of what ever flavor) is assigned, the individual/group assigned the punishment lacks the personal agreement with the idea that something is owed to others.
This was going somewhere seventeen minutes ago; but, now I don't know where. Except to say that neither the World nor the Man nor God owes anyone anything. You may be dealt a hand of sucky cards, play them and stop whining for a re-deal. And remember, many of live in a personalized version of hell and won't have much sympathy for yours.
... and yet you wonder?
You walk to my office and announce you have a question.
I walk to your office listen to you ramble about just how many things you have to do today. You ask your question - usually one I've already answered or we've discussed.
I answer your question simply.
You don't hear me.
I answer your question again, louder - yelling even.
If we're lucky, I get to walk back to my desk.
What I want to know is why you couldn't carry the heavy sheet of paper with you when you came to my office in the first place?
I walk to your office listen to you ramble about just how many things you have to do today. You ask your question - usually one I've already answered or we've discussed.
I answer your question simply.
You don't hear me.
I answer your question again, louder - yelling even.
If we're lucky, I get to walk back to my desk.
What I want to know is why you couldn't carry the heavy sheet of paper with you when you came to my office in the first place?
