With the GOP primary season coming to a close, former Governor Mitt Romney has all but clinched the nomination. I have previously expressed certain feelings and thoughts about the Governor which would suggest that I have a negative opinion about him. It would be unfair to deny this. Recognizing the inherent negativity of a negative opinion, I have made an effort to identify my own bias’ and to separate my own personal feelings about Governor Romney, as a person, from my opinions toward his policies. I’ve written about my own personal impressions of the Governor and, as previously stated, this is an attempt to reshape those ideas into a positive light, rather than holding onto this negativity. As it applies to the election process, I feel that voting against is not greater than voting for. I feel that my support for President Obama should be truly support rather than opposition to someone else.

To begin, I noticed that the mainstream media painted Governor Romney as the eventual nominee for a fairly substantial period of time, despite the GOP debate mini-series. I have also noticed certain attacks on the governor that I have long been troubled by (I mean, not scary troubled, but just ‘hey cmon guys’ troubled). 

Recently, the Governor’s religion has come into play.  In truth, I’m neither a mormon, nor all that religious, in a traditional sense.  I have expressed my respect for the Governor’s opponent, former senator Rick Santorum, who to a certain degree shares similar values to those of the community in which I was raised.  It has been suggested that the governor’s religion could be an issue as to why voters may choose to not support him. This makes me very uncomfortable (not in the ‘please remove this pea from under my mattress’ way but more in the ‘no I don’t think it’s weird how he does that, why do you care that he does that in that way’ way). Recognizing that we are not a theocracy, I remind myself that a person’s religion, the religion’s creation myths, and previous social mores, may not apply to an intelligent, reasonable member of that religion. I don’t know anything about Mormonism, nor is it something I am particularly interested in, outside of it’s existence as a part of the religious landscape. With that being said, since Senator Santorum’s religious beliefs and convictions received as much attention as they have, it would only be fair to recognize that Governor Romney has expressed his own conviction in his religion and that he has donated a substantial fortune to the church and organizations with which it is associated. We must also confront the possibility that any personal feelings about his religion may constitute a form of bigotry.  

A second aspect of the media coverage that I’ve found unsettling are the repeated attacks on Governor Romney for being, what has come to be known as, a “flip-flopper”. As this feeling began to settle into the back of my head and slowly ferment, it became the root cause for this second look at the Governor. The Governor has been extremely successful in the private sector. He has made a fortune in the open market wherein symbols of wealth are bought and sold. This process of buying and selling, of repackaging a product in order to make it a more appealing commodity may serve as a sufficient metaphor for this reevaluation of my own take on Governor Romney, the person, an attempt to open myself to a less shallow understanding of Mr. Romney, to view Mr. Romney as a human. To do so, I’ve had to ask myself, what makes Mr. Romney an American asset? You might ask yourself, “what the fuck are you talking about? How does this relate to ‘flip-flopping’? Well, since you asked (which you did in this hypothetical), following my own ideas on the role of government, which I have expressed, Governor Romney’s job is ensure that the government enacts policies beneficial the totality of the people of Massachusetts (It should be known I’ve only been to Boston once, so I don’t know too much about Massachusetts, but that’s not important for this post).  Based on that understanding, it occurred to me that Governor Romney might find himself in a situation wherein he would have to go through a process of reselling himself on certain policies that, while against his own personal ideology, would benefit the greater whole of Massachusetts. An example might be government funded healthcare, such as the dreaded “obama-care” (Dun Dun Duuuuuun!!). Paraphrasing what was expressed so eloquently by the character Brian on Fox’s “Family Guy”, it seems that a reasonable person might retune their positions over time.

“My loyalty is to reason, Louis. And as a reasonable person I reserve the right to change my mind when presented with new information that alters my prospective.” - Brian Griffin

I’ve expressed an uneasiness with the impression left on me by Governor Romney. He appeared, on initial consideration, to be one that believes that he knows what’s best and that those who disagree can sit on the bench and watch as he does what he pleases (it should be noted that this impression places him in direct conflict with my own understanding of the role of government). In this process of reevaluation I have needed to ask myself, “what about the guy bugs me?” During public appearances he’s appeared relatively happy and why wouldn’t he be?  He’s uber-rich and was lucky enough to find someone to spend the rest of his life with. I suppose it’s reasonable to be a little jealous, but this should be no cause for any hatred.  Are his positions on policy the cause? Nope. I wholeheartedly disagree with certain policy positions, and certain aspects of his overall philosophy, but those disagreements are hardly sufficient reasons to allow myself to maintain a shallow ‘ew, I don’t like that guy’ attitude.  So what is this thing? What is it about him that makes me think ‘what is it about this guy that…’? How do I turn this on it’s head?  

While watching coverage on the race, a pundit mentioned that Governor Romney was 63 years old, which I found shocking. By all appearances he looks like a man in his late 40’s. After finding this out, a lightbulb went off in my head, “Eureka, I has found this!” This has nothing to do with his religion, his values, his money, his politics.  It has nothing to do with any of that. This seems to be simply an aspect of the  generation gap - Governor Romney, I realized, is a goober (in the bill hicksian sense).  He may not sit in bermuda shorts drinking Arnold Palmer’s all day but, allowing room for his own personal style, he is, indeed, a older gentleman that likes what he likes, does what he does, and doesn’t like when people get in his way. Governor Romney is simply the Mr. Wilson (from Dennis the Menace) of the younger left. He is that old guy that yells at us to get off his lawn.  Regardless of my disagreement with his policy stances, and our different social and economic situations, it is not a matter of anything substantial.  It is simply a matter of his belief that I am standing on his lawn, which he finds offensive to his sensibilities.  

That’s not a big deal. That’s not a big deal at all. 

With this new conceptual framework by which I understand Governor Romney, I see now that there is no reason to dislike him as a human being. Governor Romney would simply like me to remove myself from the patch of grass on which I stand.  He would simply like me to get off his lawn. 

It is here that our disagreements rest, sans any personal discomfort or negative feelings toward the man. I don’t believe it’s his lawn. I believe it’s everyone’s lawn.

Fairly straightforward yes?

My understanding of Atheism is that as there is no scientific evidence to support the thesis that god exists. Thus, we must conclude that God does not exist.

That is the Atheistic conviction based on the scientific evidence yes?

So according to Atheism, we must conclude, thus, that God does not exist, thereby ending the debate over whether God exists.  We should accept that God doesn’t exist and move on from there.

Again, this is coming from someone that’s stupid, but I should point out the fact that science is always questioning for a deeper understanding of the truth/reality.  We, speaking for all humanity (which I can do, being stupid), at one time believed that the sun revolved around the earth.  Science proved that.  We also believed that the earth was flat.  Science also proved that.

That’s all I’m trying say.

Which is nothing, because I’m stupid.

I’m aware of the fact that these people are probably now going to hack my computer and make it become a transformer that will strangle me in my sleep (which they can do now with computers these days), or kick my watermelon back into the lake (bastards), but after reading a selection from Hannah Arendt’s “Origins of Totalitarianism” for a class I then watched this preview for the new movie on the ubiquitous internet organization (Anonymous).  

The rhetoric coming from the mouths of some of the people were worrisome.  Not to personally attack any of these people because, as a member of the Millenial generation, I came of age at a period of time during which humans first started uploading their minds onto the internet without realizing it.  

Anyway, regardless of your stance toward, with, or against (anonymous) it may be best to arm ourselves against rhetoric and the possibility of being manipulated by those with more whatever-the-fuck-ass-ever, which may give them the power to do so.

Just be safe people, don’t believe the hype.  Don’t even know what hype means.  Well,… know what it means so people can’t take advantage of you, but deny, deny, deny.

I’ve mastered the art of counting to 7.

The walls are damaged

a blue tarp covers the hole

One boy looks inside

The spaces are leased

Now the machines don’t take change

We pay in plastic

I mean, in all seriousness… 

nor a kindergartener, as single digit counting has proven itself to be my foil.

So we’re studying poetry in my english class and our professor prompted us to write a haiku during our break, which I did.

“Smokebreak”

men in orange vests

clearing grass from the tombstones

the clean slate of death

exhaust from the pipe

the wheels are frozen in time

soon they will move on

Over the course of this primary season GOP contenders for the presidential nomination have repeatedly asked a question of the public. They have commonly referred to President Obama’s economic policies as failed attempts to alleviate the financial pressures faced by middle and working class Americans, and they have punctuated their point with the question, “Are you better off today than you were four years ago?”  The assumption, upon which they have banked their arguments, is that if the answer is no, then we should recognize that reelecting President Obama is the wrong choice for America.

Naturally, I asked myself that question.

My answer is a resolute no.

Four years ago, I held a full time job at a publishing company that paid me a reasonable entry-level salary of 20k/yr plus 50-75% of health costs.  I was playing saxophone in a 7-piece band for a singer-songwriter, Jesse Alejandro, whom consistently amazes me.  I was performing, again as a saxophone player, weekly with another singer-songwriter, Kevonne Savoid, who sang with the soul of a saint. I lived the life of what seemed to be a normal NYC implant, struggling to understand the goings on in a city through which 20 million people a day passed.  I struggled to make rent in the first few months while trying to adjust to a 40 hr/wk work schedule, weekly practice and performance, and a rigorous practice schedule intended to make myself as not shitty a guitar player as possible.  I dealt with conflicts with old friends, couch surfing, attempting to maintain the semblance of a social life and simply having to be myself (imagine having to deal with me 24 hours a day, with no breaks whatsoever).

I was, at various points, stressed out, exhausted, hopeful, and invigorated all while having the time of my life.

Now, due in no small part to my own bad decisions, I no longer hold a full-time job. I’ve made no more than 3.5k in each of the past two years, leaning heavily on those that I care about (and sorta think I’m ok) and I’ve steered a musical project, about which I was quite passionate, into quick sand (No!!! Artax!!!). 

No, I am not better off than I was four years ago.

I am, however, taking what I do have and I am using it to propel myself in a direction that, four years ago, I would not have imagined.  

In a recent speech, following one of his primary victories, Governor Mitt Romney made use of another theme that has been regularly tossed about this primary season.  The theme is restoring America to it’s past greatness.  The idea of knuckling-up, and putting your nose to a grindstone with the goal of working your way back to the top is inspiring. 

Governor Romney, and indeed the majority of the Republican field, have made a concerted effort to portray the actions of President Obama as those of someone who intends to change America.  They speak of economic and social policies that “threaten” to change what America is, and what it is to be an American. They pose themselves as the vanguard in the effort to stop him. They speak of the great nation that America once was and how, with the voter’s help, they can guide us back to our former glory. 

This is their goal and it is a good goal.

It is a goal that I do not share.

In the four years since four years ago, I have struggled to come to terms with the situation in which I’ve found myself and struggled to regain a sense of equilibrium.  Decisions that I would not have made, had I not been forced to by circumstance, are working to make me into something that I had not envisioned four years ago. In short, I will not restore myself to my prior greatness (um…).

In my own waxy-poetical way, I share that same goal for America.

President Obama’s actions may very well be changing America.  It is possible that his actions are placing us in a position whereby we will never restore our prior greatness.

I recognize that, and I see that this is also good.

I do not hope for an America that is restored to it’s prior greatness.  I think such a goal is beneath us.

I envision an America that will be greater than it once was.

In my eyes, the America that is slowly forming, with the help of President Obama, is an America that does not accept a previous idea of perfection as it’s highest aspiration.  The America I see forming is, to borrow a phrase, one that is in the process of creating a more perfect union.  One that recognizes that there is always room for improvement, and is proud to address the aspects of our society that make us less perfect than we could be.  

And I am in.