Danger: Politics Within!

Note: This will probably be the only think political I will ever post.

I would like to preface all of this blog with the a few things. One: I’m very politically apathetic, mostly for reasons that will be explained as I go along here. 2: My level of understanding regarding political issues is (very) limited because I have no desire to listen to any sort of propaganda regarding political issues. 3: I’m not trying to step on anyone’s toes, or offend anyone, but simply explain where I’m at in this whole debacle as an average young American, who doesn’t really have a burning interest in our nations mudpit that we call politics.

So after being sent some stuff regarding the Wall Street Bailout (WSB) which can be found here:

Story 1

Story 2

I really have to wonder what the heck is going on with the economy. The only thing I know, being a lowly peon, is that a grossly obscene amount of money is going to be put somewhere (I suppose Wall Street, the nebulous entity that it is) which is supposedly going to fix the economy…or so we’re led to believe.

Now, there are a few things that I would like to say, some of which have things to do with the WSB, some about the economy in general, and finally some things about politics in general (although I will warn you probably with a *little* bit of a slant to the left)

One would be that even though this outrageous amount of money is going to be used to bail out W.S/the economy, I have to wonder what is going to happen to the National Deficit that people have been complaining about for decades, and has only gotten worse in recent years. I remember about 5-6 years ago, maybe more, when the national deficit was all anyone could talk about. With this impending 700 BILLION-1 TRILLION dollar WSB, I have to wonder what sort of national deficit are we looking at for the next gazillion years?

Two, I’ve listened to various viewpoints on the economy. I’ve been told by many people who favor a conservative/republican POV (Point of View) that the economy is actually a lot stronger than the media portrays it to be. The only reason that the media is saying that the economy is weak is due to the fact that this is an election year.

While that may be the case, I have to say that from where I stand the economy’s going to shit. I look around and I see a lot of people in their 20s having a very hard time trying to find a job that will allow them to pay bills and such. People are loosing their houses and their jobs at record numbers and all sorts of other things.

Looking at some of those huge glaring issues, how could anyone say that the American economy is doing well to any degree considering the people that actually reside within the American economy sphere of influence are losing their shirts because they can’t make enough money to live?

Finally something I’d like to address about politics in general, and this applies to all people involved in politics without regard to political party choices or liberal or conservative leanings. When something happens in the economical/political sphere, how many average everyday Americans actually understand what is being talked about. Maybe it’s because we don’t care enough to know about our own system of governance and economy. Or maybe it has to do with the fact that if one dresses up issues (such as the WSB) with enough obscure economic-political terms, bad rhetoric, and political double speak, you could get average people to agree to anything, because they have no idea what is actually happening in the political world.

I for one would love to see a politician who presents things in a manner than everyone can possibly understand. For seasoned political veterans, that may be infuriating because they already know about what’s going on. But for the average person it would be a wonderful change of pace. Since America is supposed to be a “democracy” I think that a politician who takes the time to address issues in ways that the average American can understand would have my vote at the very least...

Self-Expression vs Workplace Appearance

So I was at work today, pondering different things, when a lady walked by my window talking on a cell phone. She wasn’t remarkable in any way, nor did she do anything that was particularly interesting, aside from walk down the street and talk (loudly) into her phone. But I did notice that she had her lip pierced. And then I started thinking…

A couple of days ago, I came into work and I hadn’t shaved in a couple of days, but it wasn’t all that bad (I thought) and I figured I could get by that day without too much trouble. Needless to say I was incorrect. I was asked (and I use the term loosely) to come in to work the next day clean shaven.

So now I wonder. I come from a generation that prides itself on many things. Ipods (of which I do not own), the internet (which we all know Al Gore created), and a whole plethora of other things. One of the more prominent things is our self-expression.

Pick a way my generation engages in the need for self-expression, which is something that has been ingrained in most of us since birth. Some people talk/debate/argue, others pierce things, others wear outlandish or unpopular clothes, some hairdos, some people tattoo the hell out of themselves. All of which is fine by itself.

But then you have other things that play a role in how self-expression wars with other ideals like…oh…say, appearance in the workplace.

I have come to understand that in certain settings it isn’t appropriate for people to get visible tattoos and have visible piercings. In some instances I can see where this is appropriate. Such as having piercings (aside from ears, I suppose) when working with food? Or when you enter the corporate world?

But how much of those expectations are holdovers from the “Leave it to Beaver” and other past concepts of what the working world is suppose to be? I mean I understand the need for self expression, and as long as those options are available, people (especially younger people) are going to take advantage of them when it suits their needs/desires.

But now you have a contradiction. For my generation’s entire lives they’ve been told to express themselves and a whole plethora of other self-esteem building garbage. But when they enter the workplace, they’re expected to do a complete 180 and be the epitome of conformity, because that’s the image of the working world/corporate world. And if they don’t conform, they’re doomed to not get any jobs better than working at fast food places or places like Hot Topic where those issues apparently don’t matter as much.

Now I realize that this has been a little unorganized in the way it’s been presented here, as its just sort of falling out of my head. But the two real issues here I suppose are, where do you draw the line between working world image and self expression, and two: how are we going to correct the disparity between the two.

I could write pages and pages (probably a thesis length work) on the different sides of the issue, but that’s not going to help anything, and it would be parroting the dozens of viewpoints that have already been said. And I certainly don’t have any answers, and would welcome discussion on the issue. But it was something that bothered me, and probably a lot of other people, so I figured it was worth putting here.

A couple of issues...

While anticipating the impending premier of Heroes, I watched the season premier of House M.D. last week. And I love this show. I think it’s fantastic. Probably for various reasons (not the least of which is comparisons between me and the main character). But then something occurred to me:

There are a lot of people who love that show. And not only do they love the show they adore the main character. Now it could be said that they like the main character because he has the cojonés to say and do things that they only wish they could do, or whatever.

But it seems to me that that’s where the adoration of this character ends. As long as he stays in the little box with a big screen. But if they meet this archetype of character in reality, they despise him. And my question is why?! What is so different from watching a character like House because you like him, but hating him once you come face to face with him? It just makes me wonder…

Let’s see…I’m trying to think of anything else that’s bothering me at this point. OH! Duh, how stupid of me to forget, its an election year. And we’re in the proverbial 9th inning stretch, which means mudslinging abounds and false promises are whats falling from the wagging tongues of all politicians EVERYWHERE! Isn’t America grand?

So now I’m watching D.w.t.S. and I’m very excited. Probably not for reasons that you think though. ^_^ I’m all over Cloris. But the thing I’d like to mention is that I’m also watching it because of Mr. Bass. Who, remains cute despite an abysmal haircut, is openly gay. (can you see where this is going yet). Awhile back, when Lance was announced as a contestant there were jokes/rumors/innuendo that he would dance with another guy. Now most people laughed and shrugged it off as just that…a joke.

But after reading this link I realized that it shouldn’t be such a joke anymore. Despite the rules for ballroom dancing and the very traditional nature of the sport/hobby, which I respect immensely, I think that two men dancing together shouldn’t be anymore out of the ordinary than two women dancing together, which is very commonplace and very socially acceptable, especially in ballroom dance circles. I can recall numerous (too numerous to count) times when at the local moose lodge in the town that I grew up in, there were always a few couples of women dancing together for whatever reason. And nobody said anything.

Now, maybe this touched a nerve because I’m gay or because I’m a ballroom dancer (which is a hobby at least, and a possible job at best). I love to swing dance, but also a number of other dances. And while I respect the tradition of couples being man/woman, there are times I wish I could walk up to a cute boy who also dances and ask if he’d like to dance. (obviously there are a few problems with this, and I’ll let you, dear reader, puzzle them out).
And while I know that it probably wouldn’t cause too much of an uproar where I live and in the places that I dance, I can’t help but feel that nagging fear that most gay people feel that one step out of line and you could be asked to leave…or worse. Having to deal and live with that kind of fear and uncertainty is grossly unfair, and I would just implore my readers to stop and consider the little things like this.

Alright, at the risk of sounding like I’m pontificating or pushing some agenda, I’ll leave you with this. I’m never going to tell you what to think, but I will tell you to think, and hope that you do. But not too much, =P