Is there really time in a bottle?

First it was Compact Florescent Lights.  CFL bulbs that are replacing the ancient incandescent light bulbs by federal government mandate.  But not without resistance.  Now its bottled water banned on some college campuses.  We just cannot satisfy the far right conservative mind.  Only if they were indeed conservative or rather conservators of the environment.  But, I guess, they are not.

Let me explain what we are talking about.  Not only is the far right against replacing the old Edison light bulb but also conservatives are up in arms about bottled water.  It appears many colleges across the American landscape have decided to put an end to bottled water and it’s by-product, empty plastic bottles.  Empty plastic bottles abandoned on the college campus.  Tossed away willy-nilly and forgotten.  Campus litter.  Oh sure, the bottles are recyclable but college students rarely taking the time to dispose of them properly.  Bottles easily left here and there around classrooms and dorms.

What has recently replaced the banned bottle on some campuses is a water station or hydration stations.  A convenient centrally located place to refill your personal water bottles.  Easy and no mess.  And best of all, doesn’t cost anything to refill.

However, on some campuses are a group of Republican students protesting bias against the plastic water bottled sold in most grocery and convenience stores.  Sighting that banned bottled water sales takes away the freedom of choice.  And we all know how Republicans feel about Choice. 

But, behind this campus political activism, is the Bottled Water Association.  A Washington lobbying group.  An association who are opposed to “Socialized” water.  Preferring the better choice of Privatized water.  Simply know as Bottled Water.  You get new water and you get a new bottle every time.  How cool.  Not really.

Never the less, whenever a better idea comes along there seems to be some lump heads that always must disagree.  No matter what the cause.  And in this case, colleges are trying to reduce campus litter plus make it more convenient for the student to fill up cheaply and rehydrate themselves.  So, what’s wrong with that?  “It’s anti-capitalism and against free market choice.”  For every good idea, there is an   opposing bad idea.  Such is life.

Mr. Smith, Dr. Jeckle, and Mr. Hyde.

How do we explain the metamorphic process that occurs in a person recently elected to congress?  How does Mr. Smith goes to Washington suddenly evolve into Darth Vader?  What chemistry changes in his or her brain?  Is it drugs?  Alcohol?  Facebook?  Being away from home too long?  What is it?

I’m puzzled how elected representatives from our home districts morphs from a “champion for the people,” into a stammering glassy eyed automatons when returning back from Washington.  Mostly staring into space and droning on about most nothing.  All the while avoiding answering most constituent’s questions straight out.  Thus, necessitating hand picking one’s town hall audience.  “Please no difficult questions.  Mr. Smith is under great pressure and is about to suffer a breakdown.  Treat him gently please.”

All the while we voters have no representation in Washington.  The noble congressman has turned into a drooling, prattling receiver of many monetary gifts from major corporations.  Therefore becoming a paid lobbyist himself.  Not only do we constituents have to deal with and worry about lobbyists influencing our gentle Mr. Smith, now we have to fight Mr. Smith who also is a paid representative and lobbyist of a big corporation as well.  Bought and paid for.  Indicating big money really talks.  Actually Money barks and bites.

Do you remember the story of Doctor Jeckle and Mr. Hyde?  Dr. Jeckle made up in his chemistry lab this magic serum and when ingested turn him in to a hyperventilating, red-eyed knuckle dragging monster.  Remember?  Pretty much the same as our Mr. Smith after returning from Washington.  Well then.  Maybe Dr. Jeckle could formulate a serum that would reverse the process.  Hopefully returning Darth Vader back to Mr. Smith.  Do you think this could work?  Well, maybe not.  But a good idea anyway.

Pledge to ignore pledges. Huh?

Certainly there are those who think they are the maker and keepers of the rules.  Mostly partisans by self-appointment and feel obligated to make up the rules for the rest of us.  “Do we need more rules and pledges?”  Contrived rules to suit their own political partisanship.  Certainly Grover Norquist comes to mind (such as he is).  But anyway, fabricating pledges, promises, contracts, and the list goes on and on.  Why?

Never the less, we Americans already have our rules set in place.  It’s called the United States Constitution.  Well thought out and benefits all Americans.  We don’t need some half-cracked knucklehead lobbyist to tell us what we should do or not. 

TEA partiers go stuff it.  Far right radicals go study the Constitution.  Far left gadflies, take ten deep breaths and sit down now before you wet your pants.

All this postulating and blowviating is just to serve one’s own special interests.  If they don’t like something, then they will change the rules on the fly as needed.  Then start a way out in left field pledge or die campaign.  Then trash their opponent with half-truths and misleading social media rhetoric.  “Oh, I might be wrong but my worthless opponent is Adolph Hitler’s mother!”

The best way to throw water on this spin is to stop listening to talk radio and questionable shallow contrived cable news.  The best alternative is to read the daily newspapers.  It worked well for Will Rogers.  Remember?  Newspapers have more reliable information than a lobbyist or hopeful candidates Twitter or Facebook page.  Certainly you must know if the candidate or lobbyist writes his or her own press releases, it’s really gotta be pure processed baloney.  “Reader, Beware of Dogma.”  And for sure, don’t believe every blogger.  Blogging is entertainment.