red state, blue state...

I live in a blue state. But here on Cape Cod it’s a little more conservative. So much so that I frequently hear people say, “Oh, that Obama - he’s a jerk.” There’s no evidence surrounding the claims of course. It is a mere comment after some extraneous other comment. You know, like liberals exclaimed for five years – “There are no WMD in Iraq. Why are thousands of people dying over this? Why are billions of dollars being spent over this? Bush is a jerk.”

The biggest complaints I hear though are why liberals are liberals: healthcare, environment, education, and difference on economic viewpoints. Point number one: healthcare. “Obama’s a jerk because he is taking my hard-earned money and using it for someone else’s healthcare.” Unfortunately, in today’s society not everyone is able to afford healthcare. Should they not be able to have check-ups every year? Should they forgo the same rights as people who can afford healthcare? Do we dare play Darwin with other human beings?

Point number two: environment. “Obama is a jerk because he won’t let us drill every inch of the United States to unearth oil.” Well, as Republicans often ask their Democratic colleagues, ‘Do you want our grandchildren and great-grandchildren left when this debt?’ Well, do you want to leave Plant Earth destroyed for an unsustainable resource for our grandchildren and great-grandchildren? 

Point number three: education. “Obama is a jerk because he pays those teachers so much money.” With Republican Governors and state run governments it looks like people may not have much longer to complain about teachers’ pay being “too high”. Although, I find it ironic that the rally cry to rein in teachers’ pay is led by Glenn Beck who made $32 million in 2009. If Glenn Beck can make $32 million for speaking on the radio and tv, I think it is okay for a teacher to make $30-40K for educating our children.

For me, I am thankful that Obama hasn’t found any yellowcake. I’m thankful that he sees education as a key to our future, and thankful that his wife finds educating people about healthy eating a key issue as well.