Being a “superpower” is something of a burden because for some reason being wealthy means you have the right/power to tell other people/countries what to do. Apparently having more money means that you know who has the ability to control nuclear substances and who doesn’t. Or at least the United States feels this way, because rather than fixing our nation’s own woes we are spending billions enforcing our own bullshit opinions on the world.

The presidential candidates have come to realize that Iran is an election issue and that Iran shouldn’t be allowed to maintain a nuclear power program based on the fact that we have a bigger military and we said we don’t want them too.

What neither of our candidates gets is that once again they are arguing a non issue. We don’t have the power to govern Iran If we did Iran would be what we like to call “a state” and therefore what our federal government thinks might be valid. However since it is not a state why do we continue to waste time and money trying to govern another country?

Our candidates suggest we need to spend more time convincing Iran that they shouldn’t have a nuclear program or that we should up the military budget a few more billion to create new missile defense systems.

How about neither? How about we mind our own business and we use are enormous military to protect our country and not to leverage our opinions on the rest of the world.

Lately I have been posting a lot about the upcoming election and my opinion on many of the issues and I know that can get kind of boring. So I thought I would digg around to see what type of humor I might be able to find about our subject and I came across this gem of a movie.

Take some time to watch this. It is the essence of stereotyping and satire I love it. If you don’t like it then you really don’t understand what good comedy is. If you do like it then you are good people like me.

Also this needs a rebuttal so for those of you with a video camera and a sense of humor start writing and recording.

PS don’t forget to tell me what you thought.

Apparently Barack Obama has great belief that the people of our country truly desire his “Change”. A wonderful dream that I can only hope doesn’t come crashing to the ground. In a recent speech in Colorado Barack discusses his call to action for American citizens and begins to outline his plan on how Americans can serve their country to make it great again.

In Obama’s speech he said the following.

“This won’t be a call issued in one speech or one program — I want this to be a central cause of my presidency,” Obama said in a speech at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs.

“We will ask Americans to serve. We will create new opportunities for Americans to serve. And we will direct that service to our most pressing national challenges.”

“When you choose to serve — whether it’s your nation, your community or simply your neighborhood — you are connected to that fundamental American ideal that we want life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness not just for ourselves, but for all Americans. That’s why it’s called the American dream.”

As nice as this sounds, I am sorry Barack but I think you have us confused with people that care about others. It is called the American dream because we live in America and we were always told we could do whatever we want because we are American’s and are better than everybody else. Not because we can help others achieve their dreams.

Your plan is great, but let’s be realistic Americans have shown a lack of respect for others for the better part of our existence. I like the way you think but it seems like fixing the national deficit might be easier than getting soccer moms and nascar dad’s out helping society.

The theory is that if people get extra money to spend they will spend it, which will in turn spark new development and economic growth creating more jobs. New jobs means more workers with more money, and then more spending. This sounds great, but it just isn’t that simple.

Why doesn’t it work? Because the government doesn’t have the money to give us. Think about it what options does the government have to generate money to give to all of it’s citizens. Borrowing from private organizations, Taxing the citizens for it, or creating new money.

Borrowing money from a private organization to give to others is about the same as paying a credit card with another credit card. Let’s face the fact that even the government isn’t going to get an interest free loan. So money that the organization could have spent to produce new products and to stimulate the economy itself is now being used to increase the national debt by being lent to the government. Not really a great plan huh?

Taxes are always a great way to generate new money. But that negates the entire process. You are going to take more money from me to give it back. What sense does that make? Option 2 is out.

It is the government why not just make some more money? Right? A great idea if you want your cereal to cost $8.00 a box. You can’t just go around creating new money because there is nothing to back it. Which means for every new dollar you create the last dollar made just went down in value a little bit. So the dollar becomes worth less and your money doesn’t go as far as it use to (inflation) and now we are back to the same situation we where trying to fix.

So how have we remedied our economy at all by give everyone economic stimulus? We haven’t and that is why you haven’t seen anything change since the inception of the program. You might have felt a little better because you were sitting on $600. But truthfully it probably just made it worse.

Image from Cox and Forkum Political Cartoons

Fidel Castro is out and little brother Castro is in. What does that mean for the relationship between the United States and Cuba? Nothing, everything, the possibility for a new place to get a time share?

Some would say that the relationship with Cuba and the US has been a little tense over the last 50 years. But with Fidel out many politicians are looking for an opportunity to spark a new and improved relationship between the two. However much of this relationship depends on Cuba’s willingness to right their wrongs and to release political prisoners.

In case you didn’t know these are the current restrictions on American Citizens set by the United States Government regarding Cuba. No goods/services other than humanitarian aid can be imported to or exported from Cuba to or from the US. Travel to Cuba is legal for US citizens as long as you acquire the proper license, however it is illegal for any citizen to spend money on Cuban products.

The issue seems to be about lifting the embargo on Cuban goods, or at least that is what the candidates are focusing on. After the jump you will see my thoughts on what the real issue should be.

According to CNN on the issue of Cuba:

John McCain
Would keep the embargo in place and not allow economic aid to flow to Cuba. Would “press the Cuban regime to release all political prisoners unconditionally, to legalize all political parties, labor unions and free media and to schedule internationally monitored elections.” Only when those conditions are met would he consider lifter the embargo. Would have the Justice Department prosecute Cuban officials implicated in the murder of Americans, drug trafficking and other crimes. Would increase support to Radio and TV Marti and “other means to communicate directly with the Cuban people.”

Barack Obama
Would not lift the embargo unless Cuba releases political prisoners, starts instituting free press and takes other steps to democratize the island, but is looking to normalize relations at some point. Would meet the Cuban leadership without preconditions but with preparation. Would “immediately allow unlimited family travel and remittances to the island.”

Both candidates want to keep the embargo on Cuban goods until Cuba makes some serious changes, and Barack would “immediately allow unlimited family travel”. But shouldn’t we have that right anyway? Why does the government have the ability to block our right to travel where we want when we want? We live in a capitalistic society and yet our government is telling us what we can buy, sell, and trade with who. Shouldn’t we be less concerned with punishing Cuba for mistakes they have made / we have made and be more concerned about our government placing embargoes on American citizens, and privately owned companies. I really don’t know a lot about this subject but it seems to me that the issue shouldn’t be how and why we remove the embargo on Cuba, but why it was allowed in the first place.

Please explain this to me. Am I completely off course, or does it makes sense that the issue shouldn’t be about when to lift the embargo, but why the government was allowed to stop US citizens from free trade/travel.

It was joked about in “Knocked Up” but for some it is a major issue in electing a new president. For me it really isn’t an issue at all as it does not relate to my life in anyway. I have a son, and am not planning on having anymore kids but If I were to I wouldn’t be upset. So this is really a non issue for me.

But to take sides and spark debate. You go do what you need to do. I don’t like it, I don’t want to hear about it, but if you feel it is what you need to do do it. Everyday I see protesters in front of planned parenthood with signs that show dying feti (singular fetus?) and it makes me sick. But I don’t feel it is my right to take away your right to choice.

What do the candidates think?

According to CNN

Barack Obama

Opposes any constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v Wade. Disagreed with Supreme Court ruling to uphold the “Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act.” Did not cast a vote on Prohibiting Funds for Groups that Perform Abortions amendment in 2007.

John Mccain

Voted for the Prohibit Partial Birth Abortion bill in 2003 and “yes” for Prohibiting Funds for Groups that Perform Abortions amendment in 2007. Believes Roe v. Wade is a flawed decision that must be overturned. Supports Supreme Court ruling upholding the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act.

Two very different opinions and it seems that Obama supports your right to choose which is more along my lines of thinking. It is not my place to take away your right to make a decision about your future. Partial birth abortion in my eyes and is an atrocity however, so I would also have to take side with Mccain on that part of the issue.

How do you feel about the issues? Against it For it? Let me know your opinion.

With the presidential election coming closer and closer it is time to start taking a look at our candidates and their views on the issues. At 25 years old, this will be the first presidential election that I will be participating in because at 21 I was like most 21 year olds and didn’t give a sh!t about it and didn’t cast my vote. A sad but true statement.

So I have been doing my best to try and keep up on what is going on in the world of politics and look to use this blog to discuss what will affect me and you for at least the next four years.

My views are complicated and this election is going to be a very difficult decision for me. Originally I believed myself to be a true Republican and to often take stances on issues simply based on a republican agenda. As I age I become more and more middle of the road and find the issues to be more complicated than right/wrong or republican/democrat.

Over the next days/weeks/months I hope to spark some good debate and discussion over the issues to help me decide who the right candidate might be. I welcome your thoughts and opinions and hope that we can be civil in our discussion.

So what are the issues? According to CNN:

• Abortion
• Cuba
• Economic Stimulus
• Education
• Energy
• Environment
• Free Trade
• Guns
• Health Care
• Homeland Security
• Housing
• Immigration
• Iran
• Iraq
• Israel
• Same Sex Marriage
• Social Security
• Stem Cell Research
• Taxes

That is a mouthful, but hopefully we can at least briefly tackle all the issues. Many of these issues don’t affect you or me in your daily lives, however they are very important to some. I will try to give you my opinion and the two major candidates opinions on every issue.

I will start tomorrow with the first issue on the list. So go ahead and tell me your current party and what your basic beliefs are so that we can get things started.