I am a flaming liberal now...
Reagan dying has me thinking politics. Also, hasn't he been on his death bed for two decades? Weren't we prepared for this?
Anyway, two points on which I am very liberal, both stemming from one incident. So we were at my brother's new house, the day before Memorial Day, fittingly enough. We were drinking for about 12 hours, in celebration of our nation's awesomeness. Then, at 3am, fucking cops show up in his back yard talking about a noise complaint. There were 3 damn people out there smoking when they arrived. 3! Anyway, my brother talked to the cops and it was all good, but he was incredibly pissed because: 1. The neighbor who called the police didn't have the balls to come over. 2. Everyone was well above drinking age: he figured having a house and a mortgage should entitle him not to be treated like a college kid.
Anyway, I restrained myself while the cops were there, but when they left I launched into a tirade about how they should not have gone into the backyard. My point being that if they can open the gate to the yard without cause, they can just as easily walk through the front door whenever they want. Cops know this; they shouldn't have been back there. It's cool, though; I would do the same thing. However, telling them to get out of your yard and speak to you in front of your house is perfectly reasonable. My sister-in-law felt that such behavior would be suspicious. If by suspicious she meant Constitutionally protected, she would be right.
So a huge debate ensued, my brother and myself against everyone else arguing that it is horribly unconstitutional for cops to go wherever they want. The converse side led by my sister-in-law, arguing that such a policy is the only way to stop terrorists, and they have nothing to hide anyway. FUCK THAT. If someone wants to arrest me for selling crack, they can walk through my front door. Short of that, it's bullshit thinking. They better have cause, and by cause I mean a fucking rocket sticking out one window with the confederate flag hanging outside the other.
This of course led to someone saying "If you don't like it, get the hell out." This, too, could not be more against what America is supposed to be about. Fucking bullshit. Then, I get shit for not voting, even though it is more my right to not vote than it is for someone to tell me to vote. Does anyone understand what this country is supposed to be about? Furthermore, when I tried explaining that even if I did give a shit, my vote would not count, as our last presidential election showed us. I tried explaining that while I do understand the electoral college and support it's decision to stop democracy from actually occurring, I don't need to participate in our traveschamocekery: my belief, and the purpose behind the college, is that the people's vote does not count, and if they select the wrong person, it won't matter. That's fine, and I like it that way. But I'm not buying it.
It sure does frustrate me when people so fiercely in favor of America don't understand America. The Constitution isn't that hard to understand. I have the right to criticize the government, the right not to vote, and the right to prevent unlawful search and seisure. Anyone who argues against me against these points, or suggests I am wrong and I should "get the fuck out" is ignorant, miopic, and probably illiterate. Yeah, now I'm a liberal. If being liberal means you want the freedom to not express yourself when you choose not and also want to not have fucking police walk through physical barriers on private property, call me liberal.
In other news, I finally got a zippo, did my paper 1 day early (first time ever!). Of course, I thought it was do today, and I did show up half an hour late, but 23 hours early is still pretty good. Lastly, I think Superfun Bob is dead and Cranky Angry Bob is resurrected. Lastly lastly, Will Ferrel sucks. If he were sixty pounds heavier, he might be funny.
Anyway, two points on which I am very liberal, both stemming from one incident. So we were at my brother's new house, the day before Memorial Day, fittingly enough. We were drinking for about 12 hours, in celebration of our nation's awesomeness. Then, at 3am, fucking cops show up in his back yard talking about a noise complaint. There were 3 damn people out there smoking when they arrived. 3! Anyway, my brother talked to the cops and it was all good, but he was incredibly pissed because: 1. The neighbor who called the police didn't have the balls to come over. 2. Everyone was well above drinking age: he figured having a house and a mortgage should entitle him not to be treated like a college kid.
Anyway, I restrained myself while the cops were there, but when they left I launched into a tirade about how they should not have gone into the backyard. My point being that if they can open the gate to the yard without cause, they can just as easily walk through the front door whenever they want. Cops know this; they shouldn't have been back there. It's cool, though; I would do the same thing. However, telling them to get out of your yard and speak to you in front of your house is perfectly reasonable. My sister-in-law felt that such behavior would be suspicious. If by suspicious she meant Constitutionally protected, she would be right.
So a huge debate ensued, my brother and myself against everyone else arguing that it is horribly unconstitutional for cops to go wherever they want. The converse side led by my sister-in-law, arguing that such a policy is the only way to stop terrorists, and they have nothing to hide anyway. FUCK THAT. If someone wants to arrest me for selling crack, they can walk through my front door. Short of that, it's bullshit thinking. They better have cause, and by cause I mean a fucking rocket sticking out one window with the confederate flag hanging outside the other.
This of course led to someone saying "If you don't like it, get the hell out." This, too, could not be more against what America is supposed to be about. Fucking bullshit. Then, I get shit for not voting, even though it is more my right to not vote than it is for someone to tell me to vote. Does anyone understand what this country is supposed to be about? Furthermore, when I tried explaining that even if I did give a shit, my vote would not count, as our last presidential election showed us. I tried explaining that while I do understand the electoral college and support it's decision to stop democracy from actually occurring, I don't need to participate in our traveschamocekery: my belief, and the purpose behind the college, is that the people's vote does not count, and if they select the wrong person, it won't matter. That's fine, and I like it that way. But I'm not buying it.
It sure does frustrate me when people so fiercely in favor of America don't understand America. The Constitution isn't that hard to understand. I have the right to criticize the government, the right not to vote, and the right to prevent unlawful search and seisure. Anyone who argues against me against these points, or suggests I am wrong and I should "get the fuck out" is ignorant, miopic, and probably illiterate. Yeah, now I'm a liberal. If being liberal means you want the freedom to not express yourself when you choose not and also want to not have fucking police walk through physical barriers on private property, call me liberal.
In other news, I finally got a zippo, did my paper 1 day early (first time ever!). Of course, I thought it was do today, and I did show up half an hour late, but 23 hours early is still pretty good. Lastly, I think Superfun Bob is dead and Cranky Angry Bob is resurrected. Lastly lastly, Will Ferrel sucks. If he were sixty pounds heavier, he might be funny.