Repugnantcan "hopes" for the future

I hear conservatives saying that Obama ignored the Constitution during the shutdown and debt ceiling crisis.  And I almost don't know what to say to that.  What Constitution are they reading?  Are they really so ignorant about it, and about how our government works?  And does their copy not include the section about questioning the debt of the United States?  Do they not realize that is exactly what they tried to do (and, in fact, did, though thankfully they didn't do as much damage as they might have)?

Do they not realize that defaulting in the name of not raising the debt ceiling would have actually added to the national debt?  Apparently their motto is "we have to destroy the economy in order to save it."  Some of them clearly think that Obamacare will damage the economy so much that they have to damage the economy first in order to avoid that.  They're stupid, possibly crazy, and clearly ignorant.

One would hope that they weren't going to hurt the economy on purpose, that they were not aware of the possible effects.  In fact, they are very aware that they were damaging the U.S. economy.  And they are okay with that.  Several representatives have said exactly that.  And while to most people that seems like insanity, and to me it is un-American, the TP types believe they are doing the best thing for the country.

I think that is because they have a desire for an apocalype, as many millenialists do.  You know, the ones who say "yes, bring on the end of the world, bring on Armageddon!"  They WANT it.  They can't wait for it.  I have heard people say, actually had them say to me, that they hope the economy goes downhill, that they think we need a "cleansing."  They WANT us to lose millions of dollars.  And really, they want millions of people to die, to get back to whatever utopian version of the past they are imagining.  They are fanatics, religious and political fanatics.  They are absolutely certain they are right (basing this certainty on next to no actual facts, just their beliefs, regardless of reality.)

That sort of certainty, and that lack of interest in the desires, the lives, of others, is scary to me.  They are willing to do whatever it takes to get what they want.  Destroy the economy?  Okay.  Let others starve, or die?  Okay.  They are sociopaths.  They can't be reasoned with.

Only some conservatives think this way, of course, and as I've said before the smart ones need to kick the silly ones out of the party.  But they won't; they'll kowtow to them, and (if we're lucky) end up destroying the Republican party.

Flying High

Heard one of these songs last week, and it got me to thinking about others like it.  How interesting can airplane music be?  Well, to me at least, quite a bit.  I'm an airplane nut, and occasional pilot, and these songs all have meaning to me (and, I think, larger meaning.)

The Irish Rovers- The Biplane Evermore

A nice children's ditty

Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris- Red Staggerwing

Not sure how I found this one, but it was a surprise to me a few years ago.  The Beech Staggerwing is my favorite plane, and this song actually mentions it (and another plane, and assorted other machinery, and is kinda suggestive...) 

Peter, Paul, and Mary- Leaving On A Jetplane

Originally from John Denver's first album.  (He was a pilot, and I actually met him when I fueled his plane.  Sadly, he died in another plane.)  I'm sure I first heard PPM's version.  I remember thinking about it when I rode a jet for the first time in the '80s.

Steve Miller Band- Jet Airliner

Another obvious one, and another I kept hearing on that first jetliner flight.  Look where it was, Miss Mox...

Shut up, not down

I have not had much time to write lately.  Too much going on- work, house projects, enjoying the summer and fall with Miss Mox, etc.  And I get my best ideas at work, and driving, so I don't always get them into blog form very well even if I take notes.  Work is getting in the way of me getting stuff done...  So I have lots to say, but am not saying much.

I do watch the news, though.  Well, actually I usually read it or hear it.  And I am appalled by what is going on with the shutdown.  In brief: a bunch of ignorant assholes aren't getting their way so they have decided to stamp their feet and not play anymore.

They are acting like whiny kids.  Stupid, forgetful whiny little kids, who don't remember that the last shutdown didn't work out too well, for them and the country; and that a lot of what they hate are their ideas!  Individual mandate, death panels... Theirs.  Hey, you want to change them, do it right.  Get elected, then write and change laws.  This is a democracy.  Don't just stamp your feet.  That's not the way democracy works.  They're holding us hostage to their strident ideology.  It's pathetic and childish, and even many Republicans can see that.  If this lasts, it will damage the economy (and they will be violating the Constitution they supposedly worship; but then, hypocrisy is nothing new to them.)

Republicans had a chance to reform healthcare, and they didn't.  They made Medicare more expensive for seniors, and taxpayers as a whole.  This time, they could try to fix ACA.  There's stuff they don't like in it (even if a lot of that stuff is their own ideas.)  Hey, there's stuff I don't like.  Let's tweak it.  But they're having none of that.  Partly this is because they are having a civil war.  I hope they burn themselves out, or maybe split into two parties, and we get a more decent, intelligent Republican party.  I'm not going to get my hopes up.

I'm really not clear on what they're so upset about, anyway.  Most of the objections to ACA I hear are based on distortions and delusions.  It's not socialism or socialized medicine.  It's not a lot of things Reps say it is (but then they like to lie anyway.) It's essentially changes in regulations.  I'm tired of hearing the Chicken Little "sky is falling" bullshit- lies about doctors, insurance, job-killing, etc.  Hey, this is a big change, but not as big as it could or should be.  Maybe it will help overall; it is already helping in some ways.  I think it will take a couple of years for things to sort out.  Costs will go up some, but they have been going up anyway (hence the need for healthcare reform, of course...)  Some people will pay more, some less.  For most people it won't make much difference, and for some it will be a very good thing.  Let's let it work, drop things that don't work, add things that we see the need for, and actually try to have a working country, moving forward and getting better.

Well.  Back to work.  Actually, back to house projects, errands, and then work, and starting all over again tomorrow.  I'm not complaining- I like staying busy, and I get to hang out with the most amazing woman in the world, so life is good even when it's hectic.  Enjoy the fall, folks!