In the face of near-total misanthropy: Moderately Moderate

Politics really frustrate me.

I mean, they have to frustrate everyone, right? The word itself when used in a context outside of its own realm is dealt in the negative. "Oh, my office/work/place of employment is all politics."
Not a good thing.

So, I guess saying that politics frustrate you should probably be something that everyone understands.

I suppose the thing that frustrates me the most is the "Black and White" atmosphere that comes with American politics. I really would relish a More-Than-Two-Major-Political-Parties type of setting. I can admit, with no remorse or embarrassment, that I do tend to lean more on the side of a liberal idealogical view, but I sure as hell don't sell my complete beliefs over to one party or the other. I think they both have some valid points to offer and that Republicans and Democrats make the most sense when they actually work together and learn how to compromise.

I was just thinking today, while running through Twitter and Facebook, how much all of the incessant bitching about anything the Democrats or the President does just really, really gets under my skin.
And I don't even think it's because I tend to lean toward that side of the fence more than I lean towards the other, or because I voted for the guy (though I'm not stupid... I know that's part of it.)
Mostly I think it's my constant need for... everybody to just... get along.
As if that can be possible. Ever. Even people that I've known who have agreed with me on every idealogical level have managed to piss me off. In fact, sometimes they do more than people I have almost nothing in common with.

I suppose it just hit me today that, during President Bush's 8 years, I got pretty pissed when all anybody ever did was criticize the guy... even if he did something good or appropriate. Even if he was just trying to respond reasonably to the shitty hand he got dealt.
I mean, don't get me wrong... I think a lot of things that came from his presidency suck. War against a country that had nothing to do with September 11th? I mean, hey, Saddam was a son of a bitch. A mass murderer and a terrible excuse for a human being. Good riddance, twat.
But, why not finish up in Afghanistan? At the time maybe Iraq seemed like a good move. But in retrospect?

And when we first started pointing the finger Saddam's way, claiming he had weapons of mass destruction and heinous anti-American plans, the United Nations was like, "OK guys. We get it. You're pissed about the whole terrorists-infiltrating-your-own-system-and-using-passenger-airplanes-as-weapons thing. We get it. Before you just jump into the Middle East and show everyone who's boss, let us send some peace keepers in there and if they find anything... well, sucks to be them, right?" So that's what they did. And they didn't find anything.
And we essentially gave them the middle finger and went in anyway.

This entitlement factor that we, as Americans, have... thinking we're better than everyone and, despite valid intelligence against certain actions, going into places and doing whatever the hell we want?
I dunno... it smacks of asshole. That's all I'm saying.

And No Child Left Behind? Don't even get me started. Explain to me how you help anything—ANYTHING—by cutting funding to schools who under-perform? What douche-lord logic is that?! (Thanks for that one, Milo)

"Oh hey, public schools. Your asinine standardized test scores suck. We're going to make you better buy taking away MORE of your funding."
Perfect.
(On a related note... I think standardized testing in general, as a a tool to ascertain a child's learning progress, is perhaps the dumbest thing modern man has ever come up with. It's either that or The Bachelor... I'm undecided.)

But seriously, this entire idea of treating American politics like a Lakers-Celtics game... it's pathetic.

This is not Star Wars, guys. Republicans are not the Empire and Democrats are not the Rebel Alliance, or vise-versa. And besides, Admiral Ackbar is a moderate (clearly) and when has he EVER been wrong?

Hmmm. And the theme of comparing whoever you disagree with as Hitler? Like, "Obama is such a good speaker... just like Hitler." Or WORSE, the Antichrist? The ANTICHRIST.
Seriously?