Yep, this menu is about politics, so enter at your own risk. And, full disclosure, I am no fan of Republican legislators who believe in the chaos theory of politics, including the former President. If you are a fan of these political terrorists — but you like the rest of my blog — I would avoid this portal, and in your eyes I will continue to be a funny, philosophical, sometimes irreverent old English teacher. So, you’ve been warned, and anything past this point is on you.
Okay, so if you are still with me, you are likely no fan of nuclear politics either — or curiosity has gotten the better of you. AGAIN, you’ve been warned!! I am a diehard political junkie, and have been so for many years. I grew up in a Democratic household, though my father worked national intelligence for presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Reagan. I started truly paying attention to the political world when I was thirteen, at a time of turmoil: Nixon’s Watergate and resignation, the bitter end of the “conflict” (was never declared a war) in Vietnam, continued racial tensions, and an economic recession. Though I suppose I considered myself a Democrat then, in 1980 I volunteered for the presidential campaign of Republican-turned-Independent John Anderson. It was an exhilarating if not frustrating ride, but it with unrelenting certainty introduced me to the rough-and-tumble realities of American politics.
After that, I deemed myself an Independent for many years, though I probably couldn’t necessarily explain why. On most issues, I aligned myself with Democratic principals. I suppose I wasn’t a fan of the partisanship that so permeated politics of that day. Oh, how naïve I was!
So after the Bush/Gore chad-hanger, I registered as a Democrat — which really makes more sense. On almost all social issues I am quite liberal. I’m an “it’s my body, I’ll do with it as I please” believer (within reason), so I’m pro choice, pro euthanasia, pro marijuana (that’s the line, though), pro equality, pro human marriage, et al. I do deviate with capital punishment however. Certain nonhuman beings deserve revocation of their life cards, and if need be, I can stand in as executioner. Some of you might be shocked by a seemingly callous statement like this, but serial killers, child killers, and mass murderers have no business remaining on the planet. Frankly, I don’t want any of my taxes keeping these non-people alive; and please don’t try the specious “cost of execution” defense. Most of that expense is comprised of trial defense and supposed cost of solitary confinement. Many of my students were surprised by this area of my belief system (lots of them thought I was a hippie!), but like Popeye frequently explained, “I yam what I yam.”
I’m not anti-NRA; I’m more anti any organization that espouses political beliefs, then holds its members hostage to those beliefs. Believe it or not, I like to think for myself. No organization will ever speak for me. These beliefs are mine exclusively, so I will never allow them to be absconded, misused, or perverted. Therefore, I am a card-carrying member of nothing — no organizations, allegiances, anything — unless being a RedCard Target holder counts, then yes, I am affiliated with Target.
Anyway, I’ve gone on much longer than intended — that’s what politics does to me! So you’re more than welcome to wander into this portal. Just remember, you’ve been warned!! (BTW, these writings are listed chronologically backward — so the first listed is most recent.)
