...And The OMG Moments From the Last Year(s).
Happy New Year. I trust you all had fun, drinking champagne (most of which isn't really champange, but that's completely another article) and signing Auld Lang Syne (cyber cookie to anyone who can tell me what the hell that means...no really, I wanna know.) and hugging your loved ones, kissing your sweethearts and generally celebrating 2004 being over and 2005 beginning anew...so in retrospect of the past year, I made this list of New Years Resolutions for the country. No, no need to thank me, as a liberal, it's my job.
1) Election Reform: It's Not Just For Third World Countries Anymore.
Let's be completely honest here. Regardless of which side of the fence you sit, you cannot sit there and smugly tell me that it is completely fair that presidental elections are in fact, settled in the thousands, and in some cases hundreds of votes from one state when there's a voting electorate that votes for their candidate of choice in the millions, and nation-wide, candidates lead by the millions. To translate: the electoral college should go. It should go now. The fact is, the last two elections were pretty much a study in how falliable the electoral college is. Bush would of lost the last election if Kerry had gotten 120,000 more votes in one state...and Bush was leading by three million in the US.
And you wonder why liberals cried foul in the last election?
Fact is, our representive system isn't very representive at all. The electorial college should be thrown away for something newer or stronger, or reformed in such a way that it makes sense. And before I hear the predictable protests of 'if you don't have the electoral college, urban areas will always win the presidency!' I would remind you, gently, that urban areas control this system too. I would remind you that the electorial college seems a rather lousy pouplation sample when 119,000 is determining the fate of 110 million.
I also think it's high time that some national oversight on elections existed. I think this would need to be seperate from the executive branch (to stop any tampering ala Nixon) and either nonpartisan or bipartisan. I also think when it comes to elections, we need to stop crying states rights when it should be a human right within a democracy to get your vote counted correctly. If we managed to codify our election system and introduce oversight in a way free from the corruption that naturally results (and if nothing else, a bipartisan unit in equal amounts will at the very least, catch the other side cheating and stop these issues before they start), we could modify elections in such a way some people could like...not compare us to the Ukraine.
2) Do What They Did On Pirates of the Caribbean: Lose the Rum(sfeld).
If the man's not incompetent, then he's an ass. Pure and simple. Anyone who can take a valid concern like armor (and please, don't give me the whole reporter argument again, we go round and round in circles like water circling a bathtub drain) and say 'you can put all the armor on a tank, and it will still be blown up,' instead of showing at least a bit of empathy deserves what he gets, for crying out loud. He didn't even sign his own death letters until recently, for crying out loud. As much as I dislike President Bush, HE at least has the morality and guts to start and continue to do that.. Rummy reminds me exactly of what happens when Barcardi goes bad: leaves a bad taste in your mouth and makes you wanna hurl.
3) Think And Act Globally And Locally.
Republicans have been saying what I have for years: The UN's a joke and no one quite gets the punchline. However, with the recent tradegy in Asia, we can't just dismantle the only way the global community has for dealing with each other. If this had happened in the US, there would of been warning. Lives would of been saved. We need to ensure that adqueate aid and warning systems reach these places. It's already going to take a while to rebuild, that part of Asia is some of poorest areas in the world. Fact is, the United States needs to lead the world in suggesting a massive United Nations overhaul. The UN needs to be effective and able to punish countries and work diplomatically. Until, however, we can work on the abdication of responsibility of this great work, the countries will turn to us, naturally, considering we've got a sizable amount of the world's wealth.
Before someone launches into the tirade that we don't owe anyone anything, and believe me I'm expecting it, I would remind you to view this as charity. Since there's no social system for poor countries, they must recieve these monies from aid organizations and wealthier countries. And let's face it, relying on the kindness of strangers is not unlike eliminating social programs, isn't it?
Speaking of stranger and stranger, isn't it weird how we've still not got our own house completely in order? Let's remedy that, shall we? I think a laudable goal for the Bush adminstration is to suggest that they will try to reduce unemployment to a suitable amount...maybe about .5% over the next year? It will take sacrifice and hard work, but like all good diets, with willpower, we can do it. Also, let's not forget our decifit. Although I was thrilled to hear about the fact we're acutally freezing spending instead of spending more money we don't have.
4) Let's Try Not To Eat Our Own
This means two things: first, the incessant feuding between liberals and conservatives is getting to the point of a raucous roar. While I'm all for debate, it's useless without progress. If no progress is being made, then it's a whole lot of shouting and bitterness, kinda like a family reunion only there are some of us who don't love each other, thank you very much. The second is there's a disturbing trend in either side, left and right, to well, disinfrancise some of their own. Why? Expecting everyone to conform is like expecting the clouds to rain puppy dogs. It's unrealistic, and painful if you're just doggedly waiting for that new puppy.
Another word about debate: I like to tease and to mock a lot, and I consider most targets in public life to be fair game. I think Ann Coulter's a troll that wears too much makeup, for example. I, however, do recongize that certain things are considered...well, just rude. Racial and overly sexual slurs, for instance. Less of that, from the pundits, the politicans and the JU/PM users. Last thing: if you're not changing and evolving in your debate style, or it's not making you think, or you have to resort to insulting the user that brought up a good point that you can't defend against or makes you mad, please shut up.
That's all for the resolutions. Onto the OMG (Oh, My God) moments from the past year:
OMG, I Can't Believe This Happened:
-Rumsfeld retained in cabinet. Ashcroft being shown the door, (apparently the whole 'I lost to a dead man' got out) being replaced by a man who thinks Iron Maidens are a good idea.
-Bush winning the election, and the Republicans keeping control in Congress. For a Kerry supporter, the Winter Solistice was the SECOND longest night of the year.
-Cheney shows senility is setting in for forgetting that he met Edwards on not one, but three seperate occasions.
-The Democratic Candidate is chosen by a scream. And it's not, "You never had sexual relations with that woman, my ASS!"
-Michael Moore's new movie broke records for any documentry ever. It is rumored that Ann Coulter is making one of her own, "Michael Moore: Should We Send Him To Gharib or Gitmo?"
-The fact that Abu Gharib happened. The fact that Gitmo continues to happen.
-The fact that Tom Daschle lost his seat. He also lost his lunch.
-The fact that Bush didn't master the art of the background check for his nominee for Homeland Security. He did master My Pet Goat, however.
OMG, I Can't Believe This Was Used As An Argument:
-"I voted for the legislation before I voted against it." -John Kerry.
-"You forgot Poland."-George Bush.
-"There's been some rumors on the Internets..."-George Bush.
- Anything involving the words 'wardrobe malfunction."
- John Kerry is a traitor. The man testified before Congress for crying out loud, most of the people having a passing familarity with laws, considering they make them, and the Constitution, considering they amend it. Some of them are lawyers and judges, even. Why didn't they charge him, then? Stupidest argument I've ever heard.
- "We are safe because there have been no terrorist attacks since 9/11, thanks to George W. Bush and the Iraq War." I thank the bell I ring before I go to bed to keep the tigers away for the same reason.
Anyhow, I hope sincerely you all have a great 2005. Espically the moments for you conservatives when you are free of me. (Heh, I wish you the best of luck with that.)
Celebrating 2005 (may it not be 2004, part 2), the AWM/wolf dragon,
Sol"