Chandira- Say Hi to Ran back for me. I’d look forward to reading his thoughts again.

Yes- exactly, we finally have to accept that life extends beyond the cradle provided by mom and dad. And it’s true, that if we on;y want someone else to take care of us, we may not like too much how they do it. Which is why we must use our voices.

BonJ- Nice to hear from you again.
Good points too about needing people to run the government, but we still have to work to be more efficient. Efficient AND effective government is the goal, I think, which may be accomplished with a lower total number of government employees, all doing a better job with less red tape.

See you again!

I think it’s laziness, that shock at discovering ‘WHAT? Life? I have to DEAL with this shit??’ when we’re first born. Life is an effort, to most of us. We’d rather somebody else took over. I know I would. But, then look what happens!! We only have ourselves to blame. lol

Batts- Thanks. Although I eschew political parties in general, in favor of non-partisanship, I think that in a political party system, representation is hardly served by two main parties. Third, fourth, and even more viable parties would be a better reflection of the populace. Perhaps I could support a Common Sense party, provided of course, that it maintained its common sense! Catch you later.

Ottman- Your generalities may have rung true in the past, but the current “conservative” administration has presided over one of the largest, most sweeping enlargement of government in generations, so neither party can honestly claim to be about smaller government and be believable. Both are to blame.

Despite the “biggest turnout in decades” the number of eligible voters who actually voted is still pitiable. If the truth were to be told, notwithstanding “scientific extrapolation” of non-voter beliefs, there has been no real mandate for some time, save for minor issues here and there.

Term limits are certainly a possibility for maintaining a “fresh” legislative branch, and to some degree I believe they serve a good purpose, but their current applications aren’t necessarily thought through completely. But I’ll get to that later. But you’re 100% right about the pork and the duplicity.

But these problems scream out even more for people to vote rather than throw in the towel and hide their heads in the sand.

Great comments, as always.

Chandira- Welcome back. I miss Ran’s blog too.

Yeah, that Oedipal thing can really foul things up, eh? People only grow up when they have too, and anything that can delay that from happening is embraced as a good thing. Is it laziness? Apprehension? Uncertainty? It is all of those and more, but that, as they say, is the nature of life.

But reliance on an obsequious “dad” can be lessened without total comprehension, sort of a learn as you go program. We need to start by telling the truth and then gently push (or sometimes heartily shove) each other in the right direction.

Hope to hear from you again!

Web_loafer- Drop by again sometime. And spread the word if you’re so inclined.

Windspike- It may be a challange, but it’s when you feel no hope that the massive shout of voices in the ballot box can be effective. What better slap in the face to the corrupt officials of today than a 100% turnout which turns them out. It would seem that it would be easier to increase voter participation in the midst of hopelessness than when things are going great…

David- Good advice for everyone. It really doesn’t take much, since they get so little input. A few hundred voices make them sit up and think a little harder.

God Bless America, God Save The Republic

We also tend to wrongly think “God” is an entity apart from the people, whether we believe in that God or not…
What I feel needs to happen is for us to stop doing that, feeling a need for somebody else to take responsibility/blame and just damn well grow up! People are never going to start growing up unless they get this, fundamentally, as a bodily realization, not just an intellectual excercise. WHich it isn’t even that yet, for most people.
Oh crap. We’re screwed.. 😉