Okay, you have taken the leap to my RANT page. I don't know if you will consider it a rant, but hey, it is a bit more on the edge than any of the other content and some people just don’t want to read it. It is sort of like the “ON/OFF” button on your TV - you have a choice. If you don't want to go any further, simply click the back button at this time.
So, here's Scooter's Perspective ... I mean Scooter's RANT on various topics.
Free Speech
I am saddened that we, as a nation, are struggling with issues of free speech. All it takes is one person not liking something and the flood gates open. I am not an advocate of free speech that harms others, but I guess my question
would be – who determines when the line is crossed? We have become such a politically correct society that one often times becomes fearful of speaking. I liken it to airline check-in shortly after 9/11. You never spoke up, no matter how
terrible the service was or how horrible the situation was due to fear of being considered aggressive and being thrown off your flight.
Political Correctness
When did it become un-pc to fly your flag and to fly it with pride in our country? We live in a free country and yet we are persecuting citizens because they choose to fly the flag of their nation. I remember a time after 9/11
when people flew flags with pride and displayed flags in creative ways such as painting the side of a barn or fence, cups stuck in a chain link fence, car radio antennas, the back windows of vans and trucks . . . any way they would creatively show their patriotism. Look people, we treat our flag with reverence.
I like the fact there is protocol for the care of our flag. Other nations allow citizens to use flags in all manners imaginable. I sometimes wonder if we are a bit too uptight about our flags. What's wrong with draping a flag over your shoulders when
you win an Olympic medal? I see nothing wrong with it. However, that is because I don't consider that desecrating the flag. However, to have become a nation where someone can tell you that you can't even park your car in their parking lot with
a flag displayed, then we are headed in the wrong direction. How can a nation based on freedoms be turning into a nation full of rediculeous restrictions.
Health Care
Look, I have spent the past 21 years in a system that is very socialistic. I have to accept what the doctors say, no matter their qualifications. I have been misdiagnosed when it comes to a broken foot. Can you imagine Cortazone shots
between your toes as they were convinced it wasn't a broken foot, only to find out 8 weeks later that it indeed was a broken foot? How about 20 days of kidney stones with improper care? No choice in healthcare providers. However, I must say,
I also got some fantastic care too, including having my life saved twice during allergic reactions to food items I was never allergic to before. When I say life saving, I mean it. If not for the healthcare provided by the doctor, I would have died without
a doubt.
So, what do I think of the socialized medicine (yes, that is what it is) that is being touted as healthcare reform. I say NO WAY. We, as citizens, will suffer in the end.
For the good of all…
Okay, speaking of socialized medicine…I am sick and tired of the new welfare philosophy that is being spread across the nation. Yes, I want everyone to be successful and happy. However, everyone has to work towards that.
We cannot set up our nation like a little league sports team where everyone gets a trophy, whether they hit a home run or strike out. We are becoming a nation of entitlement. Who said life would be easy? Who said you deserve a pat on
the back when you lose that big sales contract you have been working on? Yes, I want to work towards to the good of all, but I don’t want to create a society where everyone gets an equal share of the pie, whether they pull their weight or not.
Obama 2008
Nobama 2012. 'Nuff said.
Despite what you may think, I am not a Republican...nor am I a Democrat. I am apolitical with my own set of beliefs, morals and values. Labels are for
canned goods, not character. There is good and bad in everyone, no matter what label we place on them.
The Law of Attraction
The secret is out. The secret to success is not the law of attraction. You know what I am talking about. Oprah touts it as the solution to everyone's needs, wants, and desires. Look, if the law of attraction worked, there would be no hunger in the world, no disease, and no poverty. The secret to success is hard work and surrounding yourself with people who can make things happen. (Did you hear that Obama? People who can make things happen...oh wait, you won the trophy because you tried.) There are some people who think positive thinking is the solution, and while positive thinking is helpful, positive action is more important. Yes, we must all be positive when the moment is right, but have you ever wanted to "smack" that sales clerk when you tried to return something that didn't work and all they had was a positive attitude and snarky smile? Come on people. Discretion is the key here. Yes, when I wake up in the morning, I have a choice to be positive or not. I choose how I want the mood for my day to be. But being positive doesn't rid you, or the world for that matter, of any problems which may arise. There comes a time when negativity makes you think and often times, helps you find the solution. I guess the big challenge is knowing when to show it and when to hide it. We have become a society of "yes" men (and women for that matter.) It seems as though we can only survive if we are always positive, always cheerful, and never say, "no, it isn't possible." When I was a senior in high school, one of my teachers gave us a brief lecture on going out in the real world. She made it a point to tell us that we must learn to say no. (I am not talking about the Nancy Reagan "Just say NO!" campaign.) You must also remember, a no is more easily changed to a yes, than a yes is changed to a no. Let's live in reality and let's get on with our lives. I have worked to curb my negativity, but some days, it just so happens that negativity is the only reality I know. Remember, I am always happy. Just some days I am happier than other days.As you can see by the last few items, I have a bit of a negative attitude towards a few things.
Common Sense
Where did it go? Please, someone check the lost and found. We must find it and find it quick. What is up with us? We are setting zero tolerance policies for situations then refusing to apply common sense to ensure the spirit of the
policy is not lost. I am not sure when it happened, but common sense has gotten lost behind a set of policies and procedures set up to protect us from, well, from what I don't know. It's almost as though no one wants us thinking for ourselves
and so they are setting up guidelines to ensure we live a life that is acceptable to others. This past year has been filled with incidents where common sense was NOT allowed to prevail and consequently, society was injured by these policies
and procedures and zero tolerance rules. At which point do the injuries become fatal and we all become drones of the establishment?
Bits and Pieces
I have always believed that arrogance is ugly. Unfortunately, there were quite a few ugly people that I met this year.
There has to be something better to stroke than someone else's ego. (Here kitty kitty!)
I sometimes wonder "What was I thinking?" and then I use the remove function in facebook. I recently removed nearly 100 people that I added as a friend as a courtesy, but after receiving their status updates decided that sometimes being courteous isn't the best decision.
Okay, that's my rant for now. Thanks for reading and don't take any of this personal. Remember, it is merely my opinion and don't forget, you clicked on the link.
Until next time-Scooter
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