What really is important?

What really is important? Is it having a great job? It is it having a healthy family? Is it living a long life and having enough money to live comfortably? What are we all complaining about? Who gives a crap about social security? Who gives a crap about health care? Obviously the government doesn't because they are driving the country into an enormous debt and spending all of our hard-earned money on protecting this country from a potential threat that may or may not kill american lives.

Well, I have news for you, the government is killing its own people. The government is not looking out for us. Health care costs are out of control and the coverage is getting worse and worse every year. Money that can be spent helping treat disease, or promoting research, is being spent fighting wars in other countries. Everyone supports the troops, but to what end? Supporting them until they get killed?

I've lost all confidence in our government. I laugh at both parties, the debates, their stupid politics, their stupid beliefs. Politicians don't believe in anything because they are afraid to say how they truly feel for fear of losing ground in the polls. Where do these polls come from anyhow? What really kills me is how our President doesn't believe in harvesting stem cells from embryos because it destroys human lives. These lives don't have a conscience yet, a brain, a heart. Our commander-in-chief says he is against this, but he somehow has the nerve to send our troops, someone's son or daughter into a war that never had a just reason to start. Where were the WMD's? Wasn't that why we went to war in the first place? Does everyone just want to forget that? He lied and people have died and are still dying. Thousand of Iraqis have died and continue to die. It just doesn't make sense. His pride and pig headedness are the reason we are still there. Does he really think we are that dumb?

My son died this past October from infant Leukemia – the reason he died is because the treatment has been pretty much the same for over thirty years. There have been tweaks to the protocol, but still no really drastic improvements. My son's chances were pathetic, less that 15% survival rate. My son, Willem, was only a baby, 8 months old, when he died. There is no money to be made in treating this type of cancer, Infant ALL; with all of the technological advances that are driven by potential profits, companies, for the most part, just don't care – it's capitalism baby! All about the bottom line.

It sickens me.

People in there extremely large and expensive vehicles sicken me. People in their half a million dollar houses sicken me. People who buy $10,000 TVs sicken me. People that pay for 200 channels of television sicken me. People that spend 300 dollars on a pair of sunglasses sicken me. Yes, I too like to have things. Sometimes I sicken myself when I fall in to the clutches of materialism – but come on now! Where do we draw the line between having a few things that we enjoy to having things we don't even realize we have anymore? Is it really necessary to give your fiancé a 2 carrot diamond ring? Will she not love you if you get her a 1 carrot diamond instead? If she won't then why in the hell marry her?

And… What is all this complaining about? I don't have this and I wish I had more money, blah blah blah. I used to complain all the time, actually I still do and hate when I catch myself bitching and moaning.

Another thought… Christmas really sucks! I think the world would be a better place if we abolished Christmas. Everyone says it is about Jesus and all that, but they don't practice what they preach. They don't help out those that are less fortunate. Hell, I'm guilty of this too. If one more person asks "how was my Christmas?" I will slug them. "Ok, Ted, get over it, Christmas was over 2 weeks ago." I don't know. I'm just sick of people's fascination with having stuff and having money. I wish there was no such thing – but then again I could never live off the land and hunt and gather my own food. I'm a big wuss. I wouldn't know where to start. I guess we need money to live, but at what price?

Capitalism is out of control. There is a product or service for everything. There are "pooper scooper" services for your dogs. I've even created ads (yes I'm guilty as charged, I'm in advertising) for a pet spa and hotel. They're freakin' animals. They drool all over the place, smell really bad, poop wherever, and are full of flees and pests. I love my cats, but I would never send them to a Kitty Hotel!