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So.... Now our government is in the insurance business. Well, health insurance anyways. Handing it out. Everyone gets a piece. Wait, you can't afford it? No problem. Won't cost you a dime. Well, at least not until next tax season. Oh, that's right, it still won't cost you anything. All of us dumbasses who have a job and work for a living will pay for yours. Those of us who live within our means and haven't dug ourselves into a financial hole. Yes, I know, some of you say you've always had a job but can't afford health insurance. And, yes some of you are right, and I have no problem with giving a little assistance to you. But those of you have never worked anywhere but behind a cash register at a fast food joint and still thought it was a good idea to pop out 17 kids, well, you made the bed.... here's your chance to lie in it. But I'll be damned if I'm willing to pay for your blanket.

Since the powers that be are so concerned with handing stuff out, let's make car insurance the next priority. If I have to pay extra taxes to cover the hospital bills for some guy who ODs on speed, shouldn't I also be willing to cover the guy in the stolen Mustang who "Feels The Need For Speed?"

Hell, let's cover all the bases. You're a crack-smoking junkie with a toothache, and your mouth is basically a science project about decomposition, I guess I should be willing to pay for your crowns and fillings. Why not, it's not like I had my own bills to pay or anything.

This used to be a capitalist country, where the market determined itself. It was about finding ways to offer someone something that nobody else did. It slowly evolved into a world where people decided to offer you something that was already available, but at a lower cost. So it became a competition of sorts. And that's what made it work. That's what kept everything within reason. Sometimes companies offered too good of deals and took over the industry. The government wisely applied some regulations about monopolies and such. And those regulations basically stated that no single entity could control the entire field of a particular business practice, or even the majority of it. Nobody could become the only paper supplier in the U.S., or the only manufacturer of ladies undergarments in the country. The Man made a smart move in that area, keep it competitive, and keep the industry alive.

But here we are now. The government that once embraced capitalism, and all it's positives, has now tossed it aside. It, as a single entity, has taken control of an entire industry. No, it doesn't own a majority share in the field, or own the majority. But it basically can dictate costs and distribution. They say they want this so they can make it affordable. Affordable to who? The people who wrote this this don't pay anything, and make insane amounts of money. I figure the people who already pay might save a $100 or so a month if they have a family, less if they're single. And those who don't have anything will get a free ride, or at least get the same coverage for around $20 a month.

It's not right. My taxes are paying for this, I should have a say. The people we elected won't speak for us like they're supposed to, so we should. Don't hand it out. Offer assistance to those who are trying, and can't quite afford it. But don't just give it to every worthless asshole out there. They didn't earn my fucking money. I did. Me.


I'm done....

Goodnight / Good Morning / Whatever

-B-

"Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories." -- Thomas Jefferson

A Lesson In Dictionary Usage....

DISCLAIMER; The author of this piece has absolutely no problem with immigration, as long as it's done the right way....


I read an article in the paper last night about yet another immigration bill rolling around. Mostly it was about how people are protesting, and wanting the Governor to not support any legislation against illegal immigrants. And this type of protest amuses me. Basically, its a bunch of people saying, "Hey, we/they/he/she have entered into this country, bypassed all the typical protocol and legal procedure, entered into the country without permission, but are completely innocent of any wrongdoing."

Previously there was a quote that I saw on TV during one of the marches a few years back that I considered my favorite in relation to this discussion: "Just the fact that we're illegal immigrants doesn't make us criminals."

Umm.... According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of "Illegal" is: 'not according to or authorized by law : unlawful, illicit.' Illegal means "against the law", and therefore a crime. And if you commit a crime, your are a criminal.

But, I now have a new favorite quote....

(Quoted from azcentral.com)
-Alfredo Gutierrez, a former state senator, said it would be unconstitutional to charge people in the country illegally with trespassing.

"These are people who aren't even jaywalking," he said. "It is merely their presence and their status of being undocumented that will make them criminals."

Yes. Exactly. If someone hops my fence, and enters my yard without permission, I can have them arrested for trespassing. If I can do that as a citizen, why can't the federal government do it? They have entered into an area that they do not have permission to be in. That is trespassing.

I know the whole immigration process needs reform. There is a huge waiting line for applications to be approved, and visas to be handed out, basically a huge pain in the ass. But isn't the few months of waiting better than a life of constantly looking over your shoulder? Wondering when you'll be caught?

All I ask is that you don't try to tell me that people who snuck into this country, while intentionally avoiding law enforcement, did nothing wrong. And don't pull the "Constitutional Rights" card. They had no respect for our laws or practices when they snuck in, why use those same laws and practices to protect them?

I'm done for now.

Goodnight / Good Morning / Go Away.

-B-

"If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error." ~John Kenneth Galbraith

Movies Are Ruining My TV Memories....

Just watched the trailer for the new A-Team movie. I was unimpressed. Not only did the horribly edited, constant, rapid fire switching of images throughout almost send me into seizures, it also let me down. Big time. It looks like this will be yet another instance of some hot-shot director thinking he can make a badass TV show into a movie franchise. Odds of success: I'd say 1 in 100. Or, basically, a 1% chance. Now there have been a few TV shows that have made a successful transition on the big screen. Superman, Batman(especially the newer movies), Firefly(Serenity was an extension of the show), Transformers (some people hated it, but it made boo-koo dollars. Which amounts to success), and umm.... Hmm...

I guess we could also look at the ones that didn't fare so well. Dukes of Hazzard. Get Smart (decent movie, but the predictable jokes brought it down a bit. Alan Arkin's parts, and getting to stare at Anne Hathaway made it worth the $9 though), G.I.JOE was like the Heisman Trophy winner of years past. So much potential, so many ways you could turn it into something big, and yet the viewer finds themselves sitting there and thinking "If it wasn't for the rare genius moments of Sienna Miller in a leather cat-suit, or Rachel Nichols running on a treadmill, I'd demand my money back. And ask for restitution for pain and suffering." In the past people have tried to convert shows like Car 54, Dragnet, a couple of different attempts at Knight Rider (that only ended up being TV movies), and none of them worked.

I think it all boils down to the idea that TV shows fit into a certain formula. Each week the characters find themselves in a new and exciting story line that will be solved by the show's end. Turning that show into a movie presents a shopping list of problems. In the movie you have to assume that no one ever saw the show(some people have never heard of the A-Team, or Dukes of Hazzard.) So, therefore you have to devote a bit of time to the backstory of every plot-oriented character you have. Which takes up time. But you can't get too in-depth with the stories or the die hard fans of the show will get frustrated with all the reminders and wonder why you don't just move the current story along. Joss Whedon nailed this tactic to the wall with Serenity. He established the history within the dialog. Little hints here and there, not too much, not too little. Just enough to draw the viewer into the world on the screen.

But, I think the reason Serenity did so well was because it was still fresh in peoples' minds. It was only 5 yrs after the show was on TV. Therefore, they could drag the original cast in and make it work. Dukes of Hazzard or A-Team nowadays? How many people out there want to watch a bunch of 50+ yr old dudes trying to fight bad guys and drive hot-rods? Not many. Which is why they always stack the cast with the "Who's Who" of Hollywood. Sometimes it might work, but Liam Neeson as Hannibal Smith? Maybe I just don't get it. Though I am kind of interested in seeing Sharlto Copley's version of "Howling Mad" Murdock. He kicked ass as a freaked out semi-neurotic dude in Distict 9.

Maybe it's just a desire to preserve the integrity of my nostalgia. A need to view my heroes and idols as I did when I discovered their awesomeness for the first time. I don't want their badass quotes and catchphrases watered down and diluted to something kids these days might like. Imagine Ben Affleck playing Dirty Harry and saying something like "I totally know what's going through your mind. It's like, 'Did he shoot 11 rounds, or 12?' I'm so high I can't really remember myself. But this, this is a 9mm. It ain't much, but it'll get the job done... eventually. So you gotta dig deep within your soul and ask yourself, Do you feel like Karma is on your side dude?"

In what is possibly the worst idea of I've heard of remakes/re-imaginings being made.... True Grit. One of The Duke's best movies. I thought his flicks were off limits. NO one, and I mean NO one can be the badass cowboy like John Wayne could. Clint Eastwood solidly latched on to the number two spot, and other than Lee Marvin, no one comes close. Jeff Bridges is an awesome actor, one of my favorites, but he's no Duke. And trying to claim the identity of a character made famous by John Wayne will probably alienate a lot of people. Despite an all-star supporting cast including Matt Damon, Barry Pepper, and Josh Brolin; I think the movie will fail.

Anyhow, I'm done trying to force my opinion upon you for now.

Goodnight / Good Morning / Whatever

-B-

"Well, I have the inclination, the maturity, and the wherewithal... but unfortunately, I don't have the time" --- Jebediah Nightlinger(Roscoe Lee Browne in The Cowboys)