This is why Johnny is exhausted with me. I won’t budge. I think she lives in a dream world and she thinks I’m an asshole. But I have fun watching the vein on her forehead pop out. Ok, now I’m going to my girlfriend’s house so her son can throw rocks and knives at me.

Sorry I haven’t written yet on this topic. I’ve been busy, but I am also so tired of arguing with Matt. i feel like I’m talking to a wall. In many ways, I understand Matt’s concerns and his views. But I think that we should be working on creating a new consciousness of peace, which is the ONLY way out of hard times. And there is a crisis in the US of a general fear and lack of integrity, which is highlighted in our political system and financial and media institutions. The almighty dollar wins out. Unfortunately, those who have been yelling loudest about morality, integrity, and “family values”–lately the far right wing fanatical Republicans (not ALL, but the fanatics of the party)–have been the biggest hypocrites, leading us into one war I think we shouldn’t be in, alienating us from our allies and partners around the world, and steeping us the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. The fact is, that like Obama or not, he is our only hope. It was going to be him or McCain. If someone chose to exercise their right to vote for a third candidate, that’s cool. But it was either going to be Obama or McCain. While I admire McCain’s tremendous service, I was concerned about voting him for three main reasons, then a fourth. 1) While I admire his co-sponsoring of the immigration reform bill with ted kennedy, he did not have the power or influence to get his party on board. it was eventually voted down by republicans in the congress, which i think is the main reason, or at least a big one, why the republicans lost the congress two years ago. 2) I have seen him pander increasingly to his base, which is the loud minority of far right-wing voters, steering further away from his centrist (and I think common sense) policies that made him a Maverick in the first place. 2) i am pro-choice; he is staunchly not. And finally, the big kicker 4) Sarah Pallin. What an insult to women and to the American people to chose this person as a running mate. If this was his first executive decision, i knew i could not trust his judgement, and that he, like bush, was ill-prepared for the office and would pander to their base, rather than make common-sense decisions. Choosing her was perhaps the most insulting thing I may have ever seen to women, in my opinion. now, don’t forget, I have been a Republican my whole life, but I am so disappointed by the party. So, step in Barak Obama. This is the first time in my political lifetime that I have heard a candidate speak of sacrifice, speak words of hope and peace, speak words of transformation. I like Joe Biden. I agree with Obama’s vote on the war. Frankly, that’s all I had to go on, I’ll be honest. But that was enough to make me take a chance on a fresh voice that mirrors my own values, rather than vote for a party that I have seen embody all the negative traits they judge others for. And Matt, i must agree with Sno, as you know I do, that I have found your tone throughout this whole campaign and election frightening for its vitriol, and it’s scary. We all have a right to speak our minds, and that is an important part of justice, but I think then we must see how we can create something positive with love and on the path to peace. we don’t have to be meek when a fight is called for, but matt I don’t think in your heart that you believe in the ideal of peace, and without that I think there is no hope. Peace for the world begins with peace for ourselves, and my belief is that we find that through God’s love, self-love, and loving others. I would like to see our country DOING so much for good (which we already do do in droves) that there just isn’t any time, money, or energy left for all the negative. There are things we in business, media, education, and politics can DO to create spaces for peace, and I think they come from helping others. I guess I’m willing to see what happens if we try it; maybe I’m naive, maybe I’m wrong. But I want to see if America can be a land of pluralism and individualism at the same time? I think we can, though it is a social experiment. I, too, hope you’re wrong Matt. But I’m willing to give Obama a try. Hope!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrvpZxMfKaU

I just find it strange that while former socialist/communist countries in the world are finally seeing the benefits of capitialism and moving that way, the U.S. goes towards socialism. We were once a country that was a beacon of actual hope and change and that power was in the hands of the individual. Just the other day, Barry said that we are not a nation of individuals. He’s playing with fire because, while many/most of his supporters buy that crap, there are still many Americans who would prefer to be the independent “man out on a limb” than to engage in group-thinking and legistlated behavior. Obama has told us plenty of times that this is where he will take us. History (which has not been properly taught in this country for many decades, and for just this reason) has taught us that when the electorate figures out that they can vote themselves goodies from the public treasury, that nation will be in the throes of death. We have been in those throes and now we are guaranteeing the death.

Many think I am crazy or paranoid. But those people tend to not know much about history which is a great way to predict what the future can hold.

Only time will tell who is right or wrong here. I can’t see individuals actually thriving after Obama’s domestic policies and tax policies are in full swing. I see a greater dependence on the government, further balkanization of the country and, as for unity, I see people forcing it through intimidation, coercion and other ugly things. Paul tells me things will be ok. I hope he’s right. Believe me, I don’t want to be right here. I have never wanted to be so wrong before. B8ut I am 90% sure that I am right.

So, Sno, because we disagree does not mean that I was attacking you. You and Johnny, among a few others, are two of the people I still have respect for after a disagreement. So when I say Obama supporters are idiots, or if I say that, I usually don’t, in my mind, include my friends, for if my friends were actually idiots, I wouldn’t pick them to be my friends. As for the comrade Sno thing, I was just getting used to using such terms. That was directed at the change coming over here.

Let me ask you a question: What is the Eastern European reaction or interpretation of Putin wanting to be president again since our election?

The one thing I don’t get is this notion of unity. It’s funny how the people who are saying we must unify under Barry are the same ones who wouldn’t unify under Bush if you paid them. And it’s hard to unify when the man was elected by telling Americans that we are a sucky country that has never done anything right. In doing so he has offended at least 47 million voters who love their country and think we were a great people before Bush and in spite of Bush when he was in office. I always respect my president regardless of who it is. But that’s mainly respect for the office they hold. But once his policies start to encroach on my civil liberties and my personal economy, I will have a huge problem, as will millions of other Americans, including many of his supporters.

My attitude is changing as the days go by. Now, I can’t wait to see the look on the faces of his supporters when they realize they will have their money stolen from them to give to those who won’t work and, therefore, don’t pay taxes.

My basic problem is, Sno, that I feel my chance of a future is gone and he has told us that. Raising taxes and taking away incentives to invest and work steals the future from me and my children and my children’s children. Only time will tell, but I forsee 1984 coming really soon. Bush helped get that started, but Barry will push it over the edge.

As I said to our new fellow citizen, Paul, the other day, get a hold of the HBO mini series John Adams (which I am in) and you will see how we are now in a state closer to a non-violent Bolschvic Revolution than we are closer to a reovlution of Liberty and individual rights and freedoms in John Adams’s day. The problem with our country now is that we don’t know how we started and why we started nor do we know the struggles we have endured to become the world’s biggest superpower in only 200+ years. My fear is that has been thrown away by a electorate that is more fixated on fucking Bush than national prosperity. As you probably know over there in Eastern Europe, when the government has control over the economy and an individual’s behavior and choices, a country cannot last long. I hope I’m wrong, but I study too much history to think I am. So, in a away, Obama has already brought hope to me. I hope we didn’t just shoot ourselves in the foot.

Hail Obama, Comrade Sno.

Thanks for your thoughts and listen to the debate on our new show!