Pay the people what they're due

The lies surrounding raising the minimum wage are staggering. They fill the people who support it with a false sense of knowledge because those same people don't do their research on what it would help. People are more inclined to believe what they here on television and in the news paper because they do not believe that those sources would lie to them. Raising the minimum wage would increase productivity as people would feel as though they were an important part of the company. Companies and businesses that pay more have happier and more productive workers. Businesses that pay the minimum wage have less happy and less productive workers because they don't feel important. They don't feel like the company values them enough. The argument that most people on minimum wage are teenagers or under 20 is false as well. Most people on minimum wage right now are people who are taking what ever job they can to support themselves or their families so that they have a place to live and food to eat. 
Raising the minimum wage also allows people to pump more money into the economy. Those earners have more money to spend in other places other than the stores they work at, like at mom and pop owned shops. That keeps local businesses from closing down. It's not about greed, or laziness. If a worker earns the minimum that corporations are legally allowed to pay, then they're not going to work as hard as some one working for a similar store who is making two to three times as much.
The cost of living goes up in an area because of greed. Minimum wage is a good starting place if the company has a comprehensive advancement program. Places that only increase your pay by $0.25 for every milestone you achieve shows their employees that they do not really care about them. Yes there are places that do that. You don't earn bonuses unless your a manager in most places. 
There are two reasons for that. One; is if its a major corporation and they don't feel like it. Two; is if they are a small local business and cannot afford to give their employees a decent bonus or a raise because most of their business is stolen by larger corporations.
So raising the minimum wage is important. It would allow people to spend more money in general so that the economy is boosted. Corporations that can afford to lobby congress do so so that they do not have to pay their employees more. 
By not paying more than minimum wage corporations force their workers to have to find a second or third job just to make it through the month. A lot more married couples have to have more than one job in rural areas and cities because things are more expensive. 
Towns that have tourism experience higher prices on needed goods as well because businesses adjust their prices so that those people who are there for the attraction spend more money. This causes problems for the people who live there as the cost of living goes up during tourist season.
Another type of place that has complications are places with mining or oilfield jobs. Those places have the cost of living adjusted to appeal to those who work in those fields. A town that sees an increase in oil output, or an oil boom, will see the cost of rentals houses and apartments soar because those businesses are taking advantage of the increase in what they believe is a higher distribution of wealth. The problem with this is that not everyone can work in those industries for an unlimited number of reasons.
So those who live in those areas and are not working in those industries see their cost of living almost skyrocket and it gets harder for them to keep up with bills.

This little line of mine...

Not hiring full time employees is not a new thing caused by obamacare. It's what the retail and food industries have been doing for ages to avoid having to give their employees health coverage and other benefits. Cutting hours so that someone is working part time hours does the same thing. It's a money making technique. They milk you for all of the work they possibly can at minimal hours and as low of pay as they can. That ensures that the company makes more in profit than it pays out to its employees. Wal-Mart is a really good example of this. Before Sam Walton's death Wal-Mart was a good place to work. Workers got good hours, good pay, benefits. After his death they're lucky to get their discount card without being fired for bullshit reasons.

It is rare for a major corporation to do what is in their employees best interests. The way our capitalism works is companies are charged with ensuring that their investors and share holders get paid by any means nessicary. This means that greed is easy to come by in corporations. Corporations cannot function well and make the money they want to if they have to pay people a livable wage.
In order to combat not making enough to live on the government created what we now call welfare assistance, and food stamps. The official title for these programs are Temporary Assistance for Need Families, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program respectively.
Many republicans want to cut spending on these programs as well as medicaid and medicare, both funded by the government. Doing so would drop thousands, if not millions, into poverty. Men, Women, and Children would go without food, homes or healthcare. They want to cut funding to them, or cancel them all together. What about military spending? The mere mention of cutting the billions that we spend on military spending and the government goes, "Woah! Wee need that money to keep us safe!"

So they keep us safe by invading other countries to look for one man and his cronies who are hiding at home? Right, and I'm the rightful king of scotland. Where do we draw the line? When do we realize that it is time for the people to do our duty and empty the government of everyone in it and start over? When are we going to realize that unrestrained capitalism is what is destroying this country? Not the liberals. Not the conservatives. Not those who have relying on government assistance programs. Not even the bloody terrorists. Companies who make billions and contribute nothing to society or to helping people are the worst problem we face here because they have a long leash.

Stay active my friends.

Small Truth

Our country is screwing its self and we are to blame. Not the government, not the corporations, us the citizens. The people are in the wrong. We became complacent with allowing the government to make things easy for us. We allowed them to infiltrate our lives, find out what we care about, and then they coerced us into caring about it more than our liberties.

A few tried to get others to stop falling for the distractions, but they were called "crazy" or were told it's all just a conspiracy. Now everyone’s eyes have been open to the fact that the world we have created is harsh and uncaring. Men, Women, and Children go to sleep in the streets without having eaten properly. Men, Women, and Children are harmed, murdered, raped, robbed, and exploited by someone every second of every day.

Only now are we starting to realize the underhanded deals our government has been making with the mega corporations. Some will think that we deserve it, that we did it to our selves. Others will become angry and want to do something violent about it. Then there are those who understand that it is time to take responsibility.

It is time My Fellow Americans. It is time to run for the offices that have been kept from the people for too long. It is time to put actions into words and fight against the corruption that we have allowed to fester under out very eyes. The government cows to corporate whims in order to make us work harder for less.

They spread lies that by raising the minimum wage the cost of living would go up. Why? Because companies would have to charge more to make a profit. So instead of making corporations who can afford it pay their workers more, the government simply makes things harder on We, the people.

Is this the end?

I've finally rounded out why the republican party has lost so much respect, and keeps getting negative numbers. It's not because of liberals, nor is it because or progressives. It's the morons that are elected to represent, what I find to be, a group of people who only want whats best for this country. Sure some are a little misguided and could do with a great deal of time away from the television, but those people exist in both parties.

The problem with democrats is that they very quickly make really sharp turns. Kind of like taking a sharp turn in a top heavy vehicle, things topple. Both parties have their problems, and in fact the whole separated party system is just a ploy by politicians to divide a once united peoples.

I personally don't take part in the party system. I pay attention to politics by gathering information from multiple sources, both liberal and conservative. I weigh each politicians words with their actions from the past, i.e; how they voted and what they're doing now. I look at who is trying to restrict our freedoms and what guise they are using, i.e; religion, acts of domestic terrorism.

To be quite honest we have more restrictions than freedoms. Our constitution was created with freedom in mind. Looking at it from a completely unbiased point of view, which is hard for many people. One can see that what is set forth in the constitution and the bill of rights protects everyone regardless of what the believe in. It gives people the right to believe what they want and not have to face persecution. It limits the powers of both the National and State governments, though it has a high emphasis on promoting states rights within reason.

I'll use the first amendment as an example. This amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances.

 This means that the states cannot pass laws because of religious beliefs. There is no grey area, they cannot do it because that would mean they are, in some fashion, passing a law that respects an establishment of religion. Which infringes on the rights of the people. This means that any laws passed banning gay marriage, or banning abortion, because of religion are to be deemed null. States cannot pass such laws based on religious beliefs because federal authority trumps state authority when it comes to the constitution and the bill of rights.

Another thing is that allowing abortion, transgender rights, gay marriage and a myriad of other things is a must in a government such as ours is supposed to be. Why? Because of the right to privacy. People should feel secure in their private information. The founding fathers knew this, which is why it is implied through out the bill of rights.

Just as people are allowed to stock up on guns for what ever reason, so long as they're not intending to go on a rampant murder spree. So to are people allowed to take part in these things that the government, and the people, is currently feuding over.

The truth about the so called "controversies" around these things is that they are smoke screens used to distract us from the real problems. The problems that the government is creating and forcing us to clean up. Low wages, chemical food tampering, corporate interference with the political process, the false war on drugs, the false war on terror, destruction of our planet. The list is almost endless.

If my words have pissed you off, or stuck a nerve. Good. Maybe it'll open your eyes to what's happening. We are on the brink of a war that would bankrupt this country. If we strike against Syria, then it's likely that will draw retaliation from other countries. America is currently the only country that is intent on attacking them for something that has nothing to do with us. The UK has said they won't interfere. China and Russia are watching with anticipation for us to fuck up. One little screw up is all it takes for a country to incite World War 3. This time our country will be the oppressors. This time it is us who will suffer the most. Our once great country will fail, hard, should we attack unprovoked or for no reason.

We will lose everything.

An Inconvenient Truth

Going over arguments from all sides about a raise in minimum wage, I would have to say that it's not needed at this time. What is needed is more job creation, less tax breaks for large corporations, and lower cost of living. Raising the minimum wage will not allow people to be able to survive as the costs of living will go up. The price of food and needed supplies will increase. Rent will increase as the costs of up keep on housing will go up. Raising the minimum wage is admirable, however the benefits would not out weigh the inevitable costs of doing so. Corporations are being treated as people, and are being taxed less. Corporations are committing atrocities against the people they would hire so that things like; safe work practices, fair and equal pay, the ability to earn a raise or a higher position; can be denied to those who com in at the entry level positions.
Another thing we dearly need is sweeping government reform. Our government is not to be making decisions that do not coincide with the will of the people. We've allowed corporations, banks, and corrupted organizations buy our politicians so that legislation can be passes that benefits them and pushes us closer and closer to a form of enslavement that would mean living under true tyrannical ruler-ship. What happens when you work for a company that can deny you payment, or fire you, because you called in sick more than six times a year? What happens when the government takes away your right to voice your opinion and you cannot do anything because they'll have you killed or worse?
We're dangerously close already. These things are happening now, we've seen them. We just choose to ignore it because it's inconvenient to do anything about it when the newest episode of Awesome show #42 is on, or when the sports station has your favorite team going against your least favorite team. America is failing because we are letting it happen. We would rather argue over which amendment is more important than realize that they are all equally important. We would rather blame objects and deities for mistakes than those responsible. I am willing to hold my self accountable for my own actions. I am responsible for my own happiness, not the government, not entertainment, not anyone else. Just me. While I have fallen on tough times because of my infirmities, I am still out there every day searching for my next experience, looking for a better way to live my life. Still, I feel as though we could be doing fantastic things as a country. Discovering cures for various diseases, creating the best health care system the world has ever known, creating the best education system which creates enlightened people who have no need for violence. People who once again understand the value of life, who understand what it means to enjoy life, what it means to earn the things that they have.
Yet, I witness arguments that make no sense, arguments which turn us against each other. We accept labels because they make us feel self important. The truth is; we are not liberals, we are not conservatives, we are not republicans, or democrats or libertarians, or anything of that nature because these are ideals and beliefs, not people. We a citizens of the United States of America. Our country is a part of the planet Earth, which is filled with people from different backgrounds different belief systems. We've made it this far without completely destroying each other because of idealists. People who dare to hope for a brighter future for everyone, not just for themselves.

Odd fighting

These are the original definitions of the terms conservative, liberal, democrat, and republican. From what they say, the various people who align themselves with those terms either do not know what they mean, or have re-defined them to themselves. I've seen a lot of conservatives calling liberals Nazi’s lately. What I find interesting is that it seems as though those conservatives have either forgotten or willfully ignore that the Nazi, or National Socialist, party was believed to be a Right Wing party that believed that the Aryan's were the master race. In essence they were a group of bigots who hated Jews.

I've seen people say that liberals hate Jews and are racist. I have also seen the same about conservatives. Those who follow liberalism in its original sense could not be considered bigots because they fight for equal rights for everyone. When Hitler rose to power, he did so by using the Nazi party as though it were a pawn in a chess game. He claimed that the Nazi's under his rule were neither right nor left, but syncretic. He blamed the left wing for their "craven-hearted and obsequious foreign policy." He said of the right wing, " It was through their miserable cowardice that those ruffians of Jews who came into power in 1918 were able to rob the nation of its arms."

It honestly isn't fair to compare either side of today's American liberals or conservatives of being anything close to Nazi's because both sides are slowly, very, very slowly, beginning to see that the government is intentionally giving the two groups reason to fight so that our rights can be restricted or taken away, big businesses can find ways out of paying their workers a fair wage, and ruining what was once one of the greatest countries in the world.

The people directly responsible for the state our fair country is in are those in power. If the electoral collage were not to exist, then the people would actually be in control of who is elected president. However, we no longer have that control sadly. A few states have varying control, but it's majority rules instead of your vote actually counting for who you voted for.

The reality of our countries situation is that because we are fighting among our selves over who has the best ideals, conservatives or liberals, our once beautiful country is heading towards civil war. Conservatives on one side, liberals on the other and those in between forced to choose sides or perish. But, I believe that we can stop our infighting. I believe that we can come together and challenge the corrupt politicians with their bank and big business backers.

Why fight a war against your fellow Americans when another country is already threatening us and our allies. Why fight a war on two fronts? I will readily admit that I am against war and violence in general (in my opinion they should be left to entertainment media). However if myself, my friends or my loved ones are threatened, regardless of their political views, I will be one of the first to step up and defend them with all that I have. I view the threat from North Korea to be more important than fighting over whose idea of a perfect nation is correct. In truth this nation would be perfect if everyone accepted that everyone has flaws.

If you wish to discuss anything in today’s post, you can contact me here: shadow_draegon@yahoo.com

Problems Arise With Simple Soloutions

I think that the very wealthy and owners of corporations forget that by not spending their money, and not wanting to pay more than minimum wage to those who have been with their companies for longer, that the economy doesn't get the proper boosting it needs. If poor and middle class people can't afford to do more than pay bills and buy food, then products are sitting on shelves collecting dust. Sure a few middle class people can buy things, but what about the people who have degrees in useful professions like engineering or teaching who cannot find work in the fields they are trained in? They're forced into jobs the only pay minimum wage in order to try and support themselves. Most minimum wage earners have to get a second or third job just to break even at the end of the month in most cases. Even then more people working two or three jobs, hardly getting a day off are forced to apply for government assistance.

Now think about those who are unable to work due to a disability or some other reason. What are they to do? Not every mental or physical problem qualifies for disability. They could apply for TANF and SNAP benefits, but then they are called lazy or are blamed for the state of the economy. Imagine not being able to stand because doctors have said that the problem with your legs is benign for now, but don't do certain things, like kneel or crouch. That cuts out quite a few jobs. Imagine being told that your insurance won't cover a surgery, which costs thousands of dollars, that could end the pain in your wrists and allow you to be able to type and work with computers better. There goes another list of jobs you can no longer do.
There are other ways to make money using the internet, loads of ways. However people usually get side tracked when they get online, not a sign of laziness but a sign that there are too many things to do that attract our attentions away from what is important.

Many people criticize others before they get to know that persons situation. Not everyone can work, not everyone is eligible for government assistance. The problem our culture is that we refuse to work together. Governments want more power than that other government, wealthy people want more money, and the rest of us just want to have a life with privacy that isn't taken away by the government and corporations owned by greedy people. If the people of the world set aside our differences and banded together against the governments of the world, we could eliminate debt, eliminate hunger, eliminate greed, eliminate hate, eliminate anything that stood in our path. Yet we feel that we need leaders. The truth is we honestly don't. If every person took responsibility for themselves and took care of the important things like family, friends and loved ones; there would be no war. There would be no hate or racism, no sexism, no greed. There would be people who cared for themselves, and those they shared the world with. People would be intelligent, have common sense, be friendly toward each other.

I say, take all of the land owned by companies and convert them into fields of naturally grown fruits and vegetables. Instead of corralling cows and other animals that we use for consumption, let them roam on large plots of tended land. Give each person or family a farm that stretches up to 10 acres and have each grown different crops and raise different animals. This would allow us to have something to bargain with each other that is not a hollow promise of payment. Markets could be filled with people trading and bargaining for goods instead of fighting over money printed on the empty coffers our country has now. This would also mean an end to crime believe it or not. If a man or woman were able to tend to their own needs in this way, what reason would they have for committing crime? There would be no money to steal, lavish objects; such as televisions, radios, and other things would be traded for(producing these objects would be easier too as hemp would be grown and hemp can be used to make a biodegradable plastic that lasts longer than plastic made through oil.)

Electricity can be taken care of with solar power, wind power from personal windmills, or water power from natural water sources. The internet should be accessible anywhere free of charge, using solar power means not having to worry about funding. Environment friendly towers could be installed and used to broad cast wireless signals, same with cell phones. Water naturally occurs all around us, there is also old tech like aqueducts that can be heavily improved on to being water from the ocean to our homes and farms.

This is all just wishful thinking and probably needs more fine tuning by some one who is more qualified. I am simply a writer who wishes to see a world where there is no poor or rich. No enemies or countries who fight with each other over things like oil. We are capable of so much, yet we focus on what makes us different from each other, takes sides, then fight over them.

Blessed be my friends,
Shadow

It's the little things

The founding fathers didn't want us going to war needlessly. They wanted this country to be great, brave men and women built this country over the course of two hundred thirty-seven(237) years our soldiers have shed blood on our own soil and on the soil of both enemy and friendly countries. We began standing a vigilant guard over the world, keeping our troops in other countries to ensure another Hitler would not rise again. We failed in that endeavor; We failed to protect our own people in an attack by a group of men that resulted in the death of two thousand nine hundred seventy-seven(2,977) people, not including the ones who are responsible, and the destruction of even more lives of friends, family and loved ones. It is time to end our watch over the citizens of the world.

It is time to bring home every american soldier so that we may begin to rebuild our economy and strengthen our bonds as a country. For too long we have allowed the tyranny of capitalism to rule over us, complacently accepting that things will not improve. This complacency affects us so badly that we seldom notice it. It has burrowed deep into our souls and the souls of our parents and our children. This country was founded for the people, of the people and by the people, yet corporations have slowly taken over. They have bought those who are sworn, before the law and before their gods, to protect our interests. To uphold the constitution and the bill of rights. 

It takes a small spark to ignite a flame, and it only takes a small fire to turn into an inferno. There are laws coming from those in power that limit our freedoms, and we think to our selves "well, I'll give up a teeny bit of my freedom to be safe." But we are not safe, every day these laws are broken by those who have no care for them. Drugs are brought into this country illegally, some times by our own rulers. Guns are used in murders, or robberies, or rapes. Laws are supposed to protect free men and women, not limit their actions and make them afraid to speak their minds. 

As John Adams said, "I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain." Our age could, and should, be an age of creativity, expression and beauty strengthened by knowledge and wisdom. Unfortunately Adams also said this, "Democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts and murders itself. There was never a democracy that did not commit suicide." 

He speaks the truth. As we the government and the people of this country are at an odds on many different subjects. Both the government and the people argue among themselves as to who is more correct in their beliefs. We fight among ourselves as to who has the correct ideals concerning religion, politics, love and basic rights. It saddens me to know that these arguments will never subside, they will never be controlled  This lack of control causes things to get out of hand. People get hurt, both by the government and the people, for voicing their opinion. These are dark time, and will continue to grow darker unless we work at keeping the light from going out. We have an option before us, one that will forever change our country.

On one side, we can re-unite as a people and agree that we all have differing opinions and beliefs; which is what makes us such a great nation. By doing this we will show the world that America is a country that can have millions of different people from differing political, religious, and personal beliefs who can discuss what is good for our country as a whole. That we are a country where every voice is heard and considered before making decisions that will or will not effect our country.

On the other side, we can continue to devolve into what will eventually be a violent explosion that will turn into a second civil war that will surely destroy everything this country was founded upon. That this country is, at its core, a country filled with bigoted people who cannot even entertain the idea of getting along with some one whose beliefs clash with our own. There fore causing us to distrust and even hate those who do not share our personal beliefs; be they religious, political, or otherwise.
The choice is ours, and I fear that it may be too late to make the right one.

-Shadow 

How I see it.

The democrats and the republicans in office are running this country into the ground by  trying to force our way of life onto other countries and by enslaving the people to companies who do not have the best interest of the people or the planet in mind. We should pull our troops out of other countries, limit the assistance to other countries to things that will help them survive. Take away control over farms away from companies and give that control to the farmers and workers employed by them. We need to stop trying to find a way to fix everything that is wrong with us through trial and error medicine and work on getting healthier through eating better and exercising properly so that our bodies can make build up their own defenses.

Being forced to change my diet pretty drastically has shown me what we are doing wrong. We rely on fast food and pills so much so that our society is beginning to accept the governments rule over our lives. We fight amongst ourselves over personal beliefs such as politics and religion; that we allow those beliefs to make us forget what it means to be human. Religion is a choice, political preference is a choice; falling in love with someone is nature. If that person is of the same gender then it is still love. I have lived 24 years on this planet, I have seen four presidents come and go. The thing that remains constant is us, the people. There are more people who simply want to have a good life than there are police, or military, or government officials. It saddens me to know that people would rather argue over which political ideals are better than to figure out ways to have sustainable energy, clean water and food that is healthy for you.

My dream is to write stories and share them with everyone in the world; to show people my world and how it can be perceived and enjoyed by everyone. So I write every day; I write stories, I write scripts, I write what I’m feeling, I write what I’m experiencing. Some days are harder than other because I suffer. I suffer from mental illness, arthritis pain, the fiery destruction of the world around me, watching friends and family bicker over what should be done and what needs to be done.

My time as a political commentator is done with. I can no longer stand to watch as our government claims that they are doing things in our best interest while going behind our backs and passing legislature to regulate who you can fall in love with and what you can do with your money that you have worked hard to earn. Watching the government allow corporations to control it and pass legislature that protect those companies should shit hit the fan.

I believe that older men and women should not be elected to office. I believe that the elderly have wisdom to share with the world, but they should not share it by voting on and passing laws that will not affect them for long. I believe that the men and women from the age of 30 to the age of 50 should be the ones to lead this country. I believe that there should not be a two party system. I believe that there should be a test administered to those who want to run for office, and that test should be filled with scenarios that are to be handled by how the constitution and the bill of rights dictates they be handled. I believe that everyone has the right to health care and the right to be allowed to succeed in this country. People have the right to obtain a job and an education, not to have both of those handed to them. Nothing good can come from coasting through life by having things handed to you. Hard work and determination is what this country was founded on. Yes we had help, and everyone needs help every now and then.

The best success story I have ever hear is that of a woman who had children living on government assistance who wrote a book series that became loved by millions all over the world. A woman who decided that aside from providing a good life for her children she would donate millions to charities all over the world in order to help others. That woman is J.K. Rowling; she went from being a dependent on government assistance, to being a billionaire, to being a millionaire. She is living proof that anyone and everyone can achieve their dreams no matter what their life is like, they just have to put forth the effort and work hard.

I wish the best for you. No matter who you are, no matter where you come from. I want you all to know that life is a wonderful and beautiful thing and that you deserve to be happy. I encouraged you to be the best that you can be. I want you to know that, though I have not met you and probably never will, you are worth everything to me. You are the future of this world and I cannot wait to see what you will do with all of the potential you have. I want you to know that I will always be proud of you even if your highest aspiration is to get married and have a family while working a job that allows you to live comfortably.

You all have my support, you all have my love, and you all have my hope.

With love and admiration,

Shadow.

Living wage

The United States has always been about allowing the people to make their own choices and, when needed, for the people to ask and receive help from the government. It is in fact the governments job to help the people in their time of need. No, I don't think the assistance programs should be a permanent answer to problems. However, with the loss of control, the people have no choice but to rely on these assistance programs thanks to companies who are not willing to pay a wage that the people can survive off of. What companies seem to forget is that while they are making money, they also need to pay their workers a living wage. Otherwise their workers will suffer and not want to spend their money on anything except needs; food, water, electricity, transportation, housing, and entertainment. These are the basic needs. Many would argue entertainment as not being essential, however I ask those of you who would to think about it. Maintaining ones health requires healthy food, clean water, and access to affordable health care. Somethings missing though. Something that many people neglect until something bad happens. Mental health. It is as important as physical health.
Entertainment; movies, music, video games, books; is required in order to maintain a healthy mind. Entertainment makes people involved and challenges to think about things from different perspectives. Therefore it is a requirement for health living.
By refusing to pay a living wage companies will eventually start to lose profit because their workers are not spending money on their products. Which means that these companies start to lose profit, meaning more layoffs and more people who are either homeless or living off of government assistance programs. Next time you hear about the company you work for laying people off, or you are having troubles keeping up with bills, remember to talk to your boss about what it would mean to the economy should a large amount people getting laid off, or how it would help the company and other companies if your boss gave you or anyone else a raise.

Good vibes and pleasant days to you.

Admittance

I have been thinking long and hard about what to talk about. It's been a while, and I've done quite a bit of thinking. I've been thinking about how the Government has essentially influenced us to organize into little groups and fight each other while they pass legislation that makes our lives harder. I've been thinking about how we have willingly allowed the Government to divide the people of this once great country. I've been thinking about the complete takeover that we are ignoring because we're afraid. I've been thinking about the fear we have of actually doing something to help others when it is so much easier to let the terrorists..sorry, the televised news media, tell us who to hate and fear this week. I, like so many others, have began to unplug myself from the system. I read the news from various sources and take the time to form my own opinions of it.

Though I am a gamer, I am also an avid reader and writer. I do not allow my mind to become comfortable with something. I change and modify my ideas daily; I question everything I gather concerning the news; I willfully seek to form ideas about ways to help my fellow humans; I work hard at being creative every day, even if all I do is change up how I prepare my food. I feel that the current Government is doing nothing more than infighting about who has the better idea to screw the people over next. I feel that congress, the president, and the banks are in dire need of being replaced with better people and systems. 

We, as a country and a race, have an opportunity to make things better every day; however, we don't. Instead we bicker among ourselves about who's fault is it that the country is in the sorry state that it is in; the president, congress, the liberals, the conservatives, the republicans, the democrats, the tea party, mom, dad, uncle bob, aunt lilly, God, Satan, Jesus, television, religion, lack of faith. These are a few of the things we tend to blame for our problems, and our countries problems. 

In truth the fault lies with us. The fault lies with the citizens of the United States of America. We have the right, nay, the responsibility to take action if the Government becomes corrupt. It is no ones fault but our own for the economy, for the corruption of the Government and for the general state that the country is in. I am ashamed to call myself an American. I am ashamed to be a gun owner. I know the potential that words have, and yet I've done little to use them to persuade and help people. I know that there are things I could do to help people understand that gun control and regulation is only a bad thing when it is proposed to take them away from people. We are all responsible for ourselves and the things we do. We are in fact responsible for ensuring that society is safe and stable. The things we do daily directly effect how the world perceives us. We are responsible for ensuring that those people who need help, because they are unstable in some form or another, get the help that they need. 

Family, friends, neighbors from all over; I understand that it's frightening and stressful to have to work a job, go to meetings, keep an eye on the goings on in the world as well as in our own country. But, I believe that we are capable of doing it again. This country was founded of the people, for the people, and by the people; yet we allow banks and corporations to run it. We allow the Government to label banks and corporations as having a say in how things are ran so that they benefit and we are set up for failure. We have the right to a wage that allows us to do more than just survive. We have the right to be able to work hard and make our own lives so that we may pursue happiness and liberty. We have the right to be able to marry who we want. To be able to aspire to attain a high status in a company, or to start our own. We have the right to clean water and food that is free from harmful chemicals. We have the right to be able to earn our homes and vehicles that we may live and travel in peace. We have a right to justice and seeing it wrought throughout the country when it needs to be. That laws not be made to bend our backs in fear, but to hold us up and defend us.

A great many things I have thought of. I am making a promise now my brothers and sisters; I swear to share my ideas on how to make this country, and this world, better. I will update with news, ideas, interesting links and articles. We will pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and make this the greatest country in the world again. I will do what I can to help in that endeavor  be it to inform you of what is going on or to inspire you to take action and everything in between. For now I leave you with your thoughts, and should you wish to share them, I will not ignore what you have to say in the comment section. 

Good thoughts friends,

Shadow

This is the world we live in

The world we live in has changed. America became a superpower, then we began policing the world when we shouldn't have. The mindset of, "stop the threat before it happens," does not work. No one can ever predict when something bad is going to happen. I say that we should pull our troops out of everyone else's country and take care of our own. There's corruption in our beloved country that starts at the top and trickles down. Because unlike wealth, corruption actually works like that. Politicians are corrupt, businesses and their owners are corrupt, even the school system is corrupt. I often wonder why the so called "authority figures" are the ones who are corrupt. Then I stop and think about what they control. Ceo's and presidents of businesses dictate the type of people that are hired into their companies. They do this based on wages that wall street has them set. Wages are so low because companies have to return a profit for their investors. I get that, however once the investors have been paid back; why not raise wages if the company does well. The economy would benefit from the workers having enough money to spend freely, not just on bills. Rare is it that an employee who make minimum wage or just above has enough money to pay bills, feed themselves, and be able to have extra money to spend as well.
The representatives that we elect into their positions make claims that appeal to conservative or liberal ideals. Using the beliefs that either side holds dearly to make those, who identify as either liberal or conservative, turn against each other. Liberal is defined as "a political philosophy or worldview founded on ideas of liberty and equality. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally they support ideas such as free and fair elections, civil rights, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, free trade, and private property." Where as conservative is defined as a political and social philosophy that promotes retaining traditional social institutions. A person who follows the philosophies of conservatism is referred to as a traditionalist or conservative. Remember that we are all Americans, the only ones who should be afraid is the government. We the people of the united states hold the power to change our imperfect union. We hold the ability to vote in representatives who will honor every ones needs; such as a job that pays a wage that we can live on; a safe country to live in where our constitutional rights will not be violated in the name of safety.

The violence of life.

I have been hearing about gun control since the Sandy Hook incident. Do I think we need better "CONTROL" laws? Yes. Do I think a band on assault rifles is necessary  Maybe, depends on if someone can give a compelling argument on their use other than it's easier to take out an assailant. The thing I'm completely pissed about concerning the Sandy Hook incident; is that the kid who perforhere are those who have come forth med the shooting is being labeled as having Aspergers Syndrome. The thing that really gets me is the lack of blame that the shooter is getting. This kid, whether he has a mental disorder or not, made a decision. He chose to take guns into a public school filled with young children. He chose to shoot and kill and wound nearly thirty people. I don't know about you, but thirty people is one too many. Most of the people who were killed were children. Now I know that we, as a society, have a lot of violent media that we interact with daily. But seriously, movies and video games are not to blame. Never have been, never will be. The blame falls squarely on the person who thought it a good idea to take a gun into a gods damned school and start pulling the trigger. There are those who have come forth and fought for and against gun control. People who have blamed violent media. People who have blamed guns, and his parents. Well, those things factor in. The kid probably did watch violent movies and play violent video games. It was his parent's job to make sure he knew the difference between reality and fiction. It was his parent's job to make sure that he did not have access to weapons. The blame can be pointed at many things. However, what it should be pointed at is the guy himself. He made a decision. He executed a plan. Then he removed himself from the picture. Plain and simple. Guns are still on the market. So are movies and Video Games that have violent content. 

All in all, I think we need to tell the government, both state and federal, "Whoa! Hold on there! We, the people, demand the right to agree upon and set forth proper gun control laws. Laws that are fair to everyone. Laws that do not infringe on our second amendment right to bear arms." It would take work. A lot of it. But I think we could do it. I think that if the people of these United States that we call America, came together and showed that we will not be ignored. Then the government might just pull their heads out of their stacks of money and realize that the people are not meek or frightened. That we don't cling to our guns and our families awaiting the dreaded G-Men to come and kick down our door.

Signing off till next time. Have a blessed week.

Shadow.


P.S.
For Asperger Syndrome information, please refer to this site for more information; http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/asperger/detail_asperger.htm#218013080

Shadow