after the appointment of King George II, i decided that i really should get myself more involved in politics, or at least become a bit more informed. the past few months have seen me in earnest pursuit of those goals, and i think i'm now more in touch with political matters than i've ever been before. it's still frustrating as hell to think that, y'know, my one little vote really doesn't matter in the greater scheme of things, especially when the special interests own the politicians, everyone's too busy philandering to do their jobs, and when elections themselves are really in the control of a select and non-representative minority. also, take into account that for the last umpteen years, there's been no real candidates to care about (choosing between the lesser of two evils has become routine), and the fact that the two major political parties might as well just give up and become one giant political part, what with all the damned centrist shit flying about from the campaign podiums.

in light of all this crap, i am heartened of late to see some of the candidates stepping up to the plate for the Democratic party, in that some of them actually seem to be liberals! amazing! Of course, you've also got Lieberman (conservative in sheeps clothing), Kucinich (too liberal for his own good), and Edwards (a personal injury trial lawyer… 'nuff said there).
still, as i said, it is good to see at least a few genuine liberals in the mix this year.

but, i hadn't really intended to write all this crap, i was mainly going to introduce an interesting/fun conversation paul & i had yesterday, via IM. here goes:

president who?
coffeemonk: speaking of politics, what's your opinion on Gen. Clark?
puffin: i'd like to learn more about him. he seems like a pretty good contender.
coffeemonk: yeah, that's what i'm thinking.
puffin: a democrat general.
coffeemonk: an ANTI-WAR democrat general.
coffeemonk: 4 star general at that.
coffeemonk: former supreme commander of NATO forces.
puffin: now that would be staunch competition for georgie
coffeemonk: no shit.
puffin: i like what i hear.
coffeemonk: i just hope to find out more about his stance on "the issues." though, from what little i've read so far, he's in the same camp as Howard Dean for the most part–ideologically, anyway.
puffin: which isn't too bad of a thing.
coffeemonk: yeah. it provides a point of hope, anyway. 'cause as good as Dean seems, i'm not sure he's got what it takes to oust Dubya.
coffeemonk: my only misgiving about Clark as of this morning, is the comments he made on TV this morning (apparently) where he said: "I've had a lot of diplomatic experience. I've done a lot of work with security policy. I think I'm the best person to look at the future of this country and keep us safe."
coffeemonk: the sticky point being that last sentence.
coffeemonk: confidence is good, but must be tempered with humility. we'll see how his public persona manifests itself as things progress.
puffin: i'm actually hoping for a dean/clark or clark/dean ticket.
coffeemonk: yeah. that would be double good. if clark runs his campaign right, i think they can still work something out, whoever gets the nom.
puffin: yeah
puffin: maybe what he means about the safety of the country is not putting ourselves in a position where people would want to attack us. like meddling in other countries' affairs.
coffeemonk: oh yeah. i had no problem with that part. i just fear that he may be too "it's my destiny to lead this nation to greatness" kind of thing–too much "I Me My Mine" as opposed to our, we, us, etc.
coffeemonk: but, still, this is a campaign, which is essentially an exercise in personal marketing, so you kind of have to do *some* "i me my mine".
coffeemonk: it's the same problem i have with supposed Buddhist monks who use too many personal pronouns–they're supposed to embrace and pursue the no-self, the absense of self, and yet all they can talk about is all the humanitarian and charitable things they've done.
puffin: hehe
coffeemonk: it's kind of the same thing for the President in my eyes… the President serves at the will of and for the benefit of the people, not himself.
puffin: yeah.
coffeemonk: but like i said, in a personal marketing crusade, i suppose you have to expect some of that. he is trying to sell himself above the other contenders.
coffeemonk: "I think *I* will be a better leader than *him*, for these reasons:…"
coffeemonk: that kind of thing.
puffin: the thing that bugs me about bush is that he says its his job to decide what is best for the people, not make decisions based on popular concensious.
coffeemonk: which is a load of fucking horse-cock.
coffeemonk: ooh sorry.
puffin: exactly.

president matt!
coffeemonk: there are so many sweeping reforms i'd like to see in our government… i could never get elected, 'cause i'd tear the whole damn thing down and start over.
puffin: viva la revolution!!!
coffeemonk: la revolution!
coffeemonk: 1st change: Congresspeople get switched over to Social Security, rather than their private congressional retirement plan.
coffeemonk: 2nd change: no money from lobbyists allowed. period.
puffin: that kinda becomes a free speech issue in a way.
puffin: scratch that
coffeemonk: money is not speech.
puffin: i didnt catch the money part.
puffin: i totally agree.
coffeemonk: right, k, lets see…
coffeemonk: 3rd change: federally funded federal elections with a $100,000 spending cap, with full accountability.
coffeemonk: however, TV and radio stations have to provide free airtime for candidate's commercials, debates, etc.
coffeemonk: free & equal i should say.
coffeemonk: but not for primary elections, which have to be funded by the political parties, and not the candidates themselves.
coffeemonk: there are details, of course, to all these things that'd have to be worked out, but this is the gist of them.
puffin: yeah
coffeemonk: Sweeping reforms of the health-care industry… top to bottom.
puffin: hellz yeah
coffeemonk: concentrating mainly on insurance co's and pharmaceutical co's.
puffin: double hellz yeah
puffin: pump money into education. like a lot of money.
coffeemonk: yeah.
puffin: increase teacher salaries.
coffeemonk: 100,000 a year, minimum.
coffeemonk: with *strict* testing of the teachers themselves.
puffin: yep.
coffeemonk: raise the salaries but make sure we've got damn good teachers who care about kids, not money grubbers.
puffin: yep.
puffin: mr. rasnake, what would you do about our failing economy?
coffeemonk: i'm torn between flat-tax with no taxes on sub $20,000 annual salaries, or revamping the current progressive tax structure to once again put more pressure on the wealthy…
coffeemonk: or the elimination of the income tax system altogether, in favor of a federal sales tax.
coffeemonk: with a curve, so that if you buy a higher ticket item, you pay a greater percentage sales tax.
puffin: how about an income tax with a flat percentile?
puffin: everyone pays 10%
coffeemonk: yeah, as i said, i'm torn between flat-tax and progressive tax.
puffin: or something
coffeemonk: i'm just afraid that a flat-tax would negatively impact the poorer segment of society.
coffeemonk: people who *need* every single damn cent they make.
puffin: yeah.
coffeemonk: which is why i'd have a flat tax not apply to people who make below say… $20,000 annually.
puffin: ahhh….
coffeemonk: it's a non-welfare welfare system.
coffeemonk: if you make below that level, you don't have to pay income taxes… but you're still making below that level… so you're still not really that well off. which makes it an incentive to improve above that tax-cutoff line.
puffin: what are your thoughts of strict tariffs on goods from countries whose workplace enviroments are in dire need of reform?
coffeemonk: totally in favor.
coffeemonk: sanction any country responsible for grievous human rights violations.
coffeemonk: also!
coffeemonk: heee!
coffeemonk: i like this one.
coffeemonk: any company who has a presense in this country must pay *all* its employees *internationally* by the U.S. established minimum wage, or face stiff penalties.
puffin: what do you have to say to your critics that state such a move only hurts the workers by decreasing an influx of money to said country, thus reducing jobs.
coffeemonk: we will not support the economies or governments of countries who routinely violate human rights.
coffeemonk: we will however support humanitarian missions in those countries, to attempt to improve their quality of life–the money that we make from the increased tariffs will go towards humanitarian needs for those people, and towards sanctions and efforts to persuade that govnt. to stop violating human rights. make it in that govnt's best interest to respect human rights.
puffin: interesting.

*****

so there it is, my endorsement of Gen. Clark, and my own political platform should i ever consider running for office.

don't hold your breath.