Just like the public health community spreads the word of the latest salmonella outbreak, Arcade Fire has their own PSA, warning of the dangers of suburban angst..
I guess it's good to get knowledge of this social disease out in the open. But as I myself was once a self-professed Queen of Suburban angst, (well before it was identified as a marketable medical condition) I feel I have a few valid observations.
First of all, I cured my suburban angst quickly and completely by moving to Alaska. Luckily, once you are cured of this condition, it is much easier to reflect on its cause.
The first observation is that not everyone does hate the suburbs (wow!). Only after leaving did I realize that parents feel their kids are safe there, kids like to ride their bikes around and don't even need to fear their neighbors! Neat stuff.
Now the angst part usually only develops when you are a teenager. The two causes of angst are: A) realizing that safety is boring (as any philosopher will note: humans crave adversity). B) it is exhausting to constantly conform and "fit in".
At first one might think that only the artsy goth kids hate conformity. But now as an adult I realize that the peppy kids had it even harder. I mean by accepting that you aren't one of them, you can just breathe, claim your angst and detour around the conformity game. But if you are actually succeeding, then watch out--you need your eyes on the ball 24/7--are you wearing the right clothes, saying the right thing...? Then adults need to watch out for the proverbial Joneses next door--keeping up with the right car, landscaping and heaven forbid you have not painted your house beige!
The funny thing is, after overcoming my own suburban angst, I realize the safety thing isn't bad for little children after all, and can't say that everyone living in the suburbs will become nuts. On the other hand, those beige houses have got to go....
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
Your Constitutional Right to Rot
Yelling and more yelling about our freedom and rights, the constitution blah, blah-- it's all I ever hear in Alaska these days.
I don't know what exactly everyone is so upset about. What is the federal government doing to everyone?? Taking away their weed? Taxes?--guess what --nothing new. Then it must be health care reform...true enough there is that pesky new provision (as I understand it) that health insurance will become mandatory in the future. Maybe we can help folks worried about this with a "splat" amendment.
The splat amendment would be signed by those choosing to opt out of mandatory health care. These individuals swear that if they become disabled (say with diabetes--huge increase in cases) or get cancer or happen to fall "splat" off a building they are to be left to die. Just leave them there or send them out on an ice floe. No government benefits, or social security will ever be requested. Simple enough.
I don't know what exactly everyone is so upset about. What is the federal government doing to everyone?? Taking away their weed? Taxes?--guess what --nothing new. Then it must be health care reform...true enough there is that pesky new provision (as I understand it) that health insurance will become mandatory in the future. Maybe we can help folks worried about this with a "splat" amendment.
The splat amendment would be signed by those choosing to opt out of mandatory health care. These individuals swear that if they become disabled (say with diabetes--huge increase in cases) or get cancer or happen to fall "splat" off a building they are to be left to die. Just leave them there or send them out on an ice floe. No government benefits, or social security will ever be requested. Simple enough.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Tea Party, Libertarians, and the People
So I have been reading up on the differences between the tea-party people and what the libertarians have been saying all along. The most significant difference is obviously that the libertarians don't support useless & expensive wars, while the tea party folk feel they are quite all right (talk about spending tax payer money) but whatever.
Yet, if you truly look at honest libertarian ideas (say Ron Paul) you will find that "removing government" or less government as everyone yells & chants these days is really a much bigger sacrifice than anyone realizes.
Government is so entrenched in our system (food prices, utilities, mortgages, banks, credit) that if you yank the plug we would have the craziest price inflation, unemployment & poverty that anyone has ever seen or even dreamed of. I sort of agree (for environmental reasons) that it would be interesting to let the system collapse and start over again--but give me a break people. Who in their right mind would do this? The elected official (say a president) who actually followed through with this sort of idea (and eliminated corporate welfare as they call it) would be burned at the stake.
Then say you stopped social programs such as social security --did history disappear here? We can't remember why it was created in the first place???? Just travel to any country (say third or second world) and see what happens when people are left to take care of themselves....It's not nice--ever seen an orphanage full of disabled kids? That's where they go without government benefits--because you can't afford to keep them at home. Not to mention the terrible poverty of the elderly, disabled adults & increased death rates.
Have a good day people...
Yet, if you truly look at honest libertarian ideas (say Ron Paul) you will find that "removing government" or less government as everyone yells & chants these days is really a much bigger sacrifice than anyone realizes.
Government is so entrenched in our system (food prices, utilities, mortgages, banks, credit) that if you yank the plug we would have the craziest price inflation, unemployment & poverty that anyone has ever seen or even dreamed of. I sort of agree (for environmental reasons) that it would be interesting to let the system collapse and start over again--but give me a break people. Who in their right mind would do this? The elected official (say a president) who actually followed through with this sort of idea (and eliminated corporate welfare as they call it) would be burned at the stake.
Then say you stopped social programs such as social security --did history disappear here? We can't remember why it was created in the first place???? Just travel to any country (say third or second world) and see what happens when people are left to take care of themselves....It's not nice--ever seen an orphanage full of disabled kids? That's where they go without government benefits--because you can't afford to keep them at home. Not to mention the terrible poverty of the elderly, disabled adults & increased death rates.
Have a good day people...
Friday, September 10, 2010
What Does 911 Have to do With Wasilla?
I am so frustrated having to drive around southcentral Alaska this week and see signs announcing "Rally to remember 911" at Wasilla sports complex. I have been in Alaska every year since 911 and nobody has given more than the occasional mini-speech or moment of silence up until now (sometimes not even that). Why the new interest in 2010?
As someone who actually was in the NY area during 911 I find this whole neo-concern obnoxious and suspicious at best. I don't know how many Alaskans were in NY then and saw the persistent smoke--(it went on for weeks), the strange smell in the air, the silence on the radio followed by excessive Enya songs for days on end....Not to mention the larger, more painful things--missing persons, knowing of a friend of a friend who was lost, or on their way downtown. The anxiety or phone calls from far away asking if you were ok, military jets flying overhead....
But now 9 years later Wasilla is all up in arms and going to show a massive graphic 911 slide show, supposedly with G. Beck and S. Palin in attendance--why? It doesn't sound like a vigil or respectable memorial service for the dead. The only thing a slide show will accomplish is getting people all paranoid again. Those images had to be stopped on the National media years ago, because they were scaring children!! Remember folks, all those ominous warnings--but yet nothing significant like this has happened in the 9 years since--so why get peoples panties in a bunch now?? I shudder to think what their real motive is to perpetuate this fear out of the blue.
As someone who actually was in the NY area during 911 I find this whole neo-concern obnoxious and suspicious at best. I don't know how many Alaskans were in NY then and saw the persistent smoke--(it went on for weeks), the strange smell in the air, the silence on the radio followed by excessive Enya songs for days on end....Not to mention the larger, more painful things--missing persons, knowing of a friend of a friend who was lost, or on their way downtown. The anxiety or phone calls from far away asking if you were ok, military jets flying overhead....
But now 9 years later Wasilla is all up in arms and going to show a massive graphic 911 slide show, supposedly with G. Beck and S. Palin in attendance--why? It doesn't sound like a vigil or respectable memorial service for the dead. The only thing a slide show will accomplish is getting people all paranoid again. Those images had to be stopped on the National media years ago, because they were scaring children!! Remember folks, all those ominous warnings--but yet nothing significant like this has happened in the 9 years since--so why get peoples panties in a bunch now?? I shudder to think what their real motive is to perpetuate this fear out of the blue.
No Child Left Behind is a Socialist System
Fidel Castro has recently admitted that his former policies are no longer workings. After I read an article about this topic I scrolled down to the comments section, to see what average Joe had to say about it.
Well interestingly enough, I saw many sensible ideas about "not too right, not too left" is usually the best way. But of course other people had to get their two cents in about the failures of socialist ideas such as:" if everyone is treated too equal then their is no reason to excel". The usual drivel how these ideas stomp on entrepreneurship, individualism & intellectual greatness--fair enough, blame that on the socialists.
But this brings up an idea that I often think about: what in the world is "No Child Left Behind" if not a really socialist idea brought upon by George Bush?? Of course I am 100% behind free education and feel children are our Nations future--but has anyone seen what this policy really does?
As someone who has looked over many public school systems at the elementary level, I see a new pattern developing. Thanks to websites like "Greatschools" that are directly linked to Realtor.com, the number one criteria for evaluating a school district is their test scores. Now do these "test scores" actually show how smart the kids are?? No, the data I have seen on these sites only show how many % pass or fail. So for your school district to get a good score--it only makes sense to help the slowest students. Those kids that can pass easily are neglected. Gifted & talented programs are cut in order to focus on the students needing a boost up, not the other way around.
So the thing I can't understand is why Obama is called the big "socialist" when Bush created this giant socialist scheme himself?? I'm all for helping struggling students, it is essential to educate everyone to help the country at large. But with limited education funding--are we paying as much attention to those kids that will be our future leaders, the ones bored in school?? Aren't we telling them--you only need to "pass the test"....shouldn't we expect more of them?
I just don't get this double standard...
Well interestingly enough, I saw many sensible ideas about "not too right, not too left" is usually the best way. But of course other people had to get their two cents in about the failures of socialist ideas such as:" if everyone is treated too equal then their is no reason to excel". The usual drivel how these ideas stomp on entrepreneurship, individualism & intellectual greatness--fair enough, blame that on the socialists.
But this brings up an idea that I often think about: what in the world is "No Child Left Behind" if not a really socialist idea brought upon by George Bush?? Of course I am 100% behind free education and feel children are our Nations future--but has anyone seen what this policy really does?
As someone who has looked over many public school systems at the elementary level, I see a new pattern developing. Thanks to websites like "Greatschools" that are directly linked to Realtor.com, the number one criteria for evaluating a school district is their test scores. Now do these "test scores" actually show how smart the kids are?? No, the data I have seen on these sites only show how many % pass or fail. So for your school district to get a good score--it only makes sense to help the slowest students. Those kids that can pass easily are neglected. Gifted & talented programs are cut in order to focus on the students needing a boost up, not the other way around.
So the thing I can't understand is why Obama is called the big "socialist" when Bush created this giant socialist scheme himself?? I'm all for helping struggling students, it is essential to educate everyone to help the country at large. But with limited education funding--are we paying as much attention to those kids that will be our future leaders, the ones bored in school?? Aren't we telling them--you only need to "pass the test"....shouldn't we expect more of them?
I just don't get this double standard...
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Obama Opinion Polls
I don't trust the public. I feel they are misinformed, have no attention span and spend all their free time watching the boob tube or facebooking about how their cat did the cutest thing.
I rarely meet anyone that actually reads good books or the newspaper everyday. But public opinion polls have no problem asking all these morons what they think. I always love the question : "is congress doing a good job?". It cracks me up. Even with mostly college educated friends, I know only a handful of folks who even know what congress does, let alone actually follows their day to day work...so why are we asking them? It's like asking my dog--"do you approve of the financial bailout?"
That said, the media is obsessed with Obama's numbers declining. I truly feel for the guy. Can the so-called "public" actually explain why they feel this way? Or did they happen to see too many misspelled protest signs and think to themselves: "well it looks like neighbor Bob doesn't like this Obama fellow, I better think that too..."or more likely--"the tabloids are saying Obama is a drunken Muslim" (hard to believe these two completely opposite ideas can be side by side in the same supermarket checkout line).
What did Obama really do that upsets them so much?? The spiraling debt perhaps. But what does "the public" want him to do about the economy? Let it crash and burn? No debt or bail outs then...just poverty.
Same with health care. Something had to be done. You can eliminate Medicare/Medicaid and Social Security or you can radically change the whole system. The public hates both options...so what again did they want the president to do about it? It's like you can't win. Do nothing and they complain, do something and they complain....
It's not like he started a mistake war or anything...so give the guy a break!
I rarely meet anyone that actually reads good books or the newspaper everyday. But public opinion polls have no problem asking all these morons what they think. I always love the question : "is congress doing a good job?". It cracks me up. Even with mostly college educated friends, I know only a handful of folks who even know what congress does, let alone actually follows their day to day work...so why are we asking them? It's like asking my dog--"do you approve of the financial bailout?"
That said, the media is obsessed with Obama's numbers declining. I truly feel for the guy. Can the so-called "public" actually explain why they feel this way? Or did they happen to see too many misspelled protest signs and think to themselves: "well it looks like neighbor Bob doesn't like this Obama fellow, I better think that too..."or more likely--"the tabloids are saying Obama is a drunken Muslim" (hard to believe these two completely opposite ideas can be side by side in the same supermarket checkout line).
What did Obama really do that upsets them so much?? The spiraling debt perhaps. But what does "the public" want him to do about the economy? Let it crash and burn? No debt or bail outs then...just poverty.
Same with health care. Something had to be done. You can eliminate Medicare/Medicaid and Social Security or you can radically change the whole system. The public hates both options...so what again did they want the president to do about it? It's like you can't win. Do nothing and they complain, do something and they complain....
It's not like he started a mistake war or anything...so give the guy a break!
Friday, September 3, 2010
My Simple Challenge for Sarah & Glenn
Well I am sure I don't even need to use Palin's and Beck's full names for anyone to know exactly who I am talking about.....
We all know they are good at being snarky, critical, snappy and what have you--but what I don't believe they are good at is something else: world travel.
I'll be honest--I don't know Glenn Becks world travel history. But I am pretty sure Sarah hadn't seen much more than good old Wasilla up until a few years ago. And now that she does travel a bit it is in an insulated vacuum--where you see a sanitized version of cars & hotel rooms, nothing else.
What does traveling have to do with anything you may ask? Well everything in my opinion. Before you say what's right or wrong about America. Or what the people need or want, how they should live and dismantle the UN...you really need to take a good trip around the world and see what works and what doesn't. It's like the best school in the "world". Any idea you have-some other country might have already tried it. Saves valuable time.
Ask people in Canada, do they like their lives? How about in Denmark?--talk to real middle class folks. Then see what true government deregulation looks like--try some third world countries. My travel schedule for Glenn & Sarah would include a few evil "socialist countries" like France or Sweden. Then try some deregulated economic fun--like Latvia or Chile. Definitely see India. And no hiding out in fancy hotels!
Better yet, make it a reality show: Sarah & Glenn's excellent adventure....then come back and talk .
We all know they are good at being snarky, critical, snappy and what have you--but what I don't believe they are good at is something else: world travel.
I'll be honest--I don't know Glenn Becks world travel history. But I am pretty sure Sarah hadn't seen much more than good old Wasilla up until a few years ago. And now that she does travel a bit it is in an insulated vacuum--where you see a sanitized version of cars & hotel rooms, nothing else.
What does traveling have to do with anything you may ask? Well everything in my opinion. Before you say what's right or wrong about America. Or what the people need or want, how they should live and dismantle the UN...you really need to take a good trip around the world and see what works and what doesn't. It's like the best school in the "world". Any idea you have-some other country might have already tried it. Saves valuable time.
Ask people in Canada, do they like their lives? How about in Denmark?--talk to real middle class folks. Then see what true government deregulation looks like--try some third world countries. My travel schedule for Glenn & Sarah would include a few evil "socialist countries" like France or Sweden. Then try some deregulated economic fun--like Latvia or Chile. Definitely see India. And no hiding out in fancy hotels!
Better yet, make it a reality show: Sarah & Glenn's excellent adventure....then come back and talk .
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