"If you're young and conservative, you have no heart. If you're old and liberal, you have no brains"

The is something my mom has said to me when I start arguing for something she feels is a little too liberal for her.

I like to consider myself an independent. If I have to nail down a title, I am a libertarian (as opposed to a Libertarian). I voted straight ticket Democrat in the last two elections (the only two elections I have voted in), though I'm certainly willing to vote for a reasonable Republican (I like Gingrich and Guiliani, though I'd probably still vote for Gore over either of them).

I consider Atlas Shrugged to be the most influential work of fiction in my life.

I was a finance and economics and accounting double major in college.

I hope all of the above adds up to something of a clear picture of my political-economic views.

That being said, there are a couple of thoughts I have had recently that are interesting and challenging.

1. The Democracy Now podcast from a few days ago (check it out in iTunes) featured an hour long speech by Howard Zinn (author of A People's History of the United States). In it, he makes a strong case against war (for those that have read Zinn, this should come as no surprise). Two subpoints:

a. He spends a good deal talking about how and why governments inherently lie. Despite all the rhetoric about "representing the people" all governments, democratically elected as well as tyrants, are in the business of staying in power. This often leads to keeping secrets and lying. Our government has done it from the beginning. If challenged, I will give examples.

b. Right about the time I was asking myself, "I agree that war is bad, but what about WWII?", Zinn says something to the effect of, "yes, then there was WWII, the war I volunteered for and proudly served as a bombardier. I thought it was the good war, but even that war poisoned everyone involved. It started out as the good guys (the US) versus the bad guys (the fascists), but soon the good guys were acting like the bad guys (firebombing of Dresden, Hiroshima and Nagasaki)." He is right. Our country's history of war is at odds with our history of financial and personal freedom. One will eventually have the end the other.

2. Globalization, outsourcing, and technology have done a great deal of good for the world. The Wal-mart effect has helped everyone in our society and many others (those that buy and produce). Even so, an uneducated person in our country today will find it difficult to have the same economic status as that same person 50 years ago. There are many reasons for this, none malevolent in my opinion, but it is still a tragedy that so much more effort must be expended to achieve the same level of success. I have no answer for this.


Technorati Tags: politics, economics, Atlas Shrugged, Howard Zinn, Globalization, Outsourcing, Democracy Now

Glenn Beck hits a new low

In case you were wondering how low Glenn Beck could go, he just accused Congressman-elect Keith Ellison, who happens to be Muslim, of being a terrorist. If this were on the Colbert Report, it wouldn't be funny because no one would believe it.

It's not me...it's you

Wife of pastors take note: if you husband turns out to be a homo, it may be because you let yourself become a disgusting fatass.

Yes, the reason why Ted Haggard "bought crystal meth and threw it away" (I officially deem this to be the new euphemism for being gay) is because his wife "let herself go."

I think I just figured out the origin of the idea that homosexuality is a choice. Once upon a time, there was a prissy little boy who grew up in a repressive household where he taught at home and at church that fags were going to burn in hell. He asked what a fag was, and they told him that they were people who liked other boys. Well, he liked other boys, but he sure wasn't about to tell everyone that he was going to hell!

So the boy grows to be a prissy little man who is smart, organized, articulate, and well dressed (as homosexuals tend to be) and he meets a girl that thinks he is cute. He could take or leave her, but figures he needs a wife in order to get a job as a pastor.

Soon, he is making the rounds with the different sins, and he finally gets to homosexuality. From his perspective, it was a choice: a choice between being openly gay, or being a closeted gay with a wife. So he preaches that being gay is a choice and everyone believes it.

Think about it. What completely straight person believes homosexuality is a choice? To believe that homosexuality is a choice is to be able to look deep inside yourself (assuming you are straight) and say, "I could, under the right circumstances, enjoy being with another man." I'm sure there are a lot of straight people who could own some of that statement, but for the straightest of straight, that statement should chance some minds.

Military newspapers call for Rumsfeld's head

Wonkette is reporting that the commercial newspapers for the four major branches of the US military are calling for Rumsfeld's resignation. Quote:

Rumsfeld has lost credibility with the uniformed leadership, with the troops, with Congress and with the public at large. His strategy has failed, and his ability to lead is compromised. And although the blame for our failures in Iraq rests with the secretary, it will be the troops who bear its brunt.

This is not about the midterm elections. Regardless of which party wins Nov. 7, the time has come, Mr. President, to face the hard bruising truth: Donald Rumsfeld must go.

Rummy, it's time to go find some cushy private sector job that is going to pay you too much. Leave our military alone please.

On death and living

A very close friend of my family is dying of cancer. She is a 50ish mother of two who I have known since elementary school. I went to school with her son since fourth grade and was his roommate for quite a while. I know her.

My mother was dying of cancer many years ago, but she lived.

The question of why my friend's mom is dying of cancer (she may still live, but the odds are slim) and why my mom is still living has probably never been asked specifically, but has been asked in abstract since the beginning of time.

Add in the common view of the JudeoChristian God into the mix, and the question becomes even more difficult (or perhaps the common view becomes more difficult to hold).

I will probably mourn her loss as it will literally be a loss to this world. Her children will lose a mother; her husband will lose his wife; her friends will lose their friend. This world will be different, if ever so slightly in the big picture.

What I will try my hardest to avoid is mourning the loss of a view of God as a being who brings only happiness to those he favors. I try to avoid that belief as, rationally, it doesn't make sense to me. At the same time, I'm not sure I would be able to avoid "blaming" God if my wife or parents were to die tragically.

Ultimately, I want to use this situation to remind me to embrace what is important. I don't have much time left.