There are two separate (but
equal?) issues I need to delve into today.
First, I have a confession. Second,
I have an opinion (unrelated to the aforementioned confession). Now, if you go back and read some of my old
posts, you will find that I have an uncanny ability to ramble with the best of
them. I have received wonderful comments
along the lines of “I usually just skim
long posts, but actually read yours” or “you are so funny” or “I like
ducks and you should too so meet exotic singles at my website
cougardatingfornerds.com”. As such,
I feel comfortable just laying all this out there for you.
Confession time…
I don’t really know what I want from this little (but
internationally-acclaimed) blog of mine.
Ducks has been woefully
neglected and usually falls to the very bottom of my priority list.* Part of this reason has to do with the fact
that I simply have more important things to do than write a blog that generates
no revenue, but requires time. The
other, larger contributing reason is that I am unsure of its purpose.
*Reason Why You Need
a Freelance Writer #879: I love the
fact that grammar check hasn’t picked up on the fact that “ducks has” is technically
incorrect and should be “ducks have”… unless this program is scary-intelligent
and knows that “Ducks” is my blog.
As mentioned, I’ve never received a dime from writing my
posts. This little fact has not had an
impact on how much I enjoy producing these rambling pieces.
Quick note, related
to absolutely nothing: I have a cat
sitting on my shoulder right now. I feel
like half a pirate, half an old cat lady.
I want to go to Wal-Mart and start plundering the blue hair dye
section. Yargh.
(See, that’s why it’s for the best that these pieces aren’t merely
skimmed over. You’d be sitting there
saying “Confession. Opinion. Low priority.
I need a freelance writer. He’s a
pirate. He’s an old cat lady. Skimmed over…
Got it.” and totally missing out on the image of me going to Wal-Mart
and plundering the blue hair dye section.
Think about how much it would suck to miss out on that!)
Uh, moving along…
I was saying that I’ve never received any financial
compensation, but enjoy writing the blog.
So the purpose of Ducks Out Of A Row is not necessarily a money-making
venture. (Note: There is a donation button off to the side
and the previous comment doesn’t mean “don’t not use it if you were previously
going to.” Just sayin’…) (But, seriously, don’t feel bad if you weren’t going to,
because it would certainly be unexpected.)
Besides not being about the money, this blog is also
definitely not about playing the “get followers” game. Yes, I would like a lot of followers. If I was able to entertain/inform/promote
thought/etc. a plethora of people, I would be quite happy. This is, after all, a reason writers write.
But in the blogosphere, there is a certain game that goes
on. The goal is to win followers by
being an active (key word right
there…) follower on other blogs. It is a
quid pro quo system and I get that. If
you want fellow bloggers to read your blog and make insightful comment, then
you should read theirs, too.
The issue I run into with this, though, is that it is
terribly time-consuming. I enjoy reading
other peoples’ blogs. (In the past, I’ve
highlighted a handful that I am particularly fond of reading.) And I like being able to make meaningful
comments—above and beyond “nice post”
or “I agree so visit my website
makelotsofmoneydoingabsolutelynothingatallandmeetrichguyslookingtomarryyou.com”—but
that all takes time.
So the purpose of Ducks isn’t making money or gaining
followers (merely for the sake of having a lot of followers). Well, it’s also definitely not “about me.”
I mentioned in a previous post about a young punk commenting
“What, do you write about what you had for breakfast?” Without going back and reading that post
again, I’m sure I made the point that my life, in and of itself, isn’t that
interesting. I think that my thoughts,
observations, and opinions about various issues can be—or I wouldn’t waste time
sharing them—but I am not a superhero or celeb.
I don’t hobnob with power players or shape national policies. Contrary to popular opinion, I’m not Justin Bieber posting under
an alias.
I suppose that I don’t really know what the purpose of Ducks
is. An old friend of mine told me that
she always liked receiving email from me because they always made her think and
laugh. If I can do that for anyone who
reads this, perhaps that is the purpose.
Time for an opinion…
The above, first section of this post is probably sufficient
by itself, but I saw something in the paper this morning that made me go “I don’t
agree with that at all” and felt it was worth sharing.
Mitt Romney, evidently, would like to “ax Amtrak, PBS” if
elected President.
Not sure if I’ve mentioned this here or not, but I fall
somewhere between Republican and Democrat.
I am rather liberal in some regards, but conservative in others. As such, you won’t find me bashing candidates
from either party, as long as I agree with what they have to say.
I don’t agree with his proposed privatization of PBS.
In a very simplistic view, Republicans eschew large
government and Democrats prefer not to see too much power given to large
corporations. Personally, I am vehemently
against large government and large corporations. (Power to the people… says the hippy
blogger.)
The privatization of PBS would put too much (more) power
into the hands of corporations. Whereas
Mr. Romney would be “willing to have Big Bird look at Corn Flakes from time to
time,” I am not in favor of Kellogg’s being able to dictate what happens on the
show.
(Admittedly, I don’t think Kellogg’s would ask for the
Sesame Street crew to start slinging drugs or popping caps in rival gang members’ asses… but I
still consider this to be a slippery slope.)
Corporate America (for the most part) does NOT have the issues of the public at
large in its heart. Their loyalties lie
with the shareholders and, essentially, the chase for as many dollars as
possible… consequences be damned.
The flawed part of this, in my non-economist opinion, is
that they really should. (It is in the best interest of all corporations
to care for the American public—the major consumer base—and promote the general
welfare.) What drives me nuts, speaking
as an anti-big government guy, is that the government is, supposedly, mandated
with having concern for the “general welfare.”
Unfortunately, those whose best interests should be in mind
don’t have the resources (read as “money”) that the fiscal elite do. The government is in the pocket of major
corporations, plain and simple. Are
there lobbyists for “the common man”?
Nope.
Note: Does this make me a cynical idealist? Perhaps, but I see things the way I see
things. .. just like everyone else does.
All I can do is express my position and listen to other sides. If they make a compelling case, I’ll ponder
it all and see if I need to adjust my position.
I am, if nothing else, a fairly open-minded guy.
Yes, the federal government (and most state/local ones, as
well) needs to curb spending. I fully acknowledge this point. But I don’t think giving corporations, which
may or may not be paying enough in taxes (honestly, I really don’t know, but do
hear an awful lot about tax loopholes
for corporations and the wealthy…), influence over “public” television is the
way to go.
The last thing this society needs is documentaries on Propecia
being a wonder drug for everyone and how your life would be so much better if
you took it, or a Masterpiece Theater play featuring the E*TRADE baby helping
diversify your portfolio. (Actually,
that second one would probably be quite humorous,
as those ads are rather genius. But
still…)
Maybe this rambling is coming off as a bunch of socialist
rhetoric, I don’t know. What I do know
is that I have zero trust for Corporate America to have my best interest—or that
of my fellow private citizens—at heart.
For this reason, I disagree with Senor Romney regarding this matter.
Now perhaps I’ll “stick it to The Man” by heading to
Wal-Mart and plundering the blue hair dye section. Power—and blue hair—to the people!
Editor’s note: He’s not going to “stick it’ to anyone via
plunder or pillage. We’ll make sure of
it.
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