DITKA 2016

This is not a pro-Obama / anti-Romney article, or vice versa. This is not a response or rebuttal to any political messages I have read. This is  just a forum where I wish to speak my own opinion.

I have heard a lot of talk regarding Mitt Romney’s questionable past dealings. Unfortunate, yes. However, I have yet to hear about Barack Obama’s past accomplishments. Are there any? I didn’t think so. Before his presidency, Obama served as a US Senator (2005 – 2008) for three years. What did his accomplish? Well, three years isn’t much time to accomplish anything when working from a Congressional seat in the grand government machine. Three years also isn’t a lot of time, period, when thinking in terms of political experience needed for any major government office like, say, the presidency? I do remember being a boisterous youth with an overly romanticized view of the future. I too was taken with the then Senator Obama. I even wrote to him praising his speech to Congress where he scolded them for focusing on what I like to call *migrant issues, i.e. Gay Marriage.

At the risk of a quick digression, like Obama, I believe that gay marriage should remain a state issue. Congress should focus on our more important issues, i.e. the American economy. This is not to say that I do not believe in lobbying for equal rights. On the contrary, I am a huge advocate for preserving our rights as American citizens. Like the Hispanic community, Black community or other ethnic/socio-economic communities (yes, the Caucasian community as well), the LGBTQ community is comprised of people. Just people. And as people, we are born with certain inalienable rights. So, to my surprise, Obama endorses gay marriage—and just in time for re-election. What happened to focusing on our country’s economic issues? It was a small slip-up, so I chose to wave it on. If I am going to be completely honest, I believe that marriage should not be government associated at all – it’s a private sector matter – but I digress…as predicted.

I for one am not one to dwell on the past. So with that, let us explore Obama’s accomplishments during his four years in the presidential seat:

OBAMACARE – healthcare controlled by the federal government. I’m not a fan of big government to begin with, but why would anyone want to turn over the reigns to a political entity for making decisions on their health? Yes, certain adjustments need to be made and regulation is needed to ensure that the American people are not be taken advantage of by insurance companies, but let it stop there. If I am ailing, I do not feel comfortable with the government choosing what course of treatment is best for me. That decision should be made by me in conjunction with my doctors.

OBAMANOMICS – spending more and more of the American people’s money, then borrowing more money to pay for our spending. Econ 101 lesson: don’t spend money you don’t have. Common sense lesson: don’t flagrantly spend money that doesn’t belong to you. With a vast majority of our country wanting ‘free stuff,’ it’s no wonder Obama was re-elected. However, take a second to think about where this ‘free stuff’ is coming from, and is it really ‘free’? Answers: paid for by hard-working American’s tax money; no – respectively. One prime example of  ‘free’ not truly being free is that if you choose to have another child in order to receive a larger government assistance check, do you think that is just free money from the government? No. What if you don’t have health insurance and need medical attention but can’t pay your bill, then the government will take on that burden. But do they really? No. Where do you think the money for Obamacare or other Obama projects or any other government projects come from? That money is coming from private sector individuals like my middle class parents. Two hard-working individuals who raised three children and put them through school all on their own dime with little to no federal aid. And people like my parents are having more and more of their hard-earned money taxed to pay for your so-called ‘free stuff.’

What other costs are there to receiving these government hand outs? Freedom. The freedom of choice is a powerful weapon. It’s also the foundation of America. The trouble with government taking on the parent role is that it sends a message to its people: We do not feel that you are educated and responsible enough to make your own decisions. That is dangerous. Case and point: the First Lady’s war on obesity and subsequent endorsement of ‘sugar tax’ (higher taxes on ‘non-healthy’ foods). Seems menial and with good intentions, right? Wrong. However good natured that may be, it once again sends a message to the American people: We do not feel that you are capable of maintaining good eating habits. Yes, obesity and childhood obesity is a major health problem in this country. However, should it be the government’s job to inhibit your ability to grab a bag of chips and a soda for a snack? Should it be the role of the government to dictate what you eat? When? How? No. But in order to receive your ‘free stuff',’ you need to give up some freedoms. Personally, I don’t feel comfortable with that…but I have seen people do a lot worse for a free t-shirt…

Ok, Erin, but what about the 4.5 million jobs created under Obama’s reign? Obama supporters tout that Obama is working for middle class families. Right. About that, CNN Fact-check confirmed that that number was true – true, but not the whole story (http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/05/politics/fact-check-obama-jobs/index.html). The 4.5 million counts only jobs created after the economy bottomed out in January 2010 and excludes the number of jobs lost in 2009. CNN concludes: "The figure of 4.5 million jobs is accurate if you look at the most favorable period and category for the administration. But overall, there are still fewer people working now than when Obama took office at the height of the recession." Another fun fact for you: 43% of the jobs created under Obama’s administration are low-wage jobs.

Meaning, if you are among the vast majority of mid- wage workers laid off, fear not. You can find a position with any of the low-wage companies hiring. That is, if you’re not over-qualified. And I’m sure that with your new income and stimulus package (paid for by tax money from other Americans such as yourself), you will be able to contribute to the economic up-swing and money-flow by purchasing big-ticket items like a new house and take advantage of that tax break incentive from Obama.

Going forward, we the American people can only hope that Obama, Part II will place more emphasis and urgency on getting our nation back to our standing as a respectable world leader. Though it’s very rare that a sequel is better than the original.

 

 

 

 

*My own term I formed from the term ‘migrant worker’. Meant to mean political non-issues brought to light in an effort to mask avoidance of tackling actual problems as well as to gain favor with special interest groups; often used during campaigning

Always kiss me goodnight…and mean it

So I have a new boyfriend now. I know, I know…for all my back and forth preaching, it’s finally done and over with. For a second, I thought I should’ve ended it with that first break up; or not stayed the night after that big blow out at his summer party… So many stopping points, and I failed to get out at each one. I’m happy I got out when I finally did though. Chase was in a good place with his new girlfriend, so there was absolutely no chance that I’d rebound with him (that wouldn’t have been a good choice for anybody). And this last one ended on a mutual understanding – not that we were in agreement, but we were finally both agreeing that we just weren’t working out. He’s still an a**hole, but I was stupid enough to stay with him for a year…so I guess it evens out, eh?

Anyways, on with this new beau…he’s kind of on the wonderful side. I know you’re not supposed to compare past lovers with current ones, but on the other hand you’re supposed to learn what you like and don’t like with each relationship, so how do you not??? With that said, Dan is just this shy of perfect. He’s got the love and compassion of Chase with just enough of Marc’s bite to challenge me (oh wow, just realized that I never mentioned my last bf’s name…yea, it was Marc. LOL). And just as with any other of my life experiences, this one is really kicking my a** and teaching me a lot.

I think I’m finally starting to understand (kind of) what’s up with me and my issue with relationships. I may never know why I broke up with Chase. I just felt I had to. Whether it was the ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ thing to do, I just had to. I know that sounds bad, but… well, I don’t know. With that though, I’m starting to see my pattern.

Not to say that Marc wasn’t a complete dick – he was…and is—but I definitely didn’t make things easy on him. I would over analyze and takes things personally – and anyone that knows me knows that once that’s happened, that’s it. That sets me off. Even if I have no idea how or what I want you to do to fix the situation, I will fight you. I will fight you if only to get my rage out – not even thinking about how we’ll patch things up (or if we even can). I will fight you solely on principle – even if I don’t know what it is yet.

With Chase, we’d talk it through for hours if needed. I’d like to say that we compromised, but if I’m really honest, I got my way 90% of the time. We went through so much together. Whether the wounds were self-inflicted or due to us standing against an outside force, each battle brought us closer together…stronger…and more in love than before. We stood side by side against the world for 5 years…together…never once wavering in our devotion to one another. Even now as friends, he calls and I’ll come running. I need him, and he is at my side at a moment’s notice. Best friends for 5 years. That isn’t something casually tossed away.

With Marc, things would get so bad that’d we’d break up…then he’d ask for me back, and I just couldn’t say no. We never had to ride into battle together…there were no common enemies to face. Just us. Maybe if I’d have waited it out one would come and we would have our chance to unite together and build a similar bond. I think that’s what I was waiting for. That’s part of the reason why I stayed. It just wasn’t fair. He wasn’t given a fair shot of proving his sincerity and genuine care and love and devotion to us like what our college years did for me and Chase…but I just couldn’t take anymore heartache.

And now Dan. I am now recognizing that I am repeating a pattern that I started with Marc. I am pushing and pushing to see where the boundaries are. How bad can it get before he’ll pack up and go? Get it now? There’s no war to wage against a common enemy to help prove that he loves me enough to stay with me through anything. As a result, my over analyzing, over sensitivity, overly critical  eye paints us as our own worst enemies.

With Marc, all that accomplished was pushing out my own boundaries of what I was willing to put up with for someone I loved. With Dan, he’s still sticking around, but how long before all my pushing pushes him away?

Whether I’m in love with him still or not – doesn’t matter. When it comes down to it, I still view Chase has my constant. My rock. The one that will never abandon me when the going gets tough.

How do I change that? Do I need to? Or is it that I just need to learn to trust that the person that I’m with is with me. What if he changes his mind tomorrow—or worse, a few years down when I’ve planned my life around him…I guess kind of like what I did with Chase. I am sorry about that. Maybe I’m scared that birds of a feather and all….

Break up to break to over

I’m really tired of trying to make you love me.
You said that you were always happy to see me, hear from me or be with me even if you didn’t show it. 1) Why wouldn’t you show it? And 2) If anything you went out of your way to show me the complete opposite.
I broke up with you because I recognized that I need and deserve more than what I was getting from our relationship. It was a break up. But once again, I let you stare sadly, lament on unspoken love and convince me that what we have is real and honest and beyond anything that I can ever imagine; that you just didn’t know how to express just how much you really love me. Really? REALLY??? Because all that lasted less than 2 weeks.
So then it’s just a break. Just a breather so I can just take some time to myself and figure out what I’m doing. At the same time, I used this to see how you’d treat me with us not being ‘officially together’. Would you go out of your way to show me you love me? Would you consistently put more effort into making me feel that our relationship and progression as a couple was a priority to you? No? Oh, right, I forgot who I was talking about. You’re right back to where you were. You’ve stopped trying. Stopped caring.
Which means everything you told me, everything you said about me being such an amazing person that you loved so much; you having nothing without me; me being the top of your priority list; how nothing matters to you more than making us work were all just lies to get me to take you back.
I thought that I didn’t care about how you made me feel, because I just loved you that much. I thought that as long as I had you things weren’t so bad. Then I realized how stupid that was. Guess what, you’re not enough. In fact, I need a lot more than what you can give me – which wasn’t a lot to begin with. I dedicated every inch of my life to you and have gotten nothing but heartache, rejection and insecurity in return. I thought we could make this work, but you busted it from day one. I’m not sorry for anything. I now see that I was right all along. You really just wanted someone, anyone to come home to. Hope you’re happy now.
You can find another date to that military dinner. Maybe you can take one of your army friends you like having picnics on the beach with – oh yea, I saw that.

Same feelings, different day…

One of the hardest discoveries I’ve come across lately comes courtesy of love. Who knew that I am so easily dismissed? I’m not angry or mad or hurt. More bothered if anything. And more bothered with myself than with you. We’ve come so far and have painstakingly built this relationship filled to the brim with love. But every so often, I catch a glimpse of who you are…and I’m reminded...

I don’t even know why I wasted my breath trying to explain to you where I was coming from. I guess I just wanted to make sure you knew the effort I was putting forth to make time for us…in hopes that you would care to return the gesture. And I’m bothered by the fact that as you are so quick to dismiss me, I’m guilty of the same action. How can I expect you to think of my feelings when I don’t even think of them?

I wanted to get mad. I wanted to be upset. I wanted so badly to start a fight with you, and prove to you how you’re wrong and I’m right. But in all honesty, I just couldn’t. You were already mad at me, so even if I did try to start a discussion on the topic, it’d turn into a yelling match and you’d hang up on me…I’d start crying…blah blah blah… So I kept my mouth shut and let you have your way.

I want so badly to know where I stand with you, but I’m so scared that if you tell me honestly, it may not be at the level I’d like. I have a feeling I’m right. I know I’m right. I guess in the words of my dear Whitney Houston, it’s not right, but it’s ok.

Why? Because I love you. All of you.  And that overrides everything. I love you just that much more than you love me. I give just that much more for you. And however, unhappy I may get, there is no one in the world that can make me happier than you. And it’s no comparison of how unhappy I would be without you. I may want more, but right now all I really need is you.