A Tragedy...

When I was a kid, I was pretty logical. My wife says I had no childhood because I didn't have an imaginary friend, and I think my parents were annoyed I figured out Santa wasn't real fairly early. Even as a young child I couldn't fathom the idea of a fat man on a sleigh powered by animals that could fit millions of toys in his sack and visit millions of homes across the world. Maybe if he walked to some of those houses carrying that sack he wouldn't be so fat - then again, he wouldn't be so jolly either. I'm getting off track...My logical brain has defined my personality more than any other identifiable trait.

Growing up I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I just knew I was good with computers. As a kid I remember hearing people say I would have made a great lawyer. I'm still not sure how they sensed that so young, but I'm betting they were right (if it wasn't for all the damn school involved!). Halfway through college I knew I didn't want to do anything with computers, but I was nearly finished with my degree; and you need a job, a paycheck, and a degree to get a good one of both. Now that I've been in the workforce a while, I realize how much I hate computer work and am desperately trying to find out where I can fit in and if not love, at least enjoy my job. Flying is Number one on the list, and some form of police/detective work is a close number two, but the other day wifey mentioned something that could make the top five...Politics.

It's no surprise that lately I've bitched, whined, moaned, and cried about a few of the insane political decisions being made in this country. I have to say I have no idea where it comes from, but I know it isn't my upbringing. My family never discussed politics, never watched the news, never paid attention to political decisions, or at least did not expose that to us kids. It didn't come from some sense of purpose or any activist activity. I've never spoke out for or against anything in any official manner - student counsel really doesn't count. I started caring when I moved away from home, and really when I got my own home and mortgage. I'm at the age where I have to think about what kind of life my kid(s) will have. When I started thinking about how the decisions politicians are making will affect my kids, that's when I started caring...and getting pissed. Again, I'll go back to my logical mind - it's one based on what is supposed to be common sense. The hand-me-out mentality of the majority of America pisses me off, and for the government to codder to that makes me even more upset. If there's one thing I learned growing up it's that you get what you work for. (yes mom/dad, I did pick up on that) My parents kept money so far off my mind, but seeing my father bust his ass every single day at work, only to slave over a stove every single night for us really hits me now that I'm old enough to understand it. If you want something, you work for it. If you can't afford something, you don't get it. If you can't afford something and buy it anyways, you’re in debt, owe someone, and can't get more in the future. See? - Common sense.

I imagine I'm going to be hated by my kids. I won't have any problem saying no, despite wanting them to be happy. I won't have a problem spanking them when they're children to teach them some actions have consequences. I'll have no problem keeping their allowance as teens - or forcing them to get a job if they want gas money. I'll have no problem giving them enough freedom to make their own mistakes and get a lesson about failure. If my child stole my credit card and maxed it out, I wouldn't tell them it's ok and give them another one. If they're 30 and still living at home, I might "strongly suggest" they GTFO. Perhaps if our political leaders treated the country more like their own children, we wouldn't have such a spoiled, self-centered country.

So where would I fit into a political career? I have no idea. I don't care enough about votes to rally, and I'm far too lazy for it anyways. I'm incredibly blunt and forward, so certainly wouldn't fit in with the suit and tie politicians. (I can only imagine what would happen the first time I dropped the F-Bomb on CSpan) I don't deal with bullshit well. I don't take it, I see right through it, I call it what it is, and I don't let it pass. Like I will do with my children, I will try to educate, but I'll also let the community make their own mistakes.
A child was killed a couple weeks back around here because he was trying to beat a semi truck across a VERY BUSY road. By VERY BUSY I mean it was a 4 to 5 lane city route. It is tragic he died, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Kids will be kids no matter how well they are brought up (I can't count how many times I did something stupidly deadly and came out ok). BUT, the crap that was being spewed on local news message boards was insane! It is a lower income area, and many made it a race thing. The people in the area claimed the town should pay for shuttles to take kids from one area of town to this park on a usual basis. Their reason? "If it happened in a white neighborhood, you'd have busses!". (I'll go into a tirade over race discrimination some other day) The best response? "We have shuttles... they're called friendly neighbors and minivans. We take our kids to the park ourselves so they don't get in trouble or hurt, say by a semi truck". Bravo. I hate the fact that a child died in our neighborhood, but to use that as an excuse for more "free" stuff pisses me off even more.

Taking this into consideration, I know for sure I would not make it in politics. When the request for busses came to me I'd say the same thing the "good neighbor" said. I would basically say I'm not providing shit because you failed to teach your kid to avoid large trucks and didn't want to drive them yourself. I would then be called a racist and I'd roll my eyes and call them a F*@%&#! idiot and be voted out of office.
Those who want free things are usually those who want everything free. Anyone smart enough to make positive change in this country is too smart to go into politics.