The discussion of circular logic began in our house last week when the trusty husband sent me an IM saying that Algr* (Al Gore) had won the Nobel Peace Prize for that stupid ass movie. I have so little to say about that because I’m afraid if I start my head might explode. Just. ugh. can’t. GAH! *blam* and there it goes.
On the heels of of that blinding glimpse of stupidity I was watching the news last night. This is not something I do on a frequent basis. Not because I don’t want to be an informed citizen, but rather because most news agencies select the stupidest people to interview and I am in complete denial that the collective IQ of my surrounding community is all of 2. That and I don’t want to be informed of anymore overseas deaths. (wholly unrelated to communal stupidity. One that would be classified as governmental stupidity.)
So we’re watching the news and there is a segment about Prop. 1. Now if you live in the Seattle Metro or surrounding areas or if you’ve visited here you’ll know that our traffic sucks. I mean su-hucks. On a good day a commute from Bellevue to Tacoma (approximately 40 miles) could take up to 2 hours. There is no mass transit in this area. A dinky little system is being built, but it isn’t enough. We have a great bus system, but it still almost 2 hours to get to the eastside.
Prop. 1, which I am grossly undereducated about, will fund transit improvements. One of those being the Mercer mess. A section of downtown Seattle that is simply a nightmare.
I am all for funding 4 things. Schools, Rescue Services and road improvements. I don’t care the cost. Now there is staunch opposition to Prop. 1. Why? God only knows. Probably because it will cost taxpayers money. God forbid we have to pay for services.
However, our local television station elects to feature Joe Dumbass as the voice of No on Prop. 1.
Joe Dumbass states that if we improve/build more roads people will use them. And if people use them it will cause more traffic and then cause global warming.
He watched Algr’s movie… didn’t he?
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*it is in your best interest to not defend Algr.? I will let Neal’s comment slide, however any further praise, love, defense or adoration of a most disliked man in our house will be met with swift banning of this site.? I am all for healthy discussion, but this is much like my Jehovah’s Witness neighbor continually trying to convert me.? Not going to happen.
It’s a deserved award. He’s been working on this for the past 25 or so years.
Prop 1 = good. There’s ample provisions between the two ballot measures this fall to provide more public transportation … it renews the transit stuff from 10 years ago, so it’s probably just a continuation of the existing bonds.
Those who lived here in the late 60’s turned down a similar measure, and Atlanta got the federal funding. Yeah, that was to go here.
Oh crap, now I need to go read my voter pamphlet.
I flat out refuse to give one more cent to our local/state gov’t for “road improvements” because they haven’t built the roads (fixed the bridges…etc) that they promised with the last tax hikes. This girl says “No more!” (in a Madame Blueberry voice)
And I’m with you on algr… funny thing is, my dad is in town and he and I are polar opposites (hee, pun not intended) on all things politics and he is literally heading up the “draft algr for pres” committee in his upstate NY city. Needless to say, he’s positively giddy this week. Which is only slightly annoying.
algr and peace prize…just doesn’t add up.
I need to head to the news archives. Didn’t some judge somewhere rule this last week or two that for a school to show this movie they had to state that there are x # known inaccuracies in it? Off to look and see what I find.
Must be near hell, there is gnashing of teeth.
I personally don’t understand the vilification of two people: Al Gore and Senator Clinton.
Seems all kinda silly to me.
Ooops now look what I done to yr blog, elle.
Neal,
professing your adoration of Algr and the senator who can’t decide on a name are like me professing my respect for Dan Quayle. You are laughing now right? That’s what I think of your two.
Wow, why the white-hot hatred of Al Gore? Did he egg your house or something?
There’s people, and then there are ideas.
Both can be separated from each, and respected on differing levels on their own merits.
I know people who have worked with both, and they are enjoyable people.
I can respect a VEEP, I can chuckle a the plural spelling of Washington’s number two vegetable export (I think it’s number two).
The problem is that we are ‘supposed’ to find a ‘perfect’ ‘leader’. None of which is true.
We’re a constitutionally-limited representative democratic republic. That means, in part we elect people to represent us … well, the majority of us. We forget that the government is not “the government” but it is us. And it is hard for people to take the time between their 60 to 70 hour, or two job work weeks to understand things, so we have to settle for sound bites and other icky things.
We’re human. We’ve all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Pretty simple stuff … We tend to degrade and debase people, we make “them” villains. Today it’s scientists … tomorrow it might be a 12 year old kid. Some thing about loving neighbors as yourself, I guess.
Maybe we’re not ready as a human family to know everything that goes on, from tapping of toes in an airport restroom to southern princesses being charged with a hit and run. Maybe its time to tune into our neighbor next door or down the street to see that they get a warm meal when they are ill … and stop idolizing those among us who represent and serve … they ain’t rock stars, you know.
Im on ur blog, hijackn ur comments…lol
Hear, hear, Neal! It’s always good to see/hear another person talk about being able to separate a person from their ideas, and that although you may not be able to respect the person, you really like their ideas. That’s me with Pres. Clinton (Bill, that is). No one is perfect, and it’s better to accept the person with best ideas than bitch about how no one is good enough and not vote. I was raised to believe that if you don’t care enough to vote, then you don’t have the right to complain about the outcome.
Elle – you said you are all for funding four things: schools, rescue services, and road improvements. What’s the fourth? Libraries?
Jake,
Yes, the 4th was libraries. I’m blaming cold medicine.
Cold medicine deserves blame.
Good to hear! My dad would be very proud of you! 🙂
Oh, we have some good news: there are 2 positions open in the Renton office, and Eric will be applying to both of them! Maybe a winter move is in the works… I’ll keep you posted! I did tell him the earliest I was willing to move was 1 Jan 2008. That is so close! Yikes!!
Does it help if I tell that it is the Norwegians who choose the Nobel Peace Prize winner? All Swedes know there’s an intelligence difference between Swedes and Norwegians. 🙂
Not liking Algr doesn’t mean that you actually support the thing we currently have in the White House??
I’m not sure I get how building more transportation will stop global warming but I don’t watch the news either….
I am so with you on the algr stuff. Absolutely ridiculous.
Beverly