Are You Plugged In or Un-Plugged?

Tags

Career, habits, Life, Politics, Starbucks

A lot of mornings I will sit at Starbucks before my busy day and just watch people.

Watching people can tend to reveal a lot.

A lot about people’s lives, careers, family, habits and politics.

It is amazing to me what people will reveal in public. You can hear arguments over finances, spouses frustrated over the lack of involvement of their significant other with the kids, bible studies, and even the occasional “catch” up between friends.

In Nashville I will hear about the Tour they are preparing to leave on or the one just finished. The video just shot the new artist that is just not panning out.

The thing that usually strikes me as most is that all of these people tend to think they are “plugged in” to life. Plugged into a social circle that rewards their discussion and in their eyes betters their life.

But are they really “plugged in”?

I too find myself seeking those social connections a lot of days. Looking for someone to catch a word or two with and have some interaction that is not work related or tied to my 6 year old. I especially look for this on the tough days. On the days when I feel my life is un-plugged and falling around me.

What about you? How do you “Plug In”? When do you feel most vulnerable or “Un-Plugged”?

Writers Block

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Education, Faith, Obama, Politics, Religion, Writers Block

Today I sit and wonder, what do I write.

My friends will tell you that I am not usually short of words, but today, nothing.

Nothing about politics, the war, other friends blogs or my kid.

Nothing about Hockey, although a great win last night, Titans or BCS Championship.

Nothing about church, faith, or a whine about what I like to call bad Christians.

Why is it that sometimes we are just at a loss for words?  We are always thinking and moving even in our sleep.  We always have opinions about politics, religion, schools and friends.  We are really always wanting to share something.

So how can it be that with all of this, nothing to write about today.

Ideas?  Throw them my way….but please do not get me started on the BONE HEADED appointment Obama has made with Secretary of Education….and they say he is not part of a good ole boy system?????

Should We Have To Test Before Voting?

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Bill of Rights, Civics, Congress, Foreign Policy, government, Politics, president, senate, voting

Each year American Civic Literacy www.americancivicliteracy.orgdoes a test to see how knowlegable Americans are on Government and Civics.

Well, this year, just as others, proves that not many people are educated in the least when it comes to our Government.

Here were the findings- prepare to be shocked.

• Less than half can name all three branches of the government.
• Only 21% know that the phrase “government of the people, by the people, for the people” comes from Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.
• Although Congress has voted twice in the last eight years to approve foreign wars, only 53% know that the power to declare war belongs to Congress. Almost 40% incorrectly believe it belongs to the president.
• Only 55% know that Congress shares authority over U.S. foreign policy with the president. Almost a quarter incorrectly believe Congress shares this power with the United Nations.
• Only 27% know the Bill of Rights expressly prohibits establishing an official religion for the United States.
• Less than one in five know that the phrase “a wall of separation” between church and state comes from a letter by Thomas Jefferson. Almost half incorrectly believe it can be found in the Constitution.

Americans from all age groups, income brackets, and political ideologies fail the test of civic literacy.

• Americans age 25 to 34 score an average of 46% on the exam; Americans age 65 and over score 46%.
• Americans earning an annual income between $30,000 and $50,000 score an average of 46%; Americans earning over $100,000 score 55%.
• Liberals score an average of 49%; conservatives score 48%.
• Americans who go to church once a week score an average of 48%; Americans who never go to church score 50%.

So here is my question: Should we have to take and pass a test to be allowed to vote?  Do you think based on this information that people have made good decisions on who to elect and represent us?

PLEASE- Educate Yourself Before Voting

Tags

Fact Check, McCain, Obama, Politics, tax cuts, voting

Time to jump on my political high horse and ride…

It amazes me how many people actually believe what McCain and Obama are saying.  Or, let me re-phrase.  What people are saying about them and what their policies are.

Obama ads have accused McCain of wanting to give tax cuts to the oil companies and the ultra wealthy.

The McCain party has accused Obama of being associated with terrorists.

Is any of this true?  Where did you actually hear any of the facts?  Do you believe everything your candidate is saying?  Hope not.

Here is what I see as a problem in this election.  WE are not taking the time to educate ourselves to vote.  We have this amazing gift which is being allowed to vote and I cannot tell you how many people I have talked to that have not watched a debate, read several newspapers, or go on reputable web sites to learn more about the candidates.

People are spewing what they think are facts and in actuality are just crap…on both sides of the isle.  Let me challenge you to visit a site like www.factcheck.org  This site actually is non-partisan (what a concept) and breaks down what both candidates are saying.

PLEASE EDUCATE YOURSELF before you vote. 

A question before I go… Are you voting based on what you hear or what you have gone out and learned?  What are your favorite resources to get the facts?

US Government- Political Nincompoops!

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Clinton, Congress, government, McCain, Obama, Pelosi, Politics, senate

Let me first start by stating in no way would I want to be a Congressman, Senator or god forbid, President.  I think these have become thankless jobs with only a downside.  50% of people love the job your doing and 50% hate it.  Or in the case of the Congress right now, 12% like what you do and 88% don’t care of dislike the job you are doing.

Why?

I think I have figured it out.

I think it is because no longer is a person elected by the people for the people.

It used to be that when someone was elected he or she represented the beliefs of their portion of the country.  In the more liberal areas of the country you would have representative that spoke of the beliefs that were important to them.  In more conservative areas the same, a representative that spoke conservative beliefs.  And from this, you had discussion and in some fair manor for the most part laws and acts were put into place.

One thing that never came into question however was the loyalty of anyone to our great nation.

Where has this all gone to the wayside?

We are now a nation run by Political Nincompoops.  Let me define “Political Nincompoop”.

A Political Nincompoop is a politician who ran on a platform, got elected, moved to Washington, and then forgot that he or she was there to REPRESENT the people that elected them.  In other words, just about all modern day politicians.  I also categorize politicians as Political Nincompoops when they vote for something or go on record stating something and “magically” forget that they said it.  For example…all of the congress people who called for the removal of Sadam but when things did not go as planned, forgot their position or blamed the other party for the problems.  It always amazed me that during the Clinton Administration everyone from Bill Clinton to Nancy Pelosi called for action against Iraq and when it happened no longer did they have correct information.  Oh, and I am not just picking on that side of the isle, the other side has just as much stupidity.

All that said,

How do you decide who to vote for and what characteristics do you find important in your candidates?  Do you think your candidate will avoid becoming a “Political Nincompoop”?  Why?

Now before you send me hate mail and tell me Obama or McCain are not like this I will tell you up front I have at least a dozen talking points that would prove you wrong on both people.

Kids And The Political Press

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congressman, government, governor, kids, Life, McCain, media, Obama, Palin, Politics, press, senator

I can safely say I agree with Barack Obama.

Leave the kids out of this political race.

The press has just gone insanely crazy over the breaking news of Gov. Palin’s daughter’s pregnancy.  Why?  How is this truly going to change how she manages government? 

Now, I am still out on if I like Palin or not and mainly because I do not know her politics to date.  I know the basics and she seems like a pretty decent leader as do the others in this race.  I can also safely say they all have skeletons in their closet. 

What I am curious about is how will the press coverage of this piece affect the race?  Do people really care about this or what her stances are on key issues?  I personally think we are becoming an uneducated bunch of nincompoops when it comes to electing our politicians.

So my question to you is this….Do you think the press should back off the kids?  If so why and if not are Obamas kids fair game?

Does this piece affect how you feel about Palin?  Do you feel it designs how she governs?