The Whine and Jeez Party
a.k.a. - JimFoGov.com!
a.k.a.k.a. Anarchy Rules!
a.k.a.k.ACK!
I love America!...
...It's only the people that piss me off.
(Hey look, I have my flag pin, so I must be patriotic, right?)
I'm also a big believer in democracy, but I hate when elected officials use it to "Divide and Conquer" us into small enough minorities so they can treat groups unfairly. Tolls, for example. The majority of us get our roads toll-free, yet the government pits this majority against toll road drivers by telling us that "they should pay for the road they're using". And Parkway drivers can't do anything about it because they don't have enough votes. We do the same thing with smokers by making them pay higher taxes to cover smoking related illnesses. But if we do that, we should also make obese people pay for obesity related illnesses.
Democracy should not mean "mob rules".
What can we do about it? Stop whining and...
Join the Whine & Jeez Party!
Not a week goes by when our elected ones do something that makes me say "Oh JEEZ", and I fire up the computer to WHINE about it.
Sometimes when I'm on my soap box complaining, someone asks "Why don't you run for office"? But I laugh at the thought of becoming a politician. Aside from an acute case of stage fright, I can't hold a baby and smile at the same time.
Most of my whining ends up in the On The Road section because that's the kind of stuff that affects me almost every day. Which brings me to another thing I don't understand about society. Why do things like abortion, gun control, and someone else's sex life grab all the headlines during elections? To me, it's the day-to-day stuff like commuting that affects us much more.
You should notice a few common themes to my "causes". First and foremost I fight for fair treatment, regardless of how it affects me. I fight tolls even though I don't use them. I fought HOV lanes even though I carpool. I even fight for smoker's rights even though I don't smoke. To me, all of those things are unfair - an abuse of democracy. People tell me "life's not fair", but hey, you can't blame me for trying to make things just a little fairer.
Personal freedom is very important to me, as long as I'm not hurting anyone else. And that includes trashing the environment, which hurts everyone (why I fight things like the necessary use of SUVs). Now, I don't mind "big brother" teaching me, but I don't want to be spanked for not doing something for my own good. I am not a child. My body, my choice. This is why I fight things like mandatory air bags and seat belts (even though I use them religiously).
And I hate being treated like someone's own personal revenue source. Politicians create jobs for their friends, give themselves raises with impunity, and pad their own pensions with our money. Then they use politics to fight common sense, and often even cold, hard facts. And finally, I hate the people who let them.
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My 2¢ on...
Property Taxes - I am a single homeowner with no kids. However, I'm not one say "I shouldn't have to pay for schools because I don't have any kids". Frankly, I think everyone who has had an education should pay into education. The question is: Do property taxes share the burden for schools equally? Not even close.
Sin Taxes - It seems popular to tax small groups of people on "moral" grounds. Who do these people think they are, God? Taxing smokers to offset smoking related health care costs is just as fair as taxing fatty food to offset obesity related health costs. Plus, they don't even attempt to be fair - they raise the cigarette tax, blow the money on something else, raise it again, blow the money, sue tobacco companies, and blow the money. Good gosh, smokers - quit to put them through TAX withdrawl.
Parks Taxes (a.k.a."User Fees") - I don't think the government should fence off all the best scenery and charge a high admission to see it. Parks are one of the things I'm proud my tax dollars pay for, and I'm ashamed that the government chooses to under fund them. I also think the Golden Eagle Pass should be reserved for U.S. citizens because I think foreign tourists should pay more into our parks than just $50 (...epsecially when they spend $thousands to vacation here).
Jury Duty - You get what you pay for - $5 per day. I've always found jury duty to be an insult. Plus it's little more than a crap shoot for determining guilt or innocence.
My 1¢
(Opinions that aren't long enough for a separate page. ...Yet).
Flag Burning - I'm all for it! Wups, there goes my run for President. Let's put a spin on that:
Flag Burning - I'm against it! However, I am against restricting our freedom of speech even more. Freedom is much more important to me than just a symbol of our freedom. Besides, any move to diminish our freedom of speech would also diminish the symbol of it. In other words, making laws against flag burning would cheapen the flag. One of my friends once asked me "wouldn't you be offended if someone burned a picture of your mother"? I replied "Well, yes, but I'd be more offended if they burned my mother."
Personally, I don't even think flag burning is a big issue. Oh sure, we see news clips of it being burned in other countries, but any laws here aren't going to change that. These laws would be for Americans only. Frankly, I can't even remember the last time I saw a flag being burned in the USA. But for some reason our legislators in Washington have thought it necessary to take up the cause. But what this is nothing more than political flag waving.
Sex & Politics - I believe in separation of sex and state. Personal lives should be off limits in politics. What angered me most about the Clinton / Lewinsky debacle wasn't what Bill & Monica did - it's what congress did. Do you really think Clinton getting a BJ hurt the country more than the Republicans did by turning government inside out for over a year? As for Clinton lying about it, the correct answer should have been "it's none of your business". But the question should never have been asked in the first place.
Pet Peeves
(No extra charge)
Shovelling snow off the sidewalks - I use the sidewalks. Please shovel them. Why does it seem like the biggest, richest houses are the ones that don't bother shoveling, while all the little old ladies are out breaking their backs?
Pooper Scooper Deadbeats - Hey, I use the streets and sidewalks! Please pick up after your dog (...at least bring it back and dump it on your yard).
On Street Parking - To me it detracts from a neighborhood. I wouldn't outlaw it, I'd just restrict it: No parking on street from 2 AM to 6 AM. And if someone needs the street because they don't have a driveway, sell them a parking permit.
JimFoGov.com
So, can I count on your vote? I will be the E-mail Governor (E-Gov?), keeping in touch with you the masses. Unfortunately, I blew my entire campaign budget on this web site, you'll have to write me in. DO IT - or else one of those mudslinging huckleberries that spends $millions on commercials will win, give all their friends high paying government positions, leave NJ higher in debt, and all we'll get is a better E-ZPass (...but just for a select few). You have my word I will not do that (...I have no friends to hire).