Governor David Paterson announced that he's not seeking re-election this year after a hubub involving one of his aides. Charlie Rangel's in hot water about a trip to the Caribbean. Frozen cash in a freezer belonging to a congressman from Louisiana. War hero Duke Cunningham was on the take - like his recently deceased colleague, John Murtha. A love child here, a blue stained dress there, on and on it goes.
Don't get me wrong, all of our elected officials aren't like these schmucks. There are some good folks in office. But it seems like their numbers are shrinking.
Election to office - public service - is an honor. A sacred trust. When that trust is broken, its very hard to earn back. And if you pay attention to current events, it is very difficult not to become cynical. After all, you can only kick a dog so many times before it just doesn't come back to you.
I think that's where many Americans are at right now. We've lost confidence in our leaders and our system because we've been kicked so many times that we're just tired of it all. The people of New York deserve better. So do folks in Louisiana, California, and Pennsylvania.
We all do.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
The Super Bowl at Daytona
Another season kicks off on Sunday. Just in time.
As a kid, we used to always watch the Daytona 500 and some other races if they were on ABC's Wide World of Sports on Sunday afternoon. Those were the days of the the king, Cale Yarborough, and Darrel Waltrip. A time where stock cars actually looked like cars on the street and the drivers were tough guys that threw their helmets at each other fought each other after a race.
Up until a few years ago, I had a passing interest in stock car racing. It never really clicked with me - until I went to see a race. My son and I went to the Busch series race at Kansas Speedway three years ago and I got hooked.
I guess it's a primal connection of sorts. The same connection that you feel when you're driving - just driving for the pure joy of it. And become driving has become utilitarian, many people have either forgotten or never experienced the joy of the pure freedom that driving affords our most basic of instincts - that of life and death. After all, you control your destiny on the road. You choose the level of danger, the route, the way you interact with the environment and others you encounter.
Stock car racing is a true sport. Competition between groups where teamwork is key. Fast cars on hot asphalt powered by finely tuned engines that scream. You can't really imagine the sound unless you've heard it from a 20 yards away - a cross between Godzilla's howl and a jumbo jet. Athletes of a different sort that have heightened senses, strength, and eye/hand coordination that rivals the best home run hitters.
If you haven't tried it, give it a run. You might get hooked.
As a kid, we used to always watch the Daytona 500 and some other races if they were on ABC's Wide World of Sports on Sunday afternoon. Those were the days of the the king, Cale Yarborough, and Darrel Waltrip. A time where stock cars actually looked like cars on the street and the drivers were tough guys that threw their helmets at each other fought each other after a race.
Up until a few years ago, I had a passing interest in stock car racing. It never really clicked with me - until I went to see a race. My son and I went to the Busch series race at Kansas Speedway three years ago and I got hooked.
I guess it's a primal connection of sorts. The same connection that you feel when you're driving - just driving for the pure joy of it. And become driving has become utilitarian, many people have either forgotten or never experienced the joy of the pure freedom that driving affords our most basic of instincts - that of life and death. After all, you control your destiny on the road. You choose the level of danger, the route, the way you interact with the environment and others you encounter.
Stock car racing is a true sport. Competition between groups where teamwork is key. Fast cars on hot asphalt powered by finely tuned engines that scream. You can't really imagine the sound unless you've heard it from a 20 yards away - a cross between Godzilla's howl and a jumbo jet. Athletes of a different sort that have heightened senses, strength, and eye/hand coordination that rivals the best home run hitters.
If you haven't tried it, give it a run. You might get hooked.
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