So busy the past couple of days that I didn't get to post. Was home for a little bit on Wednesday but not really long enough to post an entry before we went to get our pictures taken. And then there was dinner afterwards and I was already beginning to doze off amazingly. And last night band practice had to be moved up an hour. I was going to post before work but I had to go in earlier than I usually do to be able to leave on time after work. And then after practice it was dinner time and I was dozing slightly during two reruns of Robot Chicken.

But here I am. And I am going to help myself wake up by doing my political rants. Please note that I normally do anything I possibly can to keep myself out of politics. I will normally just end up pissed off so it is best to avoid all politically related things. But at this time of the year, with the nonstop commercials, one really can't completely avoid politics.

Rant Part A: Can I tell you how much I hate political commercials?? I mean, the idea of it would be fine. People are going to need to be elected to office to keep our government going to continue our way of life. And how would we get to know those who are running without something like a commercial on television to tell us the good points of the politicians to help us decide who we feel would best represent us personally. They should stick to, "Hi. This is who I am. I am running for the office of __________ and the following are what I believe in and would stand for if elected. Thank you.". But is that what the commercials are any more? Hell no! The commercials are mudslinging events where each candidate tells you how immortal/inhuman their opponent is and why you'd be an idiotic moron to even CONTEMPLATE voting for them for even a second. So after watching many of these commercials inadvertently, I realize one thing: We're screwed no matter who gets in! These commercials are so depressing because it becomes all about voting for the least scumbaggish person. By the end of a commercial apiece by two candidates running for the same office you can't help but realize that you really want neither and you're forced to ask yourself the following, "Which ones of these candidates will screw up things the least amount? Which one won't try to rape my children when their school takes them on a field trip of the Capitol Building?". It's such a sad state of affairs. And that is why I rarely, if ever, vote. Don't get me wrong.... I LOOOOVE freedom and I love the right to vote and yes, I do feel guilty about not voting every single year...but unfortunately we do not have enough say BEFORE we vote as to who is even eligible to be voted for. And it's like, "Do I want some of pile-of-shit A or some of pile-of-shit B?" when all you want to do is not have shit.

And the voting is a great segue into Part B:

It's daunting to vote for someone because you realize that you get one vote to pick someone to make the correct decision for you for a long time. And in the case of the President of the United States of America...if you're elected and then re-elected...you have 8 years of decision making. Well at that point we're all left totally out-of-the-loop. What if the President were to suggest a recommended course of action and then leave it up to the citizens of the nation to then vote on that topic? Sure..it could take a bit longer but it could be done within a day or two and that can even help prevent rash decisions (EG. Congress giving a certain current President complete power over declaring war). I think that it should have been like this: "Current vote topic: Liberating Iraq. Go to your nearest Fire Station and vote 'Yes' or 'No' to this proposed action of the US Government. It would be OUR children/husbands/wives/fathers/mothers/sisters/brothers/cousins/etc fighting in the "Non-War". It would be OUR tax money going to fund all operations. I can understand that the government may be conserned that we wouldn't make the best decision because we'd be afraid of losing loved ones. But if the cause were really THAT worth it, people would vote with their minds and take action I believe. But don't make us fight however many wars and endure weird law changes (Who is REALLY against Homosexuals getting married that hasn't had the fear of God put into them? And what exactly are the reasons?) just because there was one vote cast once. Now I am not trying to point to only one particular President, just using current samples. But this idea came into play in the past and will, without a doubt, do so in the future as well.

Democracy IS awesome. But it could be made better. Why is Democracy in the US (just about) always a vote between TWO people? How can you possibly get the person that would best represent anyone else with only two options? Just wondering.

Anyway. Happy Friday! Cheer up!

That's exactly what it's like in Australia! Two options. Only it's compulsory to vote, so we get fined if we don't make a choice.

And it's the same here with the adds too! I think they attack their opposition just to hide the fact that they don't actually have any sound policies (at least that's what one of the parties is like here) or if they do, it's really not in the public's interest, or it's pretty much the same as the opposition's.
What is one to do?!
» sarah on 2006-10-20 08:13:39

You can't just go by what the commercial says, 'cause then you'll think all candidates are piles of shit. I think the best way to get to know a candidate is to read up on 'em, read up on their stances and their previous voting history when it game to legislations as opposed to taking what their opponent says at face value.
The president doesn't have the power to declare war. He has the right to ' committ troops, ' via the War Powers Act, but only congress can declare. We're not in a true democracy my friend, just a republic. I was taught to believe we were, which fueled my idealistic beliefs that we were in a true democracy, but I'm kind of glad America isn't. Think of it this way: if we were in a ' true democracy,' where the people voted for everything, segregation would still be the norm. The Warren court was in the minority of the nation, but they had the power and the vision to see what was best for the country to change the course of time. At the same time, our government has lied to us abunch, from the bay of pigs operation to the war in Iraq, but I think that if we the people voted on everything then we'd be in even worse shape.

The parties, republican and democratic, are run by interest groups now days and not the people. Interest groups and lobbyists that push money into legislation get their way, and its they're who senators represent now days, the people who pay their extremely low salary as opposed to the people who elect 'em. Hopefully that'll change one day.
» Dilated on 2006-10-20 09:44:29

whew too
lucky for the us in SG here. we dont have any political ads or what nots. NONE at all. It's a taboo or some sort. If there are campaigns running, jus heaps of flyers and people going around the heartland mingling with old folks to get their votes.

whew.

thank you too for the comment.
TGIF!
=)

» laziewong on 2006-10-20 11:30:54

I pay no mind to those commercials. But they do get annoying...and I can't throw a baseball bat at it because A. I don't have a baseball bat B. it's my television.

They're dumb+stupid=who believes them anyway? Thus, pointless.
» Silver-dot- on 2006-10-20 11:50:31

hey hey...nice comment on the political stuff. I was beginning to think that those commercials were getting quite annoying myself. It's all they play for commercials anymore and it may sound weird, I would almost rather see product commercials!

Sounds like you've been quite busy :) Take some down time for yourself...you need it!
» lazypuppy on 2006-10-20 01:20:16

Aaaaaah I just got home from school and now I get to read a huge essay of a post!

Anyhow, there are other parties, but I guess the general public is too stupid to care. :/
» randomjunk on 2006-10-20 06:00:20

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