Inaugural Blog

I'm sorry this had to be my inaugural blog, but I feel like I can't keep it in anymore.
I was sitting here at my computer looking at my Facebook (I was supposed to be researching the connection between eating disorders and culture/gender) and I read yet another slam on Obama. I want to clarify, for both my conservative and liberal friends, I don't care what you think of Obama. I voted for him, I support my choice, but as anyone who truly knows me knows, I don't care that other people don't like him, and I think it's your right to speak your mind. This criticism in and of itself is not the main topic of this blog.
This particular blog is devoted to the small mindedness, the 'our way or the highway', the close minded, the propaganda perpetuating people who refuse to look further than the end of their noses, and yet insist on not just voicing their opinions, but throwing them in your face. These are the people who call you names when you disagree (something my mother has always told me signaled the end of a valid argument and the beginning of a cozy conversation with an unreceptive brick wall). These are the people that tell you 'if you don't like it, leave'.
I've had enough. I'm full to the brim with close minded, backwater statements. Someone from Canada once told me 'you know, it's funny. Canadians, in general, know a lot about America. Americans, however, don't know anything about Canada.' I find this statement in general to be true. I also think that it illustrates a very valid point.
We, as a nation, care only about ourselves. I mean this in a few different ways. Firstly, we care only about ourselves as individuals. This can be evidenced by the deplorable way we care for our destitute, our elderly, and our disadvantaged. As of 2007, 1% of the population (this group is made up of the wealthy) controlled 34.6% of all the privately held wealth in America. The next group, managers, professionals, and small business owners, accounting for 19% of the population, controlled 50% of privately held wealth (Who Rules America, UCSC). What this means, in simple math, is that 20% of our population controls 84.6% of our wealth....Take a moment....process it....it's disgusting.
Now, I'm currently a student along with my husband. When we leave school, we hope to obtain well paid positions in our relative fields. I'm a product of a capitalist system, and want to live comfortably without financial worry, but this particular statistic saddens me. In this country children, that's right children, make up 39% of our poor. And yet, we sit on our computers, reading articles about this person's new so-many-million dollar mansion. We follow Britney Spears on her 'retail therapy' shopping trips.
Secondly, we're selfish politically. Republicans hate Democrats. Democrats hate Republicans. I am liberal, and if I recall correctly, I registered Democrat when I registered to vote. This shouldn't be a surprise. However, I agree that we need to address illegal immigration. Ooo, I shall expect my Democratic expulsion letter any day. In this country, the Limbaughs and the Olbermanns encourage us to delineate ourselves by our political parties. This my friends is why this country is going, and will continue to go in circles where it concerns social reform.
I'm seeing in the media an exodus of sorts. People are moving from one party to the other. This seems to be primarily Republican. I know my conservative friends probably assume I'm rejoicing in the new found support of my 'party' but I'm not. What I'm really happy for is that people are starting to think, and to analyze their beliefs. I don't care if you're a Democrat or a Republican, as long as you're thinking. I personally will register Independent this time. Their going to have to work for my vote.
My biggest issue with this country at this point is how we're moving socially. My Grandfather fought in World War II. He sacrificed, and he gave to his country. He also had an alcohol problem. Correlation? No one will ever know for sure now as he's been gone some 16 years. However, it was his firm belief, and thus imparted to me, that he fought so that we as Americans could have the freedom to express our dissonance. I certainly have here, and I'm sorry if what I've said has offended anyone, but I'm not sorry I said it because it's how I feel. So should I feel free to show myself the door at this point? Because I feel like my country, the country I was born into and taught to love, has in my opinion some things to work on? For those of you that answered yes, I have this simple statement. It's my final argument, and the end of my point, and it is this; go to hell. I'm American. I support my troops without supporting the bureaucratic, mess of a war that they're fighting to further a few people's political agendas. I value the freedom that I have to voice this opinion, and will continue doing so, emphatically. Feel free at any point to take your oppressive, totalitarian, tyrannical attitudes directly to the place you're suggesting I take myself to, and enjoy yourself. You're among friends.

Thoughtfully yours,
Clarissa P.

P.S. Socialism and Communism are different. Look it up. Please.