Word Wars

Ok just for fun here are the ongoing word counts for myself and a fellow wrimo:

NanoWrimo

November is here and that can mean only one thing:

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)

Sign up now and get writing.

Use Your Voice

I just wanted to take this opportunity to remind everyone to vote in this election. Early voting has already started in most places so you can avoid the crowds on zero day.

Remember that your vote is your voice so use it. You might not realize what you have until you no longer have it!

Time for a different type of change

"A problem cannot be solved at the same level it was created" - Albert Einstein

Change.

It would seem that word will forever be etched into the world of political spin. The country has problems, we need change. The current administration is the cause of it all, we need change. Everything will be better with me because I understand that WE NEED CHANGE

And I agree, we do need change. But is that what we will get with either of the main presidential candidates. Both of these men, and indeed their respective running mates, are all product of the current system. Each of them, behind all the spin and baby kissing, has been a part of the problem. As Einstein once said, problems cannot be solved at the level that created them. So how can we expect change to come from these two candidates?

The kind of change that is need is not one that will come from a single election. Or one that will come fast and easy. There has been suggestions that we need to totally rethink the place of government in our everyday lives. Indeed some have suggested that we go with an EU style. This would seem to make sense on many levels as things already work very much in this way. Instead of having a cluster of countries, each with it's own system of government, we have a cluster of states. There is no one ruler. EU member states take turns at the leadership role. Because each member only has a short period of time in this role they are more likely to act with more thought.

Compare this to the current system we have in the US. You have one person at the top with the power to change everyones lives. An how many of those decisions made are done so by their own prejudice and to meet their own ends? How many are truly made by listening to the people?

Change must come and change will come. But it will only arrive through the blood sweat and tears of the American people and not from the shiny silver words of those who preach it's virtues.

Hope for the future

Every know and then, while reading through the public forums of the local newspapers a letter will stand out. There can be many reasons for this. Quite often it is the utter mindless ignorance being spewed forth. But sometimes a letter will stand out for something different. It will stand out for being insightful. In this case it was a letter from a 12 year old. It was short and to the point but it said more than any other letter on the page.

The 12 year old pointed out something that it seems many people have missed or are simply ignoring. The endless logical fallacies we have had to endure during this presidential election. It is refreshing to see someone actually come out and say it, refreshing and yet slightly worrying. Why can a 12 year old see this when so many mature and registered voters can't?

It comes down to the constant assault we receive. We are so bombarded with the mudslinging from both sides of the camp that we lose perspective, lose our objectivity. As a culture we have stopped thinking critically and end up going where we are lead. The presidential debates have been nothing of the sort. Instead of having relevant discussions we get two people talking and yet saying nothing.

So is there hope for the older generation? The increase in voter registration would like to make me think so. Is there hope for the future? As long as we are raising our children to be able to think critically and see through the smoke and mirrors then the answer is a most definite yes.

From this one letter the future is looking just a little brighter today.

Normal service has been restored

Well folks after a weeks absence on a series of beautiful tropical islands, the Common Free Man is back.

Immigration - Not all immigrants are equal!

There was a recent comment in the Salt Lake Tribune claiming that the US unemployment rate is the fault of immigrant workers. Or to be more specific; "Permanent foreign workers". The entire idea behind the badly thought out letter was that ALL non US born workers are cheap labor. This of course is not true. In fact I myself am one of these workers and my skills do not come cheap.

But this does highlight a common misconception that has been perpetuated over the years. The idea that you can group all immigrants under the same label. The problem seems to stem from nobody, be it the media or our politicians, wanting to use the term illegal immigrant. And why is this? Political correctness? If so then the thousands of people who come to this country legally and at great expense are being done a great disservice.

One responder to the comment in the SLT asked the question: " Why isn't this a question the presidential candidates are discussing?"

An excellent question indeed. Why are so many politicians shying away from this debate?

There are of course many theories that try to answer this. The truth is more than likely a combination of these. One theory suggests we look at campaign contributions. How many of the companies that are making large donations are also profiting from the use of cheap illegal labor.

Another theory is the fear of losing votes from a given sector of the population. The word immigrant has become senonomous with a specific culture. Don't believe me? try this simple test. Ask random friends to say the first race/cuture that comes into their head when you say a certain word. Then say immigrant. You might be suprised at what you discover.

We have been trained to associate the word immigrant with some very negative conotations. All immigrants are the same therefore all must be the problem. This black and white outlook is of course totally wrong. People who have decided to come to this country legally and become part of this great nations culture should not be listed with those that have come here illegally. They have come here with the intention of giving something back. Indeed this country owes a great debt to these people.

Consider this; Domestically we do not produce enough engineers or scientists to supply the demand. So where do you think we are going to get this talent from?

Next time you hear the word immigrant take a moment to think wht that word means. Not all immigrnts are equal.

New Liquor Laws

Today sees a Utah statewide change in the liquor laws. Starting now you will no longer be able to purchase fruity alcoholic malt beverages in grocery stores. Instead you will only be able to purchase them in state liquor stores. All of this is being done in the name of "protecting the children". But I ask you, is that the real reason?

Let's stop and look at this a bit more carefully. Who is going to gain by this new law?

The consumer? No. The consumer is the one who is going to have the convenience of having to pay more and often travel further if they want to do what is perfectly legal for them to do.

The local grocery store? No. This is just lost profits for them.

The state? Hmmmm I think we have a winner. This was never really about stopping underage drinking. Underage drinking is going to happen no matter what laws are made. This is more about the state getting a larger slice of the pie. Where do you think all the profits from these sales are going to go? Do you really think that it's going to make even the slightest bit of difference to curb underage drinking? You will excuse this writer for being a little skeptical about that.