The Other Guy

What about the 'other guy'? For example, if we all decide as a group to do some great thing, but everyone worries about this unknown 'other guy', then chances are that nothing will be done; people are petrified by this concept. It isn't even this 'other guy' doing anything, all it takes is the idea of someone not following the plan and it will all fall apart. Yet people will proclaim their belief in the basic goodness of people-that, "given the chance, yes, of course, people will do the 'right thing'." Sure, which is why in the same breath they will say, "well, i would, but what about the ten percent who aren't with us?" What happens is that we become the 'other guy' by worrying about it when we don't follow through because we worry that someone else won't follow through. What kind of sense does that make? To live in fear, not because of what someone has done, but of what they might do. With no demonstrable cause, we let our own interpretation of someones potential actions dictate what we will do.

Unedited Rant: the message I sent to my Representatives through MoveOn.org

I've been paying attention to both sides of this argument and can only say that this is obviously just a ploy to eliminate yet another part of the security net we have in this country for people that need assistance. The true purpose of being a "united" nation is that we care for one another- especially in tough times-and this administration is intent on destroying our ability to do that, as previous ones have as well. Further, it is not just the ability to shelter our weak, weary, poor, huddled masses, but taking away the will to do so by making it into an oppositional race to see who will survive: "us, or them". We cannot claim to be a civilized, higher-order society if we fail to provide for the basic needs of those in the society. No one is perfect, and no one can do it all, or all alone; this is the basis for clinging together, the origin of culture and social interaction. We have an obligation to do these things, and that obligation is all the more imperative when we are really caring for our own welfare. All "social programs" do this, in one way or another, either directly or indirectly, and Social Security one of the few that is direct. We are paying for our "own" retirement already, we don't need to have a 'personal fund' to do it, my money pays for those who raised my fellow co-contributors, and we are raising the workers of tomorrow who will 'pay' for us. Money is not important, only people are important, the system works as it sits now. Please engage these ridiculous allegations now before people begin to believe the rhetoric, and help stop yet another mistake in the making by this administration! Thank you for your time.

A Dreaming Man...

It is essential for people to believe that dreams can come true...not in the childish, innocent sense of meeting ones' True Love or making the cheer-leading squad (although there is nothing wrong with that sort, either). Look at Dr. M. L. King, Jr.-the first thing that comes to mind is probably that excellent speech he made about-what was it, ice cream, right? No, he spoke of a very noble and passionate aspiration-how many of you are reciting it to yourself right now? How well known is this one simple and important dream? Yet people don't talk about having dreams in their lives! Isn't that something wrong with us, rather than something admirable? Since what time is it better to not have a dream, hope, some desire to see fulfilled? Never, that time should not ever exist! Things can be as we want them to be, they can be as they should be. Better, better for all of us, but we are the ones that need to make that happen, not anyone else, and certainly not by sitting on our asses, either! The ideals we hold are more than just meaningless fantasy, the restrictions and rules we place around ourselves are the meaningless things. While the truth can be complicated, not always-sometimes it is a simple, elegant thing staring us in the kisser. Sometimes it seems difficult because of our own problems and shortcomings, sometimes it is because others make it tough for us. Don't let others decide what you will do or think, don't let them win!