The following is my response to a friend's e-mail, regarding our opposing viewpoints on Bush and Kerry. I offer this only as an insight to the way I see things.
"While I understand lots of the points you made . . . my view tends to differ on some of them. As long as there are laws on the books and under consideration, that effect issues such as abortion, stem cell research, the legality of same sex unions, etc., there certainly are issues that can be influenced by voting. We're not talking special rights or interests, but basic rights in the first place - ex- Women's Suffrage.
On Saddam . . . I totally agree he is a very bad guy who needed to go . . . we just did it the wrong way. He and his henchmen could have been exorcised years ago, via assassination, without committing billions of taxpayer dollars and a thousand dead Americans, to what inevitably became an untenable situation. I realize the best opportunity went by during the Clinton administration, but we still had a choice as to the level of on-going involvement. Even Bush's father wasn't stupid enough to commit to a ground war/occupation in Iraq.
Bush has no foreign policy skills whatsoever. You have to ask yourself . . is our country better off today on ANY subject, than it was four years ago? The answer is a resounding no. If you were doing this guy's job review, you'd have to fire him. I don't think Kerry is the best thing going, either . . . but he represents the opportunity for change. During the 60's and 70's, young people were screaming for change, whenever the old ways prevented problems from being solved, or whenever the basic rights and freedoms of the people were in jeopardy. What has happened to all that energy and concern? I think you are seeing some of it right now. Its not screaming "vote for Kerry", its screaming "don't vote for Bush".
I agree with your thoughts on the global economy. ps - I also have met Alan Greenspan, and personally debated his position on inflation, even if briefly. He has been key to keeping the economy stable for many years now, excepting extraordinary events like 9-11. I would expect the next administration to keep him around . . . its not like Bush owns him. The President's control over the money markets may be limited, but his foreign policy can greatly impact our success with foreign trade and balancing trade deficits globally.
I feel that Bush is a stubborn Texas butthead, that would never even be President if not for his father's sphere of influence. I do like Laura Bush, by the way. Too bad she's married to W.
Apocalypse Now is one of my favorite movies. It underwrites man's eventual disillusionment with war. And I sure am glad my ass wasn't in one of those boats getting shot at . . . that shit could ruin your whole day!
As you have probably guessed by now, I am prepared to give my vote to change, and new beginnings. But . . . I'm always willing to discuss all this over cold beer in a topless bar! Get your butt down here . . . I miss you!"
"While I understand lots of the points you made . . . my view tends to differ on some of them. As long as there are laws on the books and under consideration, that effect issues such as abortion, stem cell research, the legality of same sex unions, etc., there certainly are issues that can be influenced by voting. We're not talking special rights or interests, but basic rights in the first place - ex- Women's Suffrage.
On Saddam . . . I totally agree he is a very bad guy who needed to go . . . we just did it the wrong way. He and his henchmen could have been exorcised years ago, via assassination, without committing billions of taxpayer dollars and a thousand dead Americans, to what inevitably became an untenable situation. I realize the best opportunity went by during the Clinton administration, but we still had a choice as to the level of on-going involvement. Even Bush's father wasn't stupid enough to commit to a ground war/occupation in Iraq.
Bush has no foreign policy skills whatsoever. You have to ask yourself . . is our country better off today on ANY subject, than it was four years ago? The answer is a resounding no. If you were doing this guy's job review, you'd have to fire him. I don't think Kerry is the best thing going, either . . . but he represents the opportunity for change. During the 60's and 70's, young people were screaming for change, whenever the old ways prevented problems from being solved, or whenever the basic rights and freedoms of the people were in jeopardy. What has happened to all that energy and concern? I think you are seeing some of it right now. Its not screaming "vote for Kerry", its screaming "don't vote for Bush".
I agree with your thoughts on the global economy. ps - I also have met Alan Greenspan, and personally debated his position on inflation, even if briefly. He has been key to keeping the economy stable for many years now, excepting extraordinary events like 9-11. I would expect the next administration to keep him around . . . its not like Bush owns him. The President's control over the money markets may be limited, but his foreign policy can greatly impact our success with foreign trade and balancing trade deficits globally.
I feel that Bush is a stubborn Texas butthead, that would never even be President if not for his father's sphere of influence. I do like Laura Bush, by the way. Too bad she's married to W.
Apocalypse Now is one of my favorite movies. It underwrites man's eventual disillusionment with war. And I sure am glad my ass wasn't in one of those boats getting shot at . . . that shit could ruin your whole day!
As you have probably guessed by now, I am prepared to give my vote to change, and new beginnings. But . . . I'm always willing to discuss all this over cold beer in a topless bar! Get your butt down here . . . I miss you!"
It's a double triquetra, just like mine, only the internal triquetra is reversed from mine. A wonderful design, but I rather prefer the opposition of the two symbols, which, to me at least, seems to point more to generations of women coming together. The design in that picture would be more "Mother/Daughter" relationship... One inside the other...
*shrug* but what do I know?