There is a major difference between being inconsiderate and downright disrespectful and rude. As I read the news and associated blog sites online, I am overwhelmed by the complete lack of civility people have with their online personas. I call them personas because if their actions and words are anything like their online gibberish, they would most likely be instigating fights every time their mouth utters a spoken syllable.

People have used the “anonymity” of online to disguise who they really are and with this disguise, they are continually revealing their distinct lack of maturity and respect for others around them. What really bothers me is that the “normal” people that frequent sites rarely speak their minds because they have become afraid to speak up in fear of a public flame war. It appears that the vast majority of online conversationalists is decidedly liberal and of the mind that they can do whatever they want without any ramifications.

I’ll admit that I frequent several sites and read news stories and posts but I don’t join in. In the midst of 300 posts, a rational statement is thrown under the weight of such ignorance that it simply fails to dent the careening momentum of the massive stupidity. At times, I will read something so disgraceful that I am left speechless. I can’t believe people think a certain way let alone write it for everyone to see. Sometimes, I think people post online just to push the limits of what we will accept.

If we don’t respond, these people will continue to think that their actions are acceptable because they haven’t been reprimanded. Eventually, their online persona will infect their real life persona. I believe our society is currently at this stage. After a generation of young adults has grown up with the Internet in their life, they cannot distinguish real life, from online life. They act the same and they allow their mouth to speak anything that comes to mind without fear of retribution.

What we are really missing are the mentors of our lives. There is a distinct lack of mentors in our real lives and there are zero mentors online to direct people and keep people in line. Online is a place where anything goes and everything is acceptable it seems. Our real lives have been infected by this way of thinking and we are paying a social price for that.

My online persona is the exact same as my real life persona. I treat people online the same way I treat them physically. What I think we need to do is return correctness to our online communities. Sure, it is exactly like trying to move a mountain, but we can all do our part to inject a little bit of rationality, respect, and civility in the sites we visit. When you read something that offends you, post a rational response to it and let them know what has been said is disrespectful, hurtful, or just plain wrong.

Don’t fear the online flame wars, they will happen. But, if other normal people see the fight being taken, they will be more comfortable joining in rather than diving in by their lonesome and simply giving up. We need to do something because the longer we allow the online community become so acceptable to outrageous behavior, the worse our real world will become. Our younger generation already has no idea how to discern online life from real life. Their facebook or myspace is more important to them than their grades are…

Now, being a full grown adult, I haven’t bought a pack of cards in about 25 years. But, that almost changed the other day as my wife and I went down the aisle I didn’t even know existed at our local Wal-Mart… the ultimate kid’s dream, an aisle filled with cards of all shapes, sizes, and type. I stared at the various boxes and thought to myself how much money I had wasted through the years on these simple little pieces of cardboard. Even knowing that, I almost bought a pack of cards. Not baseball cards mind you, but Barack Obama cards. Yes, our new President has his own special edition inauguration card set.

I picked up the pack intent on buying them… not because I’m a fan, more of a joke kind of thing. However, my rationale soon kicked in and I placed the pack back in its box and laughed at myself for even coming so close to spending money on such a trivial item. The package of cards was priced at $1.98 and came with 6 cards and a special sticker. Of course, there is a set to collect and the entire collection consists of 90 cards and 18 stickers. Sounds fabulous for the card buying public doesn’t it?

Looking online, I can find many places selling these small “moments of history.” I am simply amazed by the fact that there are trading cards available of Barack Obama. I know he’s become one of the most widely recognized political figures of all times, but are “baseball” cards really necessary? To me, these cards are nothing more than political propaganda created to spread the ideology of the Liberal Democratic movement. The more these types of things are constantly placed in our daily lives, the more we as a society come to accept it.

Winning the hearts and minds of a society has long been an avenue to win a war. While our country is not exactly at war with each other, we are definitely separated by a clear division between ideologies… Liberal versus Conservative. Over the last generation, both sides have had their chance at power and they’ve each done their best to destroy the “losing” side. However, as all things do, their power ebbs and flows as society eventually becomes disenchanted with the policies of each after tasting them for too long.

Conservatism was in power for quite a long run earlier this decade, but over the last few years, Liberalism has retaken the political landscape. This time, unlike any in the past, they are using their vast coffers of cash in an effort to control the media and publicity for their cause. They are focusing on winning the hearts and minds of everyone who doesn’t investigate and decide on their own what they believe in. The general public is being force-fed the liberal agenda and many of them are willingly falling in line as the promises of government handouts entice their votes.

Obama baseball cards may appear to be innocuous, but political propaganda is never harmless. As Hitler arose to power in pre WWII Germany, political propaganda was utilized to sway the hearts and minds of its citizens so that his political policies would be readily accepted. I’m not saying Obama is the second coming of Hitler by any means, but the tactics he and his party are utilizing are straight out of the textbooks utilized by the tyrants of our past.

While writing this article, I was given the pleasure of watching a commercial for The Tonight Show telling me that our President will be a guest on Thursday night. Maybe it’s me, but I don’t see the point of our sitting President being a guest on a late night talk show. There are more important things to utilize his time for. The only thing this type of appearance can be used for is the furthering of his agenda and giving us more political propaganda. He is always in our face, always in our news, always in our ear… the more he is around us, the more we accept him… at least that’s the hope of his Party and his Liberal friends pushing their agendas. Be aware, don’t succumb to complacency and miss what the true story is… always question authority when power and money are to be gained.

Assuming that we all spend a great deal of our life amongst the public shouldn’t we be pretty accustomed to using and hearing this simple phrase? Can you remember the last time you heard the phrase from a stranger in a strange place without any sarcastic undertones? Can you remember the last time you were rudely forced to move from your position because someone thought you were in their way? Do you politely say “Excuse me” when you need someone to move or when you find yourself in someone else’s way?

I’m quick to say “Excuse me” whether I’m the one in the way or not. It’s the polite thing to do. However, I’ve learned that politeness is mainly a one way street these days. Our society’s greed and selfishness is mirrored in how people interact amongst crowds of strangers. No longer are people worried about their impact on the others around them. No longer are people worried about simple politeness when their sole focus is upon satisfying their immediate need.

How do you negotiate your way through a crowded store? Do you believe that it’s the responsibility of others to get out of your way? Or do you assume that it’s your responsibility to ask others to provide you the necessary space to go about your intended business? Hopefully you don’t expect the public mass of strangers to “bow down” to your every need as if you were the king of the world. Of course that is thinking rationally… who would actually say yes to that?

There must be people that say yes to that because the truth of the situation is that people truly expect you to get out of their way because you MUST be in their way. No “Excuse me” to politely ask you to move, but more often than not, a gently shove, touch, or outright push to make way for their “kingliness.” These situations present themselves more often during rush shopping periods and special events such as Black Friday, but I find people acting this way on an average Wednesday afternoon. I find people acting this way when there may only be three people in the store.

People have become utterly rude. People have forgotten the simple rules of public living. We have forgotten how to interact with others which we do not know, and even with those we do. When did our own selfish desires or supposed needs take ultimate importance in a simple public arena? Why do we feel that everyone else is in our way and they must make the gesture and excuse themselves?

Unless you are on your own property or in your own home, guess what, you don’t have any right to the space you are in other than you temporarily inhabit it and your human rights apply to your person. Knowing that, you are in essence sharing the space with others. If we are sharing it with other people, then we must treat everyone politely because someone else may temporarily be in our way and we may need to ask them to politely move.

These are two pretty simple concepts, ones that we’ve been taught since years before kindergarten… sharing and being polite. How can we manage to negotiate our way through life without being polite to others and sharing with them? Maybe that’s why so many people are upset, mad, and just generally angry with society. People have forgotten how to be nice. People have forgotten how to share. Next time you are in public, remember, you might be in someone else’s way so be first to say “Excuse me” and be last to release that emphatic huff of sarcastic steam from your lungs.

Share your space with others… you may need them to share with you. Say “Excuse me” and be genuinely nice about it. It really is that easy, and it really does work. Politeness conquers rudeness.

Following the title, the book proudly states “The investment guide the Anti-Christ doesn’t want you to read.” Here’s a short excerpt from the book: “…how to exploit the inevitable demise of the world in order to make a tidy profit. Sure, the rivers and seas will run with blood, locusts will swarm, mountains will move all over the place, and famine will strike. But for the five billion of us left behind, the post-Rapture world will be a time of even more unique investment opportunities.”

The writers achieved two things in my case. Number one, they created a book which interested me enough to pick up and revel in complete wonderment about how this pair of authors actually received payment to write such a book. Number two, they made me feel complete disgust towards them and their willingness to prey upon such a topic.

Oh, but it’s a book meant to be sarcastic, or funny even you may say… that’s fine and that’s your point of view. My point of view is much different. Maybe we should write a sarcastic and funny book about paraplegics or other disabled people. Maybe we should write a book about how to make money off the autistic children of our society. Maybe we should write a funny book about how terrorists continually murder innocent people. Different subject matter, but still not a funny topic… am I right? What exactly is funny about the Rapture in the eyes of the faithful Christian? Nothing.

People have made fun of religion since the dawn of time, but there are times when I think sarcasm and wit go a bit too far. This is one of those instances. Each and every situation in our world can be exploited to make money off of, but is it the right thing to do? Is it even right to write about it? Is it right to entertain such ideas even in a joking manner?

I have a problem with the publishers pursuing such a book let alone the writers conceiving and following through on their idea. Has our country become so desensitized that nothing is out of bounds when facing the all mighty profit motive? Has our daily life become so commoditized that nothing is sacred? As I have stated before, America still considers itself a Christian nation. When did we find it ok to make fun of it?

Everything is fun and games as long as it makes money right? I personally love comedy and sarcasm, but this particular book has put me in awe. Next thing we know, I’ll see a book about how to make millions by selling bread and rice to the starving in Africa. But hey, it’s a sarcastic and funny book… you must have missed the point. No, the point is that the subject matter isn’t funny and never will be no matter what looking glass you are peering through. Some things are best left to your inner voice and never allowed to see the public view.

In the past, candidates utilized gimmicks to get their name out amongst the masses, but as times change and new information avenues open up, new ways to spend money appears. No longer are large campaign signs featuring the latest memorable slogan or supporters walking around with t-shirts and signs stamped with their candidate’s name enough. No longer are stump speeches enough to get the policy stances out. No longer are debates the focus of differentiating the candidates running for President. No longer are we in a world where the focus of the campaign is on the actual policy stances and historical voting records of our candidates.

We have entered an age where the campaign for President has become a popularity contest. Never in my life had I ever witnessed a campaign for the most powerful office in the world run more like a high school prom king contest. The news media, television and print, spent more time bickering over such inane topics such as lipstick, hairdos, age, dresses, and just general non-essential subjects than ever before. Sure, some of the information is pertinent to the situation because we all want to “get to know” the candidate, but when there is an economic meltdown occurring while we are engaged in two foreign wars, I think there were better ways to spend our time.

Reports about how much Sarah Palin’s wardrobe cost came out before the election. Obama’s campaign flunkies continually focused upon the wardrobe of John McCain’s wife (which was mostly irrelevant considering her family fortune). Of course before Election Day, all we heard about the Obama campaign was how diverse his fund raising ability was and how much money he collected… over $600 million in his run for President.

Finally, we have some publicly available reports about how Obama’s campaign spent their money over the last few weeks of the campaign. It turns out that Obama spent over $147 million in the final weeks and the purchases would surprise some of you. According to the New York Daily News, Obama spent $4 million on Google advertising and an additional $9.4 million on online advertising, $4.4 million on print ads, and $62 million on television advertising. Also amongst the campaign purchases were 400,000 temporary Obama tattoos and payments to people like Jimmy Buffett and the remaining Grateful Dead band members for appearances and concerts.

In an historical first, Barack Obama even purchased a 30 minute television commercial which delayed the start of a World Series game. Obama even bought advertising in video games which will be seen forever. Barack Obama embraced the popularity contest and utilized his enormous campaign financing edge to win the office of President. McCain followed through on his promise to accept public financing which limits the total amount of money available for campaign spending but Obama reneged on his promise and chose private financing. His choice allowed him to generate over $600 million in contributions while McCain was limited to maybe 20% of that for his general election campaign.

As we have seen, Obama dominated the airwaves and advertising avenues by well over a three to one margin and his publicity stunts were effective in maintaining his lead throughout the election process. Turning our election process into a popularity contest is a major disservice to the American citizen. We should not be treated to a “purchased” politician running our country. We should be treated to a man who would run our country for free, and a campaign which focuses on the policies and direction of our country. I think the campaign for President should be 100% volunteer work and if elected, every cabinet official and advisor should work free from taxpayer provided money and assistance.

If that were the case, I would think we would have a much different political landscape because people would run for office that were true patriots and not power and money vultures. Work FOR the people who voted you in and NOT for those who financed your purchased seat in office.

Citation: http://www.nydailynews.com/

Usually in a public place with a variety of individuals in close proximity, people often try and speak softly or in vague terms in an effort to preserve some privacy and also extend a branch of respect to the other people. However, some people tend to miss this standard common sense rule and treat everyone to their business in an effort to garner some much needed attention in their lackluster lives. This is the situation I was in while waiting my turn at our local DMV. Two teenage girls, recently out of high school based upon the information me and the rest of the public were so graciously given, were intent on having a “cool” conversation so that the rest of our lives would pale in comparison to their “awesomeness.”

As I sat there with my paperwork slowly being twisted into garbage by my whitening hands and fingers, I was given a play by play of their plans for the day, their recent history, and their future plans for the week. I felt as if I were sitting in an auditorium listening to some cackling teenagers on a public address speaker informing us of the upcoming spirit week at school. To my delight, only about 20 of my 30 minutes were under this deluge of nonsense and I completed my task without bothering another single human being while doing so. I even had the chance to engage in a polite conversation with the clerk and elicit a genuine smile and laugh from her.

What does this have to do about my scholastic tax dollars at work? Let’s see, where to begin… Returning the focus to the teenage girls, now in college based upon their announcements, their intellectual speaking level and grasp of English left me in a state of amazement. At one point, I began counting the word “like” in their sentences and according to my last count they could not create a single sentence without utilizing the term more than four to five times. I lost count of the overall total at somewhere over 30 (after only counting for about 3 minutes) because I felt like shoving my birth certificate into one ear and my proof of residency in the other.

I made the correct choice and allowed my ears to bleed internally as their inane chatter bludgeoned my ear drums so I could actually finish the process of getting my new license. What I have a problem with is not the two girls and their lack of public sensitivity (that is to be expected by the youth these days). What I have a problem with is their skill level in both English and thought to sentence to speaking ability. I understand shorthand and people speak without having to focus upon perfect grammar and whatnot, but seriously, can’t someone make coherent statements when released from 12 years of publicly financed school?

At times during their conversation, I felt like I was trying to decipher some sort of audible version of hieroglyphics. I believe these two teenage girls have created their own dialect solely focused upon the word “like.” I felt as if I were a CSI investigator trying to find the motive behind the story. After 20 minutes of speaking, their lives seemed to center around a few highly important issues: no money, getting their nails done, buying a new dress for a frat party, and moving out even though they have no clue how they can afford it and their parents disagree with it.

Of course, my investigating prowess may be a bit non-professional, but in between all the gibberish, I’m pretty sure I’ve nailed their conversation. I guess my tax dollars served them well because they both seemed to be able to integrate within society and function without the help of a parent (well, they did talk to one of their parents on their cell phone so maybe not). After my brain returned to normal size from the enlarged state it was in from the incessant bashing of it by their baseball bat-like conversation crushing my skull, I realized, this is the generation that is going to be running my country when I’m old.

After realizing such a nightmare no horror movie could ever hope to achieve, I felt a little nauseous. I know common sense has become uncommon sense, but given the billions of dollars we drain from our citizens’ bank accounts can’t we expect a better product? Can’t the product of 12 years of school be something better? Our kids are in fact a product of our system and it seems that we are failing at producing young men and women who we would be proud to have lead our country. I know, there are lots of good kids out there, but where are they when I am out in public? Are they hidden away from public view as to save them of the horror we all face? Are they hiding out in the ignorant masses trying to fit in like some undercover mafia agent waiting until the time is right to show their true colors? Please normal young men and women, come out and show yourselves, I am begging you… for the sake of our country, show us that our tax dollars are not being spent in vain.

When we utilize our right to vote, it forces the candidates to acknowledge the desire and needs of the American citizens. When voter apathy keeps the voter from the polling booth, they are effectively giving away their chance to be heard. Votes are all the political party care about. Polls on issues are one thing. Polls from likely voters are another. Polls from people who will not cast their vote are just a complainer, but polls of likely voters are direction and campaign deciders.

Today, we are hearing that we can expect over 140 million votes cast. In our history, the most votes we tallied came in 2004 with over 122 million. Speaking in terms of percentage of available voters, we are nearing record levels in that arena also. Our nation is expecting the highest percentage of voter age citizens casting their votes since 1960 and maybe even more. In 1960, over 63% of the available public voters cast their vote.

These two campaigns have been able to shake up the apathetic voter bases. At least that is one great accomplishment from this political endeavor even if neither one of them carries out their promises once elected. I said earlier that the political parties must acknowledge the desires and needs of the American voting public because the record turnout carries with it a double edged sword.

On one hand, the candidate who has garnered the support of so many new registrants and attracted so many previously apathetic individuals back to the polls will experience the needed push to win the office of President. On the other, now that they have been voted into office, the public expects them to come through on their promises. Yes, the candidate will win office because of the grass roots injection of voting significance, but fail at carrying through on the campaign promises and you will forever lose their newfound support.

Think about it this way. You promise your mom and dad that you will care for a new puppy and that you will feed it, clean up its messes, and take care of its health issues because you REALLY want a puppy. You will do ANYTHING to get that puppy so you agree to a litany of new rules and regulations handed down by your parents. It’s ok… all that stuff is secondary because you are getting what you KNOW you HONESTLY want… a puppy. But we all know how the story goes. A few days, weeks, or even months pass and the puppy gets big and less fun. It becomes more of a “job.” The promise of happiness that came with the puppy has all of a sudden lost its luster and it just isn’t worth the effort anymore. The puppy has not carried through on your individual idea of what the future would be.

In the end, the puppy must go because you are no longer effective at caring for it and your parents will not take care of your mistake. Obama is our “new puppy” (and no I’m not calling him a dog, you can insert new toy or whatever THING you feel may be personally palatable into this analogy). We see this new politician promising such great things for those who vote for him that our future without him cannot ever be as bright with a replacement. We will agree to a litany of rules and regulations that his party requires us to do for the completion (maybe) of his campaign promises.

Over time, the voting public will have a choice to make. Is Obama carrying through on his promises or did he lead the newfound voting masses like lemmings to a cliff? We all know politicians lie and they hardly ever carry through on their campaign promises because if their predecessors had carried through, we would have a much different political and social landscape. They just cannot satisfy their daunting promises.

So, assuming Obama wins which is the most likely scenario, how many promises does he have to break in the next four years before the very voting public that carried him into office reject his candidacy and look for an alternative? If you promise millions of people something and do not come through, the edge of the sword is sharp and cuts very deep. Obama while becoming a rock star in many of our eyes will have assumed a mountain’s weight of expectation. Fail to satisfy those promises and President Obama could be become an utter failure in the eyes of the world and our nation.

However, after a few of these “real” news items were exhausted, I was treated to “headline news” involving the impending divorce of Madonna from her husband, a report about a soldier’s dog returning home, and even a major story about a delayed Playstation game because of a music track within the game. I’ll be fair… CNN’s website actually lists the bulleted topics under their section labeled “Latest News.” While it’s not specifically labeled Headline News, it is in fact, their depiction of the most important, time sensitive information that the public needs to be informed about.

Maybe I’m being a bit too judgmental. Madonna’s divorce is a big deal to some even if I can’t name a single person that cares. Maybe her divorce is a story because there appears to be some issue between the two individuals revolving around Madonna’s belief in Kabbalah? Well, that would make it a story now wouldn’t it? It’s not “just” a divorce of a high profile celebrity. It’s a story about something that’s potentially charged with a newsworthy religious angle. The story about the soldier’s dog returning home? Well, news wouldn’t be news without at least one bullet point associated to our current war in Iraq and/or Afghanistan. No car bomb or civilian murders to report today? Let’s go with the feel good story then…

This brings me to the headline news bullet point of the Playstation game being delayed because of a musical track. Initially, you may think that it may have something to do with profanity or non-licensed material included, but you would be wrong. The issue revolves around a particular track that may offend Muslims. A musical track in the game contains words from the Islamic holy text, the Quran. Feeling the politically correct pressure, the game designer and distributor were forced to pull the product and delay the launch so they could remove the “offensive” track. Oh, now I get it. The delayed Playstation game receives headline news status because of the issue within… a potentially offensive musical track which “might” be offensive to Muslims.

Sometimes we are just trying too hard to be politically correct. While being overly correct, we are actually offending many. If our news agencies truly believe that headline status should be given to this particular subject matter, what are their angles? Most news today isn’t objective and is inherently biased by the conglomerate media giants. Given that ratings equal additional revenue, their reward is viewership and readership counts. They give a “best effort” at real news reporting, but they generally focus upon hot topic issues within society and not actual news. Let’s face it. “Real” news is boring when done correctly because it’s based upon facts and reported without sensationalistic undertones.

Knowing this, the media giants focus upon divisive issues and also hot point terms to instigate clicks, buys, and channel attention. We hear real news, but we don’t listen. When we hear hot button issues such as Kabbalah, Muslim/Islam, and Iraq, we listen. Some listen because they want to make sure their issue isn’t being treated negatively, others listen because they want the issue to be treated negatively, and others are just intrigued by the issue and want to know what all the fuss is about. Tell me honestly, are you more likely to listen to the Federal Reserve chairman testify about our economy or read about how much money Madonna’s husband may get in a settlement and find out how Kabbalah may be the root of their problems? One is intensely boring but very much headline news while the other is entertaining and not headline news but given the same status by the news agency. News is not news anymore. It’s an entertainment avenue.

Citation: http://www.cnn.com/

One of the biggest issues revolves around his faith and heritage. Campbell decided that with about three weeks to go before Election Day, it was finally the time to put the proverbial foot down and squash all the rumors. “Of course, Barack Obama is a Christian. Of course, Obama is an American. Of course Obama is not a Muslim. Of course, Obama is not an Arab.” These are the simple four statements made by Campbell in her editorial in an effort to cure the ills created by common misconceptions regarding our likely next President.

She even goes on to mention that even “if you are semi-informed” you know that Obama is of course an American… seriously, ONLY semi-informed? Last time I checked, grade school civics classes specifically taught that to become President of the United States, you must be a natural-BORN citizen. So, unless I have missed some monumental amendment to our Constitution, OF COURSE Barack Obama is an American. Semi-informed… let’s hope that she meant being a conscious and sane individual.

Another issue that I have with Campbell’s article is the use of the term “of course”… hence the title of this article. In her article, she is trying to minimize any potentially bad connotation that being Muslim, or being an Arab, may have in our country today. Sure, there are stereotypes surrounding both the nationality and the religion. Deserved or not, it’s there. If she is trying to portray that there isn’t anything wrong with either, why is she intent on stating that OF COURSE Barack Obama is a Christian and OF COURSE Barack Obama is an American and not an Arab?

While specifically trying to squash an issue, she is exactly part of the problem. Someone is simply American or Christian, not OF COURSE they are. To imply anything different automatically creates division and distaste of the opposite. “Of course” usually implies a thought of “duh”. Basically Campbell is telling her listeners and readers that “Duh, are you stupid? Of course Obama is just like you and me. He’s American and a nice Christian man. He’s not one of those scary Arabic Muslim types…” Yeah, I made that up, it’s not a direct quote from her, but I’m sure if you are “semi-informed” you can read between the lines.

She did ask a question that should be given more attention however. She asked, “Should it matter if he were Muslim or an Arab?” She failed to tackle the issue but answered with a simple “it shouldn’t matter” comment. Should it matter? I definitely think so. The liberal left is vehemently opposed to the conservative nature of the Republican Party because of their closeness to the Christian church. They believe the “Bible thumping”, so called “end of the world” harbingers are led by an irrational need to follow their God into destroying the world. If the Liberals believe that, then what are they to think of the Muslim faith and the Arabic community that believes in such things as “honor killings?”

OF COURSE it matters, duh! Faith and spirituality are intertwined within someone. They cannot be separated and removed from a decision. Let’s face it, we are human and we allow our emotions and faith (or lack thereof) to alter our decision making process. If someone comes along who believes in a religion we perceive as either radical or in stark contrast to our country’s values, then OF COURSE it matters. Campbell, while trying to appear unbiased and intellectual has failed to offer a valid and constructive argument against what she is proposing as non-harmful or as a non-event other than simply saying, “It shouldn’t matter” and “Of course.” Nice try, but go back to the drawing board and give us something of substance.

Citation: http://www.cnn.com/

Basically, this bill is aimed at national restaurant chains and not the mom and pop restaurants or local “mini chains.” While this bill makes sense in a logical way, does it really need to be a law? Are our citizens so mentally challenged that we cannot rationally understand that a triple cheeseburger with a large fry and large soft drink is bad for us? Is a law requiring caloric counts of foods seriously going to deter the eating habits of our society?

Sure, some people will see the numbers and alter their decisions and parents may even make better choices for their children when bringing home the quick dinner. But, the problem is in the food itself. Chain restaurants are notorious for having unhealthy food. Do you see people on a healthy food regimen eating at the local fast food stops on a regular basis? Of course you don’t. Do you see people trying to eat healthy ordering a small fry, rather than large, because they saw the calorie counts on the menu board? Well, maybe for some who aren’t metabolically challenged, but for the most part, healthy eating in no way or form includes eating fries from a fast food restaurant.

In the end, this law is a gentle reminder law. What you order may be bad for you. It’s a warning label similar to other warning labels on things that are bad for us. Problem is we already know fast food is “bad” for us. However, it’s cheap, fast, and satisfies hunger. We don’t need a law to tell us this “new” information. What we need is more time at home so we can effectively make healthy decisions about what we eat. We need more time to cook and prepare healthy meals for our family.

Is a fast food chain with a menu of salad going to make it? Nope. Is a fast food chain with only healthy yogurt and fruit drinks going to make it in mainstream America? Nope. Even then, the so called “healthy” menu items aren’t really all that healthy at times. The pyramid of nutrition has been around forever as far as I know (yeah, I exaggerated). We are all taught that we need the basic staples of nutrition to live healthy and we even have a general idea of how many calories it takes for us to survive each day. But, we just don’t have the time to focus upon one of the most important aspects of living.

Preparing a healthy meal takes time, something we don’t have an oversupply of. We can continue to sign into law “tricks” to help society make better decisions, but the root of the issue is time in my opinion… time with the family and also time to prepare healthy meals. I’ve not even gone into the issue that the “healthy” items in grocery stores are generally more costly to purchase. Adding a law requiring calorie counts makes us feel better and more informed, but it doesn’t change the fact that we are still faced with the underlying problems of why we are at the fast food restaurant in the first place.

Maybe we’ll see a new law from California in the coming months requiring Californians to drink their eight glasses of water per day. Or maybe we’ll see a law fining people who don’t have their tire pressures at maximum efficiency. How about a law requiring people to take a daily vitamin in the morning? I could go on forever. Yes, we want to make things better and we need to eliminate the obesity problem our country is facing, but rather than focusing on the calorie counts on menu boards, how about focusing on the ingredients in the food itself? Make the FOOD healthier or remove it and give the family more time to prepare healthy meals while making healthy foods affordable.