Saturday, April 05, 2008
The Great The Great Smoking Question or Political Hypocrisy, Again
Senator Barak Obama has artfully dodged questions about his smoking habit, tactfully hinting that he quit. Oddly enough, the mainstream press has given him a general pass on the subject. What a surprise (tongue in cheek). But here is a question that I am dying to ask this saintly man of politics; should government paid health related funding of any kind, including health care coverage, be given to people who smoke or have smoked?
We all know them, those smokers who claim not to believe the data that shows the variety of diseases, illnesses and health related issues that come from smoking. As they puff away, they swear the evidence is overblown, inflated and a government conspiracy to deprive them of a simple pleasure. Fine, keep your nasty little habit but do not make me pay for the consequences.
Here is my proposal. The United States of America will pay for the cradle to grave healthcare of any and all Americans EXCEPT those who engage in self-destructive behavior under the following categories; smoking, drinking, overeating (considered overweight by current medical standards) and take illegal drugs.
Wow! Wait a minute, you say. That is most of America! Really? I am told that what a person does in the privacy of their own home is none of my business. I agree. I should have nothing to do with people who voluntarily destroy their own bodies, including pay for it.
As for Senator Obama, if he cannot tell the truth about his smoking, can he be trusted to tell the truth about anything else? I love self-evident rhetorical questions.
We all know them, those smokers who claim not to believe the data that shows the variety of diseases, illnesses and health related issues that come from smoking. As they puff away, they swear the evidence is overblown, inflated and a government conspiracy to deprive them of a simple pleasure. Fine, keep your nasty little habit but do not make me pay for the consequences.
Here is my proposal. The United States of America will pay for the cradle to grave healthcare of any and all Americans EXCEPT those who engage in self-destructive behavior under the following categories; smoking, drinking, overeating (considered overweight by current medical standards) and take illegal drugs.
Wow! Wait a minute, you say. That is most of America! Really? I am told that what a person does in the privacy of their own home is none of my business. I agree. I should have nothing to do with people who voluntarily destroy their own bodies, including pay for it.
As for Senator Obama, if he cannot tell the truth about his smoking, can he be trusted to tell the truth about anything else? I love self-evident rhetorical questions.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
The Politics Of Darkness
Listen my children and I will tell you a tale more frightening than any before. It was the year of the vulture, the year the birds of death hovered over the political landscape looking for what abandoned carcass they might devour.
Ancients told of a man who once walked the Earth. One who held to the convictions of his heart despite the foes who stood before him. As the good times slipped away, all eyes turn to seek out a leader with a vision for the future. Longingly, the people searched for such a champion as once was only to be served up political mercenaries, professionally paid to do the bidding of special interests.
With every passing day, the bards of words spoke of the coming doom that had already arrived. Sowing the seeds of darkness, reminding all who refused to remember what true despair could be, they called for the reign of the black knight to save humanity. But the bards could not agree on their dark champion. For there were three of whom might represent their evil desires, three who lived in the dark side.
Alas, for the warriors of choice, responsibility and freedom to keep the fruits of their own efforts, there loomed no vanquisher of light. The world would plunge into a dark time.
Ancients told of a man who once walked the Earth. One who held to the convictions of his heart despite the foes who stood before him. As the good times slipped away, all eyes turn to seek out a leader with a vision for the future. Longingly, the people searched for such a champion as once was only to be served up political mercenaries, professionally paid to do the bidding of special interests.
With every passing day, the bards of words spoke of the coming doom that had already arrived. Sowing the seeds of darkness, reminding all who refused to remember what true despair could be, they called for the reign of the black knight to save humanity. But the bards could not agree on their dark champion. For there were three of whom might represent their evil desires, three who lived in the dark side.
Alas, for the warriors of choice, responsibility and freedom to keep the fruits of their own efforts, there loomed no vanquisher of light. The world would plunge into a dark time.
