*****
I am not much of an Olympic lover, but I did tune in and watch some swimming and gymnastics last night. Good grief, how could anyone endure watching the women's gymnastics?! I was twisted with tension over the whole thing - A) the balance beam is a devilish thing and just looking at it gives me the heebie-jeebies, B) I'm not convinced that people should ever sprint at something as immoveable as the the vault, C) the Chinese girls were so little I worried for their bones every time they landed, and D) it was soooo close, and all of those girls were under soooo much pressure! I was really happy for the young woman who won, though... talk about grace under pressure and sheer concentrated, excellent effort.
up next in our television viewing experience: the husband and I will DVR the debate at Saddleback between McCain and Obama tomorrow night. maybe - just maybe - I'll be swayed to pick a candidate. so far... I vote T. Boone Pickens. =) just jokes. But I do like that the man has a plan, and when it comes to leaders, I like people with plans - people who have ideas with legs and wheels that can move this way and that, who present immediate short-term steps for effective, long-term solutions. Even if I don't love their plan, I just like that they have one that can be mapped and traced and deviated from if needed. I am not as fond of people with emotional promises that float in the air, who don't have anything concrete to say about what they're going to DO. It doesn't bring me pleasure to say this, but I honestly question the motivation/incentive of our leaders and have lost faith that our government can effect much real change in anyone's life, barring taxing us more... and then I wonder, are they supposed to? I've wondered, lately, what government is for, what their role is in the lives of the people they represent. From dictionary.com:
–noun
1. the political direction and control exercised over the actions of the members, citizens, or inhabitants of communities, societies, and states; direction of the affairs of a state, community, etc.; political administration: Government is necessary to the existence of civilized society.
2. the form or system of rule by which a state, community, etc., is governed:monarchical government; episcopal government.
3. the governing body of persons in a state, community, etc.; administration.
4. a branch or service of the supreme authority of a state or nation, taken as representing the whole: a dam built by the government.
5. (in some parliamentary systems, as that of the United Kingdom)
a. the particular group of persons forming the cabinet at any given time: The Prime Minister has formed a new government.
b. the parliament along with the cabinet: The government has fallen.
6. direction; control; management; rule: the government of one's conduct.
7. a district governed; province.
Hm. I still don't know. I want them, and I want them to do good and govern well and manage liaisons between our country and others and seek the wisest counsel available for planning and strategizing the future of this country... in short, I want them 'around' to do what's necessary and needed, and then I want them to go away and quit meddling with us and dallying with the media. I'd also like them to act like they're working for the American people. (but then, would it follow that the American people need to act like a people interested in being represented, and what would THAT look like?)
I'm not very politically astute, I'll tell you that right now. I've been told that I sound like a libertarian... I don't know, I feel very contrary when it comes to labels. My government wish list would include things like... being responsible to the American people to spend hard-earned tax dollars wisely. that the government live on a budget... they don't get to raise taxes without being accountable for why they're not cutting more of their own spending. that they don't get to borrow money from Social Security trust funds without paying it back. that someone take pains to completely audit the situation in Iraq and create a forward-motion, beginning-middle-end plan to ultimately get out of there (Bob Woodward's book State of Denial is, I think, a very good one about our government and the war). that they assign the nation's brightest and most conscientious minds to our educational system, with the ultimate goal of turning out people who can read, write, speak, and share, with critical thinking abilities and honed skills/trades that enable them to navigate through the world, support themselves, and help others. that the gov provide strategic and effective programs to help citizens in economic and/or situational need, with all arrows and incentives pointing toward teaching them to fish for themselves. that beyond that, they primarily hold churches, private organizations, and individuals to the task of stepping up and REALLY making a difference in the lives of the poor and disenfranchised in ways the government is incapable... by living in community and encouraging/helping/educating/befriending one another to break cycles of poverty and societal ignorance regardless of income. So many of them are already doing this. I want to be challenged to get out there and be a part of the solution, rather than sit inside my house and wait for the government to fix it all. Incidentally, I do feel this pressure spiritually, and struggle with how to answer the call.
I wish for citizens the integrity of falling on their faces every now and then - our leaders choosing to bail people out of their bad choices is not a long-term answer and truncates the necessity for individuals to learn lessons and take responsibility for their lives. I'd like the government of our nation to assist in redefining the American dream as something other than entitlement to things we may or may not be able to afford. I would like them to audit our tax system, and remove any areas where there is double taxation. or just stupid taxation. I would like the small business owner to be cut a break, tax-wise, for doing what America is supposed to be about - having an idea or a skill, and working their butts off to grow it into something that contributes to the local economy and workforce. I would like them to let me choose whether or not I want to contribute to Social Security, which I will not actually benefit from. I currently pay... what, 12% into SS as a self-employed person? I would like to see the government create incentives for good business practices, while somehow regulating or penalizing unethical and predatory models for the protection of the American people (i.e. payday lenders, sub-prime lending, health insurance companies whose profit is based on figuring out how to deny the claims of customers who pay exorbitant premiums every month to be 'covered', etc.). Maybe that's asking too much - free market and all - but there you go, it's my wish list. ethical capitalism. Regarding health care, I can't go socialized due to my lack of faith in basic organizational ability and function of the government, but I still wish there was some middle ground where we were able to conceptualize and create a more cost-effective preventative healthcare option based on the premise that healthy, able citizens make up a healthy nation. *edit* I've recently been shown that there are many clinics available to people, but that part of the problem is lack of information/education about the accessibility of them, or the inability of people who are undocumented to qualify for Gold Cards... I have a lot to learn about those things.
As a general rule, I'm a big believer in incentives - rewarding good, ethical, responsible behavior, allowing consequences for bad behavior with the hope of reformation and growth. I believe in valuing and treating people with respect, and I'm also a big believer in personal responsibility, which informs a lot of my thinking. And some of it might be conflicting. Anyway, I'm sure there's more but this has already gotten way too political for a Friday. does anyone else struggle with determining what the job of the government is?
I'm not very politically astute, I'll tell you that right now. I've been told that I sound like a libertarian... I don't know, I feel very contrary when it comes to labels. My government wish list would include things like... being responsible to the American people to spend hard-earned tax dollars wisely. that the government live on a budget... they don't get to raise taxes without being accountable for why they're not cutting more of their own spending. that they don't get to borrow money from Social Security trust funds without paying it back. that someone take pains to completely audit the situation in Iraq and create a forward-motion, beginning-middle-end plan to ultimately get out of there (Bob Woodward's book State of Denial is, I think, a very good one about our government and the war). that they assign the nation's brightest and most conscientious minds to our educational system, with the ultimate goal of turning out people who can read, write, speak, and share, with critical thinking abilities and honed skills/trades that enable them to navigate through the world, support themselves, and help others. that the gov provide strategic and effective programs to help citizens in economic and/or situational need, with all arrows and incentives pointing toward teaching them to fish for themselves. that beyond that, they primarily hold churches, private organizations, and individuals to the task of stepping up and REALLY making a difference in the lives of the poor and disenfranchised in ways the government is incapable... by living in community and encouraging/helping/educating/befriending one another to break cycles of poverty and societal ignorance regardless of income. So many of them are already doing this. I want to be challenged to get out there and be a part of the solution, rather than sit inside my house and wait for the government to fix it all. Incidentally, I do feel this pressure spiritually, and struggle with how to answer the call.
I wish for citizens the integrity of falling on their faces every now and then - our leaders choosing to bail people out of their bad choices is not a long-term answer and truncates the necessity for individuals to learn lessons and take responsibility for their lives. I'd like the government of our nation to assist in redefining the American dream as something other than entitlement to things we may or may not be able to afford. I would like them to audit our tax system, and remove any areas where there is double taxation. or just stupid taxation. I would like the small business owner to be cut a break, tax-wise, for doing what America is supposed to be about - having an idea or a skill, and working their butts off to grow it into something that contributes to the local economy and workforce. I would like them to let me choose whether or not I want to contribute to Social Security, which I will not actually benefit from. I currently pay... what, 12% into SS as a self-employed person? I would like to see the government create incentives for good business practices, while somehow regulating or penalizing unethical and predatory models for the protection of the American people (i.e. payday lenders, sub-prime lending, health insurance companies whose profit is based on figuring out how to deny the claims of customers who pay exorbitant premiums every month to be 'covered', etc.). Maybe that's asking too much - free market and all - but there you go, it's my wish list. ethical capitalism. Regarding health care, I can't go socialized due to my lack of faith in basic organizational ability and function of the government, but I still wish there was some middle ground where we were able to conceptualize and create a more cost-effective preventative healthcare option based on the premise that healthy, able citizens make up a healthy nation. *edit* I've recently been shown that there are many clinics available to people, but that part of the problem is lack of information/education about the accessibility of them, or the inability of people who are undocumented to qualify for Gold Cards... I have a lot to learn about those things.
As a general rule, I'm a big believer in incentives - rewarding good, ethical, responsible behavior, allowing consequences for bad behavior with the hope of reformation and growth. I believe in valuing and treating people with respect, and I'm also a big believer in personal responsibility, which informs a lot of my thinking. And some of it might be conflicting. Anyway, I'm sure there's more but this has already gotten way too political for a Friday. does anyone else struggle with determining what the job of the government is?
*****
I've waxed far too long today, and must go do my Firm Cardio Sculpt. my sister-in-law and I both used to do The Firm workouts, and in lieu of a gym membership I've gotten out my VHS tapes again (I have the dvds too, but I like the old tape workouts best). this stuff kicks my butt, literally. which is good, because there's plenty to kick. =) friday shout out to all the pretty ladies with junk in the trunk! *bootie dance of womanly awesomeness!!*
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