Re: Sources: Part 2 - The Ins- Out- $ources; Vettering Days Ahead

Setting US Apart, Dates WE Re: Member: Days that we as a nation, united, set apart, designate as those to honor those who have served US, to keep US a free and sovereign nation, enjoying many rights many of US take for granted (such as the right to vote), a few dates of which have become "time honored" to honor the millions who have willingly, elected to serve -- while there is currently no active "military conscription" (i.e., what we, college age-ish, during the days of the 20 year Vietnam War called "The Draft"), federal law has provided for a process whereby "nearly all male US citizens 18-25 are required to at least register" -- a system to ensure maximum coverage in times of need, "in defense" of our country, as in the "Selective Service System". Regardless of how "they" got there, the millions who served US, we take time out as a nation, and have done so going back over 100 years, when the appointed date in November was referred to, originally, as Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of WWI. Which was declared to be a date to remember by a president with the same initials and eventually, along came Congress, which "resolved" (i.e., made a "joint resolution") to make it an annual occurrence, a federal holiday, a date to take time out to honor all those, in the various services, armed forces...many of which are among US today. Distinctly different and distant in time (i.e., a half-year) from the other day we set aside to "memorialize" those who not only served but paid the "ultimate price" in first securing (as in the Revolutionary War) and then ensuring, our freedoms, which is now know to US as Memorial Day. Days that we pause and reflect on both our...

Sources: Responsibilities, Rights: Primary, on through the finals...here, presented in re:verse order than that which you are probably accustomed to. This is deliberate, on purpose, purposeful. As it sure seems easy around here for US to pronounce, announce our "God given rights to..." starting at such an early age, from primary grades, all the way up..."I've had it up to hear, here!". I can say whatever I want, whenever I want, to whomever... Whatever. But what about the actual responsibilities that, while not as popular to talk about, come with citizenship, at least becoming a good citizen. Shortly after our original envisioners engineered a HUGE break-up, declaring independence, they prepped themselves for what was surely to come, inevitable, the "fight to the end" These days, depending on your age and stage (e.g. minor or the "age of majority") we are still quick to grab our freedoms, re-mind those within shouting distance of our rights which may, even as young as three ("I'm outta' here, running away!"), may in turn get you shown to the door...Other-wise... 

Sent PACing: Just a few days prior to the time-honored day, the one we took out to do so, most of US exercised one of our most fundamental rights of citizenship, assuming you bothered to register (the day you became eligible to vote, about the same time you may have also become eligible for "SS" (see above), which you were expected to register for; which comes first -- if not in practice, at least "esprit de corps"? Days that are set aside to cast our vote, make "them" know how we really feel, after we have been complaining to each other, in and around town, the day has finally come to either stand in line at the actual precinct, or at least drop off your ballot, that you filled out in the comfort of your home, perhaps even while watching some of those political ads, which become so omnipresent, inundating, the only escape seems QVC. Days that have been set aside as far back as the day in November on which we pause and reflect, give "Thanks", shortly after honoring. Lots of days to re-member; you'd think "They" would have thought about all of US around here, at least appointed a few into one of the longer months, the lengths of which we committed to memory, early on "30 days hath September". Which is now, in our adulting years, accompanied by "The first Tuesday after the first Monday, in the Month of November" (all of which is now prompted for me, saving my STM, by my go-to source, "Google Calendar") This, well after federal law gave a wider berth, allowing for each state to elect electors to go to "Electoral College" any time within a 34 day (longer than any month I'm aware of), prior to the first Wednesday in December. To ease the way in which we cast, of course, we can now actually be "absent" but other-wise, there are several action (some "political") calling for yet another federal holiday, which would be set aside, to vote and, even in the case of the "unionists" among US, are advocating for combining the day we vote as well as take time out to remember, honor..."how much more patriotic can we get?" Regardless of where you fall on these issues, just within a few days, at least weeks, of the election, special "Congressional Committees" start, once again, investigating...after the days off...after the paid-for ads have finally ceased, we start hearing about the hearings...

Pay-Offs: The vetting after the vetting, the investigations into the $sources of income, especially those not so "transparent" during the campaigns (what every one promises it these days), what those who had taken even a smidgen of Latin regarding people "on the take" learned as "quid pro quo" and what we these days simply refer to as "payola!". Laws about which started getting drafted by the "lower house", due to the proliferation of "soft money" (aka "indirect"), which came to US via "solicitations" early on, political ads, followed by some advocacy groups landing once again, on both sides of this issue-- those that believe that we have "all heard enough" especially within the weeks leading up to...(e.g. McCain, Feingold, et. al) and those who believe that this, "putting limits on the First Amendment" is a 'slippery slope..." Regardless, what has become part of the election cycle, the days following, what we around here have become accustomed to, is the post-election posts (here) re:garding the true $sources of the incomes, wealth of those we have already elected, the "meg-contributors", those around these parts, and even those we might even find "off-shore" as in "out-$ourcing", other-wise political influencers, which could even rise to the level of both houses of Congress, all the way up to those now residing...Or, in a few cases come in the form of "boxed (re-dacted?) Docs" And, to this very day, a source of both political and legal debate, at the highest levels. Vettering days, both pre- and post.   

The True Source: Tempted to blame those in office, the anticipation of yet another election cycle, the incessant "Breaking News!" for our in-digestion, if we are to be honest and transparent ourselves, all we need to do is look in the mirror, look in and around our own House to view the miniscule scraps, the HUGE credit card balances, especially on the day after the Big Feast, to see evidence of the true $ource -- our own over-in-dulgence; it's largely on US.

Coming Soon: "It's over-due!" -- diligence, that is.