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I have always known that there was a portion of our populace that may not keep up with the times but lately I have realized that we seem to be going backwards as a nation; or it’s just more obvious these days. Looking at what people are watching on TV is one indicator of what is most important to people and the other is where they place their hard earned money.

First, let’s start with TV. If you pick up your remote on any given day and scroll through what is being shown on regular and cable TV you will understand what I am talking about. Shows like The Bachelor and Jersey Shores that everyone at work talks and obsesses about are asinine at best. We are under one of the most difficult financial struggles in our nation’s history and we are debating TV shows or Edward VS Jacob? And I am talking about adults not teens!

Why don’t we feel safe to discuss the hard questions? I believe it’s because the answers to those questions have direct consequences to our situations and we are afraid of them. It is easier to put our heads in the sand when it is important than to risk someone disagreeing with us and, heaven forbid, challenging what we think or believe. It’s just easier to not think about those things and hide in the entertainment and dummy down.

As difficult as the economic situation has been on some, you would think it would be a no-brainer to extend the unemployment benefits to those who have been without a job for over a year or more. However, there is a backlash in this country in regard to the long term unemployed that says these people are lazy or not trying to get a job. The fact is, there are no jobs to be had in some areas and in other areas such as manufacturing these jobs are not expected to come back. So what do those people do?

Our Republican dominated government ran up a deficit from 2000 to 2008 that far exceeded anything we have ever seen in the past and yet these same Congressman and Senators are now screaming to balance the budget and making the very people who paid for the banks and wall street to be saved starve and go without? Yes, we have a deficit problem but I say it’s a deficit of ideas, of common sense and of truth. We need people of both parties who are more about Americans and less about party lines. Until we get those people into office, I am afraid we may all loose at the expense of partisanship.

There are a few people who really enjoy putting together and following a family budget but for most of us we’d rather endure a day of fingernails on a blackboard. The question is why so many of us “budgeting adverse”. I know for me, it’s the fact that I don’t like to be restricted by or told what to do even when I am the one doing the restricting and the telling! It sounds a bit crazy but I know more people like me than not.

When I am out shopping, I don’t want to ask myself if this is something I need or not even though I should. I don’t want to ask myself if this is something that is helping my situation or something that is hurting my situation; I’m shopping and that means I am looking to have a little fun and satisfaction! The thing is, after I buy something I don’t need I feel guilty about it and wonder why I bought something I don’t need yet again that has blown my finances up. Thus the circle starts again.

I realize I hate to be told what to do because I was not allowed to make my own decisions growing up but I am also no longer a child so it’s time to stop acting like one. I am now listening to the adult in me and she and I are sitting down today a creating a budget. It’s time to grow up whether it’s fun or not; it’s necessary.

Several friends have commented lately that they need more fun in their lives so I have started asking people if they play enough. It didn’t surprise me to find out that the resounding answer to this question is NO! When I asked what they felt like they did with their time the vast majority said work, both at work and at home. For those with kids, driving the kids to and from events and activities was another answer. It has become very apparent that no matter what demographic you are in you’re not having much fun.

For the few that stated they were having fun, I was surprised at what they said was fun. After all, watching TV to me isn’t fun but to some others it is. Hanging out with friends was high on the fun list for guys and gals alike and reading was another winner for the gals and there was the occasional guy who sited his job as being fun, which for them is a very good thing. If all of us could find a little more fun in our lives it just might change the way we look, act and feel. The first assignment is finding out what we deem as fun and getting out there and having some!

Considering the fact that the US is 51% Protestant and the Supreme Court will be without a Protestant on the bench after Justice Steven leaves the court, the answer to the question is no. But that brings up another couple of questions. The US Constitution is clear that there will be “no religious test” when being considered for the Supreme Court so why is it that it seems to always be considered? Also, there is no guidance what so ever as to the makeup of the Supreme as a reflection of America so why does that always come up when a new appointment is made?

I have concluded that it’s because we are dummying down in this country into a media lead society. I run with people who actually have read the US Constitution at some point but the vast majority that I ask outside my circle has never even read it! You would think we should all have a working knowledge of the Constitution if only because we send representatives to Washington that we ought to be able to hold them accountable to uphold the very document that leads our nation. But you can’t hold anyone accountable to something you know nothing about nor can you argue a point with someone who listens to the likes of a Glen Beck or a Bill O’Reilly instead of reading the US Constitution and making up their own mind.

A perfect example of being lead by the nose….

This afternoon, I had some car trouble.  And, as I sat in the hot, dingy waiting room of what will undoubtedly be a an overpriced mechanic, of course the TV show blaring in the corner of the room was Jerry Springer.  Today’s topic was “I Spent All the Money on the Hooker”.  Well.  Now, I’m invested.

As I sat and watched the physical and emotional carnage, I felt absolutely no empathy.  Now, I know that it’s probably staged – all an act.  But, even so what does that say about our society?  That whether it’s real or not, we don’t even stop to check, do we?  We just sit there and gaze, slack-jawed at the screen.  I started to feel bad… well as much as I could until one realizes that someone else in the history of the world has done something MUCH worse.

That’s when it occurred to me, Jerry Springer, and it’s Maury Povich, Judge Judy counterparts are the modern day equivalents to the epic battles, hunts and live executions that took place at the Roman Coliseum.  Royalty and peasants alike gathered around as innocent people were killed, eaten or maimed.  Pure entertainment.  No empathy.  And, these TV shows are no different.

But, like so many others sometimes I just can’t look away.

Most people are familiar with the popular show Family Guy. I watch it occasionally and enjoy the outrageous humor that is sometimes just plain wrong. Another television cartoon show that has that style of humor is the show South Park. Fans of that show will tell you that nothing is off limits when it comes to their comedy. These shows will make fun of things that were so serious that you thought you would never laugh at it. Things like Martin Luther King’s assassination, the 911 bombing, and so many more tragedies are made into humorous affairs. This style of humor should be called Edgy comedy.

One of my favorite comedians, Sarah Silverman, has based her whole act on that Edgy humor. The jokes are just so outrageous sometimes you do not want to laugh but at the same time they are so funny that you just have too. I really appreciate this type of humor because it shows that everything can have fun poked at is and nothing is above a little comedy. And for things like racism and sexism, Edgy Comedy points out just how foolish racists and sexists are.

Old movies are something that is always fun to watch with friends or family. It is fun to enjoy some classic and original cinema that has withstood the test of time. These movies started it all and it’s respectful to pay homage to these stepping-stones. But in my opinion that is all that they are: stepping-stones. It may just be that I am more into today’s modern films but those classic movies just bore me to tears.

In my opinion remakes can be much better than some classics and in other cases remakes can be pretty bad. I think that the older Italian Job movie is so boring that I could barely watch it. On the other hand I think that the new Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is just flat out weird. I do enjoy watching classic movies though and I think that people should do it to see how far movies have come. It’s not that the new movies are better; I just think they are more entertaining.

I am sure that everyone has heard of the unfaithful behavior of Tiger Woods. We all know how he cheated on his wife with many women. Many people have changed their opinions of the golf superstar. But I doubt that everyone has heard the massive earthquake that hit Haiti. And even if you have I seriously doubt that you heard as much about it or with such urgency as you heard about Tiger’s affairs. That is where our culture is right now. That one man’s sexual activities get more attention than the loss of people’s homes and lives.

In our culture we love our athletes and actors and singers. We love them so much that we worship them. By doing this we hold them at higher standards then we do other common folks. And when one celebrity does something wrong it surprises us so much that it’s all we can talk.

It’s our fault for expecting so much of our celebrities. We expect them to be better people than us because they are good at sports or singing or acting. We forget that they are just normal people. So instead of expecting so much from celebrities I think we should start expecting more of ourselves and start with paying more attention to more important things.

Dealing with your siblings can be hard. I know this is for a fact but it is something that you just have to endure when you’re a kid. If you want to have a good relationship with your brothers and sisters when you are all older than you should seriously consider my advice and be patient. It will make family life much more pleasant and you will grow up to hopefully have great relationships with them and their families.

On the other hand, if you are always mean to your brother or sister than they just might hate you when they’re older. Even if they don’t openly show their hate for you, they will still be very easily annoyed with you and you brought it on yourself. They may even refuse to communicate with you all together and I’m sure you don’t want that.

Most people want a close and loving bond with their siblings, as they get older. I know I sure did. But if you treat them like crap all the time, your brothers or sisters will remember it and resent you for it and I have seen that in other families as well. It’s something that nobody wants and is best avoided. Good advice, if heeded.