To Hell in a Bipartisan Hand Basket

[RS Davis]

outgirl said:

How long were you in Alaska? I'm thinking of taking a traveling assignment there for a couple of months . Maybe next spring if I get the courage to just go ahead and do it. I'd be alone and I've never been alone before. Alone in Alaska sounds kinda scarey. I know I should do it. I'm just such a chickenshit sometimes.

You can't pass up an opportuinity like that. My mom was a travelling nurse, and she loved it. Got to see so many cool places. When will you have another chance to live in Alaska?

- Rick

[whatever]

outgirl said:

How long were you in Alaska? I'm thinking of taking a traveling assignment there for a couple of months . Maybe next spring if I get the courage to just go ahead and do it. I'd be alone and I've never been alone before. Alone in Alaska sounds kinda scarey. I know I should do it. I'm just such a chickenshit sometimes.

Hi, and happy b day again
I was there about 3 years actually, late eighties. It's unique, if nothing else, but you aren't being unreasonable in thinking about being alone there. It's a way-big good old boy town in some ways, in that lots of hunting/fishing/venison smoking/did I mention fishing kind of way. In the summer, when it's warm and popular to go, the mosquitoes are unbelievably bad. Use the best stuff you can find, if you go, and it's warm. Don't imagine you'd go when it's cold, but if so, it's really pretty, if you get into winter at all. I got good at driving on ice, but it helped that it was a stick-shift brand new Honda. It taught me how to drive a manual, and how to drive on ice. It was a really smart car.

Still miss that car

But on a job, if you know where you're going to stay and have the job mapped out and stuff, it might be a ton of fun. The long, long summer days are not to be missed. Myself, I did miss long, warm summer evenings, but that's okay, the intense winter made up for it.

Lets see, you said in spring, yeah. Oh there are some wonderful things to see and do, and witout having to do the really cold weather, you might have a great time, especially if other people are up there with you, so you have that common "fish out of water" thing going when they ask you if you have mukaluks. Or if you've ever seen ice fog. Or if you've ever been to the Eskimo Olympics.

I worked on airplanes outside in that cold though, and learned how much cold can hurt. Not fun, even with the loads of cool tools and switches 'n stuff to mess with. Sometimes I was one of the best ones becasue I could fit anywhere, but could still turn a wrench

Sometimes, only sometimes, I miss that real cold. Collin was born up there. I wonder if he'll visit it someday. Hey, I could show you Alaska pictures! Have to find them...I'm sure I can though. I still have old maps and stuff from when I was stationed there.

[RS Davis]

whatever said:

Hi, and happy b day again
I was there about 3 years actually, late eighties. It's unique, if nothing else, but you aren't being unreasonable in thinking about being alone there. It's a way-big good old boy town in some ways, in that lots of hunting/fishing/venison smoking/did I mention fishing kind of way. In the summer, when it's warm and popular to go, the mosquitoes are unbelievably bad. Use the best stuff you can find, if you go, and it's warm. Don't imagine you'd go when it's cold, but if so, it's really pretty, if you get into winter at all. I got good at driving on ice, but it helped that it was a stick-shift brand new Honda. It taught me how to drive a manual, and how to drive on ice. It was a really smart car.

Still miss that car

But on a job, if you know where you're going to stay and have the job mapped out and stuff, it might be a ton of fun. The long, long summer days are not to be missed. Myself, I did miss long, warm summer evenings, but that's okay, the intense winter made up for it.

Lets see, you said in spring, yeah. Oh there are some wonderful things to see and do, and witout having to do the really cold weather, you might have a great time, especially if other people are up there with you, so you have that common "fish out of water" thing going when they ask you if you have mukaluks. Or if you've ever seen ice fog. Or if you've ever been to the Eskimo Olympics.

I worked on airplanes outside in that cold though, and learned how much cold can hurt. Not fun, even with the loads of cool tools and switches 'n stuff to mess with. Sometimes I was one of the best ones becasue I could fit anywhere, but could still turn a wrench

Sometimes, only sometimes, I miss that real cold. Collin was born up there. I wonder if he'll visit it someday. Hey, I could show you Alaska pictures! Have to find them...I'm sure I can though. I still have old maps and stuff from when I was stationed there.

That's fascinating! Was this in the military? Did you already say that? Give some more details!

- Rick

[whatever]

RS said:

That's fascinating! Was this in the military? Did you already say that? Give some more details!

- Rick

Not so facinating, trust me Yeah, I was Air Force, aircraft maintenance; aircraft electrician. AFSC 425X0 Wacha wanna know about? Working outside in 30 below is a bitch, cold as a witches tit bitch and that's the truth! I cross trained into computer programming.

And, to see the northern lights, it is extremely important, when wearing parka and being bundled up, to remember to look UP Or you miss them

[Garry Loose Cannon Reed]

Never been to 'Laska so can't comment on that. But here's my take on earlier comments: I think I use the term "ideology" in a different way than most, and I think I use it correctly. As I've stated elsewhere, there are really only two ideologies in the world -- authoritarianism and libertarianism. All else is just policy squabbles. If conservatives want to force gays back into the closet and liberals want to force gays down the throats of all Americans, you're just talking policy differences. Ideologically, you're both the same because you both agree that coercion is the way to establish your preferred policy. I reject you both. The libertarian approach is to live and let live. Anyone who attempts to force anything onto anyone else deserves a free trip to jail city.

About using tax money for charity because America is a rich country – there are two problems with that line of reasoning. First, America is not a “rich country.” America is a country of individuals, some of whom are rich and some of whom are poor and most of whom are somewhere in between. But a country of free people is not “rich” because the country does not own its people, and therefore cannot own the people’s riches. Second, if you really want to help people with charity the first thing you have to do is get “the country” completely out of the charity business. Understand that people help people, not “the country” helps people. The majority of government charity money (taxes) goes into the pockets of the fat, lazy, bloated, wasteful, parasitic bureaucrats who collect, distribute, administer, legislate, nit pick, qualify, and mismanage it. Before you ask government to do anything, always remember this: bureaucracies exist primarily to benefit the people who run the bureaucracies. If you really believe in charity you cannon believe in government welfare.

[outgirl]

To paraphrase, Oxford says ideology is "a system of ideas or a manner of thinking characteristic of a class or individual." As I understand this definition of ideology, I see a world of difference between the platforms of these two parties. Not everyone does. Just tonight one of my patients said to me,"it doesn't matter who's President, nothing changes" Of course she also thought it was 1964 lol, but I jest. I know many people feel this way. I understand the Libertarian ideology
I just don't agree with it for the most part. We all adopt the views that we have based on our own understanding and experience in life. The fact that I am who I am guides my conscience in choosing which candidate's ideology most mirrors my own. I believe in hate crimes legislation and anti discrimination laws. I know it has problems but I believe in affirmative action laws. You say America is not a rich country but we are so fat and spoiled. I believe that we should help those less fortunate. That is my ideology and it is very different than the Lib way of thinking. I don't believe the individual is more important than an entire group of people. As far as government welfare... I was on welfare at one time. It was a very long time ago. I was young with a brand new baby. I had no job, health insurance or baby daddy. I did what I had to do. I let them send me to nursing school. The government paid for me to become a nurse as part of job training program. I've been a nurse for almost 20 yrs now. I've more than repaid my government believe me. This program changed my life and subsequently my daughter's. I have been through experiences as a woman and as a lesbian that influence my position on these issues. That's just the way it is.

[outgirl]

Oh there are some wonderful things to see and do, and witout having to do the really cold weather, you might have a great time, especially if other people are up there with you, so you have that common "fish out of water" thing going when they ask you if you have mukaluks.

No Whatever. If I go I will be completely alone. I'd probably go to a city like Anchorage (sp?). They pay more if you go to the real remote places but I don't think I could handle it. I've never been completely alone before. I've always had friends and family as safety nets but I feel like I need to step out of my life a bit. I need to challenge myself. I know it would make me stronger and I need that. Plus the opportunity. Of course, I could go to Hawaii too.

[RS Davis]

outgirl said:

To paraphrase, Oxford says ideology is "a system of ideas or a manner of thinking characteristic of a class or individual." As I understand this definition of ideology, I see a world of difference between the platforms of these two parties. Not everyone does. Just tonight one of my patients said to me,"it doesn't matter who's President, nothing changes" Of course she also thought it was 1964 lol, but I jest. I know many people feel this way. I understand the Libertarian ideology
I just don't agree with it for the most part. We all adopt the views that we have based on our own understanding and experience in life. The fact that I am who I am guides my conscience in choosing which candidate's ideology most mirrors my own. I believe in hate crimes legislation and anti discrimination laws. I know it has problems but I believe in affirmative action laws. You say America is not a rich country but we are so fat and spoiled. I believe that we should help those less fortunate. That is my ideology and it is very different than the Lib way of thinking. I don't believe the individual is more important than an entire group of people. As far as government welfare... I was on welfare at one time. It was a very long time ago. I was young with a brand new baby. I had no job, health insurance or baby daddy. I did what I had to do. I let them send me to nursing school. The government paid for me to become a nurse as part of job training program. I've been a nurse for almost 20 yrs now. I've more than repaid my government believe me. This program changed my life and subsequently my daughter's. I have been through experiences as a woman and as a lesbian that influence my position on these issues. That's just the way it is.

I was just looking around the forums, and rediscovered this post. While I obviously disagree with yuor point of view, I just had to jump in and say this was beautifully and articulately expressed.

- Rick

[outgirl]

Why thanks. Personally, I'm still kind of pissed off that Garry Reed interupted a perfectly good conversation about Alaska but then couldn't be bothered with continuing the discussion on political ideologies.

[RS Davis]

outgirl said:

Why thanks. Personally, I'm still kind of pissed off that Garry Reed interupted a perfectly good conversation about Alaska but then couldn't be bothered with continuing the discussion on political ideologies.

He's like HotJan, not really a forum user. He's just a writer, ya know?

- Rick

[outgirl]

RS said:

He's like HotJan, not really a forum user. He's just a writer, ya know?

- Rick

whatever dude

[RS Davis]

outgirl said:

whatever dude

But far be it from me to try and block you from challenging him to respond. I'm just not sure he will even see it...

- Rick

[whatever]

outgirl said:

Why thanks. Personally, I'm still kind of pissed off that Garry Reed interupted a perfectly good conversation about Alaska but then couldn't be bothered with continuing the discussion on political ideologies.

That was funny. I agree with Rick, too, what outgirl said was thoughtful and meaningful.

Ongoing with the "surprise Rick" theme of whatever on every thread...

As far a "gay issues", and please forgive me because I'm sure I'll say something the wrong way and I don't mean anything in a negative light about homosexuality...I'm afraid I missed exactly where the point of contention lies between your beliefs about crime legistlation.

From a minority perspective, I know that I wouldn't have ever had the chance to be in the military if it weren't for "quotas" and equal opportunities for women. I'm sure men could believe they lost out on a position because I was there, and probably figure I wasn't as good or as qualified as a man would have been.

It's more unique, as a public servant effectively; I should have the right to serve, should I not? I don't equally apply that thought to the civilian world. As country which I"m part of, though, it's how I think the law should be, as far as being paid by tax dollars.

Hey, the more people who need jobs which we use (and I don't mean by "creating jobs" for them) then potentially the more otherwise unemployable people we not only have services from, but are able to help take care of in a first-hand here's-the-check sort of way.

Socialist? Well, if the government is the business of ALL of us, viewing it as a company, it seems like a good idea. Business decision. Not to mention being good for individuals and communities all round.

So I don't have a problem with equal hire policies for tax paid employees. Some are handicapped, but man, do I respect handicapped people! And the same, in a way, for any minority, and group that gets such a raw deal that they have to get anti-descrimination laws thrown around to get jobs and legal protection.

That's just my point of view. It's how I'd run my company...and it's how I think we should run the government company. Probably sounds a bit dumb.

What can I say; I'm completely torn. Sometimes, it seems like you take a perpetual hit personally, having gotten in on a "catch". Like, you can never be as good, and was it worth it. I don't know. I picked up an 80 lb aircraft engine generator, and carried that bastared to the truck, once...just to show that group of guys that I could, actually, function by myself. Now mind you, most of them would hav struggled to carry it to the truck. Sometimes they did by themselves...and it wasn't easy.

But even feats like that, showing that you're willing to do the job, the ENTIRE job, don't stop the resentment.

It's not the same with racism and with homosexuality, in my perception, in that those cases, obviously, aren't about inappropriate beliefs and priorities of physical capabilities.

It's stunning, to me though, how horribly similiar any arguements of equality, in the military for example, are between gender, sexual orientation, and the past discussions of race. They are almost interchangeable, and that sure as hell should tell us something.

I think I'm preaching to the choir on the idea of rights; the issue is on how best to ensure them. Not only in a way that is fair to homosexual people, but in a way that is fair to all, and that furthers fairness and prevents further injustices. Rather than creating a climate to make more situations, like cracking down on drugs...if we wanted fewer people to take drugs, the situation we have was the last, worst way to go about it. The solution has hurt more than the original problem; that's what Libs want to avoid, those types of mistakes, even well intended ones.