Socialism ... You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

So, it's a political season and Bernie Sanders, our fun loving independent Senator from Vermont has been calling himself a Democratic Socialist.  Many on the right have said we are descending into socialism.  Some even equate the Nazi party to the concept of socialism, which is akin to saying; 'Mormons are Christians, therefore all Christians are Mormon.'

So, here's the definition:  Socialism is a political ideology and movement which has proposed a set of social and economic measures, policies and systems characterized by social ownership and democratic control of the means of production.

Our Democracy has socialistic elements.  Our infrastructure and defense structure are a form of socialism.  Our civil service works for the people.  Get over the word.  It's not  evil.  It's baked into our democratic process.  We are not ever going to become a communistic state nor are we (unless we elect Trump) going to become a fascist state.

Our choices on the Democratic side are a Centrist hawk who used to support Barry Goldwater and an independent Senator with more of a labor focus.  The Republican side has Trump, who will probably be the party's nominee.  He's a self-serving nut job who plays to the lowest common denominator in the Republican party.  They also have some decent candidates in Bush, Kasich, and Rubio, but all of them are fairly conservative, but not a wild card like Trump.

The bottom line though is that even in the right wing of the Republican party, there are socialistic elements.  There is a need and role for government, or social programs that the state must manage.  People need to get off of the term socialism and focus on the issues.  Stupid slogans and demagoguery do nothing but whip up the base and speak to the unintelligent.

So my wish for the new year is a reasoned debate on real issues.  Pfft... I can dream.

Reflections of an Aging Hipster

So, I’m 54 years old.  I know it doesn’t seem like I’m that old.  At least it doesn’t to me.  I mean, for the most part, I dress in black t-shirts and shorts, listen to music that is too loud, and post on Facebook too much.  But, I am 54 and prone to bouts of reflection.  That is why this blog entry is about that; reflection on being beyond mid-life and moving forward with a positive attitude.

I’ve always been an optimist.  I try to see the good in what lies ahead of me.  I realize that there are negative forces out there, but I can’t see the need to expend energy to dwell on them (other than to understand the source and avoid the trap).  I think that there can be beauty in everything, but then again some would say that I’m overly sentimental.

I was listening to a song on a new album I just purchased (linked here) and it covers the age old idea of building a time machine and going back in your past to change your future.  This is an interesting thought exercise and believe me, when time machine technology becomes available, I’m running back to a couple of places to make sure that I sufficiently mess up my future.

What?  If you go back to more than one point in your past, won’t only the furthest point have any lasting effect?  Possibly, but I like to think of time as a bowl of spaghetti, rather than a single ribbon.  There are so many points in my past where decisions pushed me one way, when multiple other ways were available.  Do those other paths exist in alternate realities?  I would love to think so.  I would also love to think that all of those paths tend to lead in the same general direction; a path toward happiness.

So, going back, I might realize that what I perceived as ignorance and poor self-image was just fear.  I might have spoken more to that amazing individual I met at a party in the early 90s.  I might have realized that some of the people I lost contact with were really people that I needed in my life all along.  I might have been able to influence my parents decisions on various issues (primarily seeing the value in mutual funds, but I digress).  All of these trips to the past would create a slightly different future, but in the end, would I be in a fundamentally different place?  I hope not.

Things seem to work out if you let them.  The important people in your life end up being there.  At least that’s how I see it.  I’m 54 years old, but I think young.  I have old man ailments.  I’m overweight, and I could get down on myself and let the poor self-image of the past overwhelm me.  But, I have hope.  I know that the future will be positive.  I know that the people in my life that I call friend are wonderful and important to me.  I believe that in that variety of futures in this multiverse, those same friends will influence my life.

So, what does this all mean?  It means that as I reflect, I feel happy and positive.  I hope my family and friends know how much I value and love them.  Bah, call this the ramblings of a middle aged hipster and just leave me be on this end of summer morning.  I’ll soon be back to inappropriate jokes, music videos that harken back too much to the 70s, and posting on Facebook like a 20-something girl.

Top 10 Anticipated Movies of 2015

2015 promises to be a good year for movies, and if you page through this blog, you will gather that I do enjoy a movie now and then.  So, without further ado, here are my top picks for most anticipated movies of 2015...

#10 - Jurassic World:  This franchise is somewhat old and tired, but with Chris Pratt coming off that great performance in Guardians, I'm intrigued.

#9 - Ant Man:  Marvel has a great track record.  That plus Paul Rudd and Michael Douglas seems a good fit.  I'm in after seeing the trailer.

#8 - Inside Out:  It's a Pixar movie... nuff said.

#7 - The Kingsmen:  Okay this hits for me on a lot of levels.  It has Samuel L. Jackson as a bad guy.  I'm in.

#6 - Tommorowland:  Combine Disney, George Clooney, and what looks like an interesting sci-fi story and I'm in.

#5 - Jupiter Ascending - Brought to you by the folks who brought you the Matrix.  It looks really pretty.  I wonder at what point Sean Bean dies in this movie.

#4 - James Bond ‘Specter”:  I'm a sucker for a good (and even not so good) Bond movies, and this one sounds like it could bring us full circle back to the Connery Bond.

#3 - Avengers: Age of Ultron:  In a year where a new Joss Wheedon Avengers movie comes out and it's only #3 on my most anticipated, shows a potentially great year at the movies.

#2 - Mad Max: Fury Road: This trailer looks awesome in so many ways.  I was caught off guard when I saw it, but I'm totally looking forward to this movie.

#1 - Star Wars: The Force Awakens: It's kind of anti-climatic that this is #1 on the list.  It's almost a forgone conclusion and easily dismissed.  Also, you have to wait until December for release, but I LOVED the trailer and am really looking forward to this movie.

So, what do you think?  2015 looks like a good year.  Mad Max seems a big surprise to me.  I'm really looking forward to that movie.