Current Book: 1776 - David McCullough

So I've been getting more visits to this site in recent history, some even from Europe and Canada, and all over the US. I feel like I should say something interesting. I do want to find time to add a Current Book section to the little bar that displays Current Music and Current Mood. Unfortunately I am not fluent in Perl, and such a task is beyond me at the moment. So I'll just start adding that info in here, as you can see above.

Upon reading 1776 (I still have about 80 pages to go) I've come to a conclusion, and some thoughts. I've decided that anyone that has actually studied war, and the full effect it has on the individuals so involved, would refuse to wage war, but in the most dire, defensive circumstances. It seems that a cost-benefit analysis would yield the insanity of waging war. Perhaps that's just because I think humans have the right to live their lives. Who am I to say that your government is evil and needs to be extinguished? My government has quite enough problems of its own that I can't fix. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

I've also decided that it should be a requirement for U.S. Presidency that you hold at least a Bachelor's Degree in either U.S. History or World History, and a minor in the other. That would at least suggest you know something about how the world works. "But what about a Political Science degree?" you ask. Personally, that's a nonsense degree. There certainly is no science involved in how politics works, and I am personally against the idea of "career politicians". Wouldn't it be a really interesting experiment to say only people with 'normal' lives could run for congress or governor or president? And then say you're not allowed to serve the country in such a manner for more than 2 terms. Because remember, you're a servant to the citizens of the United States, and not the other way around.

Instead the system only allows those that have dedicated their life to politics to get anywhere where they can make a difference. And by that time they've made so many 'deals' and 'compromises' just to get there they no longer can make any difference without upsetting their lobbyists... err constituents.

So how about this. Everyone knows the political system by and large is corrupt. Rather than allowing the little loopholes and secrecies to continue I've got a plan. No politician is allowed to accept anything from anyone for any reason, except when that gift is a manner of ceremony in which it would be rude to refuse, or the giver is a blood relative. By this exception I mean in the rare circumstance when, say, a foreign dignitary visits and presents said person with something as a token of friendship. And the second exception so your husband/wife can still give you flowers on Valentine's Day. In any other circumstance though, just flat out say it is not allowed. You cannot accept lunch, dinner, a soda, a granola bar, a pencil, anything. And to back this up, all members of Congress, both the House and the Senate, as well as the President and anyone else working in the White House and Capitol Building should have all their financial records open to the public. Remember, they serve the citizens of the U.S. and should act as such, and not how it works now where the citizens get spied on and the politicians are immune (since they make the laws). Wouldn't that be an interesting experiment?

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