Random Rants XVI: Whambulance Dispatch Center

[Mowque]

Republican Senators are idiots? How, exactly, is this news?

I didn't think...it would be so obvious..

 

[Nylan]

EDIT: Wow, definitely didn't mean for this to be so long.

When I was a kid I used to flip by CSPAN and hear senators speaking and I thought they were all talking in some technical jargon because I had no idea what they were saying. Now however, whenever I watch CSPAN I realize they're not a actually saying anything concrete anyway, but are negotiating in emotional terms no different than on garbage cable new channels. In the past couple of months all Republicans have been talking about is "incentivizing" (which I didn't know was a word) small business and all of them have ridiculous accents. All Democrats talk about is "regulatory failures" and "regulatory agencies" and "regulation reform," reforming what and how they refuse to elaborate (mainly because they too have no idea what they're talking about) their words are always more vague and worthless. Everyone talks about how the "system is broken," whatever that means, and this requires "significant overhaul," there is no explaining or specificity.

Typically both parties have the same repetitiveness. When arguing for a bill there will be x number of people arguing for and against. Supporter 1 comes up and throws out some uncited claims and maybe has a pretty graph without real numbers, then the other supporters come up and repeat the exact same talking points almost word for word within minutes of hearing the previous. A huge waste of life. The only action you'll ever see is when they argue over the last minutes (often for 15 minutes straight) or when someone who is crazy or senile has the floor (ie. Paul, Byrd, Kucinich). Everyone else just follows whatever the speaker/leaders/whips say. All of them are predictable.

Congress is at its worst when an outsider comes in to be grilled by a subcommittee. Every congressman turns into a crusader bewailing whatever appointee with stupid rhetorical questions like "is that really what the American people want?" Of course usually their interviewees are real professionals (today Bernanke was questioned) and all the congressmen pretend like they know what they're talking about all while trying to portray themselves as down to earth fighters for the common man. Sotomayor was worse when she was interviewed mainly because every Republican had to ask the same inane rhetorical questions, "omg yoo sed that by beeing a latino (sic) woman you have experience that white men wouldnt, omg what if I said that, I'd be fired cos im white." That would be a good face palm the first time, but when every single Republican stood up and did it? Aw hell naw.

So pretty much all I've learned from CSPAN is that the idealism of the politician as a well balanced person who is well versed in economics, medicine, war, and everything in between is a myth. Politicians are celebrities who can guild their ignorance in gold. They despise people who know what they're doing and have been regurgitating the same sound bytes for ten years.

Best rant in a long time. You, sir, should blog.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

I'm starting to think I made the wrong decision. And that maybe it was an unnecessary, maybe even selfish, one.

 

[Leonel]

I knew Seattle had the opportunity to build a light rail system in the 70's, but it was only yesterday did I learn that we could have used SOMEONE ELSES MONEY instead of paying for it ourselves! GRRRR GOSH DARN IT!

 

[Ulyaoth]

What's light rail? That just mean commuter?

 

[Leonel]

What's light rail? That just mean commuter?

Light rail is kind of like a subway system but above ground. It's good for commuting and just for fun. When I used to live in Portland, I'd take the light rail to and from work every day simply because I didn't have a car back then.

Seattle has a bus system for now but buses can get stuck in traffic too, especially on the highway when traffic has to be reduced to one lane so that crews can widen the highway some more.

 

[Ulyaoth]

I hate buses. I will never ride a bus. I'd rather walk miles than be stuck on a disgusting bus with tons of poor people and freaks.

 

[choxorn]

Luckily, we're getting the Light Rail System now. It should be ready in a few years.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

I hate buses. I will never ride a bus. I'd rather walk miles than be stuck on a disgusting bus with tons of poor people and freaks.

Yes, thank God we have cars, so we can shut out all the downtrodden of society and pretend everything is wonderful happy land!

 

[Ulyaoth]

Exactly. And if bums ask me for money, I just roll up the window!

 

[Nylan]

I'm starting to think I made the wrong decision. And that maybe it was an unnecessary, maybe even selfish, one.

Sorry to hear it

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

The only thing I hate more than making the wrong decision is second guessing the decision I actually did make. I wish I could just be okay with it and move on.

It will be difficult.

 

[Orange Seeds]

I hate buses. I will never ride a bus. I'd rather walk miles than be stuck on a disgusting bus with tons of poor people and freaks.

I love taking the bus. I get to meet all kinds of different people, especially now that i commute straight through downtown. I often talk to the tourists that get lost on our labyrinth of a transit system. I've met Germans, Venezuelans, gay southern americans, tons of Easterners, recent Chinese immigrants, a homeless, white supremacist amputee and a plethora of beautiful women. I get to think about things, read, write, study, have tea or just relax-- all of which are impossible while driving due to the level of concentration required.


Come to think of it, I hate cars. I hate how there's always one person in a five seat car. i hate how angry people get in traffic, i hate parking, i hate the idea and reality of paying for fuel, I hate how lonely and oppositional driving is, i hate large parking lots that ruin the skyline, i hate large thoroughfares that divide whole communities in two, i hate sitting down for so long during the day, i hate passing through somewhere instead of being there, i hate large investments that only lose value and I hate pollution.

One of my buses goes through aorta of the poorest, dirtiest, most drug-riddled neighbourhood in the nation and i have had no problems. So the lesson is: If you can take the bus, do!

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

I can't find someone who wants to take my spot in the apartment out of which I am shortly moving.

 

[choxorn]

gay southern americans

I was unaware that was even possible.

 

[mythmonster2]

Hey, I know a few! Unless it means Southern Americans as in people from South America the continent, not the region in the US.

 

[Orange Seeds]

I was unaware that was even possible.

well now you have evidence to submit to the Enquirer. They were on the '17 Oak' trying to get to Granville Island. They wanted the '17 UBC' which was silly because it went even further away than the 17 Oak. I told them that maybe the 50, 4 or the 7 might get them there before i told them to just walk because they only had to walk back across the underside of the Granville street bridge which we had crossed.

The bus driver was Indian and i think he was very happy i explained it to them. I'm not sure if he was uncomfortable because they were flaming homosexuals or because he had difficulties understanding them.

i admit, i had a good laugh at them when they got off the bus.

Hey, I know a few! Unless it means Southern Americans as in people from South America the continent, not the region in the US.

I meant Americans from the south

 

[Theige]

Why do I ALWAYS get banned

 

[cardgame]

Why do I ALWAYS get banned

They're Jealous of your 1337 skillz.

 

[Masada]

Yes, thank God we have cars, so we can shut out all the downtrodden of society and pretend everything is wonderful happy land!

You just like to study the Proles