The De-unification of the United States

Again, I need to preface all of my political ramblings with the disclaimer that I don't much care for or follow politics, and as such sometimes I can be accused of "talking out of my ass" or being misinformed.  Still, I do hear things from time to time and I am sure that my common sense and integrity is stronger than that of almost all politicians...

So, without further ado:

1 - When the hell did the country become so divided?  Why are all politicians seemingly on the far left or the far right?  Why is "moderate" a dirty word?

2 - What the hell happened to "sportsmanship" (for a lack of a better word)?  Didn't there use to be a time that even if you lost an election you supported the winner?  Particularly when that winner is the President of the United States and he is chosen by the people he is meant to represent?  Why can't politicians get this?  Why can't they support "the winner" and those that elected him.  [This is not a pro-democrat argument but a pro-UNITY argument.]

3 - Why can't we get stability in this country?  Obama passed his "Obama-care" for example.  I understand it was/is controversial, but it was passed.  Now, before it truly even goes into affect Republican candidates are declaring that if they are elected to Presidency they will repeal it.  What the hell is that?  Obama spent a great deal of his time in office struggling with all the push back from the Republicans and making concessions and "deals" to finally get it passed and now Republicans are saying "eh, never mind"?  And then what?  They'll spend half of their presidency fighting to put something else in place?  This isn't progress.  This is the definition of running in place. If politicians could stop politicking for just 2 years we might actually get something meaningful.

4 - While we're on it, why the hell can't someone just go into office and let their accomplishments speak for themselves?  I'm sure I've talked about this before, but it's ludicrous that our elected officials spend most of their time in office campaigning for re-election or their next move.  DO THE JOB YOU'RE ELECTED TO and if you do it well enough trust that will be enough.  You are paid way too much and compensated way too greatly (pensions and life-time health benefits, for example) to do NOTHING... 

New Years Resolutions...

From someone else (but still worth a read):

http://thoughtcatalog.com/2012/20-new-years-resolutions-for-20-somethings/

Don't Give Up, Don't Ever Give Up

I am no televangelist and I don't want this blog to turn into anything nearing "preachy", but it is that time of year....

Anyway, not all of my readers are sports fans and many may have never seen this.  But, on so many levels, it really is that good. 



Thanks Matt D for reminding me!

Give A Spit About Cancer!

Read this:  http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2011/11/22/want-to-make-a-difference-occupy-amit-today/

Watch this:



Join this: https://www.facebook.com/#!/amitguptaneedsyou

Think about this:  The big picture!

Check out this: http://www.marrow.org/

Thank you!

Thanks Giving

Yesterday I donated a little to some charities that are important to me.  I'm not saying this for praise or recognition, but rather because it brought up some questions...

For one, let's just say I donated to a non-profit whose mission is research, and proposedly development of a cure, vaccine, or at least a medical protocol to increase standard of living or life expectancy.  My question is then, what if they find a cure or vaccine or a medical protocol?  Who pays for the treatments?  Notice that this not a drug company and as a non-profit it isn't meant to make, well, profit, but of course there are costs incurred beyond the R&D...  So, what happens if one of these companies is ultimately "successful"?  Who overseas the use of donor funds or how the treatments are administered?

And, not-for-profit doesn't mean that a company doesn't make money.  It still has employees and management and executives who need to be compensated.  So, isn't this a dilemma?  If a companies mission is to develop a cure for something and it achieves this mission doesn't it put itself out of business?  Isn't this about as clear a conflict of interest as anything has ever been? 

I write this with hesitation.  I certainly hope people donate to causes they believe in and I don't mean to shine unfavorable light on any organization which is out to do good.  Rather, I'm simply looking to ask the right questions. 

Occupy Everything

The "Occupy Wall Street" movement has spread... Several states and major cities have taken to the cause.  Problem is, most have no idea what this cause is and almost everyone has their own agenda.  I've heard reasons for the movement ranging from "the top 1% need to pay their share" to "I need my student loans forgiven" to "hey, everyone else is doing it".

I am amongst the first to criticize the government.  If you read this blog, you know that.  However, when doing so there must be some sensibilities taken into account.  Can a government simply "forgive" student loan debt?  For many reasons this is infeasible. So to ask demeans the more reasonable "requests".. And, regardless, this is such a myopic issue... as is the concept that the top 1% need to "pay their share."

Again, I have my issues with the government and I'm all in favor of getting on a soapbox (see this blog), but what is this movement saying?  What's the true message you're trying to get across?  What's the end goal?  And please, please, please don't tell me "we want to be heard" or "we want to let the government know we're not happy"... You have your forum.. what do you want the government to hear?  What are you not happy about (be specific and for the love of god prioritize!)?

Interesting Read

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7021031/the-nets-nba-economics

I found this to be quite an interesting read.  What I wonder about most, however, is what happened to the residents who were displaced under the guise of "public use".  And will they be able to afford this use this "public" property? 

I'm pretty sure I've already blogged about the sham that is tax-payers paying for stadiums that they can't afford to go to, and now we have people being forced out of their homes for stadiums that they can't afford to go to?  Wow.

May Be Inappropriate

But still funny and on point.

USPS

I imagine most of my readers have heard of the struggle of the United States Postal Service.  I imagine that most have heard reports that USPS services are going to be reduced and possibly even eliminated altogether.  I just wanted to take a minute and tell you that this is not something that should be taken lightly.  I don't have statistics (though I'm sure you can find them easy enough online), but believe me when I say that we NEED the USPS. 

I know that in these times of online billpay and paypal the envelope and stamp is nearing obsolescense, but what about birthday cards, wedding invitations, seasons greetings?  Believe me, FedEx and UPS would love to deliver your letters, but that's not cheap now and would only become more expensive without USPS competition.  And let's not forget FlatRate boxes for our Ebay and Amazon sellers.

Finally, consider the unemployment situation in this country.  Does anyone reading this think we need more people jobless?  

I could end this post with a call to action: stop paying your bills online, but I know that's unrealistic.  Instead I will just ask you all to at least follow this situation.

Yellowcard - Believe

There is so much to say today and yet I can't seem to say any of it as eloquently as I think is necessary.  For this I apologize.  Still, I write.

10 years ago I was a freshman in college.  Barely.  I hadn't been away from home for much more than a few weeks.  I hadn't even adjusted to my new class schedule or getting up in time for my 9am class.  Most days I slept through my alarm and found myself rushing out of bed, slipping on my rollerblades (class was a good 25 minute walk and I take pride in how quick I could run up 4 flights of stairs in my skates) and speeding to class still in my pajamas - never turning on the TV.  For some reason, on September 11, 2001 my alarm actually did it's job.  But instead of the Sportscenter that morning you all know what was on the television. 

And while most of the world watched for hours stunned and unable to look away I spent those hours on my dorm room phone (I didn't yet own a cell phone) trying to reach my mother.  My mother who worked just a few blocks from the Twin Towers.  To this day few things infuriate me more than the automated words "all circuits are busy, please try again".  After racking up quite an expensive phone bill (dorm room calls were like $0.10 per minute) I learned that my mother had been picked up by an amazing cab driver and had walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and though shaken, she was OK.  The day after 9/11 I got my first cell phone.  And it wasn't long after that my mother quit her job in the city.  And to this day she won't take the subway. 

Anyway, that's my story.  But today I think of those who didn't make it home.  I think of the bravery of the "Heroes of 9/11" and the kindness of strangers towards one another.  I think of those who've lost their lives in the ongoing fight to keep this country and the world a safer place.  I think of those families who've endured the loss of loved ones throughout it all. 

I can't believe it's been 10 years.  It feels like a lifetime ago.  I can't believe it's been 10 years.  It still hasn't ended.