Category Archives: :(

Frustration

Social Security, Health Care etc

There is no doubt that Social Security is fairly bad state. What may be not as obvious, at least it isn’t to me, what exactly the “problem” is and how to fix it.

To me, the “problem” is that we don’t have a system to provide a safety net for our citizens. At a time when any kind of pension through job is all but gone, more of us need, depend on, a system similar to what Social Security was supposed to be.

– manzoor

Moral Values

The recent election has made “Moral Values” a huge issue and it got me thinking – what are my “Moral Values”? I mean, I believe I am a fairly moral person, why don’t I think the same way these voters do? What’s wrong with me?

– manzoor

Overrate / Underrate . . . . .

  • Overrated
    1. Common Sense – Most people, most of the time, overrate their “common sense” and based on the flawed “common sense” reach conclusions that are totally wrong. As bad as this part is, the worse part is the confidence level these people enjoy.
    2. Doing Something – Seems like if there is a problem, the thing to do is to attempt to do “something”, anything. Irrespective of the end result or the intermidiate cost.
    3. World Peace – Everyone says it but no one really means it. The closes thing that people do mean is – World Peace on their term(s).
    4. Honesty – Most people don’t want honesty, they want appreciation, accolade etc. Even if they don’t deserve it.
  • Underrated
    1. Routine – Getting stuff done in the proper time. Doing things at the proper time. These “may” seem too obvious, but they’re not.
    2. Patience –
    3. Ability – Than again people also under rate themselves and their abilities
    4. Blessings – Very few people

– manzoor

Politics, Election and the People

The current situation (’04 US Presidential Election) is probably the worst we’ve seen in a while. For various reasons the whole nation is extremely divided and hostile towards the other side. I’m of course thinking of the conservative and the liberals, though there are other groups, these seem to be the 2 main camps.

President Bush is campaigning on social (abortion, gay marriage etc) and terror / security (9/11, homeland security) issues while Senator Kerry is going for the economic (job loss, social security, health care) issues.

Personally I don’t really believe the candidates are that different on the Terrorism / Homeland Security. I know that they have drastically different views on domestic issues (both social and economic). Also, to a great extent, their approach to Foreign Policy.

On the issues that I do see the candidates differ – I see a clear and distinct difference. Why then are there so many who are still (less than a week from election day) undecided? Do these voters not see the difference? Do they have other issues that are important that neither candidate is addressing? Are they not bombarded by the same amount of information (on TV, print media, Internet etc) as I? Or do they not believe / trust these information or the media that brings the information to them?

After the [in]famous 2000 election and at a time when the nation is so bitterly divided (not to mention when we need to be united, more then ever in recent history) – the last thing we need is to have a close election that half the nation does not trust. Whoever wins (and there will be “a” winner, even if the Courts have to decide it for us), I hope he wins with a wide enough margin so that the nation can finally come together, be united and move forward for our common good.

I do not expect the “best man for the job” to win (I never do – in any election). I do not believe that is the design of democracy.

– manzoor