Wednesday, February 18, 2009

My Soap Box

Mood: Disenchanted

Item #1
According to the Fox National News channel, in 2004 it cost $57,000 an hour for Air Force One to be used by the President. Um, Obama was in Arizona this week. That's 10 hours with the head wind and the Senators are still wondering what the trip was all about. The math is easy here folks. That's $570,000 in 2004 terms.

What I don't understand is why and how things kind of thing happens during a time when we are all forced to tighten our belts. Even if those stats were way off and the cost was just half of what was quoted, would it still be justifiable? In my mind the answer is clear.

While it is very plausible that I do not have all of the pieces of information, I still do not feel good about these things. I am neither pro or anti Obama. I wish him well and do not envy him as he is up against some very challenging decisions and circumstances. More than anything I want to see him lead by example and I realize that there are no easy fixes for the mess we are all in.

Item #2
All Sharpton is an opportunist. He needs to go away. Does he not have anything else to worry about in this life then analyzing and being offended about a caraicature? I refuse to listen to Keith Olbermann tonight because of this simpleton.

Item #3
Can someone please explain this to me? America is a great ethnic melting pot. Wasn't that the idea behind our country? So we're all the same. Makes sense. Sounds good. Warm and fuzzy. We should all be treated the same. Equality. Yay.

If we talk about differences we are racist or deemed some kind of negative offensive person. Yet so many people want to emphasize whatever it is that makes them different and then scream that we're all the same. I don't get it.

I am not articulating this well but this brain storm came from the new Attorney General Eric Holder. Did you really call the American people a nation of racist cowards? Hey Eric, we've been told to embrace people regardless of race and now you want to talk about it, make an issue of it and point out the differences? Why emphasize the divisions? Guess what... we don't have a white history month. I'm okay with that. There are no scholarships for being a whitey either and I'm okay with that, too.

While I have never walked in the shoes of a black man, I do find Eric's commentary insulting. We do talk about race and we have come a long way. It was inappropriate, pal. We live in a great country. We have an African American President and Attorney General. Can we look at these things? I don't view either of these men as black but as people, as patriots and as contributing members of our society in this country.

Item #4
The housing market. Who really is responsible? The hapless Joe Shmoe on the block or the mortgage companies that took advantage and offered money that should have never been given? My beef is that the whole bailout is going to help people who took credit that was never theirs to take. Again, who is to fault? What upsets me is what about those of us who pay our mortgage? What about those of us who work hard and make sacrifices and ensure that our mortgage is paid?

Interestingly enough we own a home in WJ. It's a beautiful home with 5 bedrooms, 3 full bath, a theatre and a large fenced in yard. Due to the location, we sold it. Turns out the fellow was mucho dishonest and we ended up reposessing it when things got messy. The Attorney General's Office was involved and it was just a long icky story.

We live in a 912 square foot apartment now. Yes, all 6 of us. Now is not the time to try to sell a home so we rent it out. These are choices that we have made. We're doing the best we can to make it all work. We struggle but we pay less for our apartment than we would pay living in our home. Keep in mind that we are fortunate enough to have two incomes. We don't live a lush or luxurious life style, we don't vacation and have sold most of what we own that we could for the sake of downsizing and making it all work. I do not feel bad about these things nor play the victim. Again, we made these choices and feel good about them.

My question is, do we get a break? I'm guessing not but at least the Uncle Sam won't be able to screw us by not paying our refund this year. Let's hope that is not your lot. Turns out that we will end up owing this year. Whaaaaa?

Item #5
Casey Anthony, you continue to make bad choices. I do not feel sorry for you. I do not know what happened to your child and it is not my place to judge you and for this I am thankful. Regardless of your role in all of this, I have no idea how you live with yourself.

Item #6
If you are a grown up, be one. Act like one. You are responsible and blaming others never solved anything. Amen.

Item #7
I hate feeling disconnected. Right now I feel disconnected and negative...sorry.

On the B Side: I've stayed away from my blog for a reason! If I was creative and talented I would pull a poem like Clancy! Michelle, my Subway darling, you brought this one on and I wish I could say it felt good to get it all out! xoxo

14 shout outs:

The Krystal said...

Item #1 -That's what you get for watching Fox "News"
Item#2 - Mr. Sharpton is re'dic'u'lous.
Item#3 - (Enter my soap box)We as whites have 11 other months. That's right we don't get one we get 11! And there is nothing wrong with giving scholarships to specific races. They do it all the time, white, black, hispanic, asian, low income, blue eyes. Etc. You get the point. To think that this country is a happy go lucky melting pot is naive. Just 2 months ago I sat in a meeting where the white folk couldn't pronounce a name and looked at the only person in the room with color. With a dumb look on their face. News flash he is hispanic and the name you are trying to pronounce is polynesia! Try walking into a Mexican market looking like me, blonde, blue eyes, not a lick of spanish. Every person in there pulled there children closer and looked at me like "hey, white girl shop at your own market, Smith's." To ignore the race issues in this country is wrong, and the only way to solve things is talking about it. Which is what the AG is trying to do.
Item# 4 - There will always be criminals when money is involved. Bank robbery is a Federal crime and to difficult to pull off....enter mortgage fraud! That sucks...bastards!
Item#5 - She did it!
Item #6 - AMEN!
Item #7 I love you and giggle for me!

ClancyPants said...

#1 I've wondered the same thing...
#2 I'll trust you on this one.
#3 I'm with you, baby.
#4 I am your biggest fan
#5 I don't know who this is
#6 Agreed and seconded.
#7 I hate that too and there's no need to apologize.
#8 The Krystal got right under my skin... I hope you love her alot!

On the B side: I like knowing what's on your mind. Poems are so cryptic. I love you.

bv said...

Krystal love, the soap box issue. I just don't understand. I have no problem talking about race and I have been on both sides of the fence. What I tire of are the mixed messages...'we're all the same. equality for all!' vs.'we're all different and because I'm different I deserve special treatment'

I disagree with the whole 11 month deal but we can agree to disagree. I'm not looking for anything and I don't need a special month but what about all of the other 'races'. Don't they get a month? It's an all or nothing deal if we are going to pass around the equality pin.

I compare this to being a Mom. My children are all different yet all part of the same family. I recognize their differences and parent accordingly for each one of them. What would be wrong is to take Dayton to the library and not Ellie for any variety of reasons.

If nothing else, can we agree that the AG's comments were derogatory? While bees don't poop honey they are attracted to it. Piss and vinegar never got anyone anything or anywhere (says the grumpy girl!) and if it's any consolation I am usually a CNN girl but opted for Fox because of another Sharpton spotting!

Clancy, Casey Anthony is a train wreck. Her 2 year old went missing last June. Casey has continually demonstrated crazy behavior and has LIED repeatedly. The remains of her little girl were found last Decemeber 1/2 mile from her parents home. It is an incredibly tragic story and if you google her name or Kaylee Anthony (her daughter) you can read all kinds of info on the situation. I was addicted to following it while I was home on maternity leave last summer...I cried A LOT!

bv said...

Love you girls both tons...totally forgot to mention that in my closing!

Anonymous said...

Sad the way things are headed, isn't it? I musing on that yesterday. Thank God I have a shrink appointment today... Maybe I can learn to better deal with this than sheer panic.

It's scary and it's REAL.

Hugs, my friend... great big hugs...

Kaci said...

It's very scary and I didn't know have the stuff you talked about but feel very educated now. XOXO

Amanda said...

I would like to add chris buttars. Most of your stuff I don't know about. I should but I feel I deal with enough drama at work that I don't pay attention to the rest.that is probably bad but if it is real important my friends let me know. Love you

Krystal said...

Ah Britta I miss you like crazy. I wish we were closer so we could go get some of that fabulous frenchy bread with chocolate chips in it from the corner patisserie...until then we'll have to stay in this crappy apartment and sock it to em! heehee :)

Kristy Mouti said...

I think I understand what you mean about racism. For the most part, I think our country has come a long way as far as discrimination. I believe that most people aren't racist. Some are less-educated, some aren't as exposed to diversity as others. This doesn't make them racist. Yet some ARE racist. Very few, I believe and the larger part of Americans agree that it's unacceptable. So why was the president's inaugural speech an echo of MLK's "I Have a Dream?" as if soooo many people are living oppressed lives because of their color. It was really strange to me. Funny how many comments you get when you start writing about politics.

Kristin said...

Amen!... especially to #3

Tink *~*~* said...

Hey Britta, I've had some of the exact same thoughts. I'm not going to get a break or a stimulus check or anything like that because I have a job and because I have no "God's little tax deductions" ;) But that's ok. I also recognize that if we don't pay one way (our tax dollars fund stimulus and bailouts) then we pay another way (homeless, jobless people apply for state and federal aid, funded by - you guessed it - our tax dollars!). So I'm thinking I'd rather fund the bailout because at least some of it is going to create jobs. *sigh* What a mess, huh?

Tink *~*~*

Achtung Amy! said...

Girl, I'm feeling you on so many things. You forgot to include the personal jet that Nancy Pelosi took to Italy(?) last week to accept some dumb award. How about making sacrifices like the rest of American's, and at least fly business class for crying out loud.

One word - HYPOCRITES!!!

triplej said...

You hit the nail right on the head, but I WON'T get on my soap box today because I too have felt dread and doom and hate and yucky things....we are all created in Heavenly Father's image. I wish we could remember that. Love you lots.

Rebecca said...

Hi Brit Brit, I remember going through the motions with you on #4, by far our most heart warming and trusting conversation - i love you and felt very touched that you could open up and trust me with those conversations and take to heart my opinion and most importantly act on it :)