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Past Parity

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Coming Out of the Liberal Closet

I’ve finally come to the realization that I’m a Democrat. My father may not speak to me again and my mother weeps when my name is mentioned but the truth must be heard. I attended a few liberal parties and starting feeling aligned to progressive social policies but I figured it was just a phase.

All homo-liberal joking aside by UK terms I’m a conservative but by US terms I’m squarely a Democrat. I was watching Bush thumping the podium at a recent election rally on TV, blathering on about how the Democrat were going to raise taxes if elected and I thought to myself that if a few extra shekels buys a few more programs that make our country better then so what. In fact if a raise in taxes bought a decent free national healthcare how much would people save on insurance?

I’ve been thinking about what it means to be middle class in America. The amount of people who have boats, RV’s or fifth wheels is really amazing to me as I consider these real luxury items. I’m beginning to think that if people in the US could really embrace the idea of less is more they’d really appreciate life a lot more.

In the larger picture I think all the worlds problems fit into about 3 categories: Greed, Arrogance and Intolerance. Basically wanting more and more stuff, not knowing when to apologise or back down and fear or what you don’t understand. I did the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People course (or as Pie calls it my business talk class) and it talked a lot about paradigms and trying to see the world through other peoples eyes. We look at other cultures (and they look back at us) and we can’t understand why they don’t want what we’ve got.

Off politics Pie and I went to see Bill Bryon is Seattle two weeks ago. I even asked him a question whether he thinks Britain is becoming little America. He answered that he thinks the whole world is trying to be the little US and becoming homogenized. I got all bashful talking to him as he’s one of my favorite writers….and there were several hundred people in the room.

Our dossier is finished and went to China and was logged in October 16th. Now we just have to wait 14 months for China to give us a baby.

On a final note Najah left the band. I was really upset as I really liked the groove we had going and liked working with her. Flatteringly enough she asked me to come with her and form a new band but I decided to continue with old group. We’re trying a new singer on Monday so fingers crossed.

OK well must go, Oliver is whining for attention.

spoke Rob at at 9.00pm | permalink | 0 comments