Lot of good points. 

I'm lucky I bought a house I could (barely) afford when I did, a year later I was priced out of the market.

Hmm.

"They" may not have left "us" anything, but its actually up to us to wake the fuck up.

And judging by my observations from living amongst these fucking retards I'm forced to call "my" generation, it'll never happen.

The only hope is that enough people wake up just enough to prevent more of the same bullshit thats been going on since 2000. If it happens again, we are soo fucked, and the damage will be beyond the point of no return. 

Let me be clear where my political views lie. I don't like either party. Shouldn't government be about focusing on the issues as they come up rather than the bickering of party platforms and views? Seems both are 100% guilty, even in the upcoming election. Now, I couldn't agree more with the fact that current Republicans in the executive branch have absolutely falied us in the last 4 years.


And I agree with Obama's views on this but not all Democrats feel and react that way. Look, my bias comes from my local and state taxes in a state dominated by Democrats in office for some, well I can't remember when the Republicans or an Independent were in the majority. It's a skewed view but it's a fact. They've consistently raised taxes, yet never balanced or stuck to a budget. Now, I will give 100% credit to Gov Jon Corzine for his recent state budget cuts. I think he's on the right track to helping out New Jerseyans. I just hope they can stick to their guns and we don't get screwed in the long run. The only problem with his cut budget is now local legislators are proposing local tax increases. Minimal but if it helps to balance the spending in, historically, one of the most corrupt states politically, then I'm willing to pay my increased portion. But I think you can understand my thought process, I'm worried it will work and feel I have every right to be skeptical based on history until it works.


Every American that owns an automobile. I'm not saying that we shouldn't own autos but don't you think we became pretty fucking complacent with the fact that we were using and abusing gasoline as if it was endlessly renewing itself. C'mon now. No one person was to blame for that but we like to think that the people that go through the trouble of providing this service or invest in the service should be the ones to blame. It's bullshit. This issue hits home with me especially as I work for a utility. People take for grant it how much energy, process, and expense goes into providing something "as simple" as electricity. And of course, who's to blame when rates go up or the lights go out? You guess it. John Q public hangs the utility out to dry. I'm tired of our rate of consumption and lack of paitence and stability in absolutely everything we do as Americans. Now, the flip side as I may negate my arguement is that I agree, the general public got absolutely screwed in the last two years at the crazy rate of increase. If anything we should be paying half of what we do now but, you may hate me for being cynical, but did it wake us the fuck up and alert us to our over consuming, destroying the planet, etc etc etc. ??


With the fact that Bush is as good as clarifying himself as a drunken 10-year old, paired with his inability to listen to anyone's advice, and increased media flaming; President Bush has put the United States in hot water. I wish I knew more as well on where it all went wrong but I still believe a percentage of the petroleum (since you got all technical on me ) rates increase was due to our rapid, increased consumption. It came back to bite us in the ass no doubt and it pisses me off that those in that industry struck it rich. We failed as human beings, not just Americans, to seek alternative sources and methods to decreasing our rate of consumption and reducing our carbon footprint in the last 20 years (ie. my arguement about the Baby Boomer generation). I think we should sacrafice the idea of wanting cheaper gas and to get used to the idea of paying some $4 or 5/gallon but in the meantime decrease the actual cost of producing gasoline and reduce our consumption. We should be using that 50% of the $5/gallon to invest in the alterantive energy sources.





"Let's go finish daddy's war." 


If you read at the end I said I was being dramatic. My point was that if I can live and consume with in my means, ie. sell my Rabbit as it's "technically" the fourth car that I own, then I think that is a step in the right direction.

For the record, I have a work hybrid Escape that I use 5 days a week, I have my Jeep that maybe gets used twice a week and my wife drives her car some 7 days a week. Plus I have the Rabbit that I'm building. What I'm getting at, is that all really necessary?

I agree with Nick's point about keeping the economy local. I'm lucky enough to have a produce stand and farm next to my neighborhood. I can pretty buy all the essentials at a fraction more than driving down the street, plus the $5 in gas to get there. I'm all about it. I also agree with buying even if it means paying more for products that have "Made in the USA" written on the side. My wife recently gave up her trips to Wal Mart on the way home as I expressed my displeasure with the way they not only rape their workers on a regular basis but the lack of items with the "Made in USA" being sold in their stores.

I see this election is going to be a turning point, no matter what. At least people are participating, I see it from all sides for once. People are talking, gathering information, trying to make sense of it all.

We all want change, it's going to happen, regardless of actual outcome.

The thing that is crucial is what happens after the election. Stay engaged, get involved in local issues that might actually effect your every day lives. You have an excellent point, it all has to be ground up. Hopefully this cycle is one of enlightenment in that respect. Hopefully.

In related news, I'm writing in Thomas Jefferson for the third time in a row.

I really don't think Mc is an evangelical by any stretch of the imagination.

 

We better take eastern wasington with us Price, we need to grow some damn food....