I’ve Not Been a Good Buddhist

One of the ideas of Buddhism is letting go of your attachments in life. Holding on to those “attachments” leads to suffering. Well, during this political campaign especially, I have become attached to the outcome of this mid-term election. Will the Democrats retain control of the House and Senate or will those Republican/Tea Party “boogie” men & women take control. Will this country stay on the path of progress and reform or fall back into business as usual and gridlock. My shorts have been in a knot.

On the internet, the radio and especially the TV, I am reminded every day of the dangers we are facing from this Democrat or that Republican candidate. This one was a witch when they were younger and that one tied up women and worshiped false idols! It can almost get comical. And perhaps that is what we should be doing is laughing…laughing at all this craziness and the millions of dollars being spent on both sides trying to influence our vote.

Think about it. All this money being spent on these crazy attack ads being spewed back on forth on both sides could be going to fixing this country and solving our problems. Instead, it is being wasted on the pursuit of power and buying influence. It is maddening. My biggest fear is that too many voters have lost the ability to think for themselves, to reason, to evaluate the messages that are bombarding us day and night. How many no longer look for the truth or verify what they are being SOLD? Voters are being swept away in a sea of negativity and fear. In their anger and frustration, they rush to judgment only to awaken the next morning and realize they’ve hung an innocent man, they’ve bought the Brooklyn Bridge. There will be regret and sorrow for what they have done, but too late… the deed is done.

If I were a better Buddhist, I’d go vote and then sit back and laugh and let go. What will be will be. I would deal with the outcome and move on. Life is short. But like I said, I’ve not been a good Buddhist.

Food for THOUGHT…

Vote!




Are we to let the other side define this president and
 all that he has accomplished? Vote!

  With only a few weeks to go before the 2010 midterm elections, Americans have some important choices to make: The Tea Party, The Republicans, or The Democrats. Thanks to the recent Supreme Court ruling, corporations and unions can contribute unlimited funds under names like “Americans for Progress” to campaigns and they do NOT have to say where their money comes from. Karl Rove and Associates, the Koch brothers, Rupert Murdoch and others are busy raising money hand over fist for Republicans and Tea Party candidates and are targeting those races that will shift control of the U.S. Senate and possibly the House away from the reform minded Democrats that swept Barack Obama into office.


There is no denying the rage among voters in this country toward the negative, back-biting partisanship in our nation’s capitol. The economy’s slow recovery, continued high unemployment, rising national debt and foreclosures have fueled this anger. The Democratic Party’s message of reform pales against the onslaught of Right Wing and Tea Party rhetoric spewing forth from Fox News, Rush Limbaugh and others. The government is too big! Privatize or do away with Social Security and Medicare! Repeal the new healthcare legislation! Drill baby, drill! Don’t tie the hands of business with needless taxes and regulations and environmental rules! Keep the tax cuts, especially for the wealthy! Let trickledown economics work! Voters are being bombarded with negative, fear-filled messages and calls to throw the bums out!

After 8 years of Neocon Republican control of this nation, ending in the near financial collapse of this country and the world, two unending wars, being the target of worldwide terrorists and losing the respect of our friends and allies, voters have to make some very important decisions in just a few weeks. Do we return control of our government to the right wing Party of No and assorted Tea Party radicals OR do we stay the course and continue on this path of continued reform and hope that things will improve and get better for the average American?

No, I don’t believe that Democrats have all the answers, but what alternatives do moderate Democrats, Republicans, Independents and those of us calling ourselves Progressives have against this onslaught of negative, fear, smears and lies? Where do we go in just a few weeks, if we don’t want this country to step backward, be dismantled, undone and handed over to big business, banks and power brokers? Under Obama, we have made some progress, not as much as I would like, but progress none the less. It has been a hard won progress against a foe that would rather destroy this once great nation rather than compromise or come up with workable solutions rather than anti-everything Obama rhetoric.

With all the money being raised to defeat Democratic candidates in the mid-term elections, there is one thing to keep in mind. The corporations don’t get to vote. They have millions of dollars to influence voters, but WE the people…get to vote! I urge all American voters to consider all the rhetoric, all the messages and all the claims being bought and sold by those special interests groups. Decide if you want America to go forward or backwards and then go vote. Get your friends and family to vote. What we the people decide will determine what we ALL live with.

Food for THOUGHT…