where have all the 20-30 year olds gone?

As I was sitting in church #487 of my husband and I trying to find the right church, I became frustrated. One of the TOP things that we are looking for in a church right now is YOUNGER people (besides all the other non-cult requirements). Not teenagers, not 34 year olds with small children..."young" married couples. Or just younger adults. I'm not really sure why this is such a big thing to ask for..but apparently it is. These are my thoughts on the issue:

I think that the church for a long time has focused on building a great youth and children's (and even college in some churches) ministry that there has been a neglect on the time after a kid graduates until they have children. I'm not sure why...but I wonder if people go to college in search of "themselves" and kinda fall away from the traditions of their parents, only to find them again because they want their children to be raised like they were raised?

I also wonder this. Clearly, if you think about it from an economical standpoint (which...if you know me, I ALWAYS do...) families are a lot better bang for your tithed buck than young marrieds, or young adults. Families would have a greater income to tithe from, not to mention it helps numbers increase. If you could spend $10 of church advertising to get a younger adult or $10 to get a family of 4, it would make greater sense to market to the family. Not to mention the added benefit of children. Suzy invites Jenny to the movie night at the church and the next thing you know, Jenny and her parents both attend the church. Then Jenny brings HER friend. I know this is a better use of the tithed money, but seriously.
<--me.

All I want to find is a non-Jesus Camp, non-liberal extreme church with some younger adults that attend. Is that too much to ask?

Debbie on the Gift of Life

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4191765.stm

These are Debbie's thoughts on large babies:

23 POUNDS?! TWENTY...THREE...POUNDS? Tha's jus crazy. And the baby died 11 hours later? Tha's craaaazy. Wha's he dyin for? He should be lookin at his mom goin, 'Hey mom, I'm ready for preschool!' You know guurrrrlll?

a hodgepodge of observations.

These are some observations I have made over the past little bit that I have been meaning to post, I just haven't had the time.

1. Men are antsy. Not all men, but all the ones that seem to work with me. Every morning at work, there is a video conferencing meeting where there is a huge tall table and all the men stand around it. I sit in a chair off to the side and watching them is hilarious. Seriously, it looks like some of them have about 5 fire ants up their pants and they can't get them out. I don't know what it is, but they move, shake and twitch for the entire 30 minutes. I get tired just watching them. Also, now that I am sleeping with a man, I know that HE turns like a human rotissery. I love him to death, but for about the first week of our marriage [post-honeymoon] I had a hard time sleeping because he woke me up during the night turning and twisting so. I am the type of person that lies down and doesn't move again. [virtually.] So this was an adjustment. I just don't know what it is, but men are antsy.

2. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? I have noticed that a lot of people who work here often stay late. In America, working too hard has been blamed for distroying families and ruining marriages. But I had the thought the other day as to whether working hard takes a good marriage/family to a bad one, or if the marriage/family is bad to begin with and so that's WHY they work harder - to avoid going home. I know that when my clock hits 3:30, I cannot wait to get home to my husband. I have to be here long enough...why stay longer? I love spending time with him. [And feel free to account for newlywed glow, blah blah blah.] But I'm just saying...it's possible to keep that. Yes, it's hard. I'm not saying it's easy. But it is possible. It just takes a lot of communication and work. A cooke, a twin and I have often discussed the importance of communication within a relationship...but if you refuse to be home, how can that communication occur? You are communicating something...the fact that you aren't wanting to be with that person. I just don't know which came first...the good relationship to the bad, due to work...or the bad relationship that results in avoidance through work.

3. Read this post. Good stuff there.

Okay, I think that's all now.

Side note: Tonight, I shall see my soulmatey. YAY. :)

Debbie on Life

For those who don't keep up with T.D. Jakes' ministry, he has recently published a new book called "Reposition Yourself." Let me set the scene:

I am working at my computer, doing my own thing. All the sudden, I hear:

Debbie: "T.D. Jakes is on Dr. Phil today! I need to call my mom and tell her. Oh wait...that was yesterday. DANG how did I miss that. HOW did I MISS that. Man.."

Then I hear...

Debbie: "OOOH guuurl, he's got a new book...Reposition Yo'self. Mmmm, I know I need to reposition MYself. Everyone needs to reposition theirselves. You KNOW I'm gonna be pickin up this book for Christmas. Givin it to everybody I know. I just hope they pick it up like a hot cd thas out in the stores. Cuz only YOU can reposition yourself. You gotsta do it yo'self. MMm...you know gurlll?"

Me: "MMMhmmm..."

The Daily Debbie. Debbie on Marriage.

Marlo has Our Daily Brad...now I will have The Daily Debbie.

I now work with a middle aged woman who is hilarious. I will post quotes from her, as I feel they need to be shared with the world. Today's quote:

Debbie: GIRLLLL, you got MARRIED? Where was I when you got married?
Me: Umm, well, I'm not sure.
Debbie: Thas just crazy.
Me: Yeah...Are you married Debbie?


Debbie: Yeah...sometimes.


Sometimes? ahahaha...

I said it.

Too nasty, too soon?
Watch the Best Political Team on TV analyze the recent more nasty, more personal attacks on the 2008 presidential campaign trail.
WASHINGTON (CNN) — With less than four months until primary voters begin to weigh in, it's beginning to get nasty out on the campaign trail.

As presidential candidates try to mobilize supporters and distance themselves from the rest of the pack, they, or their campaigns, are increasingly leveling attacks on one another – and it's getting personal.

Just last night, former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, a top surrogate for Sen. Hillary Clinton, slammed former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani over his well documented marriage history and reportedly poor relationship with his children.

Also yesterday, Elizabeth Edwards, wife of former Sen. John Edwards, accused Clinton of "insider cronyism" and trading political access for campaign donations.

Are all these attacks too much, too soon? Or are they necessary given the crowded presidential fields in both parties and the need for candidates to differentiate themselves from one another?

What do you think? Weigh in below.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/09/21/too-nasty-too-soon/

bring that beat back to me again...

First, let me start off by giving the concert update. It was great! I had a wonderful time. I have a few thoughts on this before I move on to the shockingly horrifying portion of the evening. [See next post.]

Dave Matthews is an interesting phenomenon. We were standing there last night, and as I do at EVERY concert, I find myself watching the crowd just as much as the performer. There was an interesting mix of ages there last night. The drunk woman on my right (who was HILARIOUSLY funny to watch) was probably in her mid to late 40's...however the screaming group of people in front of me were all clearly in college. We saw license plates there from all the surrounding states - we heard the story of one guy who drove 7 HOURS to make the show. (Yes, it's longer from Wilmington, NC to Charlotte, NC than it is from Savannah, GA to Charlotte, NC.) These are some of the thoughts I had while standing there last night listening to that sweet sweet music:

1. Music is such an incredible medium. [And that is such an understatement.] Watching the crowd last night, there was not one person who didn't look like they were having the best time. All these people come from different backgrounds and situations even leading up to the show. But once they got there, it was like they left all their worries at the door. There is very little in life that I have observed that can have that effect on people. In a society where every one has a cell phone, blackberry, or palm pilot, very little makes them turn it off. However, no one was on the phone last night unless they were waving to friends across the pavilion.

2. Work can be fun? As I left my work yesterday, thinking about the night, I was just thrilled to be leaving. I could have been leaving to completely clean my apartment and I would have been happy. Imagine having a job where you just have fun. Not only fun, but you make people's lives better...even if it's only for the few hours they are there. I was watching the performers last night and after having been at it for a while, they ALL looked like they were just having a great time. Clearly something I can't imagine at work. lol...

3. The phenomenon known as Dave Matthews Band. The interesting thing about him and his music is that he has such a huge following, but he has never been a constant on the radio or any other music media outlet (MTV ::cough cough::). He's never done a mix with Timbaland, nor has he had a picture taken not wearing any underwear in Vegas that gets him in the press. But somehow, he remains to be one of the most well known artists of our time. I mean, who among us HASN'T had a DMB sticker on our car at one point or another? It's just interesting to see how the movement has grown since he started out. A friend of ours that went with us last night saw his first DMB show in 1995 [I was 10. He was 18. hahaha] Since then, he's been to 52 shows in 12 years. You may think that's extreme, but there was a woman there last night who had a sign saying "75th show!" I also heard of someone that has been to over 200 shows since 1998. I know that all bands have a following of some kind, but it just seems like Dave does what he wants and the people just come. Quite interesting if you think about it.

More to come later...about the shockingly horrifying portion of the evening. And it's nothing you could have imagined.

i concur.

Commentary: Washington is a sucker bet

By Jack Cafferty
CNN

Jack Cafferty is a commentator for CNN's "The Situation Room." He's also the author of the new book "It's Getting Ugly out There"

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Guess who said this:

"I think that the country, after the last couple of years, has a bias in favor of change -- I think probably starting with Hurricane Katrina and coming through Baghdad and the whole sense of too much spending."

Democratic Sens. Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama?

Nope. It's a Republican.

It's former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, speaking to "The National Journal" about why he thinks Democrats are poised to walk off with the big prize in 2008.

Gingrich cites a lack of enthusiasm in the Republican conservative base and a stunning level of intensity in the anti-war left. He says when you add it all up, the odds are probably 80-20 in favor of Democrats winning the '08 presidential race.

Of course we have to remember that Gingrich may run himself.

Part of the reason he's painting such a dire picture is no doubt to convince Republicans that if he gets into the race the odds will improve in the Republicans' favor.

Gingrich says one of the things lacking in the GOP field is a candidate capable of forcing Clinton or Obama to defend the failed bureaucracies of Democratic administrations past. The problem, as Gingrich sees it, is no Republicans are calling for dramatic change.

On the contrary, it seems like former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani -- who is leading the GOP field in most polls -- often sounds like President Bush.

But Gingrich is onto something. I, too, sense a strong bias in favor of change. The problem is that whether a Democrat or Republican is our next president, and regardless of who controls the Congress, we are unlikely to get any meaningful change. And that's because there is very little discernable difference between the two parties anymore.

Oh sure, they fuss at each other about abortion, gay marriage, flag burning -- all the wedge issues -- but if you look at the big picture, it's all pretty much the same. And it's not pretty.

Both major parties are consumed by the obsession of getting into power and holding onto it. Don't kid yourself: The No. 1 priority of any politician is being re-elected. Because if he's not re-elected, he's out of business. And that's where we get into the real similarities between Republicans and Democrats.

Because of the way we fund campaigns, lots of money is required. That money comes from big corporations and special interest groups that usually have an agenda at odds with the general welfare of Mr. and Mrs. Taxpaying American citizen. And once their guy is elected, well, it's payback time.

The immunity these people have crafted for themselves over time allows them freedom to pursue their own agendas at the expense of yours. No term limits, no independent ethics oversight, and campaign finance laws that invite corruption. What do they care if you don't like the way they run the country? There isn't a hell of a lot you can do about it. And they know it. And they take full advantage of it.

So don't kid yourself as we roll toward the next election, no matter how much change we think we're voting for, the odds are that you and I will continue to lose.







Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/09/18/Cafferty.Sept19/index.html

toothpaste for dinner.

tomorrow...

this guy..



at this place..




bootyshake.

observation.

There is this woman that comes around and collects the trash down my cubical row. I always try to talk to people who are "housekeepers" or whatever they are calling that position these days. Even if it is just a "Hey, how are you?" I always enjoy talking to them because they will talk back to you. For some reason, they don't try to impress you with what they did over the weekend or hide that they're exhausted. I was talking to one woman yesterday...she's an older black woman, I'd say around 55. She said, "MAN it's monday..." I said, "I know...but at least the day is almost over!" (It was about 2:30...we get off at 3:30.) She said, "Not for me...I won't be done until 11 tonight." I said, "Good land, what else do you have to do today?" Come to find out, she works at Wal-Mart and here. She said that she has worked 2 jobs for most of her life. The shift here starts at 7am and she works until 11pm, to go home, get in the bed, and be up again around 5am. She finished doing what she was doing and she just looked up at me and slowly put my trashcan down and said, "Well...you just do what you gotta do, ya know?" I just laughed and said, "Yep." She pushed her cart on off. I had a major priorities check.

It's so interesting how, regardless of how many times you get figuratively slapped in the face about something, you ALWAYS repeat it. I usually do. I complain all the time (just ask a cooke) about being tired and hating to come in in the mornings so early. I just get comfortable and tunnel visioned about how much is going on around me. Sometimes you just need a slap in the face because you forget to be thankful for what your life actually is.

Then today, I was getting on the elevator to come down to the conference room to get things together for the morning meeting and I saw this same woman getting off the elevator with another woman that works near me (I think she's a glorified secretary). Now, this woman, from all I can tell and gather, is about like talking to a can of compressed air. You know the typical woman I'm talking about. White, loud, wears a lot of flashy jewelry (especially gold) and tends to dress in animal print. [No Auntie Em, not you. This woman has short hair. ;0) hahaha] Anyway, she was talking a mile a minute to this woman about something going on in her life that was bad...I heard the older black woman say, "Well, I sure hope she gets better.." and the woman say, "yeah, yeah me too...okay, well, I will see you later, BYE!" It was more like, "YEAH,yeahmetoo...okaywellIwillseeyoulaterBYE!" Off she rushed in a cloud of perfume and hairspray...and cheetah. The older woman just pushed her cart on and started emptying trashcans.

It just makes me wonder, in life, how often am I the cheetah print loud mouth? How often do I talk about what is going on in my life to people...when if I just took a moment to ask them how they're doing, they would tell me of REAL issues. Now, I'm not saying that woman didn't have a real issue. I don't even care what they were discussing on the elevator ride up. I just know that when the can of air woman was done talking, she just finished up the conversation and rushed on her way. Her attitude was just had this air of "I'm important" about it. When the older housekeeper passed me, she just looked at me and I smiled. She breathed a weak, "Hi," and kept walking.

I'm not really sure if what I'm trying to say here is coming across in the right way...but in summation, I need to get my head out of the sand and realize what is going on around me. Again.

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Isaiah 40:28-30

you get the idea.

bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored.

I'll post something of more substance later. It's 2:51. 39 more minutes.

HOLLA.

as carly simon says...

And stay right here, 'cause these are the good old days...These are the good old days

i get by with a little help from my friends...

I know I have posted a lot in the past 24 hours, but this is something that I read that I thought was really good. I was on the Emergent Village website, just looking around and I found the blog for Rick McKinley, "perhaps best known as Donald Miller’s pastor." I found his latest post to hit the nail on the head as far as some topics that The Cooke and I were discussing a few months ago.

I'll link it here.

Rick was discussing the subject of the church being involved in their local community. I will put on here the main two parts that I thought were right on -

4. Join the city in what they are already doing

Too often we (the church) think we need to invent and brand everything that we do in the city. This just perpetuates the false shell of our own subculture. Instead look for opportunities that already exist in the city. There are tons of non profits in your town. They are dying for people who will join them in their work. We get to saddle up to people who share Kingdom passion. They may not know it is Kingdom passion because they may not know the King yet. But as you serve them and with them serve others you gain a voice into their lives and they into yours. You also build viability for the Gospel. They begin to trust that you are not going to try to Colonialise their organization and make t-shirts that say “we saved Bob’s aids hospice”.

5. No Logo, No Ego

We are guilty in the church for wanting to take credit for everything we do. That is quite different from not letting the right hand know what the left hand is doing. We call the press to come and see us put a blanket on a homeless guy. I think Jesus has some pretty stern words for that. Instead we are learning that in joining these others we don’t need to get our name on their letter head. In fact our name never needs to be mentioned. We just don’t even go down those roads. If the press never learns of what we do, who cares. The one who sent us sees it all and he is the one we are serving.

We are also learning to be humble. It is too easy to announce that the church has found the answers to someone else’s problems and then present our 7 step strategy to fix it. We don’t know thier needs. We don’t live in their world, so we are learning to listen. It is a lesson we keep learning. Instead of telling them what we are here to do, we begin by asking what would be the greatest benefit to them. What would they love for us to do. Then we adapt to that and serve their needs. The end result is at first they are astonished. This is not the kind of help most are used to. Then they begin to trust you. This is trust you need to earn without a word, let your actions speak first. Finally you get invited in for a long term sustainable mission.

After the event the other day one of the principles asked if we could come back throughout the year and lead their students in continuing to work on the garden and teach them principles of creation care. The theater we worked at has opened their doors for us to do events on faith and art. It doesn’t take much just humility.

Part of leading our people into the mission of God is leading them to do justice. We need to wed this piece tightly to the proclamation of the message of Jesus. The irony is that one without the other is like offering someone a pair of pants with only one leg. The message of a loving God who is bringing new life through Jesus’ death and resurrection is easy to hear after you have experienced that love through the justice of Gods people.

simply amazing.

New York Times Gave MoveOn.org Discount for 'Betray Us' Ad
Thursday, September 13, 2007

By Charles Hurt

WASHINGTON — The New York Times dramatically slashed its normal rates for a full-page advertisement for MoveOn.org's ad questioning the integrity of Gen. David Petraeus, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq.

Headlined "Cooking the Books for the White House," the ad that ran in Monday's Times says Petraeus is "a military man constantly at war with the facts" and concluded -- even before he testified before Congress -- that "General Petraeus is likely to become General Betray Us."

According to Abbe Serphos, director of public relations for the Times, "the open rate for an ad of that size and type is $181,692."

-----------------

Read the articles here and here.

This is what I'm talking about folks. Why do Democrats need to solicit money from a group that would say such a ridiculous thing about a man that is risking so much for our country? You may disagree with him, but calling him a traitor? Way to stoke the fire. And here's the jab from the Republican side:

Citing the shared liberal bent of the group and the Times, one Republican aide on Capitol Hill speculated that it was the "family discount."

"I'm surprised they had to pay anything at all for the ad," the GOP staffer said. "They could have just asked the editorial page to run it and it wouldn't have cost them a cent."

Jab, jab, jabjabjab. And it goes on and on...



I can see the signs,
and I can read between the lines.
But I don’t know what we were fighting for,
I’m just trying, to breakout.

Politics...part deux.

Back from lunch. It was good, in case you were wondering. It doesn't get much better for lunch than Wendy's spicy chicken sandwich.

Anyway...

What I am going to talk about now is the ridiculous hypocrisy surrounding General Petraeus. In case you've been living in a hole, "in January 2007, as part of his overhauled Iraq strategy, President Bush announced that Petraeus would succeed Gen. George Casey as commanding general of MNF-I to lead all U.S. troops in Iraq. " Anything else you want to know, you can look up. Anyway, Petraeus recently delivered his report to Congress and the scrutiny that he has come under is only comparable to a three ring circus.

Now, let me pause here for a second to say...I think that for us to try to set up a democracy in Iraq in complete and total insanity. Whoever thought that was a good idea needs to have their head examined. Do I think Iraq had WMD's? Yes. All the reporting that surrounded that scenario at the time made perfect sense as to whether or not there were WMD's. There was some shady stuff going down over there. But do I think that we need to cut and run at this point? No. There's too much damage that's been done. But this crap about Bush wanting to bring democracy is a load if I've ever heard it. It took our own country a couple HUNDRED YEARS to establish whatever it is that we have now. And people expect us to do it in a couple of years for Iraq? You're crazy. There is no initiative for the people to adhere to this form of government. We say it's better...they probably shrug their shoulders and say why? But the thing of it is, we're in it now. We cannot leave with no stability in that region. I am greatly concerned about what would happen to that area if we just packed up and left right now. Do I believe in continuing down a path that is not good? I think America made that decision a long time ago. Now is not the time to be discussing it. Do we need to get out of there as quickly as possible? Yes. Who wouldn't agree to that? But we need to give them some stability. And, with two uncles who graduated from the Air Force Academy, of course I fully believe in supporting our troops. So, there's no point in the attacks that these people in the military face. They are doing their job. And I cannot thank them enough for the sacrifices that they are having to personally deal with. With that said, I will proceed.

The events that have been going on in Congress in the past two days is what broke the straw on the camel's back for me. Earlier in June and July, I got so fed up with conservative talk radio that I thought I was going to vomit. Liberals are not stupid. They just think differently. I am so tired of the name calling and the "dissing" of ideas that I could jab a rusty screw into my eyeball. I don't understand why we can't just look at an issue, discuss the circumstances and then arrive at the best plan, REGARDLESS of who backs that best plan, using EDUCATED facts...not circus show antics.

But. There's only so many times you can listen to someone sing about beautiful girls making them suicidal before YOU are suicidal for hearing that song so many times. So one day, I switched over. I've been listening since then about the stories about what Petraeus is having to deal with right now and the transparency makes me want to, again, vomit. When Petraeus was brought for confirmation before the Senate in January, he was unanimously confirmed. Unanimously.

Clinton (D-NY), Yea; Obama (D-IL), Yea

Not only that, but they were PRAISING him. I don't understand where this criticism is coming from. There was one clip that I heard of the question sessions and it was completely disrespectful. The Senator, and I think it was Jack Reed of Rhode Island, but I'm not sure, asked Petraeus a question and when he started to answer, he would cut in and say, "BUT WHAT ABOUT THIS GENERAL!?" and bring up something else, and he just kept doing that...never allowing the General a hope of answering any of the questions. It was completely theatrical. And ridiculous.

I just can't take it any more. The name calling (crazy Ann Coulter), the lack of respect for humanity...they do it all for the vote (yeah, the vote.) I can understand disagreeing with something someone has to say, but it's turning into a complete circus. Hypocrisy reins in both parties. There is no standard. It's disgusting to me...like watching pigs eat at a trough. Why can't there be some bipartisan agreement? Sure, they all agreed to confirm Petraeus, but they were waiting with baited breath to jump as soon as there is a weak point found! It's like when I was a child and mom would ask my sisters and I who had done something wrong. Caroline would say, "SHE DID IT!" and I would respond with, "NUH UH, SHE DID IT." The yelling would ensue until mom took TV away from us and walk out of the room.

Is it possible to take the TV away from the Republicans and the Democrats? Can I walk out of the room and go somewhere else? I don't want to be on any of these candidate's sides. I just don't understand why they can't share their differences without the negative stabs to the other candidates. Put the FACTS out there. Let the public decide for themselves. If voting numbers go down because there is no one choosing for them, then...maybe Americans are saying they don't want democracy. They don't want the choice. They don't want to have to be educated. The Israelites wanted an earthly king to lead them. They got what they deserved in the end. Maybe we will too.

In closing, I have decided this for the 2008 elections. Ever since this was mentioned in the BTW group from Student Life at Campbell a while ago, I still am pulling for Tyler Ashworth for president. Tyler, we support you. Just don't take any money from Norman Hsu.


--------------------------

edit 9/21/07: here's a link to some of the questioning transcripts http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/09/19/questioning-petraeus-squ_n_65101.html

Politics.

I will start out by saying, this will be long, but please read, as I would like feedback on these thoughts.

This post has been a long time in the works, mentally. I would say, I probably started thinking a lot about it in June or July. But...my emotions on the subject would ebb and flow, and when they ebbed, I posted about things I was flowing about. Mainly, I haven't wanted to post this because I knew how long it would take to cohesively form my thoughts on the subject and I wasn't sure if I wanted or had the time to do that. However, events as of late on the political horizon leave me with no choice. This post will come to fruition.

I will start out by saying, I have a background full of memories involving the history, politics and law of America. [But I'm by no means an expert. lol] My parents both have an avid love for history. If our TV at home wasn't on the History Channel, it was on CNN(before Fox News came on the scene). Growing up, it was nothing for us to throw a party and await election results, yielding time for heavy debate as to our opinions of different candidates. The Cooke can attest to this...since she came with me to one of those parties in college. Discussions of politicians and the government and the moral depravity of our nation surrounded me growing up (and still now, I just tune it out). So, it was a surprise to no one when I decided in 6th grade that I wanted to be a lawyer and work in Washington. Now, some may say, "Kate...you were way to young to actually know what you wanted to do." However, when I enrolled at Campbell as a freshman, I was a Government/pre-Law major, with every intent of keeping that desire as my goal. I joined College Republicans and loved studying for my National Government essays with Dr. Sellers.

Then came the breakdown.

I'm not sure when or where it exactly happened, but sometime at the end of my sophomore year at CU, I became incredibly disillusioned with it all. Some may attribute it maturity, some may attribute it my Micro Economics class with Dr. Cellek. These feelings of annoyance and frustration with the system were only heightened by the time I spent learning about the free market with Derek Yonai. At some point, I began to feel very comfortable with [most of]the ideas that the Libertarian party and felt very annoyed with the political parties that have the power in America today. However, one the biggest annoyances I feel comes from the transparent actions of the politicians. This is seen in many forms.

It is ever clear to me that the main motivation of a politician is election/reelection. Now, this works well normally for the system in America because it forces politicians to stay in touch with the desires of the people. However, now...it seems as if the political environment is changing because people are ceasing to think for themselves. Thomas Jefferson once said, "Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government." Well, now it seems as if people are relinquishing the information and choices to the government because it is easier. So what is happening? Ideas like nationalized health care are starting to circulate. Another quote by TJ - "I know of no safe repository of the ultimate power of society but people. And if we think them not enlightened enough, the remedy is not to take the power from them, but to inform them by education." But what happens when the people cease to desire to be educated? And where does that lack of desire come from? I have a few theories, but that is a whole other post.

One area that this is so clearly evident is within the current Hillary Clinton campaign. I was discussing this with The Husband last night at dinner at my favorite restaurant. I was telling him that watching the movements of these campaigns is so interesting to me right now. Currently, if you've been listening to any talk radio, you will know that the Democrat candidates have been participating in the requests from places like moveon.org and dailykos.com in order to receive money and support, etc. However, the interesting part of this is shaping up in the political placement this gives them. This association with the liberal left confused me until I hit this realization.

I was stuck on the fact that if you think about the political market, the smart candidate in any party will go for the middle. If you are a "hardcore" member of any party, let's use republicans for example, then you will vote republican regardless. My grandmother is one of these "hardcore" members. If the two candidates up for election are republican and democrat, then she will pick republican just because of what the democrat party stands for. As far as I know, her decision has very little to do with the candidate's stance, but more for the party's stance. So, any money spent attempting to court her vote would be wasted, for they already have her vote and they always will. The candidate needs to spend time and money on courting the middle. The conservative democrats that may be swayed to vote republican. So...since this logically makes sense, why are people like Hillary Clinton bowing down to the liberality that is moveon.org? I couldn't get past that until I realized that they don't have the party's nomination yet. If you apply this "middle" theory to the Democratic party nomination, then clearly, Hillary will lean more left as the time approaches the nomination. The interesting part will be to see what she does if she wins the nomination. My guess is that she will strategically move toward the middle and distance her ties to things like moveon.org. And, the citizens of America are so sheathed in their own lives, that they don't care what Hillary Clinton is doing currently. It's like a certain boss I used to have. If I was on time that day, then I was a great employee. If I was late, I was getting a lecture on the importance of keeping my office hours, regardless of how many I worked the previous day. It's all about short term memory. I digress...

Back to the point. Her motivations are transparent. She cares about election, not the constituents. Whatever that means. And when the citizens continue to be sheathed in their own lives, giving up control constantly to the government to make decisions, this is government neither by the people or for the people. This is scary.

I think I will stop here as it is time for lunch. I will resume with the issue I am truly annoyed with later. If you're still reading, thank you. :0)

***Edit: I used democrats in this example because it was the clearest example of transparency (no pun intended) that I could use. However, you could apply this same scenario to any Republican candidate who will only go on Fox News' debate or speak for Focus on the Family broadcasts or will call in to Shawn Hannity's talk show. It's all the same movements. All moving toward the end goal of election. And I am convinced that the struggle is for power. I wonder how many politicians, on either side, actually care about the best interest of their citizens and can speak the truth in love to look to protect the people from things that would harm them. We will protect them from terrorists in the Middle East, but will we protect them from terrorists that look to bring nationalized health care? Or more phone tappings from the Department of Homeland Security? Or more Faith-based initiatives from the White House? Okay, now I'm really going to lunch.

the love nest.

Okay...I really will post more, but I just want to say...the Husband and I went and bought new sheets and stuff for our love nest and we decided on bamboo sheets. I've never seen or heard of them, but they are so soft! I just hope they hold up.

Yay for sleeping on trees!

peaceful.

I have a lot more to post than this, but I do just want to say...I married an amazing man. I couldn't be happier.

:0)