Liberals turned conservative and vice versa

How many of you know people who started in one political stripe and changed sides? I am having an internal conflict lately in political belief (and so should many of you!) My democratic party is floundering to such a great degree that I hold no hope at this point in their resurrection of a viable campaign and political agenda. The party has fragmented to such a diverse degree (diversity being the lynch-pin of the democratic agenda), that no consensus seems possible amongst people that do not value a cohesive values system.

Three people really stick out as voices of reason today: new liberalism proponent Robert Reich, values czar William Bennett, and ultranationalist Michael Savage. Each brings a unique, outsiders view to politics that I really value. Seeing as I'm reading and buying into many of the ideas that each man represents (far left to far right), I'm having a difficult time orienting myself to the current political landscape.

Currently, I feel we need to lock down our borders to illegal immigration and open the borders to highly screened immigrants. We need to end programs for illegal immigrants in schools, hospitals and public services. We need to push on a national, state, and local scale increases in educational reform and place our students back to the top of the world's most highly educated populace. We need to end the huge budget imbalances, trade deficits, and internationally held debt, and learn to buy american again. (So long as american means the best, high quality product, but perhaps not the cheapest?)

We need to fix voter fraud issues to ensure we have the most accurate and fair voting system in the world. We need to promote personal responsibility in savings and long-term financial planning, while keeping key safeguard systems in place for people that meet with unexpected problems.

Despite what I've said above, my political planks are not secure, yet. I've still yet to come to internal consensus about many of these key issues. Beyond my increasingly conservative political orientation, however, I do beleive in gay marriage--anything that strengths families should be supported wholly and earnestly.

I cannot buy into George W. Bush, however. I'm not sold on the republicans. But who else is there?

Whack!

Thoop! Yep, Golf season has begun in earnest again this past weekend in Chicago. After a week of whiffs, I really started hitting the ball today with my new set of clubs (thanks, Mom!) I've been working on my stance, relaxation, and form with my short irons. After a bunch of great short iron shots, though, I had to whip out my new woods and take a wack at some balls. Wow! What fun! I hit a few balls about 200+ yds! Awesome.

Novel Update: 1200 words in 1 chapter.
Flower Update: Tulips and Daffodils in full bloom, hostas spreading, and iris growing rapidly.

Excerpt #1

But to commute via I-55 or the Kennedy or to head into the City on a weekday morning at rush hour, seemed like one of the most foolish, wasteful activities you could ever attempt. Accidents created huge gaper’s delays as drivers gaucked at the misfortunes of the slow footed cell phone business people that made a daily habit of talking a bit too much, and watching a bit too little. One car would careen into another, sending the lead car flying forward like a sling shot, only to squeal on their breaks a second time to pull to the side of the road and assess the damage. Taillights broken, trunks crushed in, spewing forth all of the condiments assembled in the Chicagoans trunk—windshield wiper fluid, scrapers, Morton rock salt, blankets, Cubs hats, Bears hand-waving thingys, last week’s Tribune covering the latest Daley scandal, the current Reader listing the current Malkovich performances at Steppenwolf, and some other large, unwieldy lawn care device—some of these things always scattered themselves behind the wreck and attracted even more gazes from the passing cars. The gaper’s delay is not a phenomenon distinct to Chicago, sure, but the City that Works has turned it into a full holiday from driving the speed limit. Radio, TV, and the Weather bug keep everyone informed of the lastest traffic delay, and even though an IPass user can drive through any lane in the toll plaza and use their nifty RFID box, most stay to the inside lane just to ensure a delay. Why start the habit of moving fast on the way to work?