Coming Out of the Closet

I suspect that, for those who know me, your heart just skipped a beat and the first thought that came to mind was, “WTF!!! No way!!!”  Well, you can ease your mind, that’s not the closet I am exiting.  Also, if you know me, what I am about to write will not come as a big surprise.

I have told anyone who wanted to know that I am, and have been for the better part of the last two decades, a moderate Republican.  I tend to support a more conservative view on fiscal issues, and a more liberal view of social issues.  I understand the government’s need to spend money to support and advance the country’s needs, but I want to see it done responsibly, with plans for paying back any borrowing in a reasonable period of time.  On the social side, I have made it very clear that I am Agnostic where religion is concerned.  If you are an adherent to one of the many religious views present in this country, I do not expect you to live by my tenets, and do not support any legislation that would prevent you from living according to yours according to the rights granted by our U.S. Constitution.  Neither, do I support any legislation which would infringe on my rights, or those of other citizens with other more secular viewpoints.
 

On the fiscal side, I am troubled frequently by the more liberal side of the spectrum’s view that they can fix all issues at the same time, and just go to the taxpayers anything there is not enough money to accomplish their goals.  We have so many problems in this country that the only way to move forward is through a systematic prioritization of a fiscal plan that will never be capable of solving every at once.  I also believe that, we as a society need to support a social safety net.  Yes, there are those who will abuse it.  But, look at the corporations that abuse the subsidy programs put in place to help advance our economy. 

Now, let spend a little time looking at the gross national debt(GND)  If you look at the chart in the previous link, you’ll find that the GND peaked in the U.S. just after the end of World War II, and began to be erased all the way to the Carter administration (1976-1980).  Ronald Reagan came in to office and we saw his trickle down theories enacted, lowering the effective tax rates, while a massive increase in defense spend was also taking place.  The GND at the end of the Reagan/Bush era had risen to a level not seen since the Eisenhower administration in the 50s.  Now enters Bill Clinton and we see the GND begin to decline, to the point that Clinton actually handed his successor a surplus situation.  That successor, George W. Bush, immediately chose to give that surplus back instead of using it to pay off a still large GND.  Additionally, Bush then proceeded to prosecute two wars, one of questionable strategy, and one based on complete and utter lies.  It should also be noted that his administration chose also to borrow the money to finance these wars, so we saw the GND begin to rapidly climb again.  Not to mention, that at the end of the Bush2 reign, the economy was in shambles and on the verge of complete collapse, because of business deregulations.  Enter Obama, and a economic situation which leaves him the choice of running up the GND or let the economy crash completely, and a Congressional body whose minority party is set only on seeing him fail, using a deficit and a debt situation which their party was chiefly responsible for creating as their whip.  One last note here; during the Bush2 administration, a temporary tax cut was enacted which was scheduled to expire during the next administration’s cycle.  I have to give credit to Bush’s advisers on this one for absolute deviousness.  Given the political environment of the time, and GOP administration would surely extend it, while a Democratic one would be accused of the same old tax and spend party. 

As for my socially liberal leaning side.  I am publicly Pro-Choice, while my wife and I are personally Pro-Life.  We would never consider terminating a pregnancy – unless the life of my wife were in danger.  Those who know me well, know that our first child was born with serious medical conditions, and yet we went ahead and had a second child knowing the potential.  I continue to be Pro-Choice as I do not think it is my right to tell any woman how she should deal with her own situation, that is a discussion to be had between her and her doctor.  If you are Pro-Life, I have no problem at all with that view.  But only where you are concerned, you don’t have any more right to tell someone else what they can and can’t do with their body or life.  And, as far as I know, no is requiring that even consider abortion as an option for your life.  Now on to Gay Marriage; there are those who claim that marriage is a sacred only institution.  While it may have started with some sacred religious foundation, it was long ago removed to a secular world.  Where it once may have been a sacred religious contract, it is now a secular social contract.  It is currently limited to male and female, but requires no conditions that the couple be of the same religious belief, or even have a religious theology.  You can be married without a religious ceremony, but you cannot be married in a religious ceremony without first acquiring the appropriate government sanctions.  It is a secular event which can also hold a sacred meaning if you choose.  Again here, we see that term “choice.” 

Now let’s consider the current Republican political party.  The GOP that exist today has moved so far to the right at anyone to the left of Mussolini is considered a liberal, and the only negotiations they are interest is that which give them exactly what they want.  I know that the previous comment is harsh, and many will take offense.  But, any honest read of the press in recent weeks should lead a thinking human being to the conclusion that the GOP is not interested in lead this country forward unless that leadership gives them complete control to tell everyone how they have to must lead their lives.  A review of history, particular of Europe in the 1930’s, I think very profoundly supports my view. Those in control of the today’s GOP have demonstrated that they are willing to lie, cheat, to achieve their ultimate goal, the theft of the American Dream from all but those they believe are worthy – a very small group which includes themselves.  They have spent about $55 million in 37 attempts to repeal “Obamacare,” knowing full well that it wouldn’t make it passed the Senate.  A right leaning report for a large mainstream news organization was just caught lying for the GOP, There is an alleged IRS and AP scandal that the GOP is just salivating over without any real evidence.  And, just one more event to support my views, we saw not long ago a few GOP representative vote against any aid to the victims of hurricane Sandy.  Those same representative went crying to Congress for financial aid for their constituents when a factory exploded, destroying the factory and much of the nearby town.  Hypocritical?  I think so, and there is no room in their pup tent for me.

So, I am coming out of the closet…  No, not that closet.  I have to accept that in today’s political landscape I, like many others like me, am a liberal.  I know that there are many good and honest conservatives out there that don’t condone the activities of their party, but, until they are willing to stand up against the tyranny that is the current GOP, we are on a dangerous course that could set back the course of our country, if not destroy it completely.  We need to stand up, if don’t want to see this happen.

So…  I’m out of the closet, anyone want to join me?

 

Your comments or questions are always welcome.  If you have something to add, please feel free to contact me at mr.grumpyguy@gmail.com

 

 

Food for thought

For the few readers that follow my blogs, you will notice that I haven’t written much of late…  It hasn’t been for want of topic or absence of thought, which has never been a problem.  This drought has been, like so many others, an ability to focus on a topic or thought to completion.   This time the new variables contributing to the concern of this moving focal point have taken me down a different path.  I think part of my block is result of trying to focus on what I thought I wanted to write… rather than focusing on finding that topics I really feel a passion to write. 

Recently, I was listening to one of the Sunday morning political shows and heard a couple of more moderate conservatives – Yup, it wasn’t a Fox News program – proclaiming that that issue of Gay Marriage rights should not be before the Supreme Court, instead the question should, more logically, be left the individual states to decide.  I disagree, and not for emotional, religious, or anti-religious reasons, but rather, simple logic legal grounds.

First, let’s remember that the idea that marriage is simple a sacred endeavor, ended long ago.  While a male and female couple can go into any church of their choosing to be wed, the marriage will not be recognized legally until the license is filed with the appropriate government entity.  And, that same couple can be married by a variety of non-religious entities, and still have the marriage legally recognized with the submission of a properly endorsed license to the government.  So…  The idea that marriage is some sacred religious event to be protected from any and all desecration is ridiculous.  I would contend that, divorce is a greater sacred defilement of marriage, and yet, I see no campaign to legislate against it.  Marriage is, and has been for many decades, a legal issue.

But more importantly, I believe, are the thoughts that came to me during that news program…

Allowing the issue of gay marriage to be legislated on the individual state level creates a dangerous environment.  Even more dangerously on the local, county or city level.  My wife and I as a heterosexual married couple can go to, or reside in, or take a job in any state in the USA, and have that marital contract recognized with all the associated legal rights without question, regardless of what state originated the contract.  Any LGBT couple legally married in a state recognizing their union, would be restricted to living or working only in states that recognizes such marital contracts.  An even more dangerous environment is created by the Supreme Court allowing the individual states determine their own constitutionality of Gay Marriage.  Individual states, once ruling by their constitutions the definition of marriage, could then begin to legislate penalties such marriages.  Imagine, an LGBT married couple traveling through a traditional marriage state, being challenged to legally prove or disprove their status.  In Arizona today, you can be stopped for being Hispanic, simple to prove you have a right to be in the country.  Do we allow law enforcement to stop a couple for being gay?  Imagine checking into hotel in a traditional marriage state, or not being allowed to check in, because of your marital status, or even having your hotel door kicked in by the police because of that status.  I know this may sound rather draconian, but, when you taken into consideration the money and effort being expended by some organizations to prevent gay marriage, it is a reasonable assumption.  The significant portion of the funding for Prop 8, here in California, came of Utah.  You make the connection.  Or, what about the Westboro Baptist Church, using the burial of US Servicemen and woman as their venomous outlet to protest the gay community.

There is nothing in all of this that purports to assert that any religious entity must conduct, support, or condone such marriages, nor is there any requirement that they change their view of marriage as a sacred contract.  There are many religious viewpoints in this country and we cannot legislate for each and every one of them, without violating the rights of others. 

Unless we are willing to preserve and protect the rights of all citizens in this country, none of our rights are guaranteed.  Yes, we live a society that believes in majority rule.  Fortunately, we have an overarching document that is designed to prevent the majority from trampling on the rights of the minority.

This is most definitely an issue which should be decided on a federal level, and with the Constitution as the basis for its resolution, not religion.

Your comments or questions are always welcome.  If you have something to add, please feel free to contact me at mr.grumpyguy@gmail.com

 

A Perfect moment

We spend too much time searching out an unattainable ideal.

A perfect life, which cannot be had…

We spend too much time creating an unattainable ideal.

A perfect entity, which cannot be seen…

We are human… a perfect life, a perfect entity will never exist.

But perfect moments can…

Search not for that which cannot exist.  Instead…

Recognize those perfect moments when they happen

That moment when you find your one true love
Your heart filled with so much anticipation, you feel it might burst…

The moment when you look into your newborn’s eye for the first time
You heart filled with so much love, you feel it might burst…

The moment when that special musical piece crescendos

You heart filled with so much joy, you feel it might burst…

That moment when that a thought crystallizes into complete clarity

You heart filled with so much harmony, you feel it might burst…

That moment when you first step onto Main Street

You heart filled with so much peace, you feel it might burst…

Cherish the perfect moments of your lifetime

These are the gifts of this life we are given

 

A New Endeavor

I am kicking off a new Blog, which I am calling Windows To My Spirit.  I was going to call it Window to the Soul, but that name was already taken on BlogSpot, and I think spirit is a more appropriate description anyway.  I think the other blog I’ve been posting to recently may be seen as offensive to some, and while that was never my intent and I have tried not to be overly critical, I think it may work better to have a blog site with a less pithy and anger invoking title.  So… This Blog has been inspired by certain revelations I have recently experienced, and I am going to explore what all this means to me.  I hope that you as a reader can find inspiration from my experiences.

Those who know me will tell you that I make no secret of feelings and views of religion.  I am not a fond proponent of any organized religion, and find most theological texts fail the test of logic, reason, and time.  While I do and will continue to hold religion in serious question, I try not to bash individual religious believer (I know there are those however who may feel differently about my intentions.)  While, I believe most are as misguided, as they believe me to be, I think most are only trying to live their lives as peacefully as possible with those around them.  Many, I have found have an honest moral code at their core which go much deeper than any religious motivation.  But, there are also too many who use the religious beliefs as a means to negatively impact the lives of so many others, and far too many others allow this to happen unchallenged.

All that aside, I do believe in the idea of spirituality.  You can choose to call it what you like, but, there is without doubt a special quality within the human species alone, which with no connection or attribution to religion, I consider to be our at the core of our spirit or soul if you like.  Yes, I believe we all have a soul.  Some will argue that all living things have a soul; others will claim it is the possession humans alone.   I tend to side with those who believe that all living things have a soul, as I believe the soul is really no more than the energy encapsulated in our bodies.  Regardless of your view, I think it is safe to say that humans do possess something special and unique to each of us.  Mechanically speaking, the human brain really works no differently than that of any other animal’s brain.  Electrical impulses transmit information to and from the brain to the rest of the body and stores historical data about those transmissions. But, somehow the human brain alone appears capable of feats demonstrated by no others species and a body designed to turn those mental feats into a physical reality.  There is one capability which I think is at the core of the human soul, that thing that makes us unique and special.  The human alone on this planet is the only creature to my knowledge that creates solely for creativity’s sake, and consumes the creative product solely for entertainment purposes.  As I think about this idea, even science is a creativity endeavor.  What other creature on this planet looks at his or her environment and asks, WHY?!?  And then, proceeds to test that why.

The ability to learn, innovate, and build, beyond simple survival tools, is one demonstration of this creative talent.  But, the ability to create and tell stories, and the collection of these stories in books, movies, art, and music is the most special demonstration of human creativity, with art and music being the most universal expressions of pure joy.  There are stories told every day in almost all aspects of our life, those who know me are very aware of my affection for the stories told in Disney Theme Parks, and Disneyland in particular.  It is this creation and collection that encompasses what we call today, the entertainment industry.  Strictly speaking, your life as an animal receives no biological value from reading and book, watching a movie, or listening to music…  But, think about what your life would be like without these things.  As a human being with creative needs and desires, one could argue that, while you don’t need these creative outlets, you cannot truly survive without them.

Creativity will out…  I believe every human spirit will find a creativity outlet one way or another.  Where the creative soul is being nourished and nurtured, others can witness great beauty and joy.  Where the creative soul is being nourished but tortured, others can observe great pain and tragedy.  Either of these provides the observer, as well as the creator, with beneficial value and insight into life’s experiences.  But, where that creative being is starved and suppressed, the fallout can be devastating.  I have come to a belief that a significant portion of the negative events we experience or witness, on an almost daily basis, can be attributed to a long starvation, and in many cases the destruction, of that perpetrator’s creative soul.    

I may still post on the other blog from time to time, and I will definitely continue my Disney History journey and blogging about it, but this blog will become a creative outlet for my writing.  Whether it be poetry, short stories, essays on life, philosophy and spirituality, maybe even a few pictures here and there… the purpose here is to find ways to nourish my creative spirit and allow it to shine.  You are welcome to come along on my journey.

Your comments or questions are always welcome.  If you have something to add, please feel free to contact me at mr.grumpyguy@gmail.com