• Thanksgiving is a time of fun and enjoyment in our family. No, really... it is. We have a huge family. I always forget that just on my mom's side, there are about 60 of us now. (That is including the children of the cousins.) I think on my dad's side it is quite a bit over that number, although I haven't seen many of them for so many years, I am no longer sure. I had a great time watching the little kids play. I think if anyone needs entertainment, turn off your tv, go over to either of my brothers' houses and watch the little ones. It should take about 5 minutes before you are in tears (either from a stray kick to the nether regions or from some ridiculous statement or story). It is sad, though, how little our family actually gets together. I don't say that in a loathing spirit - it would be difficult for us to get together all the time. Everyone is on the go and seems to always be conquering their next and latest project. I happen to see most of my family every day because we work together, but even then, we rarely get together because of all that is going on in our individual lives. That's really why I enjoy the holidays - getting together with family. In our case, it is [luckily] in a relaxed atmosphere - most of us have time off (which is unusual) and therefore the time together seems to be all the more interesting and important. The debate is good, the food is good, the spirit is good... did I mention that the food is good. The only thing left to really complete the circle would be a house big enough to hold us all. I will keep dreaming...
• Do you think Bush is hell-bent on bombing Iraq?
My answer? No. Doug asked me this the other day. Being that he asks these questions with a true interest in the answer, I tried to be as thoughtful about it as possible and came up with no. If Bush were hell-bent on bombing Iraq, he would have already done it. Why entangle yourself further into the debate if you are going to do it anyway? (The point being entanglement in further debate and not desire to do so.) First of all, Bush has a lot more room now to wait and see. Inspections are in the process of starting again and now he has the 15 gazillianth UN ultimatum that Iraq is not to be harboring any weapons of mass destruction. I don't believe Saddam is going to hold up his end of the bargan, but neither am I concerned with that, because the world is actually watching and not simply talking about Iraq. Do I think that we should bomb Iraq? Yes/no. Yes, to bomb the heck out of any facility which might be storing weapons that have impact beyond Iraq's borders. No, I do not think we should go in with ground troups because we are risking too many American lives that would be used better planning the technologically driven defeat of Iraq and not a hand-to-hand defeat.
If Bush decides to go into Iraq, it will be after Saddam has broken his promise... unlikely before. Inevitable? unfortunately... What a waste of life.
• Do you think we are going to end up with socialized medicine in the US?
Yes. I think that we as a culture are too lazy to recognize and accept that free is not free and free is usually worse than something you pay for.
• Do I want socialized medicine?
Hell no. Ask whether people are getting better health care in countries that have socialized medicine than in the US. The answer is no. We have more access to health care and better over-all service. Are we perfect? Hell no. You would be a nut to suggest that what we have is perfect. What we have is an in-between mess that I am scared, but pretty sure, is going to get worse. And people are going to simply blame the people providing the service and not the beaurocracy causing the problems.
• 601am - no worries. I think it's funny.
601am writes that he is irritated and embarrassed by his boss suggesting we should bomb Canada to make them stronger. Assuming that this person is not serious, it is actually somewhat funny... because, who in their right mind would bomb someone to make them stronger? I know I am begging the question, but I'm going to let this one go anyway - oh yeah... because it is supporting my opinion. Oh, and do I think someone in the position mentioned should say something like that publicly? I don't know... but I would have personally thought twice about it.
• Do I weigh more?
I'm working on it. There are two days left to this weekend which equates to at least 6 mealtimes.
