August 3, 2007 at 06:45:51

Observations from a Political Human Being

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By George Matthews (about the author) Page 1 of 2 page(s)

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For OpEdNews: Geno Matthias - Writer

Can we get some change please?...The only thing missing from the oft used phrase 'universal health care'
this campaign season is the modifier 'not for profit'. The notable exception
is the presidential campaign of Congressman Dennis Kucinich. Thank You Dennis Kucinich.

You cannot condemn Socialism by pointing at the former U.S.S.R. any more than you
can condemn Christianity by pointing at the Spanish Inquisition.

Electing Politicians who have big piles of money and expecting meaningful positive
change is a ridiculous waste of a time. It doesn't make sense to vote for candidates
who are gajillionaire venture capitalists, gabillionaire entrepreneurs, or multi
gamillionaire corporate lawyers.

Here's a clue....If they fit in any of those categories, they don't represent
you...even if they say they do and tell you what you wanna hear.

Ask yourself this: When was the last time you voted for someone hoping for real
change and watched them, after they were elected, move to the 'political left'?
Or put another way...when is the last time you said, 'Gee this representative
is a lot more progressive than I thought they would be...that's great!'.
I want to be able to say that in my lifetime so much.

What is the deal with the idolatry of 'authoritarian' figures and institutions
in this country? Stop looking to Stalin-esque American Generals and Swaggering U.S.
Presidents to protect us. Didn't your mom teach you the way to make peace with
your neighbors was to bake them a pie? ...instead of screaming and hollering and
threatening them from the front yard like your dad did? Put down that rake Dad.
Don't we need to try some candidates who are less 'the terminator?'...fingers
on the button and threatening the world with the 'big stick?'.

And if you are; well, I'll call it 'old 1885 western movie'...you know
who you are ...you just gotta move into the 'real world'. We look out for
each other here. We're concerned about whether the lady down the street has
'money for food' or 'money for medicine'. It is not 'her own
damned fault' just because she wasn't 'John Wayne' enough to see
it coming and make better plans for herself. This country and this culture is not
'fend for yourself'. Enough with the 'cavalier' attitude already.
(I talked to a real estate investor the other day who just sold his apartments.
He had owned them for 22 years. He is an '1895 western type'. Talked about
deadbeats getting his hard earned 'taxdollars'. What was ironic was that
his apartments housed mainly 'section 8' gov't assisted families. When
I pointed out that he was quite directly economically benefiting from a socially
progressive government policy based on taxes, and had been for years; ...well....I
thought he was going to smack me in the mouth).

I think people should stop using the phrase 'networking', which means walking
yourself around for your business. People are doing it and they don't tell you
they are doing it. Not honestly saying that outright to people is not OK...it makes
you look and sound like a money acquiring robot from hell bent on only one purpose....the
accumulation of your own personal wealth. If your drumming up business, tell people
up front...I'm drumming up business....it's more honest. I hate having a
15 minute conversation about issues with someone who just nods 'OK, OK'
only to have them slap a business card in my hand and end the conversation with...'if
your ever in the need for......' This person/consumer unit doesn't like
it.

Everyone should wear their politics on their sleeve and stop trying to spin people,
including politicians. If you like politics because you like attention, need to
grandstand, drum up business, want to run for office someday yourself, connect to
get a good job, or are friends with or related to an elected official....than you
are probably in it for the right reasons. If you are in it to raise peoples consciousness,
get a policy passed, end a war ,press a viewpoint or for more social justice....then
you should probably have your head examined.

I have had my head examined. It is full of scraps from political journals and 'high
fructose corn syrup'.

In a political discussion on candidates or policy....If you don't believe in
what they're saying, tell people so, don't try to persuade, or quietly listen
and nod...tell them you disagree with them and be honest...(this is particularly
important if you are a candidate and/or an elected official)

World peace boils down to 'Respect', for differences in beliefs, cultures,
ethnicities, sensibilities, values, and practices. Celebrate the 'sameness'
in all of humanity but for goodness sake 'respect the difference'.

All we really got is each other and the planet....that is the absolute
cornerstone value above all others.

And with respect to our planet Earth....

A century of transportation whoopee has left us with global warming and in the hot
seat. Use less oil, promote alternative energy, and stop electing 'big oil'
candidates and supporting the 'pushers of oil' who have started a lot of
these wars in our time. They act like a group of stupid greedy idiots. The animal
term is 'defecating where you live'. Dick Cheney is their 'grand pooh
bah'.

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