One Person’s Importance
It’s easy to think that we, as individuals, don’t matter much.
I’ll give you an example. Although no individual I know of thinks it would be a good idea to elect Mike Huckabee to a national political office, Iowa Republicans gave him a big first-place finish in yesterday’s caucuses. This is the man who says his religious beliefs aren’t a legitimate political issue, but who also has said he wanted to “take this nation back for Christ.” The Bible-thumper showed the ignorance inherent in a faith-centered approach to modern issues when he asserted that he relied on religion in part because scientists could not explain how a bee flies.
Sorry, sir—they can. And have.
Nobody I know supports this fringe candidate, yet he is the early leader in the 2008 run for the White House. So you can understand if I’ve been feeling like individuals can’t change things.
Thankfully, I was wrong. As this story from AFP shows, one man apparently can make a big difference when it comes to world oil markets.
It seems a trader—just one guy—wanted to make history. So he single-handedly brought the world price of oil to $100 a barrel by putting $100,000 up for 1,000 barrels on the New York market last week. Sure, he lost hundreds of dollars when he sold it back well beneath that price … but he made a point. Each of us matters.
So, in fact, there’s hope for us all in 2008:
No longer must we only buy products pushed on us by placements in movies and TV shows.
No more can superstition passed on from generation to generation continue to guide our individual choices.
No way will we only listen to what the studio executives and radio DJs force upon us.
And Mike Huckabee need not be our next leader. We can unite—as individuals—to support someone much less scary and much more in touch with reality.
My choice: Britney Spears.
posted by David Amulet @ 12:18 PM
20 wisecracks
20 Comments:
Is Britney running on a third party ticket? As a committed third party voter, I might have to consider her (or not).
I'm hoping Huckaboo-boo's campaign fizzles once people find out that he's using religion opportunistically (not to mention hypocritically, as well) to further his position.
I have no use for Elmer Gantry redux.
BS (he,he) is an excellent choice. She'll have lots of free time now that she's lost her visitation rights.
Bob: This may be the year that an independent candidate has a real chance, given the tools running right now.
Cube: Well put.
Nessa: Exactly! Unencumbered by childcare duties!
-- david
I will vote for the candidates Black and Decker, running for the all night party...I could go on and on...
The races right now are really interesting, in the way that a stalled gas tanker on a grade crossing, runaway freight train with liquid oxygen in tank cars, and a family of prairie dogs all converging on the same spot is a classic "this is going to be good" moment.
As for one person making a difference, I think that too sometimes, but I had a chopper pilot in the Army who went into a hot lz to get a bunch of us out. He made several trips throughout the day. Many guys owe their life to him. One brave man made a huge difference.
One brave person who begins to make politicians accountable, who digs for the truth, who demands an end to political hypocrisy, can make a difference.
Who will drop the stone in the pond to start the ripples? Care to go to the quarry with me?
Now I know that some of us want to see the first female president, but Brittany? Better we take a pass on that one and go for the first black president - not Barack Obama... Kevin Federline.
Ok, so he's not really black, but he does rap....
{oh, right... never mind} :)
Oh right. And I bet the first law she'd pass would be to be able to enter all stores and restrooms barefooted.
Mike: One person CAN make a difference, and there's no better evidence of that than a story like yours.
GW: I don't laugh out loud often while sitting by myself, but I just did. Thanks!
PQ: I don't think she would understand her duties and powers enough to do even that.
-- david
I about passed out when I saw he won Iowa, I would rather have any of the Republicans than Huckabee, and I am not republican! My aunt and uncle support him and it makes me want to gag.
Have a good one
Did you see the picture in Gawker of the entire Huckabee Family? It was circa 1980 and he and his sons were wearing matching shirts, (as was his wife and daughter.) Adding insult to injury, the men were wearing vertical stripes which did not cover their extra 100 pounds each.
*shudders*
I've also believed that one person can make a difference!!
I believe Britney became the real front-runner when Anna Nicole Smith passed away last February.
And with a pop-tart in the White House the tabloids may overtake Newsweek, US News and Time as the big NEWS magazines! Oh and step-aside CNN and FoxNews because E! will be THE new news network... Who needs Brit Hume and Wolf Blitzer when you can have Ryan Seacrest reporting the "news?"
Okay-- I'm going to go have nightmares now!
Phats: I'm ready for Bloomberg or someone else to jump in.
LIsa: I have not seen that--and I don't want to. I'm scared just thinking about it.
Angel: As have I. And I'm trying to stick with that.
Perplexio: E! and FoxNews are already way to similar for my tastes.
-- david
The trouble is, I loathe Nancy Grace and can't stand Wolf Blitzer either... So that basically takes both CNN and Headline News out of the equation for me. That leaves (P)MSNBC and FoxNews...
I don't mind Brit Hume but that Shep guy has to go! I don't care much for Keith Olbermann, but Chris Matthews can be interesting some of the time.
Well in all honesty, I think I would rather have Britney be our president than Huckabee. After his recent comments on the Constitution, I don't know how any right minded American can vote for him...
Regression and politics. A horrible, horrible mix.
Perplexio: I"m not fans of any of them. That leaves me getting my news from word of mouth!
Jeff: Maybe we can find a good third-party candidate. Who are the Libertarians running this year?
Janet: Horrible indeed. Maybe I'll avoid politics for a while.
-- david
Bi-polar and/or multiple personality disorder only makes Britney seem like a better candidate standing along side some of the others.
Do you suppose, if he wins the nomination, that he'll choose Jerry Falwell as his vice? We'll finally be able to pass laws against those gay teletubbies!!
Martin: I've never thought about it that way ... but a candidate with multiple personalities would have the benefit of looking at major world issues from many perspectives.
Bull Dr.: I believe Falwell on a presidential ticket is a sign of the apocalypse.
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