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Something to do or mess up
1.17.11
Have you ever noticed that some women enter politics after their children are grown? Does that mean the empty-nesters are looking for something to do, someone to boss or just have a burning desire to meddle in other people's lives?
Other women in politics are there because they are rich, bored and need a hobby. So, they run for office. Folks lacking common sense along with a deep yearning for a mother figure, vote them into office. Thanks a lot you guys!
Some women take up the political mantle after their husbands can no longer run. It's that pesky thing called "term limits" which the electorate want and politicians fear and detest. After all, they would literally have to voted themselves out of office by passing term limits. And to quote more than one person from recent conversations, "That ain't gonna happen." Greed is a powerful force. Whether one yearns for money or power, no matter how much they amass, they continue to want more.
Therefore, women held the power to boss their children until they grew up, but the desire to mess with someone's mind and freedom is almost an aphrodisiac or a drug they crave and refuse to relinquish.
Harassment
8.28.10
In order to cover their posteriors, most companies ask (read that to mean force) their employees to participate in some kind of harassment training. Such training includes sexual harassment as well as intimidation in the workplace.
Of course intimidation grown up style is the same as bullying among children and teens. But one cannot help but wonder if the bullies in the workplace are trapped in a time warp of perpetual childhood. Whether they are children or presumed adults, bullies are slime balls who delight in the misery of others, especially the misery they cause.
Nowadays, what used to be a playground sport has gone into cyberspace. In fact, bullying has become such a problem that several states have enacted bullying laws. Once again the government caused the problem with all its "sensitivity" to the itty bitty feelings of gnats and the resulting laws. Now government steps in because its laws have tied the hands of parents and other authority figures when it comes to discipline. Consequently, lack of discipline allows bullies to thrive and multiply, just like bacteria.
The harassment training has evolved over the years. Probably because certain aspects of the initial harassment training classes were offensive to the trainees. In fact, the trainers seemed to enjoy "pretending" to harass the "volunteers" (for teaching purposes only, of course).
After the harassment classes concluded, one high mucky muck suit remarked, "I thought they were going to teach us "how" to harass."
To which one plainspoken soul replied, "They don't teach professionals." Fortunately, everyone laughed, including the suit. Later, several of the more timid employees congratulated the smart aleck on his "bravery" in giving voice to what they were thinking.
In the past few years the training has gone online, probably because the trainees find it pointless to argue with a computer generated quiz. This situation generates frustration, especially if one does not agree with the "required" answers. As a bone of sorts tossed to the masses (even though everyone is required to take the course), employees can take the training and test as time permits (which is quite comical when the test itself is a waste of time).
The interesting thing about all such required training/tests is that one can take the tests over and over again, until you pass. Sure learned a lot in that training!
The Shovel-Ready Man
3.20.10
The United States started out as an agrarian country and even back then, George Washington and other leaders of the young country must have been familiar with the stuff that was considered shovel-ready on a farm. Therefore, it is fitting that politicians today draw upon the country's past with their near-daily discussion of all their shovel-ready programs (and inadvertently remind us of the time when our Constitution was conceived and written).
Truth is, the only things which are most definitely shovel-ready are our beloved politicians and their Shoveler-In-Chief ("SIC"). A lot of doo doo, to be sure. Deep and stinky.
This certainly is a change, but not what the voters expected from the SIC's pie-in-the-sky promises prior to his ascendancy to the National Porcelain Throne.
It would be nice to get rid of the shovel unless SIC plans to shovel the sidewalk in front of the White House (which would be a much more productive effort on his part than we have seen so far).
Speeches delivered in any-place-but-DC have worn thin -- too much hot air and very little substance.
Stay home and try to act like a leader (if you can). On second thought, don't bother. We already know that all you are capable of is running for office, but not performing any job you were ever elected to do.
Media Feeding Frenzy Encourages Bad Behavior
1.22.11
The recent dump of "same ol' same ol'" non-information in Arizona is yet another example why 24-hour "news" is a waste of money and tries the viewers' patience.
The waste of money includes all the salaries, travel expenses, etc. of the "reporters" on the scene and those in the studios repeating the same lack of information their guy on the scene just "reported". As a result, "talking heads" who know even less than the reporters about the situation are interviewed to fill air time.
This type of filler "reporting" has given rise to the sloppy information gathering which true journalists used to perform before leaping in front of the nearest microphone or camera with unsubstantiated blather.
The irresponsible airing of unverified non-information as well as all the media "dumbos" spewing whatever happens to pop into their heads, actually encourages more of the same sloppy behavior and lack of thoughtful discourse on the part of reporters and talking heads.
And since many individuals who go on shooting/killing rampages are not only unhinged but also yearning for their 15 minutes of "fame", the 24-hour coverage of their bad behavior may encourage others of the same unhinged ilk to act on their fantasies as well.
What is wrong with simply getting the information (verifying that what you are about to report is correct) and reporting said information a couple of times during the day?
As for the readers and hosts of 24 hour non-news, get a real job and quit polluting the airways with your blather.