Watching the news the past month of so, you have seen much protests. Whether is is in the United States or in the Middle East.It started out with a revolution in Tunisia. Soon after it spread to Egypt, causing the ouster of it's long time tyrant, Hosni Mubarak.
But as the Egyptian protesters were getting their way, it seems that all hell broke loose in some parts of America, mainly in the state of Wisconsin. I wouldn't want the job of Governor, Mayor or any other executive in this day and age. Even in good times you always have people gunning for you. Your job is even tougher when your serving in the worst economy since the Great Depression. Less jobs means less people working. Less people working means less tax money coming into the state. Less tax money means less money to pay for state services. Of course the cost of doing business never goes down. So with less money coming in, Governors and Mayors have some tough decisions to make.
Meet Scott Walker, the Governor of Wisconsin. New on the job, the State of Wisconsin is faced with record budget deficits. So Walker proposed a budget repair bill with some controversial parts. Parts of it call for Wisconsin state employees to contribute more in their pensions and their health insurance. As expected, the state employees unions voiced their opposition. But what really angered the state employees was a proposal that would virtually eliminate all collective bargaining rights for state employees. Since then, the unions have been on the streets of Madison.
As I stated, Walker has some tough decisions to make. That's part of his job. It's debatable whether or not employees should contribute more to their pensions and health insurance. But that is what negotiating is all about. He should have known he'd light a powder keg by any attempt to take away collective bargaining rights. I'm a non-union guy and disagree with a lot of union politics. But I understand why they are upset with parts of Walker's bill.
On the flip side, the Tea Party staged a counter protest in Madison. As usual, they protested the size and growth of government. The Tea Party first made themselves known when they were opposed by President Barack Obama's health care bill. They were very influential in the recent mid-term elections, helping a boatload of Republicans get elected. To this day, they remain a consistent voice in the opposition of big government.
Regardless of whether you're a union guy or a Tea Party guy, there's one cool thing about America (there's a lot of cool things about living in America but here's the number one thing): the right to protest. The right to free speech. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The Amendment that gives you a voice. You can protest in Wisconsin, Washington DC and all over American and not worry about getting shot at. Or killed. Or get arrested for speaking your mind. The same can't be said in many parts of the world.
Just ask the people of Libya. Fed up with the oppression and the policies of long time dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi, the people of Libya took to the streets and protested. Just like the unions and the Tea Party. They were welcomed with getting shot at and killed. Gaddafi's government hired mercenarys for the specific purpose of fighting the protesters. You see much of the same in places like Iran, China and Cuba.
Whether you belong to a union or a Tea Party member (OK I'm more of a Tea Party guy, but that's for another blog for another time) Poets and Madmen Blog respects and encourages the right to protest. The space will also stand against any attempt to curb free speech rights. Our forefathers made it the First Amendment for a reason.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Sex, Lies and Revolution
Rep. Christopher Lee
What was he thinking? That's the question I can't help asking about him. Christopher Lee was a Republican is the House of Representatives who was forced to resign after he was the latest high price person to be marred by a sex scandal. It was discovered that he has sent a shirtless photo of himself to a woman in a Craigslist advertisement - a woman that was not his wife. Lee is just another in a long long line of high profile individual to be caught up in in similar mess. Bill Clinton. Tiger Woods. Elliot Spitzer. The list goes on and on. When your in the public spotlight, people are always watching you. When you're in a position of power, like Lee was, they are always people looking to bring you down. So when you are sending shirtless photos of yourself over the internet, you are setting yourself up for trouble. Lee also did not do a good job covering himself up. He apparently used an email address containing his name. The question must be asked again. What was he thinking?
Egypt
Yesterday was a great day if you enjoy seeing the downfall of tyrants as Hosni Mubarak stepped down as President of Egypt after a 30 year reign. Cries for revolution and fights for freedom inspire me. Mubarak's Egypt was not as oppressive as countries like Iran and China. But he was not a civil libertarian either. Despite the recent protests, free speech was not tolerated. When he rose to power, he imposed a state of emergency, one that he never lifted. Much of Egypt lives under abject poverty. The people had enough and demanded his ouster. When the military gave the protesters no resistance, Mubarak's days were numbered. As a result, the world was one less dictator.
What will happen next remains to be seen. There is justified concern over the uncertainty. Some people like Noble Peace Prize winner Mohamed ElBaradei might be the next President of Egypt. Or at least be heavily involved in the new government. ElBaradei is someone who has long advocated democracy in Egypt. Either way, this reminds me a lot of the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe. I'm hoping recent events will bring us a free Egypt.
Ray Allen
When you are the best ever at something, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication. It's not something done with talent alone. Boston Celtic star Ray Allen can not lay claim to be the best ever at something. He is now the NBA's all time greatest three point shooter. It's only fitting that he broke the record while playing against the Los Angeles. Even more fitting was that Reggie Miller, the man who previously held the record, was at the game working as a broadcaster. Congratulations to Ray Allen.
What was he thinking? That's the question I can't help asking about him. Christopher Lee was a Republican is the House of Representatives who was forced to resign after he was the latest high price person to be marred by a sex scandal. It was discovered that he has sent a shirtless photo of himself to a woman in a Craigslist advertisement - a woman that was not his wife. Lee is just another in a long long line of high profile individual to be caught up in in similar mess. Bill Clinton. Tiger Woods. Elliot Spitzer. The list goes on and on. When your in the public spotlight, people are always watching you. When you're in a position of power, like Lee was, they are always people looking to bring you down. So when you are sending shirtless photos of yourself over the internet, you are setting yourself up for trouble. Lee also did not do a good job covering himself up. He apparently used an email address containing his name. The question must be asked again. What was he thinking?
Egypt
Yesterday was a great day if you enjoy seeing the downfall of tyrants as Hosni Mubarak stepped down as President of Egypt after a 30 year reign. Cries for revolution and fights for freedom inspire me. Mubarak's Egypt was not as oppressive as countries like Iran and China. But he was not a civil libertarian either. Despite the recent protests, free speech was not tolerated. When he rose to power, he imposed a state of emergency, one that he never lifted. Much of Egypt lives under abject poverty. The people had enough and demanded his ouster. When the military gave the protesters no resistance, Mubarak's days were numbered. As a result, the world was one less dictator.
What will happen next remains to be seen. There is justified concern over the uncertainty. Some people like Noble Peace Prize winner Mohamed ElBaradei might be the next President of Egypt. Or at least be heavily involved in the new government. ElBaradei is someone who has long advocated democracy in Egypt. Either way, this reminds me a lot of the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe. I'm hoping recent events will bring us a free Egypt.
Ray Allen
When you are the best ever at something, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication. It's not something done with talent alone. Boston Celtic star Ray Allen can not lay claim to be the best ever at something. He is now the NBA's all time greatest three point shooter. It's only fitting that he broke the record while playing against the Los Angeles. Even more fitting was that Reggie Miller, the man who previously held the record, was at the game working as a broadcaster. Congratulations to Ray Allen.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Cheesehead For a Day: Why I Want Green Bay to Win Super Bowl XLV
Normally I am a fan of the New England Patriots. They are my football team. They are the team that I cheer for. But for today, I am adopting the Green Bay Packers as my football team. They are the team that I want to win Super Bowl XLV tonight.
In a way, I always respected the Packers. Playing outdoors in the coldest of weather. Lead by a long line of tough guy players and coaches. They were the dominant team when the Super Bowl era began, winning the first two Super Bowls. They went into a decades long decline after Vince Lombardi left, but came back in the 1990's, beating the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI. The 1990's Packers teams were lead by Brett Favre, who (before he turned out to be an arrogant jerk) was one of my favorite football players.
Say what you want about Favre, but he played with a passion like few others did. He loved the game and made it more interesting (before he started acting like a jackass later on in his career). Favre and company was replaced by Aaron Rogers and another group of players who know how to play Packer football. Another notable current Packer is Clay Matthews Jr., a kick ass pass rusher. As a matter of fact, if the Patriots left Foxboro for St. Louis or Hartford, then I probably would have switched over to being a Packers fan.
On the flip side, we got the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Packers opponent in Super Bowl XLV. If bad guys wear black, this it's only fitting that Ben Roethlisberger became a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Questionable off field behavior surrounds Roethlisberger, most notable and disturbing, two sexual assault allegations. Granted, one is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. But a the very least, he is guilty of lewd behavior and some very bad decisions. At the very worst, Roethlisberger could very well be a rapist and a sexual predator.
Putting aside those allegations for a minute, even if he's innocent of the sexual assault allegations, there is evidence that Roethisberger is still not a good person. Last year Sports Illustrated published an unflattering article about Roethlisberger. It goes into detail how he treats people in general. Especially waitstaff and bartenders. A series of disrespectful and boorish behavior. If he's not a rapist, then there's is little doubt that he's a jerk.
Not all of the Steeler organization is bad. Their ownership, the Rooney family have brought class to the NFL for decades. The Steelers have a lot of players who play with a blue collar mentality. Too bad they are quarterbacked by Roethlisberger.
So while my heart bleeds Patriot blue, today I'll be a Cheesehead for one day. Go Packers!
In a way, I always respected the Packers. Playing outdoors in the coldest of weather. Lead by a long line of tough guy players and coaches. They were the dominant team when the Super Bowl era began, winning the first two Super Bowls. They went into a decades long decline after Vince Lombardi left, but came back in the 1990's, beating the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI. The 1990's Packers teams were lead by Brett Favre, who (before he turned out to be an arrogant jerk) was one of my favorite football players.
Say what you want about Favre, but he played with a passion like few others did. He loved the game and made it more interesting (before he started acting like a jackass later on in his career). Favre and company was replaced by Aaron Rogers and another group of players who know how to play Packer football. Another notable current Packer is Clay Matthews Jr., a kick ass pass rusher. As a matter of fact, if the Patriots left Foxboro for St. Louis or Hartford, then I probably would have switched over to being a Packers fan.
On the flip side, we got the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Packers opponent in Super Bowl XLV. If bad guys wear black, this it's only fitting that Ben Roethlisberger became a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Questionable off field behavior surrounds Roethlisberger, most notable and disturbing, two sexual assault allegations. Granted, one is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. But a the very least, he is guilty of lewd behavior and some very bad decisions. At the very worst, Roethlisberger could very well be a rapist and a sexual predator.
Putting aside those allegations for a minute, even if he's innocent of the sexual assault allegations, there is evidence that Roethisberger is still not a good person. Last year Sports Illustrated published an unflattering article about Roethlisberger. It goes into detail how he treats people in general. Especially waitstaff and bartenders. A series of disrespectful and boorish behavior. If he's not a rapist, then there's is little doubt that he's a jerk.
Not all of the Steeler organization is bad. Their ownership, the Rooney family have brought class to the NFL for decades. The Steelers have a lot of players who play with a blue collar mentality. Too bad they are quarterbacked by Roethlisberger.
So while my heart bleeds Patriot blue, today I'll be a Cheesehead for one day. Go Packers!
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