A Tea Party with krumpets and scones, some honey. . .

The Tea Party movement struck with protests in 2009 against government spending, rises in the debt of the United States and government spending and proposed tax increases.  This movement is often associated with the rich and conservatives.  They are the bane of liberals and the 99% movements.  By the 2010 mideterm elections many Tea Party associated Republicans won seats in Congress.  Their ideas are not new.  I would even agree with some of their goals, particularly reducing government spending.  Whether one agrees or disagrees with them however, I believe either openly or secretly we as Americans need them to succeed, but for different reasons.

The United States is quickly becoming the place where democracy has gone to die.  This is not Obama bashing or Conservative bashing.  The truth of the matter is that we have two political parties to choose from.  When forced to choose the lesser of the two evils, you really have no choice at all.  The American political system has become very polarized.  Their is no compromise.  It is two parties pushing thier will on the people they are representing.  The problem with this is the people they are representing don't necessarily agree with their representatives.

The success of the Tea Party as a legitimate option would have meant the opening to more political parties being successful, thus taking away control of a two party system.  Citizens of the United States would be able to vote for candidates who more accurately aligns with their political beliefs.  This will force representatives to work together since their would be no clear majority.

Where the Tea Party steered off course for this was allowing themselves to become affiliated with a major political party instead of maintaining their distance from one part of the problem  They killed their own potential success in favor of trying to get their candidates elected right away.  For this reason the tea party is known as the extreme wing of the Republican Party.


What I believe would be considered a utopian form of government that could never exist.  What I believe is that there are certain roles the government should play and roles the people should play.  What I believe is that no one has gotten government right.  What I believe is that no one will as long as people are involved.

The United States claims to be a government of the people, by the people and for the people.  The Preamble to our Constitution starts with “We the people…” Where are the people?  We elect representatives to serve on our behalf.  What are they doing for us.  They spend our money on projects that they have no idea how they are going to pay for them.  They vote along party lines.  Maybe I am for the war in Iraq, but I want healthcare too!  No one asks me what I want.  They assume that because they were elected by two percentage points they represent how I feel.  They don’t.  We need term limits on legislators.  They get comfortable, accept bribes and think because of their “power” that they can sleep with whomever they want.

The United States Congress passed the TARP Act and funneled money into the automobile industry.  I agree we can’t let these industries collapse, but what is being done to stop the practices that caused this.  CEO pay and bonuses are out of control.  Union agreements have made it so the person who screws the antennae on a car makes $25 an hour and retires with pay at the same rate they were making when they were employed.  Why is this necessary?

The healthcare debate is everywhere I turn.  Do we need to make it affordable? Yes!  Do we need to reign in the insurance companies?  Yes!  Are there other issues not being addressed?  Yes!  People need to take responsibility for their own actions.  Wash your hands, get a check-up, don’t have kids you can’t afford.  Malpractice lawsuits need to be regulated.  Doctors charge so much because they need the insurance.  Let Canadian pharmaceutical companies sell drugs in the United States.  Competition brings down pricing.

We have an illegal immigration problem in the United States.  Everyone complains that it is costing taxpayers billions of dollars.  Why not get rid of the income tax and charge a national sales tax?  Everyone needs to buy items like food and clothing.  Not everyone pays income tax.  The money won’t come from large purchases of houses or boats, but come from people who need their Starbucks fix or the Egg McMuffin everyday.  With a national sales tax, everyone is paying into the system.

I mentioned that I want a government that does not or cannot exist.  It is a carefully balanced recipe.  I want a little Republican that will protect me from outside invaders and promote a Capitalist economy.  I want a dab of Democrat that look out for those that can’t fend for themselves.  I want a touch of Socialism that provides some services and limits the greed of corporate America.  Add a smidge of  Libertarian that knows when to stop meddling in my personal life.  Season it with a little of the Whig party that will protect my economy.  Finally top it with a party that truly represents what it is like to be an American without direct power in what the Founding Fathers and the Ancient Athenians liked to call Democracy.

Love me, hate me, everyone is entitled to my opinion!

Who's to blame

My first topic will bring up countless emotions for a variety of reasons.  I do feel that this is a topic that needs to be addressed and now is as good a time as any.  The State of Florida v. George Zimmerman has made headlines for the past 2 weeks, but no stronger were the emotional effect of the headlines than that of the not guilty verdict.  The outrage and disbelief was seen worldwide on media reports and social media.  Demonstrations, both violent and peaceful, happened across the country.  The question remains, was justice served?  There are but two indisputable facts from that night: 1) Trayvon Martin is dead from a gunshot and 2) George Zimmerman pulled the trigger.

Many blame the jury for the verdict.  I even had a black friend post as his Facebook status "Evidently, young black boys and men lives are disposable... I am sad and heart broken.... In the eyes of Justice my life is not valid. Shame on you jurors. I hope you can sleep at night knowing you let a killer on the lose. I bet you would have felt different if it was your son!"  Let's look at the role of the jury.  The jury is supposed to hear the evidence and conclude that a case was made beyond a reasonable doubt to find the defendant is guilty.  I challenge that since day one the state did nothing to prove their case.  For starters lets look at the initial charge of murder 2.  In Florida, murder 2 is defined as "The unlawful killing of a human being:
1. When perpetrated from a premeditated design to effect the death of the person killed or any human being;
2. When committed by a person engaged in the perpetration of, or in the attempt to perpetrate, any..."

The state has to prove that George Zimmerman intended from the get go to murder Trayvon Martin.  Evidence has to show that not only did George Zimmerman walk up to and confronted Trayvon Martin with the intention of killing him.  Through witness after witness, the state could not prove this.  The defense even turned some of the states witnesses on the stand.  The prosecution was at fault in this instance.  Successful litigators will tell you never put a witness on the stand if you do not know what they are going to say and don't call witnesses that make your case shaky.  The jury had no choice but to acquit on murder 2.

Why didn't the state look for a charge that was easier to prove, like manslaughter.  In Florida manslaughter has two requirements: 1) The victim is dead.  2) The defendant's actions had an immediate cause on the victims death.  In Florida v. Zimmerman, these two requirements are not in doubt.  Conviction on manslaughter also carries a sentence of 30 years minimum.  30 years is a small price to pay compared to robbing someone of about 65 years of their life, but at least there would have been a punishment.  I know what you are thinking, the judge allowed for a manslaughter consideration.  Let me tell you as a human being, the moment the prosecutor asked the judge to allow me to consider a lesser charge, my first thought is to question whether the initial charge burden of proof was met, and to question additional charges.  The prosecution panicked because they made the wrong choice as to what to charge Zimmerman with.  The jury came back with a verdict of not guilty, that doesn't mean innocent mind you, because of the failings of the prosecution, not because of racism on their part.

Was race a motivating factor in this case?  You bet!  There are so many levels of racism it is ridiculous.  Does George Zimmerman follow Trayvon if Trayvon was white and wearing a polo shirt, probably not.  It is sad that we live in a society in which there is a presumption of being up to no good based on the color of one's skin.  This is not limited to George Zimmerman.  How many times have you crossed the street to avoid a black person, or saw one get arrested and know in your heart that s/he was definitely guilty, or how many times do you pull your purse close or check your wallet when you see a black man approach?  This is the same racism that drove Zimmerman to call the police and follow Trayvon.  This set the stage for the tragic events of February 26, 2012.  How many of you know that white men or more likely than black man to commit acts of assault or rape.  How many times do you cross the street to avoid a white man.  There is definitely a disproportionate amount of African Americans in American prisons as compared to Latin American and European Americans.  This perpetuates the stereotypes.

On the other hand racism existed in the desire to push this case to the headlines.  A young black boy was murdered by a middle-aged Hispanic/white man.  Automatically among the NAACP and African-American communities there were calls that this was a race/hate crime.  Was this because a black boy was murdered by a "white" man.  You bet!  Look at 3 other murders that happened that same day.  18 year old Ricky Jennings was gunned down in Compton.  16 year old friends Carolina Ramirez and Meldrich Melgoza were also shot dead in LA.  Jennings was murdered by a black man, Ramirez and Melgoza were shot by an Hispanic male. Where were the headlines on this?  It wasn't newsworthy to show race on race violence.  This happens all over the United States.  Look at Elzina Brown in NYC, Omar Hightower in Trenton, Christopher Williams in Cincinnati.  The news has even been turned off by reporting black on white murders if you look at Antonio Santiago.  What needs to be discussed is not who killed who, but that these killings happened.  We need to know how to stop murders, especially of our youong people whether they been Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, blue, green, or purple.  The news and clebrities could help address this.

We all saw Lebron James and the Miami Heat stand up at mid-court in their hoodies pulled over their head as an act of support for the Martin family.  We have seen countless celebrities voice their concern at the injustice.  A number of athletes in particular had tweeted about hoping the jury dies or that it is obviously OK to shoot a young black male.  Where is the outrage at the unnecessary death of any youth.  Even Kim Kardashian expressed her outrage of how someone so obviously guilty could be found not guilty even though her father was one of OJ Simpson's defense attorneys.  The system is not perfect, but it is designed around a human element.  The reaction to the verdict is also has a human element.  Maybe we need to focus our human element on what is right, and that is improving the race relations that has taken steps back over the last decade.  Celebrities and news outlets, speak of all injustice.  Video game makers, hip-hop artists, Hollywood and athletes need to stop glamorizing the thug life.  Stop showing us people in a negative light.  Show us the positive aspects.  Tell me stories of teens that prevented kidnappings or stood up to bullies peacefully.  Show more of people who risked their lives to save others.  Bring people together instead of dividing.  Tell the world that although you do not agree with the verdict, that you support the system of justice.  Many believed the system would convict, many acquit.  Regardless of how one feels of the verdict, the system did its part.

George Zimmerman is not alone to blame for the death of Trayvon Martin.  Every American is.  Love me, hate me, everyone is entitled to my opinion.

Intro

This blog is a collection of my opinions and mine alone.  These opinions come from my personal interpretations of facts that I have read or personal experiences.  I do understand that some purported facts may be false, that is why I have put in my two cents.  I do not care if you agree or disagree with me.  I welcome constructive dialogue.  The problem with the world is that everyone thinks they are right and will not listen to what anyone else has to say.  I will listen and respond in the manner to which I am treated.

A little about me.  I am an individual, one person among billions that have come before me, exist now, and will come after me.  I learn what I can from my predecessors and contemporaries.  I hope to leave my mark on the future.  I am a male Caucasian, in my early middle ages.  I am college educated, I lean towards the conservative side, but embrace common sense.  I am American all the way through.  I like NASCAR, Star Wars, hockey and books.  I love reading.  I seek an enlightened age of a more civilized time.

All I am asking before you paint me as a white, conservative, sexist, racist is that you read what I have to say, it might surprise you.  I hope to post at least one topic a week.  Love me or hate me, everyone is entitled to my opinion.