Across the World Nov. 27th, 2007

Been doing a lot of thinking lately.  I have finals coming up next week, and that is going to take up a lot of my time from now until then.  I have various final projects and papers due also.  So, I am at home now feeling pretty good about what is in front of me.  I don't really have anything to say that is of any importance, but I was in the shower thinking about life and this is what I came up with...
First a philosophical question:  Do police want people to break the law so they have a job?  Or do police want people to do right and have less work to do but the upside being there is law and order in the area? 
I ask those questions because there were some speed traps set up on the new branch of the I-355 today.  Now I wonder whether the police want to show a presence to curb scofflaws or do they want to write those tickets because of the revenue it will generate?  I think the latter, I think they want people to break the law because if everyone followed the rules the police would be out of business, so would the prison system.  Now think about how huge that would be if the government would not have to spend so much money on policing and prisons!  I mean that is Big Business/Corporate American ideals in a part of society that should not be Big Business!  Prisons were designed for reform, but what has happened is a cash cow for States.  The Federal Government pays for each prisoner housed.  So would it be safe to say that police want people to break the law?  And if that is true; then what type of society have we become?  We currently hold the lead for most imprisoned people of any country in the world.  Our prison system population is 65% drug violations.  Does this make any sense?  Is that form of rehabilitation or reform wise?  Will those inmates learn how to live correctly or will they just network more and have more connections for breaking the law when they are released?  I think the latter again.  I know that there is no rehabilitation going on in prison...Very little help is giving to those who have problems with drugs.  So if they are not being rehabilitated why is so much money being spent on this system?  Just some random thoughts and questions for people to think about.
Also, I get the feeling like Government is failing itself.  Have you seen the various resignations that have been submitted recently?  Is our federal government jumping ship?  I hope so, I would like to see a third party, whether that is an Independent or a party with a name does not matter to me.  I just want more choices when I go to polls.  Of course it will not be available for the Feb. Primary but if people stop voting along party lines and start voting for parties like Green or other Independent parties that could change over time.  I want the next generation and generations after that to have more choices.  I think both Democrats and Republicans have failed to push our country into the proper direction.  I have a right to say this because I vote every election.  IF you don't vote then you can't complain.  When someone says something bad about George W. I ask if they voted last election?  IF they say NO, then I say I don't want to hear it.  You have no place to complain if you don't vote.  Sure, your candidate might not have won, but if you didn't vote then you can't complain about what is being done in Washington or Springfield.  I do my part, I listen to the candidates speeches, try to catch the debates when it is possible, etc.  I would have voted for Stephen Colbert if they would have let him on the ballot, but that is not the case.  So I will NOT vote for a democrat or a republican in Feb. instead I will vote for the Green Party if that is the only other choice.  I don't agree with everything the Green Party stands for, but they did get enough votes last election to be on the Presidential Ticket for Illinois.  That tells me my vote will slowly change our 2 party system into a 3 party system.  It is impossible to have an Independent win the Presidential race without having them on the ballot in every state.  So my angle is to help propel and keep the 3rd party idea alive in Illinois.  Now if there is another Independent party available on Feb. 5th then I will not vote for the Green Party.  Like I said my vote is for change, and it all starts with me and my ideas, thoughts, and direction in life!  Vote; people died for you to have the right to do IT!
I am trying really hard to keep my head above water as of late.  I am stretched pretty thin and I have since realized that I should have left Triton a year ago.  I am now really behind.  I should have resigned after I got passed on that promotion.  I wasted a year of my life working there.  I loved the job, but it hurt me financially to stay there.  That is what expecatations get you!  Yes, I still believe to Expect is to Be Disappointed later!  I am just trying to make it to the first of the year.  I have started a long process of clearing away my debt so I can be free of Corporate America.  I don't know how my thought process about Credit, but it did about 4 years ago.  I thought it was a wise choice, but I have since realized that I miss my old lifestyle of Cash only!  I don't care about credit anymore.  I don't plan on buying a house in the States anyway.  I will be re-locating to Mexico for retirement (baha peninsula).  I don't like having various bills come in the mail every month.  You get credit to buy things later, the country is based upon credit.  You cannot rent in some places, you cannot buy a new car, or a house without it.  Your credit history is scrutinized from every angle when you want something you need.  Well how come I made it to 27 years old without any trouble?  The answer is Cash Rules!  Nobody turns you away when you flash the green in front of them.  Sure if I want big things I would need it, but the way the housing market looks I could care less.  I look at my Pops who worked his ass off for 35 years has 4 properties in Chicago and is now looking at Bankruptcy because of the Sub-Prime crash.  I don't need that in my life at my retirement age.  I said to him a few weeks ago that I was thinking of becoming a professional poker player, and I would usually get a crazy look, but instead he actually thought it wasn't a bad idea.  I was surprised by this, the solid foundation, build for your future, don't spend any money today so you have it for later guy...Instead he responded, "I wish I never planned so much for the future and had fun along the way."  Yes, finally he has seen my lifestyle and how it can benefit people.  Usually someone says the grass is always greener on the other side, but not in this case, he thinks so for himself, but I don't want what he has.  2 Million in property but no cash!  It is all tied up in Credit and mortgages, and now he has to dump properties in a market where nobody is buying!  No Thanks!
I really have no direction right now.  I have put the brakes on in most areas of my life to focus on school.  I think this the wisest decision I have ever made in my entire life.  I am 32 now, no kids, no wife, and I live very minimally.  I just go about my business traveling from place to place with only one focus; school!  I am a little behind my fellow Gen-Xers, but I like where I stand today.  I wish I was in a different city, but I still have a few strings to cut and wrap up here in Chicago.  When school is done in 08, I will have to do some serious thinking about where I am headed to next!  I have pulled the plug on the movie for now.  I had some problems with the current script writer.  He says he wants to be paid now, I said screw that.  I told him I would pay him if I could, but I am not going to be strong-armed into it.  He was going to hold back the script until I gave in, so I put the project on the shelf.  No big deal, it will be made sooner or later, maybe when I have more time and money I will take it off the shelf.  It is a shame, but no big deal!  I would like to publish my next book in the Spring, but even that is up for grabs.  I am still promoting it but we shall see how that all works out when the time comes.  So I will change my profile once again and delete the movie for now!
I have been dating this women named Joy.  Things are smooth.  I like her and she likes me.  Everyone knows I take my time in deciding how I feel about the relationships I find myself in, so I am just taking it slow and waiting to see how things progress.  Right now it is good, and to me that is all that matters.
Well I think I have covered a lot of things today, and I hope everyone is having some Happy Holidays!

Later
Kenny