That's what they call us. They say we want to intervene in peoples' lives. Tell them how to live. What to eat. When to exercise. Blah. Blah. Blah.
You know what? It's true. I do. My secret, all-consuming passion is to make sure that everyone has access to healthy, natural food. I want urban and rural recreation areas that are safe and well-maintained. I want pregnant women to have access to adequate pre- and post-natal care. I want children to have access to early education programs no matter their socio-economic background. I want to teach the world to learn so they can buy themselves a Coke!
These, to me, seem like reasonable and appropriate uses of public funds. You know taxes. Remember, I LOVE them. Sometimes I don't think we pay enough to be truly effective. That’s right; I said it and you can quote me on that.
I know another group that believes in the Nanny State. Hint: it’s not liberals. But the only thing they seem to want to regulate is our bodies. Who we do, how we do, and where we do. It's been said that they want to shrink the size of government so it fits in the bedroom; or a uterus. Guess what? Stay out of both. I don't care what Bill and Jeff do as long as they both consent. Karen and Peggy too (you go girls)!
Abortion's another thing. It's legal you know. It has been for years. Keep it that way. You know the best thing about choice. You get to choose NO. Anytime you want. I'm done dicing up the abortion debate. Have one or don't. It's really that simple. Listen carefully: I don't care if you get raped; have consensual, unprotected sex; or have a health-risk from a pregnancy, abortion is a decision between a woman and whomever SHE brings into it. Be that her partner, her spouse, her doctor or her god. I don't care what your views are. Don't want one don't have one. Easy. Peasey. Lemon. Squeezy.
Conservatives are on a mission to destroy everything they deem supportive of Democrats and the Democratic Party. Unions, check; making it more difficult to vote, check; defunding education, check. It's only going to get worse. Much worse.
What's to be done? Well holding on to the White House is probably a good start. I've had my issues with President Obama but the current alternatives are unacceptable. I used to have faith that my home state (Massachusetts) was safe but I'm not so sure anymore. Honestly, not sure.
I do most of my activism at the extreme local level. I work on down-ticket races and nag everyone I know to vote, vote, vote. I hold signs and volunteer to do the town's business. Where I live, we have a representative town meeting and if you're not familiar with what that is, check out it out here. I know it's Wikipedia but it works for this. Everyone should get to view a genuine New England Town Meeting; they are amazing.
I believe the single most important thing I can do is raise my children (15 and 12) to think for themselves. Raise them to question what they see; to stick up for themselves and others; to understand their role in the world; teach them that one person can make a difference.
It seems to be working since my daughter, 12, has become very argumentative lately. When pushed on her attitude I was told "You taught me to stick up for myself!"
I wrote about this on my blog, Did I Say That Out Loud? but added to my initial thoughts in this edition.