Rant for a Wednesday Morning

And it should be a good one! I haven't blogged in a while.

First off....asshole drivers. Seriously, your turn signal is there for a reason. Didn't your mother ever tell you darting into traffic is a good way to cause an accident? Don't think that because you drive an SUV you own the road. The next time you cut me off for the turn lane I'm going to huck my full water bottle right through your open window and hope it concusses you so you can't ever drive again. Lay off the bleach, fuckwit, I think it's killing your brain cells. And P.S., if it's 8:05, your kids are already late for school....rushing isn't going to get them there before the last bell rang at 7:45.

Ok, now that that's off my chest, onto more important matters....like the California budget crisis and our "beloved" Governator. I'm kind of confused. Can someone please esplain to me how cutting more jobs in California is going to save money? I was listening to NPR this morning, and there was an update on this issue. Arnold proposed cutting another 2,000 jobs, which would make for the 3rd layoff *this year*. The head of some department being reviewed brought up a point that most of the jobs being cut are currently vacant, but of those that aren't, cutting the jobs would render the department understaffed, which would make it necessary for other employees to work overtime. If overtime pay is time and a half...then how is that department saving money? That just doesn't make sense in my feeble little mind. You know what also doesn't make sense? CUTTING more jobs in an economy that's already suffering! Seriously, if the problem is consumer spending statistics dropping because people are being laid off, therefore seriously limiting their net disposable income....then why would you limit MORE net disposable income, futher hindering consumer spending?

Look, I paid a modicum of attention in Economics. I understand that linear logic has little to do with re-structuring a hurting economy, and everyone knows I don't do numbers, BUT! if, logically, you are looking at trying to stimulate an economy, not by saving money, but by promoting spending, then it just goes in the opposite direction of sense that budget cuts would be applied to jobs wherein limiting the income a family has ultimately prevents them from consumer spending. That logic just flawed.

My proposal is to cut back political spending. Focus on the areas that need the money most and instead of cut jobs, maybe create jobs for that field and start a new kind of PWP. Stop giving bonuses to officials, limit the amount of money they have in their discretionary accounts, or do away with them altogether. If these delegates are *truly* concerned with the budget problem, then, they, as our elected representatives should be doing WHATEVER is in their power to get the ball rolling in the direction of change. I know the governor gets a large salary. I know his officials and representatives probably do too. Why is that ok that their lifestyle doesn't change when millions of families are hurting financially? I know, I know.....I'm dangerously close to touting socialist propoganda, but seriously! Why should they still be allowed to recieve millions per year to oversee this issue, when the solution lies in the very fact that they are likely taking more than is necessary to do their job?

Most people think this kind of change has to start at the bottom, but I disagree. I say we start at the top. Californians need to demand an accounting of just how much money goes through our governor's office every month. As an ellected rep, he should have to answer to us, honestly and account for his spending. Maybe then we could start cutting the excess and start re-allocating the monies in a wiser, more cost efficient way:

1. Cut representative salary
2. Pool all discretionary expenditures back into the deficit
3. Possibly keep taxes where they are until that defecit has lessened
4. Create more jobs in places most needed, like schools (from elementary to colleges), civic programs and organisations that are civically minded - after school or arts and music programs, better healthcare, homeless shelters and soup kitchens.
5. Make welfare regulations far more stringent than they are.
6. Have higher education become more accessible.

These are all things that seem to be overlooked because they are deemed expendable. But they aren't. These areas are completely nessecary. How else would our government expect to survive any more length of time unless we educate the upcoming generation. The sad part is, these kids are the future...these kids who throw fits in stores, hit their parents, have the nerve to call CPS on them, get pregnant at 12, run around doing drugs before they're out of elementary school, don't read because they're so over stimulated by video games, have problems with obesity and childhood diabetes....these kids are who we hand all of our hard work down to. Granted, the parents are the ones who probably need re-education...but the point is we should want to make this next generation better rather than perpetuate the bullshit my current generation is all about.

In conclusion to this, Mr. Governor, if you were REALLY all that concerned about our economic status, than maybe you need to start looking a little closer to home to solve the problem.

And lastly, stupidity. I know...you've heard it before, and no, I STILL haven't found a way to make it painful, but one can hope.

I'm just appalled and flabbergasted at how absolutely asinine people can be. Ever read fmylife.com? You should if you want to feel better about your level of intelligence. Not that I need the reassurance, because if there is one thing I'm arrogant about, it's the level of knowledge I possess. And why shouldn't I? I have worked my ass off to attain it. I digress.

I was reading it this morning. Again, I am simply astounded at the mediocrity of our society. We celebrate drama, encourage the common and mundane. It's almost as if apathy is slowly overtaking the mind, and the focus on being the best, doing your best or even taking any interest in anything becomes a negative. I simply don't understand it. How can this generation be so content to watch reality tv, yet loathe going outside and living their own life? When did indulging in any kind of excess become the norm and people who choose not to partake in this exhorbitance become boring? It's almost like the more dimwitted the collective mind has become, the more stimulants needed to maintain a false high. We are fostering a society of zombies! How sad that a classic novel or a Best Seller will be undersold by a celebrity gossip rag or tabloid. It's unfathomable that more attention is paid to the shell rather than filling it with anything of substance. Again, I digress.

So, this website...is a place for people to post their blunders, silly things that have happened to them during the day, or embarrassing bloopers that cause them shame. WHY anyone would willingly post something like that is beyond me. If I fuck up, I don't want people KNOWING about it, for the love of God! And I really couldn't tell you what I find to be more ridiculous, the fact that people actually *do* these things they post, or the fact that they post them. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, I suggest you google to find the site, and read a few. Reading through these blog-lettes will indeed affirm what I have been saying for years: Common sense isn't so common anymore.

Thanks for reading, have a happy Wednesday