Politics? FACTS!

So, it has come to my attention that we are - yet again - in an election year. Oh, perhaps that's the wrong turn of phrase? It has been shoved down my throat, every second of every day, that we are now in an election year. Better.

For the politicians out there, particularly the ones clamoring to be elected to a seat or office of the wonderful locale that is Alaska: STOP SMEARING EACH OTHER! I'm tired of hearing it, everyone else is tired of hearing it. There are many of us who take great civic pride in actually making our voices heard (not that it actually counts, these days...re-count, anyone?) that are looking forward to Election Day - not to vote, but to get the damned infomercials to STOP. NRA this, ANWR that...hot button issues and your little clubhouses aside, what are you actually going to DO? Where is your political resume? I wish to see your track record. Screw all the strong emotions shit. That's what got us into the mess we're in now! Proud to be an American? Not with the not-so-recent turn of events. Not these days.

Cut the hype about The War, Gun Issues, Gay Issues (we're tired of being used as a political gaming chip, anyway), Abortion, Choice vs. Life, and all the other bourgeoisie bull. I'm tired of hearing 'He did this', 'She did that', or the ever more popular 'Well, that's a good idea, and I'll improve on it by...'. And CHANGE? Please. I'm not seeing change. I'm seeing more and more of the same. How about THIS:

Separate Church from State. For real, this time. No more faith-based initiatives, no more using your religious moral conscience to say what's right and wrong. How about actual, non-deity-based ETHICS? If you need help figuring this out, the University of Alaska, Fairbanks offers a wonderful course called Ethics and Society (PS300X). I urge you to look it up and challenge your way of thinking. This goes for you, too, Obama. I like ya, I'll probably vote for ya, but only 'cause you're the lesser of two evils. As far as your 'gay marriage' proposal, not impressed. Equal rights mean EQUAL RIGHTS. So, either knock out marriage altogether, for everyone, and create a new equal, across-the-board status of civil union, or allow those that are not heterosexually inclined to get married. It's just a word, an idea (once a trade system for possession of riches and land), a concept. It is and should not be the 'carrot' for joining the Clubhouse of the Morally Righteous.

Soapbox ended, for now. I leave you with this:

We pray to so many lithic gods -
What happens when we cease?
The rich defy their principles,
Their minds and bellies at ease.

Holiness, O Holiness -
Why hath Thou forsaken me?
I live as well as I know how...
What is this suffering done unto me?

I would believe...would I believe,
Could I believe justice be done.
But the Many pay while the Few play -
This war be far from won.

Change, change, all speak of this -
Aspiring leaders, religious preachers.
But change, naught but a slogan,
A chant shouted from the bleachers.

---work in progress (c) C.Swartz 13.10.2008