Stages of Democracy

I put this on my Facebook page a month or two back but after reading today (Thanks Tara!) that attempts to change the Constitution are underway I decided to repost.

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Stages of Democracy - Please Read/Share

I've been looking for this for weeks and I finally found it. I think I received it originally in an email so I don't know if the references to actual people are accurate, but regardless of who said all this they might have hit it right on the nose. The part that reminded me to find it again was that part about changing our inalienable rights and freedoms. Obama has stated that he thinks the Constitution has major flaws in that it does not provide for redistribution of wealth. You can google "Obama and constitution" if you don't believe me. When you keep digging you can also find him back in 2001 saying much the same and a little more. Now that we clearly have a voting public that is willing to place someone like him in office, what is to stop him from changing our most important document to suit "the times", i.e. his agenda.

If you didn't know here is all that is needed to amend the constitution.

Amending the Constitution is a two-part process: amendments must be proposed and then they must be ratified. Amendments can be proposed one of two ways. The only way that has been used to date is through a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Congress.

Regardless of how the amendment is proposed, the amendment must be approved by three-fourths of states, a process called ratification. Depending on the amendment, this requires either the state legislatures or special state conventions to approve the amendment by simple majority vote. Amendments generally go to state legislatures to be ratified, only the Twenty-first Amendment called for special state conventions.

Take a look at Congress and the number of states that went to Obama, there ain't gonna be much resistance.

This, right here, is the reason to be aware of current events in our own country as well as those going on around the world. The world is changing right before our eyes and some of us just don't care enough to pay attention. We have become totally apathetic and expect the government to provide for us. So, if you are a friend of mine, conservative or liberal, please read this and think it over.



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"About the time our original 13 states adopted their new constitution, in 1787, Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh, had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years prior:

"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship."

"The average age of the worlds greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence:

1. From bondage to spiritual faith;
2. From spiritual faith to great courage;
3. From courage to liberty;
4. From liberty to abundance;
5. From abundance to complacency;
6. From complacency to apathy;
7. From apathy to dependence;
8. From dependence back into bondage "

Professor Joseph Olson of Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota... believes the United States is now somewhere between the "complacency and apathy" phase of Professor Tyler's definition of democracy, with some 40 percent of the nation's population already having reached the "governmental dependency" phase."
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IF that really is so - then the only stage left is #8 - From dependence back into bondage. What might that look like I wonder? Possibly the welfare state becoming openly socialist and increasingly totalitarian - possibly even a dictatorship? One thing is for sure - our civil liberties will become extinct in the name of "the public good" or "safety."
You know, the Founding Fathers saw this coming and cemented our inalienble human rights in the constitution so that all future laws and govt. actions had to keep these in the center of their thinking and rulings. But social progressives constantly want to redefine these rights and the constitution so that it can be "applied" to modern situations. In the end, all that does is make it easy for some dictator(s) to "redefine" our rights and the constitution so that they can "legally" take them away (so much for inalienable). Pretty scary!
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Ps. This blurb uses both the term "Democracy" and "Republic". By popular convention we refer to ourselves, incorrectly, as a Democracy. While the terms are closely related there is a difference. In a democracy the issues are decided by the people directly. In a republic, which we truly are, the issues are decided by representatives chosen by the people. Just wanted to clear that up. It's really my only gripe with the blurb above. :o) But republic or democracy we still have the same stages......

Even Brain Farts Stink

Today's post is going to be admittedly lame. I'm sorry.

Last night I went to bed a little later than usual and once I got comfortable I started thinking of what I had to do the next day.

Class. Nutrition at 9, Statistics at 11. Wednesday.....date? 11th. OMG, I HAVE A TEST TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How in the hell did I forget I had a test? I blame the government. No, really. It's there fault all I've been doing this week is reading about their stupid spenderific "stimulus" bill.

I spent my morning NOT in Nutrition like I should have been and holed up at the library cramming for a Statistics test that was not what I expected. I don't think I did very well despite feeling good about it when I left the library.

Keep your fingers crossed that my grade isn't so horrible I can't recover.

Peace, love, and doritos

A Quick Post

I read the UA student newspaper everyday as a source of entertainment. Most of it is totally lame but I usually flip to the opinions section for my dose of stupid. First of all, whether the writer is conservative or liberal I can almost always find some fact they are using to back up their argument that isn't true. So much for teaching responsible journalism. It's a good thing I was taught that just because it's in print doesn't mean it's true. It just scares me how many people DO believe everything they read, especially when the student body of UA is exposed to the swill that gets printed in that newspaper. 

I'm just getting around to reading Friday's paper today and my second favorite feature, "Your View", provides todays blog material. In this feature several students are asked a question about a hot topic pertaining to either football or world events. 

This weeks question is:

What do you think of the controversy surrounding some of Obama's nominees?

Here are the answers they decided to print (I'm saving the best for last):

• "I believe their tax evasions taints their own character more than Obama's."
   - James Webb, a freshman majoring in Nursing {not too bad}
  
• "I think he will do the best he can to take care of the issue at hand."
  -Grant Ballard, a senior majoring in apparel and textiles {pretty ambiguous answer}
  
• "I think every politician makes promises that he can't keep in the end. He said he would hire lobbyists during the campaign.
  -Jamie Tarleton, majoring in Physics {Did he hear the question?}

And the final answer....wait for it......

"I think he should change the law so they won't be in trouble."
-Emily McGee, a senior majoring in apparel 

{No bracketed comments from me necessary, I hope.}

Now regardless of what side of the political spectrum you happen to be on you have to agree that this might be the stupidest sentence EVER uttered in human communication. Yes Emily, let's just change the rules mid-game so the people who think they are above paying their taxes can run this country along side the President. 

Holy Mother of GOD......

Proof I'm Not Out of My Mind

So, I was at Publix again. I was looking for a 2 liter of Sprite. Of course it was difficult to find. This time I decided to get some proof. Can some one explain to me how, outside of the aforementioned mentally defective lab rat in product placement at Publix Headquarters, do these things end up on an aisle?

When it rains......

I was hoping that I wouldn't have to write any "woe is me" blogs anytime soon but I'll be damned if life hasn't thrown us some curve balls over the last week.

#1. That job I wasn't a fan of is no longer a problem. As far as I know, I was a victim of 'last in, first out'. Although...I felt like I'd been voted off the island and I wasn't even aware there was a vote. Maybe someone read my blog and got their panties in a twist. Wouldn't be the first time my mouth got me in trouble!

#2. Attack of the cyclops. Last week my right eye had that annoying feeling of getting a stye. Imagine my surprise when I woke up on Saturday with my eye nearly swollen shut. Really?? Is this karma paying me back for making fun of the girl that spontaneously barfed on herself in class last week? I hate that karma bitch but I digress.....

With no improvement on Sunday I decided to go to the ER. Just for the record I went to the ER because I hate the "doc in the box" and this is my EYE. I wanted someone to take my disfiguration seriously. Here's what happened: Doc walked in. doc said you have a stye. doc walked out. Nurse came back with an Rx. We left. My eye is still F-ed up and it's Monday. 

Just call me Quasimodo.

#3. 'Last in, First Out' is our new motto( I wonder what else we can apply that to?). Chris got let go today. See, I tried to tell you that the universe is out to induce insanity.  He's OK though...he was less of a fan of his job than I was of mine. Now he has a great opportunity to do what he really wants to do. I'll keep you posted. ;o)

Never Underestimate the Power of Stupid People in Large Groups

For most of you that know me it's not secret that I am not an Obama fan. I did watch the inauguration yesterday because I was interested in what he had to say as our new Commander-in-Chief. His speech was mediocre, in my opinion, it was not comparable to a JFK or a Reagan as the media would lead everyone to believe. 

Was yesterday a historic day? Yes, absolutely but I feel like we have really missed the boat on this one and have really not accomplished much of anything, which is a shame. The Presidential race is about choosing a leader for our country that the majority(or the electoral college) believes will best lead us in domestic and international affairs. This years race was nothing of the sort. Voters came out in record numbers to vote but the ONLY issue was RACE. An alarming majority of those that voted were utterly clueless on any of the issues, as seen time and time again in clips of people being interviewed. They were asked what they thought of "Obama's running mate, Sarah Palin" and if they agreed with Obama's "Pro-life" stance. The answers would be nothing short of comical if they weren't so frightening. 

If you're curious, here's a link. 

These are the people that just selected our new President. They voted for him because he's black and only because he's black and some of them were honest enough to come right out and say so.  They thought it would make them feel good to have a Black man running this country. Now for the rest of the people that voted for him...some people are educated on the issues and did vote for him based on their own convictions and to those people I applaud you, but I also feel like there is a contingent of non-black Americans who voted for Obama because it absolved them of being a racist. On the flip side of that I feel like a finger could easily be pointed in my direction because I did not vote for him so therefore I must hate black people.

Sadly, I think this election will make race more of an issue in day to day life than it ever has.

Back to this boat we missed...Obama was elected because of the "entitlement crowd" fueled by celebrities and the media, we turned our highest office into an idolatrous mess. Blind worship of a man we really don't know that much about who has virtually NO experience. Awesome...this should be fun.

Our boat will have arrived when we can elect someone for their qualifications and platform alone without regard for race or gender or what other prejudices may come up. Then and ONLY then will we have conquered racism in this country. But maybe we had to get through this first one in order for that to happen...time will tell.

And remember:

"Fifty-five million people voted against Obama, so I don't know where the notion got started that 80% of the country is excited about him and can't wait for him to be President." -Rush Limbaugh

Now on to more trivial matters. To all the people who were CRYING during his speech...unless you are over the age of 60 and have experienced REAL racism, dry it up. Harsh? Yes, but dammit, your life is cake. Have you lived in fear of the KKK and being lynched or tried to walk across a bridge in Selma, Alabama only to be greeted by a cloud of tear gas and batons? Did you ever have to use separate facilities or live through the integration of schools? The answer is NO. You've grown up in a world of Affirmative Action. Where jobs and places in Universities are held for you because you are a minority. You are allowed to underachieve and still succeed. Please spare me from the "I cry for my ancestors" BS. Your ancestors also fought in every war this country has engaged in since the Civil War, where are your tears for them? Funny how that works.

It may seem like I really can't stand Obama but I want to make something clear to everyone who may come across this entry: I do not hate Obama, hate is a very strong word with implications I won't even entertain. Now, having said that, I do not like his policies and I believe that is my right, as it is my right say so. I do not think he's a monster and he's not going to single handedly destroy this country, although it may look very different and the end of 4 (or 8) years. I think that Obama believes his heart is in the right place, however misguided I might believe that to be. I also think that, politics aside, he's a good guy, he loves his wife and his girls and that is something to be respected.

I've written this post over several days and I realize it doesn't flow well, but oh well. I have a Stat quiz I should be studying for right now so revision is not really an option. So here I go on another tangent that occurred to me yesterday in regards to people of mixed race. Has anyone else noticed how many people of mixed race declare themselves to be Black, completely denouncing the other half of their heritage? Normallly, I would just say whatever and not really give it much thought but it made me think of a good friend's little girl, who is half black and half white. My friend is white and the black father is...'not involved'. In fact he last saw her when she was about 6 months old and stopped supporting her financially shortly after. It's been up to my friend to raise her daughter. She has great support from her family for which she is grateful. 

Now let's take a look at people like Obama, Halle Berry and Alicia Keys. Obama was mostly raised by his white grandparents and the best he could say about them is that they are "typical white people". Halle Berry and Alicia Keys were both raised by their single white mothers after their black fathers became 'not involved'. It blows me away that not one of these people have expressed any pride in their white heritage after their mothers struggled to raise them alone, yet they seem to identify totally with the heritage of these men that left them. I am genuinely curious as to why this happens. I'm not saying that they should declare themselves white but just maybe to acknowledge it. I know my friend struggles with how to raise her daughter to be proud of her heritage on both sides since her father can't be bothered so I'm just wondering how the people I've mentioned came to decide they were black and only black. Was the black community more accepting? Was it more convenient to be black in Hollywood? I just don't know and I suppose each one's situation is different. I'd welcome any comments anyone has on this topic. Cate, if you happen to read this I'd be especially interested in your input since you've done such a great job of exposing your girls to their own cultures as well as others. 

On that note...I'm off to study some statistics. Yay.

What is a Triangle without an Angle?

I've gotta hand it to my Statistics professor...he's an original. And I mean that in the best way. He is also a teacher who "gets it". He has no delusions about the subject he teaches. It's boring, confusing and we couldn't care less. He knows this and does his best to make it easier and lighten the mood. To start class off we have what he calls a "Check In" where he asks a random question and we go around the room and answer it. Today's question was: What's your biggest pet peeve?

Now I need to backtrack a little. Last week when school started I was having a conversation with a girl I had a class with last semester. It was just small talk and totally of no consequence but picture this....

You are standing there having a convo with someone, when someone you don't know walks up. 

Nothing crazy yet, right?

Well, in a normal world the person you are acquainted with would introduce you to the newcomer. Welcome to MY world. Conversation with me ended. This girl turned her back to me and started talking to this new girl. Turned her back IN MID SENTENCE. I don't have caps big enough for the 'WTF?' that applies to the level of rudeness I'd just encountered. 

Back to this morning. Pet Peeves. My girl is in this class so I chose to mention the "convo triangle dismemberment" as my pet peeve with a glance in her direction. I don't know if it hit home or not but and opportunity like that is rare. Now that I feel better about being totally snubbed I must also mention someone else's peeve from class. This chick has some cajones and I want to be her new best friend. Her peeve was...Uggs, tights and shorts! Ha Ha!! I laughed out loud which only further pissed off the chick sitting in front of me who happened to be wearing the ensemble. Guess she thinks she doesn't look totally stupid. 

All in all, class wasn't a total waste today.