"If Americans would just wake up..."

Most of the 4 people who read this have probably read some spewings of mine in the past. If not, it may have become clear that I am neither fixed on the right or the left. I grew up in a conservative home, went to a more conservative school, and popped out somewhat of a moderate. I learned a nasty lesson right after college about truth in the media, and so I have tried to read the between the lines whenever I hear the grand claims or accusations of either major party in the media.

My favorite quote on the subject (which does encompass me - I am an idiot, just like you):

In religion and politics, people's beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second hand, and without examination. - Mark Twain

I am not nearly as informed or as well read as I would like to be, but I do try and keep an open mind about new information. I love C-SPAN, though it attracts nuts like flies to a river of honey. Literally, every day, someone on the fringes of their spectrum screams out the title of this particular blog entry. Which is a hugely self-aggrandizing statement. More than anything, I like being an amateur psychologist (with zero formal training). I love to hear how callers phrase things. Inevitably, the caller(s) who use the quote above are smug a-holes. It is inconceivable (!) to them that another point of view (either more limited in information than theirs, but just as often, more INFORMED) could have merit. Small minds are easily filled, I suppose. In many cases, right and left motivated callers alike, I disagree to some extent with the person making such a claim, and have to reconcile that with my professed open mind and education. And even if I agree, I want to kick them in the taint and scoff at their pretentious BS. The inability of the human mind to entertain and analyze a concept that does fit into pre-conceived notions is truly one of our greatest weaknesses.

B-R-E-A-K

I wanted to mention our government's pretense at the oil execs yesterday, but what's the point? They weren't under oath, they flew to their mansions on private jets after the session, and the politicians will take their money in an election year. It's a bit late to shut the cage door after the tiger has gotten out. It was a waste of their time. Posturing at best. In other news, look at the profits made by the oil companies. Understand that the US government made MORE than that on gasoline tax (the percentage of gas price that is pure profit is less than that of taxation). The government needs to get serious about corporate accountability. But that's tough when there is little accountability in government.