What do you believe?

In the midst of the increasingly rancorous debate regarding the debt ceiling, budgets, taxes, healthcare, and other related domestic issues, it has occurred to me that I have not heard any one discuss what the people want.  If you are a frequent reader of this blog (and I assume you are :)  )then you know that my primary issue has been, and will continue to be, that "our" representatives do not care what we, the people who put them in office, actually think or want.  I talk to people all of the time, and I ask, what do you believe?  what do you think is right, or okay?

In any event, I was going to write something about politics again, about the lack of accountability, the complete lack of respect shown by both sides towards their constituents, and a hundred other issues that cause me great concern, but, frankly I am completely disgusted.  I am not a Republican and I am not a Democrat.  In the end, here is a short list of things I believe:

This is some of what I believe:

I believe drugs should be legalized and the costs used to incarcerate people now for personal amount of drugs should be used in rehabilitation.
I believe that the death penalty should be banned.  All industrial countries in the world, except ours, has banned it.  We should too.
I believe that a persons should be able to marry who they want to marry.
I believe  that a person's right to practice the religion of their choice is one of the founding principles  of this country.
I believe the constant open attacks on Islam are sickening.
I believe in the second amendment, but I do not believe it gives people the right to carry automatic weapons.
I believe the government has to increase revenue, whether by increasing taxes of the wealthy, increasing corporate taxes, or getting more people to work.  A tax increase may be unnecessary if more people were working b/c they would pay taxes and they would buy things that are subject to sales tax.  And they might buy real estate that is subject to real estate taxes.  If that does not raise enough money, then a tax increase needs to be considered.
I also believe the tax code should be thrown away, and rewritten with a simple flat tax rate. no more exceptions, deductions, and loop holes.  Make the percentage reasonable and be finished with it.  Imagine the money saved by reducing the number of employees (and administrative costs) related to the current tax structure.
I believe that everybody should have access to AFFORDABLE health care.  I also believe employers should not provide health insurance, we should buy it like people do all other sorts of insurance (of course, this would require an overhaul of the entire system so it was affordable)
I believe that Tupac Shakur is the greatest rapper of all time, though I would put Erik B and Rakim, Run DMC, Notorious BIG, Eminem, and Snoop Dogg in a dead heat after him.
I believe the Cosby Show was the best sit com, not only because it was freaking funny, but because it showed Black people in a light that was very differnt for that time.
I believe people of color should be described as Black, African American is not precise nor accurate.  Additionally, is it correct to call a Black person from Germany (or anywhere not in AFrica) an African American?  If white people are white, then black people should be black.
I believe my daughter has it right when she tells me that I am brown, but my father is browner, and she is light brown.  That is accurate.
I believe the Cardinals will NOT win the NL Central. The brewers are better.
I believe to live and let live.  Who cares what everybody else is doing and what they have?

In the end, as everybody knows, this is just what I think.  Nothing more and nothing less.

I hope everybody has a great day / evening.  I am hoping that Lincoln sleeps past 4, though I doubt it.


Be Easy

-cp