in the home stretch
Just think, a week from today you are going to be seeing commercials for cars, lawyers who will protect your rights, mortgage companies, and movies not-yet-rated, but hoping for an Oscar nomination. In short, the kind of bullshit you recognize right off. TV will be a wasteland of reruns and programs that you hadn't noticed before because they were interupted about 14 times an hour by somebody who wanted a change or somebody else who would stay the course. Radio will fall back on that tired old standby, music, and the talking head media whores will have quite a bit less pre-corded bullshit to spew, and as such, may suffer from some laryngitus as they struggle to fill the void. (Don't worry RL, nothing a few dozen smuggled Oxycontin won't fix right up!).
Whatever will we do?
Statistically speaking, about half the electorate are going to be happy next wednesday, and the other half will be convinced that the apocalypse is upon us. No matter what camp you fall into, (and face it, none of us really knows how this will stack up), it is time to think about writing to your new or re-elected Senator and Congressman; a nice short letter, just to let them know that you care, and that you are paying attention. Enunciate to them a short theme, one or two sentences, at most, about what you want from government, and then write them twice a month, just to let them know that you still care and are still watching.
It's unfortunate that we cannot expect a 'good-faith' relationship with our representatives, (and they are our people, no corporation or PAC cast one stinking vote for them), but if we can get a little momentum going, this will be a lot easier in the future, and we will be a lot less unhappy with the way things are working out.
On another significant front, I see the the DPRK is now returning to the 6 party talks that it rejected several months ago. This is a tactic, the country wants or needs something, and will throw a tantrum and walk out when winter passes and it thinks it is ready for another try at a successful A test. (That is simply my opinion; I think that the test was a dud rather than a 'compact' or small device---and the DPRK either does not have sufficient fissile material or the know-how to fix whatever problem plagued the first shot).
In any event, we need to face the fact that there are two new players in the nuclear arena, North Korea and Iran. In joining this club, those two nations shackle themselves to the same budgetary and technical rock that other nations have sought desperately to free themselves from. This step will be not a step up for these countries, but a millstone around their necks.
The thought that either of these two countries might launch a strike on another country is sobering and frightening. But keep in mind, (they are), that they cannot match the capabilities of any other nuclear power, and such a step would invite certain retalliation from numerous angles, and near certain annihilation.
Ignore them. They are like a case of herpes. An annoyance to be sure, a definite inconvenience, something that is to be carefully monitored and managed, but in the end, one just has to live with it.
Stay focused.
Whatever will we do?
Statistically speaking, about half the electorate are going to be happy next wednesday, and the other half will be convinced that the apocalypse is upon us. No matter what camp you fall into, (and face it, none of us really knows how this will stack up), it is time to think about writing to your new or re-elected Senator and Congressman; a nice short letter, just to let them know that you care, and that you are paying attention. Enunciate to them a short theme, one or two sentences, at most, about what you want from government, and then write them twice a month, just to let them know that you still care and are still watching.
It's unfortunate that we cannot expect a 'good-faith' relationship with our representatives, (and they are our people, no corporation or PAC cast one stinking vote for them), but if we can get a little momentum going, this will be a lot easier in the future, and we will be a lot less unhappy with the way things are working out.
On another significant front, I see the the DPRK is now returning to the 6 party talks that it rejected several months ago. This is a tactic, the country wants or needs something, and will throw a tantrum and walk out when winter passes and it thinks it is ready for another try at a successful A test. (That is simply my opinion; I think that the test was a dud rather than a 'compact' or small device---and the DPRK either does not have sufficient fissile material or the know-how to fix whatever problem plagued the first shot).
In any event, we need to face the fact that there are two new players in the nuclear arena, North Korea and Iran. In joining this club, those two nations shackle themselves to the same budgetary and technical rock that other nations have sought desperately to free themselves from. This step will be not a step up for these countries, but a millstone around their necks.
The thought that either of these two countries might launch a strike on another country is sobering and frightening. But keep in mind, (they are), that they cannot match the capabilities of any other nuclear power, and such a step would invite certain retalliation from numerous angles, and near certain annihilation.
Ignore them. They are like a case of herpes. An annoyance to be sure, a definite inconvenience, something that is to be carefully monitored and managed, but in the end, one just has to live with it.
Stay focused.
posted by eccentric recluse at 11:12 AM
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