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So now that it's over, what do you think. The pension referendum lost...that totally flabbergasts me. My buddy John Bambanek lost, but it was his first time running. (He sort of reminds me of Jim Bechtel...although he's a lawyer rather than a fund raiser. The think I remember about '76 (besides the fact that Ford was the first president I saw as "mine") was backing into that cop's black Trans Am. Not my proudest moment. I'm trying to decide whether I want to write a post that started nagging at me yesterday. My ideology and philosophy appear to have changed a great deal since 1972, but not really*. I got involved with the Young Republicans in 1972 because Shirley Ferber was involved in Vermilion County Republican politics, so she got Jeri and I to help her...got involved with the College Republicans when I hit EIU because I thought Jeff Baker was a sweetie and the College Republicans gave better parties. In 1976 I worked part time for Larry Stuffle (a Democrat) because I needed the money and it was an easy job. In 1979-80 I realized that Dan Crane was an idiot and if that was the best Republicans could offer I wasn't sure that I wanted to be associated with them ("Democracy is a bad thing because Christ was crucified by a democracy"). Had my doubts about Reagan. I worked for Susan Catania, who was a Republican, but who totally kicked ass, in 1982 when she ran against that SOB George Ryan and I was so involved in working for the Equal Rights Amendment. I drove her to a Lincoln Day dinner and listened to Jim Thompson talk about closing the Anna Mental Health Center and saying in practically the same breath that he was glad his daughter was healthy. That was the end of the Republican party for me (except for Jim Edgar. I like Jim Edgar and thought he was a great governor.) I've basically not been involved in party politics for years (except for going door to door for Ron Paul in 2008, because TC wanted me to.) I'm interested in results, not parties, and I don't have the energy to get involved, nor the need to belong to some group, any group, that would have me. *what is my ideology and philosophy about government, you might ask. Good question. There are very few things that burn in my soul. I have always practiced my beliefs haphazardly. I believe: the government should stay out of peoples bedrooms no one should be disenfranchised due to race, creed, economic circumstances, sex/sexuality, physical ability or any other reason except being a felon or mentally incompetent (not mentally disabled...crazy) I (still) believe that equal rights under the law should not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex (and this includes transgendered people) the government as a single entity doesn't exist. We, as individuals working together, are the government and that means we are responsible for what happens in this country people should have the right to quality health care, no matter what their income is, and the cost of health care should be regulated I believe in the need for a standing volunteer army/guard to be ready, willing and able to meet any need of citizens of the United States in times of emergency (more like the National Guard) and I believe that every citizen should serve in this army for a minimum of two years. However, I don't believe that the United States should be involved in wars in other countries I believe in lifelong education and education for everyone and I think the educational system needs to be examined and restructured from the ground up. Education shouldn't cost an arm and a leg and leave people without the skills to be a productive member of society. "Higher education," the way it is currently presented, is a freaking scam. I believe in my family I believe in my friends I believe in my cats I believe in volunteerism I believe in community I believe that people can and should join together to celebrate their beliefs, whether in God, the Goddess, Jesus, Buddha, Allah, an unnamed Higher Power or the Great Pumpkin I believe in fair taxation for all. I believe for every drop of rain that falls a flower grows I believe in miracles I believe tomorrow is another day Did you know I believed all those things? Sorry, you hit a hot button. I have been going to write a "This I Believe" since I saw Dan Gediman last month. It's so hard for me to express myself and say what I really feel and I have been a joiner and a follower since forever, just because I have wanted so bad to belong... | 
