Miscellaneous Assholery

Is it me, or does the bullshit in our world just keep getting more moronic by the day? I'm beginning to think that there is just no intelligent life left on our planet. The world is so f'd up that if I were describe it to someone who has been living under a rock, I wouldn't know where to start. In fact, right about now, living under a rock sounds like paradise. Every day that I read the net, watch TV, and even chat with people on Facecrack or Twitter, it's a depressing assortment of events that makes your head spin. No wonder we Americans are over-weight and chemically dependent. We seek comfort in junk food, video games, and sedatives such as pills and alcohol.

Since I am of the Baby Boomer generation, I find that in my interaction with others of my age, we see the world as falling apart. The URBAN DICTIONARY  has labeled the baby boomers as the,"most self righteous and incredibly arrogant generation of all time." I kid you not. How the hell did that happen? When did that happen?
Even more incredibly startling is their definition of the 90's generation, known also as GENERATION Y  or the Echo Generation. Yes, these are the offspring of Baby Boomers. So, the little snot nose brats that wrote this Urban Dictionary bullshit are the perfect generation? The children of the 21st century are clueless. They have not experienced the real world. Remember the famous saying from our generation, "Reality Bites?"
It still does.

The constant bombarding of 24 hour news stations, social media outlets and that Baby Boomer invention called the television, has turned this generation in to electronic junkies who can't take their eyes off their devices long enough to see the world and interact with people face-to-face. The speed of their fingers on a keyboard as it clacks away at a frenzied pace has made this generation lazy and dependent. Hell, schools have stopped teaching cursive writing because this generation knows only the keyboard.

If we were self righteous and incredibly arrogant, then this generation is the "you owe me generation." That's right, we Baby Boomers are most likely your grandparents and we don't owe you shit!

The high profile people; politicians, movie stars, over paid athletes, ad nausem, influence the actions and thoughts of people every day. You don't know it, but it does.

If you're paying attention, and have not yet chosen to climb under a rock, these are just some of the things bombarding us every day:

• The George Zimmerman-Trayvon Martin trial is underway and their star witness, who was allegedly that last person to talk to Martin before his death, is an uneducated, lying piece of shit. This whole trial is a joke. Zimmerman acted in self defense but the trial is happening because it would be 'racist' not to prosecute Zimmerman. If Zimmerman is convicted, it could have devastating effects to the Stand your Ground Rule. If he's found innocent, blacks everywhere threaten to riot in the streets. Ah, let's think about this... Violence, people? Seriously? Many threatened to do that during the 2012 election if Obama didn't win a second term. 
• Aaron Hernandez- an athlete so full of himself he thought he could get away with murder. He destroyed evidence and has hints of gang ties. Only a 4th round draft pick for a reason. He conveniently and maliciously destroyed his cell phone. He tried unsuccessfully to destroy the contents of his own home security system. Minutes after leaving the crime scene, he's shown on video brandishing a handgun. Idiot of the highest form. Too many steroids, no doubt.
• Paula Deen- Diva of southern cuisine is being ripped apart by the press and all her endorsements are having a domino effect on her livelihood. Why? Because she used the N word - ah, fuck it- she used the word 'Nigger' some 20 + years ago..and she said it out loud! Oh. My. God - stop everything people! A woman from the deep south used that word in a different era and in a different time. She was honest and she confessed. If there's any white person out there over the age of 30 who says they have never used that word, they're full of shit. Why is this a double standard? Michael Vick killed dogs for money and got his football contract back. Chris Brown was a domestic abuser and has his career back. Many high profile blacks are being forgiven for their indiscretions and yet, a middle aged white woman is being slaughtered over one indiscretion. Isn't that 'racism'?'
• Mayor Bloomberg- Wants to ban large bottles of soda because we're too fat. He's the world's dietitian and he knows what's best for us. We can't think for ourselves. I think all that money gets in the way of his rational thinking. His campaign for Mayors Against Illegal Guns initially gathered a following. The anti gun crowd saw this as a good idea - in theory. Now, some of the mayors are dropping out. Presumably because he himself is too radical and I suspect, he's related to Dianne Feinstein. His flock is slowly deteriorating and other Mayors say that what he stands for is not something they want to be associated with. The premise was of course, illegal guns. That's not where Bloomberg is taking this. He's offending people. The hypocrite travels with armed bodyguards because of death threats, yet he thinks taking guns away from everybody will solve the problem. I could go on, but he's just an asshole and not worth my time.
• The IRS- ah yes, the bane of every US citizen. Did they or didn't they? Did the White House have knowledge of their selective investigations? I'm betting they did but others are throwing themselves on their swords in an effort to deflect any negative impact on the President's administration. So many idiotic mistakes are being revealed. No one ever really trusted those incompetent bastards, so let's just reinforce that perception with this scandal. And they're entrusted with ensuring everyone gets health care or make you pay the penalty come tax refund time? When SCOTUS ruled this as constitutional, I about fell off my chair. How could it be? I don't have a choice in the matter? The implementation of Obamacare is right around the corner and big problems are arising.
• The NSA & Verizon- Oh gees, where do I start? Are we being spied upon by our own government and without probable cause or warrants? Oh hell, yeah! And it's been happening for a very long time. We just didn't know it or turned a blind eye. The far left leaning liberal news media, who consistently fawned over our worthless leader, is now awake and paying attention. How dare the government violate their 1st Amendment rights? Well, DUH! Apparently they didn't see any of the other Constitutional rights violations. They are just now seeing the big picture because it involves them directly. You've all been asleep for the last 5 years, haven't you?
• Edward Snowden- That poor bastard. He's a threat to national security because he became a whistle blower. Granted, he exposed government secrets involving the NSA and the CIA and no doubt violated an oath. But the problem lies now with finding the rights and wrongs of this guy's actions. This incident is labeled as the most significant leak in US history and our government wants to charge him with espionage. Snowden is running to countries that are 'safe havens' for people such as himself. Unfortunately, they know where he is all the time. I admire his tenacity and ideal, but I'm torn on what and how he did it. Then... when you're exposing government secrets, expect a backlash.
• POTUS- (don't you love all these new acronyms?) Yea, that guy. Oh my, he's on vacation again and wasting the taxpayers money more and more each day. There's a laundry list of things wrong with this presidency and even some of his fellow dems (jackasses) are turning their backs on him. He is indeed the worst president this country has ever had. He has far surpassed Carter. Obama is a racist. He has on many occasions opened his mouth and without knowing all the facts, accused people of showing racist tendencies. And he has a law degree? HA! He practically promotes divisiveness among our country when he should be trying to fix the problems of his own race. Does he ever wonder why the average black male is either getting killed or in jail? That they aspire to become drug dealers, rappers and thugs? That staying in school and getting an education, a real job, and becoming a productive member of society might actually be a goal to aspire to? Not likely. He promotes the welfare state. Yes, that's right....we've come full circle and we're at the "you owe me generation" once again.

I could go on and on, but you're probably clamoring for a refreshing alcoholic beverage and looking for a comfortable rock somewhere.

I Want my Country Back

I like to read a lot. I like fiction and I like facts. If I want fiction, I'll read a good mystery novel.
If I want facts, I'll read about our pathetic excuse for our government and its leaders. Sometimes in the world of politics, the line between fact and fiction is blurred. When I read things pertaining to our present government, from the Prez all the way down, I often times wish it were all fiction because the truth surrounding these clowns and their behavior, or lack of ethics is way too bizarre to be real. Can you imagine a reality show with some of these political hacks who are steadily driving our country in to ruin?

Our President's leadership skills and capabilities of running this government are slowly, but surely coming to light. Even former President Clinton, who never had sex with any woman other than Hilary, speaks of Obama with disdain. That says something. In fact, it says way too much.

Save for the fact that we see a great deal of these things floating around the net with some seriously bad grammar, this statement and the person who said it is true. Yes, Clinton did the pot-kettle thing.

Will the liberal news media now start reporting facts instead of the fluffed up filtered version that they did during Obama's first term in office? It's starting to look like it might happen. There's a litany of things that this corrupt Chicago crony either covered up or fucked up.
From bail outs, unemployment, Benghazi, IRS, illegal wire tapping, Verizon, etc...it's so difficult to believe that people actually re-elected this moron. (Once again supporting my belief that the 2012 election was rigged in Obama's favor.)

Scream racist at me all you want. Point a finger at me and call me a narrow minded conservative. I don't really care, for I am neither. I am an American who wants  my country back.
I want to be able to say the Pledge of Allegiance and fly the American flag in public schools without fear of offending anyone.
I want us to stop tip-toeing around Immigration reform for fear that other countries will think less of us. I don't give a rat's ass how the world sees us. We have continuously bailed out and fought wars for people all over the world.
I want my country to be feared and respected again.
I want people to stop living off the government teat and get a freakin job. I want there to be jobs.
Stop outsourcing, and stop giving jobs to illegals.
Stop shoving Obamacare down our throats. It's not working and it's not gonna.

Now that the media has gotten a taste of their 1st Amendment rights being disregarded by way of circumventing the 4th amendment, and the constant bickering about our 2nd Amendment, this country is slowly being eaten away from the inside. Our own racist (if you don't think so, you're not paying attention) President has shown his disdain for the Constitution and this country repeatedly. He is, in my opinion, anti-American.
He has sworn to defend and protect the Constitution and yet, he is blatantly violating it, practically flaunting his indiscretions in the face of the people.

I believe in our Constitution. The 1st Amendment gives me the right to say what I'm saying in this forum. I have the right to worship my God in any way I please.
The 4th amendment prohibits the government (or it's entities) from committing unlawful search and seizures. I have the right to be secure in  my persons, houses, papers, and effects. I have a reasonable expectation of privacy. It's obviously been violated for some time now 'cause hell, I'm a Verizon customer.

And then, there's my all time favorite, the 2nd Amendment. It gives me the right to bear arms, most especially against tyranny. The anti gun crowd calls us 2nd Amendment devotees radicals. Nothing could be further from the truth. The world is falling apart. The government is scaring the shit out of people and some believe we may even need to take arms against the government. Is this all a fact or is it fiction? Is it an unreasonable assumption or just plain paranoia?
People are buying guns and ammunition like never before. Many are buying ammo in bulk and taking advantage of the shortage and exhibiting some entrepreneurial skills of their own. Ah, Capitalism. Beats Socialism any day.

Impeach Obama cause I want my country back.

Verizon's Curse

Several days ago, over 45,000 unionized Verizon employees in Delaware, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Virginia walked off the job to protest cuts and concessions Verizon management wanted their employees to absorb.

Ironically, it is only in these states that the Communications Workers of America has unionized strongholds. Verizon employees in other areas of the U.S. are not unionized and should they walk off their job, they would no longer have it.  There are approximately 135,000 non union Verizon employees.

The majority of the workers that have gone on strike are what are known as 'land line workers.' With the ever increasing use of mobile phones, the land line is slowly becoming obsolete. However, Verizon does admit that it is not totally independent of its land line workers, but Verizon wants to change the benefits they provide that date back to a time when there was little to no competition in the industry.

Verizon workers on strike have harassed, threatened, obstructed and in one location a BB gun was fired, at management and non-union workers who are crossing the picket line. In New York City, they surrounded a U.S. mail truck just trying to make its normal delivery. In Albany, NY, a worker who crossed the picket line was pushed in to some scaffolding resulting in an arm injury. Verizon states that there have been over 70 incidents of sabotage. Even 911 service to selected areas was interrupted. Striking workers deny the accusations.

With the picketing leaning towards unnecessary violence and interference, Verizon has sought court ordered injunctions that will limit the amount of picketing at each location and how they do it. Unions for the striking Pennsylvania and Delaware workers have already been served with the injunctions, with others pending.

So you ask, "what's their beef?"  Here are some of the points that have stalled negotiations at the bargaining table;

Verizon wants employees to start paying a partial premium amount for their family's health insurance policies. Almost 99% of employees in the nation who are lucky enough to have health insurance, pay a monthly premium. What are unionized employees paying now, you ask?  NOTHING.  Non-union Verizon workers already pay a monthly premium. Union spokesmen claim that in these tough economic times, this is an undue burden on their workers. Verizon claims that health care costs have sky rocketed and they can no longer absorb it.  It's time that workers came in line with the rest of its employees.

Verizon wants to temporarily freeze pensions for its present workers, but the company is willing to enhance 401-K plans. Verizon wants to eliminate future pensions.
Verizon wants to change the 1963 Work Rule - which is an antiquated rule requiring 2 people on a service call in NY, most notably in a neighborhood known for its violence.  Now that particular neighborhood is one of the safest in the city. Sending 2 people on a service call is not cost productive.
Verizon wants to limit paid sick days to 5 per year instead of the unlimited amount they are receiving now.

The argument union workers are making is that Verizon is a very solvent company that pays its higher echelon officers exorbitant salaries and the company can afford to continue providing reasonable wages to its workers.

Verizon touts itself as "America's largest and most reliable wireless service."  While I can say that I feel some sympathy for the employees of Verizon who will have to make some kind of sacrifice if they want to go back to work, I can't help wondering why they would even strike in such a negative financial climate.  No doubt, they're getting paid some of that unlimited sick time.
Many of the non-union workers have been cross trained, specifically for situations such as this, so the jobs are being covered, albeit with over-time. With so many people out of work, how much sympathy and solidarity will these striking workers get when Verizon starts hiring from the pool of people that are practically begging for a job? I know I would not hesitate to cross that picket line if I were desperate to feed my family and pay my bills.

I can't help wondering how this will effect the Obama administration.  Democrats are notoriously pro-union, with unions donating millions to their campaigns.  What percentage of that huge donation comes from workers union dues? Unions need that money and have been known to bulldoze their way in to businesses where they're not wanted.  In fact, in this particular case, the unionizing was rejected several times, even after the rules were changed. That's right, if you don't like the outcome, change the rules and try again.

In another lifetime, I once had a positive opinion of unions, but now....they just muddy the waters between politics and worker's rights. Who are they really looking out for?