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So there has been a growing trend in our country that has been driving me crazy. It seems that it is more important for people to be a part of the first of something than it is to do what is best. I have been noticing this quite a bit in the last 2 years, but last night put me over the edge.
The big buzz was surrounding Kathryn Bigelow and her being the first woman director to receive a "best picture" Oscar, for her movie "The Hurt Locker". The only problem was......the movie sucked and the middle was so boring, I kept falling asleep. I'm all for woman's rights, just make them earn it. Giving out an award to her based on her gender cheapens the accomplishment. James Cameron changed the way movies are going to be made in the future and had the highest grossing movie of all time, but he didn't win?!
I feel very strongly that the same thing happened 2 years ago when Obama won the presidency. Everybody wanted so bad to be a part of electing the first black president, they forgot to check his qualifications. Putting a 1 term junior Senator in charge of getting us out of a recession, in retrospect, seems silly. Now that the dust has settled and we are not any closer to getting out of this recession and he has done absolutely nothing to help out the middle class, even some of the most hard core Dems are questioning their choice of candidate. When you look at the voting patterns, African Americans came out in droves in support of Obama. Most of them were first time voters (Blacks traditionally have the lowest voter turnout, amongst the races). They weren't voting for him because of his policies. They were voting for him because he was black.
There are many other examples of this, but you get the idea. It makes me think that we have gotten to the point where what you do doesn't matter, only who or what you are. I realize for years that certain races, genders, or orientations were shut out of certain things because of discrimination. That doesn't make it right to reward undeserving people to make up for it. Hopefully, at some point, we will throw out all of the preconceived notions and just select the right person. The person who is the most qualified. Until then, I'm afraid we will continue to harbor animosity and cease to develop as a society.
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30 comments:
Bravo! Bravo! Well said Mr.Reger. I got that movie on my Netflix list and will see if its worth a damn. I do however agree on all your other points.
I'm really going to try and watch that movie this week to see if it's as good as I've heard.
As for your other "points." Well I agree that Obama should be more focused on the middle class but to say that we are in no better a situation than when he became president is just erroneous.
In his first week he did more for humanity than Bush did in 8 years. And even if Obama did want to push some big giant Middle Class relief bill, I'm sure he would have no problem at all. It would just go right through. Right? No opposition or endless debates. No nitpicking or raping the bill until it's unrecognizable from what it started out to be.
Right?
Obama wanted everyone in this country to be able to choose for themselves if they wanted a govt healthcare program or stay with their private plans. All he wanted to do was give a free option. Sounds simple right? How come it's over a year later and congress still can't agree on that simple idea? The system is fucked even more than any candidate we can elect.
And it is probably correct that a large percentage of black voters voted for Obama because he was black. But you then have to count up all the voters who simply could not fathom putting the other choice in the White House. Blame the republicans for putting a joke of a ticket together as well if you're not happy with Obama.
What's up with all those Wallstreet bastard COO's/CEO's getting those huge million dollar bonuses after the govt bailed their asses out? Those fucking bastards need to be paying that money back so we could use that money for the real problem with this country....... EDUCATION!
Obama is the king of empty rhetoric. A lot of generalities and comparisons to past leaders, but very few facts or solutions. In a recent New York times poll, Americans were asked if Obama was a better campaigner, or a better leader. 82% said campaigner. That should tell you something.
You are right, Koko, getting a public option for healthcare should be simple. Most politicians "simply" want to know how the President is planning on paying for this program without raising taxes, before they vote for it and he can't or won't do that.
Let's face it, the Republicans were doomed no matter what because of the unpopularity of Bush. My point was that people ignored the qualifications of Obama when making their decision. Nobody that I know who makes between 30-90 Thousand dollars per year, with health care has had any help from Obama. There are millions of people that are in this boat who are barely afloat right now. I would be very scared if I were a Democrat right now because they are not holding their end of the bargain with America and you will soon see plenty of change like you saw in the most liberal state in the country voting in a Republican
The only thing I'm mad at Obama for is not being enough like Bush.
Bush pushed through his bills at all costs. He didn't care about anybody liking him or what he had to do to get his policies pushed through congress. He didn't care about the consequences of his actions.
Now yes his policies were some of the worst in the history of this country. His policies are why we are in this mess that is just now at least starting to settle.
I wish Obama would do the same with his policies. His policies are some of the best I've ever heard, but by the time congress gets finished with them, they are unrecognizable. Obama needs some Bush swagger.
But not for one second should anyone believe that the Republicans are interested in how Obama is going to pay for the health care. They are not interested in anything about the plan except how to filibuster it. This goes back to how insanley fucked our system is. If the republicans put through Obama's plan in any way that actually resembles his initial idea, then it shows that he is a viable candidate. The Republicans job is to completely change the plan so they can take credit for it and claim it as an accolade at the next election. It's always about the next election.
If anyone actually thinks it's about helping people, then I have a sweet deal for you on a nice bridge in NYC.
And I don't think Obama has a damn thing to be worried about, at least right now, for the next election. Unless the rebulicans can actually find a reputable candidate. They currently have none.
I say change the law and let Auuwnuld run. At least he's a real republican.
It's Always been said that
"True Progress Comes When you don't have to talk about it"
The fact that Bigelow's Victory is lauded as a Victory for Women and she is the first Female to win says it was more a political move than anything. And I can guarantee you this is not the first time somebody won an Oscar based on politics.
Cameron is known as an arrogant douche in Hollywood circles and the fact that the Hurt Locker was a small indie film that almost went straight to DVD while Avatar was a $100 Billion to make made it a another Great David vs Goliath moment.
However, don't forget also that much of Hollywood doesn't want Oscars to start going to movies where the Stars of the Movie are Purple Martians that aren't real People. Hollywood is voting themselves out of jobs if they start giving Oscars for movies that well......really don't have true Humanisitic Movie Stars.
That is my two cents on Regers Rant...I won't get too much into the political side since Koko and Reger are our true Political analysts.
However, I will swing back to my first point in the fact that you don't make any progress until you don't have to talk about a person's race, skin color, or sex.
The fact that if you are a minority business owner in the United States you get Waaaaaay more advantages over not being a so-called minority is unfair.
It is 2010 can't we move on?
I'm waiting to see The Hurt Locker before I comment on it's worth and whether she won because she's a woman or if she really deserved it.
There is definitely a bias toward sci/fi and comedies winning best picture. Although it has happened. All 3 Lord of the Rings were nominated and the 3rd one won best picture.
And this year 2 sci/fi movies were nominated.
The problem with people is that they don't want progress, they want microwave progress. They don't want to actually go through the process.
Sometimes you have to pause and look back at the progress that has been made. If you really stop to take it in, the human race has made a substantial push toward the evolution of the mind in the last 50 years.
Of course there will always be the ingorant to weigh us down, but they are now the minority and their numbers become less with every generation. We're just so emphatuated with instant results in this day and age that we get frustrated when progress does not happen fast enough and then call it politics or artificial when it does.
I was trying to stay away from healthcare. That wasn't the point I was making. It was that I feel that it is a growing trend in our country to ignore facts and qualifications and simply want to be a part of something historical, regardless of whether people deserve it.
Keith is right about people talking about it. Despite his recent "issues" Tiger Woods had long since ceased to be the best "black" golfer and had morphed simply into the best golfer. Not because somebody voted for him, but because he won more tournaments than everyone else.
Finally, maybe I was a little harsh on "Hurt Locker". It didn't completely suck. It was ok, but an ok movie with a powerful topic shouldn't earn you best picture. Maybe best origional screenplay.
I don't think it's a growing trend. People have always wanted to be part of something special. Especially the "first" of anything.
That's why you see a new Wal-Mart mobbed on its grand opening. Even though there are a million Wal-Marts, people just like to be part of something new and exciting. Exploration and curiousity is engraved in our nature.
Of course that's not how people should elect the President of the United States, but there's no way that scenario can be touted as the only reason Obama won. Not with the competition he was running against.
Regardless of whether you think Obama "deserved" to win, he was the overwhelming choice against McCain and Palin. Did McCain deserve to win just because he was a POW? Did Palin derserve to even be considered as a running mate for anyone?
Sorry, but the argument that Obama won due to people wanting to be part of something special holds no weight unless he was up against qualified opponents.
Which he wasn't.
I think what Regs was pointing out in that argument was the droves of African-Americans went to the poles to vote for the first time because they wanted to vote for the first Black President. Even thought I would be willing to bet they had no idea what his platform was or what he was about...........simply based on the color of his skin.......
However, I'm sure there are plenty of people whom did the opposite as well.........which is just as sad in the year 2010.
Also, I would think this debate has the Swami's name all over it.....Why is he so silent?
Correct pleanty of people voted based on skin color either for or against. What I take in solace is that over the last century those people have consistently decreased in number with each new generation.
There's still millions and millions of them, but one day they will be a rarity.
I just saw "Up in the Air" .
Now that is a fucking great movie. Well written, well acted, kept my interest, unexpected twists.
That's another one I meant to see.
I'm way behind this year.
Swami Sayz:
Damn Reger, every time I see one of your “Reger Rants”, I feel like you are turning more in to U ̈ber-Republican; you know those, Rush Limbaugh loving, it’s OK because I am a one black friend having, bible beating, damn those gays yelling, heath care should only be for people making $30k-$90k, getting your book signed by Palin, Z 88.3 bumper sticker having ranting lunatic. And I have to admit, it is honorable that you know which side of the fence you are on. But it was George Washington that warned us, over 230 years ago, when he said: “I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the state.” We now see all in RED and BLUE, Democrat and Republican. And it’s sad because we all now see what we don’t have and what we deserve outweighing what is right and wrong.
Healthcare. Should we all have it, yes. And I respect the fact that the Republicans can take a single idea and grind that thing into your brain. And good little republican robots repeat it….remember the last campaign? Socialism, socialism, socialism, socialism, socialism, socialism. Oh and remember weapons of mass destruction, weapons of mass destructions weapons of mass destruction, WMDs, WMDs, WMDs. And now it’s, how is Obama going to pay for it? If you say it enough it makes it true, just like Wikipedia is a real encyclopedia. But a socialized healthcare system would be no different then police and fire departments. Those are services paid for by the taxpayer that are government run. And Koko is right, there is a public option; or was, who knows now because, get this, THE BILL IS TO LARGE TO ACTUALLY READ! Are you kidding me? This insinuates to me that our lawmakers do not read bills that they pass?
Special Interest groups: Let’s face it, they run the country through lobbyists. I have always said, get rid of the lobbyists and all the flowing campaign money and you will start to get legislative reform, which is what our country really needs. But I know that you are seeing the first this and that, and I have to admit, I fall on Reger’s side of the fence, I get tired of hearing it and sometimes wonder if they win, get elected, get on TV because of this fact. But the Hollywood crowd is that ever two-faced beast that pushes human rights and all that, but pays actors millions….can’t I just see a movie in the theatre for five bucks anymore? And what about a refund policy? (got one for Matrix Revolutions though). I do like that Republicans conveniently forgot that first $700 billion Bush rushed through to save the investment group that manages the healthcare and investments of all the senators and house representatives. But on the other hand, Democrats had the super majority and drug out their bills too long.
Your President: I do get tired of the Republicans referring to Obama as “Obama”. Not once did Fox News ever refer to Bush as just plain “Bush”, it was always “President Bush”. I don’t care if you voted for the man or not, he is your President of the United States of America. And Reger, the qualifications part, I am a little unclear as to what that is supposed to mean. If that is the case, what job can you take two years off of, still get paid, and then return to and pick up where you left off? A US Senator. McCain took two years to campaign, still getting paid, and then lost, and came right back. Oh yeah, he did show up for that emergency session to vote and kiss Bush’s ass when we all needed that $700 billion for AIG, and other things. And my favorite back-handed racist move in the rant was the black voter turn-out. Who voted for McCain? Old white people? Who voted for Clinton in the primaries? Women? Of course people vote for what they identify most with. I don’t think that the “black vote” was pillar to the election. Obama also got the “under 30” voter demographic. Does that mean those under 30 are undeserving of healthcare?
Whoa, that post almost fell into the same category as the health care bill.
But I did read it all.
And lay off Hollywood, as Bill Maher said, at least Hollywood is still producing an American product that the entire world still wants to buy. Movies took in a record amount last year. How many other American based industries that actually produce a tangible product can say that? Hollywood deserves to express their opinions.
And Matrix Revolutions was very good. Both those sequels are very misunderstood.
Swami,
If there is anything that I do, its think for myself. I have never listened to a second of Rush and I don't watch Fox news.
I am simply a huge believer that any government run organization is run with enormous waste and very little accountability. I also believe that people need to take responsibility for their actions and stop blaming other people.
I am also a almost pure capitalist. I feel that the best way to run a country is to put the money in the hands of the people and let them make their own decisions.
But Regs that exactly how we got here.
Any extreme is always a failure.
Pure Capitalism is a failure because it puts all the trust in the people's hands.
Pure Communism is a failure because it puts all the trust in the Governments hands.
Human beings can not be trusted. We have not evolved to that level as of yet and it will take hundreds of more years to even approach that level.
No regulations on these banks is why they were able to do what they did.
And if you really wanted pure capitalism then you're saying you would like the police, fire and all schools run by private corporations.
That sounds like a doomsday movie.
Swami Sayz:
I think you might have contradicted yourself Reger. I think you said that we need to run a pure capitalistic nation by putting the money I the hands of the people, and in the same breath, they need to take more responsibility for their actions. We are all swimming in the shit because of government deregulation of banking and lending practices that allowed the people run institutions to make their own set of bundled mortgage backed security rules. I feel that any institution that controls vital resources should be more strictly regulated. Just like power and other utility companies. They are by definition a monopoly, but because they provide a necessity product, they can operate in their current form with large government over-sight. Hey, I am behind you one hundred percent about people needing to take responsibility for their actions, staring with all incumbents.
And for Koko, sorry about raining on the Hollywood crowd; Bill Maher does have a point. But it is the nepotism that drives me crazy. And the fact that trained monkeys get re-donkey-lous salaries for providing mediocre service. I mean what would Nick Cage be doing?
That's why I said almost pure capitalism. There does need to be some regulations because of greed and the power that the richest few people possess. Just not as much as there is and what has been proposed. I personally would rather have an extra 2 thousand dollars in my pocket than have some stupid fucking speed train to Tampa for 1.2 billion
But the speed train creates jobs, and the money in your pocket just goes to hookers and alcohol! (metaphorically speaking of course)
Unbelievably astute observation GOAT!
Actually with the speed train you could get a hooker in Tampa and make it back for the nightly news.
Sounds like a lot of gas money saved right there Reger.
(metaphorically speaking of course)
If we could just invent a speed train that runs on hookers!
Hooker Train!
Patent that shit. Or write a movie with that as the title.
sounds like a great horror movie.....The Hookers get on but they don't get off!........THE HOOKER TRAIN!
And they get murderd by a guy with a hook hand.
Oooohh Irony!
I don't know whom is getting on.....but we know somebody's definitely getting OFF on that train........hahahahh......budump...dan......
Wow.
That's good. Considering that I have never touched a hooker. Although I have been one to indulge in alcohol conumption. Why dont you liberals just accept the fact that I am right and you are wrong. Logic is king
Then maybe you should start using it!
reform is the key.
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