Among the myriad of various ironies to choose from as it relates to the current GOP nomination, perhaps the greatest of them is that there is a very real possibility that the outcome will be determined by the voting public who consider themselves Democrats.
Of course I'm speaking primarily of the recent news that there is a statistical 4-way dead heat in a poll which was aimed strictly at Iowans likely to vote in the GOP presidential caucus. The poll had a error margin of 4.4% (meaning any of the numbers could swing 4.4 % points in either direction.), and with Cain at 20%, Ron Paul at 19%, Romney at 18% and Gingrich at 17%, this means that when you toss in the margin for error, this race belongs to any of these guys now.
For those that don't know, Iowa is one of the "must win" states in a Presidential race for reasons to numerous to go into in this posting. When you couple the importance of Iowa with this recent poll aimed strictly at likely GOP voters in the caucus, it becomes no surprise that a statistical 4-way dead heat is getting so much buzz in the mainstream media and the blogosphere.
Perhaps one of the most interesting things about this particular news story, is that while it has been one of the worst polls Paul has performed in (usually taking a fairly commanding lead in nearly every poll he appears in), it also seems to be the one which is giving him the greatest boost as far as public opinion goes. After this poll came out, the opinion held by most people in America seems to be that he has a very real chance at taking the nomination.
So now with this recent development, and massive boost to the Paul campaign we have a 4-way dead heat. Cain, Paul, Romney or Gingrich. This bodes exceptionally well for the Paul campaign or two reasons. The first, is that when campaigns get this close they become incredibly expensive. This works for Paul of course because not only has he built up a pretty enviable sized war chest among the candidates, but he's also done so remarkably, by grassroots "moneybomb" efforts coming from floods of individual citizens. Compare this to the the other candidates, who have gotten the majority of their money from the two groups which have become the recipients of American scorn from both the left and the right…. Wall St & The Banks. Call into question where they have been receiving their campaign contributions from and suffice it to say I don't see it being warmly received by the indignant American voter, eager to send nearly any politician they can to the unemployment line for any reason whatsoever.
The second reason is that when campaigns get this close, they become ugly, even to the point of character assassination. What could possibly be better for a candidate like Paul (if there's ever been a candidate like Paul), who has a sterling and consistent voting record which is perfectly in harmony with the Constitution, who has a sterling personal and political background (What? You don't think they've been desperately trying to dig something up on him since at least his 2008 run for President?!?!) , and who has been warning of and offering solutions to our current economic crisis for perhaps longer than the author of this article has been alive?
Still, with all this recent news working tremendously to Paul's advantage, there's an old adage that says something about not counting chickens before one's eggs are hatched. It would be unwise at this time for those who support Paul to do anything but re-double their efforts at such a crucial time. Even so however, there is still no absolute guarantee of victory. Which leads me back to the great irony, that there is a very real possibility that the outcome of this GOP nomination and subsequent Presidential election may rest almost entirely in the hands of those voters who consider themselves Democrats.
Fortunately, for those of us who are favorable to ending wars and occupations, for those of us who disagree with imprisoning non-violent "criminals" for drug related "offenses" in which no person was the subject to loss harm or injury of person, limb or property, for those of us who disagree with putting the public Trillions upon Trillions of dollars into debt just so politician's buddies over in the weapons manufacturing industry can make a tidy sum, for those of us who like the idea of letting the banks fail instead of bailing them out with our own money, for those of us who value common sense and compassion for our fellow man, for those of us who disagree with the death penalty particularly in a time when we are discovering so many people who were sentenced to death row only later to have their innocence discovered... and, for those of us who could use a 25% pay increase from our current wages (this of course happening by eliminating the Federal Income Tax which, as was shown in the Grace Commission Report "not one nickel of the Federal Income Tax goes to providing the basic services the people expect from their government such as roads, schools...")…which, I'll remind you could be used to buy an awful lot of health insurance… fortunately there is already, The Blue Republicans. A group which allows for the disenchanted Democrat to still vote on their primary values and beliefs, and to say to both the Republican party… "THIS… is what you should be doing." And to the Democratic party, "THIS… is what happens when you don't deliver on your campaign promises"…All while maintaining their identity as a Democrat (or Independent) and perhaps altering the way in which politics is conducted in America for a very long time to come.
I could go into length here about what a major influence this single group could prove to be in this election, however I find this just as appropriate a time to provide a link, and allow the reader and the group itself to get to know each other a little better.
Enjoy: http://www.bluerepublican.org/
Happy Trails...
*Note: The author of this writing is in no way affiliated with the Blue Republican movement, nor do any of their views or opinions expressed in the past, present or future necessarily constitute his own. Nor do any of the views or opinions expressed here necessarily represent those of the Blue Republican organization.*
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Saturday, November 12, 2011
If I had A.D.D. , it would go something like this...
Well folks, this is it. We're at the crossroads leading to Heaven or Hell. I hate to be so absolutist about this, but it is what it is I guess. I just wanted you to know that which way we go is pretty much going to be determined by you... yes, YOU.
I just finished watching the CBS (or See B.S. perhaps more appropriately) South Carolina GOP "debate" (if that's what you want to call it)... and just... wow. I tuned in to watch my long time personal pick, Dr. Ron Paul. If you missed the 90 minute debate... here's the whopping 89 seconds they allocated for him:
Let's set aside the fact that I'm a fan of Ron Paul for just a moment however. Hell, for the sake of argument, let's say I don't even like the guy. With that said, I still don't see how something like this is defensible. The media's job (or at least what it is supposed to do anyway), is to collect as much information as it can on a given subject, and to then in turn present that information to the public, so that each individual may establish and create their own fully informed positions and opinions on the subject at hand. This is no small thing either. I believe it was Buddha who had said that "We exist in a world of thought" (but don't quote me on that, it could have just as easily been Tony Robbins or something I read in a fortune cookie for all I know. Everything around us is a by-product of what was once nothing more than someone's thoughts. I mean, even you are the by-product of two people thinking that having sex with the other person was a favorable notion. What I'm saying is that you, me, and nearly everything around us is simply:
Thought + Energy + Time.
So it stands to reason, that if you can control or influence what an individual thinks, you can in consequently influence what they do, and as such what becomes.
Sorry, I'm not trying to get all Confucius on you here or anything, I just need to bring that up to illustrate my point here (I'm not even sure what my point is yet, so bare with me here)...
You see, what we're experiencing here is a very unique time. We are witnessing more than a Presidential election here in America right now. What we are witnessing is an ideological shift... quite literally, a revolution of the mind. That is to say, people are beginning (and quite rapidly I must say, possibly due to the relatively recent prevalence of technology as it applies to communications), to actually think differently.
This is particularly noticeable with regards to politics. Self-identifying Democrats I talk to seem to be adopting different views on a variety of subjects than they once traditionally had. And the same can be said of those who are self-identifying Republicans. I think much of this honestly has to do with Ron Paul (and I swear I'll get back on topic here in a second... A.D.D. can be a son of a bitch sometimes). You know the saying "square peg / round hole" used to describe when something just doesn't fit or match? I think the relationship politicians have to the public is really a lot like that. The public, and public opinion is much like the hole in this instance. Politicians, and what they say they'll do, is the peg. Traditionally however, what you see politicians do is whittle their peg down so that it fits whatever the shape of the hole is. And it's almost like a race to see who can whittle their peg to fit the hole first. But then you have this guy Ron Paul. For over 30 years now, he has held the exact same shape peg. Not once has the guy attempted to whittle it to be a different shape than what it is. He just says, "the shape of the peg is exactly right, and I'll just keep pushing it against the hole until eventually, the shape of the hole changes to fit the shape of my peg." I think we're starting to see the hole being pushed on enough that it's starting to fit the peg instead of the other way around.
This sort of ties into what I was talking about with regards to Thought+ Energy+ Time though...
What the media did this evening was effectively attempt to simply shelter the hole from the peg. They tried to make sure that YOU and the rest of your fellow Americans, received as little exposure to Ron Paul as was possible in order to prevent him from being able to shape public opinion (the hole), to fit his peg (or his ideologies/economics/politics). This is exactly the opposite of what they are supposed to be doing. They are supposed to be presenting you with a fairly balanced amount of coverage of each of these candidates so that YOU can make a fully informed decision as to what you think... and therefore will do...and therefore... what will become.
Why would they do something like this? Well, if I had to take a crack at it... considering that people will more often than not work in their own self interest, I have to presume that it is most likely that something Ron Paul is saying he wants to do as President is not in the self interest of the individuals at the top of such mainstream media outlets like CBS. Perhaps some of the same people that own CBS also are being well served by their relationship with some of the privately owned banks which make up the "Federal" Reserve that Dr. Ron Paul keeps saying he wants to abolish. Or, maybe they're making a healthy chunk of change being involved in weapons manufacturing and sales which would take an obvious hit if we weren't engaged in wars with... what is it now? 6 or 7 countries now?
The reason this is of such great concern to me though is that throughout history, we have seen several various ideological revolutions. When something like this gets underway however, there seems to be little to nothing which can be done to stop it. Like Victor Hugo had said, "Nothing is stronger than an idea whose time has come.". That being said, revolutions come in two different flavors... you have your non-violent revolutions. And then you have your less desirable revolutions filled with bloodshed, misery, loss, tragedy, and sorrow. When revolutions are effectively prevented from manifesting themselves through non-violent means, the unstoppable ideas which fuel them seek other means by which to manifest themselves in our world... in this case, the only other alternative to non-violent means, becomes violent means. You can see my cause for concern when I see individuals who are central in non-violent, ideological revolutions being subjected to attempts of suppression.
This is the part of the blog where we come full circle back to my mention of us being at the crossroads to Heaven or Hell and how which direction we go is very much your decision. I think most people recognize this ideological shift that I have been discussing is all around us. I think most people understand and would agree with Victor Hugo and his assessment of the unstoppable nature of ideas. If it's true that there is an ideological shift in this nation, and that an idea whose time has come is indeed unstoppable... then what will each of us do? What will we do, knowing these things? What will we do knowing that non-violent means are currently being pursued to manifest these ideas, and that when non-violent means are successfully suppressed, those ideas seek other means by which to manifest themselves, given their unstoppable nature? Will we gamble against the odds as history as given us, and just hope that if the non-violent means of manifestation are suppressed that this will effectively put an end to people's changing ideas? Will we simply continue to have 4% voter turn outs in local elections? Will we continue to care more about what happens in sports, game shows, reality tv programs, and soap operas than what happens in our Congressional, our Judicial, and our Executive branches? Will we continue to leave politics to career politicians rather than seeking office ourselves? Will we continue to place more value on knowing all the lyrics to modern pop-music songs than the words written in our Bill of Rights and our Constitution?
I don't like to be the one to say it, but we must be aware more now than ever that for every action we take, we also take inaction. If we take it upon ourselves to attempt to suppress the existence of such ideological changes through non-violent means, then we are only taking action to ensure that such changes will most likely occur through violent means as they have all throughout history. However, it is also impossible to be neutral where this issue is concerned. If for example, we choose to remain neutral in these matters, and instead, go back to our circuses of Rome as it were... then we are in effect advocating for the further allowance of those who would attempt to suppress such non-violent means of an ideas manifestation. That is to say that if we choose to do nothing, we have also chosen to do something which favors violent outcomes for ourselves, our families, our friends and our communities.
Let us hope that we have the courage of heart and the strength of mind to accept these things, and to conduct ourselves in a manner which is consistent with such acceptance. May Freedom, prosperity, happiness, wisdom and Love be the path we collectively embark upon as we move forward from here.
Happy trails...
I just finished watching the CBS (or See B.S. perhaps more appropriately) South Carolina GOP "debate" (if that's what you want to call it)... and just... wow. I tuned in to watch my long time personal pick, Dr. Ron Paul. If you missed the 90 minute debate... here's the whopping 89 seconds they allocated for him:
Let's set aside the fact that I'm a fan of Ron Paul for just a moment however. Hell, for the sake of argument, let's say I don't even like the guy. With that said, I still don't see how something like this is defensible. The media's job (or at least what it is supposed to do anyway), is to collect as much information as it can on a given subject, and to then in turn present that information to the public, so that each individual may establish and create their own fully informed positions and opinions on the subject at hand. This is no small thing either. I believe it was Buddha who had said that "We exist in a world of thought" (but don't quote me on that, it could have just as easily been Tony Robbins or something I read in a fortune cookie for all I know. Everything around us is a by-product of what was once nothing more than someone's thoughts. I mean, even you are the by-product of two people thinking that having sex with the other person was a favorable notion. What I'm saying is that you, me, and nearly everything around us is simply:
Thought + Energy + Time.
So it stands to reason, that if you can control or influence what an individual thinks, you can in consequently influence what they do, and as such what becomes.
Sorry, I'm not trying to get all Confucius on you here or anything, I just need to bring that up to illustrate my point here (I'm not even sure what my point is yet, so bare with me here)...
You see, what we're experiencing here is a very unique time. We are witnessing more than a Presidential election here in America right now. What we are witnessing is an ideological shift... quite literally, a revolution of the mind. That is to say, people are beginning (and quite rapidly I must say, possibly due to the relatively recent prevalence of technology as it applies to communications), to actually think differently.
This is particularly noticeable with regards to politics. Self-identifying Democrats I talk to seem to be adopting different views on a variety of subjects than they once traditionally had. And the same can be said of those who are self-identifying Republicans. I think much of this honestly has to do with Ron Paul (and I swear I'll get back on topic here in a second... A.D.D. can be a son of a bitch sometimes). You know the saying "square peg / round hole" used to describe when something just doesn't fit or match? I think the relationship politicians have to the public is really a lot like that. The public, and public opinion is much like the hole in this instance. Politicians, and what they say they'll do, is the peg. Traditionally however, what you see politicians do is whittle their peg down so that it fits whatever the shape of the hole is. And it's almost like a race to see who can whittle their peg to fit the hole first. But then you have this guy Ron Paul. For over 30 years now, he has held the exact same shape peg. Not once has the guy attempted to whittle it to be a different shape than what it is. He just says, "the shape of the peg is exactly right, and I'll just keep pushing it against the hole until eventually, the shape of the hole changes to fit the shape of my peg." I think we're starting to see the hole being pushed on enough that it's starting to fit the peg instead of the other way around.
This sort of ties into what I was talking about with regards to Thought+ Energy+ Time though...
What the media did this evening was effectively attempt to simply shelter the hole from the peg. They tried to make sure that YOU and the rest of your fellow Americans, received as little exposure to Ron Paul as was possible in order to prevent him from being able to shape public opinion (the hole), to fit his peg (or his ideologies/economics/politics). This is exactly the opposite of what they are supposed to be doing. They are supposed to be presenting you with a fairly balanced amount of coverage of each of these candidates so that YOU can make a fully informed decision as to what you think... and therefore will do...and therefore... what will become.
Why would they do something like this? Well, if I had to take a crack at it... considering that people will more often than not work in their own self interest, I have to presume that it is most likely that something Ron Paul is saying he wants to do as President is not in the self interest of the individuals at the top of such mainstream media outlets like CBS. Perhaps some of the same people that own CBS also are being well served by their relationship with some of the privately owned banks which make up the "Federal" Reserve that Dr. Ron Paul keeps saying he wants to abolish. Or, maybe they're making a healthy chunk of change being involved in weapons manufacturing and sales which would take an obvious hit if we weren't engaged in wars with... what is it now? 6 or 7 countries now?
The reason this is of such great concern to me though is that throughout history, we have seen several various ideological revolutions. When something like this gets underway however, there seems to be little to nothing which can be done to stop it. Like Victor Hugo had said, "Nothing is stronger than an idea whose time has come.". That being said, revolutions come in two different flavors... you have your non-violent revolutions. And then you have your less desirable revolutions filled with bloodshed, misery, loss, tragedy, and sorrow. When revolutions are effectively prevented from manifesting themselves through non-violent means, the unstoppable ideas which fuel them seek other means by which to manifest themselves in our world... in this case, the only other alternative to non-violent means, becomes violent means. You can see my cause for concern when I see individuals who are central in non-violent, ideological revolutions being subjected to attempts of suppression.
This is the part of the blog where we come full circle back to my mention of us being at the crossroads to Heaven or Hell and how which direction we go is very much your decision. I think most people recognize this ideological shift that I have been discussing is all around us. I think most people understand and would agree with Victor Hugo and his assessment of the unstoppable nature of ideas. If it's true that there is an ideological shift in this nation, and that an idea whose time has come is indeed unstoppable... then what will each of us do? What will we do, knowing these things? What will we do knowing that non-violent means are currently being pursued to manifest these ideas, and that when non-violent means are successfully suppressed, those ideas seek other means by which to manifest themselves, given their unstoppable nature? Will we gamble against the odds as history as given us, and just hope that if the non-violent means of manifestation are suppressed that this will effectively put an end to people's changing ideas? Will we simply continue to have 4% voter turn outs in local elections? Will we continue to care more about what happens in sports, game shows, reality tv programs, and soap operas than what happens in our Congressional, our Judicial, and our Executive branches? Will we continue to leave politics to career politicians rather than seeking office ourselves? Will we continue to place more value on knowing all the lyrics to modern pop-music songs than the words written in our Bill of Rights and our Constitution?
I don't like to be the one to say it, but we must be aware more now than ever that for every action we take, we also take inaction. If we take it upon ourselves to attempt to suppress the existence of such ideological changes through non-violent means, then we are only taking action to ensure that such changes will most likely occur through violent means as they have all throughout history. However, it is also impossible to be neutral where this issue is concerned. If for example, we choose to remain neutral in these matters, and instead, go back to our circuses of Rome as it were... then we are in effect advocating for the further allowance of those who would attempt to suppress such non-violent means of an ideas manifestation. That is to say that if we choose to do nothing, we have also chosen to do something which favors violent outcomes for ourselves, our families, our friends and our communities.
Let us hope that we have the courage of heart and the strength of mind to accept these things, and to conduct ourselves in a manner which is consistent with such acceptance. May Freedom, prosperity, happiness, wisdom and Love be the path we collectively embark upon as we move forward from here.
Happy trails...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)