“The Fine Print”, by Michael Schrader

MRS. CLINTON IS RIGHT

(Written 04 March 1998. Published in the Neighborhood Journal. Posted 23 June 2009.)

I am frequently asked how I come up with the topics for this column. There are two ways that I come with topics. The first is the "ticked-off" method. In other words, I write about whatever I am ticked off about at the time. This method supplies the vast majority of my column topics.

You might ask, "What do you do when you're not ticked off?" When I am not ticked off about anything in particular, I choose to write about politico-philosophical issues, my second method of determining column topics. When the two conflict, the first method reigns supreme.

This is exactly what happened with this week's column. Not having been particular ticked off about anything, I defaulted to method two. However, an issue arose since penning the column that has ticked me off. (Amazing the difference a couple of hours can make!) Thus, I am preempting this week’s already written column. As the networks say, it will be shown at a later date to be determined at a later date.

What has ticked me off? The right-wing conspiracy. Yes, there is one, and it will stop at nothing to rip away our liberties and freedom and dictate to us exactly how we should live. Sounds rather Stalinist, doesn't it? That is why it is so scary.

As I have listened to the right-wing reactionaries in the media the past few weeks, I have found myself drifting to the left. Much of this drift is due to my revulsion at the grand schemes of the right-wing conspiracy.

The latest attack by the right is an assault on the right of women to have a life. Not long ago, Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticut made a comment about the luxury of some Moms being able to stay at home. Since then, Senator Dodd and working women in general have been crucified as the roots of all evils in the world.

The right-wing argues that stay-at-home Moms should be the rule not the exception, that staying at home is necessary for the preservation of society and the family, and that working Moms are somehow neglecting their children. I take great offense at these remarks; my wife is not a stay-at-home Mom, and I don't expect her to be. Motherhood does not mean that she should have to give up her life, just as fatherhood does not mean that I have to give up my life. I have grown sick and tired of those who look down upon me and my wife because she does not stay at home with the girls, and who somehow think that they are morally superior because they have chosen to be stay-at-home parents. I do not consider myself or my wife to be bad parents; we have good, moral children.

The argument used by the right-wing conspiracy is that if all those liberal women would accept virtual slavery by completely subjugating themselves to their husbands and children, the next generation would not be as screwed up as we perceive it to be. I'm afraid that, in reality, this will not be the case. The worst juvenile delinquents I knew when I was a kid all had stay-at-home Moms. How can this be?

Simple. They were spoiled rotten. Their parents decided that the best way to make Johnny a good boy was to bribe him. "If you don't get into trouble this semester, Johnny, we will buy you a brand new car."

I have been talking recently about the deplorable state of education recently. Let it be known, that I do not believe it to be the fault of the teachers. I have been a teacher, and I know the insurmountable obstacles they must overcome. No, the fault is with the parents. I find it absolutely inexcusable that students in high school are driving brand new cars, while many of us working stiffs are driving in old junkers being held together by bubble gum. Kids will never appreciate what they have if it is given to them. It comes to be expected. (Sounds eerily similar to the welfare state, doesn't it?) No, the only way the next generation will learn to appreciate the blessings life has given them is to earn it. Life is not easy, and we must teach this to our youth at the earliest possible age. Only when some kind of appreciation and work ethic is embraced by all generations will we begin to see an improvement in our societal ills.

Of course, those who are benefiting the most from society's ills are trying to stop this improvement. They are called the right-wing conspiracy. Are you going to let them stop you?

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