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How Do We Avoid The "Backfire Effect?"

by stillidealistic 7/28/2011 - 11:23 am

I would venture to guess that for most of us, blogging gives us an opportunity to get our thoughts out there and, hopefully, get a few people to see the wisdom of our words. I know I hope to make an impact, and so and I comment here and there, put up a blog or two, pass along my "wisdom" on my Facebook page, write to many politicians on a regular basis, phone some, and try to work politics into personal conversations whenever I can.

I'm beginning to wonder if it is all in vain, after reading an article titled:

  [Read more]

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Snails and Republicans

by stillidealistic 7/24/2011 - 3:08 pm

I don't normally get to garden much this time of year, but since our normal heat seems to be going to other parts of the country this year, I was able to get out and putter today.

I do my best thinking out there. It's quiet, and pulling weeds and dead-heading plants require little brain power, so my mind gets to work on other things. Today, probably because of all the consternation the deadlock on the debt ceiling is causing me, I was reflecting on politics, and a comparison between politics and the garden came to mind.

Earlier this year I planted a gorgeous dahlia plant. It was tall, sturdy, and had many blooms; a very healthy looking specimen. I positioned it in a place of honor because I was certain it would be a focal point. [Read more]

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The Debt Ceiling and the 14th Amendment...Who Knew?

by stillidealistic 6/28/2011 - 11:20 pm

Well, according to a piece on Countdown tonight, the Dems may be able to skewer the Repubs with the Constitution itself, making raising the debt ceiling a moot point, and at least temporarily taking away the possibility of a default.

The 14th Amendment states in section four: "The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned."

Apparently a number of constitutional lawyers are saying this means that the government has the Constitutional obligation to pay its debts and that a "debt ceiling" violates that provision. [Read more]

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Sometimes The Voice of Truth Makes Me Want To Vomit

by stillidealistic 5/20/2011 - 4:33 pm

I hadn't planned to turn this into a post, but it fell off the front "news" section quickly, and I think it is worth more discussion. My apologies to those who commented in the news section. Please feel free to move your comments over here, should you choose to.

The original article "The Obama Deception: Why Cornel West Went Balistic" was written by Chris Hedges, detailing the feelings of betrayal felt by Cornel West towards the President, and can be read here.

The article threw me for a loop, because, as I read it, I had the sick-to-my-stomach-feeling that I was reading a truth I didn't want to know. [Read more]

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Matt Taibbi Strikes Again

by stillidealistic 5/13/2011 - 11:30 am

Matt Taibbi is quickly becoming the journalist I most enjoy. His writing style is fun and easy to read, and he has an amazing ability to use analogies that make complex issues easy to understand.

In his latest article at Rolling Stone, he discusses the Goldman Sachs screwing of America, no, the world, and gives us a brilliant view of the fraud perpetrated by them. It will be interesting to see what happens now that the Senate has all the info the government needs to get these evil people convicted. [Read more]

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Public Service

by stillidealistic 3/20/2011 - 6:01 pm

Maybe in light of the uproar over the pay/retirement of public servants, we should institute a nationwide policy of ALL public servants being paid minimum wage, including ALL elected officials. Since the jobs they perform are so easy and unimportant. Imagine the money that could be saved!

It is interesting to me that during the high times, no one wants these jobs. Many agencies have problems finding qualified applicants willing to work for the pay. But things get a little tough, and all of a sudden, they are gold-plated jobs, and the people who hold them are greedy scum suckers.

The people who take them are generally willing to work for less now, in favor of a good retirement later. You can't just decide now, well, later isn't going to happen, either. [Read more]

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Hi, It's Me, Stilli - Ranting Again!

by stillidealistic 12/5/2010 - 3:17 pm

Earlier to day I spent about an hour and a half constructing my first blog in nearly 2 months. I carefully chose my words, editing and re-editing to use non-explosive terminology, and laying out my premise as thoughtfully as I could.

Well, maybe I'm not supposed to blog today, because my computer froze up and my well-crafted blog is out there in the universe somewhere, and you're going to get the "Readers Digest," thrown together version, instead, because I don't have time to be careful now, and I'll deal with the fallout from that decision as I have to. Yeah, I could just fore-go the whole thing, but I'm going to frickin' explode if I don't get this out. [Read more]

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It's Been Awhile Since I've Cared Enough To Rant

by stillidealistic 10/14/2010 - 10:05 pm

but the time has come. I have so much pent up anger and hostility I have to rant, or I'll explode.

I have spent the last two years+ supporting and defending the President. And in spite of how angry I am at him this moment, I will still support him until I see a better choice. Defend? Maybe not so much. Because this time, unless I convince myself otherwise during the course of sorting this out at your expense, what he is doing is indefensible. [Read more]

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• 90 comments
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The Gift of Fear

by stillidealistic 9/13/2010 - 2:48 pm

Fear, a gift? Think about it. If we listen to our fear, it can keep us from doing some incredibly stupid things.In 1997, Gavin de Becker wrote a self-help book called "The Gift of Fear." In it he discusses fear... [Read more]

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The Gift of Fear

by stillidealistic 9/13/2010 - 11:54 am

Fear, a gift? Think about it. If we listen to our fear, it can keep us from doing some incredibly stupid things.

In 1997, Gavin de Becker wrote a self-help book called "The Gift of Fear." In it he discusses fear and it's role in keeping us safe in the face of violence in a number of circumstances, dating, the workplace, home...

He doesn't mention politics or voting, but I can see the application. Think of it in terms of fight or flight.

Are we going run away and hide from the big scary republicans? Or are we going use our fear of what they are trying to do to this country and fight?
 [Read more]

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