These United States...

Myself and my fellow Americans complain too much. Liberals complain because Obama acts like a compassionate conservative. GOP complains because he is Black. Democrats complain because Obama continues W Bush's wars. Tea party complains because he's Black.

I work the weekends and.. wait, I'm employed?! Yes, I'm employed and have been all my adult life. I have loved ones not so lucky. I say luck, not because I didn't educate myself, acquired new skills, learn how to get along with people, because I did. I say luck because I'm sure other folks have and they are still jobless.

I am fat (as of this writing) not because of thyroid problems, but because I eat too damn much. There are people who don't have the same access to foods that I do and they are in the same zip code. Lucky, blessed, take your pick.

My beloved anonymous brother and sister, please take this time to celebrate the fortunes you do have. Like this internet enabled device your reading this self righteous blog post on. The Gods, Fates, Probability has been good to us. That picture is of a sandwich I bought from Starbucks. Taste good, but makes you write blog posts like this, so be careful.

Photo: Sausage, egg & cheese from Starbucks taken with iPhone3Gs, Hipstamatic app (Helga Viking, Alfred Infrared)

Easy Lover

Here we are negotiating, we're at that part of a relationship where the woman is feeling you out just before giving up the Aqua Door. "emotional abuse, that is a deal breaker.." She said listing things like lost of trust, that would end a boyfriend's career. Shouldn't this kind of negotiation be going on before we give up our votes and treasure?

What kind of deal breakers could we have? Any votes on government spending that prioritizes foreign aid or defense over domestic programs. Charity begins at home, Baby! Any legislation that reduces personal liberty in the name of security. Uncle Ben said "..They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

Another deal breaker is the "company" a politician keeps. Opensecrets.org lists big financial donors of many candidates, which could be a predictor of the kinds of policies they'll support. For example, is the corporate donor paying their employees good wages, providing affordable healthcare? That could mean political support for a living wage and meaningful healthcare reform. Does this company has a good record on the environment? That could mean a stronger EPA. The idea here is to look for congruency. You can't tell me you support green energy and take money from BP; that is a deal breaker.

So, she didn't give me the ass until I promised not to be an ass-hole. We shouldn't give any party our support until we establish some political deal breakers. Also, checking out the company they keep will help us discern talking points from future policy.

Let's not give it up so easy this November. Remember Libya, remember Healthcare "Reform", remember Wisconsin, remember Citizens United v., remember Cash for Clunkers, remember extending Bush tax cuts, remember no bailouts for home owners.. then vote.

Photo: sketch of a girlfriend's torso from my 2003 journal taken with iPhone3Gs, Photoshop Express app (adjust contrast, exposure)

It's Only a Ride

Why are politics and religion so divisive? Because they make us so insecure. Anytime a mental construct contradicts Nature, we become insecure. In Nature, diversity is a rule, multiple solutions are a principal and there is very little inter-species killing. Religion and politics forces us to violate all these. You can be talking to a person about family, the weather or love and have a beautiful vibe with them; bring up religion or politics and get stamped with a label "Oh, you're one of those types who think the government should take care of everybody, huh?"

What would religion be without Hell or the dogmatism that sends you there? What of politics? What if engineers resolved issues like speed limits and technicians worked on how resources get distributed? Why would we need Dems and GOPs? Seems like a pipe-dream, but so was the light bulb.

Don't Drink the Kool-Aid (tea)
The tumor taking over the GOP: this TeaParty, isn’t a new phenomenon. The Base* has always been there, they resisted the Emancipation, 40 acres and a mule, Civil Rights, Social Safety net programs and immigration from non-European countries. They’re against big Gov't, but pro big military and pro expansion of police powers. The same forces arrayed against you by a big gov't when it turns on you – smart huh?

These are basically some white people (and 6 Black people) who can be convinced to vote against their economic interests due to their faux-identification with the ruling elite. They can be tricked into voting for a W. Bush cause he's a rich "white boy", but his father, former CIA head and US President reps for the Saudi Arabian royal family... Arabs. It's not about money or culture, it's about ego and power aggregation.

That being said, who gives a damn, as long if your kids are healthy, your job or business is doing well and you gettin regular lovin. If you aren't, well… that's when the aberrant behavior creeps in - so someone goes "Postal" or "Jihadi", same thing. From my comfortable Western environ (for which I am very grateful), I vent about Palestine, Greece and Afghanistan. But there no war in my children’s eyes, no bombs in their ears and I can't help but be stilled and humble by this. My worst days on this planet are often washed away by laughter and I remember that this life - it's only a ride.

*Al Qaeda translates into "the Base" in english.