GIFTING GHOULS

Like lovers in heat, merchants and consumers have a hot romance. Garbage dumps piling high with useless gifts that amuse for a day or a week or if lucky; a month. All year merchants highlight the better mouse trap. The newest, needed gadget is waiting for you. Whispering in your ear sweet enchantments that make you flush, make you gasp, make you want and want. More please, I need more. A commercial break from your favorite entertainment, and there it is. Awkward clumsy idiots spill and dirty the home. Inhabitants of those homes hurt themselves daily on the old and useless products of yesterday that the shiny new plastic upgrades will fix, for a time.

Polluting a planet and wasting resources, our love affair with consumption is sick.

A gentleman on the television jams a cotton swab into his ear far enough to swab his temporal lobes. He cries out in pain as a doctor explains you shouldn't do that. Brilliant. A woman cooks up a pot of pasta and as she drains it into a colander she clumsily dumps it all over as water splashes up burning her. The pasta ends up everywhere but where it belongs. Even the simple chore of flipping a pancake is a seemingly unattainable goal for the masses.

Then the seduction begins. No need for a cotton swab, get a little vacuum to clean up those ears. Blood starts to run, body heats up and senses heighten. No problem with pasta, get a pot with a strainer built in to the lid. Ooh, ah, fireworks light burning blue and red before your eyes. Make your pancakes in a pan that looks like a waffle maker, no flipping mess ever again!

Colors burning to intense white, I need it now!

So close, so close, but more is needed. Still unfulfilled, confusion reigns.

But then surprise, your lover gently strokes your back and a quick reach around flips your switch; two for the price of one! Yes. Two fine ear vacuums for ten bucks. A five dollar machine to vacuum the shit you call brains out of your ears. Nothing more than $19.95 and again, act now and get two. The call is made, and when the order has been placed, you set down the phone, body spent.

I guess it could be worse. You could end up with a Potty Putter; sitting on the john until you have a permanent ring on your ass. Maybe an energy bracelet that not only doesn't do anything, but looks pretty silly as well. Maybe The Happy Hot Dog Man phallic hot dog cutter and decorator will make your day.

After a little rest a new day comes, and with that maybe you will as well.

We spend millions on seasonal gifts that will last only as long as the attention span of the recipient. It will end up as a new ski resort after the mountain of trash is covered. We pollute the planet manufacturing nonsense, shipping the nonsense across oceans and expansive skies. Trucking to local cities and towns for a climax that lasts maybe seconds.

Happy Holidays earth, we left you a burning lump of coal once again.

AMERICAN ANGST

I have told many stories of having casual conversations with republicans; I can do no less since I live in conservative country. Many I get along with fine, since it's not hard to recognize when I'm being baited. That sly little twinkle in their eye as they look forward to trapping the lone liberal, I kind of enjoy their happiness. We dance around the issues, as these conversations are normally accompanied with plenty of libations at hand, and for the most part we get along. Believe it or not, I can agree with many of their ideas; though not in the manner they would like. 

If they want to talk about strong family values, I'm with them and we can talk about the glorious strong ties that develop between family members. When they want to talk about getting ahead in life by hard work, again I can agree that productivity can create a healthy community. I understand the thought of taking responsibility for one's actions. 

But of course the separation begins in these discussions by adding to the conservative mantra a few simple thoughts. Strong families are to be supported even if not formed by the conservative's view of traditional marriage. Committed personal relationships are to be encouraged to enhance the community, not divide it. Those who are able to produce should possibly do so, those who are not able should not be penalized. Taking responsibility for an action is desirable, unless the action is caused by events outside of one's control.

We possibly all agree on the one major problem with today's conservatism, and that is its partnership with fundamentalist religious organizations. If you're an atheist conservative, I would think that would be a problem for you as well. 

The only desired outcome for fundamentalist conservatives derives from the hope of inserting religion into every aspect of the public sphere.

It is becoming easier to insert religion into politics without mentioning religion, and I think that is where conservative politicians are excelling. A recent conversation with the Tea Party's President Janis Lane in Mississippi is a great example. The content of the conversation makes it clear what drives these people.

Here are a few of Janis Lane's thoughts on abortion and women in politics:

Lane: "I do not agree with the federal government supporting killing a preborn human. A child is a child from the moment of conception. The argument is: They've done it before, they'll always do it. That's probably true. My point is a nation should not support or condone the killing of anybody. Then you'll come around with what about capital punishment. Well, you know what, if you're on death row, you're an adult and you made a choice to be there. An innocent child in the womb does not have a right to make a decision because they haven't been born, yet. We're taking that right away from that child."

This is a christian based argument, though never stated as such. Next god starts creeping into the conversation, and of course the thoughts get slightly more unrealistic. Emphasis mine.

Lane: "Our country might have been better off if it was still just men voting. There is nothing worse than a bunch of mean, hateful women. They are diabolical in how than can skewer a person. I do not see that in men. The whole time I worked, I'd much rather have a male boss than a female boss. Double-minded, you never can trust them."

"Because women have the right to vote, I am active, because I want to make sure there is some sanity for women in the political world. It is up to the Christian rednecks and patriots to stand up for our country. Everyone has the right to vote now that's 18 or over (who is) a legal citizen, and every person that's 18 and over and a legal citizen should be active in local politics so they can make a change locally, make a change on the state level and make a change in Washington, D.C."

Because she has a right that she herself says she shouldn't have, she's active in politics, because she has a right she shouldn't have. Hurts, doesn't it?

Coming to the Supreme Court of The United States soon will be whether the Defense of Marriage Act - DOMA - is constitutional. Another religious mandate that is trying hard to become a secular law. In New York, a federal appeals court ruled that the DOMA is unconstitutional. 

Though that is a ruling based in reality, our Supreme Court has been taken over by religious zealots, so who knows what nonsense they may fabricate.

As long as reason is not the law of the land the insanity will continue. Unfortunately, reality keeps ruining the conservative plan aimed at forming a functional theocracy.

A latest Gallup poll shows the unemployment rate is continuing to drop; that the September numbers were not wildly understated. What will Mitt do now?

Ask me if I'm better off than four years ago and I would have to respond with a resounding yes. Ask if better job opportunities are available, in my small area of family and friends, again a resounding yes.

Did anyone enjoy the DOW sitting at 7,949 at the end of George W. Bush's reign of terror? I wondered at first where all that money went but as time went on I realized the rich didn't lose a penny and the rest of America was raped. 

As far as I can tell, from the mostly failed attempts at getting rid of poor and minority voters, the mostly failed attempts at restricting poll hours and reducing early voting periods, conservatives know their only chance of winning is to keep people from voting that may not agree with their agenda. 

In Virginia they've found an easy way, just throw out completed voter registrations if you don't want them voting. 

The Green Party Candidate, Jill Stein, was arrested yet again and held for eight hours after she tried to enter the presidential debate site. Though I possibly wouldn't vote for a third party candidate, it is annoying that I'm not allowed to hear them speak. 

For those Independent voters who are still trying to make up their minds, here's Amy Goodman and three third party candidates who were not allowed to participate in the debates. They answer the same questions as Obama and Romney answered In the second debate.

GOD'S GREATEST

The first story is tragic to those of us who don't favor the death penalty, but is also extremely interesting since god once again is the culprit.

In Florida, their Supreme Court has ruled that the state can execute a 64 year old paranoid schizophrenic. This goes against the Supreme Court of the United States. The fascinating part is their reasoning.

John Errol Ferguson, the man to be executed, claims he is the "Prince of God." He has many delusions of grandeur all related to his god fantasy. The reasoning that allows the state to execute him is that he is not delusional since his thoughts are not "significantly different than beliefs other Christians may hold."

I guess by saying the condemned is suffering from a disease, they would be implying that all christians are suffering from the same disease; we can't have that now, can we? 

As far as I can tell, a U.S. district judge has stopped this for the moment.

If he is not executed because he is delusional, then in the minds of the court, are all christians delusional? Well, I would think since they've already decided that he's not much different than other christians, then yes. Would that mean anyone involved in a death penalty crime could claim he was delusional because in his mind god was prompting his actions? Well, if he's not executed, then no more death penalty.

I really don't know what to think about this one.

The Secular Coalition grades the presidential candidates. No big surprises here, Romney get an "F" and Obama barely makes the grade with a "C."

Dinesh D'Souza finds himself in a jam. This is the gentleman who wants to save marriage from gays and lesbians, and made the so-called "documentary" that cast Obama in a very unsavory light, apparently has a mistress.

Oh joy.

The lady in question, Denise Odie Joseph II, shares his views on marriage and divorce. The one thing I enjoy about the holier than thou crowd is that they never fail to get caught. 

The catholic church has decided to enter the politics of the day by donating a million dollars to fight those of us who insist on equal rights under the law. They are spending over a million dollars in three states to stop the legalization of same sex marriage, and in another state that is considering amending their constitution by defining what a marriage is.

The catholic church is now the number one religious institution opposing same sex marriage, even though the majority of catholics are okay with the thought. Kind of like politics, the people don't get to decide.

The Texas cheerleaders seem to have won for now. In an earlier edition of the Planet I brought up a story about how these ladies write biblical verses on banners to encourage their team. At least for the rest of the year they may continue to proselytize like any other Sunday morning quack you'd like to mention.

The judge, Steven Thomas, was appointed by their god loving governor Rick Perry. I'm not surprised.

WICKED WOMEN

Nothing really wicked, only the normal anti-woman campaigns.

In Texas, they've figured out how to get rid of Planned Parenthood. They will be launching a new state-funded Women's Health Program that will ban abortion providing affiliates from getting any funding. The program also has a clause that states if the program is legally challenged, and the Planned Parenthood ban is found against the law, the state will will shut down the Women's Health Program completely. Bye bye health care ladies.

Kind of tired of this news, it's the same every week. Why it does not stop is because the conservatives we've elected to represent us only represent god and corporations, nothing more.

Take for instance one of my favorite nonsensical tea party representatives, the Honorable Joe Walsh from Illinois. Here we go, comments from the fatally ignorant:

"There is no such exception as life of the mother."

His thought there is that modern science and technology, which he derides when it contradicts him, will save the day.

According to him, “With modern technology and science, you can’t find one instance,” of an abortion necessary to save a mothers life. He's barely leading Tammy Duckworth in recent polls for the upcoming election, yet he talks total bull. If he's leading Tammy, that means conservatives are eating what he's defecating, and it's not a very tasty morsel.

Doctors immediately contradicted the man, but the followers will never hear about it.

Another young lady is demonized by the right. During the last Presidential Debate Katherine Fenton asked a question about equal pay. An "anonymous" blog on Free Beacon basically did a Fluke on her. She's a slutty, boozing, whore you know.

Conservatives are basically saying, "Do you ladies not know your place yet? Get back in the kitchen and make me a sandwich!"

FINAL FIX

A slight conundrum; how do I handle a visit from my duly elected representative from Michigan's 3rd district without alienating newly made friends?

In the last few months I've decided to spend some of my spare cash in my local town. I pay to play guitar with an excellent guitarist who owns a quaint little studio where he also gives art lessons. I've become a regular at a small bar/restaurant instead of going to the city for entertainment. I've started eating at the only place in town that has a veggie burger I can knock down, and there lies the problem.

Knowing and friending the small business owners in the local area seemed to be a good way of not only making new friends, but also getting involved in the community. I have an unsubstantiated feeling that those business owners have quite a bit of sway in the town as well, and I have a desire to talk about my concerns to them. 

Regardless, the little coffee shop that has the very important veggie burger, is hosting Justin Amash, said representative from my district, this Tuesday. The lady who owns the business I've had several conversations with, though none concerning politics, and have enjoyed those talks. I like her, yet Amash is a fool in my eyes. I get a little excited at times about my politics. In 2004 I aggressively protested Cheney's visit to a local restaurant, I've never eaten there since; doubt if that guys stench will ever leave the place.

I would rather not be like that this time.

So, do I show up on Tuesday morning armed for battle and show them how much more wittier I am than they? Do I show up and drink coffee, keep quiet and puke later? Or do I stay away from the place altogether? Tuesday is the day I spend in town, drinking coffee and having a meal, then guitar playing with the local master, then drinking and messing with the conservatives.

I've really enjoyed that day, until now.

The Weekly Planet - April 21, 2012

Welcome again to The Weekly Planet. 

Presidential Politics

How is an election won? These days it's primarily money thanks to the Citizen's United case, but there still needs to be a conversation that grabs certain blocks of voters. As an easy example, atheists will probably vote for those, that by their actions, do not take their marching orders from any religion. Actions are what you have to look for, much more so than any talk.

How any atheist can be a conservative is a mystery to me. With Santorum out, maybe they can wrap their minds around Romney, but again, if you look at his actions you'd be hard pressed to vote for him. Well, hard pressed if you care about the the rights of the women in your life. Since he changed his mind on abortion, declaring himself pro-life, or more succinctly anti-abortion, he is mimicking the religious views that the hard right base imposes. He may not be outspoken about contraceptives, but he does oppose religiously affiliated hospitals being required to provide free contraceptives. With those two small points, he has disclosed his link with the church.

Adriana posted a very interesting poll regarding atheists that I think relates to the upcoming elections as well. Besides data on the most religious and non-religious states, nationwide the percentage of people who state that religion is not an important part of their daily life and seldom or never attend religious services is 32 percent! Take that religious freaks. How this effects the election probably won't be known until after the fact. But by Obama not capitulating to the catholic church concerning contraceptives, he could possibly get as many votes as the religious right will provide for Romney.

What should be interesting as the race starts in earnest is concentrating on those who are behind the scenes. Who are those that influence the candidate's thought. This last week the NRA's board member Ted Nugent tells it like it is. Besides the discussion there's also numerous posts by doone in the Right Wing Whackos group. The gist of his comments revolve around the president and the Supreme Court Justices that he disapproves of. For the president, old Ted says he's a "vile, evil America-hating administration” which is “wiping its ass with the Constitution.” Taking it a step further, he said that “If Barack Obama becomes the president in November, again, I will either be dead or in jail by this time next year.” For the Supreme Court Justices, “We’ve got four Supreme Court justices who don’t believe in the Constitution. Does everyone here know that four of the Supreme Court justices not only determined you don’t have the right to keep and bear arms, four Supreme Court justices signed their name to a declaration that Americans have no fundamental right to self-defense.”

Keep in mind that not only has the NRA always supported the right, the hate in their rhetoric increases every election cycle. Six days ago Glenn Beck addressed the fruitcakes at the NRA's national convention. Crying Glenn said, “Barack Obama‘s winning slogan was ’Yes we can.‘ That’s the dumbest damn slogan I’ve ever heard,” Beck said. “Don’t tell me what you can do. Will you do it? Will you do it? ‘Yes we can.’ What a bunch of crap that is.”

I think liberals need to understand how the far right thinks. If you have the stomach for it, the Daily Caller has the speeches online of all your favorite mouths. Plop a couple of alka-seltzers in a shot of bourbon; only way I could take it.

Education Meets Misogyny

We are all familiar by now with the Monkey Bill in Tennessee. Another attempt to disqualify science as a whole. With all the legislative attempts to either restrict women's rights or to pervert education, it is easy to miss parts of what a particular piece of legislation is trying to accomplish.

Arizona has what has to be one of the most insidious attacks on the books; it manages to attack women and education at the same time.

We have a society that seemingly now views women, especially the poorest segments, as disposable. In Texas they have cut family planning finances, have added a sonogram bill and Planned Parenthood is being kicked out of the Medicaid program for poor women. Texas is only an example, but numerous states are cutting funds for women's health issues.

Back to Arizona, where they are not only restricting health care for women, but also using public education to promote the legislation. Arizona's new law which banns abortion after about 18 weeks is being debated by the country it would seem. But the bill also states that public schools will instruct the students on how birth and adoption is a priority over any other option. 

Isn't that the way the religious brainwash our children? Get them while their young and before they can think for themselves. It's a proven historical method that works. Not only are they restricting a person's right to control their own body, they are teaching the young to go along with the misdeed. 

Occupy The World

The Occupy movement seems to be in a funk lately. They are not getting the media's attention as they did last year; at least not yet. I guess if there's no violence from one side or another it's not worth reporting. 

The last major protests were on April 17th. Tax day for Americans. In New York they descended on Trump Tower, where goofy Donald was holding a birthday party for Anne Romney. I like the idea, they were dressed in baseball uniforms with the team name, "Tax Dodgers." 

Various protests occurred across the country, though they didn't seem to get much air time. 

The main thought of the Occupy movement is generally agreed upon to be income inequality. A longish New York Times article recently centered on two left leaning economists; Picketty and Saez. From their work archiving Internal Revenue Service data they discovered that income inequality dropped after the great depression through the seventies. After that income inequality once again was on the rise. From 2000 to 2007 they found that income rose for the bottom 90 percent rose about 4 percent after adjusting for inflation, while the top 0.1 percent incomes rose 94 percent! In 2010 the top 10 percent took half of overall income. They also stated the last time income inequality was this high was right before the great depression.

Hey Occupiers, you may want to read what they have to say.

Republicans That Don't Totally Suck

The Tea Party, the NRA and the Club for Growth are all gunning for Richard G. Lugar, a long serving United States Senator. In this country, if your a moderate conservative who supported those horrible liberal thoughts like the Dream Act, or even sometimes bipartisan supported ideas like banning earmarks, you've gone to far. With an F rating from the NRA and critiques about him being too friendly with Obama, he might have a hard primary this year. This gentleman had the audacity to work with Democratic senator Sam Dunn on a program for disarmament in the Soviet Union.

So sorry, you don't meet the crazy criteria.

Final Thought

I watched the bond hearing for Mr. Zimmerman, wanting to finally hear the man talk. After catching a couple contradictions in his testimony, I thought to myself, here's a man who's going to have trouble when the trial actually begins. 

After the hearing was over, I listened to the pundits giving their views on the case. They all seem to think that if Zimmerman can prove their was a scuffle that he could claim self-defense. I did not understand why they focused on that instead of the fact that Mr. Zimmerman followed Mr. Martin. Am I wrong in thinking that if you follow someone you are no longer defending yourself? 

The "Stand Your Ground" law will be revisited by a panel selected by FLorida's Governor. I hope that the trial is about the killing of Mr. Martin and does not revolve around defending the legislation.

I'm sure the NRA will be wielding its might protecting what they believe the second amendment means.

Should be an interesting trial.