Scary Water and Politics

Evidently Mexico is not the only place with water that you shouldn't drink. Or swim in. Or possibly be in the same zip code as.

Three people have died from a brain eating amoeba in the water.

What the . . . ?

This little brainless organism was discovered in the 60's, and it doesn't kill everyone it comes into contact with. Picky little buggers. But it seems that 3 or 4 people die each year from this single-celled organism as it climbs up their noses and eats their brains. One kid died after being dunked in the water at a fishing camp. Another after just swimming. And the last guy from using tap water for his "neti pot". The CDC found that it was just his house that was contaminated, not the general supply and suggests that only distilled or boiled water be used for "neti pots".

Moral of the story?

Plug your nose.

Know what else is scary? Brain eating Politicians. Now, normally I don't talk politics. One, because it's typically not discussed in my family, because in some cases, it's polar opposite views. Two, I'm pretty much of the "middle of the road" mentality. Three, all politicians lie to varying degrees. Four, it's getting worse - like to the point I'm ready to claim I'm Canadian. And five, it's just a really big can of worms, because it opens up all kinds of worm cans.

Politicians have always seem more full of hot air than the average person. However, the new crop of politicians for our Presidential 2012 race is scaring the heebie-jeebies out of me. The Republican front-runners, to me, come off as more Evangelists than politicians. And that kind of combination has me shaking in my Skechers.

Now, this where all the other worm cans get opened. Anymore, politics isn't just "politics". It's religion. I'm not sure how religion became such a huge part. Maybe it's always been there and I've just been completely blind. That's entirely possible. But this Presidential race seems worse than just four years ago. I myself am not very religious. I have never attended church, and it actually just doesn't appeal to me all that much. I do have decent moral compass and try to be a good person and citizen. I recycle my bottles and my cans. I don't make fun of people with disabilities. I volunteer when I can. I don't believe in cheating on a significant other. And I try not to hold other people's decisions or beliefs against them; I try to keep an open mind.

But this . . . this I don't get. I recently read this about Michele Gagman Bachmann:

“She’s a perfect product of the religious right…” In detailing Bachmann’s biblical world view that stemmed from Francis Schaeffer, “All reality is determined by theological starting point, and so basically every single aspect of public life, science, history, economics, everything is determined by your religious beliefs and only those with the correct religious beliefs can correctly perceive any sort of reality, and it’s a way in which you can dismiss huge swaths of history, evolution, you can basically say that anything that doesn’t fit with your ideology is the product of mistaken theological premise.” source

Call me crazy, but I'm not sure I understand. I understand religion plays a huge role in a lot of people's lives, but I'm not sure even the Pope is so extreme. What really confuses me is this:

" . . . everything is determined by your religious beliefs and only those with the correct religious beliefs can correctly perceive any sort of reality . . . "

Yeah. I don't get that. Just stick a dunce cap on me and stick me in a corner. Religion is one thing. Extreme is another. I'm not really sure I want someone who thinks that way to lead my country. Actually, I'm damn sure. Religion isn't really going to help get our country back on track, it will only divide the masses further. What the candidates should really worry about is the economy, jobs, the country's credit rating and debts.

God didn't have a hand that mess. Man did. So man needs to fix it.

So, if the world ends in 2012 as the Mayan calendar suggests, do we get to blame the world leaders (at the time) for that? Or an ancient civilization?

According to a recent poll, 35% of those who support Michele Bachmann thought the rapture was coming on May 21.

Yeah. That is scary.

Hmmm. Politicians or brain-eating amoebas?

Anyone got a coin to flip?