True State of the Union

America is in trouble, this is not news, but the bigger problem lies in not just Washington but in the state capitols all over the country. Our leaders have forgotten us. Don't fall for their redirect about actually caring and doing things for the American people. We are smart enough to know that bull crap isn't steak even if the chef tells us different. Yet our leaders continuously tell us that what they are doing is what's best for us.

Our system of government is dying if it's not already dead. In party fighting has long been a sad standard for American politics, however, with this new administration the people have been caught in the middle. We are being told bi-monthly that our elected representatives are wasting time on the job and that there is a crisis. And who is the one reporting all of this? Who is the one that choices to air out grievances on nationwide television instead of sit down and actually talk to those whom have a different opinion? Non other than the President of the United States, who's party actually controls Congress. And while Congressional members bad mouthing the president to news organizations is not uncommon, how often did we see any of the previous Presidents bad mouth their own party members when they controlled 2/3rds of the branches of government.

The Republican Party is dead, sorry but it's true. Like a chicken with it's head cut off, the only reason the GOP is still running around thinking that it's got life is because the Democrats can't finish them off. The GOP has run it's course and should consider that, as political ideology, it would serve the American people best by destroying itself and splitting. The infighting between the younger "core" of Republicans like Meghan McCain and those who have been there like minority leader (ironic since it's an old white guy) Mitch McConnell have all but destroyed the party.

The truth is, Republicans like Ms. McCain, Ron Paul and even Rudy Giuliani should start their own party, but are too afraid to because of our make believe idea that we, as a "democracy" only have a two party system and anything more would destroy our government or allow the the "other" party to win. Guess what, they already have and your party has no real viable solution for the 2012 presidential election. Sarah Palin can't be taken seriously as she quits her position, and you have governors caught waist deep in scandal.

The Democrats, as of the election of President Obama looked poised to finish off the Republicans with a death blow not seen in over a hundred years. They really harnessed the untapped power that was the youth vote by presenting Obama as the "voice of a new generation". This young, hip, black man was going to change the old white ways of Washington with "change we can use". And while I understand empires aren't built in a day, it does take one crushing blow to destroy them. President Obama was elected, as were many other Democrats on the basis that they were going to fix the economy, they were going to bring our troops home and that it wasn't going to be "politics as usual" in Washington anymore. President Obama was going to be the next FDR. The problem lies in the fact that the youth movement really is ADD. Obama didn't say he was going to bring our troops back, he made it perfectly clear he was moving the theatre east into Afghanistan. He told us the economy was only going to get worse before it got better, although he did promise that the economic stimulus that he sent out would keep unemployment at 6-8% which as now gone to almost 10% nationwide, with 14 states at or over that margin.

Don't let the markets fool you. Just because there is a gain in trading doesn't mean the economy is doing better. The market is run by used cars sales men who want you to think that the product your buying is in the best shape it's ever been in. Take gas for example. Prices last month kept rising at the pump while the price of crude oil dropped.

President Obama forced through Congress his stimulus package, a package that no member of Congress had read. Now he wants to rush through a Health Care bill. Defenders of the bill, those who want it passed quickly use the argument that this is something they've been talking about for a while. I'm all for the idea of this bill, I even agree that those families who make a million dollars should help pay for those who can't afford it. I do disagree on any and all raising of taxes on the middle class or a taxation on soda. The government already has enough vice taxes as every time they need a dime they head straight for cigarettes or alcohol. Like many of those who oppose the bill, there needs to be some language in there about abortions. My own opinion of abortions doesn't matter since the alternative of back ally abortions is not an option, however with the feeling that many Americans have about abortion, it would be wrong if tax payer money went to abortions under this health care reform.

On the subject of taxing, I believe that the city of Oakland got it right. They have passed a bill that will increase the taxation on legalized marijuana for medical usage. The tax increase from $1.50 per every $1000 to $18 per every $1000 will raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the cash strap city. Even the governator is considering pushing a similar bill that would help raise $1.5 million in revenue on taxes alone, imagine how much it would save tax payers in not prosecuting non-violent marijuana users.

I read an article, I can't remember where or who said it, but someone said that the American people wouldn't stand for it if one day they woke up and the Chinese had military bases on our soil. Well, I say to all of you that they already have. However they are not military bases but in fact are corporations. The Chinese have over a trillion dollars invested in the United States. They have used our economic crisis against us and the government has simply gone along with it because in the grand scheme of life, in a capitalistic society that finds itself in unfamiliar territory, money really does talk. It really is only a matter of time before the Chinese use what they have for their own profit. Like any good investment, China does not want to see America fail, and if and when the United States gets back up on its feet, guess who just funded China's latest crimes against humanity whether it be squashing Catholics, Taiwan, Buddhist, Tibet or any others that oppose them? Yes, the American tax payers.

America, we need to open our eyes to what it is our government is doing. To quote the movie "V for Vendetta": "People should not fear their government, the government should fear its people". We are a democracy where our politicians only do enough to get re-elected. They only care about our feelings and our opinions when it suites them. They would rather listen to lobbyist who represent big corporations or big interest. These are the people, our representatives that are supposed to be OUR lobbyist. Our elected officials, both federal and statewide, work for us, and that is something they need to be reminded of. Maybe its time that we remind them of who their bosses are.

Also, as a side note, coming in August is a special report about the forgotten minorities. With CNN doing a sequel to "Black in America" and President Obama being praised for being the first African American President, we will view the hardships that affects those who have been forgotten, the Native Americans.

Friday Fun April 3, 2009

After a week of G20 talk, joblessness rising, and shootings on the rise, it's time to start the weekend off in a way I truely never thought I would have...a twitter update. Now, I'm doing this because we may actually be making some headway, however truely small it is. And to add on top of it all, I'll answer the ultimate question of one of America's most beloved almost first daughters...Meghan McCain.

Let me start off by saying that I like Meghan McCain. I think that if she wanted to, she could possibly do wonderful things for her party. So far she doesn't have any dirt on her, no rumored videoes of her doing coke, no sex tapes...all adding up to perfectly good reason's to follow her on twitter like we do. So lets start off this little journey...

Ms. McCain likes to inform her followers about her newest peices in The Dailey Beast. So she sent out her notice about her favorite freshman congressman from Illinois.

We sent out a reply stating that if you read ours we'll read yours. No respond. Well, Ms. McCain puts out a "Song of the Day" and so we put out song of the week was "How I Can Just Kill A Man" by Rage Against the Machine.

Later in the week she posted "Can I still be a fan of Rage Against The Machine if my Dad is "The Machine".....?"

Coincedence? Probably, I mean why would Meghan McCain want to read our silly little blog for? Or maybe, just maybe, she IS.

So, we will take it upon ourselves to answer your questions. And the answer is, I'm sorry to say...NO! Rage, unlike many other bands found on mainstream media are more then just a badass beats by the band and great flow from Zach de la Roach. Rage Against the Machine is also about the message. It's about anti-Capitalism. While they appeal to this young generation that is dissastisfied with the establishment to the point all you really have to do to win the presidentcy is threaten 4 more years of the establishment. We are SO hungry for change that we ate the word up and turned it into a catch phrase for capitalistic profit. That is not the change Rage talks about. It is the complete oppsite, it's what Rage rages against.

Upon looking back at Meghan McCain's twitter, she wrote that one of her songs of the day was Renagades of Funk. Lyrics of that song, more specifically as it opens, goes: "Renangades are the people, with their own philosophies. They change the course of history, everyday people like you and me."

Well, it is MY belief that your own philosophies can't be conserned with the strenght of a dying party. And now the dying GOP has talk of a mutinious third party. That is great, even if it is lead by Rush. The country needs more parties then what we have. The two party system is not democratic, it leads itself to the rediculous thoughts that we found in the Kerry/Bush elections of "lesser of two evils". At no time should anyone in a "democratic" society say that they voted the way they did because it was the lesser of two evils. Don't vote then. You have just as much right NOT to vote as you do to vote. This country needs to learn that we will do more to improve our nation if we voted based on the people running and less on the party they're affiliated with. And at NO TIME should there ever be a "straight ticket". Take the time out to learn everyone's position and then vote.

Well, back to the mainpoint. I just don't necessarially think that someone so deep set in one party, especially the Republician Party, can truely appreciate the message sent by Rage Against the Machine. But then again, I could always be wrong, maybe she is a fan and can use their message to change the party, afterall, renegades are everyday people like you and me. C'mon!