Political translation

I was about to preface this blog post with words like "unpopular" and "view as".  In truth, I have the great benefit of living in the United States.  I do not have to preface anything.  Others in much of the world are free to read it, comment on it, be angered, be bored, be disinterested.  This is the beauty of freedom.

Communication (and perception in general) is subject to interpretation.  We all interpret things differently.  I felt it was only fair to give others a glance into my own interpretations.

Someone says: "I'm not racist but..."
I hear: "I'm about to make a racist comment.  I'm trying to apologize for it.  I am actually a racist, but I'm apologetic.  Deep down I know that doesn't make it better."

Someone says: "Big Government"
I hear: "I have no problem with fascism."

Someone says: "welfare reform"
I hear: "I am about 15 years behind the times.  The program I am mentioning no longer exists, but if it did, I would let them all starve."

Someone says: "welfare state"
I hear: "I am about 15 years behind the times.  The program I am mentioning no longer exists, but if it did, I would let them all starve."

Someone says: "You should need to take a drug test before..."
I hear: "Let them all starve."

Someone says: "Tea Party"
I hear: "The criminally insane"

Someone says "DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act)"
I hear: "Legislated hate"

Someone says: "Conservative"
I hear: "An individual who has no problem with fascism."

Someone says: "Partial Birth Abortion"
I hear: "I have no knowledge regarding actual medical procedures.  I listen to whatever hatemongers are spewing at the moment."

Someone says: "The breakdown of the American family"
I hear: "I listen to whatever hatemongers are spewing at the moment."

Someone says: "Family Values"
I hear: "I listen to whatever hatemongers are spewing at the moment."

Someone says: "Protect Intellectual Property"
I hear: "Several ridiculously large organizations have paid me a great deal of money."

Someone says: "Internet Piracy"
I hear: "I'm looking for some lame excuse, but in the end I have no problem with fascism".

Someone says: "ObamaCare"
I hear: "Let them all die of easily treatable diseases."

Someone says: "Super PAC"
I hear: "The first step to fascism"

Someone says: "This is a Christian country"
I hear: "I have no idea where I live and am completely unfamiliar with the history of my own country."

Someone says: "Waste your vote"
I hear: "I have no problem with fascism."

Someone says: "I don't vote"
I hear: "I have no problem with fascism."

Someone says: "A simpler time"
I hear: "The McCarthy Era"

I do realize that my remarks may seem harsh.  However, pretending to ignore the repercussions of certain policies is inhuman.  Pretending that lowering taxes will only reduce the bureaucracy and waste (which I fully admit is a matter of concern) is to walk through life with blinders on.  Pretending that large corporations will "reinvest" more money if their taxes are reduced is to claim you live in a world without greed.  Pretending that not voting has any effect other than allowing the votes of extremists to carry more weight is denying that 0 is not equal to 1.  Pretending that "Family Values" is anything but a euphemism for "enforcing my limited world view on others" is to deny most of modern history.  Idolizing the 1950's is to idolize nuclear proliferation, witch hunts, segregation, dumping of toxic chemicals without any knowledge of their long-term effects, and the treating of women as a permanent underclass.

There are sides.  The game cannot be avoided, it is the price of citizenship in the Untied States.  If you do not choose a side, you lose.

I now walk away from the soapbox.  It was never that effective a communication tool anyway.