Overprotection and Society

There are times when we realize that society has taken major missteps.  Children's playgrounds are the beginning of our missteps in our lives.  Why is this a misstep?  Just look at our playgrounds and you will realize that they offer little in terms of growth, imagination, and self-confidence.  This, as well as the inability to experience risk, problem solving, negotiation and other traits, explains a lot about our reliance on government today.  The younger generations of our population no longer have the confidence, risk-taking ability, negotiation, or problem solving skills of our older generations.  Their long-term reliance on adults translates into an inability to solve problems when they, themselves become adults.  Instead of taking responsibility or solving problems, they expect the government to act as their parent.  

Hanna Rosin of The Atlantic, wrote an exceptional piece, titled The Overprotected Kid. 

....."Nearby, a couple of boys are doing mad flips on a stack of filthy mattresses, which makes a fine trampoline. At the other end of the playground, a dozen or so of the younger kids dart in and out of large structures made up of wooden pallets stacked on top of one another. Occasionally a group knocks down a few pallets—just for the fun of it, or to build some new kind of slide or fort or unnamed structure. Come tomorrow and the Land might have a whole new topography."

Yup

I correctly answered 11 of 13 questions on the @pewresearch News IQ Quiz. Test yourself:

I correctly answered 11 of 13 questions on the @pewresearch News IQ Quiz. Test yourself:: Quiz yourself on current events to see how well you keep up with the news. Compare your results to those who took our national survey.

For a father of two, full time employee and husband, I run a very busy life.  I scored above 91% of Americans and that saddens me.  It makes me realize just how out of touch Americans are with the ongoings of the world.  How can people make educated decisions if they are this uneducated?  Honestly, I don't spend heaps of time reading and researching, except on specific articles I write.  I am sure many of my readers will score higher than I did!

Politics in 140 Characters or Less

Has it really come to this?  The exchange of ideas and opinions in politics has been reduced to 140 characters, a meme, or short quote?  The most popular and most read pieces today are those which are just quick hits.  Gone are the days where most people read an entire article, opinion piece, research paper, or economic analysis.  The vast majority of Americans now rely on the quick and easy to argue their opinions or positions.

Have Americans attention spans completely disappeared?  Whether one goes on Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, or other social media, people are most likely to respond to the quick and short pieces.  The numbers are staggering when you start paying attention; people "like" pictures and short quips much more than well researched and published pieces.

In addition, even when people glance at pieces, they assume the title says it all.  Have they not heard the phrase, "never judge a book by its' cover?"  A title may say something, but it is the details that matter more.  It is the details and information contained under the title which give breadth and depth to the matter at hand.  Yet, so few of us continue to inform ourselves.  Even those of you now reading this, are part of that small crowd who continue to search for information.  And, I hate to tell you, there is little information but my opinion in this editorial.

Maybe I can find a meme for this article?

Why Does it Matter? Clinton appeals to idealism of college students - Politics Wires - MiamiHerald.com

TEMPE, Ariz.: Clinton appeals to idealism of college students - Politics Wires - MiamiHerald.com

Don't think the press is in the bag for Clinton in 2016?  Compare this piece to the write-ups regarding Rand Paul's speech at UC-Berkley the past few days and the contrasts are startling.  While Rand Paul was stated as "appealing to paranoia", Clinton is given the softer title of "appealing to idealism".

Ken Thomas of the Associated Press writes, "Looking out to a theater full of motivated college students, Hillary Rodham Clinton said their generation showed great promise as "open-minded and tolerant" Americans ready to step forward for an important cause."

Meanwhile the "closed-minded and intolerant" gathered to listen to Rand Paul at UC-Berkley, right?  But, are we not speaking about our former Secretary of State who felt no remorse for the deaths of Benghazi?  "Why does it matter?"  I find a serious problem with a candidate who cannot acknowledge the value of human life.  The families and friends of the Benghazi four are on the forefront of the minds of Americans.

Clinton also stated,

"It is the work of this century to complete the unfinished business of making sure that every girl and boy, every woman and man, lives in societies that respects their rights no matter who they are, respects their potential and their talents, gives them the opportunities that every human being deserves, no matter where you were born, no matter the color of your skin, no matter your religion, your ethnicity or who you love." (Miami Herald)

Excuse me while I go throw up now.  I thought the race baiting, etc. would end with the current President.  How closed minded and intolerant of me....

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/03/22/4010915/clinton-encourages-millennials.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/03/22/4010915/clinton-encourages-millennials.html#storylink=cpy

And So it Begins....

 

Well, this didn't take long; Republicans such as Jennifer Rubin of the Washington Post are already blasting Rand Paul for his approach to politics, leading into a long battle for the 2016 nomination. But, what else should the electorate expect from the Establishment Republicans and their ilk in the media?  After all, Republicans immediately came out in opposition to his father as well.  At least, the establishment, that is. 

Rubin writes:

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) went to the University of California at Berkeley to get applause for anti-government, anti-national security rhetoric. Playing to the stereotypical paranoia of government and the identity politics that reverberate in left-wing circles, he told a New York Times reporter, “The first African American president ought to be a little more conscious of the fact of what has happened with the abuses of domestic spying. Martin Luther King was spied upon, civil rights leaders were spied upon, Muhammad Ali was spied upon, antiwar protesters were spied upon.”

"Playing to the stereotypical paranoia of government" says a lot about Rubin's view of Rand Paul. Her choice in words says a lot about Rand Paul's impact on the establishment-types; he is really pissing them off already.  And, with good reason, he will continue to do so.  Rand is running against the grain and against the establishment.  The establishment should be careful how they treat him.  

Many, myself included, see Rand Paul as a breath of fresh air.  Paul stands for smaller government, with less power and a return to Constitutional order.  His stances on foreign policy resonate with many on the Left and Right.  Certainly, no one will agree with all of his stances, as is the risk of being a rigid politician.  However, generally, Paul is an attractive alternative to the lawlessness of our current administration.

His attack on establishment politicians will only serve to catapult him in the public eye.  The Establishment does not get it, and it shows in their immediate coverage of this speech.  The headlines are telling today:

Rand Paul panders at Berkeley 

Rand Paul and the power of paranoia 

Rand Paul's Berkeley talk: A U.S. dystopia? 

Rand Paul: GOP like bad pizza crust  

Expect the continued pounding on Rand Paul to continue until he is either forced out of the 2016 race (he has not officially entered, but probably will), or until Republicans have to accept him as the nominee.  Look for Rand Paul to utilize this hatred to his favor during the next two years.  The rebuke of the establishment only serves his amongst the people.  Being part of the common folk, such as all my readers, I see comments and opinions that fit well to a Rand Paul run for 2016.  Like it or not Establishment, I do not believe Rand Paul is going anywhere until after the primaries or further.

White House Launches Website App to Visualize Climate Change

White House Launches Website App to Visualize Climate Change

Oh good!  Now people can be brainwashed on their mobile phones too!  Such a great use of our tax dollars!  

What Are We to Do?

Election season is in full swing.  Conservatives, Libertarians, Constitutionalists, and others are faced with the same problem that repeats itself every two years; who do we get behind?  No, we do not "lead from behind."  We seek an answer to the pesky question, "who best represents us?"  Or, at this point, does anyone represent us?

This question has become more disconcerting, as few people of "far right" persuasion seem to exist in politics.  We are, most recently, faced with Democrats, Liberals, and Democrat-light. To me, far right would be simply someone who actually believes in smaller government.  Name one person who represents this right now.  Can you name this person?

Razorbacks

Last Tuesday President Obama got off the helicopter in front of The White House - carrying a baby piglet under each arm. 

The squared-away Marine guard snapped to attention, saluted and said: "Nice pigs, sir."

The President replied:  "These are not pigs. These are authentic Arkansas Razorback Hogs. I got one for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and I got one for Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi."

The squared-away Marine again snapped to attention, salutes and said, "Excellent trade, sir."

Are Conservatives Evil?

Conservatives around the nation are constantly berated.  Even with acts of kindness, personal attacks are commonplace.  Why is this?  Why does the left feel the need to attack individuals who are politically different?  Public figures are regular targets of the left, yet the same happens in every social setting.  Conservatives are attacked at a personal level. 

David Koch (half of the famed Koch brothers) recently donated $100 million to New York-Presbyterian Hospital.  This, along with other donations, will go to building a new wing named after David Koch.  For most people, this would be viewed as a great gesture towards helping take care of our sick.  However, when your name is David Koch, this is not the case.  Tom Steyer, a billionaire liberal, was recently interviewed by Men's Journal Magazine and suggested that David Koch will go down as a "famously evil person".