Let's Move Forward

American politics is as volatile as the gladiatorial games of the great coliseum. It’s dirty, and all that matters is who’s standing when it’s all said and done. When the word politics is used in a business setting, or organizational setting it is never used in a positive light. Where we are now, and where we’ve come from are so far apart that the only way to heal our politics is to reject it. That’s what so many Americans have done. They’ve refused to participate. I can’t blame them. We can shame them for their dissidence. We can laugh at their supposed ignorance. At least it’s honest.


I’ve spent most of my life subscribing to this philosophy. Mainly due to the lack of honesty in political discourse. It has taken a court room element--and made it worse. It has become a tribal council of sorts. The whole purpose of the opposition is to discredit their adversary. Remove their credibility, disavow their citizenship or faith, and question their humanity. This has been called “Rovian strategy” after George W Bush’s campaign manager and advisor slandered his Republican opponent John McCain in the 2000 primaries for being gay, cheating on his wife, and the race of his adopted daughter. Ad hominem politics can’t all be hung around Rove’s neck. The truth of the matter is that this type of politics has been around since the dawn of representative government. Albeit, it is more of a blood-sport today than ever before but not new. The problem is that the opponent has been so slandered that their point-of-view doesn’t matter. The content of the conversation is not longer about what’s right, it’s about who’s wrong.

Over the last decade I’ve become more politically active, and more curious than the average citizen. Most individuals take their cues from their supposed trusted news source. Most likely because a family member, or trusted friend recommended either Fox or CNN. What I’ve always tried to find is the integrity of a news story. I went to college to study journalism, and learned the many tactics of what is called tabloid journalism. The techniques used by these entertainment driven stories are the very same used by reputable news organizations with a slant to the left or right. Unfortunately we can’t put absolute faith in these once honorable organizations because of their financial obligations to companies, and organizations that fund them. Ratings drive higher ad-buys and drive more revenue. A government run news agency would defeat the purpose of journalism because the original “muckrackers” were borne out of the need to hold our government officials accountable. In this day and age, government trust is at an all time low thus rendering any organization funded by the government as corrupted. For instance, the way the right have characterized PBS. PBS was created with the purpose of providing educational programs for families and children where cable wasn’t available or affordable. Far from being the news wing of the communist party. But if all of this is true, where can one go to find honest news. The internet right…

So my quest to find a truthful news source may very well be futile. This problem is particularly pernicious to American Democracy because editorial news is now the preferred method of receiving news. We find comfort in one particular news organization, or news personality. Then we want them to decode and help us understand the news because for us to actually spend more than a few minutes trying to get all the facts and see both sides requires more effort than we are willing to surrender. We want our news in Facebook posts, and Tweets. Simple and already endorsed by our favorite news personalities. This helps us to sound informed and feel empowered.

When these pre-fabricated opinions are confronted by contention or reality for that matter, we shut down. Our most primitive parts of our brains override rationality, and we demonize the others opinion. We corrupt religion, and hijack patriotism as the deciding factor in the conversation or lack there of. To agree with the other side is treason. And the truth of the matter is the rare stowaway lost in the confusion.

This election will come down to the votes of the more energized base. Unlike elections of the past, where the holy grail of winning has always been with the “undecideds”. American politics has been poisoned. For me to come out and say that I support the president’s reelection would open the eyes of many of my family members, and friends. Most people that have asked I would have the conversation with them and share my reasoning. If you’ve read my previous posts over the years you know where I stand. I just refuse to argue with people that will take it personally. They’ve already given up on truth, and respecting the process of dialogue. If I may be so bold to predict that because of the state of American politics the comments of New Jersey’s Republican Governor Christ Christie will come under fire by Fox News and their lot. He is on record today as praising President Obama’s handling of the preparation, and aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. No doubt he will be derided and scorned by his most embedded members of his party as being off message, and needing to walk the party line. This is the way of things, and if we allow it the future of democracy. It’s one way or the other, it’s never the best way. Compromise will become as dirty a word as politics. Unification is seen as treason.

This election comes down to two ways of thinking. Both parties will claim the other is using a lie, or loose facts to support their philosophy. In a way, both parties are right. Here’s what I know. Mitt Romney supports the most polarizing views of social and cultural politics, but is on record as being against all of them at some point. He claims to be this business mastermind but based off of the statistics of when he ran Massachusetts he was far from it. His states successes were built on policies that were in place before he was governor. He raised taxes, and fees on his constituents and added to debt penalizing schools. His crowning achievement is the very DNA of what Obama’s crowning achievement is predicated on. His running mate is firmly behind a slash and burn form of budget cutting that will fundamentally change the way we live in this country, and further creating the sea between the middle class and upper class. I also fear that behind the bluster and posturing of Mitt’s foreign policy we will find ourselves in a more dangerous America and world. He can talk all he wants about we are weaker, and perceived as weaker now than we were four years ago. That is a pure partisan lie. In 2008 when the US’s economy was on the brink we were at our weakest. Al-Qaida’s stated strategy was to watch our economy crumble. I believe if you really distill the facts from the opinions the decision becomes a lot more clear.

President Obama inherited an economic disaster. Think about what was being said during the 2008 election . What would McCain had done that was so different? The bail-outs and rescues were already in place before he took office. The stimulus wasn’t as effective as he had stated, but do we know what would have happened if it was not put in place? Are we so sure that a bankrupt American car industry would have been better for our economy, and for the jobs reports? We hear one side speak in such absolutes and certitudes, but do we really give each issue the thought that what would McCain and Palin have done? It’s easy to sit back and play Monday Morning Quarterback. I know that President Bush was treated the same way by the left on many occasions, and just as distastefully. But when is enough going to be enough? Will it be when the Kenyan is out of office? Or will it be now? Lets move Forward. Not back to the Wild West economy of the Bush Years.

Unemployment is down from double digits to lower than it was when he took office. The free fall of jobs lost (800k a month) is now 30 plus months of job growth. Consumer confidence is climbing, and holding steady. The Stock Market has come roaring back and has nearly doubled. None of this matters. Because in the end you will believe what your prefabricated opinion tells you to believe. I ask you to consider this, because this is how I remember it.

I worked retail in 2008, and still do for that matter. I remember the dread of conference calls where they were announcing layoffs, and cut backs. I remember reading in the news of the imminent downfall of Linen’s ‘n Things, Borders, and Circuit City. I remember the news stated that the banks, and creditors pulled the rug out under the funding to keep these businesses running. I also remember it being Black Friday, and not having anyone in line. These were scary times. Be fair in your assessment. Are we better off than we were four years ago? If you say no you are being dishonest. Get out and vote!

http://www.barackobama.com/economy

How does The Dark Knight Rises fit in the trilogy?

Tragedy, and the endless question of absolute freedom

There's a world of emotions that go through your mind when violence occurs.  One can't help but insert themselves in that moment and imagine what they would've done.  They question and judge the actions of parents that would've allowed their children go to a midnight showing of a summer blockbuster.  Judgement on the actions of a man in moment of crisis.  The criticism of  the violent lyrics and images that maraud our imagination.  We are drawn to these conversations in the aftermath of a tragedy.  Honesty is not an American virtue, well it hasn't been for a long time so let's not stumble through that argument.  Let's be honest with each other now and say that we are not just drawn to the conversation but to the action.  Art and Reality confronted each other early Thursday morning in Aurora, Colorado.  The very root of it is the human condition.  Albeit, one sick individual who I will not pretend to know what his true agenda, or inspiration perpetrated these acts of violence. This wasn't a mankind action, we haven't gotten their yet, but we get damn close in declarations of war and the knowing and inevitable murder of families from across the globe. Then the celebration of these acts consciously and indirectly. Now the line up of psychologists, and commentator types will be giving you their opinion. The twittersphere, blogosphere, Facebook Copy & Paste-sphere will all weigh in with some borrowed phrase on what should happen to this man, what "I" would've done, and what should happen to the gun laws or the movies.   I don't write these thoughts down as a recommendation for change in anyway.  I'm not so bold, or wise for that matter.  What I do say is that we consider what is on the table here.  We have the freedom to feel and share how we feel openly here in America.  We have the right to watch the art of violence unfold in high definition and 3D if you so choose... We have the right to arm ourselves, and currently we have the right to arm ourselves like this guy--like we are ready for war.  All of that is freedom, and to limit that would be an abasement to our freedom. I know people will say guns don't kill people, nor does art.  Art influences the mind and plays to our emotions both in the beauty and and the horror.  I love art.  I love the movies.  I loved this movie.  Anyone that watched Nolan's epic trilogy realizes that it is not a glorification of violence but an ode to the human spirit.  A glorification, if you will, of an ordinary citizen giving everything for the common good.  The scary thing is that this personification of evil--and I will never say his name nor watch the monetization of his name in the 24 hour news cycles and printed words to come-- had access to weapons that he had the right to.  This lost soul was an ordinary citizen that acted and had the tools and resources to take not just one life but the lives of many.  The holes that are left in these families are permanent.  Nothing that happens to this soulless coward will ever change the void and the ripple effect.  How we as a society move forward is the only way we progress as a species.  We can either arm ourselves even more, or have a real conversation on what are the limits or should we have them? In the end I know that you can't kill someone with a movie.  I know that Christopher Nolan is carrying some of the weight here.  That is unfair.  I again, don't write this to defend Nolan or anyone for that matter.  I write this as a question about society.  A society that fails to act but quickly boasts what "they would've done".  I love America, and I love freedom.  I don't think it's out-of-bounds to say that when we were given the right to bear arms our forefathers didn't envision the world we have today.  Now you will question my patriotism for using my right to free-speech.

Surreal-ity Television

Sometime I question if talent really is necessary to become successful? Then again, maybe success is too often conflated with fame? The sheer volumes of reality shows about the lives of famous people who are no more remarkable then the majority of people living in your neighborhood pervade network television. The ingenuity of what was reality television has been replaced by the inanity of their distorted version of reality. This is a scary scenario where the target audience is at their most vulnerable and impressionable stages of their lives. It’s not the commercials that are dangerous to the future generations. It’s the obsessive’s, sociopaths, addicts, and extremist that are available 24/7 on television, internet, and your smart-devices of choice. These aforementioned narcissists have endless advertising partnerships and product deals-- to sell their perfumes, and clothing lines. If it was just MTV/VH1 it would be one thing, but the educational channels such as History and TLC have joined the dark side. This transformation isn’t much different than the migration of network news to becoming entertainment more concerned with ratings then fact-checking the powers-that-be. I can’t personally complain because I am not innocent. The consumers are the problem. The television is the enabler. As our phones get smarter we get dumber and we are okay with that in the spirit of simple is better. Albert Einstein once said, “Make things as simple as possible, but not simpler,” a great quote now relegated to the Quote-Garden online. Along with the samplings of Kim Kardashian, Larry “The Cable Guy”, and Sarah Palin. We really need to pay attention to what our kids are watching, hell—what we’re watching… I had to check myself at the door and wonder if I am just getting older and too conservative in my age. No, there really are shows about do-nothing heiresses and people that buy shit out of a vacated storage unit. Just because you are good at basketball doesn’t mean I should care what you do in your spare time with your spoils. Oh you were famous in the 80’s, I don’t give a damn how your life has changed since you blew your money on hookers and blow. Now if it was a show about the hookers and blow…maybe. Now we post every little action, every thought, and every bodily function on the internet for the masses. We push our religiosity and provincialism onto each other through inaccurate internet communiqué and tired witticisms. We have surrendered our creativity and individuality for cyber individuality and creativity. We have been beguiled by our own vanity, and it’s gone too far. We want to live these fantastic lives with the blonde on one arm and the gun, basketball, or microphone in the other. Now this blog has been an exercise in my vanity, and I don’t pretend to deny the hypocrisy. I do however want to point out theirs! Let’s hold ourselves to a higher standard people. Oooooh! Dancing with the Stars is on.

Happy (belated) Mother's Day

When I was a young boy, I loved the warm solace of my mother’s lap. In the times of loneliness brought on by the heartbreak of youth, here was where I felt the most comforted. My mom has always been there for me. Not just in the way that parents are suppose to be there --roof over your head, food on your plate and such. She’s been that consistent influence on me to be the best version of myself. Even when I failed she accepted me for who I was, and what I did or didn’t accomplish. For all sons are imperfect in reality…just don’t tell their mothers for they will never believe you. Well my mother never suggested it… That kind of unconditional love is the truest thing in this world.

My childhood was good. For most of it we lived in the small town of Martinsburg, West Virginia. It was me, my sister, and my mom living in a small house on a busy road, on an old block where houses and businesses intermingled. We didn’t have a lot but I never realized it. Mom pursued one of eventually two masters-degrees while we were living there. I know this was something she valued, yet had to consider the means and time it would take while we were young. My mom gave us every chance to do what we wanted to do whether it was basketball, or learning karate. With one catch—we had to finish what we started. No matter how much we hated it, we couldn’t quit. As a child I was not a fan of this rule, but as a man I believe it taught me some very important lessons. First, I need to consider what I want before I make a decision. I need to truly understand the nature of the commitment. Then it taught me that quitting is a temporary gratification. Finishing what I started is a true accomplishment, and that the integrity is in resolve.

Parents have to sacrifice. Change comes in many forms when you have children. Your spending, sleep, and social habits all must be altered to accommodate the presence of children. I know that I was thankful as a child, but your perception is narrow as a kid. I don’t think this really expands until you have kids of your own. My mom sacrificed so much for us so we could be happy, and well rounded individuals. One of my purest hopes is that she feels that we have become the adults she had imagined us to be.

One of my clearest memories as a child was Christmas morning when I was probably eight, my sister six. We woke up like every kid in the world, with the wily anticipation of what was under the tree. We went running into mom’s bedroom to see if she was awake. She was still in bed, and very sick. The discomfort of her sickness prevented her from getting much sleep and when she answered our question, “Can we go ahead and open our presents?” She said, “Yes”. At least that’s how I remember it. In the confusion of Christmas morning elation we didn’t understand why she was so mad at us. It’s funny how I know how this must have felt to her then as starkly as if I was there watching from the back of the room like Scrooge on his journey with the Spirit of Christmas Past. Children don’t have the capacity to understand the love of parents. They love because they just do. Kids can’t really put it into words because it’s indescribable. It’s just a feeling.

My most lonely moment was about ten years later, while I was in college. I had received a full-athletic scholarship, and was finally able to help support myself and my education. I know my mom was as proud of me as any mother could be at this point of my life. In the end, I wasn’t able to meet the commitment that I had made to the school, my coaches, myself. I was deeply shamed, and felt alone in my decision. When my mom came down to pick me up and take me back home, I didn’t even want to talk about it. I didn’t know how she would accept my decision. I know that she didn’t want me to quit. What happened wasn’t unexpected, more reassuring than anything. Even in her disappointment she made me feel loved.

Now I am trying to do what I couldn’t as a kid. Mom thank you for all the sacrifices you made for us. Thanks for never letting me be a coward, and teaching me that with confidence I can move forward without concern of not having a soft place to land. You taught me the virtues of what it means to be a good person. That trust was really the only commodity we were born with that money can’t buy back. Most importantly you always taught me to think on my own, and not to just accept what I was told as fact without using my discernment.

In my childhood I was emboldened by the love of my mother as being handsome, intelligent, and strong. I never believed all of these things wholeheartedly, and to this day I’m not so sure they are all true. What matters is that even in my overwrought credulity I was loved, and I am who I am today because of it. I hope you had a Happy Mother’s Day, and I wish I could’ve been there for it. Thanks Mom.

Sanctimony makes me sick

One thing that has really crawled under my skin is self-righteousness.  Especially staged, self-righteousness that tends to rear its reprehensible head at the point of the most incredible irony.  

The pop-singer Whitney Houston died at age 47 over the weekend.  What's more troubling is that a 9 year-old little girl died over the weekend.  I never met her, yet I've heard so much incredible things about her and her truly inspiring message of hope.  I also read of middle-eastern violence over the weekend.  Acts of such sorrow, and desperation that just the very thought have left me a different person then the one that read the first sentence.

The days go by, and life goes on. Sometimes merciless and apathetic sneaking into the night. Other times it is miraculous and moving beyond words like the birth of a child.  

What leaves me really disgusted is when people disparage the life of another because of some belief or notion that may or may not be true.  In Whitney's case I've seen a lot of comparisons to her and the troops.  As if her death is somehow invalid because of another's death.

One thing about the media, if you haven't realized is that the product is nothing more than a reflection of its perverse consumer.  It's nothing more than high-brow Jersey Shore.  Cable news is only as good as the ad-buy that companies will be willing to pay.  The content only as good as the ratings.  The quality of the news is nothing more than the meaningless attention span of us.  Yeah, it's as jaded and dispassionate as that.  There's no noble cause or what is right, so get off the high-horse and turn it off if you are so inclined.

A celebrities death is no more or less important than the death of someone close to you.  As troubling as the thought of an innocent that had no choice in the matter dying, it's the way it has always been.  JFK once said, "As we express our gratitude, we must not forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." I find this to be the ideal way to celebrate the loss of someone, especially our great military.  My family, some of yours have had fathers and grandfathers fight for my right to decide whether that was my path.  I am thankful for that. I don't pretend to claim that my mere words are reflective of the gratitude commensurate of such sacrifice.  However, I will not downplay the death of someone no matter how great or flawed they might be. In my daily actions is where I can truly celebrate the lives of those that are here no more.  
I will suggest that we don't place fools on a pedestal just because they are entertaining. The Anna Nicole Smiths of the world.  The rapper that beats his girlfriend's bloody visage.  The no-talent heir of a Hotel empire gets her own show and fragrance.  In some cases, where a talent so profound as Whitney Houston or on a lower scale as Amy Winehouse can truly affect a person.  Their lyrics can help maybe a friend deal with the loss of a close one, or just overcome the day.  These people, meant something no matter how noble the cause.  How they live their life is not something we can control.  It's tragic and unnecessary. It is their life however, and we celebrate that freedom.  We create the future celebrities that will dominate the news, and we are creating them now.