Posts Tagged ‘politics’

I’ve been in a tizzy over the anti-woman campaign that has sprung up via elected officials. For days I’ve tried to write a decent-sounding post. It’s hard to do when my mind races off in a hundred different directions. Because so much crap is being aimed at us.

Abortion

Birth control

Rape

I’m just waiting for the memo telling all working women to return to their homes so the men folk can support us like God has intended. Followed by the memo to not worry our pretty little heads because it’s making us unattractive.

Then I got The Phone Call.

By the way, we never ever answer our land line if we don’t recognize the number. All we get are telemarketing calls. But I was expecting a phone call and answered.

Too bad for Raja Krishnamoorthi, because that phone call cost him a vote. Maybe two if I can rile Jim up into a tizzy also.

The person on the other end of the phone asked for “James,” which was a sign that this wasn’t a waited-for phone call. When I explained that Jim was at work, the young man told me, could you please let him know we would like his support of Raja Krishnamoorthi in the March primary.

That was all. Ummm, I am quite clearly an adult woman. But the young man didn’t ask for my vote for Mr. Krishnamoorthi. He wanted me to give Jim a message…apparently not caring about my vote.

Except I am the political one in our family. I am the one keeping up on the issues. I am the one researching local candidates, picking out the best ones to vote for. I sure as hell share that information with my husband.

I am the one who has the time to be political. I am the one who cares deeply about some issues.

But Mr. Krishnamoorthi’s representative just lost my vote. And planted the seed for this blog rant. And I will tell my neighbors this story. I will tell strangers on the street in my district this story.

This is not the time to ignore a woman, Mr. Krishnamoorthi. Not in my world, anyway!

PS I have the young man’s telephone number on caller id. We could call bomb him to help change his approach…just kidding. I think…

I found this and thought, “only 70%?”

Whether you’re Republican or Democrat, you’ve got to admit our campaign seasons are very unproductive. Candidates on either side of the aisle say and do anything they can to get elected. Or, as in the case of Sarah Palin, to get rich.

We’ll be treated to lies and innuendos. Scandals new and old. Tales of things they plan to do when they are elected that are quickly forgotten when the ballots are counted.

Then the television commercials begin. Unlike other advertising that is policed by someone (I assume anyway!) the candidates and their staff can say and do anything they want. Outright lies? Who’s gonna stop them? They write the laws that protect themselves!

By the time election day rolls around, we’ll be tired of the lies. Some of us will go to vote to hope there will be a change. Some of us will stay away, figuring nothing will ever change.

Still, only 70% of Americans are dreading this cluster f***? Who are the other 30%? The politicians themselves?

Let’s brainstorm here. How can we, as citizens, change the campaign season? Anyone have any ideas? I’m open to anything…

I like to think I am a woman of my word. If I make a promise or a commitment, I do my best to honor it. I don’t do things willy nilly.

But I did something last November that I am not proud of. I offered to volunteer for my county’s Democratic commitee and completely flaked on my offer.

Why?

It wasn’t because I don’t have the time. I do. I have more than enough time.

It wasn’t because I am not a strong Democrat. I am.

How do I put this nicely? I did it because I am sickened by today’s political climate.

Everywhere I turn I hear terrible things that our own government does to our own citizens. All this while passing judgement on other countries and other cultures.

The current slew of politicians were elected mid-term to fix the economy. And what have they done? Read the constitution. Yup, that created a lot of jobs. Attacked women’s rights. Hasn’t that battle been fought and settled already? Attacked immigrants. Attacked poor people. The only really positive thing they’ve done is reward the rich–which is a kick in the pants for the rest of us who aren’t rich.

Here’s today’s article that got me seething. A Georgia politician wants all miscarriages investigated to ensure they were not self-induced abortions. I’m guessing that some women voted for this Bobby Franklin. (Bobby Franklin is frightening. Check out his wikipeida page!) Shame on you. Shame on you for letting loose a man such as this! Think about your fellow sisters who might have to suffer the dual trauma of miscarriage and an investigation.

I just can’t volunteer for any type of political entity at this time. Because I am disgusted by all of them. Disgusted with right wing politicians who believe that their brand of religion should be practiced by all. Disgusted with Tea Party members who protest against the very things they are probably utilizing in their own lives. Disgusted with politicians who believe that they should have a vested interest in my uterus–and yours!

So I apologize to the DuPage Democrats. I had great intentions. But I just can’t honor them at this time. Because, frankly, I no longer have faith in our political system. Politicians have failed the American people in the most fundamental ways. They are taking us backward in time. Honestly, I’m a little frightened of what’s to come.

Am I the only one who’s already done with this upcoming election?

I’m tired of the daily email messages asking for donations for candidates not on my ballot. I’m tired of the daily mail from local candidates spouting negativity about their opponents. I’m tired of the nightly commercials on local network television spouting aforementioned negativity.

I’m tired of politics and politicians. Completely. Totally. Absolutely.

I don’t know if politicians ever truly represented their constituents. I do know that today’s candidates are all self-serving. Yes, all of them. Well, except maybe presidential candidates because you have to have a love for our country to want the job. High stress, low pay…who wants that?

It doesn’t matter if you’re Democrat or Republican, it’s hard to find someone you trust enough to send off to represent you. Don’t even get me started on the Tea Party. I can’t take them seriously when all I see are a bunch of older Americans more than likely collecting social security checks and receiving Medicare ranting against socialism. Can’t have it both ways, folks!

Jim had a great suggestion during the last presidential election. Each candidate of any office gets an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper to tell what they will do if elected. I like to think that someone who chooses to use that 187 square inches (yeah, I did the math!) to do anything other than state what their positions are on the issues will not receive many votes.

Voters should get to grade those elected on how well they stuck to their positions. Before we give them raises. No more voting themselves raises while the country suffers through recessions and economic trying times. You get a raise when you earn it, like the rest of us! Some companies take pay cuts to stay in business, maybe elected officials should try this to balance some of the budget.

To hell with freedom of speech. Television, news, and all communication sources shouldn’t run any ad or story without checking all the facts. Be true news sources, not money-grubbing businesses. Plus, I don’t want my tax dollars used by someone I didn’t vote for to send me propaganda about his opponent that isn’t truthful.

In a country that gets up in arms about Photoshopped model photos on magazine covers, we’ve been awfully lax about letting potential politicians play fast and loose with facts. Let’s forget Jennifer Aniston’s mouth grooves and concentrate on something that’s really important: our future and the future of our children.

Let’s not forget the separation of politics and religion. Seems the older and more sophisticated our country gets, we’re forgetting its building blocks. I don’t want a candidate anywhere near my laws who wants to tell me who or what to worship.

I don’t want politicians who are whining and wailing about too much government telling me what I can and cannot do with my body. Seems being involved with my reproductive health is about as invasive as it gets.

I wish I had solutions. But I don’t. I am a frustrated voter who had high hopes for this country. Every day my hope becomes dimmer and dimmer as I watch celebriticians* pushing fringe candidates that wouldn’t have gotten anywhere if people did their own vetting. If you think these people really love America, test it. Ask them to do something without a monetary reward. Ask them to speak on behalf of a candidate they believe in without payment. Ask them why their candidate is really the best. And they can’t use the words “God” or “salvation” or “sinner” anywhere in their rhetoric.

Crap, I need to be an elected official!

*celebritician=celebrity and politician. First coined here.

I’m inspired by Nolie at Nolie’s Place to write this post. I started thinking that I should do a post about what I feel about sexuality a few months ago. I was asked by a young Twitter follower if I still liked him “even though I’m gay.” My response was, “why should that matter to me?”

But it was Nolie’s post that really drove it home. I have to make a statement. Of support.

Seriously, your sexual preference is no business of mine. It doesn’t make me like you more or less. It doesn’t make me enjoy you more or less. Because you are you.

I think it’s hard enough to find love and companionship in this world. So hard that we can’t be putting limitations and parameters on anyone. We should rejoice–loudly and with lots of laughter–when anyone finds love. Love is something to be nurtured and adored, not hidden and scorned. Everyone deserves a wedding celebration, no matter how large or small. Spouses should be introduced with pride!

I know some of you are reeling in disgust because you completely and utterly disagree with me. You have prepared scripture and a pile of reasons why certain choices are sins against God. I feel sorry for you.

This is a world of love. It is a gift to love and be loved. It is our job to spread love, not hate.

I made this video for a satirical news show. But he couldn’t use it because I was clearly reading from a script. So I tweaked it and am letting you view it!

I am not and never have been a Sarah Palin fan. I think she’s a blight on the butt of all intelligent women.

I’m being clear because I don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea!