i really don't want to say much about the election, primarily because i am so sick of it.

however, i will say this: i am so sick and tired of the tax debate being framed in the context of 'communist/socialist' vs 'non-communist/non-socialist' polarity. when exactly is the country going to get over the red scare? isn't it practically comical to call someone a communist at this point? does the right really think the left is getting ready to buddy up with castro and start us all on a 5-year plan?

fankly, it does a huge disservice to everyone, because it stifles creative thinking and prevents new solutions fom emerging--because all of the ideas have to go through the "is it communist or is it not" litmus test, and thus we are forcing ideas that are not on either side of that particular division into categories that they don't fit into, and then they become casualties in the debate instead of innovations.

when are we going to get a bit more sophisticated and start recognizing that practicaly the whole world recognizes that communism is not viable, and that the questions that are being dealt with are not whether or not there is a red menace, but rather how exactly is the government going to obtain money, and how should it be spent? not to mention the awfully nice living standards in many many "socialist" countries. i think it is so funny that the right uses europe as a scary example of where we might end up. oooooooooooooohhhhhh nooooooo! not sweden! aaaaaahhhh belgium...noooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!! OMG! the netherlands! we might end up like amsterdam! our world is collapsing around us!! please, just no art or culture or universal health care that is FREE. and above all, never ever let us actually enjoy local, sustainable food or *gasp* PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. ew.

sorry. i guess it is getting late.