September 17, 2003
Tax Cutting
The Tax-Cut ConThis is a great article that pulls together everything that is exactly happening regarding tax cuts. Some people would say it's a conspiracy theory, but it's been obvious to me.
What mystifies me is that some people openly admit they want to cut taxes so that we have to cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. I want to know their reasons for wanting to cut those programs. I know what we would say - because they're cruel heartless people, etc. But what are their reasons? Every once in a while you hear them give an honest reason that isn't a lie or spin. Doesn't mean it's respectable or not cruel, but still. I want to know why. Why does Grover Norquist want to get rid of these programs?
Curt is very political. I, on the other hand, am not. But I find I like to know what is cooking in his mind about these politics. Quite often I think about how politics has actually affected me. Actually. Affected... me.
What this means is that I can't think of any instance where there was some big political stew going on where I was actually affected. Tax hike? Well I pay taxes like everyone else, and frankly the changes haven't been that big where I would notice. Maybe because I don't make all that much money and never have. Invasion of another country? I'm not a soldier and I don't know any. So... what can I say there? Sex scandal in the White House? Well, I've never been to DC or had sex with anyone who has.
Perhaps a better way of putting this is that the world of politics has never affected me directly. I can see the effects of foreign policy. Can't we all. I hear in the news that all foreigners hate the US and I suppose I believe them but I've never had a Frenchman spit at me. In fact I was treated very nicely by French people last time I was there.
So what does all this mean?
Does individualism erase the actuality of politics?
Does apathy?
What do people mean when they use the term apathetic?
What the hell is going on here?