Showing posts with label partisan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label partisan. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Are you like me? sick of stupid email "jokes"


I have received one too many stupid emails. This morning, I decided I'd had enough. I responded to the sender and all the others who have forwarded it.

This particular email was supposed to be a partisan joke.

"When your friends can't explain why they voted for Democrats, give them this list. They can then pick a reason." It listed the top-10 reasons that frankly, were more annoying than funny.

The email was not only sent to me, a registered Democrat, but it was sent to many others whose names and email addresses were shown on the header.

This is a big no-no in my book. I don't want my name and/or email address to be a part of any list that includes the likes of Rush Limbaugh. In addition, listing multiple recipients in an email shows computer geeks like myself, that the sender is at the very least, an unsophisticated computer user who is not just technically-challenged but probably believes forwarding jokes is a major function of a computer. I personally have much better things to do with my computer.

It is presumptuous to assume that some of us have nothing better to do than to read jokes. Many of the recipients who received and forwarded this email originated from their place of business. So much for workplace productivity.

It is galling when someone who doesn't know me at all assumes they understand my sense of humor and political affiliation.

Sick of stupid jokes cluttering my inbox, I decided to respond to this one with the following:

If this email is intended to be funny, it isn't. It is offensive and typical of a political system out of control.

To answer the question—No, I vote for the candidate. If he is a Democrat, it is probably because I share the philosophy that all people should be treated equally. Some, who cannot fend for themselves should be cared for, especially in a country as rich as ours. That does not mean we should live in a welfare state or that we should encourage or tolerate lazy and undesireable behavior. Able-bodied people should work because work is good for the body, mind, and soul. Government should not run our lives. More government is not better. More laws are not better.

I often vote Democrat because I believe the democratic philosophy is more akin to how I believe. It seems that Republicans these days will stop at nothing, including sending stupid emails like this one, to denigrate those with whom they disagree. That does not mean I agree with someone just because he is a Democrat. Generally, I support people who are strive to do the job well, not the one who holds and abuses it.

I believe members of both parties take their "party" too seriously. I consider myself a Democrat, but have voted for Republicans and Independents. This year, I will likely vote for some Green candidates.

The only time that partisanship should matter is during a campaign when members of a party can band together for the purpose of simple unity. Once elected, an official should cease being partisan. In the context of his job as a member of a larger body, he should consider the larger picture. While he should represent his constituents, he must be mindful of those outside his jurisdiction and the consequences of his actions overall.

Current practices are all wrong. The goal should not be 'just to get re-elected.' Real compromise among those who share a different philosophy, but similar goals—good governance—should dictate behavior at all levels of government.

It is wrong to blindly bash members of another political party, blindly follow and parrot talk radio personalities, and/or self-made celebrities. I do not believe in public displays of religion. I believe in the science of evolution rather than in hocus-pocus creationism. I believe man has harmed the environment that sustains him. I do not believe I am better than anybody or that anybody is better than me. I believe things should be done because of inspiration, not greed. I could go on but by now you must get the picture...

      Please remove me from your email list. I disagree with you.