THE SHEEP THING

"You're entitled to your own opinions, but not your own facts". ~Daniel Patrick Moynihan

My husband has been saying that a lot of political rhetoric is designed for the sole purpose of appealing to those who can’t or won’t look more deeply into the issues and who will blindly follow, like sheep, those who ring the ‘follow me’ bell.  Instead of educating and helping people to understand the issues, some ‘politicians’ appeal to the lowest and basest instincts of the masses, feeding the fire of fear and hate. 

At first I thought he was being a bit too harsh to both the people and the ‘politicians’ but the more I read and watch, the more I have come around to his way of thinking.  Following the lead of a provocative statement made by a ‘politician’ is an easy way to make a statement, make a stand, have a voice - even if it isn’t your own. 

I was going to provide several examples to illustrate my point but, you know, I just don’t think it is necessary.  All one has to do is to read through any news headlines in a given week and you’ll find plenty of evidence.  Or, better yet, take a look at some the the “factual” political e-mails that get forwarded and forwarded for years without people ever checking the real facts of the matter.  It is scary.  Really.

There are millions of people to whom this applies, and I actually may have been one of them from time to time in the past.  But the ever growing preponderance of the ‘sheep thing’ seems to have seeds in the escalating use of the internet and social media.  It has become far too easy to “share”, “retweet”, “forward” these ‘facts’ to others with just a click of the button and off the story goes to family, friends, acquaintances, strangers in a silent whoosh.  Food for more of us sheep; that is, unless the ‘black sheep’ takes some time to find out the truth of the matter before sending it on its merry way to others.

I’ve actually angered friends and family by pointing out the inaccuracies in some of these ‘factual’ matters.  My husband says I should just ignore them and go about my business letting my loved ones alone with their illusions and believing things that are blatantly untrue or purposely misrepresented.  Let them just 'whoosh' this information to others so that they, in turn, can 'whoosh' it on its way to others while I silently send the missive to the trash can.  Maybe so.  It certainly would return my social world to a calmer and less distressing venue if I just followed along without saying a word; becoming a quiet gray sheep.

Somehow, though, it seems to me that if I love these people, care about them, I should somehow give them the information they don’t have and let them make decisions themselves.  I don’t want to insult them or embarrass them, that isn’t my intention.I don’t want them to think the way I think, that is silly because I often haven’t made up my own mind about what I actually believe - I’m still mulling it over and would love to discuss it on a rational level.  But I do love and care about them enough to want them to think about what they are saying and doing before they do it so that they aren’t placated into thinking that being a ‘sheep’ makes them accepted and loved.

I love them and care about them and trust them enough to share my thoughts, beliefs and opinions with them.  It just seems that this isn’t they way they see it.  It appears that what they see is someone trying to one-up them, hurt their feelings and to make them feel “inferior”.  So, it comes down to my wanting to feel accepted and loved and maybe I can only do that by becoming that gray sheep instead of the black one. 

Can sheep cry?

Ho-Hum "Birther" Rhetoric Has Got To Go!!

Has anything caused more derisiveness lately than the reemergence of the “Birther” argument?  Donald Trump’s exceedingly unprofessional and arrogant approach to this issue appears to appeal to those who just plain don’t like Barack Obama, very possibly just because he is black.  It must seem to these people as if this is a ‘legitimate’ method to ensure he doesn’t run, and therefore, cannot be elected --- again.

This Snopes on Obama's Birth Certificate report contains any number of sound and logical reasons why the “Birther” movement should be put behind us altogether but, alas and alack, it persists.

If you follow Mr. Trump’s inflammatory statement made on the Anderson Cooper’s 360 on Monday night (April 25, 2011) “And a birth certificate is not a certificate of live birth, which is a much much lower standard as you know.”, then I am in deep trouble.  My own “Certificate of Live Birth” is the source document that I used to obtain my U.S. Passport, Drivers’ Licenses, Marriage License, and my Social Security Card.  If that document is a lesser standard and, therefore, unreliable, then I guess a whole lot of US citizens from many states are in the same boat as President Obama.

In less personal terms, I’m wondering what type of “Birth Certificates” all of the other candidates provided to the State Department along with their applications for candidacy.  The Senators who vetted the Electoral College during the election seemed not too concerned until after the election was confirmed.  Can someone tell me why Barack Obama should be held to a higher standard than any one else?  Is it because he is African-American or because he went to a Muslim school at some point?  Exactly what is it?

Let me make this perfectly clear, I am a registered Democrat and I didn’t vote for President Obama.  I voted for John McCain, despite the silly and unrealistic running-mate that he and his party chose.  I didn’t vote for President Obama simply because I felt he did not have sufficient experience to hold the job.  Apparently a plurality of voters thought differently, for whatever reason.  Therefore, he is now our duly elected official. Move on.

The rhetoric of the “Birthers” in general, and Donald Trump in particular, is detracting from the real issues of the 2012 election.  Those important and critical issues such as the budget, the deficit, immigration laws, tax reform, etc., etc., etc. are getting lost in the useless bruhahaha that is the on-going ‘birther’ argument.  Focus on what is real, and important, and what will ultimately define the potential candidates.  Please.

Mr. Trump and Ms. Palin, find a real and valid platform and stop making yourselves look like idiots and big-mouths.  Research, learn, speak to the issues.  Otherwise, you look like ignorant racists, not potential candidates.  Rise above it.  Please.

EDIT:  Maybe this will make it easier to move on, I hope:  White House releases Obama's long form birth certificate.

ALL THINGS, THIS AND THAT - HAPPY

I am tired of the BuDgEt already.  After S&P preempted the discussions with their BOO! tactics, it appears that the bi-partisan VPOTUS led discussions might have a decent chance to work.  So, I’m leaving that discussion behind for the moment and turning to all things SPRING and NEW and FRESH!!

WAFFLES:  I just bought a waffle maker and it should be delivered tomorrow.  Now, it is true that I shouldn’t be finding new ways to eat carbs, but the idea of a crisp, fluffy waffle with melted butter and syrup or with fresh strawberries and whipped cream for weekend brunch?  Can you say YUM?  Now I’m on the lookout for waffle recipes.  If you know any or can suggest a site where I can find the yummiest, let me know.

NEWS YOUR WAY:  Have you seen  TROVE ?  It is a new, clever “Pick Your News By Interest” website.  Love it.  Give it a try.

CAKE:  Check out this yummy “Heavenly Chocolate Cake Roll” that Deb and smitten kitchen have up on their website today.  It is perfectly perfect for Spring Holiday meals.  I’m wanting to give it a try.  I am.  smitten kitchen is a wonderful food blog and if you have any interest in a fun approach to cooking and eating, give it a try!

CUPCAKES:  The adorable and perfectly perfect Grandson is visiting this weekend.  I’m certain that his Mom has plans for coloring eggs and other crafts but I thought that he and I could make these cute cupcakes for dessert:  Cute Bunny Cupcakes  Looks like fun to me!

GARDEN:  The sneaky Clematis that I’ve been struggling to grow in the front yard might actually be under control! For three years I’ve been trying to train it to twine around my carriage light and I might have found the answer, finally!  I staked three sets of garden twine into the ground around the pole and tied the ends to the crossbar that runs just beneath the light.  The clever little plant is already wrapping its tendrils lovingly around the twine and there is a definite, but slow, change in growth direction from horizontal to vertical.  Success at last?  I sure hope so. 

GARDEN: We purchased plants for the rail boxes and herbs for the herb pot.  I was all ready to get to planting Monday and Tuesday but was defeated by rain.  I may try today but may be defeated by laziness and a hair appointment.  Photos to follow when the plantings are done and results start to show.  I just KNOW you all are holding your breath.  I mean, come on...me and my magical green thumb?  Yeah, right.

READING:  So for the last couple of months I’ve pretty much focused my reading on Internet stuff and pulpy fiction on my IPad.  As soon as I’ve finished the #10 Jack Reacher novel by Lee Child, I am going to go back to my hardback books and tackle some literature.  Maybe “Blood Meridian” by Cormac McCarthy or “The Instructions” by Adam Levin.  There are so many more to pick from but those are sitting right on my bedside table and deserve to be opened and read, don’t you think?

I do need both Margaret Atwood and Barbara Kingsolver to publish something new for me to read.  I do love their books.

I’m off now to consider cleaning and planting and loving on the dogs....or maybe just sitting and practicing omphaloskepsis.  Sounds good to me.

DAY AFTER TAX DAY MUSING

Taxes, Budgets, Money, Deficits, Debt Ratings-makes my head swim.  There is a wealth of information out there but a dearth of understandable facts about any of the aforementioned subjects. If you read anything on-line, you can be overwhelmed with information that leads no where in particular and every where in general, a circuitous route to crazy land.  I’m there.  Trying desperately to get out. 

DAY ONE:  GE and Federal Taxes

While the chant goes on “Corporations Should Pay Their Fair Share of Taxes”, I wonder about the logic of it all.  Take GE, for example, did they not pay their “fair share”?  Depends on your definition of “Fair”, I suppose.  There are protests springing up all over the place regarding “companies using loopholes in the tax code to avoid paying their fair share.”

“LOOPHOLES”.  Are these loopholes legal?  An entire bevy of tax accountants and lawyers did what they were paid to do, utilize all the benefits of the U.S. Tax Code and the result for GE?  Well, as a result of General Electric Credit Corp having sustained huge losses and a large percentage of income generated off-shore, GE paid no taxes in 2010 for the 2009 Tax Year.  Sounds awful doesn’t it? 

But, if those “loopholes” exist and are legal, wouldn’t you expect any right-minded person (or corporation for that matter) to take advantage of them?  Wouldn’t their shareholders expect, no, DEMAND that they utilize every advantage at their disposal to improve profits by reducing tax liabilities?  Do you, as an individual tax payer, utilize your legal “loopholes”?  I’m betting you do or your tax preparer does.

Giant corporations are not entirely “evil”, like all people and entities, there is another side.  GE employed 134,000 people in the US in 2009, 154,000 in other countries.  GE and the GE Foundation donated millions to various worthwhile charities.  From their website:  “In 2009, GE announced that it will spend $3 billion by 2015 on research and development and focus its healthcare business strategy to deliver better care to more people at lower cost.”  They have also announced they are building a $600M Solar Panel factory which will employ 400 people and produce a thin-film product which produce renewable energy.

All bad, of course not.  And tax incentives, in part, are responsible for the 'good parts'.  So what is the problem?  

Apparently the BIG problem is the U.S. Tax Code.  Ahem, well, YEAH, of course it is.  I can’t begin to understand the code as it applies to my own personal financial situation so it isn’t surprising that I don’t understand the code as it pertains to Corporations.  Is there a Corporate equivalent to the Alternative Minimum Tax for individuals?  Is there a tax on income earned overseas?  Is there some sort of credit for jobs created in the US and/or is there a penalty (of sorts) for jobs created overseas instead of the US? 

Can we fix the code or do we have to throw out the old and start anew?  If so, what happens to the previously promised loss-carry-forwards and tax incentives that exist from the old code?  Do they just “disappear” creating chaos and uncertainties for everyone, including the employees, investors, and debt holders?

I'm still at a loss, still muddling around in crazy-land.  Anyone out there have a simple answer?  Anyone have a reasonable answer?  Anyone have an answer at all?

The Congress and Business As Ususal

I am angry.  I'm angry that our elected representatives are using scare tactics, blackmail, and dubious motives in their attempts to get the 2011 Budget approved.  This is April 2011.  The budget should already be approved and we should be on to new business.  But, no...they are waging a political war at the expense of the people that they represent.

We are facing an unnecessary shutdown because each person involved wants to be seen as the "winner" and wants their "opponent" to be seen as the "loser".  In my book, you are all losers.

This is grade-school behavior, not leadership.  This is pandering to the basest instincts of human behavior, not leadership.  This is plain wrong. 

You all count on the general population not understanding what you are up to, and I suppose to a degree that is true.  The count on you, they trust you, they think they have elected someone who cares about them - and you are letting them down.

I will do everything in my power to make it clear to these trusting, kind, and naive voters that you, all of you, are laughing up your sleeves at them.  You are lower than low.  These believers in the system deserve more than you give them.  They deserve to be properly represented...and you are not doing that.  You are making a mockery of what the voters grew up believing was the best political system on the face of the earth.  You do not deserve their trust or their votes. 

I have my next career..my next mission.  I intend to write, and write, and write until I can write no more.  I may not reach more than 1000 people, but how many can they reach? 

It is so over.