Palin: She Really Does Suck

During the presidential campaign of 2008, the Republican's VP choice of Sarah Palin scared many Democrats, who opposed her for many reasons - her politics, her ideology, and the cynical view that McCain seemed to have of the electorate, to name a few.  Many pointed out that she would not make a good vice president, because she just did not have the experience, or maybe even the knowledge, to be able to hold that position.  I'd say, those fears have been validated, based upon her speech and actions about the stimulus package that's coming to Alaska.

The package is coming to Alaska, and Palin has held the position that she will veto the money - even though everyone else in Alaska wants the money, and desperately.  It will create and save thousands of jobs, but yet she holds on to her position of veto or bust.

In the latest run-up, the Alaska Legislature has held several hearings and meetings to examine if her "fears" have any basis, but yet she was absent for all of them - and there were no issues found with the stimulus, just good money for good projects.  Even the Republicans, who seem to be of the opinion that anything Obama is evil, are on board and ready for the cash.  So Palin backtracks, says she can't say how it will turn out, and tries to point other issues with the package, which are then debunked by the legislature, yet again.

Palin has backed herself into a political corner that even smooth-talking Obama couldn't explain his way out of.  No matter what she does, she'll either be hated for vetoing a crucial stimulus package, or she'll be caught 'flip-flopping' on her position and 'caving in'.  No wonder the Republicans have all dropped her like a hot potato - she's a political liability these days.  

Maybe this is why we all despised her when McCain chose her as VP - even then, we could tell that she was no good.  Even Alaskans agree.  Her approval ratings have taken a nose dive since July of 2008, just before McCain chose her.  From a high of 80% favorable and 15% unfavorable, she has fallen to a low of 55% favorable and 42% unfavorable.  Ouch.

She's also had other problems, beside the stimulus inconsistency.  She had: a dozen ethics complaints (which she is still fighting, to a current cost of $500,00), an inappropriate pick for Attorney General that crashed and burned (with her getting some of the embers), a war with the Senate Democrats over appointments, trying to force out a US Senator and denying it when caught, attending a right-to-life dinner party instead of the final legislative session, and many other things that she blamed the bloggers for.

Well.  That's quite a resumé, Governor Palin.  Only, I don't think it's a resumé that you want to apply for a job with.  A job like the presidency, which she seemed to think was within reach.  Only now, she's sunk.  I doubt she'll be able to hold the governorship in the next election.  

Bottom Line: Sarah Palin sucks.  She's unfit to rule.  The evidence is out there for everybody to see in Alaska, and I'm just glad that the voters came to their senses and elected Obama and Biden.

Abstinence and the Media: Mixed Messages

There are many people who believe that abstinence-only education is the only way to go about teaching sex-ed.  But they are up against a far thicker wall than they may realize.  The Candies Foundation, which is an organization that raises awareness about teen preganancies, recently hired Bristol Palin as a spokeswoman.  This in itself demonstrates just how ridiculous the whole abstinence-only sex-ed movement is in today's world.

First: Bristol Palin has a child - and she lives in a wealthy family that can help her raise the child.  Not only is she living proof that abstinence-only can be unrealistic, but her home life is completely unlike the average teen mother, who would most likely drop out of school, take a job to support herself, and be living in a broken home.

Second - The Candies Foundation is a philanthropic arm of Candie's clothing company.  If you haven't seen what they model as teen clothing, take a look.  It's anything but abstinence.  The clothing is scanty, and the poses are sexy.  Trust me, as a teenage guy, if a girl dresses is those outfits, abstinence is the first thing leaving my mind.  And what kind of self-image would a girl have if she wore those clothes?  Not an abstinent one, that's for sure.

Third - Bristol Palin's advice falls on the wrong ears.  She goes on TV, on talk shows, that only air while school is in session.  The people she is trying to reach can't even see her!  Besides which, I don't know any teens who watch MSNBC or The Today Show all that frequently (or ever, in my case).  Who is going to see her are the parents, who are in all likeliness already trying to keep their kids abstinent.  And we all know how effective the parents are - because Bristol Palin really listened to her mom, right?

Fourth - The mass media in general doesn't seem opposed to teen pregnancies.  Think about popular TV shows, or movies.  For example, Juno.  The main female character gets pregnant,and isn't even in love with the guy she had sex with until the end of the movie.  Then, when she tells her parents, the reaction is something like, "Well, I'm just glad it isn't drugs."  Right, that's an average reaction to a teen pregnancy.  And then, she rejects the idea of an abortion and finds, first try, a couple willing to adopt her baby.  Just like that, and the movie ends happy.  She doesn't drop out of school, doesn't need to get a job to support herself, just has the baby and is done.

OK, so the media does not actually seem to really be working hard in favor of abstinence.  What is realistic?  Maybe teaching other methods of safe sex as well as abstinence?  Yeah, abstinence is the most effective method of preventing disease and pregnancy (duh!), but it can be unrealistic, especially in today's pop culture.  In that case, teens have the right to know how to protect themselves safely.  

That should be enough to satisfy those who seem so concerned about teen pregnancy, but yet, abstinence programs always leave out the crucial information about how to protect yourself if abstinence is unrealistic.  What's worse, is that abstinence programs always demean and lie about other safe sex methods.  One example is when Pope Benedict declared that condom use can make the HIV problem in Africa worse.   What???!!  Condoms, one of the few proven methods of preventing disease transmission and preventing pregnancy to the tune of a 90-95% success rate, is now being dismissed by the Pope?  WTF!  

Abstinence-only sex-ed is unrealistic, but what's worse is not teaching other safe sex methods, and then demeaning them.  That's like teaching someone that the best way to perform CPR is to pray, and that using an AED will only make the heart attack worse.

Just ridiculous.

Who Needs Religion? Not The Youth.

According to a recent study conducted by Harvard University professor Robert Putnam, the percentage of young Americans who do not affiliate with an organized religion has grown exponentially.  Historically, it has been between 5 and 10 percent; his study pegs the number at 30 to 40 percent.  However, those polled did not necessarily state that they were atheist; they just did not affiliate with Christianity, Catholicism, Judaism, Islam, or any of their respective branches.  (The Huffington Post, May 9 2009)

Frankly, I'm not surprised at all.  Who needs religion now, when all we see of it is hypocrisy and mixed messages?  Each religion preaches tolerance in its respective holy books, but yet the Middle East is a breeding ground of hatred and warfare.  At home, Obama had to fight rumors that he was a "secret Muslim", as if being a Muslim was a disqualification for the Presidency.  A politician, who was Muslim, had to fight to be able to swear into office on the Koran instead of the bible.  Religion preaches that we must help our neighbors and those worse off than us, but yet the wealthiest countries barely pay more than a lip service of aid to struggling nations.  Don't get me started on the priest sex abuse scandals - who wants to be part of a religion that has that history in its culture?  We are a nation that prides itself on religious tolerance, but yet we must swear in on a bible, and swear allegiance to the flag of a nation "under God".

In addition to the recent study, there was also an article in The Huffington Post about some churches that have used false advertising to get children baptised.  Apparently, these churches have a history of luring children into baptisms through false claims that baptisms can save the children from bee stings or through "carnivals" that require a baptism for attendance.  This is just one more nail in the coffin of my examples as to why religion has begun losing out on the youth of America.  Luring children into baptisms with "carnivals" and "bee sting immunity" is just sick and desperate.

I could go on and on about all that has shown itself to be false in religion.  Personally, I have never identified with an organized religion.  I identify myself as "culturally Jewish" - I don't practice the religion of Judaism, but my ancestors are Jewish, and so I respect that part of my heritage.  I also identify myself as atheist, because I find that science is more trustworthy than religion in that Evolution and the Big Bang can almost be proven beyond a doubt, and it just makes more sense to me.  (Hey, whatever you believe is fine with me, I'm just writing my opinion - take it or leave it, fine.)  My problem with religion is that someone is given too much power, to tell you how best to morally live your life.  I'd rather figure that out myself, thank you very much.

So if the youth of America don't like organized religion, what do we like?  Tara Stiles of The Huffington Post posits that there may be an upswing of interest in a more spiritual path, through yoga and meditiation.  That seems to make a lot of sense, especially since for someone disillusioned by the large establishment of religion, spirituality through yoga and meditation can be achieved by yourself or in a small group.

Personally, and here again you can completely disagree with me, I am glad to see this change.  In my opinion, the major organized religions are way too powerful and hold way too much sway over peoples' lives.  This is a great change, a great way for people to take back control over their lives.