September 11, 2012

• Green Day

  Politics is always a big deal not only on Xanga, but all over the internet. And actually not just the internet, but, well pretty much everywhere. Everybody has opinions. And as I like to say, opinions are kinda like assholes, everybody has one and they all stink. There is so much divide all over the place; I can't remember a time in my lifetime that the country has not only been so divided, but also so heated and hated. People don't seem to start off in the reasonable middle; they seem to start off at the crazy extreme and try to find ways to get crazier in their overreactions to what the other side is doing or saying. The rhetoric is so vile and like nothing we have ever seen before. But yet, one thing that everybody seems to agree on is how awful and broken the system is.

  Both the Democrats and Republicans are so far off from what they used to be that they are virtually unrecognizable. It is hard to say at what point each side ceased to fight for what was best for the country and start focusing on what is best for party or for the special interests that paid to put them into office. No politician seems to be honest and genuine; they all seem to be full of shit and say whatever they need to say to get elected or get more money to get elected.

  And speaking of money, that is a big problem with what is wrong with politics today. Do you realize that it is going to cost over a BILLION dollars for Romney and Obama to run for president this year? A billion fucking dollars. Raise if your hand if you A. think that is is totally fucking nuts B. know that we can come up with at least a billion better ideas as to how to spend that money and C. it is totally fucking nuts. For crying out loud, a billion dollars spent on something everybody pretty much loathes. Have you ever actually liked a political ad or known anybody who enjoys political ads? Nobody likes to keep watching commercials ripping politicians. People hate coming home and hearing another stupid message on their answering machine about politics. And I know everybody is damn sick of driving down the road and passing three dozen political signs. But yet, this is what the billions are put into: political ads. And for what? To help elect another fucker who can honestly care less about you and only wants the power that comes with politics.

  A few years ago a third party emerged called the Tea Party. They claimed to be a grassroots political campaign that was not run by money or sold out to special interests. But, that lasted about five minutes before they got involved with the Republican party and they became just another political organization bought by special interests. While I strongly disagree with just about everything they stand for, I like the idea of a third political party to come in and shake things up. Unfortunately for liberals like me, there is not a liberal version of the Tea Party. Unless we do something about it.

  Since about 2004, I've been a big Obama supporter. I voted for him for senate and of course president. While I do agree with him on many issues, he has done a couple of things that really ticked me off. For example there is his use of drones to take out enemy combatants in the Mideast. Certainly it is better than the alternative of boots on the ground that the Republicans would no doubt want to do, I simply can not support an idea that results in the death of innocent people. Sure, we have killed many enemies with the drone attacks, but we have also killed a lot of innocent people as well. As a peace loving liberal, I find it hypocritical to support such atrocities.

  Also, there is an issue with the leaks of national security secrets which may or may not be done by the Obama administration. I am at heart, a cynic. The administration says they have not been leaking these secrets but being a cynic, I find that hard to believe. When the Bush administration outed an undercover CIA agent, I was outraged. To remain consistent, I should be outraged with this as well. So those are two of the reason that I'm not sure I can vote for Obama again. Then again, I live in Illinois. We will be heavily supporting Obama so my measly vote one way or another will not make any bit of a difference.

  So who to vote for? As far as I'm concerned, Mitt Romney is not even a option. I have long been intrigued with the Green Party though. In fact, I even voted for the Green Party candidate for governor, Rich Whitney, in 2006 instead of voting again for the now infamous Rod Blagojevich. For those of you not too familiar with the Green Party, they share many of the same views and values as the Democratic party, only they do not take money from special interests. And a big part of their platform is the environment, which is an important issue for me. Their candidate for president is a lady by the name of Jill Stein. Her running mate is a lady by the name of Cheri Honkala who has an amazing story to tell and who has overcome a hell of a lot in her life.

  Now it should make it clear. I fully know that the Green Party will not win. I'm realistic to know that either Obama or Romney are the only two who stand any chance of winning. And for that, I am rooting for Obama to win. But, he does not need my vote in Illinois. The Green Party does need my vote. Perhaps you live in a swing state and if that is the case, then Obama probably needs your vote. But, maybe you feel he does not deserve to be re-elected. If that is the case, than I encourage you to take a look at the Green Party as an option. Look, the day has come to look at other options. Our country needs to fix our broken political system. And while right now a third party can not win. And probably not in the next few elections. But, what about down the road?

  • 10:20 pm
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