Do we kid ourselves? We support the war in Iraq, and soldiers die in the desert sands. We oppose the war and those soldiers keep dying as the world watches on.
We march in protest, but the illegal aliens keep coming. They march, but no Amnesty is given while our government does nothing to keep them out.
People in Darfur are dying by the hundreds of thousands, yet we put no troops on the ground. Commercials race across the silver screen begging for help, but no one answers the call.
Pro-choice, pro-life, pick a side as there is no middle ground. With all these righteous people, how come there are so many unwanted babies in this world?
Get out the vote! Both sides rally the call. Republicans are evil and dishonest, Democrats the party of cut and run. Get out and vote, one or the other, the rich win either way.
Saturday night, Clay Aiken chatting away on the Larry King Show, one of my cats in a prissy mood, a Single Malt sitting here by the computer as I contemplate the futility of life. Perhaps at 50 I have become jaded, choosing to notice the hypocrisy that is our world.
I am tired of the righteous indignation of Christians who believe their morality is superior to mine. Tired of a radical Islamic right who threatens death to all those who fail to embrace their views of what is right. In the middle are the liberals wanting us all to get along, handing out Green Cards to any illegal who happens by. Think Globally, act locally and remember to hug a tree today.
Sometimes, wish I could abandon this life, take my wife and just disappear to 40 acres or so out in a magical wood. No television where the news plays endlessly on. No telephones, no Internet connection, though would still want a computer on which to keep my written words. No daily grind that leads us ever closer to our death, no people telling us what we should think as the pundits tell us what we saw was really something else.
Have I grown tired and bored with life, or instead grown sick of the rat race and what it represents? We have two cars, a house far larger than two people need. We eat well, and God knows we don't need another stitch of clothes, and why two people have seven TV's is beyond me. Life seemed richer when some of this bounty of stuff was lacking...perhaps that lacking made those occasional treats something truly special, something to be savored and enjoyed.
Now, I look forward to my wife's retirement, wait for the time when we can leave the area we are in, escape in our old age to a simpler, quieter place and space. I want my neighbors houses far away, want to wake up to the sound of crickets, rather than the hustle and bustle of a city that never sleeps. I want to bring my wife coffee in bed, rather than know she's been gone for at least and hour by the time I awake. I love my wife, but at times hate this life we find ourselves currently trapped in because of stupid rules.
Give us our Social Security money, waive the penalties on our retirement funds, and let us run away. We could live quite comfortably in Portugal on what we already have. A small house just outside a small village, and the ocean never far away. We'd have a small garden just outside, and maybe I could start canning again. Instead the rules say we have to keep working, giving our life blood to the man.
Tell me, does it really matter? Have we been duped into living a life of servitude, slaving daily to get ahead?
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Comments: 11
You and I have corresponded the last several months about many of the issues facing the world today.
As you know I am running as the only Independent Candidate for a U.S. Congressional Seat in the 23rd District of Texas. What we have never talked about is why after 47 years of living my life, I've decided to run for a public office.
I was sitting on my back porch, playing with the dog, watching the sun go down, when my 17 year old daughter asked me a question about whether or not I thought Bush lied about the war. During the conversation I was trying to make the point that there were a lot of "good people" in our political system who really were out there looking out for us.
But when she asked for an example, I was totally dumbfounded. I couldn't think of anyone who was not blatantly working on their own agenda and not working for the people. Days later I was still on the internet looking for the honor and integrity, and if it is out there, I wasn't able to find it.
Suddenly it seemed that the party was more important than the people. And if I did happen to find someone who was moving in what I thought was the right direction, they would inevitably be linked to a sex scandal, or drugs, or caught stealing, or caught taking bribes from a contractor, or bouncing checks, or just flat out lying to the people. I looked for months and found government pork, deception and dishonor.
I know that there are honest hard working people in Congress, but our Senators and Representatives have largely sold our country, and the "good folk" are getting scarce.
I felt "EXACTLY" the way you feel right now. I was furious that I actually voted for representation that I never received. Immigration, Selling our Sovereignty, Medical Costs, Prescription Drugs, Not taking care of our old folks….and it just goes on.
So after complaining for several months, I thought about it, and threw my hat into the ring. I have absolutely nothing to lose, and if I get lucky and win this election, I will do the job I was hired to do. I will do my very best to set the example and embarrass anyone who is in a position of trust and responsibility who does not provide the services that they've promised their constituents. As you know I am a retired U.S. Navy Command Master Chief, so I'm going to approach this election as a Command Master Chief should. No BS.
So, I think you should run for office. I think we all should. Let's really give the voter a choice, because choosing between the republicans and democrats is like picking your favorite stooge.
If you run, I'll help you if I can.
V/R
Craig
Craig T. Stephens – Independent Candidate U.S. Congress 23rd District Texas
By the way...what you've written here...that is the message YOU NEED TO GET OUT to the voters. That is compelling, and it sets you apart from the everyone else in the race. Throw the book out, and instead speak from YOUR HEART, that always gets you the best results. You have four weeks, start knocking on doors, speak anywhere and everywhere you can, and GET THAT MESSAGE OUT, as that message will give you a chance to win.
Oh boy! I'm with you on that one! I realized long ago that even IF you win the "Rat Race", you're still just a rat! I can relate to the idea of quiet retirement - no neighbors, no traffic - just peace and quiet. That's why I bought a small ranch in Southern Colorado, so I can move there when I retire at 55 (in four more years). I plan to sell my home and use the proceeds to buy a modular home to put on the property. That way I'll have NO mortgage pmt. to worry about. Portugal sounds O.K. but I don't think I could ever leave here. I'll post a photo for you to see.
Yeah, I've been looking at a number of mobile/modular homes for the last couple of years. I've seen several cedar and log style, and even some adobe styles as well. What I've found is that these homes are not the same as the old pre-fab homes of earlier years. Some are actually built better than the 3 bdrm ranch home that I own now - and even more spacious! They average about $80,000 to $120,000. My plan is to sell my current home and use the proceeds to buy one of these.
Sorry about your disability, and I hope everything works out for you. :)
HG....these park models with the Florida Room run between 40-60,000. Also, the Katrina Cottage is getting rave reviews, and comes in right about $75,000.
Do they have a website?