Some days you just feel like you can't keep up with all of the scandals, lies, and repulsive acts coming from the Bush Administration.
Today I just couldn't bring myself to deal with the latest and greatest outrage of the day--which was for me Tamifah's diary on Pre-Pregnancy. So I began a list of the top 10 reasons why I'm all outraged-out.
10. I have a uterus. Lately it would appear that my uterus has become more important than any other part of my body. I have always wanted to be valued for my mind over any other body part anyone has ever gawked at, and I have to say this latest development in devaluing my personhood makes all of the other trials and tribulations of being female (things like fearing sexual assault or harassment) seem almost rational and normal.
I can't describe how disturbing it is to realize that as a woman you no longer have to fear second class citizenry in America--not with 3rd class citizenry lurking round the bend. There's a new master in town. It's called a fetus. Actually, you don't have to wait for it to become a fetus. It can be a potential fetus. No, wait. It can just be an egg you've yet to produce.
9. I have a child. And as a parent who has spent time serving on various committees with his teachers making plans on how to improve our already good test scores, I can tell you from first hand experience that the No Teacher Left Standing No Child Left Behind ACT is destroying our public schools.
Anyone who would tell you that art has been taken out of our school systems has not taken Bubbling 101 as administered to 2nd-4th graders preparing for their EOG's. Bubble carefully, bubble completely, and bubble often.
Reasoning, discourse, critical thinking? RUBBISH! Test taking. That's all you need to know and that's what they're going to teach.
8. I believe that the war in Iraq is a complete and total clusterfuck. It doesn't get much worse than this. You take 1/3 of the troops that you had in the first gulf war, you know the one where we didn't have the capacity to overthrow Saddam? And you overthrow Saddam, declare victory 4 weeks later, sit back, watch the casualties mount and give Halliburton a bunch of no-bid contracts.
Brilliant. The only thing not to be outraged about in Iraq is...<crickets>
7. I think torture is bad. But that's not what's outrageous. The most outrageous part of the whole torture scandal is that Rumsfeld et al STILL HAVE THEIR JOBS. No high level officials were ever brought to justice, no real investigation was ever conducted, and there are still Americans out there who think it's A-OK if America tortures brown people if it's in the name of terror.
I tell ya what--New Policy. I say it's ok to torture stupid people--preferably uninformed dumbasses who vote for Bush.
6. I value honesty. Oh JC. So many places to go with that one--I have no idea where to begin.
Saddam DID NOT have ties to Osama. Iraq DID NOT have WMD. Iraq DID NOT seek uranium from NIGER but this administration DID LEAK the identity of Joseph Wilson's NOC Agent Wife to get even. The administration IS data-mining calls WITHIN the US and that is JUST the program they ARE TALKING ABOUT. There are SECRET PRISONS in Europe and around the world and prisoners ARE exported for the sole purpose of TORTURE.
And on and on and on and on.........If we could apply electric shock to every member of the Bush Administration every time one of them told a lie....well...cancel that--Washington would have a blackout.
5. I'm not out picking my nose and I RESENT THE IMPLICATION. Because it's not bad enough that there are evil ass republicans out there who deserve the full fury of our wrath, we have our own highly paid political talking heads to chastise us and create chasms in our party. There are good and bad, highly effective and totally useless people working on both ends of this battle for the party's soul. And I don't care if you're old guard or new guard (I'm new since 2003)--if you're as utterly WORTHLESS as Paul Begala step the fuck aside.
4. I am an atheist. I completely and totally respect your freedom of religion and I need your help. If you are not outraged yet by the religious right, then I'm probably not talking to you. I am outraged that your freedom of religion isn't quite working out to be my freedom from religion. Things are bad, and they are getting worse--not better. The emboldening of the religious right is a scary thing--much worse than any Frankenstein movie I've seen and I personally am not looking forward to concentration camp.
3. I've been waiting for Fitzmas since, well last Fitzmas. Quite frankly I'm tired of waiting for Fitzmas. Excuse me if I can't muster up enough hope each and every time they announce a surprise press conference or I can't jump up and down over the latest Raw Story speculation.
I will run through the streets naked I will buy everyone on Kos a beer I will celebrate just as much as the next guy (gal) when Fitzmas finally comes, but please forgive me if I rain on your parade at the next Friday 3:00 p.m. Personnel Announcement/Press Conference thread where everyone sits around and plots Karl Rove's demise.
2. I'm not an economist. I'm no bonddad. I don't pretend to understand the intricate workings of the global economy but I know this--I am poor and I'm declaring class warfare. I don't care who says it's perfectly reasonable for Exxon to pay their CEO $400 million in retirement benefits or United Healthcare to pay their CEO $58 million/year in compensation and benefits. I don't care what system props up the myth that it's ok for the CEO to make 531 times the average worker, because it's not ok. BECAUSE I SAID SO. (SEE # 10)
Where do we get off de-valuing one human being to the point that they can work a full-time job all week, even work overtime and not bring home $200/week? No healthcare, no benefits. And then pay someone else $465/minute. There is something seriously wrong with this picture.
1. I miss America. I miss the America I was promised. I miss the leadership I've only read about in books. I can only imagine what diplomacy looks like. I'm 29 yo and I admittedly slept through most of the Clinton administration. Regretfully now, because it would be nice to know what a real presidency looked like.
I'm all outraged out. My outrage meter is on Red all the time. For the ten things I listed there are a hundred more. How to keep up?