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| Are you voting Pepsi, Coke, or Mountain Dew in November? |
| 09.16.04 (9:18 pm) [edit] |
|
I just returned from Virginia Tech, where Libertarian presidential candidate [url=http://www.badnarik.org]Michael Badnarik[/url] gave a wonderful speech, followed by questions from the audience. Of course I am a bit biased in this overview, seeing as I was already planning on voting for Badnarik, but I would like to highlight some of my favorite parts of the event. He gave a fairly short and straightforward speech in which he discussed each of the major issues concerning America in this election, and briefly explained his views on them. Unlike John Kerry or George Bush, Badnarik gave concise explanations of his position. While Kerry is constantly criticized for not having a clear stance on most issues, and Bush is known for making misleading statements to provide his position, there was no mistaking Michael Badnarik's stances on the issues. He discussed the unconstitutional nature of the Patriot Act, the importance of the 2nd Amendment, the potential reinstatement of the draft, social security, the problems with a foreign policy based on offense instead of defense, as well as other issues of importance. After the speech, students in the audience handed in the index cards they were given, with questions for Badnarik. He fielded all the questions excellently and showed no vulnerability in answering questions on any topic. My personal favorite question was, "The differences between George Bush and John Kerry are much like the differences between Coke and Pepsi. How are you like Mountain Dew, and why shouldn't I vote for Coke?" Badnarik listed his qualifications, his background, and his intentions as President. He also related a story (maybe not in answering this particular question, but at some point). He was in an elevator with 6 other people recently, wearing jeans and a tshirt that said "Badnarik for President" on it. One of the people in the elevator looked at his shirt and said, "Badnarik? I've never even heard of him." So, he turned to the guy, reached his hand out, and said, "Hi, I'm Michael Badnarik. I'm running for President." Everyone in the elevator said that they were voting for him. Badnarik, in relating this story, said that the only criteria he had to meet for those people in that elevator were that he wasn't George Bush and he wasn't John Kerry. Though the entirety of the speech was amusing, well said, and very lucid, the final question received the best and most powerful answer. The question was simple: "Are you an anarchist?" To answer, Badnarik created an analogy. He said that if you live in a log cabin, fire is essential to your survival and very important. And there is a place for fire, named the fireplace. The founding fathers knew that government was something we needed, something that would benefit us and enhance our survival. The place for government was in the Constitution. So long as your fire remains in the fireplace, it is a good thing. But as soon as it goes out of the fireplace, it becomes a bad thing, and you immediately and instinctually stomp it out. While the government acts within the limitations of the Constitution, it is a good thing. But when the government goes beyond the limitations of the Constitution, it becomes a bad thing, and, Badnarik stated, he hopes that we would immediately and instinctually stomp it out. If you would like to know more about Michael Badnarik or the Libertarian Party, feel free to ask, or visit http://badnarik.org or http://lp.org. |
posted by: therealspartacus007 (reply)
post date: 09.17.04 (4:34 am)
Sounds like he did a very good job. If only we could get him into the debates...
posted by: newbie (reply)
post date: 09.17.04 (11:30 am)
Mountain Dew is just like Coke and Pepsi. It may taste different, and it may even look different, but that's due to artificial colors and flavors. The bottom line is that it's all the same carbonated water and sugar. None of it is good for you. You don't need the caffeine either.
What we need is to reform the election system so that a vote for a third party candidate is not wasted. In the mean time, I will vote where it counts.
posted by: mblog (reply)
post date: 09.17.04 (11:31 am)
The last one was from me.
posted by: SimElections (reply)
post date: 09.18.04 (5:42 am)
Reply to: newbie
Carbonated water and sugar are only bad for you in excess- just like the government :)
posted by: mblog (reply)
post date: 09.20.04 (9:36 am)
Reply to: SimElections
Carbonated water is not the bad part. Humans of various forms have been getting sugar other ways for millions of years. Ingesting refined sugars means that it enters the blood stream almost immediately after being consumed. There is nothing to digest. This large intake of sugar pushes the pancreas into high gear to make large amounts of insulin very rapidly. Since consumers are often eating breads or pasta made with refined grains also, these carbohydrates also break down rapidly into sugars without the need for any significant digestion.
This causes instant gratification. Politicians like to do the same thing. But it lacks substance. When you eat whole grains or vegetables, your body has to work on those carbohydrates. It gets the sugars out slowly, but it also gets nutrition with it. It also gets fiber, which is the substance. It gets vitamins naturally. Fortifying refined foods does not mean that you will absorb the vitamins. They have to be an integral part. I think that's the part that many politicians miss. Your body may have to work harder to digest whole grains and vegetables, but it's better for you. Also, we are avoiding the meat of the issues here.
A quick fix of sugar may seem satisfying, but there's a major problem with it. Your body now has an elevated insulin level. As your tissues rapidly absorb the sugar, your blood sugar level drops quickly and you still have all that insulin. The result is that you have reactive hypoglycemia. In other words, your hunger has not been satisfied in the long run, and it leaves you craving for more. But you will probably satisfy it by consuming more junk with little value. You feel a crash and maybe even get a headache or dizziness with your cravings. It did not satisfy your hunger, but made you even hungrier. And it's probably making you fat.
Sound bites do the same thing. They seem filling, but it is not long before you realize you need more information. But you need it quickly, and more sound bytes are needed rather than digesting the issues.
Badnarik has a lot to say. But he, to a lesser extent, does what the other parties do. He gives less than a detailed account of his positions, and talks about many issues that are of marginal importance in relative terms and lacks detail on the big picture such as what parts of the government he will keep. But most of all, he and the others fail to recognize which parts are duties of the president, and which will get decided by courts no matter what he does. By concentrating on gun control or abortion or gay marriage, which all should have relatively little to do with the presidency, the real issues get overlooked.
posted by: therealspartacus007 (reply)
post date: 09.20.04 (5:50 pm)
Reply to: mblog
Take a look at Badnarik.org and you'll find a lot of discussion on the details. :)
posted by: mblog (reply)
post date: 09.22.04 (5:02 pm)
Reply to: therealspartacus007
I went there and read everything before I posted. I found "positions" but they lacked details, and many topics were not covered. Maybe I missed some sections.
posted by: davycrockett (reply)
post date: 09.29.04 (6:39 pm)
yes indeed, libertarians have the answer.
posted by: kurtmaddox (reply)
post date: 10.14.04 (9:21 pm)
thanks for the report! several years ago, i was the communications director for the libertarian party in louisville, ky. i have left the party but remain libertarian leaning in my political and social views. you work on the outside and i'll work on the inside and let's try and move them all in our direction :-)
posted by: juniperflux (reply)
post date: 10.15.04 (11:25 am)
Hey stranger... are you ever coming back to us???
posted by: DragonBait22 (reply)
post date: 10.15.04 (8:01 pm)
Reply to: juniperflux
Aw, I'm glad to see you've returned, but as for me, I just don't know. I have so little free time these days and even less inspiration. Maybe I'll think of something to write. I do kind of miss it. Maybe I should just quit my job and drop out of school and devote all my time/energy to blogging?
posted by: juniperflux (reply)
post date: 10.17.04 (9:45 am)
Reply to: DragonBait22
Well... that's what I had in mind, but was too shy to say it. ;-)
Eventually, I would dig reading what you have to say about Nader being kept off the ballot in various states (Oregon in particular). But I'm patient. :)
posted by: DragonBait22 (reply)
post date: 10.17.04 (9:16 pm)
Reply to: juniperflux
Good suggestion. I'll get right on it... as soon as I ever get a day off of work (I've gone 7 days in a row so far and won't get a day off until Saturday :( ) and catch up on school work (I just need to take 4 tests in the next week...). Lol, I'm glad you're patient ;).
posted by: angiekruger (reply)
post date: 10.19.04 (9:52 am)
someone is creating new blogs, with names strangely close to the liberal blogs, in support of bush. i just noticed this morning. there are 2 right now: flipsidown and CheckItQut. be on the look out for a new dragonbait.
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