sAy AnYtHiNg

Think People Think

There was a Union forum in Chicago today (Tuesday).  This means that many of the Democrat candidates for president were also in Chicago today.  They were here to speak to union members because they all want their endorsement.  I happened to see a small snippet on the news before the forum got started with a reporter interviewing some union members in Manny's coffee shop.  There was an interviewer and two gentlemen, I use the term loosely, for the piece. It went something like this: 

Interviewer:  "So as you are looking at the Democrat candidates are you looking at specific issues or more of what kind of person they are?"

Brain Trust #1:  "Um, ah, well, you know the whole package."

Interviewer:  "What issue is really important to you in this election?"

Brain Trust #1:  "Um, ah, um."

Interviewer:  "Help him out Brain Trust #2, what is important?"

Brain Trust #2:  "Well, I kind of like Edwards, but I don't think he is going to get the endorsement.  I think the endorsement will go to Hillary.  I don't think she will get elected though, but I guess if she gets the endorsement I'll support her, I don't know."

...Did you see an issue highlighted in this answer?  Me, neither.

Interviewer:  "So will you make up your own mind about who gets your vote or will you just go with whoever gets the endorsement?"

Brain Trust #1:  "Anyone but Bush, anyone but Bush."

That's it, that was the whole interview.  Unbelievable.

A:  No @#%*& Sherlock. (Sorry for the language, but that's the expression)  We have something called term limits for the office of President, so therefore, it would be impossible for it to be Bush again.

B:  Wouldn't it be refreshing for the masses to actually think for themselves, or even have a thought at all on ANY of the issues?

I am unapologetically a Republican, however I form my opinions one issue at a   time.  To the other side out there, especially the Moms, I feel the need to paraphrase from one of my favorite movies "The Princess Bride."  In the movie the evil little man keeps using the word, inconceivable.  One of his cohorts finally looks at him and says, "you are always using that word, I do not think it means what you think it means."  I submit to those of you that are Democrat or liberal, I do not think it means what you think it means.  It really is not the party that watches over the "little guy", it's the party that works to keep class warfare alive.  They are good at making it seem that it's the other way around.  However, if you are a Democrat that has actually studied the issues, has formed your own opinions, and still chooses to be a Democrat, I say "we will agree to disagree, but more power to ya" because this is America and well reasoned debate is part of what makes us great.  All I'm asking is that we THINK for ourselves.

O.K. I am finished.  Back to fluff tomorrow, I promise.

Civil Servant 2

You may heretofore refer to me as Madam Foreman.  Hold on wait a second before you get your knickers in a twist.  I wasn't actually elected for this auspicious position, I volunteered.  Here's the thing, the coroner came in to do our orientation, and one of the first things he said was, "there are a couple of housekeeping issues we have to take care of.  One, we need to select two alternate jurors.  They will hear exactly the same evidence as everyone else and will deliberate  with all of you, they just don't have to sign anything.  If for some reason one of the main jurors cannot fulfill their role, than the alternate steps in and signs the decisions for them."

In other words, it's kind of like in the Miss America/Miss USA pageant if the winner is found to be pregnant, has posed for nude photos, is really a man in drag, etc. and cannot complete their reign, it's the runner-up's lucky day.  Anyway, two folks immediately volunteered to be alternates, they seemed very happy not to have to sign anything.  I on the other hand I had no desire to be an alternate, I mean if I have to be there all day anyway I wanted to be a full fledged juror, not some runner up.

Then the coroner says "the next order of business is to name a foreman.  Any Volunteers"? Dead (pardon the pun) silence.  "It is really very simple, you just have to read each verdict as you as a jury come to it during the day. Any Takers"?  You guessed it, again, nothing, so, me being me and hating awkward silences as I do, say "oh, alright, I'll do it." To which the coroner says, "great Betsy is the foreman, so Betsy gets the blame."  Whoa Nelly -- BLAMED, I don't remember that part of the description!

Couple of quick interesting tidbits before I continue.  One, as strange as this sounds, I spent the entire day with 7 other people deciding the manner of passing of 11 other people and I don't know even 1 of the names of the other people I served with.  We never asked each other.  I can tell you certain things about each of them (ex. one had asthma, another married the women he fell in love with when he was 9 and has been married to her for 30 years, one was pregnant, one was a nurse, etc.), but a name -- I got nothing.  Maybe that would have been too personal a connection to make on such an emotionally charged day.  Two, you will be relieved to know that there was, in fact, a nicer jury room than the original holding cell.  It was available to us all day and had free drinks.  It wasn't quite as swanky as the one in the video, but beggars can't be choosers. 

As the orientation continues the weight of the day and our obligation begins to dawn on me.  Essentially, we rule on the manner of passing of the individual we hear about.  What we say goes on the Death Certificate for all eternity.  So when he said I get the blame, I now kind of understand.  Family members are present, law enforcement is present and all of them want us to come back with the decision they want to hear.  It was a humbling experience and in the end, I have to say I am grateful that I chose to be a key player and not sit on the sidelines.  I am truly honored to have been part of this process.  So, turns out that "Rescue Hero" Bailiff Lloyd knew what he was talking about after all.

Civil Servant

I was recently called for jury duty and while I was there I took the opportunity to jot down a few musings on my time as a civil servant…

Jury Duty – O.k. I know it is supposed to be a privilege and all, and really I guess it is, but honestly, do they have to make it SO uncomfortable? We are seated absolutely shoulder to shoulder. How am I supposed to write about any of these people if at any given moment at least 4 of them could read everything I am writing if they so choose?

Oh My God, I just swallowed my spit wrong (oh whatever, you know you have done it before too). Anyway, it is dead silent in here and now I am going to collapse into a total coughing fit – Cool! Maybe if I just breathe through my nose – cough, cough, crazy inhale/snort noise, cough, cough, NICE. O.K. so the breathing thing didn’t work, but I have managed to get myself back in control in relatively short order, so those around me may think that I have the whooping cough, but probably haven’t made the leap all the way to the Ebola virus.

Oh yeah! We now get to watch a video detailing the finer points of jury duty, which, as you might imagine, is riveting. But, hey, wait a minute the picture of the jury room they just showed in the video looked WAY swankier than where we are sitting right now; maybe there is hope.

Here comes the bailiff (have I mentioned he looks EXACTLY like a Rescue Hero action figure?), let the games begin… Good News – I get to go home and it is only 9am. Bad news, I have to come back on Wednesday and I know I will be here for the entire day, as I will be serving for the coroner’s inquest. More good news, as far as bailiff Lloyd is concerned a few of us just “scored” a bulls-eye, home run, sentence for our jury duty. We shall see. Other bad news, I may never know if there is a swankier jury room than the one I inhabited today.