Category: Politics (Page 1 of 2)

life of a *gasp* liberal

What the Great American Health Care Debate Has Devolved Into

08/07/2009 / Matt / 0 Comments

A shouting match of ignorance.

Why can no one talk about health care reform like an adult? Why does every discussion deteriorate into a fist fight within 2 minutes?

I’m tired of baseless propaganda from both sides.

The way I see it you have 2 options:

You can just let Capitalism do its thing — you’ve got health insurance which you pay for so fuck everyone else if you make too little to have an employer insure you. Or you can provide a minimum level of coverage for all — for a cost.

On one side, Capitalism doesn’t give a fuck about anyone. On the other, there is a stop-gap in place for society as a whole.

If you stop and think about it we’re all paying for either option out of our own pocket, it’s just a matter of which pot gets filled.

Change Has Come

01/20/2009 / Matt / 4 Comments

I wasn’t alive to see Michelangelo paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. I wasn’t born yet when The Beatles toured. And I probably won’t ever get out to see that Japanese dude eat all them hot dogs. But goddamn, history has been made here in the US, and it feels good.

Sarah Palin Blames Everyone Else

01/15/2009 / Matt / 0 Comments

Best part is near the end:
Palin: If I ran as a Democrat you would have seen a completely different Sarah Palin.
Stewart: And all you would have to do is change everything you think.

Undecided?

10/22/2008 / Matt / 0 Comments

One of C’s favorite authors is David Sedaris. She’s read his books (read aloud to me the good bits) and I’ve listened to them a few times as an audio book, and let me tell you they are always good for an awkward I-can-relate-to-that laugh. So when I read his piece in the New Yorker today, I had to post it…

David Sedaris on undecided voters:

I look at these people and can’t quite believe that they exist. Are they professional actors? I wonder. Or are they simply laymen who want a lot of attention?

To put them in perspective, I think of being on an airplane. The flight attendant comes down the aisle with her food cart and, eventually, parks it beside my seat. “Can I interest you in the chicken?” she asks. “Or would you prefer the platter of shit with bits of broken glass in it?”

To be undecided in this election is to pause for a moment and then ask how the chicken is cooked.

Oh noes, look who opened her mouf again!

09/25/2008 / Matt / 1 Comment

Watch CBS Videos Online

This video is only about a minute and a half, but it perfectly illustrates why Palin scares the living fuck out of me. Wonder why the Republicans aren’t letting her out to play outside of her protective sound-byte enhanced teleprompter speeches? This is absolutely cringe-worthy to watch.

I’d like to see some comments from the thoughts of others (especially Palin supporters).

Bring it on

09/05/2008 / Matt / 0 Comments

Normally I don’t even try to talk politics to conservative friends and family, or try to bring the subject on my blog. Not because I don’t value intelligent discussion, but because it usually takes all of 5 minutes for me to get so angry at people who refuse to see the other side of the coin that all I can do is sputter and froth a little at the mouth.

The past 2 days, I’ve been doing a lot of sputtering and frothing while watching the Republicans dance around the issues and build a facade of truthiness to an otherwise blinders-on-to-the-world point of view, and frankly, it makes me sick.

How about a little facts check, and if you have the time, read this. It’s written by someone who is more eloquent than my sputtering and frothing could ever be.

Vote Obama 08

Politico

08/29/2008 / Matt / 0 Comments

If you missed Obama’s speech last night at the DNC, you missed one of those where-were-you-when-history-happened moments.

Go ahead, watch it. I guarantee youâ€™ll walk away feeling like youâ€™ve just completed a 3 day health retreat that your kids bought you for your wedding anniversary and at first you were like â€˜No way this is lameâ€™, but then you got there and discovered a range of great services at your disposal and you completely vegged out and now youâ€™re feeling a million bucks.

Give me a break…

08/23/2006 / Matt / 0 Comments

From CNN.com this morning:

As the five-year anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks approaches, nearly three-fourths of those responding to a CNN poll said they believe Osama bin Laden is planning another significant attack against the United States.

It must be mid-term election time! Let the fear mongering begin….

Googled

07/13/2006 / Matt / 2 Comments

Tuesday, Google announced that they will be opening a facility in Ann Arbor. The facility will deal primarily with Google’s revenue-making Adsense and Adwords. It is projected that Google’s move will hire about 1000 people directly and create about 1200 jobs indirectly.

Google’s reason for choosing Michigan?
Larry Page, U of M alum and Google co-founder, says they sought out Michigan due to the talent coming from Michigan Universities. I don’t quite believe that. I think it has more to do with Granholm’s offer of $38 million in single-business tax breaks over 20 years.

Who really cares how they got here though, they are here. I applied, so I guess I’ll see what happens.

Canada gets a taste of Conservatism

01/26/2006 / Matt / 1 Comment

Largely ignored by the media here in the states, Canada has elected a Conservative majority government.

Stephen Harper has promised to radically alter the relationship between Ottawa and all of the provinces.
…
Harper is also being urged to consider naming a Western Canadian to the post [Ottawa’s envoy to the US] in Washington. The Bush administration and members of Congress have grown increasingly interested in Alberta’s vast oilsands reserves, and some believe an ambassador from Alberta would be best suited to develop those energy ties.

I read three things from this:
1) Canada is going to lose its national identity & fracture into provincial sects (can you say Bloc Quebecious?!).
2) Harper is selling out & joining with Bush to fight terror in return for good ties with the US
3) The US’s money will soon be flowing into Alberta

How much longer until Canada becomes the 53rd state (after Iraq & Afghanistan, ie. East Texas & More East Texas)?