If I Could Change The World

Okay, first a word of explanation. I've started three different posts since the last one I posted and I can't finish a single one of them. They've all just been too horribly depressing. I've been kind of pessimistic apparently and I couldn't publish anything like that without feeling like I was completely ruining my credentials (of which I actually have none but that's besides the point).

So I'd been thinking about an entirely new topic--drug testing for welfare recipients--but it was getting depressing just researching and without having written a word. So I decided on something else: 

The welfare system in it's entirety. 

Now you're probably thinking, "Because this is going to be sooooo much happier than anything else you'd talk about", but I think it will be. Because instead of pointing out all of the welfare systems many problems, I'm just going to offer a solution. 

When you are faced with a crisis, a tragedy, or something else equally devastating in your life, there is an order to the help you should be receiving. 

First, yourself. No one is better equipped to help you than yourself. No one will be more accountable to your actions than yourself. So first, do all that you can. 

Second, your family. There's a reason we have families. They know us best and are usually closest and love us most no matter how stupid we are sometimes. Now I will allow for the fact that sometimes our families are worse off than we are and sometimes our families aren't supportive or reliable like they probably should be, but if at all possible your family should be your second line of help and defense. 

Third, your church. If you don't have a church or just don't have a helpful church then I guess you can skip this part. In my case, the members of my church are some of the most helpful, caring, and compassionate people I have ever happened upon. Time and time again I have seen these people rise magnificently to a cry for help whether that be a death, an illness, or just a bad day. 

Fourth, your community. There are institutions in place for the betterment of society. Thrift stores like Goodwill, Salvation Army, or DAV; The Lord's Diner and various soup kitchens; homeless shelters, NHS, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Red Cross. These are organizations that are designed to help people. They cannot do everything for you or for anyone else, but they can help. 

Fifth, and finally, and really only maybe, is the government. Obviously it's not working out so hot now, so I don't really know why anyone considers this a viable option. After all the money being given out by the government is really just ours. 

So here's my solution. We do away with the welfare system. Completely. And people get back to giving. I'm probably in a unique position being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I pay a  10% tithe on everything I make because I want to and, because we have no paid ministry and because we have such excellent financial department, a lot of that money can go towards helping other people. 

We have a Bishop's Storehouse and Welfare Square which provide food and basic needs items for those in need of assistance, the Perpetual Education Fund which allows people to rise out of poverty through education, the Church Welfare Program which has been serving others for 75 years. There are classes on provident living and self-reliance. The Church has an entire program called Humanitarian Services which includes among other things Emergency Response, The Clean Water Service, and Wheelchair Distribution.  In addition to tithes, I pay whatever else I feel that I can to help with various other causes.

I don't want anyone to get the wrong impression. I'm not really doing much. I'm doing just fine without 10-15% of my income and look what the combined efforts of so many others doing the same thing can accomplish. I'm not trying to show off what I'm doing (if anything I'm showing off what the Church does...). But I'm trying to show what we can do. People can make a difference. A much bigger and better difference than any the government can make when it comes to helping people. 

I am charging you with a solemn responsibility. To stop thinking about yourself and start thinking about others. To start helping and giving and sharing and serving. I can promise you with absolute conviction that by doing so, not only will you better the lives of others but you will find yourself bolstered up and your burdens lifted. You will be happier, those you serve will be happier, and the world will become a better place one act of service at a time.

A man decided that he would change the world.
But, he wasn’t successful.
So he decided to change the country.
But, he wasn’t successful.
So he decided to change his community.
But, he wasn’t successful.
So he decided to change his street.
But, be wasn’t successful.
So he decided to change his family.
But, he wasn’t successful.
So he decided to change himself.
AND HE WAS SUCCESSFUL.
AND HIS FAMILY CHANGED AND THEY AFFECTED THEIR STREET.
AND THE PEOPLE ON THE STREET AFFECTED THEIR COMMUNITY.
AND THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY AFFECTED THEIR COUNTRY.
AND THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTRY AFFECTED THE WORLD.

One Nation, Under God

Maybe I should start this post with a disclaimer. I'm right. And I'm going to be blunt about it. End of story.

In today's society it has become socially unacceptable to be religious. Look at the mockery made of Tim Tebow. Look at the fight to change the Pledge of Allegiance. Look at what we're taught in schools about the founding fathers and the creation of this nation.

In my US History class we were taught that the founding fathers were polytheists, thus removing any real reliance on that one higher being who was at the helm of the formation of this country.

Look at science. It seems that every new discovery is immediately turned into a debacle of science versus religion whether by the media or the scientists themselves. Maybe we should focus on solving more problems instead.

Anyways, what I find ironic about this entire situation is that religion is the only reason our society has any sort of honest and good traits.

I'm sure some think that's a load of crock, but people are not naturally good. I can't say I'm naturally inclined to turn the other cheek or help someone I don't know or give up my time and resources and talents to something that might not be at the top of my to-do list.

But I do it anyways. Why? Because I live my life in such a way that I will be unashamed to stand before God at the last day and declare that I have done all I can do.

So, going back to society at large...while lots of people follow those inclinations to not help or turn the other cheek, etc. they don't completely act like heathens either. Murder is not viewed as acceptable. Neither is stealing. Adultery. Abuse. Lying. Cheating. Smuggling drugs. You get the idea.

And yet again, why? Why aren't these things socially acceptable?

I find it ironic that the world will take the Lord's precepts and commandments without accepting that they are His. And in my opinion someday the world will have to answer for that. In the meantime it gives you something to think about. Enjoy and (for those of you in my position) good luck on finals!

In Defense of Twihards

So you all just read the title of this post and about half of you probably just spit apple cider on your monitor. Sorry about that? But the real point here is that I have a theory. And it must be shared.

For some reason the general populace cannot handle the Twilight saga's popularity. So many otherwise rational people come out of the woodwork to say heinous and awful things about Twilight fans.

I personally have read the entire Twilight series and even own all the books (though that's more because of my compulsive book buying than because they're any kind of literary genius). Having read the books I can say that yes, the writing level is rather low (umm duh? They're written for preteens. Oh, and it's PLEASURE READING, not your chemistry book.), that the storyline is fun but kind of cliche, and that Bella is easily the most irritating character in the series. But having said that I don't hate the series, Stephenie Meyer, or anyone who happens to think that the books or movies are the greatest thing since sliced bread.

So here's my theory: everyone who "hates" the Twilight series or Twilight fans doesn't in fact hate the people or the saga, they are in fact just ticked off because they failed to recognize what a large and powerful fan base teenage girls are.

Yeah, that's right. Teenage girls. (How else did boy bands get so big?) Teenage girls have all the necessary qualities to make good fans: they're compulsive, fall for fads and cheesy cliches, and are easily parted from their money. Perfect.

Let's take a look at the Twilight franchise as a whole:

• There are four books in the Twilight saga. As of October 2010, 160 million books had been sold worldwide. If we estimate and say each of those books cost $20 that's $3.2 billion. 
• Besides the four books of the actual series there have been a few other novellas published as well as movie guides. And as with any major franchise there's a ridiculous amount of merchandise (think t-shirts, stickers, coloring books, kid's toys...). I'd be willing to bet that it's at least a few million. 
• And then of course there are the movies and the DVDs. They're making five movies, four of which have been released and three of which are available on DVD.  According to Box Office Mojo, just theatre tickets for the first three movies grossed $1.8 billion and the recently released fourth movie has already made $500 million (it's been in theatres for two weeks tomorrow). According to The Numbers, the three movies on DVD have brought in about another half billion.

So they've already grossed over $6 billion with one movie still in the theatres, another on the way, and no end to the merchandise. Now that's what I call money making! 

What I'm really trying to get at here is God bless America. I know it's a little late to be a Thanksgiving post or anything (as per usual I'm behind), but I think it's amazing that we live in a place where it's possible to do these kinds of things. If tomorrow I come up with a great idea, I can go out into the world and I can make it happen. Because capitalism rocks. So don't let the crazy economy and the occupiers and all the commies get you down...because tomorrow you too could write a book at a low reading level and, with a little bit of luck, good timing, and understanding of the people who make up your market, rake in $6 billion.

Stupidity Breeds...More Stupidity. Imagine That.

Okay, here we go!

First of all, for those of you who don't know, I'm an engineering major. This means that I take lots of math and science classes and am generally able to avoid the liberal indoctrination of college campuses (which in turn makes me less likely to say something that will get me kicked out of class). On the other hand though, it means that when my professors do make political comments it just makes me that much more irritated because Differential Equations and Chemical Process Analysis are hard enough without me getting riled up about politics.

So when I went to Chemical Process Analysis last week and, about half-way through class, my professor said something that reminded him of Sarah Palin which then obviously meant he had to rant about how "public servants used to be the best and the brightest" and are now more like "the dumb and the dumber", needless to say I was irritated.

It's not really the fact that he was saying that Palin had "never read a book in her life", he actually said both parties were full of idiots, it's just that (a) I'm paying mega-bucks to learn and therefore don't appreciate unrelated topics and (b) it's our own dang fault if the politicians are stupid.

I know I've used it before but I love this quote:
"Now more than ever the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption."
[James Garfield, "A Century of Congress" published in Atlantic, July 1877].

If the people in office are idiots, then it's because we voted idiots into office. Such is life. At some point, whether in this life or the next one, everyone has to accept that he or she alone is responsible for his or her actions.

The other thing I've been thinking about lately is the Occupy movement. In short, they're idiots (word of the day? I think yes). I'm in a list making mood so I suppose I'll make you a list. I'll even give it a fancy heading.

Reasons Why the Occupiers Are Idiots (And Probably Can't Tie Their Own Shoes Either):

1. They don't have a purpose. At all. 

These people seem to think that there is nothing more to changing the world then standing around like a bunch of smelly hippies with their signs and their yelling and their outrage. This will do exactly what it's doing right now: whip the leftist media juggernaut into a frenzy of praise and irritate the rest of us while doing exactly nothing.

2. Unorganized (oh, my mistake, I meant leaderless)

So as I've been watching this debacle unfold I've also secretly been collecting some of my favorite quotes. This one in particular just makes me die a little inside: "We are a community group, we do not have leaders, we are a leaderless movement...". This comes from an article about the alleged rape at Occupy Cleveland Ohio and while that in and of itself is a problem, I'd rather focus on the whole "leaderless" thing.

The first thing I thought of when I found out about this whole "leaderless movement" shenanigans is communism. It's so very like it...one big happy family with no leaders to screw things up. It's these people with their lovely, idyllic, Utopian "horizontal democracy" (I would link this to something but it's so pointless--just google it there are tons of results). Everyone's equal. But we've learned that lesson so many times. "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others" [George Orwell, Animal Farm].

3. No understanding of what they claim to protest

The movement doesn't seem to have any sort of purpose (I'm going to hazard a guess and say it has something to do with the fact that they have no leaders...oh, and the fact that they don't do anything). I think my favorite illustration of this point is this video from Exposing Leftists (it's a bit explicit but I think that just helps prove my points):

4. There are no solutions

Honestly, this is all just a big chain of problems. If you have no leaders and no organization, if your participants have no real idea as to what they're protesting, if all your movement is is a bunch of outraged protesters, then of course you're not going to have any solutions. I have yet to see a single solution to any problem. Sure there's plenty of complaining, plenty of finger-pointing, and plenty of blaming [insert your latest displeasure here], but there aren't any plans. It's as if they believe that just because they make a fuss the universe will change its entire course to please them and--newsflash!--it won't. 

5. These people are the dregs of society 

There is something wrong with these people. Of that, I am certain. In my own lovely (sarcasm) school newspaper, they had an article about our very own Occupy MHK and the article, entitled "Manhattan Residents Join Nation In Protest", is mostly a bunch of sob stories about former students who can't pay off their student loans. And what did they get their degrees in? Social sciences, anthropology, women's studies, human services...you get the picture. Now I understand the importance of doing something you're good at and that you love, but if you major in something for which there is no job market, then you have no excuse when you can't get a job and can't pay off your loans. The banks didn't force you to take a loan, you chose to take it and, therefore, have no room to whine about it. 

I could detail the rest of the sordid story but it's easy enough to google--alleged rapes, drugs, theft, the list goes on and on and it's only going to get bigger. 

So now that I've made this freakishly long, let's bring it all together. We live in America. We have means given to us to run our own government. If we stopped voting in all these corrupt leaders then we wouldn't have corrupt leaders (I know, mind-boggling). If we stopped being so lazy and putting so many restrictions on businesses maybe the economy would get the chance to recover. If our government stopped spending so much money on (unconstitutional) social programs, we'd be taxed less. Someone needs to tell these whiners to get off their rumps and do something. I understand that even with the degree I'm at school to get, there's a chance that I won't have a job when I graduate, but I'm going to do whatever I can and I'm going to buck up and deal with it and I'm going to solve my own problems instead of standing on the streets like a bunch of sixties protest throwbacks. 

So that's my two cents on the matter. It's probably not the best article you'll read and if it is (and probably even if it isn't) then you're missing out on some great things so here...a present just for you!

This is by a friend of mine. He's a much better writer than I am and he's more informed as well. This article is frankly amazing to the nth degree! http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/10/marching_for_shackles_and_chains.html

And then there's Ann Coulter who I'm a big fan of because she's sarcastic and doesn't care what she says. She's written three articles on OWS so far.
http://www.anncoulter.com/columns/2011-10-05.html
http://www.anncoulter.com/columns/2011-10-12.html
http://www.anncoulter.com/columns/2011-10-19.html

And then this is just an interesting article that a friend of mine posted...
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204479504576637082965745362.html

Have a fantastic evening!

"Let Me Make You A Sandwich!"

I've often contemplated how people can fall for such obvious schemes of evil. But then I realized that in all honesty they're probably not that obvious. Because the best way for evil to work is not to make something 180 out from what's correct, but instead to make it more like 7 or 8 degrees off from what's right.

It's like flying. Anyone can tell when a plane is flying the complete opposite direction from it's destination. But, if a plane is just off a few degrees it doesn't seem so bad. However, if a plane is off course by just a few degrees it will end up hundreds of miles off course by the end of its journey.

So, as we can see, wrong doesn't really have to seem wrong to be wrong.

And I think a prime example of this is Michelle Obama's food campaign that goes by the official name of "Let's Move!" (which in my mind always sounds like a command from a drill sergeant rather than a cheerful encouragement for healthiness).

Being healthy is not a bad thing. I don't have any problem with being healthy. I mean, heck, I actually eat vegetables and fruit as snacks. And although I could definitely use more exercise, I'm no couch potato.

So with that being established, we'll go take a stroll through the Let's Move website (actually I'll take a stroll and tell you all about it because I wouldn't want to subject you to that unnecessarily...of course if you don't take my word on it then go ahead and take that walk).

The site looks all cheery...kind of like an elementary school room. It's well laid-out (which is surprising considering it's a government website) and right across the top it has five things that I would like to call suggestions but are actually orders (remember? question, statement, exclamation, command--those are the only types of sentences).

And right there under "Learn the Facts" is a nice little quote by none other than Michelle Obama herself which says, "The physical and emotional health of an entire generation and the economic health and security of our nation is at stake".

What Michelle Obama has realized is that she can hide most anything she wants behind good intentions.

And it's just inevitable that someone will think, "But whatever could she be hiding?"

And the answer is really very simple--socialism.

It's kind of funny that everyone seems to think that seeing socialism behind someone's actions is this big hoax or that it's the same old excuse because you don't have anything else to say or that it's just stupid when, in fact, sometimes it's just the truth.

Let's look at it--what is socialism?

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines socialism as, "Any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods".

And what this glorious new food revolution is beckoning into our country is just one more attempt to spread socialism. By supporting it we are advocating that what we eat should be regulated and controlled.

Did you know that there are schools across the nation that now send lists home telling parents what they can and cannot send in their child's sack lunch? Excuse me? It's not enough that the schools are removing soda, candy, ice cream, chips, and anything else that might be considered unhealthy from the school lunches and vending machines and telling children what they must pick up in the lunch line, now some feel that it is their right to tell us what we can pack to bring from home or to tell us that we cannot even bring our own food.

They can tout their banner of "protecting" people from their own bad decisions or reducing obesity or whatever else they want to hide behind, but in the end it's just an excuse to expand the ever-expanding government reach into our homes and our lives. And it's wrong.

Of course people praise this plan as a step forward. Of course the plan has good attributes. Every bad plan has good attributes or no one would follow it. But in the end, it is up to each of us to make our own decisions and deal with the consequences of those decisions.

If I want to eat ice cream and potato chips every meal for the rest of my (very short) life, then that is entirely my business and the government, to use a colloquial I'm rather fond of, can shove it.

When the government has the ability to reach into the very bowels, the kitchens, of our homes then our government is obviously too big. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Because if they government can tell us what to eat, then they can tell us what to wear and what to believe and who to vote for and who to worship and then Big Brother will "watch over" everything.

But at least we won't be fat.

Love Is Like A Lot of Stupid Similes

Love will not sweep you off your feet...

but slipping on a banana peel might.

And this isn't love either...

Love is not uncontrollable. 

Love is a choice. 

And sometimes it's a bad one at that. 

Now before everyone and their dog asks if I'm alright, I want you to know that I'm perfectly happy. That I'm not being a debbie downer, that I'm not the victim of unrequited love, that I've had a perfectly fantabulous day. I've just been thinking. Because that's what I do.

And what I've determined is that people are idiots. Because if you can't control your emotions then your emotions will control you. And I think that makes you approximately two years old. 

That is all. Have a nice day! Oh, and if I get the time there will be the most EPIC picture blog of the century sometime this weekend. So that gives you something to look forward to...kind of like Christmas.

                                     

A Little Assigned Reading

So I have a confession to make...

About a week ago, I was playing a trivia board game (Know it or Blow it!) with some friends. Now the questions can get pretty obscure (ex. Name 9 movies in which John Wayne's character dies) and the one I got was "Name the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution". In detail. As in particular phrases that sum it all up. And I'm ashamed to say I only got 6. Out of 10. That's pathetic.

This is a serious problem. If someone like me--who loves the Constitution, owns a copy of it, makes a point of reading it occasionally--can't name all the parts of the Bill of Rights then what does everyone else know about it?

Thinking back on this I realized that it's highly doubtful that most people know what's in documents like the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Because of my upbringing and my own interest in the subject, I've studied them personally but I don't ever remember studying them in school. At least not in detail.

I remember learning about it in 5th grade (we even had a Revolutionary War! ...which makes me wonder if school is too PC to do that now...). The next time was my junior year in high school in AP US History. Even taking that class I don't think we spent much time on the actual documents although we did talk extensively In AP Government of all classes I'm pretty sure we drew a picture of one amendment in the bill of rights and of course everyone chose the easy ones.

It's frightening what's been done to history classes. Granted, it's not a school's responsibility to teach us, but it's strange that history has become so diluted (can you tell I'm writing this during chem lab?). In the future, will it matter to any of us what day the Battle of Harlem Heights was fought on? Doubtful. But will it be important to know what our Constitution says?

Well, in my opinion, if people actually knew what our government is and is not allowed to do, we'd have run at least half the politicians out of Washington. Soooo, I'd say yes.

Go get a copy of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. They're not expensive. If you listen to right-wing talk radio you can usually get them for free (although you'll be badgered by organizations for the rest of your life after they sell your name). Then read. Then study it. And then you'll have to decide what you're going to do about it.

Preparation is Key. Oh, and Cauliflower.

So there's one topic that everyone should be prepared for no matter what.

The Zombie Apocalypse.

The problem is people really like zombies for some reason. I mean let's go google it...

And the verdict is:
--zombie games
--are zombies real
--zombie pictures
--zombie music
--zombie survival

That's the first five autofillin answers and of those only one is seriously concerned about zombies. Three are blatant plugs for zombie-lovers. And the last one is some poor, confused soul who has yet to realize the importance of his question.

Zombies are not your friends. I mean let's face it...

You love zombies.

Zombies love you too.

You're delicious.

So, I think the key here is to be prepared. Nothing works better than just being prepared. I'd make sure you have enough food for at least a few months if not a year or so. And enough ammo for that time period is always a good idea. And maybe a shovel. Just saying.

In the end though, I'd say that cauliflower is a pretty good thing to keep on hand. I mean zombies aren't very smart (I'm going to take a wild guess and say it has to do with someone trying to eat their brain, but who really knows?). And cauliflower kind of looks like brains.

See what I mean? It's almost disconcerting to see the similarities. Take this one for example...

I mean it's almost magical what a little food coloring can do to a cauliflower. 

So, keep an eye out for any strange behavior amongst the neighbors, buy some heavy firepower, zombie-proof the house, plant a garden full of cauliflower and I think you'll weather the zombie apocalypse just fine. 

Hi, I'm Indignant, What's Your Name?

So, I have zero awesome ways to lure you into reading this so instead I'll tell you what I'm doing right now.

I'm listening to Florence & the Machine...

...and eating chocolate pudding.

So now that you're all jealous, let me tell you what I was doing 30 minutes ago...listening to the "speeches" people gave to be elected for Hall Governing Board for the dorms. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh boy. So now that you're not jealous, I'll proceed to the body paragraph. :)

Those "speeches" were the exact reason we have presidents like we do now. They got up and they were well-known and "popular" and they promised amazing things (like more free things and free food and lots of activities). The people who got up and said smart things about what leaders should be like and what they wanted it to be like for everyone--things that were realistic and not half stand-up comedy--were barely recognized.

And so who did they elect? The one who promised everything.

If I had run for HGB (which I had absolutely no desire to do whatsoever) my speech would've gone something like this:

"You've heard some interesting things tonight and I'm here to tell you that if I'm elected as floor president all of your wildest dreams will not come true. I'll work hard and I'll do my best to get whatever we want or need, but there's only so much money in this program and just because someone promises you something doesn't mean you'll get it--especially not if they're standing on the soapbox. So you can vote for whoever you like, but I'd ask you to consider what you're really voting for--popularity or potential?"

Or something to that effect.

I wouldn't have won. I would've offended most of the other candidates and most of their friends. I wouldn't have cared. If they want to be offended that's their problem.

I don't really have any plans for this blog. I just thought it was an interesting real life situation. A stupid example with important consequences as my calc 2 professor would say.
                                         
How to we treat our own elections?

You know, the ones that decide who's going to make the important decisions, the ones that decide the future, the ones that elect men and women who will break promises--it's just a matter of figuring out which ones they'll break most easily.

Modern Day Slavery

This post will definitely be killing two birds with one stone although that might make it a bit long. Pretty much since the founding of this blog I've been looking for an opportunity to write about welfare and in the past few months I've also wanted to write about taxes and our tax system. I've never really found the right time, the right words, and especially the right hook (no pun intended though now that I've noticed the pun I kind of like it) to make it a genuine Allison post. :D :D :D Which is of course the only reason you all read this.

But finally, FINALLY!, I've found the perfect hook. And it comes from a most unexpected angle and that angle happens to be slavery.

One-hundred and fifty years ago, the Civil War was fought to end slavery in America. About fifty years ago, the civil rights movement worked to help remove the last vestiges of slavery in the form of discrimination. However, there is still slavery among us today and it's more widespread then you'd think.

There are those among us who have found the perfect way to enslave us the vast majority of us. There are evil people in the world, it's as simple as that, and they know exactly how to work the system.

The rich among us, whatever you may feel about them, are in bondage to our current tax system. The government has stifled not only their right to enjoy a capitalistic society, but also their right to be treated as equals. They are in bondage to the taxes that are leveled against them.

Today I'm feeling blunt so I'm just going to throw it out there...I don't care for people who think the rich should be taxed more because they make more. It's not right. They earned that money. This is supposed to be a capitalistic society and there's nothing wrong with making money. When that money is taken and given to others in the name of taxes or welfare or "fairness" that's just another word for socialism. And last time I checked, we live in America.

The poor are also enslaved as much as, if not more than, the rich. Enslaved, in fact, by the very people who claim to be their advocates and protectors. Welfare is nothing more than an elaborate trap. When people have things given to them as handouts it destroys their desire to work for anything. Who among us would choose to work when we could receive things for "free"? With a little nudge from the government, these people have given away their right to the pursuit of happiness.

When the poor give up their desires to better themselves--to become more productive, more educated, more self-reliant--they have given up any potential they had to become better citizens as well. They have become, for the most part, nothing more than a mass of people, no, less than people, a mass of things, of voters, that can be swayed by any politician willing to help them continue their indolent lifestyle.

I know I'm probably being really offensive to some, but I'm tired of people dancing around the answers or trying to be diplomatic. I'd rather have things shown to me the way they really are, not sugarcoated or disguised.

Now, I'm just going to suppose that the vast majority of us are middle class citizens. Most people are. And so you've read this and maybe you're indignant or maybe you're ready to change the world, but you're probably thinking "I'm free!" (well maybe not exactly that but you probably think you've escaped the bondage I'm portraying in this post). Well not to break your hearts of anything but you didn't escape. You've been caught as well in either one of two things (or maybe a combination of both): indifference or apathy. Now not all people have this problem, but I even find myself lapsing from my usual political fieriness (super side note, but can you believe that's actually a word? I totally had to look it up in the dictionary to make sure I wasn't just making up words again).

Most of the people I know who are my age, the rising generation, couldn't care less about politics or anything that's happening and most of them really know next to nothing about our government or how our country is run. My high school government class was a joke and I've never met anyone who really learned anything in theirs either.

Those of an older generation are sick of it. People only care when something drastic happens. It's like the last presidential election. The percentage of voters went up drastically but not because of any political reawakening but merely because of race, because of how "history" would perceive this "historic" event.

Today I have no moral for you, no call to awaken, no call to arms. If you can't figure out what I'm saying then that's that. But I do have a question...I know that I try to tone down my articles with humor and/or sassiness (and for the record that one isn't a real word), but if I was to write an article that was purely factual (it'll be cited and everything!) would you still be interested? Your feedback would be greatly appreciated! :D :D :D

Mawage is wot bwings us togeder today

Well, there's officially only one week until my summer is over. And in honor of that, I'm going to ask you all to indulge me and my "poor-me" attitude for awhile.

Lately, a whole plethora of people I know are getting married. It feels like I can't get on facebook with seeing another relationship status proclaiming that yet another one of my friends is engaged.

And to be honest, the whole business really freaks me out.

I'm just a kid. End of story. I mean I still have the urge to build blanket forts and jump on my bed, for goodness sake! And yet I know a whole bunch of people who are roughly my age and they heading off to the land of matrimony.

Maybe they just feel older than I do but I'm quite content to be single for a very long time. Because I'm pretty sure that anyone that finds the idea of themselves in a wedding dress completely laughable is not ready by a loooooong shot to get married.

Oddly, I'm not feeling very long-winded today, I just felt that you might like an update into the convoluted contraption that is my mind, so I'll free you from my ravings considerably earlier than usual. Consider yourselves lucky :) Oh! And bonus points if you get the title...

Words Cannot Describe How Stupid This Post Is...Although the Title Might Be A Clue

Okay, first off, I'm really sorry that I've kind of disappeared off the face of the planet. Have you ever had one of those days (read weeks) where life is like, "That one's not drowning yet!" and decides to add about 17 more tons of water to your already flooded life? Welcome to the last two weeks of my life. No big deal though...I can swim. :D :D :D

Anyways, just a warning, this is probably going to be a super hodge-podge of a post because well that's the way my brain works when I'm too lazy to organize it.

First off, I'd recommend you go see Cowboys and Aliens because it freaking rocked. But if you're kind of faint-hearted and/or jumpy, I'd go with someone who can provide some sort of comfort whether that be legitimate "you're not alone" comfort or just laughing at you so you feel like you have to man-up a little bit (guess which kind of movie-going companions I had...). Either way it was amazing. It had a good pace and a great storyline, nice special effects, a few surprises, and, luckily, only one or two hokey scenes. Oh, and, if you're willing to indulge my shallowness for a moment, Daniel Craig is super hot. Like supermegafoxyawesomehott. So go see it.

This is fine example of manhood. Also please note the vest. Vests are sexy. And the firearm doesn't hurt anything.

And now on to the business end of things: Why can't people drive?

Every time I get into the driver's seat of a car I recognize my potential to kill, or at least injure, someone. Car beats person pretty much every time. It's as simple as that. And yet what have I seen this week?

1. Driving to work at 6 am and there's a guy in the lane next to me who quite literally has the newspaper on his steering wheel and is reading it.

2. Approximately 7382 people texting or talking on their phones. Oh, and driving poorly. What a surprise! Not.

3. A frik-ton of people who don't seem to understand basic driving rules. Such as staying between the dotted lines, not crossing three lanes of traffic to get to your exit in rush hour (with no signal to boot), and who has the right-of-way, etc. etc. etc...

I mean maybe I just expect too much out of people, but a bit more common sense and a bit less general rudeness would be super appreciated.

Sorry this kind of turned into a rant...that's one of the reasons I haven't written. I've been in a slightly foul mood with people in general because everyone is acting like they've been eating lead paint.

But, to wrap things up, people had better shape-up their driving skills or I'm going to buy a tank and then all hell is going to break loose. :)

And yes, I will have a gunner.