Would you help someone that was dying in the street? Or would you let them die?
If you take the healthcare debate from the realms of rhetoric and place it into a real life palpable situation, it becomes easier to figure out what side of the fence you should be standing on.
At the simplest level of compassion, I’d like to believe that no one would wander by a fellow human being in need of medical attention. Imagine seeing someone walk by a bleeding man? What would you think of them?
Out of sight out of mind
It’s become a case of ‘out of sight out of mind.’ Since the people affected by the failings of privatized healthcare aren’t in our line of sight, we assume that it’s nothing to do with us. That somehow it isn't our responsibility. The debate of ‘healthcare freeloaders’ aside, which is despicable to say the least, there are some people out there that for one reason or another have fallen on hard times. I for one, don’t believe that they should die because of it. When you put a price on the life of a human...you trivialize that life.
Fundamental right to live
At this stage in our society the right to live should be a fundamental right for EVERYONE, and that right should never be subject to the profit margins of private health insurance companies. Simply put, when you put a profit margin against someone’s health it makes their live an investment opportunity. Which means if someone else can’t make money off that life, it’s not worth saving. That is the travesty of a greed culture.
Anything less than free universal healthcare for all, and we will have to drastically re-think our definition of a civilized society. And I would go so far as to say, that we could no longer call ourselves a civilized species.
Money is new alpha in a dog eat dog Darwinian world, which a capitalistic health care system enshrines. Until the right for a person to live a healthy life is totally and completely split from the cash in their wallets, we as humans, are no better than the wild animals we call 'uncivilized.'
This is capitalism/socialism debate. This is an uncivilized/civilized debate. This is a debate about choosing to become better, as a species, or slip back down the ladder into the world of the pack mentality primates.
The provocateur of the current fiscal change embargo.
Phil McCarron has the same thought on his mine as most Americans do...who the f*ck is Grover Norquist?
I could easily answer this question with various and colorful four letter words. However, that wouldn't fitting for a man of his stature. No, he deserves a full, in depth, decimation, well within reason. Writing a full report on the preposterous Grover Norquist would take me 70 years to complete. And by that point arthritis would be the sole reason I couldn't continue, as it would make it psychically impossible to finish my report on the political enigma who's lobbying group is holding elected lawmakers hostage...with a piece of paper.
So what is this all about?
In 1985 Norquist founded a lobbying group called 'Americans For Tax Reform' with operates under the mantra of, ''oppose ALL tax increases as a matter of principle." Sparing you all the mundane details of the entire history of this particular lobbying group, I'll cut right to the explain it's most prominent talking point.
The Pledge.
The Grover Norquist pledge is a document that is presneted to members of congress to sign that states, unequivocally, that they will NEVER, I repeat, NEVER consider any legislative bill that includes a raise in taxes. At this time it should be prudent to note that in Grover Norquist's entire span of life on this planet, he has never been elected to political office. He has never been entrusted by a group of American citizens, through the process of a general election, to hold any measure of lawmaking power on Capitol Hill. For some strange reason however, he holds a vast number Republican legislators in his narrow sighted, insanely biased, and ethically questionable grip.
To explain the impact his pledge has had, the following occurred at a GOP straw poll a few months ago.
The 8 GOP nominees were asked by the moderator if they would reject a 10:1 ratio of spending cuts to tax raises (favoring the cuts.) All 8 replied with a definitive ‘yes.’
If there is no compromise, there is no democracy. And the petulant members of the Republican Party residing in Norquist's pocket that prohibits raising taxes under any circumstances, should be considered undemocratic.
But the obvious question is yet to be asked.
Hundreds of Republican lawmakers at both the state and federal level have signed this pledge, some of which are now, for various reasons, wishing that they hadn't. Yesterday in an ironic twist, Republican Senator Pat Toomey suggested a loophole in Norquist's pledge that would allow for Republicans that have signed the pledge to, in fact, raise taxes.
In short, the reason this is possible is because the current tax code (referred to as the Bush Tax Cuts) has an expiration date of early next year. Since they are technically temporary measures, the actual rates as they sit under permanent law are at Clinton era levels. Effectively, this means that the rates can be raised as long as they don't surpass the ones that have been undercut by the temporary Bush Tax Cuts.
Good news right?
I suppose it could be considered that. However, I would be more concerned with the obvious solution that evaded the Republican party for so long, aside from the fact that they should have signed it in the first place.
Here it is...the simplest solution. Are you ready?
F*ck Grover Norquist and f*ck his idiotic pledge! As Speaker of the House John Boehner said in a news conference a few weeks ago in response to a question about Norquist, he responded "It's not often that I get asked a question about a random guy."
I find it incredibly perplexing that the most powerful individuals in the country, the people that have been elected to look out for the interests of 300 million Americans, have been held hostage for so long by just a 'random guy.' It simply defies logic! There was no need to find a loophole in his pledge, all that was needed was to call Norquist up and say "your pledge is undemocratic, and you're an idiot."
This wasn't a lawful contract, this wasn't a constitutional amendment, this wasn't a condition of employment that had to be met before the oath of office could be taken, this was a random guy with a piece of paper and a pen that has HALTED the entire US debate on fixing the deficit.
In short, the lunacy of elected Republican's to keep a promise (an ill advised and undemocratic promise) to ONE man is derogatory to the other 300 million Americans that elected these men and women to look out for the collective interests, not the warped ideology and fiscal irresponsibility of ONE man by the name of Grover Bloody Norquist.
Norquist advocates a 'Starve the Beast' fiscal strategy. Sounds like a fun bit of word play. However, it might be prudent to know that after a while a starved beast gets vicious and hostile due to mistreatment. So I'd watch out for the Republican handlers of this beast, as they may end up getting bitten.
Figuratively of course.
The Bottom Line
If everyone had the mystical power that Grover Norquist, a random guy, has to press their own beliefs on tax reform upon members of congress...then we would have a democracy. It isn't, and should never be about the sole opinion of one, but the general consensus of many. That's what democracy is. Not undermining 300 million Americans by holding the entire legislative branch hostage with an egregious pledge.
From the perspective of a neutral viewer, today's GOP debate in Michigan showed much calmer and more collective field of presidential hopefuls.
In primaries of the past, the candidates for the GOP nomination, more often than not, resorted to a verbal slug-fest with their counterparts what amounted to nothing more than tirades of defamation, slander and the proverbial mud slinging.
Today we saw a different face to the GOP nominees, a face of civility. They were all well mannered and avoided spiraling into rhetoric and accusations, they kept to the spirit of the debate and kept their answers concise. Even in the face of some tough questions, most notably when Governor Mitt Romney was asked to comment, indirectly of course, on the accusations of sexual harassment regarding Herman Cain, he refused to answer as it wasn't relevant. In debates of past, this opportunity to stick to a fellow candidate would have been jumped upon with no qualms.
Another memorable note of the night included Governor Rick Perry's failure to recall three areas of government he would abolish if he ascended to the White House in next years coming election. Although I understand that everyone has their moments of forgetfulness, it ultimately will make him look extremely inept.
Arguably though, the most prominent and, in my opinion, wisest moment of the debate was when Speaker Of The House Newt Gingrich alluded to the moderator that it was almost impossible to voice his solution on the issue of healthcare in 30 seconds. He did so in a very civil manner and I applaud him for that.
The truth is that if any politician offers a 'simple' plan to something, chances are that it will be, at best, a grave misrepresentation of their actual intent, and at worst, showing a complete lack of understanding of the world we live in.
Whether it be a new tax code, healthcare, education, social security, or economic proposal, there is no way that it will ever be simple, or can ever be explained in full in 30 seconds. We live in such a diverse world that these issues need to be resolved in the interest of everyone. They require a tremendous understanding of whichever area they intent to change and must take into account a plethora of variables.
All in all, the debate was coherent. Though I don't agree with many conservative policies, I admired the way they put fourth their arguments at tonight's debate. The cornerstone of any democracy is the principle that at some point we all must compromise for the over all benefit of all, I just hope that the future of politics becomes less of the bi-party rhetoric and condemnation, and more of coming together as people and solving the problems all of us face.
Phil McCarron on why Herman's 'Cane' could have made his nomination campaign flaccid.
Today the political sex scandal that has been hampering Herman Cain’s campaign for the last few weeks has begun to gain some actual substance. This scandal has become the first major road block in Herman Cain’s ambition to capture the Republican nomination for next year’s presidential election.
If you haven’t heard the news, two weeks ago the online political blog Politico dropped the story that in Cain’s past as the head of the lobbying group NRA (National Restaurant Association,) two women were paid a settlement on allegations of sexual harassment stemming from Cain’s behavior at certain conventions.
Cain will give you a job if you give Cain’s cane a job
A third women has come out today with fresh accusations of sexual harassment from Herman Cain in regards to his time as head of the NRA. Sharon Bialek has been the first women to go public with allegations of sexual harassment. Her story, in short, revolves around Cain pressuring her for oral sex in return for getting her find employment after losing her job at a subsidiary of the NRA.
Cain’s statements on the allegations of sexual harassment have been illogical at best, and extremely bizarre and erratic at worst. It doesn’t take a professional psychologist to realize that Herman Cain is not telling the entire story.
Since nothing has been proven in a court of law, these all remain allegations. However, the court of public opinion is a completely different process altogether.
Sexual skeletons in the closet
All it takes is for one person to come forward that will inspire more women that may have suffered the same proposition to regain their vocal chords. The bravery of Sharon Bialek has opened the door for more skeletons in Cain’s sex stained closet to come tumbling out.
Double ended…standards?
When Democrat Anthony Weiner was embroiled in a sex scandal earlier in the year, the Republican politicians were vying for his head. They were adamant that he stand down from his campaign to run for political office.
If Herman Cain remains in the race, it reinforces the view point that Republicans firmly believe that they are above the court of public opinion, and that they are immune to the same bile they cast upon anyone that isn’t Republican.
It would be wise to note that these are all alleged cases of sexual harassment. However, I know people that have lived their entire life without ever being accused of sexual harassment, so for Herman Cain to have two cases settled and a third accuser just coming out, makes the average follower of this story believe that there might just be some weight behind the allegation that Cain is a habitual sexual harasser…and belief is what a politician is elected on.
As consumer culture has bed its roots into society, the standard of self-reliance has plummeted. We are steadily forgetting where the things we use in our lives come from, and more importantly, how to make them.
By hand, from scratch, with love
I remember spending time at my grandparent’s house when I was younger and it was filled with wonderful things that they’d built by hand, from scratch, with love. Things like pieces of furniture carved by my grandfather’s hands, and curtains stitched and embroidered by my grandmothers nimble fingers. But my grandfather wasn’t a master carpenter and my grandmother wasn’t a seamstress, yet they still had the basic knowledge and drive to create the things that make a house a home.
Buy instead of make?
The realization that we now buy instead of making hit me as I was contemplating building my own electric guitar from scratch, and I discovered that I have no idea how to use any woodworking tools, nor wire electrics. Had this been 40 years ago, my grandfather would have had no problems cutting the wood to spec, molding it together, painting and lacquering it, and even installing the electrics. We live in a different time now, a time where we buy instead of make, and I think that is costing our culture dearly as the majority of us helplessly dependent on the few that learn these basics homegrown skills.
Most people of my generation are the same, they know where to buy furniture but have no idea where to begin to make a simple chair. It would seem that our knowledge for making the most basic things in life is becoming extinct, and we only focus on learning things that advance our careers and skip the basics of self-reliance.
My friends used to make fun of me for darning holes in socks when I was poor, but when one needed his trousers hemmed up, he was amazed at my needle and thread work. Thanks grandma.
Generations ago, a homemade meal was a three times a day affair. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were all made in kitchen with fresh ingredients, from scratch. In today’s rat race of life, time is our most precious commodity, and good food was the first thing up on the time-shaving chopping block.
It’s homemade, from the freezer
Instead of spending the time to prepare and cook a homemade meal, we reach into the freezer for something to fill our stomachs, or even worse, we stop by a ‘fat-food’ place on the way home. The assumption is that since it’s already cooked and only needs a blast in the oven, then precious time will be saved. However, if you figure 30 minutes to cook a frozen piece of chicken, then you could have already made two fresh meals by the time the oven goes ‘ding.’
15 minutes, done.
Most people’s idea of home cooking paints an image of Thanksgiving dinner in their minds, 20 different plates of food that take two days to cook. Yet many meals can be done in 15 minutes! It’s all about knowing how, and anyone that says ‘I don’t know how to cook’…zip it!
Culinary Internet Master Chef
You used to have to work as a commi chef for 5 years in a Michelin starred restaurant to learn the tricks of the trade, but with the all powerful internet being a learning tool, becoming a master chef is just a few google searches away. Just search for 15 minute meals and away you go. Take back your kitchen, take back your diet, and take back the satisfaction of a home cooked meal.
Living rooms are designed around televisions for a reason, and that reason is that television is our window into the world. We live vicariously through everything from dramas and comedies to documentaries and, dare I say it, reality TV. But now that there are hundreds of channels, it’s becoming harder and harder to find quality, awe inspiring programming.
Free channels, terrible concepts.
The viewing content of free channels and standard cable has declined over the last 10 years or into terrible concepts, poor acting, and did I mention terrible concepts? It’s a continuous stream of raw sewage being pumped onto our screens every day. That being said, it’s a bit like the old dumpster diving adage, occasionally if you search enough seas of garbage you might pull out a gold watch. But at the end of the day, it’s a lot of shit surfing for one good show.
HBO have the golden goose.
However there is a network that has kept its dedication to stellar shows. HBO is, and has been at the forefront of fantastic television. Amazing concepts, stunning characters and Emmy winning performances all make the premium cable network well worth the investment. They have the golden goose when it comes to quality TV shows and if you haven’t had the HBO experience, you have been missing out for years as their back catalogue of original programming is quite impressive.
OZ, Arliss, The Larry Sanders Show, Sex & The City, The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Deadwood, The Wire, Entourage, True Blood, Boardwalk Empire and Game of Thrones…to name but a few…and that’s a stellar resume for any TV Network.
Much to my delight, ‘The Walking Dead’ has returned to FX. I enjoyed the special effects, the storyline and even Andrew Lincoln’s accent change to American.
I was a bit apprehensive when I found out that there had been an array of staff changes behind the scenes to the point where I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the new series.
Would I get the same level of gore? Would the storyline still be reasonably exciting? Would there be anything quite as rank and revolting as seeing a horse being eaten by the undead?
Well, yeah there was, to all of the above questions.
We got up close and friendly with several zombies, including a spectacular view of rotting gums and teeth. So close you could almost smell the decomposition.
There was a good bit of drama in the opening episode too…. I won’t say too much in case you haven’t watched it, but when Bambi appears trust your gut instinct. Just sayin’
Blade the Horse didnt get his contract renewed
Much to my warped sense of joy, there was the ‘gore-fest, disgusting, make me look away in horror, boak inducing’ scene too. All I can say is I'm so very glad that smell-a-vision doesn’t exist.
Yup, come Friday night, Ill be tuning in to see more zombies. Feeling a bit of an expert now after all these zombie books, TV shows and films I’ve been watching, I’m not sure I ever really want to be in the position to draw on that knowledge though.
