Politician Hand Gesture

Emphatic, yet non-threatening....like a good Democrat should.

I really hope I don't commit any spelling or grammatical errors during this blog. If I do commit, I sincerely apologize. If the goal of language is to convey a certain idea, is correct spelling totally essential? In other words, as long as you get what I mean, the spelling or grammar seems secondary. Even if I'm an English major, don't a get a pass occasionally?

I took in a solid chunk of the network television coverage of the last presidential election. I waited for Hillary Clinton to make her case, to ascend to the helm of the Democratic Party. That never happen. Instead, she came across as cold and vindictive. In her place, Barack Obama ascended and won. Initially, Barack came across as extremely measured in speech, almost robotic. Eventually, to his credit, he debated in a more relaxed, seemingly human manner. He even managed to throw in some vintage, political and non-threatening hand gestures(pictured above.) This move was popularized by Bill Clinton(as seen above) and Marshall Mathers.

If you watch enough political coverage, you get a feel for what opinion you're suppose to have based on your leanings. The liberal media tends to portray the right as selfish, arrogant and basically uneducated. The conservative media(Foxy) portray the left as fool hearted,(is that spelled incorrectly?) naive and basically irresponsible. To me, these kinds of generalizations are like racism, meaning casting aspersions on groups of people on that level is an irresponsible and reckless practice.

Popular opinion suggests that the differences between parties are not as drastic as the talking heads portray. A great deal of liberals I encounter tend to believe the current presidency has more in common with the previous presidency(the one who shall remain nameless) than predicted pre-election. Even the "arch-liberal" Bill Clinton faced accusations of coming too far to the middle.

The new Governor of Michigan, Rick Snyder, is now coming under fire for using his powers for possibly malicious results. Is his politician hand out of order? Can he not adequately pull the wool over our eyes?

I suppose my point in all this is that I find the public's reaction to politics humorous. EVERYONE feels like they have the answers, that they really know what's going on behind the scenes and in the hearts and minds of the people involved in the political process. It's akin to the unquestioned belief that "God" exists in biblical form. How can you be absolutely certain "God" exists? Granted, I'm an agnostic, which is akin to my status as lazy and liberal, but I can't imagine any empirical assertion that verifies the neo-Zeus's heaven presence.

When belief in God is defended, it is done so as:

"just a feeling"
"I Just KNOW there's someone up there"
"How could the earth be in the(seemingly) perfect place for life to exist"
"I have a connection to my loved ones in heaven, I just feel it"
"Of course God is real!"
"the bible is dope(good)"
"etc, etc"

So, because we feel like God exists it is so. And, we know the contents of politicians thoughts because we just feel it; we know exactly what their thinking and why they think that way.

That sounds imaginary and reckless.

There are some tangible reasons we can either criticize or praise politicians, but let's not assume we know everything regarding their intentions and motivations. I think that, at heart, most people are decent, but we all have our agendas. The key to all of this is not to let your agenda seem more important or relevant.

The way our government and capitalist society is structured, certain people prosper at detriment to others. As long as we have a roof over our heads and some fuel in our bellies, we'll all be OK. Some will just have more shit than others.

Let's make a pact, I'll tolerate your God fearing, Glenn Beck loving selves if you agree to let my Agnostic, lazy liberal self slide. Let's just not pretend we always know what the other is thinking. You're not so bad, I'm not so good either. In fact, we both suck, so let's bite our tongues occasionally and try to approach policy and ideals practically. Is that possible?

Meanwhile, new Zeus is speaking to me. Or wait, is that just my schizophrenia acting up again? Pesky, pesky schizophrenia.....

I'm Really not Bitter

I sware.

I detect a hint of ass smell on the lid of my energy drink. That makes me feel somewhat bitter. The taste is pseudo-sweet with a hint of bitter. I think it's the bull penis extract. Or maybe the sugar substitute. Let's be real; there's no substitute for sugar or Tubby's Submarine sandwiches.

Well, I wasn't feeling too bitter until I imagined what the source of the ass smell on the can was. Did the clerk give me a stink-palm lid? Maybe their hands just permanently reek of bung hole? Maybe it was the energy drink's supply trucker. He was in a hurry at the McDonald's, deadlines and all, and simply overlooked his need for manus sanitation. Maybe the good trucker should've saved his hand sanitizer for less selfish purpose? I'm sure it gets lonely on the road, but isn't sanitizer suppose to sanitize hands and not stimulate?

In any event, I'll soldier on and entirely consume the tainted beverage. This bring up a valid point. Don't you hate it when clerks ring a beverage out for you and they put their entire palm on top of the can? They do realize I'm putting my lips on that at some point, correct? Am I to assume their professionalism precludes the possibility of their digits harboring taint? I'm not sure the good people of 7 Eleven take their professionalism to that level. Or maybe I underestimate.

For a number of reasons, about a year.3 ago, I left my second to last job. I got the impression that I was not exactly welcome, for about the last few months, and decided to start fresh. I was fortunate enough to find a new job fairly quickly. After a few growing pains, I was able to settle in to the new position and enjoy a modicum of success. After garnering praise, accolade and promotion for my methods for 8-10 months, I was eventually called into question. It seems corporate was not interested in paying me more than management over the projected course of the year. In other words, I was shit canned; pimped in the prime of my life.

As I stated earlier; I'm not bitter.

I can't help but compare my last, two employment situations and ponder which was more desirable. Is it better to be employed with loyal contempt, or to have praise and no security? Would I rather be unconditionally bullied indefinitely, or patted on the back through the revolving door?

I'm sure most people would say that having a job, versus not, no matter WHAT the circumstances are, is the best scenario. I would submit to you, however, that having a miserable job, one that makes you feel under appreciated and unwanted, is no way to live.

Moving forward, I need to find a happy medium, or a job that challenges yet does not nit pick or annoy. An uphill climb that is not rigged in advance of the challenge to ascend. A management scenario somewhere in between fascist dictatorship and corporate lead democracy run amok, where is left and right hands are barely attached to the same body.

Instead of bitterly sulking, I need to redefine my goals and aspirations(thanks for listening.) I need to not let my future and status revolve around anyone else but me.

It will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine.