Saturday, March 26, 2011

Avg Income per person/per state and how it correlates to sports

     People have various criteria on what makes a state good to live in? Air quality? Traffic? Sports Teams? In State Public Universities? Social Programs? Leniency on various criminal activities? Distance from the border? There is obviously a lot of different things a citizen can look at. What is the American Dream though? You can live in the city or country, plains or the mountains, next to the oceans or the rivers. The American Dream is only one word......EVERYTHING! Yes sir. We want it ALL!!!! Plain and simple. Many ways to get that. Because....

    America is made up of different experiences. And the differences in those childhood experiences make up a beautiful menagerie of Americanism. I grew up in a singular experience. An experience most people in America did not have. I grew up on a 7 acre farm complete with the experience of never buying fruits or vegetables. Cherries, Pears, Plums, Apples, Blackberries, Strawberries, Watermelons, and Grapes. Spinach, Corn, Green Beans, Carrots, Tomatoes, Potatoes, Beets, Radishes, Onions, Okra, Lettuce, and Lima Beans. These were the fruits and vegetables we lived off of. We also had a steady supply of deer, turkey, and herring fish. Four wheelin, creek crossin, sleigh ridin, good country fun. True country living. While that was a great childhood experience, You would have to drug my ass to get me to live on a 7 acre farm as an adult!!! I want to drive 3 minutes to a RedBox rather than 20 minutes to a freakin Blockbuster!!! Everyone has their preference of country vs city. I have experienced both. And if you prefer the country, then you are wrong. And I'm sure there may be a disagreement or two on that one. But seeing a recent USA Today article got me thinkin about where its best to live and what singular existence of American culture  ALWAYS alligns a better way of life. Naturally I thought of sports....

     So the USA Today has come out with a list that attempts to quantify which state is best. The stat used is the average income per person, by state. Showing money per individual per state. Attempting to show the greatness of a state in one statistic. But You can't quantify happiness by money, city, or sports. That's what they tell me at least. I SAY, greatness of a state and city can be linked to SPORTS. Good'ol American sports capitalism at its finest!  I SAY, America is Sports! I SAY, Sports is Capitalism! I SAY, Capitalism is America! I SAY,  Baseball is freakin Apple Pie, Condoleezza Rice is an NFL Groupie, and Magic Johnson has the cure for AIDS!!!! I SAY, America and the capitalism of Sports in America is as intertwined as liberal/conservative flip flopping of the Rep/Dem parties since their inception!!!! But let me show you the difference in the top 10 compared to the bottom 10 in cities and their relationships with sports. Make your own opinion on how sports affects our nation.

     The Top 10 is Connecticut, Mass., NJ, Maryland, NY, Wyoming, VA, Alaska, New Hampshire, and Washington. Sports DEFINITELY correlates to money in top 10 states. Connecticut gets the pass of not having a Pro team because ESPN in located in Bristol. If you're looking for logic, watch CNN... Mass, NJ Maryland, NY, VA and Washington contain 6 MLB teams, 4 NBA teams, 5 NFL teams,  and 5 NHL teams!!! The top 10 is loaded with cities whose economy and dreams are built off of professional sports teams. 40yr plumbers, down on their luck Honda salesman, the Wal Mart greeter making ends meet. They ALL live for sports. That $9 ticket to your favorite MLB team that makes that shitty week a little better. That trip you planned for the past month. Crucial tailgate and game at your favorite NFL stadium. You know what I'm talkin about. You've decided to keep your box at the Staples Center. People are buying your shit again.  Every fan has their own level of the dream. Their own city. Seems like the top 10 earning cities have a lot of teams. And a lot of fans. And a lot of people who have a complete escape for themselves or their family. And you know the state's economy and money generated from professional sports continuously funnels back into the citizens hands.
  
     Now for the bottom rung. Number 50, going thru the bottom ten, shows you that city, sports, and prosperity is not just a coincidence. At number 50 is the state of  Mississippi. And continuing down we have Idaho, Utah, West Virginia, Arkansas, South Carolina, Kentucky, New Mexico, Alabama, and Indiana. Who wants to live in any of those states? Anyone? anyone? don't be shy! The correlation of sports, escapism, the middle class of America, and happiness is intertwined like social oppression is to the fabric of American politics. 0 MLB teams, 2 NBA teams, 1 NFL teams, and 0 NHL teams. Is it any wonder they are on the bottom 10 of average income in America? Come On Man!!!!

    The point is this...Not liking any sports means that you don't like America. The sports culture of America, its dreams, its capitalism, its never say die attitude is EXACTLY what America is. And if you are a person that cant appreciate any mainstream American sport then I say...You are a Commie and i am putting you on my list of people to report to Hoover and McCarthy!!! I'm Just Sayin.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Drug Testing for Welfare

     Why don't we drug test people who want to receive Welfare from our govt? That is the question being proposed in various state legislatures across this country. As a country, we always have questions on how to regulate various social programs and the outside influences on those programs. Now once one state starts a bill, other states get the balls to follow suit. SB 1070 anyone? The questions and concerns of our social programs are always argued and decided by conservatives and liberals, not moderates. That is why all social arguments not only bring out the zealots but steer moderates to either side based on personal passion. The constitutional debate of drug testing for Welfare recipients is no different. 
      So far the states of Kentucky, Oregon, Nebraska, and Missouri have proposed bills that require drug testing to receive public assistance. While these bills have garnered support they also have serious opposition from various groups, including the ACLU (surprise surprise), National Assoc. of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors, and the American Public Health Assoc. to name but a few. The ACLU says laws such as these are "scientifically, fiscally, and constitutionally unsound". The group cites studies showing welfare drug testing recipients are no more likely to use drugs than the rest of the population and that 70% of illicit drug users are employed. It states drug testing is an expensive and ineffective way to uncover drug abuse. Now the state of Michigan is the only state to implement a drug testing program for welfare recipients. That was short lived as the US 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Michigan ruled it was unconstitutional because it violated the 4th ammendment. The 4th ammendment contains a provision that barres unreasonable search and seizures. It is and will be tough to argue against the Constitution. It doesnt matter if you have right on your side. 
     First off, I am not some holy roller, straight edge guy. Not my style. I, like millions of Americans, have used "medicinal" drugs. I, like the other good citizens of this country, understand what I have done is illegal and am perfectly willing to accept the consequences if caught. But our Govt is basically saying it is okay that I and millions of other Americans get tested for drugs to have and keep their employment but that doesnt apply when the Gov't gives away OUR money. I find this appalling. I am not here to argue the complicated economics of drug testing success rates vs the money given to social program recipients and the qualifications and loopholes involved in getting those benefits. The real argument is right vs wrong. 
      Lets get it right. Complainers disgust me and they should disgust you. People who take no responsibility for their actions disgust me. Own up to your shit, you free loading bastards! Now I understand this may be a futile argument because in this instance it appears the Constitution is on the side of shiftless drug users and liberals. Doesn't make it right though. And personally when I look at a topic and pick a side, I decide what is right and not what will win. My conscience is clean, is yours?
     

Friday, March 4, 2011

She said what?......Texas State Rep. Debbie Riddle's interview with Anderson Cooper

If you noticed in my last blog, I am not the biggest fan of Miss Debbie Riddle. I am not a fan of the Tea Party and the way they have twisted a Republican agenda to gain the support of obvious political zealots.  She had a VERY interesting interview with Anderson Cooper on Anderson Cooper 360. Cooper took it to Riddle on her proof of "terror babies" and I applaud him for that. The video also included the Representative from the great state of Texas named Rafael Anchia. Watch the video up til the 4:20 mark to get the full annihilation of Rep Riddle by AC. I will not quote the first part of the interview. But I will give you the link, some quotes, and then what I think about it.

Here is the link to the AC360 interview. View for yourself.
http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/11/video-little-terrorists-born-in-the-u-s/

Here are some quotes from the interview which I found to be especially informative.
Rep Debbie Riddle : "It is altogether possible, to make a dirty bomb, stick it in a suitcase, walk it across the southern border, and take it to downtown Houston or any other city and blow it up and kill a million or more folks. Why isn't the govt taking that seriously?"

Rep. Rafael Anchia : " It is a myth of anchor babies. To rise to some national security concern is really unsubstantiated, 9-11 bombers were here legally, Time Square (inferring to the bomber) was a naturalized citizen, was not an anchor baby, the person who tried to blow up Fountain Place in Dallas, which is my home, was here legally as well."

Rep Debbie Riddle : "There is no myth to it. Over 81% of babies in LBJ hospital right here in Houston are not here legally." "And the fact is this is breakin the back of taxpayers of Texas and the United States."

Anderson Cooper : "Dem Rep. Rafael Anchia Texas State House, You're not denying the point that some people come here to have there children become US citizens?"

First off, Mr Anchia did not deny that point made by Cooper. Second, this is not the first AC360 interview I have seen. Channel One? Anyone? Anyone? And Anderson Cooper is in my opinion the most respected political interviewer going today. He may be a little liberal biased but he gives everyone their fair chance to make their claim. And I applaud him for that.

Terror Babies huh. A bit Tea Party-esque in its insinuation. Rep Riddle is ill informed but not crazy.  A person, much like former VP Quayle, who you don't want to argue your case. Thing is "terror babies" are very possible. When you have no border control, anything is possible. Who knows who slips through the border? Do you? Do I? NO we don't!!!! The last time the southern border of the United States was controlled was the middle of WWII. The Nazis were losing their grip on Europe. They were desperate. They wanted to invade the US through Mexico and Mexico vigorously declined. And THAT is the last time Mexico had the US interest at heart. One thing I do agree with Riddle on is the impact of anchor babies and the intent of some illegals to have their babies here. This next part is from a first hand interview of an anchor baby.

Her name is "Jane". She is a US Citizen and 22 yrs of age. Her father, mother, and older brother are illegal.    Jane has a younger brother and younger sister that are citizens. Within the family's first 15 yrs in the US, the father and the older brother were deported. So as of now, Jane, her younger sister and her mother all live freely in the US. Last summer, I became involved in various immigration protests. I continuously used Jane as a sounding board. I wanted to know her very important view point. She enlightened me to the fact that she knows SEVERAL Mexican citizens who have illegally crossed the border for the purpose of having a child born into US Citizenship. This is how it goes down. A pregnant woman crosses legally on a tourist visa. It happens early in the pregnancy so it is not detected. She lives with a relative who is legal, gives birth in the US, and leaves afterwards with the child back to Mexico. The legal relative uses that Social Security number to get food stamps, free health care, and other social benefits. The number may also be used for a working illegal male in any form of employment. There is a certain agreeable compensation for the parent who lives in Mexico. This is first hand info. This is how it is. And if you don't agree, I suggest you find your own first generation border jumper to dispute me.

I'm Just Sayin







Thursday, March 3, 2011

Oh Tea Party folk....you crazy bastards you

Before anything, I give a thanks to a man named Michael, who went to a "that" school that resides in Charlottesville, for enlightening me on this topic. Thanks Mike.

This will be two articles. One, about the new bill being passed through the Texas State Senate by Rep Debbie Riddle and Two, addressing her conjoining interview with Texas State Rep Raphael Anchia on Anderson Cooper 360.

First let me say that in no way do I agree with the agenda of the Tea Party or how they manipulate the Republican agenda for their own benefit. Hello Texas State Representative Debbie Riddle.....

Rep. Riddle has proposed a new immigration bill into the Texas State Senate. The bill would make hiring an "unauthorized alien" a crime punishable by up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine, unless that is, they are hired to do household chores. Now under House Bill 2012, introduced by Rep. Debbie Riddle, hiring an undocumented maid, caretaker, lawnworker or any type of houseworker would be allowed. What? Seriously people. Bills like this and people like her and Ms Sarah "Refudiate" Palin give well meaning Republicans a bad name. 


Rep. Riddle has long wanted to propose a bill to the Texas State Senate that replicates in many forms the great Pro-American bill that is Arizona Bill SB 1070. Ms Riddle pretends she is against illegal immigration. Now if it affects her or her other McKenna sippin, Dubya lovin, aristocratic, nose in the air Texans then its not worth it. That is her message. She wants to punish people in this country illegally but NOT punish those who give those illegals the jobs they have!!!!! Ms. Riddle, you are a despicable person!!! The type of person that Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence to protect the good citizens of America from. You DO NOT serve America's interests. You and your Tea Party do not bring logic! You bring wealth and racism to your bills!!! I for one, say good day!! I said good day! 




I'm Just Sayin