Politics

Here's something I never write about. But given the hot activity and high emotions on the subject circling blogs lately, I decided I'd go ahead and post my view on politics.

I freely admit that I've done no research into either candidate running for president. I watched part of a special where some news anchor tried grilling Sarah Palin shortly after McCain chose her as running mate. And then I watched a you tube video about Obama and infanticide. So there it is. That's the extent of my research.

I thought about doing research into the candidates, but I know if I do that, I'll just be stuck because I can't side with either republics or democrats. I'm fiscally conservative and socially liberal (which might make me a libertarian. I need to look into that). I'll admit it, I'm all about gay rights and feminism. Therefore, most Christian religions and I do not get along very well. But I'm also all about being responsible for yourself and not making a living off of the government's good intentions. What I mean by that is this: I love that our government has programs to help out its citizens when they fall on rough times (unemployment, workman's comp, welfare). What I don't love is that many citizens feel that they have a right to these programs just because they're lazy and don't want to work. These programs are meant to help out people in hard times so they can get back on their feet. They're not supposed to be a way of life, but unfortunately, especially down here, that's what it has become. I'm a firm believer in self-accountability.

At this point, I think I should list what is important to me, and maybe from there I can do some research into the candidates to see which one is less terrible to me.

1.Affordable Healthcare: We need it. And we need affordable insurance that doesn't leave us under insured. We also need people to stop suing doctors all the time. Come on. Get a life.

2. Social Security Reform: It's going bankrupt. I hate that a chunk of my paycheck is going towards social security, and if things keep going the way they are now, I'll never see a cent of that money. You know, social security used to be optional. Someone needs to fix it.

3. Anti-discrimination: whether it be your race, sex, sexual-orientation, income level. We're all human, and we all have a right to be treated equally in the eyes of the law (and yes, I support gay marriage... a few people probably considered shunning me from their lives right then).

4. Research: I want someone who is going to fund research-- especially research related to preserving our environment. But not just that- all kinds of research. There are still so many cool organisms and bacteria and compounds waiting to be discovered. It may sound stupid to be putting money towards the study of sea sponges, but chemists have already isolated a compound from a certain species of sponge that looks very promising for the cure of cancer. In a sea sponge! And I'm sure the general public would have been in an uproar if they knew valuable money was being "wasted" on research of a stupid sponge.

5. Conservation: I hate the term "going green." But that's no surprise because I dislike most anything that goes mainstream. Anyway, I've been a bit of a tree-hugger for about as long as I can remember. I want recycling programs in every city. I want to see people refusing plastic bags. I want people to cut their six-pack cola plastic rings before they throw them out so animals don't strangulate themselves in them. I want a president who thinks like me on these issues.

6. Food: I want it to be affordable to eat healthy. This crap they call school lunch needs to be replaced by healthy meals. End of story. And physical education has to be reinstated.

7. Exercise and work: You know all that time smokers waste taking their smoking breaks? Well, people who don't smoke should be allowed that same amount of time to take an exercise break. Smokers can keep on smoking. If you're stupid enough to smoke, go ahead and keep killing yourself. Eventually evolution will take care of smokers.

And at this point, I think I've completely lost track of what I was saying and just started listing things that bother me. As far as individual candidates go, I don't know yet. I don't hate any of them. I think I would have to sit down and get to know someone personally before I could say I hate them. But I'd also have to do the same to know whether or not I really like them or trust them. And since that's not an option... I guess I'll just decide which I support based on their platform.