Double Standards in Civility--Crippling the American Dream

     For many generations, American politics has been eroding before our very eyes.  Republicans and Democrats seem to costantly find new areas to attack the other verbally or through the media in order to discredit the opponent in the eyes of the public.  While this remains a practice that is accepted, social media has taken these words, actions, and plots to soaring heights.  Politicians remain unfocused as to the idea that their jobs entail serving their constituents and the Constitution that this great country thrives upon.  This is even more predominant when a story such as Jan Brewer, the Arizona Republican Governor decided to grab Democratic President Obama's arm and wag her finger in his face in a heated discussion on an Arizona tarmac. 

     It is disturbing that the two major parties have come to this level of disagreement on how to lead the country in these tragic times of a recession, unemployment, healthcare and various other issues that need to be addressed to move forward.  Brewer, for all that she has accomplished within her state with balancing the budget and creating jobs has no right to grab anyone like a child, let alone the President of the United States.  Brewer has taken civility to an all-time low and this is what will ultimately destroy our country.  The very people that should be concerned with the welfare of our nation are fighting, bashing and circumventing the system in order to just prove a point and put another person down.  These are the types of men and women who are running our country. Just take a good look at the GOP primaries recently and you will see backstabbing, arguing, malicious rhetoric, and personal attacks rather than debating solid, real-time issues that affect the growth of the country.

     Obama did the right thing and kept his cool in a rather precarious situation with Brewer.  If those roles were reversed, the calling for his dismissal, for the sole reason of him being a black man and Brewer a white woman, would have been monumental.  Brewer needs to step back and re-evaluate her situation and ask herself if that is how she would teach her own children to act in that same situation.  This is yet another reason why the American public needs to assess how they go about voting at all elections from local, to state, to the federal level.  Voters need to take serious time and research all candidates that represent them, not just on a presidential level.  In N.J. there has been talk of moving the school and local elections to November because of only a 9-13% turnout in April.  That is appalling that for officials trusted in the education of our children that there is such a poor turnout.

     This needs to be addressed and quickly as it's no wonder why the U.S. is ranked 23rd in the world in education.  The politicians need to step up and do their civic duty and work together on an even playing field, but the public needs to vote for those that will progress their town, state, or country, not regress it because of personal gain.  Let all politicians know and understand that morals, civility and progress will win come election time.  Let them know that we will not stand for double standards where it is alright for one politician to grab and yell at another, let alone the leader of the country.  It is troublesome to see that the lack of civility in this election year has been at an all-time high and that eventually it might even cripple the American dream.  Yet there is one way to make the change--to vote with confidence and authority by doing your research and choosing the right candidate, not just the candidate who can persuade the public through countless lies and sneaky jargon.  

JoePa--Final Thoughts

     Joe Paterno, the legendary footbal coach of Penn State University has died at the age of 85 after being relieved of his duties under the wake of the Jerry Sandusky sex scandal involving young boys.  Let's put this aside for the moment and understand just who JoePa was in the grand scheme of things.  Joe was the NCAA all-time winningest football coach with 409 career victories in 46 years as a head coach. He coached at Penn St. for 61 years altogether and built a monumental program that will most likely never be seen again in any lifetime.  Paterno took his team to 39 bowl games and saw over 250 players from his program move on to the NFL.  Joe lived on campus, donated millions of dollars back to Penn St. in many facets, and indelibly touched the lives of many individuals throughout his life in a positive and personal level.  JoePa WAS Penn St.  He lived for Penn St.  He was probably one of the most influential and powerful men who the collegiate sports world has ever seen. 

     Paterno, on a political level could sway votes within the state, and was responsible for most, if not all of the hirings from president of Penn St. on down to the coaching staff.  To say the least, JoePa should be lauded for all that he had done for the Penn St. football program, as well as the university itself.  Yet for all of the good that he had done, for all that he had accomplished, there was one moment in his life where Joe could've been a true hero.  There was that one moment where Joe could've saved the Penn St. "brand" from a monumental failing.  It was all about the "brand" for Paterno and the insular community that he had built.  Nothing more, nothing less.  If JoePa had come out in 1998 and confronted the allegations of Jerry Sandusky and taken control, that very "brand" would've been saved because Joe would've been looked at as a hero for stopping the monstrous abusing of innocent children.

     Joe Paterno would have been lauded by the community and the sports world as a hero that would not allow innocent children to be hurt and molested under his watch.  Instead, JoePa decided to bury the paperwork, force the retirement of Sandusky and hope that it would never resurface under his watch.  Joe decided to allow that monster to roam the very campus that he was supposedly banned from WITH children, even as recently as 2007 in a closed practice.  Joe decided to ignore McQueary and his claim of walking in on Sandusky and a boy in the shower in the Penn St. locker room in 2002.  Joe Paterno had not one chance to stop this evil man, but several.  Yet, the great hero, the wonderful man, the monument that was Penn St.decided to let evil walk amongst his university.  That hero turned into a goat and faltered because of the "brand" that he was trying to protect.

     So, in these final thoughts of Joe Paterno, it is human to feel sorry for the loss that his family has now incurred.  It is natural to remember the good that he had done for so long as a leader in the Penn St. community at Happy Valley.  It may also be easy for all of us to say our goodbyes to a man that many looked to as a mentor and friend.  Yet, for all of this, it is also not easy to feel sorry for a man that would not protect our most valuable resource as a country--our children.  JoePa might have been many things to many people over the course of his 85 years, but one thing he was not, was a hero to the boys that needed him most.   Only Joe Paterno knows if he could've done more for those battered and abused boys.  Only Joe Paterno knows if he, himself, will rest in peace.

JoePa-The Monument, The Man,The Despicable Fiend

     Joe Paterno, the legendary head football coach of Penn State since 1966 is in the midst of one of the worst scandals that is known to man.  We all know how much of a monster Jerry Sandusky is and what he did, or allegedly did to those poor children. He will pay for those despicable sins by spending his life in prison.  Joe Pa though, as well as Spanier, Shultz, Curley, McQueary, and the rest of the Penn St. officials and coaches should also be held accountable with not only their jobs, but with a full investigation into their culpability in enabling a monster to roam the campus with full priveleges.  It is unthinkable that Joe had no knowledge of Sandusky's behavior as Joe IS Penn St. Anything that went on with his players, coaches or anyone in his circle, he had full disclosure.  Paterno can no longer hide behind the cult fraternity that he has erected for 60 years.  The trustees that are meeting today need to act swiftly and surely to destroy this cult that remained secretive and despondent to the gravest of situations that humanity can ever witness.  There must be someone within this University that has a level of decency and morality left within their souls.  Joe Paterno may have been a monument at Penn St. and the all-time winningest coach, but he is also every bit as despicable as Sandusky.  How can this man, who has been looked at as a role model and father figure for three generations turn a blind eye to children in need of a hero? Ignorance is not an excuse anymore, Joe.  Those poor children need answers to why these acts were allowed to go on for sol long. In 1998, possibly only one young boy might have been harmed, but because JoePa looked away, more unfortunately followed.  Joe and his complete coaching staff need to be relieved of their duties immediately! It's time to tear down the monument that is Joe Paterno and realize the despicable fiend that he really has become.

One Percentage Point? Obama At His Finest

     It has been quite a week of political showdowns and presidential urgency as the American public views the state of our system and not only how poorly it can proceed, but how genuinely incapable that it has proven to be. The Republican showdown on Wednesday night clearly left none of us feeling any better about a challenger to Obama in the upcoming election in fourteen months. The field itself with Perry, Romney, Bachmann and company are not the type of individuals that can fully be trusted to take the office by storm and make a difference. Then we have Barack Obama, who, in his stimulus package has lulled us into believing that his economic boost will make a valuable improvement to the state of unemployment. In 2009, a $787 Billion stimulus package was introducd and put into effect for over the course of more than two years and has given us nothing but close to a 9.5 unemployment rate.
     Now, Obama wants to introduce a $450 Billion package that will, in all reality, as one economist, Mark Zandi states, may only reduce that rate by a mere one percentage point. One percentage point! Is it enough? Hardly when you see the actual numbers, you realize that the government does not have any clue as to go about reducing the monster they have created. Jobs go overseas to lower wage paying and tax markets and we have simply let them go. Industry in the U.S has faded to a point that it is surreal how we no longer care to keep our tax paying businesses from leaving because we want only the wealthiest jobs for our own gluttony. It is within this gluttony that we are heading towards only two levels of citizens, the wealthy and the poor. No more can our middle class survive as it once used to decades ago.
    Two or more incomes per family is required to live in most high-priced areas, whereas fifty years ago you could get away with a one income family and have a stay at home parent to raise your children. Those days ae numbered and as a result, our children and their education has suffered as well, which is indicative of being ranked 23rd amongst countries in education. How then are we supposed to grow so that our children are able to thrive in America as they get older and take over? Obama, for his remaining term and anyone who takes over after him needs to seriously contemplate where this country needs to be headed. In the meanwhile, we, as voters need to become more educated from the local up to the federal levels at the polls. We need to take control and give our leaders the boot if they can not be held fiscally responsible.

Unintelligent Politicians or Public?

There are too many debates as the election of 2012 looms closer about the state of politics in this supposely great country. The field of Republicans that is slowly narrowing down to challenge for the presidency may be the worst that we, as voters, have seen in many elections. Some question the actual intelligence of the group that will be challenging President Obama and the Democrats, ex. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/04/opinion/sunday/bruni-pass-fail-and-politics.html? It really is not fair to call any challenger unintelligent, or a moron, or simply unaware of the needs of this country. In fact, it clearly is not the pool of politicians that are unintelligent...I leave that title to the American public. For so long, the plight of the presidency has dwindled because of the growing agendas in the House and the Senate. Anyone can and should clearly see that it is not the president that is in control anymore, but those that actually make the laws and battle with the president to pass or fail those laws and "allow" the President to look good or bad for the public.
    Clearly, how we vote on the rest of the ballot is more important than the president because most Americans do not take the time to find out the particulars of who is running for the House and the Senate, what their morals and theories are on the functions of government, and if there are any behind the scenes motives or agendas that will hinder them fro doing what they need to do for the country. If we, as an intelligent public learned to put as much energy into evaluating all those running for office from local, to state, to federal, then the system will be more in sync with what we need as a country. Until then, all we can do is blame ourselves for not taking the initiative to change the sysytem and those in control. How can anyone legitimately contest the intelligence of anyone running for office of any level when we, as voters clearly do not care enough to actually learn ourselves. So take this heeding America: Sharpen your own mind and vote with wisdom, not blindness...it is the only way to take the country back for the people!

Jane Fonda? Who Writes This Crap?

When researching the worlds most famus traitors of all time there are many names in different countries that seem to jump out at you. I was perusing through my witter list just this morning when I found a link to http://www.thehiddenfact.com/10-most-famous-traitors-all-time. Lo and behold there it was, right in front of me at #8...Jane Fonda's name. So I read and tried to comprehend the writers' idea of a traitor. Doesn't he/she realize that there are many other true traitors to their countries out there through history? Names like Phillipe Petain in France, Tommaso Buscetta in Italy, Augusto Pinochet in Chile, the list goes on. Jane Fonda? Her views of the Vietnam war were extreme, however, most of the country shared those same views in one respect or another and voiced them through protests and marches. This would make most of the country traitors, but because of her fame, she is put on a pedestal? When I saw this list, wha really made my jaw drop was not een that she was on the list, but she is #8, not 9 or 10. That means she is worse than at least 2 individuals that were true traitors:Guy Fawkes who attempted to blow up the Parliament building in Britain, and Robert Hanssen, who actually sold secrets to the Russians during the Cold War. Ouch! That's really putting Fonda down. Whoever wrote this should really look at their motives for the addition to Fonda on tis list. Possibly an ex war veteran with pent up feelings or a government minion that can't let go of the past. Either way, Jane Fonda should be nowhere near this list of traitors and history needs not be skewed any longer

$100Million Scam?

Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook icon donated a handsome amount of money to the city of Newark,NJ to the tune of $100Million. The donation itself was to be filtered and used for the school district to rebuild and reshape the public schools. Since then, Mayor Cory Booker and the city counsel have tied up the money in an account and nobody is privy to the whereabouts or diretion the money has gone. Tuesday, the ACLU finally filed a lawsuit to release the records as to what the city plans on doing with the money. The lawsuit was filed under the refusal if New Jersey's Open Public Records Act which is in violation by not allowing parents and taxpayers to  view what the monet has been allotted for. The city of Newark has long been a thorn in the side with corrupt politicians and people that bleed its system dry and the children of the city are always the ones to suffer because of the lack of interest in education and building an infrastructure that can flourish because of its close proximity to NY. It is a disgrace that this donation will probably go by way of most others and wind up being nothing more than a scam by its current regime.