Sports and Politics. Enough Already!

The lines are blurred ladies and gentlemen. Once upon a time, not so long ago, people used to go out on the first Tuesday of November and vote for politicians every two years to represent them in all forms of government; from local to county to state to national representation. Politicians ran ads stating why you should vote for them, yards had signs telling you who the homeowner supported, all in an attempt to give you something to think about when the curtain closed.

It used to be that music and art were the only extra-cirricular means by which politics were somewhat brought into the fold; generally youths who had all this angst built up and wanted to fight the man. From The Sex Pistols to Bruce Springsteen to Green Day, music was the outlet of anarchy and freedom; a relentless pursuit of the truth through anthems dictating to their audience to fight back hard and to recognize the ills of the country and its leaders. Always from a leftist perspective, the rants were geared toward family values, the ruinous policies of Reagan, Bush, etc., and almost always a war drumbeat that stated how awful it was to venture into foreign lands.

Fast forward just a couple years, and we now have politics intertwined with every aspect of our life. Not through policy, mind you, but through every single that touches us on a daily basis. Michelle Obama presenting the Oscar for Best Picture, Obama making his picks for the Final Four, Presidents throwing out the first pitch in games, Obama's throwing galas at the white house, and inviting stars with which to mingle are all obvious examples. Even the mainstream media brings stars to their events in a game of one-upsmaship to see who can snag the best A-Lister for the dinners in Washington.

These industries are reciprocating for the politico full force. Most notably, the sports profession. From both the players themselves to the reporters and play-by-play guys, politics and social issues are almost a nightly story on ESPN, or during events such as the Daytona 500, NFL Sunday Night Football, and the list goes on. Announcers offering up their opinions on guns, drunk driving, being gay, and basically, telling the low information people what they should think in the coming days and weeks.

Frankly, I'm tired of this crap. Sports and music are my escape. I would like to escape for a couple hours during an event of which I suppliment through tax dollars for the stadiums in which they play, or through a direct purchase of a pay-per-view event or through a ticket, parking and over-priced food when I see an event live. I would like to escape without being told how great it is that a basketball player announced he was gay. I would like to escape without being told that I am a moron for agreeing with what Sarah Palin had to say that week. I would like to escape and watch superior athletes perform on any given day at optimal performance level, leaving only one winner and one loser.

Sports is the epitome, to me, of survival of the fittest. It is the purest sense of competition, in that, men or women, no matter their color or sexual orientation have to work together in harmony, and each person needs to complete their assignments and execute flawlessly to accomplish a goal together. When that is over, each person goes back to their own life, supports their own causes, speaks out for whatever they want until it comes time to perform again. It's awesome. It signifies teamwork, project management, production, and each member is evaluated based on their performance, not who their best friend is, or whether or not they hang out with the boss. There are no politics on the field, and the coaches will put the best players on the floor, court or field who give them the best opportunity to win. If the coach fails numerous times, he will lose his job. If a player fails to perform, there is always someone behind him or her to take their place. It is the way that the world should run.

Mike Lupica, a douchebag of a reporter for the New York Daily News and the biggest blowhard on ESPN, wrote a column decrying the NRA. He called its member contemptible. He called them creepy. He spewed so much vitriol in this opinion piece, that he let us know first hand that he is all in for gun control and for confiscation. I don't need this. He's a moron who has probably never played a down in his life. Yet he critiques those who do. He has probably never fired a gun. Yet he calls all of us who have, contemptible. He has probably never written policy for a school district. Yet he states what is best to keep those in a school safe. He has probably never written a Bill that became a law. Yet, he is telling us what is best for our country.

Mike Lupica, Bob Costas, Michael Waltrip and Tony Dungy have all interjected their thoughts on politics into a sporting event. I realize that they need to talk and provide commentary. However, they need to stick to sports. Offer their perspective on the teams who are playing or the cars that are racing. I'm growing weary of listening to these idiots talk about what's best for me. Especially when their commentary on the game could use a little work in its own right. Sports is an escape for all who love it. Allow us to escape, just for a couple hours a day or week, from the constant drumbeat of all things Obama or Washington. This just needs to stop. It is getting to a point where nothing is enjoyable anymore.

Obama and Buffet: Two Peas in a Wilting Pod

Knew I shouldn't have started reading the news. Here is a macro-economics lesson for everyone. Yes, the unemployment rate is at 7.5%. However, we get there by subtracting jobs that disappear, plus those who quit looking for work, and we get what is known as the U3 unemployment rate. The real rate, U6 (which includes all of those dirty details, like quitting looking for work or the jobs that just disappear) is still well over 12%.

There are now 9 million fewer people looking for work or unemployed than there were 5 years ago when Obama took office. Fewer jobs + fewer people looking for work = lower unemployment.

So, how is the DOW so high you may ask? Well, very simply, when we bailed out the banks and passed Dodd/Frank, it gave a surplus of money to the banks while simultaneously telling those same banks not to loan the money. All the while, the Federal reserve is pumping money into the economy keeping interest rates low, in order to keep the economy afloat. So, the banks are getting money at almost zero percent, can't loan money to people, and they can't hang on to the money, so they are investing in the market. What you are seeing is an unbelievable disparity between rich and poor grow wider and wider.

This is not looking out for the middle class, the little guy, the poor, or whatever else Obama wants to say he's trying to do. He is single handily contributing to a widening gap between the rich and the poor. He is single handily contributing to the rich getting richer, and the poor getting poorer. We have over 50 million people on food stamps. We have a growing epidemic of individuals who, once unemployment dries up, go on disability. We have more people on medicaid than at any time in our history. It is a disgrace.

This rant brought to you by the guy who wants the Buffet rule enacted, so the rich pay more in taxes, all the while fighting a billion dollar tax bill of his own. Meanwhile, his company sees record profits. FYI - It's an investment company. I really wish the people who don't give a shit would start at some point....

H/T Bloomberg:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-03/berkshire-profit-rises-51-on-insurance-buffett-s-investments.html

Plan A for "PlanB"

I have two daughters. They are 15 and 14, and tomorrow, my oldest will be able to purchase the PlanB abortion pill; over the counter, without me knowing. She will not, however, be able to take Ibuprofen without a note from me at school. Irony is thick, ain't it?

At any rate, rather than rant on what an atrocity this is, and how this is just an attempt by the the left to breakup the family, blah, blah, blah, I'm proposing a Plan A for combating this new availability to my daughters.

Tonight, we need to talk to our kids. We need to explain to them what this pill does, and what the side effects are. Of course, those side effects are few and far between, because there is not enough data anywhere that truthfully lists what can happen if you take this thing. Nonetheless, now, more than ever, our lines of communication with our children need to be re-opened. We need to let them know that we care. We need to let them know that this is not the be-all/end all, and that responsibility is imperative to anything in life, especially when choosing a sexual partner.

Tonight, we need to let them know that this pill's availability does not erase the probability of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, and it does not reduce the risk of AIDS. This pill may inhibit them from being able to have children in the future. This pill floods their little child bodies with hormones, which may have long-term effects later in life. We need to be open and honest with our kids. We need to be frank with them, and allow them to be frank with us. No boundaries should exist in this talk tonight, because if you really care about your daughters' well being, then they deserve the truth.

We, as parents, are the first line of defense against the left's total attack on the nuclear family, and tonight, we have to stand up to this and let our kids know that we are their parents; not Julia. We have to roll with this folks. What a sad day in America. I just know that I love my daughters more than anything, and I want them to be able to come to my wife and I without thinking. I want them to approach us and ask for help if they need it. I'll do my best tonight, but I encourage all of you to sit them down and explain this to them. I hope it all works out, and I'm praying for positive results. I'm lucky that I have great daughters. This won't be easy. Good luck to all of you parents out there! God Bless!