Turning Point

Last night, at about 11:30pm (CST) the scales were turned, the road came to an end and the light at the end of the tunnel finally was actually the end of the tunnel. Last night, I became a democrat.

I had been struggling with what my beliefs were, what the parties stood for and how mixed up I was about this subject. But last night, a comment was made to me after watching a movie that put me over the edge, brought out the real feelings that were deep inside and finally resolved this deeply contested issue.

See, the movie reviewer knew that the subject matter of the movie was a sore spot for me, and instead of giving a normal review using our made up review criteria: (number of explosions, etc.) I believe he tried to cover up his beliefs with the lowest movie rating of all, the illustrious "1". He indicated that the movie was a "1" because of it's attempt to show that our government is really behind (or knows about) some of the bad things people do that inevitably hurt many other people. I believe he felt that I (and maybe he) could question his beliefs about a subject after this movie and in an attempt to divert that, he gave the movie a "1" saying that it was a crappy movie. I thought that was a poor review because of the reasoning behind it.

Today I am a democrat because:

• 1. A balanced Federal budget is more important to me than lower taxes
• 2. Tolerance (not acceptance) of other lifestyles is more important than a moral code of conduct in our society
• 3. A country without guns is more important to me than a secure home.
• 4. I favor imprisonment for life over capital punishment
• 5. I favor a society with a social safety net over a society where people get to keep more of what they make for themselves
• 6. I believe the US should always work in concert with other countries instead of "going it alone" when it needs to
• 7. I think science should be allowed to advance unchecked by our moral code
• 8. I think the environment should be protected even if its harmful to business

And I am NOT a republican because:

• 1. I don't believe that corporations should run rampant and unchecked.
• 2. I do not belief that there is a place for religion in government.
• 3. I do not believe that tax cuts for the rich benefit the poor.
• 4. I do not believe that scientific research should be curbed.
• 5. I do not believe that the Bible is a factual source of information that should guide government.
• 6. I do not believe that legislation will stem the tide of homosexuality.
• 7. I do not believe that I am right and everybody else is wrong.

By the way: [For the Republican's in our audience today] I gave the movie a 7.5. I thought it showed a couple of really important things. First how, eventually, your inner self and the beliefs you have about right and wrong can eventually overcome you and make you change your destiny (and even do something bad). Second, trying to lead a double life (and lying your way through life) will always catch up with you. Finally, I thought it was a good story about a guy who continued to build a wall between moral judgment (right and wrong) and money.

More Sudoku later today. (Now back to our regularly scheduled programming)