Debate Part 1 - Politics

While I put my twitter account on hiatus, I do check my DM messages. I made the mistake of reading and responding to a blogpost someone sent me. The blogpost spoke vehemently against US Presidential  candidate Mitt Romney, comparing him to Hitler and calling him the antiChrist. Why? Because Romney is Mormon.

*sigh*

I started my response by saying I don't prefer to discuss politics. My political point of view runs along these lines:

• I chose to be "Independent" because I had to choose some party when I registered and I wanted neither Democratic nor Republican. Sadly, Joe Lieberman (a Republican wolf in sheep's clothing) switched to the "Independent" party when he lost the Republican primaries one year. Now I search for another non-affiliate party. 
• The leader we choose should be chosen not based on the group affiliations, the amount of money he has (or raises for the political campaign), nor the color of his skin, but by the content of his (or her) character.
• I believe strongly we should have a legitimate "None of the Above" option on voting ballots - from President to Town Clerk. Too often we are left to decide who is the "lesser of the two (or more) evils." If we could vote "None of the Above" and force those who parley for our attention and votes to get out of the way, perhaps better choices would rise. Or perhaps politicians would spend more time resolving real issues and spending less time campaigning.
• I believe strongly that ANY political leader who has any say in a budget should live on minimum wage for at least 5 years - without using any savings (including a mortgage-free home) and without breaking any laws, including "working under the table" (cash only, no income taxes). In all honestly, those who manage to live as such at or below poverty level have a MUCH better sense in how to budget than those who can loose a few thousand dollars without a concern.
• I believe we should eliminate the Electoral College in America. That was established when it took weeks to send a message and the country was far smaller. Now, every single vote should count.
• I also believe that EVERY American 18 years or older should have the right to vote. Sadly, there are parts of this country where people are no longer allowed to vote - even though they are legitimate US Citizens. The laws require the people have certain ID's (like a State issued Driver's License). Not everyone drives. Even the State issued, non-license ID's cost a great deal of money. If you had to choose to vote once per year or eat for a month, which would you choose? Sadly, that is a decision some are forced to make. Then, there are the homeless. Whether these people reside in a temporary homeless shelter, live in their car or are in a cardboard box on the street, they can not obtain these ID's for they do not have a legitimate "home" address. Even if they have a Post Office Box to receive the mail, the laws clearly indicate that is not good enough to obtain the "proper ID" needed to vote. Many of our poor are unable to vote in our election systems.

Sadly, I also believe that no matter how strong the moral character a leader has, it will be SORELY tried in the viperous den of DC... There are very strong influences to protect what they have built there, and way too many corporations have strings tied to the politicians.

• Thus I also believe there should be no corporate campaign contributions. There should also be a law stating that those who contribute can NOT influence decisions after the election. Oh, how quickly campaign dollars would dry up if that came to fruition.

Did you know that when America was founded, those who were its first Senators and House Representatives were VOLUNTEERS! Yes, they did not receive a penny (or even half-penny) for their work. They did so because they loved their country. That is why politicians have so much vacation time; that was when they were to go back home to work on their farms and businesses to earn a living for their families. Now they earn millions, have full-paid benefits that most of us can only dream about, including extravagant health-care while millions go without it, and even paid room and board while they "work" in DC.

- ESA

Favor Returned (Story)

Originally published in a fanzine, I thought to share this fictional story with my readers as it relates to both gratitude and America's start. It's not a "Thanksgiving" story, but it does start in the winter of 1777...

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Favor Returned

20 December 1777 - We finally reached our winter camp at Valley Forge yesterday. It's defensible and almost pretty with the fresh blanket of snow. I've been assigned to help build the huts, which gives me a chance to wander into the woodlands for building supplies. It's not soon enough, though. The tent leaves me chilled to the bone as my bedroll and clothes are threadbare. While I was in the woods gathering logs yesterday, I spied something. The snowfall made it difficult to see and when I turned my head, all I saw was a flash of something. The figure was too small for a man, but not like any of the fauna I've seen in Pennsylvania before.

21 December 1777 - Some of the men in my regiment also saw the strange beings in the woods. We discussed it around the fire last night and debated whether the wee people were in America as well as back home in our dear Ireland. When the last of the milk rations were distributed, we decided to follow an old Irish tradition. We each set aside a portion of our milk in one tin. Then later we brought the tin into the woods at twilight. Of course, we all hid ourselves to watch like a pack of young lads. And surein' they came! I don't have the words to describe what emerged from some shadowed pocket of the woods. The details were hard to made out for we only saw their silhouettes against the purple/red western sky. But we could definitely tell that they all wore clothes and walked on two legs. They passed the milk tin from one to another and each drank in turn. Even in America, these wee people seemed both similar and so different from us.

22 December 1777 - We found the wee people's footprints in the snow when we returned to the woods. They were not a dream. We agreed then to keep setting aside a portion of whatever rations we had to share with them.

15 January 1778 - My stomach hurts something terrible from the hunger, and my bones ache with cold. Many of the men in my hut developed a rattling, tearing cough and fever. Many are sick in the camp now; foraging and hunting fill my days. Surein' there's a little food left for the wee people with so many camped here. I keep leaving some firecake out for them each night. I don't have time to wait and watch anymore; we have to keep watch that the Torries aren't sneaking up on us.

21 January 1778 - I hear supplies may arrive from Congress soon. The rations are even poorer with so many of us quarantined. Doc says everyone in my hut has "new-mone-ya." I've got a fever, but my cough isn't that bad yet. I can't stomach any more firecakes and the icy water makes my stomach cramp.

29 January 1778 - I dreamed that wee people came into our hut last night. They made us drink some warm broth by the light of the candles they brought. It was bitter and hard to stomach, like the herbs my grandmother gave me when I was sick. It was strange being tended by these folk that acted like men, kind and gentle, yet seemed so strange. Though none of them spoke to us in English, their smiles were warm. Then they stripped us carefully of our nightshirts and bedrolls and placed us in finer, warmer ones. We slept wonderfully well then.

30 January 1778 - They visited again last night, all the wee people. One was female with hands soft and warm when she touched my forehead and pulled back my hair. She was dressed similar to the way our women do. The others were dressed in clothing akin to that which our men wear, wrapped up snugly for warmth. Their eyes shone bright in the candlelight and their skin, where visible, shone like the moon. They quickly and firmly returned us to our original clothes and bedrolls - both cleaned and repaired during the interim. Then we were fed more broth with some potato and peas. There was also honey-sweetened tea. It made me feel a bit stronger and eased my fever and the weight on my chest. I don't think I've ever slept better that night.

12 February 1778 - Doc finally let us break quarantine and leave the hut. I can't believe how many people are gone. Many left, many more died, some are still out foraging. But I'm not as surprised as Doc. He says he can't figure out how we all recovered so well and so quickly - let alone survived - when so many others died. The men in my hut believe my story; some even remember seeing them too. But many others tell me it was just a fever dream.

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- ESA

Puzzle (Story)

This was forwarded to me by email. Enjoy. :D

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A father wanted to read a magazine but was being bothered by his little girl, Shelby. She wanted to know what the United States looked like. Finally, he tore a sheet out of his new magazine on which was printed the map of the country. Tearing it into small pieces, he gave it to Shelby and said, 'Go into the other room and see if you can put this together. This will show you our whole country today.'

After a few minutes, Shelby returned and handed him the map, correctly fitted and taped together. The father was surprised and asked how she had finished so quickly. 'Oh,' she said, 'on the other side of the paper is a picture of Jesus. When I got all of Jesus back where He belonged, then our country just came together..'

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- ESA