Life, Politics and Business

[ellenmillion]

Life

I took Norway to the dog park for the first time yesterday and he had a blast running around with other dogs... most of them were barely chest high to him, but he was relatively gentle and only bowled them over a little, and that only if they were enthusiastically playing back. Then we went to the self-serve dogwash and he very miserably got washed. He didn't mind the actual washing, and he loves to be towel-dried, but getting into the tub? Oh, so very not happy about that. Me and one of the groomers had to lift him (squirming) into it, and it was everything we could do. One of the muscles in my back is very unhappy about it. He is very soft and clean and I think next time I will just use the non-tub option. They warned me I would get very wet if he wasn't in the tub, but honestly, I was completely soaked to the skin when finished, so I don't know how I could get wetter. I was done in about 20 minutes - next time I will use some more shampoo. I was worried about getting him properly rinsed and dried in time, so I didn't use much. (After 30 minutes, the price goes from $10 flat to $2/minute.)

I got my geek patches! I tacked them on yesterday - my fingers gave out before I got it fully sewed down (Carrhart material is BEEFY), but my coat is much more geek-tastic. The Cyberdyne logo doesn't *quite* cover the logo that was there, but it leaves just one line of text: Management & Design, which works just FINE for me.

Politics



This election has been the nail in the coffin of my belief in either of the two major parties. Do you realize that when you call your candidate's rivals bad names, mock their stupidity and criticize their policies that you are NOT helping your own candidate? Quite the opposite, I read that and think 'wow, the best thing they can say about their own party is how bad the other party is.' It's probably just easier to rant about someone bad than prove something good, but easy isn't going to lead our country. The smear campaigning, the childish behavior, the nastiness and the underlying 'sameness' of the candidates has driven me quite thoroughly to a third party.

I'm still researching, but for now, I'm leaning strongly towards the Libertarian party. I like their stand on the issues that are important to me. I like that their campaign isn't just about making the other guys look bad. I like that they address the issues. Bob Barr actually ANSWERED the questions asked in the debate. He wasn't invited, so he did so via YouTube. Hey... a candidate who's Internet-savvy? What a concept.

You are welcome to believe that I'll be throwing away my vote, but I feel like I'm USING my vote. I would love to see the two-party system tossed on its ear. I'm going to vote for someone I approve of, not someone who's only 'better than the other guy.' There are a lot of 'other guys.' You think it's awesome that a black man and a woman are in the race? There's a BLACK WOMAN running for president in the green party. *That's* awesome. And it's in the news being celebrated... where?

What's more, I'd like to encourage you to think outside the box, too. This is a great year to send a clear message that the Democrats and Republicans have outlived their stranglehold on American politics. They had their chance, and they've honestly blown it. Price of gas, economy, job situations, mortgage crooks, health care... our country isn't in good shape, and if you want change, think about real change, long-term change, not just our regularly scheduled party switch.

At least look at all the choices. It's not 'either' party. It's 'any' party. I don't particularly care what party you choose, but make sure it's a party you believe in, a candidate you like, not just a vote for quid pro quo, because you don't like 'the other guy.' That's defeatist and short-sighted and driven by fear. We're better than that.



And that is my last word on politics for a good long while.

Business-y stuff

I thought I had some to post when I started this entry... but I guess not. I think I ran out of blogging steam with my political rant.

Comments

[wyrdwriter.livejournal.com]

I love your political rant--probably because that is where I am headed as well. This election is DISGUSTING and is an exercise in grownups behaving like dysfunctional 4-year-olds.

I always end up wet head to toe washing Jack, too. :O)

[sister-bluebird.livejournal.com]

I'm a habitual third-party voter, and as far as I'm concerned, the only people throwing away their votes are the ones who can't be bothered to get to the polls.

[laylalawlor.livejournal.com]

I'm kinda the opposite of you, in that this is the first year in a long time that there's a major candidate in the race I actually want to vote for, as opposed to voting third-party or holding my nose and choosing the lesser of two evils.

But I absolutely agree that, no matter who you vote for, the only wasted vote is a vote not cast. I'd argue that a vote against is as meaningful as a vote for; the important thing is just to do it.

[uminomamori.livejournal.com]

The senate ads here are horrible. The anti- Al Franken ads have been so mean he actually came out with one mocking them by saying he hates puppies.

[polarbee.livejournal.com]

That's awesome.

[carmensylph.livejournal.com]

RE politics: I am in utter, total and complete agreement with you. I'm fed up with the whole Dem/Rep thing. People have tried to argue at me that if I don't vote for one of them (as opposed to writing in or a different party) that I'm throwing away my vote too. I disagree strongly with this -- one of the rights I have as an American is voting for a President that I think will do a good job, not a lesser of two evils. And darn it, I'm going to use that right.
Good post!

[carmensylph.livejournal.com]

Also, just had to add -- I've been so fed up with the uglyness directed at the opposite parties on some of the journals around here I've had to filter them out. No time for all the negativity, thanks!! All it says is "I hate so and so", nothing about what is good about anyone. I totally agree with you here, too!!

[wyld-dandelyon.livejournal.com]

I've been there; I find the mudslinging contests ugly and morally repugnant, though I don't blame just the parties. After all, we hear (repeatedly) the parts that the news people pick up, and they want a nasty fight, they believe it makes for high ratings.

On the other hand, even when it has been a choice of evils, I want my vote to count as strongly as possible against the greater evil. So, in the general scheme of things, I've moved from simply hoping to find a candidate I love (regardless of party and chance to win) to trying to influence the party that I agree with more to be more the party I want it to be.

And this presidential election, there's actually a candidate I really like--which, to me, is a surprise bonus. Especially since from what I've seen, he is saying fewer nasty and untrue things than his opponents.

[melissad.livejournal.com]

What dog wash place do you go to? We used to take Sierra to the Dawg Wash downtown, but it closed this summer.

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

It's at PetCo. When you go in the main doors, you go right into the groomer's area. It's not truly private, it's sort of in a back area with lots of cages, but it worked fine! $10/half hour seemed like a good deal - the water pressure was good, nice long hose and good nozzle thingy, and a velocity dryer (basically a dryer with no heat, it just blows). They're a little skimpy on the towels, might want to bring a few extras.

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Oh, and they require proof of current rabies, but will call your vet for you to verify.

[curvature.livejournal.com]

I love the concept of a self-service dogwash. I wonder if we have anything like that here?

Not that I currently have a dog, but I'm getting one as soon as we buy a house (not terribly long now, squee!) so I'll look around once we do :)

American politics are spoiling our gossip sessions around here too - everyone is speculating about it and it's filling up our international news section in the paper. And it's not constructive in the least.

Also, dog parks are fun - we have a really nice one round a little lake near our house, and we go there for walks and watch the puppies frolicking. It's a lovely place to hang out as long as we watch where we're stepping >.>

[mon-enfant.livejournal.com]

I definitely hate that only two parties get any attention. Texas actually has a large Libertarian party, it seems, which is encouraging. I noticed on the preview of our local ballot almost every category had a Libertarian candidate.

I also hate it when people vote for a party and not a candidate. Doesn't matter which person they are voting for so much if they can't come up with a real reason why they are doing so.

[rendergirl.livejournal.com]

I agree %100 with this entry... well said!

[celticwren.livejournal.com]

Where do you do your research? I've been meaning to do some myself.

[pseudopagan.livejournal.com]

I disagree with you regarding third party voting, and have indicated why here so as not to spam up your journal. ;)

Don't be fooled by the italics, you know I'll always love you. :D

2 cents

[metasilk.livejournal.com]

A thought on voting third-party (for someone you believe in)/voting lesser-of-two-evils (voting against someone you cannot bear):

It seems to me that in both cases, the voter is choosing what is right for his/her conscience and perception of what reflects his/her values, priorities and dreams the most clearly. I think that is far more important, at root, than whether our consciences have exactly the same opinion as to which voting strategy will work. In fact, I've done both of those, at different times. (As an aside, I think runoff voting is in general a better method than our electoral college method, as it allows for the best of both strategies at the same time.)

On women for VP/Pres:
For two Pres elections (1996 & 2000), Winona LaDuke, a Native American woman, ran on a ticket with Ralph NAder (Green tickets). Geraldine Ferraro ran for VP when I was in high school. This election just happens to have more Big Ticket women, and both have gotten closer and been backed by more money.

Alright, back to work.

[rhiamon.livejournal.com]

I hear ya, sistah! If Graham could vote (and he can't because he's only a permanent resident...but he can (well, he must) pay taxes, so that bit about 'no taxation without representation' is bogus - but, that's a whole 'nother rant) he'd be voting for Nadar. But, I don't think NC is allowing any other party candidates on the ballot for the general election - that is, I've been told Nadar won't be on the ballot - I shall have to research this further (I think the Libertarian candidate is on). But, yeah - I am SO over the negativity and the ads/rallies where they're telling you what's bad about their opponent (not just politically but personally as well), but not telling you what THEY are planning to do to try and fix things. I've seen more of it from the McCain campaign, but I'm sure others will have seen more of it from the Obama campaign...mileage may very and all. Too bad we can't vote for the Bald Brummies!