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.
Snack Attack...Pizza toast...
-
I have to admit that I get the craving for pizza at some of the oddest
times, and over the years I have perfected this little gem of a snack. It
can even b...
16 years ago
2 comments:
I'm glad that I love you, but I want you do to a couple things for me, First,STOP watching Fox News Channel and for sanity's sake don't Watch MSNBC either, completely biased the OTHER way. Turn to CNN and see truly unbiased news and visit their political website and follow the Fact Or Fiction links. Or Go to the Factcheck.org websight. Read beyond the ads and the Biased talking heads. PLEASE. Second, I want you to take a few of those jewishly horded dollars and find a community college that offers a course in Logic then reread what you have written. Are you aware that the republican party over the last 8 years has done more to erode guaranteed constitutional freedoms than any administration in in the history of this country? Electronic surveillance, Phone record searches, Library records seized without subpoena, Black ops carried out on American Soil, Torture, war crimes and the gods only know what else. More records in this Administration have been labeled as "Most Secret" than were labeled that way in the last world war. In fact their status as secret was even extended beyond the normal 20 year limit to 75 years. Why? What are they hiding? They have perpetrated an unfounded war on doctored intelligence reports,causing the deaths of over 5000 American servicemen, not to mention countless non-combatants in two or more countries. They have incurred over $7 TRILLION, dollars of new debt. Given the rise of what amounts to a secret police force that may arrest anyone anywhere at anytime without warrant and hold for as long as they please under the heading of "Homeland Security". If this is smaller government I shudder to think what they would do for a bigger government. They have cut federal taxes while increasing spending on multiple front. Handed the keys to the city to corporations. Deregulated to the point that we are possibly facing a new depression, a term that was supposedly "retired" after the Great Depression of the 1930's. What have they actually done for the country? Our roads are deteriorating, and infrastructure across the board is in decline. Bridges in every state are nearly unsound, Schools continue to raise local taxes because they have no money to fund "mandatory" programs imposed by the federal gov. Sales tax rates across the nation are climbing for the same reason. CEO's make millions while they ship manufacturing jobs offshore to make American products in foreign countries to be sold back to Americans at ever increasing prices. Corporations keep their earnings in offshore banks so that they aren't subject to American Taxes. How it is possible to Bail out Financial institutions and "Freeze federal spending" I will never be able to understand. 700 Billion dollars has to come from somewhere! The Party that is supposedly about rights has in nearly every instance that it has had the chance, has limited personal rights. Has been trying for years to reverse Roe v Wade. Keeping Non-combatants and POWS alike in Gitmo without due process. When "Victory" was declared there was no release of prisoners as is customary. The ONLY part of the constitution they have supported unconditionally is the 2nd Amendment. Our image has decline world wide to the point where the American Government is thought of in the same vein as the Old British Empire. The iron hand that wishes to rule the world. We saw how that eventually worked out.
For the first time in a generation the world is eagerly awaiting the election of an American President. The world waits in anticipation because they want to know if they should prepare for more of the Bush Doctrine, or is it time for America to return to the world stage with honor and dignity. The world is far too small these days to be held in such low regard as we have been these last 12 years. The media and the American Public are as much to blame as the Administration.
I am all for educating the younger generation, and believe me it is important that they learn FACTS, and not rhetoric. With the facts, they can learn to make decisions rather than having their choices made for them by well meaning fools. ( I'm NOT calling you a fool, but there are plenty around.) I am no bleeding heart liberal, I hate The welfare system as much as anyone, especially as an Indian who has lived on the reservation as well as the inner city. I know how the system is easily abused, and when people truly are in need they must first lose EVERYTHING in order to be eligible for what it seems like half the country gets for nothing. Have you ever collected unemployment? Thank FDR, a Democrat. Your electricity is probably a result of his projects in the 1930's as well. You served aboard the USS John F. Kennedy, named after a Democrat. General Colin Powell is a Republican, Former head of the Joint Chiefs, and Former Secretary of State, has Endorsed the Democratic Candidate. Why?
Bush is a bad example of a republican administration. Bush is a bad example of an American, or even a human. If Monica had just swallowed and kept her mouth shut, Bush never would have gotten in office to begin with. Clinton, as a democrat, was not a bad president. I, like many veterans, disagree with some of his policies, however, he was not a bad president. The nation as a whole needs to decide whether to be American, an challenge old ways of thinking, or do we want to be like Europe, and become a Democratic Socialist nation. I think Europe is on to something. Socialism and Capitalism can work together, but first the government has to get over the "war on drugs" and other wastes of tax dollars. Charity begins at home, stop trying to fix the world, and fix America. The world has done well for itself without the US for millenia, they will be fine without us for the rest of time.
Post a Comment