red team/blue team, FOR THE WIN... we all lose (no win situation)
I usually keep my conversation free of politics and religion. I often note how I don't really care for sports... although I see a lot of people who seem to be quite religious about sports and as of lately politics seems to be more of a sport with just two teams.
we did vote on election day. I don't subscribe to one particular school of thought and it is difficult for me to understand how all the issues can be polarized down to just two choices, red hats or blue hats. both teams seem to be more interested in securing power than actually serving the public.
I listened to NPR that afternoon, they interviewed voters as they finished voting for their particular teams. one woman seemed to sum up the voter sentiment accurately. she readily admitted voting for the blue team two years ago, but has now switched over to the red team this year. her reasoning was the recent loss of her job and healthcare.... this reasoning left me more confused than ever. this method of knee jerk reaction voting and blaming one/or the other team for immediate circumstances is like determining your vote on the weather.
and while I'm breaking my own rules here, it really irks me when I hear conservative party people talking about "christian values". I'm not sure those people have a good understanding of what Jesus was trying to promote. he would have certainly been for a healthcare system that included everybody. and jesus would have surely promoted a conflict resolution that did not involve invasions and bomb strikes. I'm not saying I have an answer, but I don't see government/politicians applying any "christian values"
what is the role of government? how much is too much? two years ago the people and politicians cried for the government to fix the economy and banking system. similarly confusing was this health care issue. it seems poor people already get healthcare via medicare at the cost of tax payers. part of the new laws require for everybody to buy health insurance (gov't sponsored or private) and this has voters in an uproar. I don't hear of people complaining about gov't requiring auto insurance, that seems to be an acceptable part of life here.
there are two main schools of thought on what ended the first great depression. some believe it was government spending while others believe it was WWII. tough choices indeed. the political atmosphere of today seems to blend in with all the other reality tv shows, just another form of bad entertainment. I don't see that either team is looking to cooperate and help their constituents. mostly a bunch of flag waving chest beating and finger pointing.
stepping off soap box.