Monday, May 30, 2016

Memorial Day 2016

Tomb of the Unknowns, Arlington National Cemetery. Photo by Department of Defense
Tomb of the Unknowns, Arlington National Cemetery. Photo by Department of Defense
Remember those that gave all.

Saturday, May 14, 2016

Party Time

My car
Well I finally did it. For the first time in my life, I actually joined a political party.

I'm a conservative (lower case, indicating a philosophy, not upper case to indicate a proper noun, as the name of a group or party). But now, I'm also a Libertarian (upper case, as in the Libertarian Party and as in the Libertarian Party of Georgia). Let me explain why I joined the party.

In recent years, I've increased contributions to some candidates running for office. I've not always been happy with the candidate I was financially supporting. Or the party, quite honestly.

The Republican Party has shown time and again it's unwillingness to hold to conservative principles. And I've had enough. I'm done giving money to them. I'm cutting them off. Writing them out of my will. Moving on. Looking ahead. Kinda like a divorce. Some of you know what I mean.

I don't have piles of money lying around just begging to be given away. But, I do occasionally send money to help in election years. This year, I've given to two candidates, and I'm all out of candidates. Republican ones, that is.

Anyway, I sat down one day recently and went over my options.

Democrats? I have no use for them. I have refused to vote for local Democrats, who were otherwise good people, because all that does is strengthen the Democrat Party. And anyone who strengthens the Democrat Party nationally needs to be beat with a stick. Several sticks.

Republicans? Well, they talk good. They act bad. During elections, they've taken two approaches. One approach is to assume the conservative base is there and run to the left. That pisses off the conservative base. The other approach is to campaign to the right, and then govern to the left. That pisses off the conservative base.

As a pissed off conservative, I've had enough. I'm looking elsewhere. Or was. I found the Libertarian Party.

I've read the national Libertarian Party Platform. I don't agree with all of it. A lot of it, sure. But not all. However, looking at what the three major parties say and do -- don't forget about what they actually do -- the Libertarian Party is closest to me.

So, I'm still a conservative. That hasn't changed. And I'm now associating with a national (and state) political party that is closest to my beliefs and values.

I'm not urging you to join the Libertarian Party. I'm not asking you to vote Libertarian in November. I just want you to know that if you are fed up with how the Republican Party has treated you, there are options. This is the one I chose.

Monday, May 9, 2016

How we got into this mess

So, just how did we get to where we are today? We have two major political parties that seem to exist for the sole purpose of staying in power. That's not really anything new, but this year, things seem ... different. The number and intensity of people dissatisfied by both the presumptive nominees of the two major parties is greater than I can remember ever happening before.

Now, not everyone is dissatisfied by those expected to get their party's nomination. Otherwise, they wouldn't get the nomination. But, many are unhappy. Heck, many are just plain pissed, at the nominees, at their supporters, at the parties, and at the process.

So, how did we get here?

Well, I think it all began in 1804. Let me give the background to that, what happened after, and how that caused what we have today.

The first thing to remember -- or learn, if you never knew this -- is that the selection of those in government today isn't exactly how the Founding Fathers set it up. Things changed. The first big change was in 1804. More about that in a minute.

When the Founding Fathers were setting up our Constitution, there was a great disagreement on how to lay out the government. They broke the functions up into three main branches, which we still have today: the Legislative branch, the Executive branch, and the Judicial branch. Let's start with the Legislative branch.

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Scream

Oh, I hope it doesn't come to this. But just in case...



And thanks to walruskkkch for the image.