Money

I often hear people say that they don’t want to vote for Obama because he’ll raise their taxes. The interesting part is that all of these people come in far below the $200,000 point at which Obama has said hell be raising taxes. That means all of these people will be getting more of their tax money returned to them under his plan. Don’t just listen to me, look at the independent tax centers analysis. Obama’s plan targets not just one segment of the population, but rather covers an incredibly comprehensive set of material. He’s using a much larger net to diversify his plan, just like any good financial long term investor. The other great part of this is who is supporting him… none other than Warren Buffet! If you have the oracle of omaha backing your economic plan you must have something right.

Values

In reading Obama’s book Audacity of Hope, you get a glimmer into his insight and thought process. My primary interest was his ability to separate his own personal moral/ethical/value compass from the decision making process of government. He understands that government has no business involving itself in individual rights. He understands that the government doesn’t have the right to define marriage. He understands that Roe v. Wade was a fundamental right for women to decide what is right for themselves.

But, the part that most stood out is his understanding of how the nuclear family’s downfall over recent years has caused much of the moral degradations we’ve seen. He recognizes the importance of having a dual parenting environment and speaks to those points frequently. He also doesn’t pretend to have a perfect family. The last chapter of his book tells of the hardships his own family has sustained under the pressures of both parents working and driving their own careers. He recognizes that traditionally the mother’s career suffers after child birth, and even saw it within his own household. This realization drives him to continually push for more benefits for single mothers and things like universal day care for everyone. Which, by the way, most Western nations already have universal day care because it is a recognized investment in the future of the nation. Also he supports early childhood education programs which have a proven record of success for encouraging more studious children who are excited to learn.

Intelligence

Over the last 8 years if we’ve learned anything, we’ve learned it’s important to have a leader who possesses a level of intelligence in the upper percentile of the population. That’s not to say that they must be an expert on everything, but the President of the United States needs to have the ability to learn quickly from his advisors, comprehend the information presented, know how to ask the tough questions to weed out the garbage information, process all of the information they are presented with and make the tough decisions. Not only that, but they must be able to multi-task and prioritize in this fast paced world. I want a president that will never, ever, say “I’m not a….” and toss his hands in the air like a bafoon. Instead I want someone who will call in the best and brightest advisors in the world to help present the best possible solution to every problem.

Universal Social Care

Obama’s plan for universal health care has a lot of promise. As the greatest democracy in the world and the most advanced civilization on the planet I feel we have a responsibility to take care of all of our citizens to the best of our ability. Typically many people argue against social welfare, however when you probe them further it’s not the actual concept of helping people that they are against but rather the implementation and corruption of those programs. I don’t disagree that there are abuses of these systems, but my feeling is that the benefit far outweighs the minimal abuse or corruption of the systems. I feel it is our responsibility to continually improve these programs and at the same time we should be weeding out the abuse.

Universal health care falls into these same discussions. Usually people don’t have an argument against withholding medical treatment from people, but rather they look at other nations’ implementations (like canada) and then jump to a position of defensiveness because they don’t want to see the same problems implemented here. They are letting their fear dictate their decisions, rather than rationally evaluating the pros and cons of investing in the health and well being of our entire nation.

Running Mate

Historically the Vice Presidential candidate has rarely played a huge role in government unless something happened to the President. I say historically, but in recent years we’ve seen sweeping assumptions of power by the current VP. This expansion of power brings into focus a much more important aspect of who the VP candidates are this year. Senator Biden has expertise on the national stage for 6 terms. He has dedicated the majority of his life to working in washington and has been involved with foreign relations and even chaired the committee. In contrast to his opponent, he intelligently evaluates each decision and firmly understands the separation of powers our country was founded upon.

I wouldn’t normally pay nearly as much attention to he VP position, but I see a real potential that the VP of the next administration may either continue to have a substantial position of influence, or may even be called upon to take over the nation. In those circumstances I have a very real confidence in Joe Biden to fulfill those duties, and a very real fear of his competition potentially having that position.

Conclusion

All of these issues and many more that could be discussed in perpetuity are why I support the Obama/Biden ticket. I will happily talk to anyone who wants to discuss anything further. I don’t hope to convert anyones views to match my own, but I do hope you know your candidates and that they will truly represent your own view points.

So let’s all get out there and VOTE! It’s not just your right, it’s your RESPONSIBILITY!

Now, maybe that trust part is a little tough…. but most women have someone that would fit the bill. Worst case is that the woman can read her guy friend a LOT better than she can read the new potential beau and she picks up on some misgivings much earlier.

Here’s how it works. After you start seeing the guy for a while, arrange a time to meet the friends. Make sure your “ringer” is at the group event. Once the introductions are made, watch and see if yoru new guy talks to your guy friend. If he talks openly and on his own accord, that’s probably a plus. Otherwise let him know you value your guy friend a lot and that you want them to be friends.

The trick here is the day after. Get your guy friend’s opinion. Hopefully he’s completely honest with what he thinks of your new guy. If he didn’t get enough information, make sure you try it again and the next time force the new guy to talk to him.

We guys can read our fellow gender much more clearly. We have a very easy time spotting the problem areas and most of the time can probably guess if there’s a good match forming. Well, I hope this helps you. Oh, and it’s probably a two way street, so if your guy friend brings his new girl around you try and help him out too!

I was thinking the other day how completely odd it is that elected officials have to take the oath of office. Shouldn’t it just be a known assumption that EVERYONE should defend the Constitution if they’re part of this country? If it wasn’t for that spectacular piece of paper none of us would know a life without oppression or totalitarianism. Defending the Constitution should be the greatest honor any commitment any person could ever give of themselves.

But what do I mean by defending the Constitution? Well you have the obvious choice of physically protecting our nation and by extension the document itself and it’s embodiment in the citizenry. But what I really mean is from the internal threats it battles on a daily basis. It was only about 232 years ago that it was written, and even then our fore fathers recognized that corruption and greed could foster an atmosphere that could compromise almost any form of government. Having seen in their own time and recent history the abuse of power from their former homelands they created the system of checks and balances on each branch of our government. But the final line in the sand was drawn by ratifying the Bill of Rights. That document was the articulation of what everyone knew to be true. The in-alienable rights that all men are born with. The rights that no government, of which it is made of other men, should ever be given the opportunity to restrict or repeal. For they knew that the citizenry of a nation only allows its leaders a small range of latitude to govern them by and it is actually those citizens that rule the nation. Like a tropical storm bearing down upon a coastline, the citizens can act with great and harsh fury or settle to a calming breeze in a matter of moments.

In this day and age though we must be ever more cognizant of our rights. Not because they were given to us, but because they are not for anyone else to take from us! It’s been said time and time again that our rights disappear if they are not used. Over the last 8 years that has become more true. There can never be a valid justification for infringing upon our rights. Our present administration would have you believe that they need access to as much intelligence as possible to prevent terrorism. Do they really? Does someone in the government need to monitor as i type this in real-time? Can they filter the noise out effectively? Why is a warrant, approved by another branch of government, too much effort? Can we not effectively allocate resources to timely approval of classified warrants? How can the Constitution we swore to uphold apply to only those who are citizens when the very elements within it are designed around the rights of all men? Are those of other nations somehow less entitled to the rights which we hold so dear? These are the questions that plague our leaders… the reason though is that there is no answer to them that proves they need the extent of surveillance and imprisonment powers that they have “legalized” over the last 8 years.

So what exactly are My Duties? Well, I’m exercising my first duty right now. I’m telling you exactly how I feel and where I stand. As for my 2nd duty, I may not own a firearm but I do believe in the right for everyone to own them. I believe that it is not for someone else to tell me what I can or cannot own so long as I do no harm or damage to anyone else or their property. I will fight for everyone to keep that right.  It has very little to do with the actual “firearm” as stated and much more to do with the concept that we all have the right to be “left alone” by our government. My 3rd duty is much easier to uphold. It is a somewhat antiquated concept but should the time ever arise when the military wants me to quarter soldiers I will firmly stand against such an act. My 4th duty is at odds with the administration. I must continue the struggle to resist the invasions of my privacy. It is MY privacy. I have committed no crimes, and therefore what I do/say is no one elses’s business but my own. I will lobby my friends and faimly to always resist the lies and heresy of our regime that proclaims to be acting in good faith of protecting its citizens only to trample on the rights and lives of others.  A policy of bigotry sponsored and enacted by our own representatives is reflection upon us all. We must react. We must announce that we condelm that behavior and act upon those that spread their negativity upon those they feel are not worth to be protected by the same measures we afford our own. My 5th duty is to protect myself and make sure that others are afforded that same opportunity. To make sure that I never give in, or allow others to give in, to the questioning and interrogation techniques of an agent of any administration. To prevent the government of our people from side-stepping the rules of law and process. From going around the red-tape for the sake of expediency and at the expense of the truth and justice. To prevent the corruption of the process and protect the order. My 6th, 7th, and 8th duties are to make sure that everyone be judged appropriately. To proudly partake in the process when asked and to properly adjudicate and execute the spirit of a law when necessary. Most importantly is to protect everyones right against false imprisonment, trumped up charges, and excessively long incarcerations. My 9th and 10th duties may be my most important of all duties. To properly defend that everything not specifically enumerated by the constitution is a right of the people. That the federal and state governments have no right to enact laws without the consent of the people. The federal and state governments are only allowed to exercise the specific tasks which the people ask them to exercise.

My duties, my rights, are only mine so long as I continue to use them. So long as I continue to educate others that they too have those rights, those responsibilities, that we are comrads in arms together. We all, we proud, we band of brothers, we all must assume these duties and not only for ourselves but we must assume them of one another. We cannot hide from them and they should be considered an honor not a burden. For the opportunity of freedom is deserved by all and the rights of man protected for all man kind.

I get to the store in a matter of a couple minutes and get right up front parking.. a little odd since that almost never happens to me. As I walk in I scour over the aisles and look for the section I’m going to with ease. I found it. The holy grail of SATA hard drive cables. One by one they glisten in their packages under the glare of the neon lights above. I navigate through them, 1 foot data, 8 foot data, red, yellow, green, there must’ve been 45 different kinds. A computer geeks heart would grow ten times from seeing this stash. But alas I begint to panic as I search more and more and get closer to the fans and thermal paste. Where are the power adapters? oh my god where could they be? Here’s one that has a data cable combined with it, but i already have plenty of data cables. A store clerk sees the sweat and expression of fear on my face and asks how they can help. For the love of god man, please tell me they were moved to another isle…… He gives a slight shake of the head in the negative and tells me the truck will be there tomorrow.

How dear god does a store not carry more of a such an essential product!? This is something that nearly everyone who buys a hard drive needs now. Quickly I look at my watch, seven thirty. I still have time! There’s a Walmart, a Best Buy, and a Circuit City sorta kinda on the way back to the house. It’s only a slight detour, but to have satisfaction on this glorious night is worth the effort.

So I hop back in the coupe and peel out to my next destination. The Walmart is a long shot, but they do sell computer peripherals. I weave my way through the back roads, zig and zag around traffic, pedestrians, and pets and squeal my way into the parking lot. Again another up front spot.. how odd. I run in the store straight to the electronics… nada.. DAMN! Run back out. Total in store time less than sixty seconds. I’m on a mission and everyone around could tell. I think they thought I was on a TV game show without the cameras.

Next stop Best Buy.. just a little further up the street. Again, another up front spot… ok this is spooky. Nada. UGH! Why are they making this so difficult?! Finally a Circuit City.. surely they’ll be my saving grace. A few short miles. Only slightly past the road to my house. Gas is cheap compared to the satisfaction I would received from being vinidicated by my mission! Again I squeal into the parking lot past the Hooters. oh no… the dreaded perfect spot… literally it’s almost inside the front door. I park slowly and carefullly, trying not to anger the  retail store dieties. I tip toe in the store, past the clerks and sales people. Politely nodding myhead slowly to tell them I know what I’m here for and how to find it. I get to the dark corner of the back of the store…… again…. nada…..

My hopes and dreams dashed. Maybe six dollars in gas wasted. I’ll have to settle for waiting until tomorrow to get what I need. When really I know in my heart that 5 years ago there would have been a mom and pop shop on every corner that had what I needed. It wouldn’t have been wrapped in the hair of a peruvian princess with a tungsten carbide out casing to withstand the elements, and it most certainly wouldn’t have been marked up by ten thousand percent to pay for someones new yacht.

I’ve never really has this problem before now, but it really is true. These mega corporations that put these monstrous electronics compounds in our neighborhoods really and truly have no idea what to sell people. They must just go through a catalog and point at the flashiest items they can find, because after all shiny stuff gets people interested.

Well, it’s been almost 4 years since that day. What all have I done? The yard in the front is over-grown with weeds. The shrubs and flowers live in a bed of dirt. No there isn’t any pine straw or bark chips down. I’ve spent the last 2 months getting estimates for a new deck, new garage doors, and new painting on the outside. Had the retaining wall fixed.

There’s a lot more that was done along the way. But none of it compares to the crap we started finding after at least 4 years, most likely much much more, of neglect and bad design. I honestly think I’m going to have to start saying “Don’t start poking at that” to make sure I don’t find anything else that needs fixing.

It started with a simple replacment of a threshold on a door to the back deck. Guess what.. rotten floor below.. guess why… idiot who replaced it previously put in the threshold backwards and didn’t take the time to properly seal anything. Oh well $200 for a new door, and a few bucks here and there for some pressure treated wood. Guess what.. poke at the other door to the deck… what’d we find…. same situation only worse. The rotten wood there was a structural component. Oh well, guess it’s time for a new deck anyways, we’ll just fix it when the deck is off. Oh, and of course another $200+ to replace that door.

Water may be the lifeblood for all living things on earth, but does it have to be so destructive at the same time???? Same deal with the front porch roof… Down spout of the gutters ruined a section of the roof and some of the facia board at the corner… more money. Same deal with around the chimney… poorly designed roof lines and protection means more water damage to the siding and connecting sections of roof.

Oh.. and now guess what we come across today… oh, my master shower has been leaking water… and it’s all tiles. Yeah, so after popping a few of those bad boys off we find another nice mess. Guess I’ll be getting a new shower now too! Of course it looks like this was caused by yet another home improvement project gone wild. Although honestly what do you expect from someone that once tried to fix a whole in some drywall with PAPER TOWELS?! Yeah.. we found that in the kitchen about a year ago.

So anyways, enough of my ranting, I really just wanted to put this out there for anyone who’s thinking of buying a home. Know what you’re getting yourself into. I obviously didn’t spend enough time early on lookign for some of this stuff to fix it before it got too bad. But when you’re 23 you live and you learn. I think this has definitely helped me know what to watch out for when I try this again later in life.

Oh… and I would say the benefits of owning have definitely out weighed renting so far. Even if I am spening a bunch of money right now. Tax refunds, having a renter pay the mortgage, having a garage, peace and quiet, neighbors that watch out for you instead of complaining all the time. It’s all been a neat learning experience. Hopefully all the new plans will go well and I won’t have to worry about some of this stuff for quite a while.

So, what was it that changed my life? What set me on a track of success? It’s a simple phrase… “What else do you have to do?” It’s by far the best motivator I’ve found. Now it takes a certain kind of personality to make it work, so it won’t fit for everyone, but it definitely worked for me. Any time I had an idea and was wavering on if I should do it, I basically just asked myself that question. If I didn’t have a truthful valid excuse, I FORCED myself to do it.

The first time I did this was when I was browsing MySpace. I had been thinking of messaging a girl I met through my friends girlfriend a few years before to see what she had been up to. We never hung out that much before, but the couple times we did I felt we had some good conversations and a nice repor. So I took the leap and messaged her. To my surprise she was actually really responsive. It wasn’t long after that she invited me out with a group of her friends. Nearly 4 years later it’s been an amazing ride. Things have had their ups and downs, like anyones life, but I really feel that it’s made me such a better person.

I’ve used that phrase so many times since then. I use it professionally, as much as I do socially. It gives me a sense of empowerment and a slight adrenaline rush when I try something new. I think it’s also helped me become a more confident person! I still have things to work on where I’ve held off using it, but slowly and surely i’m still moving forward.

Unattainable. That’s something I’ve never said before. To me, everything has been achievable. I’ve never had a problem getting something that I wanted. It might have taken a lot of work and been a struggle, but I’ve never felt that something is beyond my grasp.

That’s a tough thing to deal with. And I may be wrong and that solution may be attainable, but day after day after day of riding the rollercoaster of hopes can wear on a person. It stretches you thin. Exhausts you. Drains all that confidence you’ve been building.

Don’t get me wrong, most things are aligning so great that I’m ecstatic! But that one elusice piece. It taunts me and haunts my dreams.  I’m a fighter, especially for the things I want. I always find a way. But this time I feel like Seinfeld where he’s “Even Steven”. The scales of life are always balanced for me, with the good comes the bad, with the great comes the worse. Maybe that’s an exaggeration of epic proportions. But that unattainable solution, it is my white whale, and it must be mine.