Intro

It's time for a reality check ...

Maybe we’ve reached the point of diminishing astonishment.

But I suspect that much of what we’re hammered with every day really doesn’t make much of an impact on most of us anymore. We’ve heard the same stories too often. We’ve been exposed to the same issues for so long without any meaningful resolution. We recognize that reality is rapidly becoming malleable, primarily in the hands of whoever has the biggest microphone. How else can we explain a society where myth asserts itself as reality, based entirely how many hits it gets online?

We know that many of the “issues” as defined are pure crapola, hyped by politicians on both sides pandering to “the will of the people,” which is still more crapola. Inevitably, it’s not the will of all the people they reflect, but the will of relatively small groups of people with disproportionate political influence.

Nobody wants to face up to the realities of the issues. Nobody wants to say what’s right or wrong – even when it’s obvious and there are numbers to back it up. Most of us are afraid to bring up the realities for fear of being accused of being insensitive or downright mean.

So we say nothing. Until now.

It’s time for a reality check on the fundamentals – much of which is common knowledge to many of us, already. But it might be comforting to know you are not alone …

Monday, September 10, 2012


A special note to undecided voters

It’s unlikely that anyone reading this falls into that category – but just in case you have friends who claim to be undecided, here’s some advice for them:

If you’re going to vote for Obama, say so.

If you’re going to vote for Romney, say so. 

If you’re going to vote for Gary Johnson or some other fringe candidate as a protest against the major parties, say so. 

And if you’re not going to vote, say so. 

Frankly, we’re all fed up with your wishy-washy “well, I really don’t know” crap.  Or the “I like some of what Romney says, but I like some of what Obama says” nonsense.    

You’re not choosing between Coke or Pepsi, or Jif or Skippy peanut butter.  And you don’t get to mix and match.  There’s no Cokesi or Jifippy.  It’s either one of the other.

Unless, of course, you’re going to throw away your vote by choosing some green party or Libertarian candidate, either of which have a snowball’s chance in Hell of winning

Obama vs. Romney is not a battle of the brands, where one is pretty much like the other.  But that’s how you’re dealing with it.  As if the contenders are separated by mere nuances. 

Maybe if you hold out long enough something – some now-unforeseen event like one of the candidates caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy – will make the decision for you. 

What the Hell are you thinking? 

Better still, who cares?  You probably spend hours deciding which pair of black socks to wear. 

The only time I can remember having such a clear choice between candidates was when McGovern ran against Nixon and when Reagan ran against Carter.  (For the record, I voted for McGovern – who lost in a landslide, and I voted for Reagan – who won in a landslide.)

Pretty much every other recent election was between two guys who could have switched parties and nobody would know the difference. 

This time you really have a clear choice.   

Obama wants to expand government, raise taxes on the rich, kick the can down the road on most entitlements, cut defense, and continue borrowing. 

Romney wants to scale back government, lower everybody’s tax rate while closing loopholes for the wealthy, deal with entitlements now with some means testing, keep defense spending high, and reduce overall government spending.

On healthcare, Obama clearly wants to move to a single-payer system, and he wants to cover everyone, regardless of income level.   Romney wants to increase competition among insurance providers and move toward vouchers to help offset rising costs only for those who qualify. 

One preaches social responsibility; the other, personal responsibility. 

Honestly, they could not be more different. 

And you can’t make up your mind? 

Is it the likeability thing?  Obama seems like a warmer, friendlier kind of guy than Romney. 

That’s fine if you’re looking for a drinking buddy or someone to go fishing with. 

But we’re talking about being President of the United States – a job that requires making hard decisions all the time, not doing rock-paper-scissors or flipping a coin to see who pays for the next round.  The decisions you make as President have far-reaching consequences, so you always have to know what you are doing, and what could happen as a result.   

When something needs to be fixed, you have to know how to fix it.  And have the guts to do what’s necessary to make sure it gets fixed. 

Without worrying about remaining likeable.  Or what the polls say. 

Think of it this way:  if you had a serious illness, would you want a doctor who is very likeable, or a doctor with the proven experience and skill to treat you?  Which is more important?   

Don’t know about you, but I’d take experience and skill every time.  They could have the bedside manners of a lowland gorilla, but if they’re the best at their job, they’re my choice. 

But I digress.  This is a note to the undecided, after all. 

So never mind.  You probably won’t vote anyway.  In the meantime, spare us your insipid posturing about how you’re carefully weighing which candidate to choose. 

You want everyone to believe you’re intelligently deliberating the pluses and minuses.  In reality you’ve already made up your mind.   

So stop the BS. 

And if you are really, truly, positively, absolutely undecided in November, do us all a big favor. 

Don’t vote. 

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