Tea Time

My cousin Nicole and I attended a "Tea Party" at the old courthouse on Center Street yesterday to protest the insane bailout spending that our government has been up to lately. I'm not an economist, and I'm not the most knowledgeable about American politics, but I do know this - spending money you don't have is not fiscally responsible for people or for governments, and it will catch up to us one day.

If you agree and want to do something about the direction our government is headed, write your congressman. Here's the website to find out how you can get in contact with your state representative:


https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml


...or senator:


http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

All that needs to happen for evil to win is for good men (and women) to do nothing. Let's not be part of the silent, complaining majority any more. Our government officials don't hear the gripes we make to our co-workers, siblings, or neighbors, but they will hear us if we contact them. They will hear news media about protests to the things they're legislating. So God bless America, in so much as we are still willing to stand up for her!


Here's some pictures from the Tea Party. There were Tea Parties in 750 American cities yesterday (according to the Daily Herald).

Firsts and DanceSport

Aaron and I went to DanceSport for our date this week. We took Noah with us, but he was really good, so I think it still counted as a date. It brought back fond memories of when Aaron and I were only friends and dance partners (or so he thought). We totally botched DanceSport, but we had a great time dancing. We're planning on taking a dance class together next semester. The jury is still out on whether that will be standard or latin. I'm voting for latin.

Noah seemed to really enjoy himself. He was fascinated by the bright colors and sparkles on the dancers' dresses. He watched intently for two hours before drifting off to sleep on my lap.

The last little while has been full of firsts: the first black president, the first time Noah woke up only once during the night, the first time I found an ancestor's name and got it ready for the temple, and the first time I tried corned beef and cabbage (a new favorite). Kind of cool...

Proposition 8

Whether or not you all agree with my political persuasions, please please please get out there and vote on Tuesday! Those of you in California, please consider carefully your stance on Proposition 8. Please protect the divine institution of marriage and preserve the liberties of free speech for those of us that want to choose how our children are taught! Look here for more information on ballot arguments. Those that aren't in California, please join us in fasting that Proposition 8 will pass. Whatever you do, don't do nothing :-)

Musings on the Election

I spent the afternoon sitting down and trying to figure out whom to vote for. I've seen various email forwards (all false), advertisements (all slanted), and various claims by friends and family of varying credibility. I listened to the final presidential and the vice presidential debate on You Tube. Here are my musings as a result*:

1)I will NOT vote for McCain. Public speaking is not one of his strengths, and I feel uncomfortable with a leader that lacks that quality. I began to feel that even I could debate against him with some proficiency. His plans sounded unconvincing and many of Obama's attacks on him went largely unrefutted. Each of the accusations against Obama had logical, sensible explanations.

2)I'm tired of hearing about Joe the plumber. Let him go back to plumbing, for pete's sake! I wouldn't be surprised if Joe actually voted for Obama because he didn't want to be the poster child for the McCain campaign.

3)I haven't decided whether or not to vote for Obama (I think my mother might have an aneurysm, disown me, write me out of the will, or give away my Christmas presents), but at least he has an articulate plan with what to do with taxes, the economy, healthcare, education, etc. It sounds like many of McCain's plans lack teeth.

4)I don't agree on Obama's stance on abortion, but I don't know whether or not that makes much of a difference. I don't think Roe v. Wade will get reversed regardless of who gets voted in as president.

5)I wish there were one candidate that had all the ideas I agreed with. Too bad Mitt Romney didn't win the nomination. I think he would have fared better against Obama than McCain is.

6)I think that Obama will win the election.

7)I wish the constitution party candidate, Chuck Baldwin, were not so radical so I might have another option.

8)Part of me wishes I could have Obama as president and Sarah Palin as vice president. I think that might be a good balance.

*Note: I am not a political expert, I have not watched all the debates, and I don't know everything about the campaigns. These are just my impressions from what I saw.