West Virginia: A State To Die For
I'm always seeking ways of saving money for cash-strapped Mountain Mama. I think I have found a solution to the Medicaid and state pension crises that, they say, are about to bury the state in unimaginable debt.
What if state government encouraged poor people and old people to die?
Better yet, give everybody on poverty a four-wheeler and let them die gloriously by hitting a tree or flipping upside down. Did you ever notice how young folks, particularly males, are praised as heroes if they die on a four-wheeler? We could extend that exhaultation to everyone in the poverty class who dies "in the saddle," so to speak.
As for old folks, just tell them that they should check out the day after they retire, that the state expects them to do it. They can drink themselves to death, quit taking their medication (more savings) or whatever.
To encourage this, perhaps the state should grant all those who die under these rules a special tombstone with the inscription " He (She) died for our state." The Legislature could pass resolutions honoring these people for their sacrifices. And as time allows, the governor could attend the funeral and say a few words. My, what a blessing that would be.
Death to the old and poor. My God, think of the money we'd save, and perhaps even a state.
And now a few words about democracy, which we don't have.
Democracy. It's a funny thing.
We talk about it as if we have a pure form of it in the U.S. But everyone knows we don't. Never have and never will.
Every so often we vote to elect our representatives. That makes us a democratic republic, or so they say.
But we swear by this particular form of government. But it's not true democracy.
Democracy in its purest form would be unmanageable, or so they say. At the time the country was founded that might have been true. But no more. The vast majorityof Americans could go to the polls every day via one medium or the other and vote on issues that affect them.
But that's not going to work with the lobbyists who depend on the fact that those who determine policy are relatively small in number and generally in one place - Washington D.C. - where they are acceccible and buyable.
As best as I can determine, we aren't peddling pure democracy in Iraw. We re peddling another democratic republic beause those who make such decisions would probably gag at the thought of a pure democracy.
Besides, what if we had a pure democracy in the U.S. at this very moment?
We would be out of Iraq, In a in heartbeat.
We would never invade a country that didn't attack us first.
We would probably have universal health care.
And the current two-larty system. It would be long gone.
And who knows what else would change?
But would all those changes be for the better.
If we truly believe in democracy, it would truly be better.
Kaiser
My son is getting a divorce and, in the process, he's losing custody of one of the bet dogs I have ever met.
His name is Kaiser and my son rescued him from an animal shelter more than a year ago. Kaiser is a Lab retriever mix, and though he is huge, he's gentle and perhaps the best-mannered dog I ever met.
He was so afraid he was going to upset someone, he did exactly as he was told to do and what was expected of him.
I wish we could have put in a bid for custody of Kaiser, but our own dogs -Barkley and Stella - didn't like Kaiser, though Kaiser wanted to be friends with them. As well-mannered as he is, he simply wouldn't fit into out family. And that's truly sad.
It's said that Kaiser will move to the St. Louis area where he will live with a family with kids. If he is treated gently, I am sure he will bring as much joy to his new family as he did to his old friends and family in Huntington.
I'll always remember how Kaiser would bring his "buddy" to me when I visited. His buddy was a rubber hedgehog which he loved to chase when I threw it.
But mostly I will simply remembe that look in his eyes which told me that in a previous life, he had probably been treated poorly but that he was so happy to be in a home where he was treated with respect. He thought it was going to last forever. Like most things, it didn't.
So long, Kaiser. I'll probably never see you again, but you'll be in my thoughts and my prayers.
You're a really really good dog.
Let's Bring Back Dueling
Dueling lost its popularity in the U.S. prior to the Civil War, but I think we were hasty in declaring it immoral and illegal.
In light of all the name-calling these days, let's bring it back. After all, if things continue the way they are going, we're headed for Civil War anyway. Kill now and avoid the rush.
Twenty years ago, I would have never guessed that we would come to the point where such terms as "idiot," and "stupid" and "pathological liar" would be the most popular words in the English language, espeecialy when it comes to desscribing those whith whom one disagrees.
I have written columns for more than two decades and I am proud to say that I have never used such words to describe anyone.
When reading
a history of dueling, it appears that there's much about it that was good and proper. Heck, there were even
rules for dueling that helped the crazies in their murderous intentions.
What's the best part of dueling? If taken to it's ultimate conclusion, half the people who keep things in an uproar with their denuncitory vituperations will die and we'll be rid of them forever. And in time, perhaps we'll get back to debating ideas instead of attacking people.
So when are we invading North Korea??
CNN threatens to present a special Sunday night on the atrocities happening in North Korea, complete with video smuggled out of the country.
It's clear the people of North Korea aren't free. They are slaves to the state. President Bush says we should come to the assistance of people who don't have freedom. We invaded Iraq to give those folks their freedom.
So when are we going to invade North Korea, Mr. President? Huh? Huh? Gotta be consistent.
And if we need another reason, North Korea is likely to have weapons of mass destruction.
After we free the North Koreans, I have a rather long list of countries we need to invade if we are going to free every citizen of the world.
The world is free of huddled masses yearning to breathe free. Heck, some of them are even located in countries where there are significant oil reserves.
We can't pick and choose, it appears to me. We have to free them all.
Or die trying.
If Byrd Were a Republican...
...the neo-cons would be priasing his name.
And this tends to prove that he's really a conservative, especially when it comes to the Constitution.
Makes me even more proud I reject both rinky-dink parties and have remained an Independent since 1969.
"Shut up, you idiot."
When I hear the words in the title of this blog used against me, I know I have won.
And I hear them more and more these days from neo-cons.
And frankly, I never thought I'd hear them. Why? Because they are words used by desperate people. Heck, their not even inflammatory. They are simply words used by people who have come to the end of the ropes and have thrown all thoghts of logic out the window.
An old college progressor of mine said we don't need to use these pull-the-trigger words. They are a clear indication that the sayer of the words is near defeat.
"For example," he said "don't call someone a son of a bitch. Tell him that you hope that when he goes home that night, his mother will come out from under the porch and bite him on the leg."
People who oppose the war in Iraq are idiots and they should shut up, some tell us. Right. Let me pencil that in on my daybook. I'll do it day after tomorrow. Maybe. Or maybe not.
The problem is that the solution - getting out of Iraq - won't come quickly. We have been on our way out of Iraq for six months but unfortunately it may take until 2008 to do what has to be done.
What scares me is that every violent movement begins with words of anger spoken in desperation.
It's too easy for words to become fists and guns. That may happen yet. And if it does, resonable people who oppose this noxious war will do what they have to do to protect themselves and/or their honor.
Remember, neo-cons. We are't wimps. We just want peace. We just aren't as desperate as you.
