Barking Mad

History Will Be Made, Either Way

You can't argue the fact, win or lose on either side, history will be made.  If Barack Obama pulls off the landslide that he is counting on, or if McCain manages to knock a Hail Mary home run (yes I know it's more commonly known as a Hail Mary Pass, just go with me here, OK?) outta the ballpark, this election is going to make history.

For one, we are either going to see our nation's first African American President, or we will see the first female Vice President.  As I look back at that sentence I'm taken aback by the mere fact that these things are so historical...that they have to be historical.  It's really a shame that skin colour or sex have to be the big deal that they are.  Americans pride themselves on being so progressive, yet, this election is really a huge example of how backwards we still are, in some respects. 

Despite everything, the most important fact remains...if you don't get out and vote, your chance to make a historical statement is muted! 

Another great post brought to you by NaBloPoMo!  I'm in, are you?

Paralyzed

I had a wonderful post ready to go, all about "A Day in the Life of..." and then I went and watched a program on the idiot box about the state of the economy and after curling up into a little ball, rocking back and forth and crying; "The sky is falling, the sky is falling, we're all seriously fucked and going to hell in a handbasket..." After that little manic episode, I decided my prosaic little post about a day in the life of the inhabitants at Casa Barking Mad wasn't really so great after all.  Geez, there were even pictures! 

Remember that post I wrote several days ago, the political post asking who you were voting for?  Well, despite all the convincing arguments on both sides, and believe me, there were A LOT of convincing arguments for both horses in this race; I'm still no closer to deciding.  What's worse, I don't think either one of them has a clue what they're doing especially as it relates to the economy and taxes.  When you cut through all the bullshit on both sides, it's people like you and I that are once again, despite having gotten 8 years of the shaft, won't be any better if either man is elected. 

I'm not going to mention who hosted the show I watched tonight because that would do little but fuel speculation about who you think I'm voting for which would be totally wrong.  Anyhow, one of his guests was a man who knows the economy and the history of the economy as well as other economies around the world which have faltered and collapsed after going through something similar to what the U.S. is going through.  He basically said that unless something is done, something that is not just a stop gap and pouring more money into the hands (mostly it's the damned politicians - we need to stop blaming everything on Wall St. and Corporate America -as much I wanted to place the entire blame at their feet, it's not ALL their fault!) of those who got us here in the first place, we're going to see insane inflation which could potentially lead to things like price freezing, wage freezing, and something I have never wanted to hear as it pertains to living in the US...martial law.  Picture if you will, standing in a line three times as long as your average football stadium for your weekly groceries.  That's what people are starting to talk about happening if something, and not another pointless bailout, isn't done.

The strange thing about all this is; I don't see panic everywhere I look, which is what one would expect with an outlook as grim as the above scenario has been painted.  Whilst I rarely leave the house, sometimes I have no choice.  Today was one of those days.  I thank God that Starbucks as a drive-thru because I was in dire need of caffeine.  My head was in jeopardy of popping off my shoulders if I didn't get caffeine into my system STAT. 

As I drove into town, I noticed the parking lot at Best Buy and Target, both of which were packed with cars, as were the lots at the grocery store, the candle outlet, and shops which lined the Main St., heading into town.  Business hasn't slowed around here as much as one might imagine; given the dire predicament we seem to be in.  I'm assuming people aren't walking around Hannaford with empty grocery carts just eying the shelves rather than buying anything. 

Am I panicking for absolutely nothing, or has the reality of this situation not sunk in to the rest of the country yet?  

I've seen several posts lately around the blogosphere posing the question, "How worried are you about the state the economy"?  I guess I'm doing the same thing.  I think I have a pretty interesting, albeit a very small one, demographic when it comes to those who read Barking Mad!  I'm curious to know your take on current affairs and whether or not you think I'm getting my "Chicken Little" on a bit prematurely.

The ironic thing about this is that I sat down last night after joining Bossy's Poverty Party and told myself that no one, not Congress, not the POTUS, not Wall St., not ANYONE was going to dictate what happened to my future...my husband and I were going to reign in control of our lives and our finances ourselves and not be a statistic and not let someone else take control of the wheel of our lives.  We weren't going to be ruled by fear.  So what happens tonight?    My resolve crumbled and I am already wondering how I can make the inside of one of our cars more comfortable for the inevitable day we'll be living in it. 

Seriously folks, how concerned are you over what's going on?  If I've done this correctly, right below this you should see a little poll.  Be a luv and choose an answer and leave me a comment letting me know if I've gone round the bend too soon, or if you are just as concerned.  

Having said all that, I still think now would be a good time for me to start stock-piling Valium!

Unexpected Lessons Learned from My "Rule Breaking" Political Post

As I've read through the comments on my Obama or McCain post, I'm struck by a few things.

Those who have participated and left comments, have done so thoughtfully, civilly and without slamming those with differing points of view, in the mud.  I'm overwhelmed by the amount of time, thought and consideration that has obviously been devoted to your comments and the heartfelt sentiments behind them. 

One of the commenters is someone I have grown a close camaraderie with over the past couple of months and despite the miles and vastly differing personal political philosophies, we share a deep common bond of friendship.   It makes me wonder how it is that our political leaders are unable to reach any mutual understanding, at the very least, out of respect and human kinship with their peers?

Something else happened though, as I was reading the comments and rolling them over in my mind. I was walloped upside the head with the realization that this process is changing me and evolving the person that I am, or thought I was.  It's making me question my values and how I see my fellow men and women in our country.  Occasionally I have been able to quiet my inner voice of confusion and give heavy consideration to how the things I want - the things I often misconstrue as "needs", affect those around me and what it speaks about the person I am versus the person I want to be.

Dare I say, I am growing up via this annoying and bothersome election.  That fact alone is not as disquieting as I once thought it would be, despite my frequent protestations of not being old enough to have a child in college with one still at home in diapers.  Perhaps there is hope after all, that I might indeed grow into the women I want to be...yearn to be and need to be.

Obama or McCain? Your Chance to Convince Me Which One Deserves My Vote

Seeing as how I've already announced that I was breaking my cardinal bloggy rule regarding "THERE SHALL BE NO POSTING ABOUT POLITICS" on this here blog, I'll dispense with the disclaimers.

I can't promise that what I am about to say is going to coalesce into little more than political goo. 

Here's the deal, tell me why you're voting for who you are.  Dig deep, provide links if you want, or just from your heart, tell me why you're voting for him (or her, if you're writing someone in) and what you think he's going to do for our country that the other dude won't. How is this person going to get us out of the huge hole we're in?

What prompted me to break my own rule?  A couple of things.  I read this post over at Okay.Fine.Dammit and have been checking back regularly to see if there was something in the comments that swayed me one way or the other.  There wasn't. However, I was impressed with the tone and civility of all those involved in the discussion.  Then the news of the failure of the bailout to pass Congress hit the wires and that was the straw that broke the camel's back.

I'm having problems making up my mind for many reasons, and up until the House pretty much gave the finger to the rest of the country by failing to pass the bailout plan, I was pretty calm about all of this.   I wasn't a huge fan of the bailout plan in the first place.  As I listened to the debates and read the specifics of the plan, my overwhelming thought was; "You morons have been elected by the people to represent the people and this horseshit is the best you can come up with? What about starting from the bottom up...with THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES rather than bailing out the cretins that got us into this in the first place?"  

I can't remember where I read it, and maybe one of you lovely souls will help me out, but recently I read strongly convincing material that stated that if you gave each adult in the U.S. a certain sum of money, the gov't could ease not only the meltdown on Wall St., but on Main St., too.  Sure, I will concede that some people would be be unable to resist temptation and use the money foolishly and we'd see a few more Porsche's, Hummers and BMW's on the road, but I like to think that most people would use this money responsibly to bail themselves out of their financial messes. 

Perhaps my thinking is far too simplistic, after all I am merely a person and not a politician, but in my mind, it makes sense that by people taking responsibility for themselves, rather than the government stepping in and bailing out the huge corporations that are sinking, it would save the huge corporations anyhow.  The debts would be repaid, the freeze on credit would let up and the financial meltdown we'd be facing would be averted.  Or would it?  I'm sure some wise soul out there will point out the flaws in my logic.

From everything I read about the failure of the bailout to pass Congress, it looked pretty evenly divided...in other words, hated equally as much on both sides.  At least I'm reassured knowing it was with equal measure that Congress pretty much isn't terribly vested in the financial implication of NOT doing something.

Aside from the bailout, or lack thereof, there are other issues that stand out in my mind with both Barack Obama and John McCain that make me want to throw Holy Water on both men and steer as clear of them as I can.

Taxes.  This is a big one with me.  Sure, its all fine and dandy that Obama wants to cut taxes for 95% of Americans.  So, who does that leave behind to carry the burden?  Oh yes, that's right, the other 5% who happen to be small business owners, and large corporations and the wealthy who also happen to run the large corporations and small businesses.  Those very same small business owners and large corporations are our employers.  They are also the majority of people who write the largest checks to charities.  I daresay they already have a large enough burden.   I have been that small business owner who shut down her business because the burden was too large to bear.  Thank God I didn't have any employees because I would have felt terrible knowing I was putting someone else out of a job when I closed down shop. I didn't go under, but I got out before it came to that. My profit margin was too small to justify staying in the game.

Should the small businesses of this nation be any more heavily taxed than they already are, how many more people will find themselves out of work?  The same can be asked of the large corporations.  Sure, the 95% will have lower taxes but good luck when a good portion of that 95% are out of a job because their employers had to let them go because they can't afford to keep them employed and cough up their fair share in additional taxes.

Obama is now saying to remain calm in light of the House's failure to pass the bailout plan.  Well that's all fine and dandy for you, however there are a lot of people out there who are going to wake up unemployed tomorrow, or soon to be. There will also be thousands of folks who have sunk tons of money into their 401K's only to discover they are worthless.  And McCain?  All he can do is play the blame game.  He's more interested in pointing fingers than offering any concrete and sustainable solutions.

Perhaps I am just too much of a capitalist pig, but I still believe in hard work, and making the American Dream, your own, whatever that means to you.  I believe in a hand up when it's needed, but not something that becomes this circuitous cycle being passed as a legacy from one generation to the next.  I don't believe in subsidizing the future of an entire generation because they have been taught that's the only way to survive.

Universal Health Care.  Perhaps I take too simplistic a view on this.  I have lived overseas and spent a great deal of time in countries where socialized medicine in the norm.  I was grateful for the times I needed immediate care and it was there, no questions asked and no insurance cards needed.  However, it's not the answer.  Spend some time talking to people who have to wait inordinate amounts of time to receive care for orthopedic, cardiac or cancer care and then come back and tell me it's the best course for our country.  At least, having the government run it would NOT be the best course for the United States, in my opinion. 

Yes, I do believe every person has a right to health care, but going about it via "universal means" takes away my freedom of choice and I don't like it.   I also have a hard time believing that the 95% who are going to receive tax cuts won't then in turn be taxed to pay for Universal Health Care.  Sort of negates the tax cuts don't you think? 

Abortion.  There, I've said it.   This is where I am probably going to lose my more conservative readers who hold strong religious beliefs.  

I can not, in good conscience, vote for a man who would willingly and happily take away my daughters' choice to do what they feel is best for their own bodies and lives.  I can not vote for a man who feels he has a right to dictate what is best for my daughters' in the event one of them is raped. 

By the same token, Obama voted against banning partial birth abortion and that makes me feel a bit queasy.  I guess in this instance I want to have my cake and eat it too.

This issue is so very personal to me.  It's simply more than a matter of religion, or when life begins. Adoption is not always the best answer, especially when you're suffering after a violent rape or incest. If this choice is taken away from the women of this country, not only will it set us back another 50 years, it will force us once again into the dark corners and back alleys where coat hangers and dirty floors are our only options.  

Defense.  I worry about McCain having a temper tantrum and annihilating a small country, or hell ANY country for that matter. On the other hand, Obama strikes me as someone willing to bring anyone to the table for talks, despite their threat to our country, perceived or otherwise.  I worry that his lack of international experience makes him unprepared for the challenges and threats that face our nation.  Without sounding like too much of a smart-ass, I fear that something akin to another 9/11 will happen and if McCain were in office, he'd strike first and ask questions later, or, have a heart attack and then it would be up to Sarah Palin to defend our nation against an attack.  Is she up to the task?  Are any of them?   I don't  want to find out at the last minute that they aren't.  I want to know, without  doubt, that they are and have faith that I am placing my life, and that of my children in the hands of someone who will assure our safety and security. 

Civil Rights.  It's been a long road for me, and there are some forks in this road that I am not very proud of, but I want everyone to be free to love whomever they want and enjoy the same rights that I do.  Period.  Can both candidates promise that?  

The other thing that stands out in my mind and distances me from these men is who they align themselves with the likes of;  Tony Rezko, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Pasqaule and Alice Rocchio, and Abu Naba among others. 

Nothing screams at me; "VOTE FOR ME!" with either of these men.   True, there are other candidates I could vote for, Bob Barr being one of them.  But realistically, at this point in the game, the only thing a vote for him is going to do is send a message to the other two that says; "You aren't cutting it, we want and demand more and better for ourselves, for our children, for our futures and for our country!"

Do you see my quandary? Am I asking too much?  Perhaps I am jaded by the past 8 years of disappointment, disillusion and heartache.

Is it wrong to want to be able to travel to Europe again and not be spit at or looked upon with disdain because I am an American?  My youngest daughter is a dual-citizen of both the United States and the United Kingdom.  I want her to be proud of both sides of her heritage.  What's more than that, I want the American side of her heritage to return to the symbol of freedom, democracy and respect that we once were among the other countries of the world.  I want my daughter to be able to stand up and say, with pride, that she is an American.  

Here's your chance...take as much space in the comments as you want, but CONVINCE me that your guy is who I should be voting for and tell me why you are so secure in that decision?

Fair Warning, I'll Be Breaking My Own Cardinal Rule

Once the Little Imp goes down for the night, I'm going to do what I swore I would never do out here...talk politics. 

Stay tuned because if my recent post about swearing didn't ruffle any feathers, this one sure as hell will!

I'm giving you fair warning, because the upcoming post is going to be your chance to sway my vote.  After today's events and the House giving the bailout plan (which, to be fair, I wasn't a huge fan of, but it was the only plan that we've got right now) the finger, I'm angry enough to finally purge myself of all the inner political bile and hope and pray someone can convince me, sans religion (nothing and I mean NOTHING will piss me off more if you bring religion into a reason to vote for a candidate) why I should vote for Obama or McCain.  As always, debate is fine, heat is fine, anger - in moderation is fine...bring it!  BUT...personal attacks will be deleted. 

Stay tuned!

So, This Is How We Teach Our Children? This Is the Example We Set?

I've long dreaded entering the fray, when it comes to politics and my blog.    I had and still have no desire to publicly state my allegiance with one side or the other.  Some of my hesitancy to do so comes from how I was raised, we didn't talk about how much money we made, nor did we talk about politics outside of our family.  Whilst I live in a different world now, I still take great care to keep from discussing things that are private to me.  Don't interpret that as an unwillingness to debate topics.  Far from it.  I just have no desire for my blog to become any sort of endorsement, for one candidate or the other.

So today, I am going to call bullshit on both sides!

I know you're going to read this and say; "Oh but Auds, it's been this way forever, nothing is going to change, it's just an accepted part of the way the game is played."   Well, I call bullshit on that too!  This isn't a game.  It's the future of our country. 

You are about to place your future and that of your children and grandchildren, in the hands of one of two men who could either plunge us into something as dark as the abyss of depression I am perched upon, or who could, alternatively, help us regain our place in the world as a country to be looked upon with admiration and respect, a voice in the world that represents freedom, democracy and unity.

I have watched the conventions, both Democrat and Republican with a very skeptical eye.   I will watch the subsequent Presidential and Vice Presidential debates with an equally skeptical eye...that is, if I can wade through the oceans of crap that the two sides sling at one another in an attempt to out-lie, out-spend, and out-last the other.

To put it bluntly, I am sick to death of all the lies both sides tell in their ads.  When did this become acceptable?  And what's more, doesn't anyone care that our children - TOMORROW'S POLITICIANS are watching this, and thinking that this is normal or legitimate?  Does anyone else find it as sickening as I do?

When did it become OK to take something said, completely out of context, to fit your own agenda, so long as it makes the other guy look bad? 

I saw this happen during the primary season and it gets to the point where the only thing being debated were all the lies being told in the ads.  HELLO?!?!  What about the issues?  I for one care about the issues and what you're going to do, how you're going to do it and how much of my fucking money you're going to take to get it done.  Much like millions of families the country over, we work hard for what we earn and we sit here wondering how well those we vote into office, are taking care of it and how well the people who want to run this country, will take care of it.

I'd have more respect for your war record, if you didn't try and lie about the other sides efforts or if you stood up to an administration you have obvious disdain for, and told us how you were different from it.  I'd have more respect for your vision and hope, if you thought before you opened your mouth and as a result, made yourself look bad in an attempt to make the other side look bad.  I'd also have more respect for you if you were really honest about those you associate and align yourself with - this goes for both sides. 

Sometimes I wonder if those we elect, think the rest of us are stupid and blind to the lies?  Or do they just think we are so apathetic to the process that we don't care?  Do they sit back and count on the fact that no one seems to be demanding accountability?

Well folks, here's a news flash!  I do care!  I care about the image portrayed not only to the media but to our children, who will inherit what we leave them.  Will we leave them a legacy of lies all in the name of winning the most coveted spot in our country's leadership?  Or will we rise above this, and teach them that integrity and honour, true honour, are more valuable than being able to spin nothing into something all in the name of winning?

As I sit here and watch the Little Imp sleep soundly under a blanket of pink fuzzy innocence, I wonder about the world being shaped for her future.  I wonder how the lies being told today will mold the world she grows up to take her place in, and I fear that we are raising an entire generation of children who will think it's justifiable to lie in order to obtain the desired end result.

Disgusted!!!!

McCain takes Florida.  Barf! 

At least now maybe Yuckabee and GeeWhizliani will get the message and abandon ship.  Well, one would hope anyhow. 

What I don't get is that 47% of Republican voters in FL cite the economy as their overwhelming concern....HELLO!!!!! Did ya'll forget your Geritol?  Mitt Romney clearly has all the marbles when it comes to knowing how to manage the economy.   It's a proven fact that illegal aliens (I refuse to call them immigrants, having legally IMMIGRATED my spouse the USA it's an insult to those of us who wait and wait and spend thousands of dollars to call those who hop the border and circumvent our laws, "immigrants".) are a drain on the economy, especially in border states, most notably California...and here's McCain wanting to give all nearly TWELVE MILLION ILLEGAL ALIENS here now, AMNESTY.....Defacto amnesty!

What frightens me even more about the possibility of McCain being the Republican nominee is the fact that should Hilarity Clinton be the Democratic nominee, she's almost a shue-in against McCain.

Yeah, I really want someone who graduated 5th from the bottom of his Naval Academy class as our Commander and Chief.

And again I say BARF!

Hilary RODHAM Clinton Wants To Listen? When? She Won't Shut Up Long Enough to Let Anyone Say Anything!

I swear Hils just loves to hear herself talk.  True, that's a common malady of many a politician, elected or otherwise.   By that I mean you have the political hobbyists who run but never get anywhere and then you have the ones that actually manage to get elected but still never get anywhere, or do anything for that matter.  But really, that's neither here nor there right now 'cause we're talking about Hilary who loves to talk.

You'd think being of the same verbose vein that she and I are, that I might like her, might even consider voting for her.  Shut your mouth! Better yet, wash it out with soap.  I'd rather stick poo in my eyes than vote for Hils....or Obama...or McCain!  And don't even suggest Romney.  Oh sure he's a stand-up sort of guy with a big smile, a wife with big hair and  he's deeply involved with big religion!  And that's why I won't vote for him.  Yes sirree, I won't vote a Mormon into office.  And then we have Guiliani (did I spell that correctly?), who I'm really not quite sure about.  He's bald.  Or nearly anyhow.  I reckon I don't know much more about him other than that.  Gimme time, I'll find something about him to detest too.

Oh wait, I had a point didn't I?  Weren't we talking about Hils? 

See that IS my point.  She says a whole lot without really saying anything and the few times she does manage to say anything she says it out of both sides of her mouth.   She's too busy paying lip service and trying to cater to middle-of-the-roaders to listen to what anyone is really saying.   She promised to listen to people across the nation whether it was at town meetings, web chats and stops on bus tours and she's been so busy telling everyone that she's going to listen that she hasn't actually stopped to LISTEN!  She won't shut up long enough to let anyone get a word in edgewise.

But that's ok, I don't really want to talk to her in the first place.