Think I'm going to create another blog.

Seeing as we can have multiple blogs of different themes (or the same one if you're lazy) I think I'll create another. I don't know what it'll focus on, if anything specific. But it'll be around sometime.

You want real change?

If you want real change, you'll to start voting out Republicans and Democrats. They practice the same 'ole politics by the same 'ole people. Get rid of these guys, moderates included, and you'll have real change.

Just thinking aloud...

So, do you pray to God on Sunday? Yes, I'm sure you do. You do know that Sunday (or the Sabbath day) is His day off, right?

How would you like it if every one that prayed to your god prayed to you on your day off as well? That would be every Jew, every Christian, and every Muslim. That's a lot of wasted energy, because God surely isn't listening. It is His day off after all.

Well... Shit.

I really do think this country is no longer for the people.

While some of our elected officials may be for the people, the majority are not. I think the ones more for the people are the ones elected on municipal levels, county levels, and moreover, state levels. US Senators, and Representatives, and hell, even the President aren't for the people. Some of them may be, and I'm sure there is a few that really are for the people that elected them, but the rest are not. They're more concerned with their political agendas and the party loyalties most of them have.

It's sad really, that we all have been complacent to this. We sit back and complain when the politician's views don't mirror our own. We sure as hell don't protest or petition which is our right. At least, we don't protest at the levels we should. For instance, the former administration had the shittiest approval ratings since approval ratings were taken. What did people do? They sat back and disapproved. The amount of people that wanted Bush out of office probably wasn't much, but if they all decided to get together in DC right on the National Mall and protest, I'm sure it would have struck a certain chord with the people they'd have been protesting against.

God damn, we've become lazy when it comes to our government. Keywords: our government. Our government should be doing what the people want, not what they want. While this country may not be a pure democracy (it's a representative democracy), who do the people representing us think they represent? You say you elect a politician because you agree with them on the issues. Yeah, fuck that, few people really do it that way. You elect them because they're a Democrat or a Republican or whatever party you happen to support. Yeah, that's right is it not?

What Senators and Representatives need to do is go to their respective districts, find a big ass meeting hall, and listen. Fuckin' listen to the people and what they want to see happen. But with that happen? You can bet it never will. These politicians are in it for themselves, and their political party.

Hey guys! Guess what?!

So, here it is:

You know the fear of Socialism that is in close kinship with the Cold War fear of Communism? Yeah, you know that, you're smart people (well...). People in this country should realize that this country is as much Socialist as it is Capitalist.

All the public institutions. Public works, public parks, city/county/state/country infrastructure, fire, police, public schools, Social Security... In other words, anything funded by public tax money. Socialism. Simple as that. All this stuff we rely on on a daily basis. And no one complains. They only complain when there is talk of government takeovers of institutions we see as private entities (banks, as per today's current argument. But of course, there is the Federal Reserve, a national bank that supplies this country's money). Not that I don't complain myself, I just say that they should have let the banking system fail. This is supposed to be a capitalist nation after all. Even with all these public institutions. As a capitalist nation, the banks would have failed, and other banks would have grown to fill in the blanks.

In other words, The government of the United States of America is a Socialist government. The business world of the United States of America is Capitalist; the only Capitalist thing in this nation.

I've got an idea...

Y'all have no doubt heard about the bonuses paid to AIG execs, and possible bonuses paid through other companies that have received bailout funds. Billions of dollars of money all these people don't need at all. They failed their business, so they don't deserve a bonus. They haven't fixed their business, so they don't deserve a bonus. Instead of passing a bill that taxes it at ninety percent, pass a bill that makes them invest the bonus money in the arts. Turn these companies into the modern equivalent of the Medici family.

Don't make them invest in programs, because programs don't always directly put the money to good use. Make these execs use the money to commission artists, sculptors, architects, musicians, actors, and people from the whole realm of the arts to make stuff. Billions of dollars to people who want to get paid, making things to better our communities and lives.

It sounds like a good idea to me. And it makes more sense than a tax to me.

Cheney is an ass.

No one needs to say more.

I've always held most of the blame against Cheney anyways. I don't need to hear his King interview to see that he's the one I should blame for a lot of the stupidities of the last administration. I don't care if he's a Republican, that matters little.

People said Cheney and Bush protected our country. They didn't protect our country. You can't protect against an enemy you can't directly fight (a lesson from the Vietcong, and all other guerrilla forces throughout history). Also one can't protect against an enemy driven by ideological and religious means (which are both outside of our country, and within it). This country doesn't need the security that Cheney proposes, because ultimately, it's counterproductive and ends up creating more enemies from both outside the country, and inside of it. These people he consents to torture will not give up the information that we want because they see what they do as an honor, and look upon us with hatred. It's sad, really, that we have these kinds of enemies. Hell, that anyone has these kind of enemies.

Also, I think Cheney belongs in jail, or simply tortured with the same things he wants other people to be tortured with. A lot of people say, "Well on what charges can we charge him on?" How about perjury? That's a crime. Perjury to the American people. His former employers. Also, crimes against humanity, how about that one? I bet if you investigate the Bush administration as a whole, you'll find that there's a paper somewhere out there that has Cheney signature approving the torture methods used. Ooo, war crimes is another. He talked Bush into pushing for the invasion of a sovereign nation. And a couple hundred thousand Iraqis have been killed for no real reason. I mean, the reason still remains that Saddam Hussein was in charge of a dangerous nation. Yeah, dangerous to who? I think only dangerous to the Iraqi people. It's not our job to do either, get rid of tyrannical despots. There's a leader complacent to genocide in the Sudan, but that's right, the West doesn't really care all that much what happens in Africa. We like to 'express concern' and 'exert pressure' on those people, not invade. That's only reserved for the Middle East, and countries who had little to do with the reason why we're over there now.

Hell, Pakistan is the most dangerous of the countries over there now in terms of tolerance. They allowed the Taliban too much freedom (counter-intuitive). Now, I'm all for letting the Taliban be assholes, because it's not our job to impose our views on them. It seems that our country is so right, that is has to go to war to prove it. Woodrow Wilson would be ashamed. He said something like our country is so right that we have no need to fight to prove it so. At this point, our country is half-right, and we still have no reason to fight to prove it so.

Just a thought...

Don't you think we're too easy on our criminals?

I'm not talking about the 'weekend criminals' that commit their crimes, serve their sentence, and don't (necessarily) commit more crimes when they finish their sentence. I'm talking about the hardcore re-offenders. The criminals that get out a parole and start right back up in their life of crime. The escapees, the gang bangers who feel as if they have a special loyalty to their gang, serial rapists (sex offenders), chronic criminals basically. The people that are in and out of jail.

These people really don't deserve to be anywhere but dead. They're a cancerous growth in a civilized society. The whole 'three strikes' deal shouldn't end with a life sentence, but with a death sentence. What's the point of a criminal that repeatedly commits crimes to waste our tax dollars in prison, and most likely commit crimes while within prison? Just shoot them a couple times in the head and dump them into an unmarked grave. Problem solved. They do not need to be alive. Rehabilitation only works on the people that show genuine remorse, and work in prison programs that do something good.

I've always believed that rapists should be killed (not turned into a eunuch, they always find other ways to rape). They rarely are rehabilitated, and if they're dead, that can't re-offend. Shoot them a couple times in the head and dump them in an unmarked grave. Problem solved.

Murderers that continue to murder in prison should be killed as well. They're doing somewhat of a service, whacking criminals already in prison. But they usually don't whack the right criminals, so shoot them in the head a couple times and dump them in an unmarked grave. Problem solved.

Criminals that keep going in and out of the system, death. They do nothing but muck the system up and waste valuable time and tax money. Shot them a couple times in the head and dump them in an unmarked grave. Problem solved.

Convicts with draconian sentences, you know, those sentences that consist of several life terms and three death sentences? And those criminals that have solitary for life sentences? Yeah, if they aren't working in prison creating something useful for society, but committing more crimes, death. Shoot them a couple times in the head and dump them in an unmarked grave. Problem solved.

People with death sentences. Get the fucking thing over with. If they're sentenced to death, don't let them sit on death row for ten or twenty years. Don't try and abolish the death penalty, what the fuck are you thinking? It's the best thing going for dealing with criminals. Kill them the same day as their sentencing, really, just shoot them in the head a couple times and dump them in an unmarked grave. Problem solved.

And you might think this is a little cruel... No. It is not, it's efficient. Also, if these people are innocent, I'm pretty sure an innocent man never stops fighting his sentencing, unless they're lazy and what not. I will gladly allow people to fight their sentences because they know that they're innocent. It helps get the police on the ball and capture the right guy. Which they need to get better at doing, seeing as one innocent man sent to jail is one too many.

Also, you know the Bernard Madoff type? Yeah, those kind of criminals, rich bastards who swindle, they deserve life in an eight by ten cell with a toilet, table, and bed. That's what a rich criminal who does what Madoff and other like him did deserve.

Anyways, you want an idea that'll stop crime levels real quick? Look to the Spanish Inquisition. Reinstate the brilliant torture devices they used, and crime levels will drop real quick. Because I believe that all criminals deserve punishment for being complete assholes. The US Constitution protects against cruel and unusual punishments (probably because of the Spanish Inquisition), but if you make these punishments usual, and use the ones that fit the crime, then they won't be cruel. And in turn, crime levels will drop, because the Spanish came up with some mean shit during their Inquisition. If that mean shit were to be used to punish criminals these days, criminals would see that crime really doesn't pay, because if you get caught, there's a nice torture device on the other end of the system. Crime will drop, because people do not want to be tortured.

But that might just make criminals better at committing their special crimes. So the death penalty is the best we have going. If they get caught, and get convicted decisively, they get killed. No more criminal committing his special crime. Problem solved. I think Stalin would have liked this. After all, he said, “Death solves all problems - no man, no problem.”

Death is not cruel, death is not unusual, death is something everyone has to face at one time or another.

You wanna know what a buzzkill is? Just after I posted this up, Gov. Bill Richardson signed a bill that repealed New Mexico's death penalty. Fucking hell...

I should tell you my education goals.

Just so you know them.

First off I intend to attain an Associate of Arts at Highline Community College. Get all the redundant stuff done (same education, better price). The emphases (notice the plural) will be in Architecture (mainly drafting and the study of), and Music (general studies). That'll take about three or four more years to pull that off depending on the amount of classes I take each quarter. From there I would like to go to the University of Washington's College of Architecture and Urban Planning to gain a Bachelor in Architecture. And from there I intend on going for a Master of Architecture (and all three designations). That there is about seven years of schooling on its own. But wait! There's more! I intend from there to gain a Doctor of Architecture from the same school. One Doctorate down (yes, one).

When I complete that tract of schooling around my thirties (yes, I'll be old). I intend on going to Central Washington University (or Western) to gain a Bachelor of Music (probably in Theory or Education). There's another couple years of study on my record. Again, there's more. I would like to get a Master of Music as well. Another few years of study. Preferably at Central. From there I'll find a school that fits (probably the UW) and offers (you guessed it) the other Doctorate, but this time in Music. This will be around my late thirties, early forties, depending.

I'll be old and educated in my chosen fields of study. The latter degrees paid for by the work of the former (because everyone wants to get paid). This is my educational goals for the next twenty years. Long time you say? Fuck yeah, but it's what I'm going to do.

A Government of Dumbshits

As you know, at least as I hope you know, the US government's Congress is full of a bunch of dumbshit partisans. I've said it before, I say it again. Yes, there may be the people with a little bit of smarts here and there, but that doesn't cut it. I want them to have to pass an I.Q. test before they're able to run, it would help a lot.

Anyways, the Democrats have rolled out a little 'party of no' deal, which I think is as dumb as they are. They're just complaining that the Republicans aren't hopping onto their train. On some things I would like them to get in with, but that'll never happen. Not so long as they make up their mind before they hear the issue. That's America's partisan politics after all. Happens on both sides. I don't think it will ever change, I'd like it to, but it won't.

You know, with all this Democrat-backed spending on the shit economy, there's Republicans and retards complaining from every angle. Especially on the idea that the Democrats are the 'big government' party. Let me tell you, this government is fucking huge even without the Democrats. Hell, I don't mind a big government, what I don't like is that we have an ineffective government. Big government, yeah, whatever, as long as it's an effective government that gets good shit done, I don't complain. But (I've said this before many times) this government doesn't get a lot of good stuff done because of the partisan politics that goes on. Work on the common ground, please.

We need two parties, or three, that like to talk, like to work together to get things done. Like to play nice. Because ours don't, and they never will as long as the politicians remain the same politicians from the same political parties. We need to get some (no not Independent) people in there that are liberal on some things, and conservative on others (I hate to use those terms, really, they're thrown around too much). If you do one thing liberally, it gets done liberally. If you need to get some things done over here, but you aren't liberal on them, you get them done conservatively. Sounds good doesn't it? But not even Independents are like this, they tend to lean more than straddle, so we can throw them out the sixth story window with the rest of them.

A lot of Americans like to say that they're liberal on some things, and conservative on others, which is fine and dandy, because I say the same about myself, but they don't do anything but discuss this stuff within their circle of politics. They don't run for office, because if they do, they get defeated by partisan politics (or end up like Lieberman, who leans Democrat, so fuck him). These people need to form a major party, they need to organize and stop saying that they're Independents. They need a name that strikes fear into Republicans and Democrats alike, strike the fear that makes those two parties realize they aren't the only two in contention for the Presidency. They need a base of people that strikes fear into the RNC and DNC. They need to bring out the big motherfucking guns.

If this party does form, it can start to take away from the dominance of the Democrats and Republicans. Because I have an equal hatred for both. They're both arrogant, stupid, and hell, the Democrats have even forced the Republican National Convention to put a black man as their head. And also thrust out the dumb fuck Bobby Jindal. That's when you know a party has fallen far, when they have to try an imitate the other party substituting their own ideals in. Either way, I think it's stupid.

Back to the party of Conservativeness/Liberalness. This party could get things done, because most people that say they're conservative on some issues and liberal on others actually agree on those issues. Of course, there will be the people that see things other ways, but they can just fuck off, this party is about agreeing on how to get things done, not internal bickering, or bickering with other parties. This party is about getting things done where everyone agrees on how to do them. Conservative on gun control, alright, gun control is dealt with in the general conservative way (i.e. the lack there of control). Abortion, alrighty then, you guys are liberal on that? Good, keep politics and religion out of it and bar any legislation proposing against it (at least, that's the way I see it). You just got two rather controversial things out of the way, one more so than the other, but at least they're out of the way (for now, hopefully forever).

This party, whatever may it be called, is the party that gets things done they way everyone within it agrees to. This party could grow to oust Democrats and Republicans once and for all from the forefront and turn them into just another set of parties in this party-filled nation. I 'd like to see it happen.

Who wants to help?

Here's one more thing:

No cussing week

The connection between intelligence and use of profanity. Yes, dumb people use profanity, but some of the smartest people I've ever met use profanity 'like a sailor.' This connection has always been invalid to me.

Also, I think (though I could be wrong) that this kid is asking people to voluntarily inhibit their right to free speech. This desensitizes people to when people are really trying to inhibit their rights.

Either way, I'm all for the kid's goals of unity and awareness, but this is one of the last things on my list in the way of unity and working together, down below setting my own house on fire.

Also, the word 'cuss' is really, really irritating to me.

Current Events of Sorts

$900 million to Gaza

Well, a lot of the comments in the CNN political ticker (which I have some stuff to say about) are against this with the argument that "we need to help ourselves before these people." To them I just say piss off, they need it more than we do. When you live in squalor for fifty years without all the trademark American amenities then you get to say we need it more than they do. Go to Gaza and see how they get on, then you'll see why.

Gates calls Pakistan 'Most Worrisome'

Funny thing is, a lot of people took this one to mean that he actually thought Pakistan itself is most worrisome. It made me laugh. He's calling the Taliban in Pakistan and the freedoms (lolwut?) Pakistan is giving to them. Also, a lot of people said we must go in and do the job right. What the hell is that supposed to mean? Invade a sovereign country again? What is it Iraq: The Sequel? And invade a nuclear country at that, no, just no. Though if we did, we'd have the full support of India. They don't like Pakistan much either. Well, really at all. They are rivals after all. They'd be happy to drop a few nukes here and there, and so would Pakistan right back. But MAD (mutually assured destruction, it's a Cold War thing (and the only reason I believe there was never an actual war between us and the Soviet Union (which I'll talk about in awhile))). Anyways, we just need to adopt guerrilla warfare. Turn it to conventional war. Don't leave it to them (the 'enemy'). That will never happen though. But yeah, conventional warfare does not work against unconventional warfare (Gaza v. Israel is a model of that).

__________________________________

Those are really the only ones that caught my eye. Anyways, I'm going to talk about the Soviet Union v. the US in this one.

I believe that we were working to avoid war together. In other words (if you haven't read or seen The Sum of All Fears then this will make little sense to you), the US intelligence services (and high up advisers and what not) and the same for the Soviet Union were working together as much as against each other. I think that they were trying to keep, even when things got heated, everything below the boiling point. And they did a good job of it until the Soviet machine collapsed under its own weight.

I just think we were as much friends as enemies. Just wish we didn't lose their alliance after WWII.

Adversarial parties get nothing done.

I was thinking about political parties and their asshattery. The only problem ours have is their ridiculous adversarial ways. They fight and disagree on just about everything each other has to say. That's all fine and dandy, disagreeing on things, but disagreeing on everything is retarded. They both have the same goals, just different ways of getting things done. It's stupid that they have to blast each other for the way they believe in doing things. They need to take a quick lesson from general Buddhism and learn the idea of a 'Middle Way.' If they found their common ground and worked on that, they may begin to get things done. In the process they might start agreeing on things they used to disagree on, therefore getting things done much more smoothly. They simply need to get it out of their head that they're adversaries. They're in the same country in the same political system. They need to learn to work together or get the fuck out.

Just a small incomplete thought.

So, I've just about had it...

I have little sympathy for people who vilify Israel for what they did in the Gaza Strip. They always use the phrase, "Israel butchered men, women and children." And personally, it's getting irritating. The Palestinians need to learn that any violence or acts of terrorism gives the Israeli government the excuse they need to execute a military operation. What the Palestinians need to learn, actaully, who the Palestinians need to learn from are people like Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. They need to learn that these people achieved the impossible without a single use of violence. Once they do what those two did in their respective countries, the Israeli government will no longer have an excuse, and look like an ass for pulling off military action. And maybe, just maybe, there will be a Palestine on the map.

Because I'm behind Israel all the way when they shoots a bitch. Only when the Palestinians are non-violent will I cease to be behind Israel's right to defend its people against the asshattery of a select group of Palestinians.

The Great Compromise

Now, here's my commentary on the stuff they compromised on in the stimulus bill.

(Got this one from CNN too).

Also, I was bored and lazy, so I didn't do a lot of writing. So piss off, I'm the Queen.

Partially cut:

• $3.5 billion for energy-efficient federal buildings (original bill $7 billion)

At least they kept half of this one. It really is a needed stimulus.

• $75 million from Smithsonian (original bill $150 million)

Again, at least they kept half of this one. It's not much of a stimulating thing, but it is needed.

• $200 million from Environmental Protection Agency Superfund (original bill $800 million)

The EPA always needs cash for its superfund. I just don't know what it'll do.

• $100 million from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (original bill $427 million)

I wonder what NOAA will do with this money?

• $100 million from law enforcement wireless (original bill $200 million)

Wireless? So they have wireless capabilities? What? Explain what they will do with these things please.

• $300 million from federal fleet of hybrid vehicles (original bill $600 million)

This is good, at least they kept half of it. Not nearly enough to stimulate the hybrid vehicle market, but still a good thing.

• $100 million from FBI construction (original bill $400 million)

Construction, ey? I thought the other things was FBI salaries. Also, I thought all of the FBI buildings were already built. But, I guess, if you need to renovate, by all means do so.

Fully eliminated

• $55 million for historic preservation

This could create jobs (not for unemployed Americans) but for preservationists. I always think it's good to preserve things, but this needed to be put into another bill.

• $122 million for new Coast Guard polar icebreaker/cutters

Alright, I figured this one would go. Needs to be put into another bill.

• $100 million for Farm Service Agency modernization

I want to know how far back these people are before I say that this could have stayed.

• $50 million for CSERES research

Cut it, but what was it for? What the hell does the acronym stand for?

• $65 million for watershed rehabilitation

They don't like environmental protection, both Democrats and Republicans I see.

• $30 million for SD salaries

SD, SD, SD, what does it stand for? I'm too tired to think. I thought salaries were a good thing. Pay people money so they can spend it on stuff.

• $100 million for distance learning

Hmmm... Well I don't think this should be in this bill.

• $98 million for school nutrition

Education bills is where this junk belongs.

• $50 million for aquaculture

Aquaculture? Great word. But I thought if we protected the oceans, they would do our aquaculture for us.

• $2 billion for broadband

Well, cut it. Yeah, we can do this one later.

• $100 million for NIST

I didn't know NIST needed it...

• $50 million for detention trustee

Again, I didn't know these people needed it. A lot of this stuff really need their own bills, and to be put into other bills that they would fit better in.

• $25 million for Marshalls Construction

Lawl, this one could indeed be cut.

• $300 million for federal prisons

Our prisons are already one of the most comfortable systems of detention centers in the world. I really do think rehabilitation is bullshit, and we need more medieval dungeon in our prisons. I bet that would rehab people real quick.

• $300 million for BYRNE Formula

Cut. Anther bill, another time.

• $140 million for BYRNE Competitive

Cut. Another bill at another time.

• $10 million state and local law enforcement

Too damn little already. Put it in another bill some other time.

• $50 million for NASA

NASA needs to focus back on our oceans. We know more about space than our own ocean.

• $50 million for aeronautics

What? These are for other bills.

• $50 million for exploration

Yeah, really. Cut if for another time.

• $50 million for Cross Agency Support

Eh, another bill, indeed.

• $200 million for National Science Foundation

Not stimulating, all these things need to be in other bills.

• $100 million for science

Science is good, but these need to be in education stimulating bills.

• $1 billion for Energy Loan Guarantees

Eh. I was indifferent this one.

• $4.5 billion for GSA

I'm becoming a broken record. Other bills.

• $89 million GSA operations

And I repeat myself.

• $50 million from DHS

This one is actually needed. the DHS is rather underfunded in my opinion. But yeah, I repeat myself.

• $200 million TSA

Kill them, security theatre isn't my cup of tea. I prefer real security.

• $122 million for Coast Guard Cutters, modifies use

This should be in another bill with the Ice Breaker money.

• $25 million for Fish and Wildlife

Is it job creating? If it's not, it needs to be here.

• $55 million for historic preservation

I copied and pasted this from CNN, they fail at proofreading.

• $20 million for working capital fund

Bahhhh... Die.

• $165 million for Forest Service capital improvement

Other bills.

• $90 million for State and Private Wildlife Fire Management

No.

• $1 billion for Head Start/Early Start

Education bills, not stimulus bills.

• $5.8 billion for Health Prevention Activity

Health bills, bahhh...

• $2 billion for HIT Grants

Good.

• $600 million for Title I (NCLB)

Bah....

• $16 billion for school construction

Education bills, but yes, this can stimulate the construction business. But put it in the education bill...

• $3.5 billion for higher education construction

As I said above.

• $1.25 billion for project based rental

Beh...

• $2.25 billion for Neighborhood Stabilization

Useful, but other bills.

• $1.2 billion for retrofitting Project 8 housing

Stimulate the construction industry. But yeah, it could have been here or in another bill.

• $40 billion for state fiscal stabilization (includes $7.5 billion of state incentive grants)

These things definitely need to be put in other bills.

So yeah, they did an alright job getting rid of this stuff out of the stimulus bill. They kept half of of some of the good stuff, and got rid of that that needed to be in other bills.

Cannabis Sativa

So you've no doubt heard that some asshat took a photo of Phelps taking a hit off of a bong, and that he's been suspended from competitive swimming for three months and lost a sponsor. I just want to find the asshat that took the photo and let it out. With marijuana still illegal to basically look at, it's not smart to take photos of people smoking it. Anyways, I don't doubt he really was smoking ganja (could have been tobacco, who knows?). I just think the fact he had to come right out and say he was wrong, that just proved he did smoke marijuana. The fact that people are making a big deal out of it is stupid, lay off the guy. I don't know why we have to set the dogs on anyone who smokes the stuff...

...Which is a lot of Americans. I know a retired drug enforcement officer that smokes it, a lot of my friends are leisure smokers, a lot of my parents' friends are, and that huge host of Americans who smoke it, this is a lot of people. I've never smoked it directly (been in a hot boxed room), gives me a migraine-like headache, so I stay away from it. My only request is blow the smoke out the window or go outside. I think it's stupid that it's a criminal act to be connected to it. The huge base of Americans that smoke it is a huge untapped tax base.

I still advocate the decriminalization of it and the legalization of growing it. Farms of the stuff can grow up (creating jobs, a hee hee) and be a taxable base. We can turn the exclusive marijuana cartels into legitimate businesses, just import the stuff and put an eight or ten percent tariff on it. More revenue, because a lot of Americans smoke it. Put the same tax on it that we put on these decrepit cigarettes (which are deadlier than ganja). I see benefits compared to cigarettes (which are basically filled with death).

This is a lot of revenue. More money for a government that needs it, and an economic situation that needs stimulating.

So, here's my idea:

(You might want to read this first, it's a .pdf).

So, that said that about 14 million Americans use the stuff. Tax base. Marijuana might have several things that can harm the human body, but this is all natural stuff. Cigarettes have a host of junk in them that the manufacturing process puts into them. Now:

Six bucks for 12 marijuana blunts multiplied by 14 million is: 84 million. Now only a dollar and a half of that is tax, so: two million one hundred thousand. Also, people buy more than one box of cigarettes, so it'll definitely be more.

That's just the tax from directly buying the blunts. Tariffs on importing the stuff could be massive money makers. Probably more than that. I don't know they exact amount of ganja illegally imported so I can only speculate on how much it would be. But I figure it would be a lot.

If its growth is legalized, it can be taxed through growth and interstate transport. There can be farming jobs, and processing jobs, and (I bet) it could be processed to be less harmless with the same effects.

Here in Washington we have Liquor Stores run by the government (I think) to get the taxes directly. We could just put the marijuana through the same store. Also, we could license dealers to sell it in their own stores. A lot of revenue to be made, to be sure.

Yeah, that's just a simple idea.

Also, I have to say this. You can't make the argument that the 'marijuana culture' is worse than the 'alcohol culture' or the 'prescription drug culture.' In my opinion, the latter of those three is the worst because it is legal. Marijuana is far less worse than these prescription drugs people abuse.

Pay caps and asshats.

Most of America (at least on the hardcore liberal side) are behind the recent pay cap proposal. It sounds like a good idea, and it probably is. I like to hear CEOs and executives complaining that there shouldn't be pay caps and what not, but I'm not going to listen to them. They're the asshats trying to cover their back. Even if they're good at their job, that doesn't mean that they deserve ridiculous bonuses and huge salaries. A five-hundred thousand dollar pay cap isn't bad, you're still making more than almost all Americans, and you still have all that money you earned before the pay cap. That should be enough to make them shut up and deal with it, even if the only thing the pay cap does is make Americans happy.

Either way, I'd lke to see pay caps for rich bastards that took on too much risk. Anyways...

The only American people (besides the exects) that I've seen against this like to think they're purely capitalist. That's fine and dandy, but you aren't living in a pure capitalist country. If it were, there would be a host of large companies (or just one) that owned all services offered by killing off all the other competitors. But that doesn't happen in America, we have Anti-Trust Acts and laws to prevent monopilizing. Monopolies aren't bad to me, as long as the don't raise prices beyond their fair market value, because I don't want to pay fifty bucks for toothbrush.

Also, I bet you all the loser Socialists are for this pay cap. Socialism isn't bad (neither is Communism), but it just doesn't work. People are too greedy. That's one of the reasons why the housing market fell, and banks started going under. It's not the only reason, but it's a big one.

Yeah, I'm done.

How is this wasteful?

So the Republicans have released a list of what they call wasteful spending. Now, I agree on some, but here's commentary on all of them:

(I got this one off CNN.com, by the way).

• $2 billion earmark to re-start FutureGen, a near-zero emissions coal power plant in Illinois that the Department of Energy defunded last year because it said the project was inefficient.

I don't see this as too bad, but I still think coal is an outdated power source myself. We shouldn't be investing in a coal plant, but research to find that alternative fuel that could finally replace these deficient fossil fuels. Just change this to 'Two billion to the person who finds the miracle solution."

• A $246 million tax break for Hollywood movie producers to buy motion picture film.

Movies are a part of revenue and job creation. Takes a lot of people to work on a movie. I don't see how this, a tax break that Republicans all so love, would be wasteful...

• $650 million for the digital television converter box coupon program.

Truthfully, this can be considered a part of national security. Lots of people still get their information from radios, but the television is another useful tool to get information to people who need it. If that goes away, what happens then?

• $88 million for the Coast Guard to design a new polar icebreaker (arctic ship).

This can be viewed either way. Ice breakers break ice for research purposes, and to make shipping lanes (and because it's fun). If it helps them make a shipping lane through ice more efficiently, then why not? 88 million may be a bit much, but this could be needed, or it couldn't. It's teetering, really.

• $448 million for constructing the Department of Homeland Security headquarters.

Just no. There's enough buildings for them to occupy, no need to give them nearly 448 million to build a new one. Cut it by two thirds and let them retrofit an existing building to fit their purpose and needs.

• $248 million for furniture at the new Homeland Security headquarters.

Wow, I agree, that is wasteful... Ever hear of Value Village people?

• $600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees.

This one is genius. It does two things, helps economic growth. You're putting 600 million into whichever car company you choose, and you're killing emissions from big clunky vehicles they already use.

• $400 million for the Centers for Disease Control to screen and prevent STD's.

Prevent disease, die from it. Natural selection works much better at getting rid of disease. Just because people are stupid doesn't mean we should help them with their gonorrhea.

• $1.4 billion for rural waste disposal programs.

Create jobs, I bet you. Rural waste is the same as city waste. It needs to be moved and sent out, though I really don't think 1.4 billion is enough for all the ruralness here in America. So yeah.

• $125 million for the Washington sewer system.

As well, creates jobs. Or at least maintains them (along with the sewer system all those Republicans shit into). I don't see why you would try and get rid of this. I want a Republican senator to go without a working sewer system for a month and see how they like it.

• $150 million for Smithsonian museum facilities.

This is trademark Republican asshattery. The Smithsonian is an institution to further the learning of people. It just seems so Republican to try and kill learning centers and arts.

• $1 billion for the 2010 Census, which has a projected cost overrun of $3 billion.

I'm sure there's a lot of jobs that'll be created to take this census report. If it's going to overrun, why not tackle it now instead of wait? Doesn't seem right to me to put shit like this off until the last minute.

• $75 million for "smoking cessation activities."

I think people should just die from their smoking and leave it at that. But if you insist on putting in anti-smoking junk, you actually kill a lot of people's livelihoods. Especially the tobacco farmers.

• $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges.

As I said before, trademark Republican asshattery.

• $75 million for salaries of employees at the FBI.

They should have a bake sale in my opinion. But this is like the census thing, if we put this kind of thing off, what happens?

• $25 million for tribal alcohol and substance abuse reduction.

We fucked them up enough, so I figure this is the least we could do for them.

• $500 million for flood reduction projects on the Mississippi River.

I think the people who get flooded should build their houses on higher ground. Flood plains were meant for farming in civilization, not living on. But yeah, this is one of those things that could create jobs. A lot of money is needed to fix levee systems and the like, and a lot of people (and dirt). Also, this is nowhere near enough.

• $10 million to inspect canals in urban areas.

I don't think many places have canals here in the US, there's very few of them. Even so, I still don't think 10 million would be enough to do anything about them if they were found to be in danger. Which they probably are.

• $6 billion to turn federal buildings into "green" buildings.

Why not? Fucking Republicans. This could stimulate a part of the economy that needs some stimulation in my opinion. Fuck off you fucking Republicans.

• $500 million for state and local fire stations.

If this is taken out, I hope their houses burn down due to lack of funding. But this isn't enough obviously.

• $650 million for wildland fire management on forest service lands.

Usually the forest burns, then regrows. I see little point in this one. Though I don't know what exactly they'd do with the money.

• $1.2 billion for "youth activities," including youth summer job programs.

I need this. You probably need this. Anyone without a job needs this. Especially the ones without job experience. The Republicans need to learn that people need activity funding, and job finding funding. Because people with money, will spend the money, therefore stimulating economy. Though it all really depends on what will be done with the little funding here.

• $88 million for renovating the headquarters of the Public Health Service.

Tell them to renovate the way they raise money. Have a bake sale. I know this is a needed institution, but what does it say when their building needs renovation? Tooooooo late.

• $412 million for CDC buildings and property.

Hmmm, this can be good or bad. It might help stimulate a small portion of the economy, but it might not. Either way, this one can stay or go.

• $500 million for building and repairing National Institutes of Health facilities in Bethesda, Maryland.

Who says this is wasteful? It might be a bit much, if they haven't taken bids for it yet, but it does have a point. If this is taken out they can just charge more for healthcare.

• $160 million for "paid volunteers" at the Corporation for National and Community Service.

'Paid volunteers.' That's a great phrase. I figure if you have money, you will spend money, therefore stimulating whichever part of the economy they wish to stimulate.

• $5.5 million for "energy efficiency initiatives" at the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration.

Lolz, the VA already shits on veterans, they don't need "energy efficiency initiatives." Though they might, I don't know. You be the judge.

• $850 million for Amtrak.

I didn't know Amtrak was in any trouble. But yeah, it doesn't seem useful to me because I don't know what the money would go towards. But if they really need it, by all means, let the rail industry thrive.

• $100 million for reducing the hazard of lead-based paint.

Yes, lets do that. I figure we can take lead out of gasoline, why not paint as well? I think they should ask the Chinese government for a little help on this one.

• $75 million to construct a "security training" facility for State Department Security officers when they can be trained at existing facilities of other agencies.

Yeah, it could stimulate the construction industry which is hurting, but they can be trained at the other existing facilities.

• $110 million to the Farm Service Agency to upgrade computer systems.

Yes, upgrade your computers because one day it may matter. I wonder what would happen if their system went offline....

• $200 million in funding for the lease of alternative energy vehicles for use on military installations.
Not enough. This really should be added to the 600 million for government hybrid vehicles. It could work.

Yeah, that's my two bits.

Global Warming? Or is it Global Cooling?

Well, anyone with a brain will realize that it's a global climate trend that leads to the warming of temperatures worldwide and to extreme seasons in places they were never extreme before.

I always enjoy reading things that say, "There's lots of snow in (usually England at the moment) so global warming can't be true!" Yeah, well, just because there's a lot of snow in England during the Winter doesn't mean global warming isn't true. England is between latitude degrees 51 and 59, basically between Calgary, Canada and half way North in the middle of the Hudson Bay. These places get a lot of snow as a general observable rule. The little things called the Gulf Stream, North Atlantic Drift, and the Canary current are the thermostat for the Temperate climate of England and most of Eastern Europe. It's not the atmosphere that heats up during global warming (don't get me wrong, it does heat up) it's the oceans. Since the oceans are really big heat gobbling machines (yes, they are machines. That's why currents move). When a currents go a little astray, so does the climate.

Ever see "Day After Tomorrow?" Yeah, shitty movie, but it gives you a two hour look at a possibility. The currents aforementioned get fucked up when too much fresh water disrupts the salinity and therefore the flow of the current and bam, the Eastern United States and Europe go cold. You stop that current, shit goes cold simple as that. Now, I've never seen "An Inconvenient Truth" and I'm not sure I want to. It's just a movie after all, a documentary of sorts. I prefer actual scientific shows and talks with Climatologists (not Meteorologists, they don't study long-term climate change). Most of them tell me that the Earth goes through trends of warming and cooling (Medieval Warm Period, Mini-Ice Age in the early 1800s). Yes, we agree on that? They know this because they can take ice core samples from Antarctica from a long way back and analyze the atmosphere trapped within tiny bubbles. Simple thing, no? Don't try and refute it, it has, and still does happen. But anyways, new paragraph:

While the Earth may go through normal warming and cooling periods, that's the Earth doing it itself. No help from humans. Let me put it to you simply: All we are doing is putting about (gimme a break, I'm guessing) a million-plus years of natural carbon dioxide (and therefore methane) discharges, what would have normally been released by volcanic activity (which leads to the methane) and shoving that into about 400 years. One million, to four hundred. 400 is .04% of one million. That's no time at all in geologic time. But yeah, what we're doing is the speedy version of extreme natural warming. That's what humans want, right? Speedy outcomes to things? We have no patience, correct? Instant gratification global warming.

Okay, so, guess what brings us out of global warming? That's right, the oceans. They dilute the carbon dioxide in their waters (which can lead to a stagnate ocean) and help bring the temperature down. That's why this would take a million years I estimate, because the oceans would say, "oh no no no no no," and absorb the portions of carbon dioxide that they could. And yes, it will probably be the oceans that bring us out of this global warming. But not fast, the Earth takes her time when she balances out. She's got nothing pressing to do like us polluting species. So yeah, when the Earth balances when the warming trend is over, either because we stopped it, or it stopped us, it will work that balance until something sets it into another trend. That's the way of the world.

I'm not advocating the stop of our greenhouse gas emissions, oh no. It would be nice, yes. But I like to be the one that says, "I told you so." when shit hits the fan.

Religion

Pronunciation:

\ri-ˈli-jən\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English religioun, from Anglo-French religiun, Latin religion-, religio supernatural constraint, sanction, religious practice, perhaps from religare to restrain, tie back — more at rely

Date:

13th century

1. The function of possessing all the answers, with substantiated evidence, without actually possessing any of the true answers

What a laugh and a half.

Mormons are up there with Scientologists in the crazy fucking belief section. Zenu brought us here 75 million years ago and gathered us around volcanoes and blew them up with H-bombs. Yeah, right. Elohiem lives on planet Kolob and the Garden of Eden is in Missouri. Let me tell you, I've been to Missouri, and there's a lot more farm land there than any gardens of Eden.

We all know Scientology is really out there, but obviously people (especially anyone associated with the Church of Latter Day Saints) don't think Mormonism a little off.

This Joseph Smith, which is by all accounts a false prophet, is a grade-A bullshitter. I think he wanted power, not just any power though, everlasting power. So he used an established religion to gain it. Now he's on of the three Mormons supposedly meet after their death.

This religion does a lot of good shit that doesn't have to do with the religion itself, but the religion is just so God damned stupid you wonder why so many people follow this guy's raves. If a Morman were to look at it from an outside perspective, they would see what everyone who really doesn't like the Mormons sees, complete and utter insanity. Of course, if they choose to leave the religion it's social suicide. That's the only con I see to denouncing Joseph Smith as a dude who is insane. Also, I think it's very stupid that he said Jesus came to the Americas to preach to the Native Americans. Historically there's no evidence, and sanely there's no evidence that should lead people to believe that ever happened. This religion is stupid, and by all acounts insane. I'd like to implore people to see that.

On a side note, one of my friends turned out to be Mormon, she believes this junk, and she doesn't want to hear doubt on the subject or questioning of her belief system. With me, that loses you a host of respect real quick. I'm just sorry she believes this guy... It's baffling.

Another two cents:

I got to thinking for a bit waiting for the bus. I thought about Genesis and all its creation stories and what not. And I came to one conclusion: It is the only purely human creation contained within any bible. It is the only book in which I believe if this god truly exists, did not have any hand in. I just don't see a god laying down creation of the universe so simply like that, because in all honesty if this god is out there, it's not quite done creating yet.

I figure this because this book stresses divinity of this creation and in turn divinity of man, something I think this god truly isn't partial to. No god would stress divinity of its creation, only its creation would stress the fact that were a part of the divine creation. With this I'd like to go to the Creationism Museum and present this, and a little game called Spore to people there. While I know that they would like to dispute this, I'm not there to dispute the rest of the Bible, I'm just there to present findings and what I see to be proof of the findings.

Plus, this book has all the answers in a time where there were no answers, it's self-explanatory.

On Spore, I would like to say that the game stresses the importance of an intelligent designer in evolution. I'm not certain this is true or not, but it sure is a good little piece of pie to chew on for awhile. I think that if any god were to create a universe, because it could, it would create that universe and make the possibility of life a reality. Over time it'd watch the evolution going on, maybe pushing a species ahead or pulling one back with mass catastrophe, but it wouldn't be the one to create sentient beings right off the bat. It would have the patience to wait. Wait until sentient beings came to be and then attempt to teach them to live in peace if they hadn't done it on their own already. We hadn't, and still haven't, so who knows if he's done or not.

Revelation, I think, though could have been inspired by this god, that is why I don't think that book is purely human creation, though a lot of it is. That's what I mean by 'not done yet' this god dictated to people what it was going to do because it saw no point in trying to teach us to live peacefully. As many Gandhis, Siddhartha Gautamas, Martin Luther King Jrs and peacemakers alike live, this god has seen us as killers of the peacemakers (citing Gandhi and MLK Jr.). It's all up to debate, but that's what I think.

Also, I think the Ten Commandments are a very human creation. My moral standards are better than those ten pieces of stupid advice. But if it is truly 'God's Word,' then I'll point some things out.

As you know I'm Henotheistic, well, so is God. He says, "You shall have no other gods before Me." Well? He isn't saying 'there are no other gods, so worship only me' He's acknowledging that there is other gods out there and that you should only worship Him. Also, in that he is not saying you can't worship them, He's just saying don't worship them 'before Me.' So in all honesty, He's not saying that you can't worship other gods, just that He's the top dog. Remind you of Zeus, or Krishna, or Vishnu? Supreme gods? Yeah, God just wants to be on top. But this one is at odds with one of the Five Pillars of Islam, which states There is but one God, Allah, and his prophet is Muhammad. Truthfully, Islam is a pure monotheism with that.

Second, "You shall not make for yourself a carved image--any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth." We've been doing that all throughout history, he didn't say that to me, at all. Yes, these images may have been for teaching the Bible to illiterate masses, but a lot of the representations of all the things listed are in all art. And there's nothing anyone can do about it. This to me is enough confirmation that Christian people don't follow their own Commandments (even though these are Jewish).

Third, "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain." God dammit. Well? Where's the fire and brimstone we've all been promised? This one is just people afraid of a little language. These people like their 'tongues' as well, and who knows if they're actually saying something they shouldn't be saying or not? No one? Didn't think so.

Forth, "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy" This one comes from the bullshit in Genesis where god rested on the seventh day because it's just sooooo hard to create a universe. This is people who want a day off. That's all.

Fifth, "Honor your father and your mother." This one is nice, especially in the fact that it's not solely patriarchal. But it really isn't a commandment, or a law or anything, this is just something that you should instinctively do and usually instinctively do anyways.

Sixth, "You shall not murder." Bam! Finally a law! Wow, took you a lot of thought to get up to this point didn't it? Yeah. Well... I think this is one of two actual laws in this these commandments that are so full of stupid. But in all truth, sentient beings usually come to this consensus without religion to tell them.

Seventh, "You shall not commit adultery." Happens, no fire and brimstone yet. This one is just plain stupid. Humans fuck, there's no way to get around that. It's part of your lowest instincts. Now I admit it's a dick thing to do, but it's not as sinful as people like to say it is.

Eighth, "You shall not steal." Hey! The other actual law! This is a no brainer, stealing is a hassle. Hammurabi made sure of that. We don't need these Commandments to tell us that stealing is bad, we have laws that are set in even more solid stone to tell us it's stupid.

Ninth, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." This is just a good piece of advice. You have to be a real asshat to bear false witness, and you actually deserve Hell for this one. It's also illegal without this to tell us that it should be.

And tenth, "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.' This one is basically no envy. Envy isn't bad though, it can be stupid, but it isn't sinful to want that Maserati in you're neighbor's driveway, just see number eight and keep these thoughts to yourself.

But yeah, this is a lot of human stuff that is outdated today and forsaking crimes against humanity. It either needs to be thrown out, or updated. So, God, update!

If I end up being completely wrong about everything when I die, the only request I'll have is a short chat with God to ask him some pressing questions about things I want to know. But either way, I'm contented.

So, I just watched 'Jesus Camp.'

It's a documentary about extremist fundamental Evangelicals, and it is full of a lot of laughs, and a lot of stupid.

Now, I'm a Henotheist myself, and partial to the god I've devised myself, but still I don't really like to deny the existence of the others (mainly the Judeo-Christian-Muslim god [Yahweh, God, Allah, all the same god, different name]) because I just don't know (I admit it would be nice if it was mine who existed). But yeah, I don't like it when they preach their beliefs (especially to me) in such a contradictory way (watch the movie and you'll see how if you know anything about Christianity). They're exactly like extremist Muslims in their way of teaching, all gung ho about 'laying down their life' for their 'cause.' Usually the Christian cause isn't so damned stupid (citing Palestinian asshattery for the past five decades. Did they learn anything from Gandhi and MLK Jr.?).

Enough of that. My opinion on that may come at a later time.

This isn't a review on Jesus Camp, because I filed it under 'Comedy' because I found it so funny. This is just a little on the stupid that is extremist fundamentalist Evangelicalism.

First off, because I really want to say this to a host of Evangelicals:

"Do you know whether or not that abortion is God's way of denying the lives of people he thinks aren't worthy to live? I don't, but do you? Do you know whether or not He wants them there by His side immediately instead of being here on this rather divided Earth? Do you? Because I don't, and yet it seems to be the most logical answer to abortion to me."

I think that would be both a comical, and serious question, because I want to know what they would really respond to that with.

Anyways, in Jesus Camp, one of the guys said that when Evangelicals vote, they 'decide the election.' Yeah, right. Why isn't McCain president-elect then? Pfft, it is the young voters and non-voters that decide the election, especially this time around. Because as religious as Obama is, he is not Evangelical, and he is not extremist (but Palin was, a hee hee! And where is she now? Grabbing at any little thing that will keep her in the news and trying to solidify herself as the 2012 front runner for the Republican party... Yeah, right). Eh, that was tangential... Yeah, Obama did not get a lot of the Evangelical vote, mainly because of that big red reverse 'L' in the election results map and the low numbers in those states. My point? It was the young, (hopefully) mostly subjective (religious) people that decided this latest election.

Also, I'd like to point out something I saw in a Survivor show. It was, I think, the season opener of Survivor: China, and they were asking for enlightenment in a Buddhist temple. One of the contestants on that deplorable show was a Christian radio host. I'm sure she wasn't extremest or anything, and if I remember right, she was voted off the second or third time. But yeah, she said after she had left the temple before the prayer was over and they showed one of those private camera clips of her and she said something like this, "One of the ten Commandments says 'you shall not bow to any god before me' and that's what I was doing" or something amazingly stupid like that. I wanted to just punch her. Siddhartha Gautama is NOT, I repeat, NOT a god. He was a man who had reached ultimate Nirvana (no, not that band), the ultimate enlightenment. He was more a teacher than anything. And also, there is definitely more than ONE Buddha! Also, Buddhism is more philosophy that religion for all you dumbshits out there. Also, I heard that some Buddhist scholars were teaching that Jesus and Siddhartha were friends. Hey! That's a concept you fucking Evangelicals! Think about that!

That brings me into something about Islam, I have seen frescoes, mosaics, and painting depicting Jesus and Muhammad (and once Moses there too) riding side by side as if they were homies. There's another concept! Traditionally, even though Saul of Tarsus opened Christianity to anyone and everyone, Islam and its Muslims have been a lot more accepting over the lat one and a half millennia. Usually it had to do with the fact that Muslims didn't have to pay taxes, so they needed a tax base, but still there was tolerance, something that didn't happen much in early Christianities (yes, in the beginning of Christianity, Christianity was plural because there was more than one 'official' doctrine practiced throughout the Mediterranean world). Also, both Moses and Jesus are considered Islamic prophets, just nowhere near as important as Muhammad, whose bit was that he revealed the 'final truth' of God's (Allah's, their name for God) word. Which if you've heard of that Israeli site which breaks down the Qur'an to its most fundamental and best teachings, would realize that Islam is just as good as Christianity, and in some places, much better.

Okay, enough of the Humanities... One things that really tweaks my melon is the fact that children are used as tools, and are melded and indoctrinated as if they are cattle. This doesn't just happen in fundamentalist, extremist Evangelicals, but in extremist Muslims and in places where a quick soldier is needed (especially in rebel African, and South American groups). I say, teach your children, but don't indoctrinate them, it's brainwashing. Let them grow up and decide the path they want to take. Let them decide if they want to be stupid creationists or stupid natural selectionists or stupid Republicans or stupid Democrats. Don't turn them into Christians, let them decide.

I'm not glad that this Jesus camp thing closed down to find a 'more secure' location for their camp so stupid vandals and atheist retards won't harm them. I'd like to learn Latin, find a Latin Bible and preach to them how it was done for a thousand years. Because they are indeed, the very much so uneducated masses.

That's my two cents for now. I rant a lot about religion, because it's fun.

Education

Now, I've been in this system for 12 years and in some sort of schooling for a little over 15 years. The biggest thing I've realized about it is that this system either leaves students behind, or pushes students ahead. There isn't any middle ground where students just sit there and do exactly what is needed to graduate. Either they graduate with a host of extra credits, just enough, or none at all and no diploma to boot. It sucks, painfully, to see the the amount of dropouts and shitty students (look it up, because I don't feel like it). I'd like to change the way the education system works, though I don't see my idea as perfect.

What I say is a complete overhaul of the current established American education system. From preschool to high school (college is fine just the way it is to me).

First, daycare centers would go out of business, because they aren't doing a whole hell of a lot of teaching of kids (at least the majority aren't). I think that preschool should be a time where kids are learning things, like languages and what not. I would like to see preschool be a four year time in a young child's life. From age one, to age five they should be in an environment that are teaching them things. For example, languages. The current system teaches languages at the wrong time completely. As a child, all the child has to do is listen to someone speak the language and they'll probably be able to speak, or at least understand it by the time they realize that they can speak it. So, for four years between age one and five the child should be taught all the major European languages considering the influence Latin has had on most of them. And also the major Asian languages as well. You'd just need to have a host of people talk to these kids in all these languages and you have people that are quite multilingual as they should be.

For elementary school the basics should be taught and grammar should be brought back as a staple of education because it really hasn't been taught for the last century in America. By the end of kindergarten children should have a simple social understanding (with all the coloring and what not that's usually taught, because it's just fun). They should also have the foundation for writing set in stone, not actual writing solidified, but their foundations. You know what I mean. By first grade the children should be taught how to create writing (all the while continuing in the languages they learned in preschool). This is when grammar should start and be taught. Simple math concepts should also be introduced. How to add and subtract and negative numbers, because negative numbers aren't introduced until middle school in most places. Students should already know them at this point.

In second grade, the beginnings of multiplication and division should also be taught and continued on all throughout the year. More grammar should be learned as well as cooperation skills and work ethic in groups. Because I'm tired of one or two people doing all the work in a group of five. You might say that a first and second grader really wouldn't be able to comprehend negative numbers and what not, but that's what we're here to find out. This is also when the concept, concept, of zero should be introduced.

In third grade, more of a math-based curriculum should be instated. Adding and subtracting (and negative numbers' concepts) should be already learned in full, and multiplication and division should be solidified in this (with the addition of negative numbers), as well as continuing on grammar and writing. With that, I remember learning cursive, but I can't write it now. That should be solidified completely in the mind of the student so they know how to write it. Because it is indeed a fast way to get information on the page. I've met no one that can type faster than they can write cursive. I'm sure someone can, but not everyone can.

In fourth grade, usually fractions and the like are introduced, so we should continue this and be taught the improper fractions, negative fractions, reciprocals and the like. Multiplication of all these concepts and the rest. Blah, blah, blah. All that fun math stuff we so look forward to. In fourth grade creative writing should be introduced and a whole couple months should be spent on this concept. Creativity is an important part of learning (no, I didn't forget to mention music, that all should be in here too). The sciences should also be introduced in fourth grade...

... and continued into fifth grade, where the creative writing should be worked on again, but then transitioned into more of a technical writing curriculum. That would greatly improve writing if we didn't have to teach people this shit later when 'lethargy' kicks in (like it did in my case). This is also when geometry should be introduced, because geometry is a lot easier to comprehend than straight algebra (because shapes are tangible). With geometry should come an introduction to algebra, nothing extremely complex, just enough to ready children for middle school.

Middle school should be different too. Yes, this hellish transition period where you don't really learn anything, but don't really forget anything either.

The period system should be kept. Yes, it should. And remember the languages? Yeah, the classes should all be taught in different languages as to solidify them in the mind, and make writing in these languages mandatory.

Sixth grade should have a host of required classes. The math classes should be broken down to semester classes teaching fundamentals, not entire curriculum like they are today. Pre-algebra, and pre-geometry should be taught consecutively one semester after the other (pre-algebra first, because I'm a dick and want your children to suffer). There should be a science class as there already is but a more centralized concept curriculum, because there is, after all, three years in most middle school cases. There should be two elective periods, period. Electives are dying, and they need to stay. It's pissing me off that school systems are doing away with the arts. That's four periods, one of these should encompass a semester of physical education as it already does most places, with a semester of health education following it. The other period should be the english/study skills period, where you do a lot more writing and what not and learn to be a student.

No, I didn't forget about Social Studies, that comes later. Oh, did I also mention that this will be advanced placement pace? We aren't just going to push these kids, we're going to shove them. To weed out who really needs the 'special treatment' (which will be the same exact curriculum, but a slower pace, and a lot more explaining).

In seventh grade the social studies should be introduced. They should be a joint semester course of world history and geography (because we really suck at finding Iraq on the map).
There should be another semester of PE and health to teach all the more about the healthy stuff we require to know. Another English/writing class, because the study skills should already be learned. And the math should be at least a simple algebra/geometry course to take up a period of the year (all these still in the various languages that should have been learned). And the sciences should again strain in yet another direction from what they did the previous year. Yes, you guessed it, only one elective class this year (and next), because we need to get in a groove here. The semester electives will be the same though.

Eighth grade will be exactly the same, except you'll be in a fundamental (but with more advanced stuff) algebra class getting you ready for the specialized classes in high school. This is when social studies should be transitioned to a huge whole year class just on American history, because immigrants learn more about the US than students in US history. There should be one last period of PE/Health in eighth grade, and one more semester of sciences each straining in their own direction. Then again, the arts electives we don't have any longer.

High school! Yay! Lets party! No, lets not. We're still in advanced placement style classes, we should have weeded out all the dumbshits, so we now can get into the real work.

I'm not going to go by grade this time, I'm going by curriculum. The maths should not be one after the other, they should be specialized, because all throughout high school you should be figuring out just what you want to do. There should be specialized class sets that teach all the fundamentals of higher algebra, up to calculus and statistics and all that fun math. leading your way to a more math-specialized career. There should be a basic math system that teaches you up through the applied maths of algebra, getting you ready for a more broad spectrum career (this one will probably be the most common system taken). And there should also be another math series that is just applied math, from everything to calories, to your tax returns to banking (so you know when a ponzi scheme is coming). That class, in my humble opinion would help a lot of people be able to function as normal citizens.

English classes would run differently, there would be yet another specialized writing class in ninth grade that would do a semester of technical writing and creative writing. Your next class would be straight American literature, and your 11th grade class would be a world literature class. Your senior class would be a humanities class that is as broad as can be. Like the one I took.

Notice the languages missing? That's right, all of them are gone, and the classes are taught in all the various languages, which I think is pretty nifty. Math in Latin, health in Arabic, Humanities in Russian. Nifty stuff indeed.

Electives would contain all the general electives that are in the high schools already, woods, autos (because mechanics are fucking expensive), computer graphics/CAD, band, orchestra (symphony?). All the stuff you knew and loved when you were in high school. You'll probably get two elective periods depending upon how schools use this kind of curriculum. But I know you will at least get one.

By the way, dropouts will be shot into the blog that's below this (which I need to edit...).

I'm not done thinking about this. Because when you're mind is clear, it's free to wander.