So I’m sitting here now trying to write a story based around the Warhammer 40,000 universe in an attempt to see if I can actually spin a good story and send it into any publishing magazines that would take it. But, I’m also watching this PBS show (called NOW) about various topics. One talked about Medicare and it’s cuts being legalized by the Governor there, another about oil companies funding government, and a third about gay marriage with an interview of Cal Thomas.
It may sound sad, but I’m having a hard time listening to the facts on this show. I think (here comes the basic Michael Moore insult) that it has become hard for me to believe ALL media and documentary things that are presented to me. I’m going to give the show the benefit of the doubt though.
Now, everything is making great points about things, but I have to keep reminding myself that there is a (quite heavy) liberal bias on the reports and I’m trying to struggle to keep a centrist point of view. I believe some key things that I need to keep reminding myself of: less taxes, smaller government, anti-lobbying, against FCC and any federal or government censorship, and I’m for the individual’s right to make choices, though not so much that they harm or hinder other people’s rights.
That said, I think I’ll take some stabs at these issues on my own and try to put a bit of common sense into these arguments. I’ve studied both sides of the issues and I’ve thought to myself this question; “What really makes sense in my experience of PEOPLE.” This question helps me keep away from ideology and it’s muddying of debates to the point that everyone is spewing out bullshit at each other.
With prescription drugs prices going up and people fleeing to Canada to get their drugs cheaper, many say that the government has the obligation to pay for the things people need to survive on. In Alabama the republican governor there (a long time lobbyist, which equates to political whore) decided to cut Medicare on account that the budget is out of control and needs to be kept under control. Many say he should raise taxes on cigarettes where the tax is 17 cents to a pack and 71 cents on the nation-wide scale, a big difference. But is it really the governor’s fault that this thing is a problem? Is it the government’s fault at all? I don’t think so. I think the problem is twofold here. First, more people are being diagnosed with mental and physical disabilities that might be helped without the intervention of drugs. You hear of lots of kids who suffer from anxiety, depression and ADHD and they are all immediately given medication to cure these things. Maybe some of these kids who don’t suffer from the extremes of these undeniable abilities could be shown a drug free way to try and control the symptoms. Second, maybe its time there was a way of regulation to get the prices down. Some of these prices are hyped by companies to make a profit when they know people can’t live without the products they create. This is done through “research” and other little things that drive up the cost of products.
So, do I think the government should pay their way? Maybe a little, but we need to fix the two underlying problems before things really change.
Another big problem in this country is the oil crisis. Some “think tank” groups say that there is global warming and we have ten years of oil left and some say there isn’t any warming and that there is at least fifty years of crude left in the world. Both of these groups are “think tanks” for organizations that want to push certain political agendas, as are most “think tank” groups. First, the fact that oil does provide a LARGE portion of political contributions to republicans is a fact. But is it really the true problem? I don’t think so. Unions, teachers groups and the NAACP all provide huge contributions to democrat campaigns. The NAACP provides contributions that dwarf the money they actually use to help blacks get educated (the best chance they, or any group for that matter, have of bringing up their income levels). This is unacceptable. The problem here is lobbying (as it can also be said for big pharmaceutical companies). We need to do away with lobbying and campaign contributions totally. Now, I don’t mean to go “Civil Rights movement” and make a contribution affirmative action for those parties that don’t get anything now. I think that there should be a flat fee given by the government (I’m not sure on a price, so don’t press em on that) to political parties that have enough press in national elections. Maybe even just give a flat fee to the Republicans, Democrats, Green Party and the Libertarians. Any use of outside fees will violate the law and your flat fee will be removed. 427 groups (like moveon.org and some other conservative group I can’t remember right now) cannot give any support in the various forms of media out there. Any support given MUST be in direct campaigning to people (town conferences and the like). Once you get these contributions out of government and show some more parties to choose from (the ones I choose are two “smaller” government parties and two “larger” government parties).
You have many rights in this country. You have the right to protest, but you can’t break the law (dumb hippies… you really think that setting fire to a car and breaking a business window is a “peaceful” protest? eat riot shield). You have the right to decency in the media, but you can’t just shut Stern down when there is a viable radio dial on the “talky machine”. Being able to marry whom you want should be one, right? This might surprise you, but I support the issue of marriage for gays. Do I condone gay relations? No, I’m very against it. But who am I, really, to actively stop people from doing something that I don’t like? I can’t dictate what they want to do, only they can. Though, as Cal Thomas pointed out quite adroitly, this may confuse some as to think that since gay marriage was legalized then polygamy and incest marriage can be allowed as well. This does pose a significant social threat because I know there’d be some sick asshole trying to justify those two obviously evil things with precedent towards the gay marriage rights movement. So, the two choices are thus:
(a) Should we allow gay marriage because two individuals have the right to love and marry who they want without shallow, biblical pricks getting in the way?
(b) Should we stop gay marriage here to deny the inevitable question of whether incest and polygamy are both ok as well and not the sick “you-should-be-shot-for-thinking-about-them” things that they ARE.
These issues can all be decided once you step back from the right-wing and left-wing bullshit ideology and look at everything in perspective. “Is there no other way to do this/lower costs/etc”, “What actually makes sense here?” and “Should I really be telling someone what they should do with the moral clarity of God?” are questions you should all ask yourself and try to separate yourselves from the Cal Thomas and (sorry for grouping you with the tub-o-cheeseburger grease, Cal) Michael Moore assholes of this world and form your own decisions with the perspective of the big picture.
Author: =][= Morok
Email: evilcanofjoy@kidsloveguns.com
