Sidetracked Charley

The unexamined life isn't worth living, Socrates There are moments in our lives which stand out as singular. Events, seemingly insignificant cause, us to alter a belief or a course we thought we were fixed to. Studies show that intelligent and liberal people are more likely to have these satoris. Some months back I vowed to not choose a presidential candidate to back until 90 days before the election. If Canada and Australia can choose a leader in such short time certainly the USA can do without the two year two ringed circus we seem to think necessary. Especially if the SCOTUS (2000) or compromised voting machines (2004) is going to be the way a president gets into office. Note: I did not say elected .  The internet is a wonderful window into the world and what the world knows and yet a few moments spent on any social media site and you know there are people who have the blinds down and the drapes closed. I said upon graduation from the University of New Mexico that ...

Dad used to joke that voting just encouraged them. But my parents always voted. And both at least outside the voting booth proclaimed to be Democrats. Mother was even precinct chairwoman at one time. We lived in a Republican neighborhood and it got all the windows broken out of both cars and red paint smeared across our driveway and sidewalk. I had to quit the senior girl scouts because of my parents' politics. I was always an introvert but due to Kennedy running for President virtually became a recluse. I figured the Republicans were responsible for Kennedy getting assassinated and never forgave LBJ because my friends from Dallas said it was his idea. But after college I went to work for a Republican Senator who cosponsored the bill to end the war in Vietnam. And I found myself hanging with a liberal group of young Republicans. I always figured it was more about the platform than the party. Now nobody talks about the platform. It is all about personalities. I don't lik...