Why you have to be 18 to vote.

As I get older, and I hope wiser, I truly get a feeling of content with the age limits set forth by our government for such things as tobacco, alcohol, firearms, and voting. Yes, voting. When I was just a young lad, Just barely out of high school, like many of my friends at the time, I knew everything. I've since forgotten most of that. Now, like most men my age, I only know about a third of what I did in high school. It's not from a poor memory, or lack of nessecity, just that the world seems to have expanded since then. My horizons have broadend, and my knowledge has increased. I'm no longer just intelligent, in fact, I believe I have become somewhat wise.
My daughter, of 14 years, came home from school today, and asked me who I was going to vote for. If you've read my profile, than I'm sure you can deduce, who I will most likely vote for. However, I do not always follow party lines, I'm not an orthidox republican, I just tend to follow the republican capitalist tendencies.
In her history class, my daughter had an opportunity to discuss this coming election. Her class discussed the candidates, and many of the issues that currently face the nation and the next administration. Again, she asked me who I was going to vote for. I swiftly turned the question back to her, and asked who she would vote for, if she were old enough. She replied that she was yet undecided. I let out a sigh of relief, and then attempted to educate my daughter on the issues at hand.
She seemed to listen intently, as I explained to her my opionions about modern politics. "Democrates are liberals, (in general) and are refered to as "left wing," and the Republican Religeous Right, are generally more conservative. These, as I explained are "party lines," not to be confused with 900 numbers! To further her understanding of the "party lines," I explained to her that the republican party has a tendency to be more capitalist, favoring small government, personal choices/rights, and prefers an entity to work for what they need, rather than to depend on government handouts, or for the government to level the playing field for them.
I explained how the democratic party has moved more socialistic in nature. Democrates would like to have a big government to solve everyones problems, usually involving a tax increase to pay for this. Small businesses, of course have to pay the bulk of this tax increase, because, they are the backbone of America.
I had an opportunity to sit with my daughter and explain how government works, (or really, how it doesn't). I showed her a paystub, explained taxation, health care, social security, the abortion debate, education, and the bill of rights. I discussed with her about the way congress operates, the Supreme Court, and how the justices are appointed. In general, I tried to give her an education in government, so that when she is old enough to vote, perhaps she will be wise enough to cast an educated ballot.
I didn't surprise me at all how little she knew, or understood about the issues facing this next administration. I guess as a teenager, living at home with two working parents, you don't have to think about it that much. My wife and I are, in fact the household supreme court. Once I levy my gavel, there is no further argument.
Colorado has a referendum on this years ballot, to reduce the age of a state legislature from 25 to 21. Many constituants disagree with this measure, as do I, and surprisingly, my daughter also. As with any great responsibility, voting, drinking, driving, smoking, ... There must be a balance of maturity, and life experience to use when making judgments. You cannot gain life experiences simply by graduating from high school, going to college, and attending a few frat parties. Wisdom is the sum of knowledge, and life experience.
My evening of discussion with my daughter, has simply strengthened my opinion that the age limitations granted for many of a citizens priveleges, are in place to assure, more wisdom at the polling place. I hope that the next gereration of leaders can still understand this.

Fall Colors

Autumn is a time of beauty around the Northern Hemisphere. All around you, day by day, the leaves on the mighty maples are changing to reds and oranges. The great oaks are following suit. High above the world in the Rockies, where I live, pockets of Aspen trees dot the evergreens with their brilliant yellows and oranges too. People, generally blue hairs, travel to the New England region to see the great hard wood forests of the north east changing colors. It is a spectacular sight.
Fall is a wonderful time of year for many. I look forward to the cooling temperatures, the thoughts of my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving! My kids have returned to school, and the complaints of summer boredom, have left the air. New episodes of my favorite television shows return, and of course the return of the NFL! Many of my friends look forward to the ski resorts to open, skiers and snowboarders alike, I just roll down the mountain, like an oblong snowball!
A good many of my friends wash their camo. Break out the most common of the fall colors. The one that stands out among them all. Blaze Orange. That's right, it's hunting season!
I am not a hunter. Not big game, not yet at least. I am a native American, a hunter-gatherer. Although, mostly gatherer. My father never took me hunting when I was young. He wasn't a hunter either, at least not like my friends, that dream of getting the giant trophy bull elk. I would like to try someday, when I have time, and the ambition to sit still in the cold and wait, and wait, and wait. Right now, I have so much to do to keep food on my families table, that hunting isn't in the cards. Instead, I just buy beef and pork from someone who raises them, and then fill my freezer with a whole animal, of the domestic type.
Hunters are an interesting demographic. All year long they dream of opening day. These men, and some women, go out scouting for a good place to hunt this year. They spend hundreds of dollars on new rifles, optics, and the latest and greatest doe piss, that they will wear like the latest cologne fad. Then, by law, they add 500 square inches of blaze orange!
One of my best friends is a gun fanatic, like myself. He has a great opinion, of the blaze orange, and camo society. What's the point, if you must wear the orange? I like his idea. When, and if, I ever do go elk hunting, I will not spend hundreds of dollars on camo. I will wear my duck carhartts, with the blaze orange over top. With a fine tuned rifle and scope, I need only to get within about 300 yards of an elk to make a good kill shot. Camo or not the animal will see you with your blaze orange. They may only see in grey scale, but the orange is a flat color, with nothing to break up your outline anyway. It is only the archers who gain an advantage by the camo.
The muzzle loaders have a distinct disadvantage. They have a much more limited range for their weapon of choice, and yet still must don the great orange color. These people may as well be hunting deer in NY, where you must use a shotgun, and a deer slug. At least they would have a little better accuracy!
I don't complain much about the hunter society. Hunting is a huge part of Colorado's economy. Out of state hunters inject billions into the local economy. The licenses, retail gear, hotels, hospitals, and of course liquor stores reap the great rewards. A vast majority of those trophy hunters come from other states. I enjoy reading the newspaper this time of year, for the idiots. It's not surprising, where most of the idiots that I get to read about have come from. Texas!
Colorado is a great hunting destination for trophy hunters. We share some of the greatest hunting in the nation with Wyoming, and Montana. The many species that you can hunt here is terrific. Elk, mule deer, moose, big horn sheep, black bear, and antelope, just to name a few. Being an Indian I do not appreciate trophy hunters. You can take home a trophy even if you hunt with a Kodak, and not with a Ruger. It is still just as difficult to get that "shot." However, you don't have to wear the fall colors!

Hail to the chief

And so it is that special time of year. The time when the leaves are changing colors, the days are growing ever shorter. A time when one must wear a light jacket in the mornings and evenings, and even set the thermostat for the night. A time of year when camo is worn with blaze orange, and gun racks are full. Flu shots and the first cold of the season. Ah yes, fall at last!
This time of year is filled with so much that is wonderful. As my children return to school for the year, and hunters fill the local hotels, and liquor stores, I wonder, what could spoil this? Thoughts of Thanksgiving dinner, ah!! Letting my carhardts and thermal underwear see the light of day again, and the sight of snow on the nearby mountain tops. And then....
I turn on the tv, to watch the new seasons of some of my favorite shows, and of course - Football is back! I always look forward to the superbowl commercials, as do many Americans. However, this fall is no different than any other. There are many commercials during my football, and favorite tv shows. The only difference is there content. Politics. Yes, it's election time again. The time of year, when people can't wait for election day to come, and for many, not for a new administration, but for the end to those annoying political games.
When did the campaines turn so violent? Why do those running for office choose to bombard the airwaves, all of them, with their lies, and he said she said bs? Furthermore, who gave unaffiliated third parties the right to interject their opinions, with respect to the elections? What happened to "truth in advertising?" I own a business, I have guidelines to follow with my advertising. Why do politicians get away with their lies, and misleadings? The answer to that is because we the people, let them. Just like, we the people let Slick Willie, do his interns and get away with it. Not that I really cared, I was a little jealous really. I wouldn't have gotten away with that. Now that I am HAPPILY married, I wouldn't try it either.
Both presidential candidates have made remarks about contemporary politics. John McCain said "You go to Washington to change it, then Washington changes you." Barack Obama has stated, "Change doesn't come from Washington, it goes to Washington." Both candidates are absolutly right. So why elect either one of them. They have both been to Washington. They are both changed men.
AL WHITE for President! Never been to Washington, therefore, I am still an American!

The worlds greatest country

I will start this blog by stating a very simple opinion. I live in the greatest country in the world! I would like to say "fact", but it is only my opinion. I will however, support this opinion, with some facts. I have visited several other nations. Ireland, England, Netherlands Antillies, and the French West Indies. I won't mention Canada, because, their just there, why is there even a border?
I have many opinions that are similar. Those who read my blogs, will often learn my opinions. The best part of this, is that, in America, not only does everyone have the right to their own opinions, but they have the RIGHT, to express it. I have learned from my older, wiser, brother not to be shy in forming, and expressing and educated opinion.
I have learned from first hand experience, while in the US Navy, that I live in the greatest country on Earth. The rights of the people, that I was protecting, are not guaranteed anywhere else in the world. Many countries share similar views as the US, but no other place offers a governmental guarantee of those rights. Most places don't offer a right to protest. Many Americans utilize this right, while most Americans do not. In America everyone has the right to vote. Many Americans do, while still many do not. I believe, if you don't vote, you don't have the right to bitch about the government. You had a chance, you didn't take it, now shut the hell up.
In some european and scandanavian nations, all men, at the age of 18, must enlist in a form of national guard. America, is completly voluntary. While I agree that this makes those individuals more patriotic, while serving the nation, I believe that America would do herself a greater service, by requiring a short term military service by all.
I am going to stop here for the day. I will do my best not to make this a politically based blog. I know that will create a lot of argument. However, I do have very strong views on how a "government for the people, by the people" should operate.