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America Embraces Ignorance

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This week 300 of our nation's finest scientists declared that climate change has occurred more quickly than previously expected. The devastation resulting in loss of life and financial cost to the American public will increase with each upcoming year. Thanks to the Republican Party, and especially the TEA Party, our country is embracing ignorance rather than reality.

Mitch McConnell and Marco Rubio both claimed the evidence is inconclusive. "What." That's the truth, they actually had the gall to say that. In support of their wealthy friend who wish to continue supporting pollution, they will profess their ignorance or intentions of pure evil and insure large campaign contributions.

Extreme weather conditions are not a theory, they are fact. If Republicans and the TEA Party were forced to admit this fact, big business might be forced to reduce their profit margin for 500 percent to 495 percent. That would be a travesty for the "job creators."

We have become a nation of robots. We are told what to believe and we do it without question. Our students who attend colleges and universities cannot regurgitate basic facts about our country or the American way of life and its history. When I was college age I was informed that a college education would expand my general knowledge, making me a more aware and informed individual. I think something might have changed in the last 50 years.

Republicans have attacked other causes with falsehoods and by misleading the facts.

Supported by the NRA Lobby, conservatives have voted nay against background checks for prospective gun purchasers. They do this despite the fact that 90 percent of the American people believe this is the minimum which should be done. Most gun owners concur, so who is the GOP supporting?

The number of Americans living in or near the poverty level is increasing rapidly. Your Republican brothers do not care. And why should they? They are members of those they support; the wealthy class. They espouse lies claiming that raising the minimum wage would eliminate jobs, and raise prices. All I have to say is search the history of minimum wage increases in our country. They're lying to you.

There are more than 12 million people in our country who are in a virtual limbo. Some conservatives want to round them up and deport them. That may be one of the most ignorant ideas I have ever heard. First of all, it is physically and economically impossible. It is past time that congress passes immigration reform, and not in the distant future, now.

Without question the GOP is bigoted and racist. They have also proven that they are misogynistic. They want the voting laws changed which will result in making it more difficult for minorities to cast their vote. And, they continue to deny women the right to control the fate of their own bodies. (They claim to be Christian, but many of their policies reflect the ideals of radical Islamists.)

While I am having this rant, let me tell you about a couple of other things which prove our nation has become ignorant.

What's with this obsession with tattoos? God created humans with beautiful alabaster or chocolate skin. Man cannot improve on that. Some say they are making a personal statement. They are. They're stupid. Even those in the poverty level spend money defaming their bodies instead of purchasing necessities.

Lastly, texting, and the general fixation with electronic devices puzzles me. If I want to talk with someone I will become involved in a conversation, the truly lost art. I do not want a one-way opinion. It's also unsafe. I see people at my gym pretending to exercise while they are really texting. And they're monopolizing the equipment I want to use. No one and nothing can be that important which steals your personal time.

James Turnage

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Forced to retire in 2008, I turned to my passion, writing. I published my first novel, "A Little Murder in the Biggest Little City" in October, 2012. I answered an ad for an articles writer, shortly after that, and wrote hundreds of articles for (more...)
 

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