Swearing In Public Is So Vulgar

Swearing in public, on TV, and just about everywhere has finally reached a boiling point as far as I'm concerned. I don't think of myself as a "prude" even though I do my best to keep my tongue under control. I DO actually like swearing in movies, some movies just wouldn't be the same if the stars didn't cuss a bit (but I am trying really hard to not watch those movies anymore!).

Heck, I've even let an expletive fly in a moment of weakness, like when I hit my thumb with a hammer or some similar circumstance, but even those incidences are few and far between.

What bothers me is the pervasive use of vulgarities that has become so commonplace it seems most people not only don't seem to notice, some even condone it! Most reality TV shows have more "bleeping" than actual dialogue it seems. I have included a link to "Hell's Kitchen", one my wife's favorite shows. I don't enjoy it for many reasons, not the least of which is the language used by both the star, Gordon Ramsey, and the contestants. Please be aware that even though MOST of the bad language is edited, there are still a few words that made it through. The Best of Gordon Ramsay from Hell's Kitchen Series 3

My final straw came today in the grocery store. There was a woman pushing her shopping cart with a little girl in it that I estimate was no more than two years old. The little girl was holding something the woman had place in the cart, and the woman was obviously not happy about it. She literally yelled at the the little girl, "If you open that I'll pull you out that cart and whip your a$$ right here!". I gave her a dirty look, and that's really all I could do since she didn't actually hit the child in front of me.

Then, to add one more straw to the camel's back (as in the straw that broke the camel's back), as I was sitting in the back yard this evening grilling some burgers for dinner, I could hear from the front of the condo where we are living a father yelling at someone, I think it may have been his nine year old son and seven year old daughter. While I couldn't make out everything that was said, I know I heard "mother f-er" several times. It was loud and in the common area of the homes here, it echoed and made it sound even louder. This person obviously didn't care about anyone else, the kids or adults that might object to this language. I think he is just so desensitized to this vulgar way of communicating that he doesn't even notice it... but I did and I know my kids and wife did too.

I think George Washington may have said it best: "The foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing is a vice so mean and low that every person of sense and character detests and despises it."

I don't think of myself as a person of sense or character, but I really do detest the use of vulgar language in public. I hope that we as a society will elevate ourselves, in mind and speech, and stop using these coarse words.

But that's just my humble yet correct opinion.

In My Humble Yet Correct Opinion: The Car Is In The Ditch

In My Humble Yet Correct Opinion: The Car Is In The Ditch: "During the last election cycle, President Obama was fond of comparing the economy to a car being in a ditch: “After they drove the car into ..."

The Car Is In The Ditch

During the last election cycle, President Obama was fond of comparing the economy to a car being in a ditch: “After they drove the car into the ditch, made it as difficult as possible for us to pull it back, now they want to keys back. No!  You can’t drive. We don’t want to have to go back into the ditch. We just got the car out.”(From President Obama's remarks before the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s fundraising dinner May 13, 2010.)

I'm not sure how Mr. Obama came to the conclusion the economy is getting better. In fact, from my viewpoint things are much worse. The unemployment rate is up. Prices of gas and food are up. And among the people I know, optimism for things getting better anytime soon is down (I don't have verifiable statistics on that one, you'll just have to take my word on it!)

I have used this metaphor to explain how I see the economy: When President Bush left office there was a fire. Barack Obama was elected to put that fire out. Instead of putting water on the fire, he has thrown gas on the fire.

Earlier this month the American public voted overwhelmingly for Republicans over Democrats in hope that we can let the fire burn down a bit... It should be easier if the Congress can keep spending down, or in other words, keep the President and the Senate from throwing more gas on the fire!

That's just my humble yet correct opinion.
  

Campaign Finance Reform?

In the past several years I have become more involved in politics, on the local and national levels. I have even given thought to running for local office. One of the things that stopped me was the lack of cash to fund the campaign.

I read that in this election that just ended (finally), more money was spent than in any prior election excluding presidential elections. 

Jerry Brown* became the governor of California [again!] by spending an estimated $24.8 million for a job that pays $212,000 annually. Harry Reid* spent an estimated $22 million to represent Nevadans so he can earn $193,400 as Senate Majority Leader ("regular" members of the senate make $174,00 annually).


*I only mentioned these two candidates because they were involved in high profile campaigns and they were the winners of their respective races. If pressed I could have mentioned that Meg Whitman (who ran against Jerry Brown) spent an estimated $140 million or Barbara Boxer spent approximately $15 million on ADVERTISING to make $1,044,000 over the next six years.

That brought the question to my mind: why would someone spend so much money to be elected to a job that pays so little (as compared to what is spent on the campaigns), but that is for another discussion.

So it also put me to thinking about campaign finance reform. I don't have all the details worked out yet, but here is what I have so far: Candidates can only spend the equivalent of what they will make during their term in office. For example, if a senator is going to earn $174,000 a year for a term of six years, they can only spend $1,044,000 on their campaign. 

As to what others can spend on behalf of a candidate, I think there needs to be limits, but I haven't figured out how to monitor that... Yet! Any suggestions?


That's my humble yet correct opinion!