My SOAP BOX
This Page Last Updated : 06 December 2004 23:33
This is my sounding board, or as I call it my "soapbox" where I can stand up and let my voice be heard when some issue comes up that I feel the need to let one of my rants ride the cyberspace to whomever feels like listening.
You'll find various subjects here, from politics to religion, and a whole lot of topics revolving around social issues. Why heck, I might even attack the government on the United States. But, it's America, so I can do that without fear of prosecution. Sounds like a good start for my first subject...
"AMERICANS DRUNK ON FREEDOM"
Yes, that's right, we're drunk on our own freedom. Americans act like spoiled little brats when it comes to their feelings and their level of maturity.
How is it that we find it okay to enact laws and regulations to limit something that offends us? It's simple, we've been brought up to think that this is America and we each have the right to "pursuit of happiness". Somehow, what has come of that is that many people feel that that right has no boundaries (or at least very wide boundaries). In other words, I think many people think this way: "It's my right to pursue happiness as long as I don't break any serious laws." For a good example. see the section below titled 'Flag Burning'.
Burning the American Flag
There are some people who feel that it is their right to limit the freedom of others to burn the American flag because it offends them. Just exactly what damage can possibly be done by someone safely burning a flag?!
Don't get me wrong, those of you that know me, know that I spent my whole adult life defending this country (and others) serving 17+ years in the US Navy, so please save the attacks on my patriotism. I assure you, I am very much a patriot!
So back to freedom. What harm comes from someone burning the American flag? It's merely a symbolic gesture of disdain for something--in this case, the USA. But, we, as Americans can voice that anytime we want, in almost any way we want. Those that want to ban flag-burning by association, then desire to ban the expression of anything negative towards the United States. In other words, Marxism!
I hope it is plainly familiar to readers that limiting the freedom of burning the American flag is a contradiction of what this country is about! This country is about freedom, and I will defend the right for any idiot to burn the American flag until my last breath.
If anyone has a link, or website to the story about the guy that burned himself trying to burn the American flag, I'd like to see that. If that's not poetic justice, I don't know what is.
Lack of Personal Responsibility
One of the greatest problems I see in in modern American society is our progress towards a concept in which people do not feel the need to maintain personal responsibility. Americans are constantly looking to place on someone--anyone but themeselves. Anytime something goes wrong, like an accident, we will constantly try to blame someone else, because of course, when we're speaking in the first person, the thought process is this: its always someone else's fault, because I don't make mistakes.
With the lack of personal responsibility, comes more and more laws that must be enacted so that we can control ourselves to keep us from acting like little children. Children need a certain amount of discipline in their lives in order for them to mature properly--that amount can be debated rigorously, so I'll just assume that most parents agree that children need some amount of discipline and we'll move on.
Not Just Americans...
Recently, I saw a news story on a Vancouver TV station (I currently live on Whidbey Island, WA where Vancouver, BC TV stations come in clearer that Seattle), about the Surrey City Council considering enacting a law banning the escape of cooking food from restaurants! Yes, that's right, they want to outlaw being able to smell what's being cooked inside the restaurant.
It seems the city received several complaints about offensive odors coming from a local restaurant. When one councilwoman was approached by the reporter about how many complaints there were her answer was, "....three." Three over the last year. I'm not positive on the the exact number or time-frame, but I'm sure that its close. I'll try to check those numbers for posterity.
How absurd is the idea of banning smells from restaurants because a few complaints were filed? That goes to show you that its not just Americans that are screwed up.
Lawsuit-Happy Americans
Did you know that half the cost of a ladder that you might purchase at the local home improvement store is attributable to lawsuits--yes, half!
More coming later....
"Truly you have a dizzying intellect."
"Just wait 'til I get going!!!"
...What's the movie?!
The Bottom Line
After all my rants about America and Americans being so screwed up. I have to keep myself in check by reminding myself that the alternatives to Democracy put the misery we all share about the imperfect nature of this great nation into perspective when you realize that our our lives could be far worse. We could have far more things to worry about. I'll save the speech complaining our average cushy lifestyle to that of a third-world country.
-
"...But, that's America" - Alice's Restaurant, by Arlo Guthrie
"CREDIT REPORTS"
I used to think that there was a serious scam with the credit agencies holding one's financial information hostage until you fork-over money to them. It always seemed like a typical infringement upon a consumer's rights, to me.Well, all of that has changed now...for the better, I might add! As of December 1, 2004 (for the west coast), we are each allowed a yearly credit check from each of the three credit agencies. Order one report every 3 months and you can spread out your credit reporting availability. Go to the following website to order your credit report(s).
Some things do actually change for the better!