While the federal government soap opera continues in Washington, there have been a couple of alarming things in the last couple of days happening in the environment.  A giant iceberg twice the size of D.C. just broke free and the temperature in Antarctica hit 69 degrees!  Now, I know that climate change is cyclical and humans have very little, if any impact…or at least that is what idiots tell me…but why can’t we at least attempt to mitigate the change.  Oh, that’s right, because we could potentially have a negative impact on the economy.  I know most of us can see how moronic this way of thinking is.  It’s been said by plenty of people much smarter than me that going to a more sustainable, “green” economy really doesn’t have any drawbacks other than the minor pain of the transition.  If operating on wind, solar, geothermal, and any other renewable source doesn’t ultimately “save the planet” and we misinterpreted the human impact on climate change (which is highly unlikely), we are left with an economy which has created new/long term jobs, we have a cleaner environment, and the U.S. is self sustaining.  You want to get out of the Middle East? Stop using their oil.  You want a better trade deal?  How about the U.S. being at the forefront of renewable technologies. Can you say “net exporter”?  The benefits go on and on.  Using the economy as a justification for continuing to support the oil and coal industries while the environment goes in the tank is misguided and dangerous.  These industries are subsidized for a reason and it certainly isn’t for environmental stewardship.

Something an old college professor told me…”Don’t let them tell you what you heard.” If you watched the state of the union, don’t watch Fox, MSNBC, or any of the other news outlets that will feed you what you want to hear. There are “fact check” websites/news sources out there and they’re easy to find if you are so inclined. That professor’s other piece of advice once these speeches are over? Turn the TV off.

I follow Alyssa Milano on Twitter, not because of any shared political beliefs or invaluable insight, but because of my crush on her in my early teens.  Anyway, I do get juicy tidbits from her every once in a while, including this one.  This woman, Pam Keith, has some pretty impressive credentials but she had to stoop to the level of attacking a woman’s appearance?  Wasn’t there another Woman’s March just recently?  You hate Trump because of the way he judges women and then you do the same?  We can go back to a time where character assassination based on physical attributes was more acceptable but I don’t think my crush on Alyssa would come back with it.

Daughter of Convicted Terrorist Running for Office in THIS State

This article drives me crazy, not just because of the misplaced fear but because it comes from a conservative leaning website; Conservatives being the biggest perpetuators of the “anybody can work hard, no matter what their situation, and achieve great things in this country” mantra.  Well, we have found the exception that Conservatives will subscribe to; if you are Muslim and your Dad is a Muslim shitbag, you cannot become a politician. There, we’ve narrowed it down.

Remember that scene in the first Pee Wee Herman movie where Pee Wee and Francis just kept saying that phrase back and forth?  I feel like I am watching that scene over and over with this whole Trump impeachment trial.  Is the impeachment justified?  Well sure it is!  I think…maybe?  What the hell is it about again?  All I really know is that the Biden’s were the masterminds behind this whole thing.  Yes, I do understand what is happening but because I watch and listen to various news sources, my brain feels like it goes through a sausage maker by the end of the day.  Maybe that’s the goal, though; make me exhausted enough where I really don’t care anymore.  I think many of us feel that way.  The sense of yearning for the truth and desiring honesty is overcome by the “can’t we just get this shit over with” feeling.  On those few occasions when I’m not exhausted by the charade, I get angry that this whole “Biden thing” is part of the impeachment argument. It’s like the Benghazi thing that’s been used as a rebuttal for years; indicative of the way many political arguments currently go.  Let’s not argue facts or have a good discussion about the topic at hand.  Instead, let’s decide what the topic is and then I’ll just yell out “Benghazi” or “Bush” or “Libtards” and then we’ll really solve some problems.  Did I say I’m exhausted?  Maybe I’m just sick…Obamacare!

I was having a discussion today with a friend of mine and he basically said, “I don’t give a fuck about politics as long as the economy is strong”.  Isn’t that the case for most of us?  I’m not strictly talking about the economy, but really anything in our lives.  I would love to go through my daily life only having to care about family, friends, my job…my dog.  The problem is, I really don’t think any of us have that luxury anymore.  Our government is not acting in our best interests but many of us will say “I hate politics” or will simply post a meme supporting their political viewpoint every once in a while without fact-checking.  We all have to start caring a little more and I am not talking about buying into the manufactured conflict shoved down our throats by the general media, I’m talking about finding media that is factual, looking for alternative news sources…and getting involved; even if it’s writing a letter.   I fear that even my friend who does not care about what happens in Washington or in our local politics will have no choice but to be involved if we continue down this path.  I do know that even if he is not involved, he will be affected, as we all will.

So this is from the local political realm but I think it is indicative of our current state on a national level.  I’m gonna insult you, tell you I’m open-minded, and then insult you again because your different political views offend me or simply make me angry.  This dude wants to shout people down with a megaphone in the interest of civil discourse. This is the distraction that those in power encourage.  This isn’t violent but it is disgusting and it only pulls our attention from the issues and having those “problem solving” discussions.

I know we have more important things going on in the world of US Government (political theater) but a question popped into my brain when thinking about the upcoming election…

If someone brings a relative to the voting booth who has Alzheimer’s and tells that person who they were going to vote for, is it voter fraud if they tell them the incorrect person?

I ask because I spoke with someone who did just that during the last election and I was genuinely appalled.  What are your thoughts?  Voter fraud or just a shitty thing to do?

“…unless you have a job.  Healthcare is not a right, it is a privilege!”  No, I don’t believe this quote, but this is what I heard at work yesterday.  This person genuinely believed that working (ironically, being able to work) is what should allow you access to a doctor.  Now maybe it’s just me and my sensibilities, but getting people healthy should be a priority whether they are working or not. I just don’t get the logic; you need to get yourself healthy enough to go to work THEN you can have access to a doctor.  During the discussion yesterday, they then said that these people will go to the hospital and get treated anyway and “we” will have to pay for it.  Well, true, but what if this person who has metastatic melanoma could have been treated months or years ago if they could have gone to a dermatologist?  Which one do “we” want to pay for?  Aside from the cost, let’s get real, though; we live in the wealthiest country in the world and can waste millions of dollars on such things as a political campaign but we don’t want to keep our fellow citizens healthy because they can’t or won’t work?  Yes, I said “won’t” because of all the things we shouldn’t allow for those who choose not to work and want to live off the State, withholding healthcare shouldn’t be one of them.  We have the ability to take care of each other.