Class Warfare

This editorial pretty much sums up why I find it difficult to support republicans. If only they didn't dumb themselves down on purpose... if only...

here

The Values of the Rich

Money and politics seem to be connected at the hip. Hand and hand, if you will. There seems to be a direct contradiction in the belief that political speech is to be unlimited (by the first amendment), and that the rich should not play a more proportional role in the governing of the country. If speech in this country is a function of wealth (you would be foolish to claim that it is not), then in a way political action is also a function of wealth. Therefore, money is political power. C.R.E.A.M. Talking 'bout the money. Dolla dolla bills y'all. However, is this truly a bad thing? This country was founded on the belief that property is one of the basic human rights. An increase in property is an increase in ease of life. If ease of life is deemed desirable, then it follows that collection of property is desirable. If this is a right then cannot be denied, but it is also the fact that this collection is desirable, how is it undesirable that the expression of this basic American right is equated to speech and, indirectly so, political power? If wealth is a function of talent, and all men are guaranteed the right to keep what they make, then is wealth a function of talent and luck, and the expression through politics (guaranteed to all citizens) therefore dependent ultimately on inherent differences in ability, and any distinction based thereof a limit to these basic principles? To limit the influence of money is not to ward against corruption, and any claim otherwise is a limit to personal freedom. If every person in this country is truly free to the right of pursuing happiness(wealth), then there is an equal opportunity to express ones self politically through this money. An argument otherwise is to unfairly limit those who are the beneficiaries of talent on principle, and is against what this country guarantees. It is a basic human right to spend as much as you want. So says the constitution.

"I feel like..."

I dislike most sentences started in such a way. Out of the Library the other day I happened upon a conversation which had a sentence like that. It went: "I feel like morality is all in our heads, a social imposition and requirement. It really isn't real." Immediately I was thrown back to my freshman year...

I remember thinking something very similar. As a student of history I realized it very early on; morality is a relative creation of the society in which one lives. Moral codes have changed throughout the years and will continue to change as the world around them changes. Morality is, now that I have come to rationalize it, a creation akin to government and religion. In fact these three play off each other frequently. All of these, in my humble opinion, are solid. Real. Definite.

They are definite because in some way, they are based off the land. These all spawn from the need of many to share, in some way, a definite set of resources. The set is bookended with brackets on both sides. Changes in these three basic human constructions reflect changes in environment (or methods to exploit the environment). They exist because someone at some time found it necessary to construct them in order to make life easier. The organization these structures provide created the way of life we lead today.

Recognizing that a system is flawed and relative is only the first step in the thought process. It is the knee jerk reaction when one finds a contradiction in anything. It is akin to the revolutions in art. A fault is found, a gap in logic, and a reaction subscribed to change the establishment. However, as the revolution cools, it becomes logical to once again codify it. In the same way, to recognize that morality is indefinite is only the first step to realizing that it is definite. Once one asks "why was this here in the first place", the answer will lead them to cherish the nature of morality. Organization is, and will continue to be vital for some semblance of survival on any level. God help us when it is no longer needed.

(I LOVE IRONIC STATEMENTS!)

Happy Birthday America

"Our country" is a wonderful phrase, correct in so many ways. By, of and for the people, our country was created in order to gain our freedom. In this sense, freedom was meant in the Spartan sense, freedom from outside rule. However, Athenian freedom also plays into the tradition, where every citizen gets the vote. The combination of these two is unique. Our Country is unique. Dissention is encouraged, Rights are ensured, and our elected leader will step down in a couple months WITHOUT hesitation. Incredible. However, I think people forget sometimes what this freedom is really about. Our founders held certain things to be beyond question. That all Men are equal from birth till death, and therefore have the same rights. When a government does not uphold these rights, it must be thrown off and a new form of government secured. Our government has violated these very things. Please, take time to read the declaration of independence this weekend. It only takes 10 minutes. Try to justify OUR COUNTRY's actions for the past 8 years after reading it. If you've half a brain it will anger you. Anyway, enough of the preaching.... im just a little fired up. as if you couldn't tell. Our Country has a set of guidlines that should never be crossed, regardless of any terrorist threat, or any other threat. Those guidlines are what we fight for, what makes this Our Country. Without them, we are not the free country we imagine, but the rich, complacent consumer group that currently enjoys its temporary place at the top of the heap. Our life of ease, our place as lone superpower is temporary. Only these rights will help us to prevail as a people, and it is best that we remember that.

Happy Independence Day to all.

C.R.E.A.M.

talking 'bout the money... dolla dolla bills y'all.

The Wu Tang Clan certainly said it best. There's no way out of this hustle. Growing up seems to be, in this age, just a judgment on how you make money, not the growth or content of a person's character. I must admit its kind of disgusting, to see full grown people act like children on a daily baisis, disregarding social responsibility, driving like lunatics to get somewhere on time, proving over and over daily the prisoner's dilemma. Seems to me that riches, or even the pursuit of wealth, make excuses for people to throw away responsibility for their own lives. They lend a sense of self importance to everything a person tries to accomplish. I listen to it on the radio all day at work (yeah I know, how very hypocritical of me) , and it has really hit home in the recent days. There is no way out of this awful system where aravice is rewarded and general sinning the norm. Anything for a dollar. The moment you try to step out of this system someone will take advantage of your absence, so it makes little sense to fight it that way. How can something so necessary be so corruptingly selfish? There is no gospel song for a problem like this, only blues dispair and reality. Cash Rules Everything Around Me, and it will forever.

Stream of Thought

As a bit of a warning, there is no overall direction for this one. Straight off the top of my head... If you can't tell by the timestamp its about 330 in the morning and I have some things to get out somewhere. I was painting today, and for all of you who don't know, it is almost completely brainless. Lots of time to think. Without any further ado...

I got awsome grades this semester. Finally got them all back. Finally feels like I've found a groove here, found my place. It sure has taken long enough. I didn't really understand until now, looking back on it, how much the home drama upset me here. I tried to remove myself from it, insulate myself, but its apparant that never really had the desired effect. This semester was by far one of the best, and this year in general the best yet. I don't put up with the people that are bringin me down, held close the ones dear to me, understand the purpose in this education scheme, have the goal of the Navy to look forward to... Just a good feeling in general. Anyway, seems like whenever you want to tell somebody how good things are going, no one is really interested. Acutally, sometimes it seems that whenever I say anything, no one really cares. It doesn't bug me any, cause i rarely listen to what they say anyway. Then again, I talk too much anyway, so its a good reality check. Anyway, thats the great thing about this bullshit emo forum. It can never seem bored! You just keep typing and it keeps posting... awsome. My kind of format. Thanks for listening internets!

progress

I love reality checks. I would say I'm on a high horse more often than most, and its nice to be reminded that you still have work to accomplish. I made a promise to myself last night, one that I intend on keeping, and it all revolves around this idea of progression. An interesting concept, progression. It has so many implications. First, it states, without pulling any punches, that something is not perfect. It acknowledges flaws immediately. At the same time it is full of promise. When combining both these ideas, progression is really nothing more than an increase of the stakes. It is a promise that the way things were will not continue; We are done with the old, so much so that there is a new standard by which we judge things. Progression is necessary, it seems, to keep something that you hold dear. It is awesome that she challenges me in this way.

Thats it for now. Not much time to write because of so much work. But Europe next year will be worth it. Peace for now.