Democrats and Republicans

I am so sick and tired of hear Democrats bash Republicans and vice versa just for being a Democrat or a Republlican. Can no one of either party carry on a useful debate over differences of opinion on the ISSUES? Can't each party member think indepentently, putting aside the party talking points and get down to a usefull dicussion of the issues in a CALM and RATIONAL manner.

I classify myself as a republican as my views on meaningful issues fall more right than left of the middle. But I also think that there are many democrat based ideas that have merit. Listening to liberal or conservative talk radio infuriates me. I recall the times when I was a child and the ideas of a kid were rejected outright because they were not a member of 'our' club, rather a rival 'club'. And the eventual capitulation of the ostracised so as to not feel left out.

Why the hell can't politicians and voters alike explain there views on important topics as THEY see them, not as the most influential (coercive?) members of their respective parties do. The weeks party talking points can be gleaned by just 15 minutes of Rush's show, or the headlines on the New York Times. Disgusting.

I am going to vote for Garfield.

Wonder what his views of IRAQ are?

Good grief.

The Jist of My Blog

Often I am reprimanded by friends and family for providing answers to questions either with too much information or with excessive verbosity. Well, here is my chance to say exactly as much as I want to, sans criticism.

My inagural topic?

Water.

Most bottled water, frequently advertised ad naseaum, is positioned as premium, pure, luxury. And priced accordingly. Why in the world would people submit to this lunacy ... it's water for goodness sakes! Most of the major brands (Dasani, Aquafina) are little more than tap water, modestly purified. Don't get me wrong, I like tap water. It's what I drink at home and guess what .... .it's free, or the better part of. $1 for a 16oz bottle is criminal, more so for the people who drink it than the people who bottle it.

Listen, I will pay for water in a bottle when out and about, but you better believe it will be for something like spring or mineral water ... something I can't get from a nearby drinking fountain or soda fountain. I like the taste of spring water and I know that for the same price as 'bottled from a municiple source', spring water actually has SOME cost associated with it. The 90% profit companies make off their misrepresented water might as well be blood money.

If you drink Aquafina or Dasani, please don't consider my rant against you personally ... you are under the influence of some MBA clutching marketing team and are as powerless to resist as were it Dracula himself peddling the stuff.

Please, just grab a glass, turn on the tap and save a buck.

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