Only One Opinion

So I keep debating whether I should go here or not. In 2008 I was fired up and passionate about my political beliefs. Now, they are there but I haven't gone into them a lot because I've been there, done that a hundred times and I'm just tired of it now. I'm bored with explaining. But maybe it's time to give it a go one more time. This election has really rattled some people, to say the least. I think for the LDS people anyway, their conservative political beliefs were there (for conservative Mormons anyway) and on top of that was the shining hope of something special and unique in their eyes. Something that could have been a game changer. The within-hands-reach-possibility of a Mormon being president. I can imagine how exciting that could be. However, I didn't share that hope with them because I am not a conservative and I don't believe God finds us any more special that anyone else. That's just my feelings on it, maybe not yours.

So they were understandably saddened, disheartened, disappointed and, in some cases, horrified at the loss of Mitt Romney. Or , rather, the win of Barack Obama. I understand that. In 2000, I sat in disbelief and disappointment when George W. Bush became president. I was just coming into my realization that I leaned Democrat at the time and I wasn't in awe of Al Gore, but environmental concerns were on my mind. I still wonder where our fuel efficiency standards would be now if he had become president. Where our dependency on foreign fuel would be and how much alternative energy we would be using. then when GWB was re-elected, well after the fiasco of the Iraq war and the debacle over WMDs I was sorely disappointed. I admit I cried just a little. I hated that he was going to be president for another four years. So I get the pain conservatives are going through. On the other hand, those who are glued to Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck should probably take a step back and get some perspective. Rush Limbaugh is a man filled with hate. I don't know how anyone can say otherwise. Glenn Beck has a messiah complex. Sorry, but I really believe it is true.

So conservatives are in pain. I don't agree with it, of course. Mitt Romney is a swell guy and all, good family man, good at making wads of cash, nice hair. But he isn't what I wanted in a president. President Obama, on the other hand, he's not the antichrist. He is really no more liberal than Bill Clinton was. To me he seems like a good person and I trust him more with the reigns than I trusted Mitt Romney. All of this is really just one person's opinion, so don't worry about it too much. I know you're not worried about it. I mean the only reason I'm even writing this is because my blog doesn't get much traffic these days. I kind of like that. I know there are a couple of readers here and there but not enough for my blog to actually make a stir. So I can write this without getting all confrontational.

Anyway, now I'm going to discuss why I voted for President Obama. What is important to me? Not enough has been done to protect the environment. It is a big concern to me because I want a nice home for my children when they grow up. Environmental issues are important to me. Reducing greenhouse emissions is important to me. Finding clean, alternatives to coal and oil is important to me. I can't say Obama has done a ton on this front but a little is happening. Fuel efficiency standards have been raised. Alternative energy sources are getting more attention. It's not enough but it's something. The truth is, democrats have the record for supporting environmental issues and republicans don't so much. So I'm hopeful more will be done this term.

I feel safer with Obama as president. Romney did not seem very good with foreign policy to me. He seemed a little too keen on the idea of jumping into another war. The few examples of him dealing with diplomatic matters did not seem to go well. I trust Obama more to be diplomatic and to work to find peace without war. It's a good thing that our reputation as a respected country has gone up with Obama as president.

I believe in a social safety net. No, I am not on welfare. I have never used any of the traditional social programs to help with my personal needs. Things like welfare, food stamps, WIC,  and government sponsored student loans. I've never used any of them but I'm glad they have been there for those who need them. Someday my kids will be grown and the truth is I can't afford to pay for much of their college education. Scholarships would be welcomed of course, but if they don't happen or don't happen enough, I still want my kids to get an education. I believe they have a right to an education and a low interest rate loan would be welcomed. It's not my job to judge those who have come on hard times. I believe most who have come on hard times did not do this out of laziness. Life is hard and sucks sometimes and there is a heck of a lot of difference between the likelihood of success for someone who is born in a stable, upper middle class family and someone born to a single mom who is doing drugs and is absent a lot of the time because of work or neglect or whatever. I've seen children who come from homes like this. They become adults and it is like they are at the starting line of a race with a heavy weight strapped to their shoulders. It is so much harder for them to get it together and to figure out how to be adults, how to take care of themselves, and sometimes, how to keep from dragging other little ones into the messiness of their lives. Sometimes they fail and they need help getting back up. Sometimes the only source of support they have is the overworked, public school teacher who takes times to help them as children. That is just one example of hardship. There are so many more out there and not enough charities and kindhearted people out there to help those in need.

I've read about how the government shouldn't help because this takes away the opportunity for others to serve. Okay, if I am homeless and disease ridden, it is not my job to be a vessel for your good deed points. Charity and kindness are wonderful, important things, but people aren't hurting just so you can feel good about yourself. (Sorry, but that point really sticks in my side a little.) To me that just makes it sound as if someone is suffering just so another can get the reward of serving them. We need charity, but we also need government safety nets to help when there is not enough. People DO die because they don't have healthcare. They DO lose their homes because of the hardship of medical bills. Things aren't ever going to be perfect, but the government can help. The government is THE PEOPLE after all.

So, abortion. Not my favorite subject. I hate abortion and wish it didn't exist. But I cannot tell a woman who is deciding between her own life and an embryo what she should do. I've never been in that position so I can't make a judgement on that. I can't tell the rape victim what to do if she should become pregnant. This is what I do believe: the best way to prevent abortions is to keep unwanted pregnancies from happening in the first place. It's all fine and good to say, well they shouldn't have had sex. But you know what, they are going to have sex (speaking in general terms here) and I'd rather they had education and birth control than an innocent child be aborted or be born to a woman who has no safety net. Especially when those who oppose abortion also oppose helping that child after he or she is born. Not to mention that birth control also prevents unwanted pregnancies in impoverished families headed by a husband and a wife. It isn't just people having sex out of wedlock. Here's a study too: http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/10/05/966121/obamacare-birth-control-abortion/ .

Oh yeah, the economy. It's improving a little here and there. It needs to improve more, of course. I believe the president has done some good and tried to do more but has been blocked by congress all along the way (the jobs act). People say the housing market will never get back to where it was. Well I don't believe house prices were ever supposed to be as high as they were. A person who would buy my house in my neighborhood shouldn't have to pay $250,000 for my house. My house might have sold for that much in 2005 or somewhere around that. That is nearly $100,000 more than what we paid for it four years earlier. Did wages go up enough to justify this? No. House prices never should have been as high as they were, there wasn't enough money out there to make the payments to support this.

So, there you go. My beliefs as a person who believes in God and Jesus Christ. My spiritual beliefs do inform my views. I'm not looking to change any minds. These are just my views. To be honest, I'd be surprised if anyone actually made it through reading this whole thing.

Oh, and here is a good blog post that deals with the worries about the president bringing on the apocalypse and all of that fun stuff: http://www.feministmormonhousewives.org/2012/11/sorry-to-kill-your-apocalyptic-election-buzz/

A Brief Religious Interlude (or what I learned from Jon Huntsman)

Over in primary land I am able to feel the spirit and never hear religion mixed with politics. It is a blessing. To be honest though, my ward is pretty good about steering clear of that. From what I remember anyway. The internets are a different story however. I know, don't go seeking it out if you don't want to read that. You don't have to go there. So true, so true. But I'm a glutton for punishment, among other things, occasionally. Today I went to a blog and there was a little fundraising for Mitt going on. Dear old Mitt. The fundraising was going on so "America can get it's dignity back". Uggg. I hate that. "We have a president I don't agree with, he's not my guy, so of course our country has lost it's dignity." (Not an actual quote, just my guessing what is going on in these heads.) Why so vitriolic? I still say there is good in everyone. Why does it always have to turn so hateful? I'm being a little sensitive today, I know. Nursing an annoying, sinus bothering cold.

Anyway, That's not even what I was going to write about. Mormons are in a bit of an uproar because potential presidential candidate and former Utah governor, Jon Huntsman, is unable to clearly define his Mormonism. I really don't care about Jon Huntsman's Mormonism. I liked him as a governor. Solidly moderate he seemed. He seemed friendly on the environment. I liked that. But as far as his religion goes, a lot of Mormons aren't happy he didn't boldly bear his testimony. Or at least renounce the church. "You're either in or you're out!" they say. Now I understand people who like to comment on newspaper articles and threads and facebook statuses (stati?) on the internet are often more opinionated that the average person. So there's bound to be a lot of "You're either in or you're out!" "There is no such thing as gray! It's all black and white!" I don't believe that. I hate black and white. You should see the walls in my house, nothing black and white there. The ceilings are white though.

I don't mind that Jon Huntsman, for whatever reason, can't be completely black or white or straight with a reporter (he has time to do that anyway, why bother getting too personal on a subject that is very personal to some people before you've even thrown your hat into the ring officially). And I don't believe "you're either in or you're out". Is that what stake missionaries say? Do they go talk to the inactive family down the street, develop a report, get them interested in coming back to church and then, BAMM! "You know, Brother and Sister Jones, we really would love to see you at church (even though you haven't been in ten years). Please come this Sunday at 11. But remember, once you get there, you are either in the church, OR YOU'RE OUT! NO EXCUSES! If you ever have a question or doubt, don't bother coming back until it's gone. So we'll see ya Sunday, k?" And I don't believe the church feels this black and white about things either. They know we are all on our own path in our spirituality. If such a black and white stance was the case I would not be in the primary presidency. I was married in a church. I haven't been through the temple. My own spirituality is very personal so I don't get into it much. But if it was that black and white I don't think they would have called me to the primary presidency. This isn't about me. The whole black and white thing has long bugged me. The world is a beautiful place for all it's colors and shades of each color. I believe in God and Jesus Christ and I believe they know that too.

To Nobody At All

I'm glad the president and congress have finally stepped up and stopped listening to those who oppose them. Those who say, Who cares if this is what you campaigned on and got elected on (among other things). You can't do anything you set out to do! I'm glad they have finally stepped up and got to work. Nothing is perfect but health care will not bring on socialism. (Just ask a socialist and watch them laugh at you. By the way, I am not a socialist, I maybe lean toward democrat but never have made anything official.) If we can survive such atrocities as the public library, fire fighters and public education, we will survive this to. When I read things like this: “We’re coming to a Europeanization of America. And the American people feel it,” (Orrin) Hatch said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” I think, when did Europe become our enemy? Europe is not my enemy. It seems like a lovely place. Silly.

I'm not afraid  for freedom. You won't be able to convince me to be afraid. I live in a country where I am blessed enough to be able to return to school at 38 years old. AND take guitar lessons. Pretty nice if you ask me. Go ahead and be afraid if you want, you have the right to do that too. I have other worries to occupy my time. Like how to get a ten year old to go to school every morning without becoming overcome with anger because her capri pants don't fit right or the head band feels weird. That's where I get to direct my energy. Is it summer yet? I'm busy, I don't have time for fear that would be irrational to me. I used to spend too much time consumed by irrational fears. It was exhausting. I'm not saying it isn't rational to you, follow your own heart. I've got my own moral compass to follow. Fortunately it is based in a world that is not black and white but full of beautiful colors. I need to workout now. I'm tired. I think I need some protein. And I need to finish reading  A Midsummer Night's Dream.

I'm Gettin' Political....Just Barely Though

How can anyone think that this man is NOT completely full of crap?

Wrapping Up 2008 With A Big Red Bow On Top- Wait, let's make that A Big Blue Bow On Top

It's over. 2008 is gone just about. This may have been the quickest year of my life. So it's time to review some things of note. The problem with blogging is that inspiration usually comes while washing my hair in the shower and is forgotten by the time I'm done. Well I'm still the same old me, yes I did wonder if it was too lewd to mention the shower in my blog. I am thrilled to look out the window and see snow covering the fence and roofs and cars. The extra long Fall was just not right in my opinion. Yeah, it made biking and walking to school a snap but cold and snow are what we are supposed to have and I don't believe in messing with mother nature. What has been accomplished this year? I think it's normal in this culture to try to have a bunch of huge accomplishments to put up on some sort of imaginary scoreboard that will launch you ever closer to your eternal reward or just make you feel good about yourself and all you've done. I can never seem to find many of those things to tack onto the scoreboard. Life's usually a series of small events, some I feel good about, some that wasted too many hours of my time, most that were just living the daily functions of life and taking care of this thing called family. I dare say this is how life is for most of us.

I did finally get recycling down this year. We don't have those convenient blue or green recycling cans that many communities have. But I discovered about a year ago this thing out here called the Blue Bag Recycling Program. If you live out this way I highly recommend you try it out if you haven't yet. You just get those blue recycling trash bags that you can get at the grocery store and separate your recyclables into the bags and put it all in your regular garbage can and they separate it all at the dump. Brent's skeptical that they actually do it but there was a picture on the internet with a big pile of the blue bags that had been removed at the dump. I didn't recycle any cans this year (baby steps) so maybe I'll add those in next year. You have to rinse things out so that's why I've resisted so far.

I started a blog (pretty obvious one here). I found out that I kind of like to write and that occasionally I don't completely suck at it. It's a little surprising that I've stuck with something for so many months. I'm hoping in the coming year that I can be a little more open in my blogging. Dare to say more of what I want to say. It's always been my desire to make this a forum for my thoughts and hear others thoughts too, along with the pictures and the happenings in our lives. I censored myself more than I really wanted to when it came to politics and other issues.

Speaking of politics... We elected Barack Obama as our next president! I still can't believe that in a month we will have a President Obama. I learned a lot from this election about just how difficult it can be for individuals to come together on varying political views. I think I may have even harmed a friendship or two as a result of the election. Not because I wouldn't shut up about my views or I was trying to change another persons mind. More I think because they didn't agree with my guy and when he won (oh the nerve of it all, allowing the other team to win for a change!) they were upset and blamed me in a way for bringing this terrible thing to pass. That part makes me sad. Hopefully time will heal wounds. Let me just say how grateful I am for friends who tolerate me and my contrary political views. :) Let me explain just a little about what Obama's win means to me and others. It's like this time years ago before Brent and I were married and we used to go running together after work in the mornings. We were running and talking at the same time about some issues involving our future together. I know, we should have just stuck with the running. Well the conversation didn't go well and we were having a disagreement about something important to me. Honestly, I can't remember all the details but I was upset and started crying. Crying and running do not go together because the crying makes you unable to breath. So I started gasping for air. I was hyperventilating and could have used a paper bag to breath into at that point. So I stopped running, stopped crying, and took some slow deep breaths and then I was able to breath again. It felt unbelievable to be able to breath normally again. That's how it feels. We've had an administration running our country that has basically told those who don't agree with their policies to sit down and shut up, we know what's best, you don't and we're not going to listen to you. I can breath again. I can have an opinion contrary to my government's once again and not be accused of being unpatriotic. Not be thought of as a bad American. I've always believed that when you disagree with your country's leaders it is your right and even responsibility to stand up and say something. To protest peacefully. That is what I believe our founding fathers intended. We don't need to rehash the reasons I disagree. The war, the Patriot Act, Guantanamo, etc., etc., etc. Those things have been debated ad nauseum. It doesn't mean I don't have great respect for our troops because I surely do. After all, I'm too much of a chicken to do what they do. They and their families sacrifice in the most amazing of ways. But I want to see change. I believe there is more than one way of doing things and if you're hitting your head against a wall hoping it will stop the pain and it's not working, then maybe you should stop hitting your head against the wall and take a new approach.

Another development late in this year is that I think I've got this exercise thing down again. I'm on day 33 of a 90 day workout program, working out six days a week. Finally, I'm remembering again how much I love working out!

Those are just a few notable things that I wanted to mention as this year nears it's end. What about next year? I have this weird, no reason behind it at all, belief that odd years are lucky for me so it could be a great year!

The Enthusiasm Gap Is Showing!

I just got back from a nice walk through a couple of neighborhoods here in my little town. It's a beautiful fall evening. The air is crisp, leaves are turning (sort of anyway). I love Fall, and I was feeling the good exercise vibes! Had the new Ben Folds on my iPod (good stuff). On my walk I finally saw a McCain/Palin yard sign. The first one I've seen here in the T.C. and that was at the home of the most politically active person I know around here. I saw three Obama signs, and one of the houses was extra enthusiastic with car bumper stickers to boot. That makes a total of seven signs I've seen around here so far, if you count my neighbors who took theirs down to put sprinklers in their yard and the house with the printed out piece of paper in their window. It doesn't mean much, it's just making me happy. I could go on about all the reasons I support Obama, and I do have reasons. But I just want to be happy with the enthusiasm gap right now and not worry about the fine details.
I just put this on the wrong blog, oops! I gotta keep these blogs straight.

Sarah Palin Baby Name Generator

Sarah Palin's kid's names are Track, Bristol, Willow, Piper, and Trig. Have you ever wondered what your name would be if Sarah Palin was your mom? Well now you can find out! I ran into this Sarah Palin baby name generator. It's pretty funny.
The names in our family would be:
Brent~ Bowl Antler Palin
Cindy~ Froth Moonshine Palin
Isabella~ Knife Pile Palin
Zoe~ Moose Roadster Palin
Noah~ Mullet Troll Palin

Here is the link if you want to try too....right....Here

What's your name?

Candidate Quiz

I found this link on my cousins blog to this quiz you can take that shows what presidential candidate you match up with on the issues. It even includes Bob Barr and Ralph Nader. It was kind of interesting although my results were nothing surprising. If you want to try it out and see whose views you match up with click here:
Candidate Quiz

Quirky?

I stole this from blogging buddy, Mylee. List 6 quirks then tag 6 people.

1. I like to laugh at stupid things. For example, yesterday just before the closing hymn in Sacrament Meeting at church I flipped open the hymn book to find the closing hymn and landed on a hymn called "Lean On My Ample Arm". I'm sure back in the day when this was written, probably a hundred and some years ago, this was a lovely sentiment. But in today's vernacular it simply means lean on my fat arm. It was just kind of funny and silly to me. So I reached past the kids and showed it to Brent who kind of grinned but remained serious. Then I leaned back and giggled quietly (and irreverently) to myself in a very immature manner for the next few seconds. I apologize to any reader who's Great Great Grandfather or Grandmother may have written this hymn. :)

2. I come up with weird, unorthodox, crazy schemes. I always say something like this to Brent, "Why do we have to do things the way society says is acceptable?" When we were first married I suggested to Brent that we move out of our apartment and live in a campground for the summer to save money. I also once suggested when we sold our old townhouse that we get a van and live in it for a while to save money. I would never actually go through with crazy stunts like these but I definitely have this side that rebels from the status quo a bit.

3. I can't stand misspelled words or bad grammar from myself. I don't really have any way of telling if my grammar sucks but I have to immediately check on any misspelled word I type and have to edit any words I find misspelled later when I go back and read old blog posts. I know, this blog is probably full of misspelled words and grammatical errors that I'm not even aware of making me sound like a complete fool for even bringing this up.

4. I like crappy T.V. Who knows how many T.V. shows I've enjoyed watching that I wouldn't ever admit to. I will admit to one. I've probably seen every episode of Beverly Hills 90210 twice. I know, I'm embarrassed for me too! I will say that my love for the crappy T.V. seems to be diminishing as I get older, so there is still hope for me.

5. I have a hard time going out places at night without Brent and the kids. Maybe it's because I'm sort of a homebody. I do try to make my way out into the world to be social once in a while and get myself out of my comfort zone.

6. I'm a political junkie. Only for presidential elections though. I don't think I know anyone personally who enjoys it as much as I do. It isn't just with this years election either. In 2000 I stayed up 'til probably 2 a.m. watching to see who won before I finally gave up and went to bed. Four years ago I was very into it too. This year I think my obsession has peaked with watching too much CNN and reading too many blogs and talking to anyone who is interested. Annoying some, I'm sure. It's probably kind of like how some people are with televised sports. I feel like my interest will probably wane to more normal human levels in coming elections because I'm sure to suffer significant burn out after this year. Which is probably good.

Tag: Anyone who feels like doing this.

Whoever you like, this is funny....

Now we're talkin'!

My wonderful Mother-in-law likes to give me a hard time for being a Barack Obama supporter. So this one is for you Cathy!

It Could Happen To You

Funny Obama in 30 Seconds finalist~

Bad Habit

It's not news to many people who know me that I get into politics a little. I'm an Obama supporter. Not news to many there either. I have a bad habit of reading the Deseret News online and going to the comments, reading and occasionally posting things. I usually do it there because you don't have to make an account like you do on the Salt Lake Tribune or other places. I should stop but like I said, it's a bad habit. Since it's anonymous people don't hold back. They are very rude if you don't share their opinion. I just wish it could be more of a grown up experience where people could have an intelligent debate about the issues. Instead I am stuck with people who call me names like "starry eyed zealot". I guess if I don't enjoy the game of insulting people who don't agree with me I'd better break my bad habit.