Milieu of Me

WARNING - POLITICALLY CHARGED POST BELOW

I don’t think it’s any secret that I am mostly a conservative leaning person politically.  I don’t think it’s any secret that I love Jesus either.  This article is HEAVILY right sided, so beware if you’re not swinging that way….I’ve warned you.

http://www.homeschoolmarketplace.com/e-zines/ejournalmar2508.html

For Christian homeschooling families in California this is a nightmare.  Just recently, one of the conservative guys I listen to on the radio/podcast called for all Californians to home school their kids instead of sending them to public school, due to the liberal slant being placed in kids education HEAVILY in that state.  In fact a Dad in Maryland (?) I think it was, was arrested after keeping his child home from a Pro-Homosexual rally held during school hours as an assembly.  I’m sure there is more to that, and I can’t find it on Google…so take that however you’d like.

As parents, I think we have a right to school our parents anyway we wish.  They are MY children.  They don’t belong to the state.  In fact I would go so far to say they don’t even BELONG to me, they belong to the God who created them.  It appalls me that legislation is being passed saying parents aren’t able to do that.  It scares me what this country is coming to sometimes.  If we moved to California I would be home schooling our kids no question.  The boy and I already decided.  I want more of a biblical based education for my kids, something that I feel like I could complement adequately in certain public school systems, but not in San Francisco, California, and I don’t even think in Minnesota.  That’s yet to be determined.
I don’t want the government telling me how to live my life, and DEFINITELY I don’t want them telling me how my children need to be taught.  I understand that my faith can’t be taught in public school, that’s FINE with me, that’s not what I am asking.  BUT I want the ability to provide that.    I want my kids to know that God created the earth and everything in it, I want to teach them bible verses next to their math homework, I just want MORE for them.

When this country was founded, it was for this VERY thing.  Why are we turning into a country, that in letting everything in, we end up blocking things out?  I understand the need for the separation of church and state and I firmly believe in it.  I DO NOT believe that we shouldn’t be able to home school our kids.  It’s ridiculous.

I don’t know that we’ll home school our kids, especially if we move to Indianola.  Good schools, good churches, and good parents can all work together to raise our kids.  Family, friends, teachers, pastors all are important influences on kids.  I know there are places I can’t build my child as a parent, but I don’t want things built that I can’t undo.

This is an interesting discussion you’re going to see more and more of, as time goes on.  In Germany it’s a crime to homeschool already.

http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/57633.aspx

*Sigh* Do they remember what they’ve been through?  It’s like the freaking Gestapo all over again.

I know that won’t happen here, and I know this will get overturned because it’s ridiculous.  I just wish we could stop having a pissing contest over party line issues, and let people live their lives.  I don’t tell you what your kids should learn, so don’t tell me what mine should.  I believe in the right to be different, to live your life without interference of the government.  If you want to raise gender neutralized children, which is a BIG THING right now, DO IT! :)  I will hug and love them just the same, we have some friends that are doing that, and MORE POWER TO THEM.  It’s not my thing, but who cares?

This makes me crazy.

I was watching the Bush’s War thing on PBS last night, and I just am feeling really defeated about it.  It amazes me what politicians will do, and it makes me want to move to Canada.  American government is going to the birds people.  TO THE BIRDS.  I just hope that whoever gets in will help stop this division flying around.  I’m all about people pushing their agendas, but an advocacy group needs to get started or something.  I’m sick of fighting a party line, just to get something done, to have it blow up in their faces.

I’m sick of Democrats. Sick of Republicans.  Sick of Libertarians. Sick of Green.  Sick of all of it.

I’m also sick of people telling me I can’t whine if I don’t vote.  Oh SHUT UP.  If you can get behind a candidate, more power to you.  Congratulations in fact.  The fact that I can’t makes me absolutely sick to my stomach.  Let me tell you, I haven’t a choice in the matter.  My convictions tell me there are certain character flaws the president of the USA can’t have.

Give me a choice.  Give me a REAL VALID POLITICAL CANDIDATE.  Give me someone who cares about the public, who wants change, who writes their own speeches, works hard, is honest, who if they’re with a significant other - is faithful to them.  Give me someone with integrity, and a passion for this country.  If he or she loses I will shut up and take it.

I don’t believe in defensive voting.  I think it’s an easy way out, and perpetuates the problem.   In fact this is a comment on ask me board I found

“Defensive voting,” the common practice of voting for the candidate you hate least, is the surest way of wasting your vote. Either way, someone who doesn’t represent you is going to be elected.

Politics is a marketplace. And, as in any marketplace, lack of demand is going to reduce supply. Voting
for minor party candidates at least encourages more to run. The potential for 3rd parties is staggering. In non-presidential years a 40% voter turnout is considered high. Even in presidential elections, Turnouts higher than 50% became uncommon in the 2nd half of the 20th century. One of the most underreported statistics in electoral politics is that when the reform party does well, exit polls show roughly half its’ votes coming from people who would not otherwise have voted. Electoral success awaits those who can best tap in to the pool of nonvoters.

Your vote also has policy implications. Some of the worst blunders in US in the last 50 years have occurred as the result of parties interpreting defensive voting as a “mandate.”

The Vietnam War, The more extreme features of the Wars on Poverty and Drugs, Reaganomics, the disruption of Government in the 90’s, the Impeachment of Bill Clinton, all resulted from one party interpreting votes against the excesses of one party as a green light for their own excesses.

Then too, when a 3rd party shows well, the major parties tend to come up with legislation based on its platform.

Voting for someone who best represents your interests is the best way of making your vote count. madpol

Why thank you madpol.  I agree.  So I’m writing in someone I think.  I can’t vote for Nader either.  I think he’d looney.  I am just mad.  I keep thinking I’ll get over it and find someone to stand behind, even if it’s someone I don’t like all the way, but I’m not getting over it.  I am getting madder.

GREAT!  GREAT!

Okay, now I must get over my bad self.  Onward and upward.