i am speaking for myself, and not my band.
i have no problem with the United States Government banning imports from China. the Chinese government has no respect for human rights or human life. the Chinese government represses the press and the people and has no regard for freedom of speech or the press. the government of China is one of the biggest propagators of pollution and environmentally destructive industrial practices. furthermore, the United States is far too tolerant of U.S. companies who extradite their manufacturing and labor to Chinese (and other foreign nation's) sweat shops. The Chinese government dictates how many children Chinese families are allowed to create, and the sex of the children.
AND, to get to the point, the Chinese toys in question were made with led paint. Would you give poison to your child?
I have held my tongue since this post was started, but I can no longer do so. Has anyone else noticed that all of the posts so far have been geared towards, or derived from, issues of money? Some things in life, most things in life, are more important than the economy, more important than trade. Does anyone else notice that most of the U.S.'s economic woes stem from social, moral, personal, or human deficiencies?
The McCain/Palin ticket was composed of a man who made great sacrifices for his country and countrymen, but who was swayed and distorted by the influence of his party. Did anyone else notice a difference in the John McCain of the Republican primaries, versus the John McCain of the general election?? His concession speech was very honorable and humble. More so than I ever would have expected in my wildest dreams. Dare I say, he seemed like a man awoken from a trance?
And So, that gets me to the point of: Sarah Palin. Sarah Palin was for banning books. She actually thought that it was ok to tell people what they could and could not read, what they could and could not write! Freedom of the press anyone? Sarah Palin denied the reality of global warming, AND she denies the existence of the dinosaurs!!? Is that OK? Can a "world leader" discount and discredit science?? Worst of all, Governor Palin believes that rape victims should pay for their own health care cost!!! Get Raped?? You'll Pay!! Republicans '08!!! So, in the U.S.A, if you are a victim of rape, you should have to foot the bill of recovery?? Wanna get cleaned up and stictched up??...you'll pay! the so-called "rape kit" is suddenly your liability and expense. To Make matters worse, on a Republican tikcet, if you become pregnant from being raped, you HAVE to keep the baby! Not your choice! You walk down the street one night, and all of the sudden you're raped, inpreganated and in debt?? WTF! I can go further in about the McCain/Palin ticket, but I refrain. John McCain is in his seventies. If he were elected, and god forbid something happen to him, we (and the world,) would be left with Sarah Palin??!! WTF! Furthemore, John McCain opposes the National Endowment for the Arts. This is the government organization that promotes and funds high art, encourages new artists via grants, funds many national exhibits, AND is responsible for getting foreign literature translated into english for American readers. Is that a bad thing? There is also evidence that John McCain accepted the support of Ku Klux Klan members, and the support of a Texas evangelic who said that the victims of hurricane Katrina were being punished by god for being gay??? What?!
SO, in a nation where there is no health care for those who can't pay, and even many of those who can pay are not covered for any major health crisis; a nation where racism runs rampant and money is priority number 1: maybe, just maybe, it'd be nice for us to join the rest of the "'western world" and possibly lean just a tiny, tiny bit more towards the "center," instead of favoring the rich, and holding the rich up as saviors and false benfactors, and as the ultimate goal of U.S. society.
Everyone's vote counts. Everything counts. The U.S. is in a real shit-ball situation right now, and the president-to-be has inherited a very dismal job. That truth was waiting for whichever candidate won the election. Maybe it's time to stop being so critical, to look at both sides, to research and get your facts right before opening your mouth, and most importantly, to TRY to look past petty differences, embrace social and global responsibilities, and ACTUALLY contribute to the better good; i.e. give everyone a chance.
-Evan Madden
p.s. if you don't vote, don't complain. if you forfeit your right to vote, you've forfeited all of your rights.
