Hot Commodity: Jking911 Is A Zeitgeist?

Welcome to Hot Commodity, where members get vocal on everything from politics to entertainment. Check out
Jking911
as he answers our Political questions.

Which political figure throughout history do you admire most and why?
I know many people do not agree with me, but I have always like FDR. He managed to pull Americans out of the depression and was able to get things done to improve the Country. Mr. FDR was the last, and hopefully not the only, President who pushed for social rights. Simply because other Presidents, like Mr. Bush, robbed the accounts for SSI to pay for a pointless war, does not mean that Mr. FDR’s plan was faulty. Mr. FDR constructed a great foundation upon which more could have and should have been constructed.
Unfortunately, that did not happen.

Are gay rights more important than other political issues to you personally?
I think that many homosexuals become so lost in their own political struggles that they become blinded to other issues that are facing the Country. On the other hand, I think that other minority groups are somewhat guilty about this same issue. Too many times people become so focused on themselves that they forget that we are only one part of the world; moreover, if people spent more time on others, rather than themselves, the world would probably be better than it is today.

If you loved everything about a candidate and then found out he or she opposed same-sex marriage, would you still support that person?
This is similar to the last election, and I voted for someone. Mr. Obama and Mr. McCain both did not want homosexual marriage, although it must be conceded that Mr. Obama was fine with civil unions. As the Supreme Court of California stated in the opinion prior to Proposition 8 and its prodigy, civil unions still separate homosexuals from their heterosexual counterparts and the only equal option is same-sex marriage.

With the passing of Proposition 8, and other similar constitutional amendments throughout the states, many candidates abstain or attempt to remain “shady” about their stance because many are in opposition to the idea. Mr. Obama did this exact thing and I doubt that he will change the status quo even if re-elected in 2012. Although, there are some things that candidates should award—if a State in the Country recognizes or accepts same-sex marriage, then the Federal Government should recognize it for tax, immigration, and other such purposes.

No candidate has even recognized the aforementioned issues, and only touched the surface of same-sex marriage. Since I still vote and think voting is important, I simply must look at the other issues and judge accordingly.

If you could ask a political candidate anything, what would it be and to whom?
I have written to Mrs. Hillary Clinton once a question about the recognition of same-sex couples at the Federal Government. I have dated persons not so legal from other countries, and my biggest fear is that I will find an immigrant with whom I want to spend the rest of my life. Even in States, such as Massachusetts, Iowa, and so forth, the Federal Government does not recognize the marriage for immigration purposes. I think that if anyone would have changed this, it would have been Mrs. Hillary Clinton. Indeed, it was not until 1992 and the Clinton administration that homosexuality was not a cause for automatic deportation. So, when will there truly be equal rights even when the states chose to recognize it? “Leaving it to the states,” seems to be the common candidate answer, but that alone does not mean that homosexuals are able to reap other benefits that heterosexuals enjoy.

Whose opinion do you value when deciding how to vote?
I like to think that I am objective. I read articles from all news organizations and from other countries. I also remember the best advice that I ever received: ask from where the money is derived. Kickbacks and support comes from somewhere—mostly interest groups. I imagine that Mrs. Hillary Clinton did not have any health care industries backing her, but I imagine another candidate probably did.
People base their opinion far too often on others when deciding for whom to vote. Instead of a knowledgeable electorate, it is an electorate of blind leadership that knows only a few facts. Perhaps the other person is not a Republican or Democrat, the other person likes same-sex marriage, or other issues that is not truly a complete representation of who that candidate is and what he or she hopes to accomplish.

Who has been your favorite presidential candidate since you've been alive?

Mrs. Hillary Clinton was my favorite presidential candidate.

I think that she would have ameliorated health care in the United States and would have pushed more for civil and social rights. Mrs. Clinton has already ameliorated many things in the State Department, for instance, awarding same-sex couples equal health benefits as their heterosexual counterparts.

Moreover, Mrs. Clinton knew how to work Congress and how to achieve success in Government. Mrs. Clinton is also more of a moderate that could actually reach across the aisle.

What is the biggest problem facing our country right now?
Unemployment, economy, war, and health care—so many from which to chose. I think the biggest of those is health care. Regardless of gender, religion, sexuality, and the like, all humans have a necessity for health care. It is a shame that other western civilizations provide basic health care, if not more, to all people. Yet, the United States is pro-capitalism and as such Americans must suffer the consequences. The rich are able to afford it, the poor get insurance through welfare and social security, and the middle class bears the brunt because they are too rich to get it through the state, but too poor to afford insurance.

Nowadays, with the economy in shambles and only getting worse, more and more people are without healthcare. It is ironic that the land of the free, and the richest country too, cannot provide the same civil and social rights that even México is able to afford her people. Indeed, paying for a war is more important than paying for the people that are dying here at home.
It is a slap in the face.

Do you believe your vote counts?
I believe my vote does count. That could be naivety, but I think that it is only through belief and hope that things can change at all. The caveat is, just because you have belief and hope does not mean things will change. It takes action and know how. When it comes to voting, I know how to vote and I do it. It is only when presidential candidates use those principals to push an empty agenda and demonstrate that without action and know how, that hope and belief is just wasted emotions.

Should a national health care system be created?
Yes. Yes. Yes. I saw on the BBC that, in England, the government paid for a sex change. Here we are, in 2009, and the United States is still debating whether we should help people afford health care. Ironically, these are the same people that are against abortion, pro-capital punishment, and are religious. I think of myself as a Christian, and it is sad to think that there are so many fights over whether we should create a system that would help everyone.

Which is scarier to you and why -- Terrorists, criminals, global warming, the IRS, our own government or something else?
I think our own government is scary. I subscribe to the zeitgeist notions. The US Government enjoys keeping the American public stupid.
In other countries, say France, people read and discuss politics all the time because the French understand that the Government should be accountable to the people and that the people should always retain control. In the United States, Americans would rather watch and vote in American Idol than read a newspaper or think about politics. Indeed, so many guys that I have went out on dates with, could care less about our government. I bet many of them do not even know who the president is.

If you knew you could win, would you be president?
I would be president. I would just be scared that I would be too radical, just like John F. Kennedy, and end up assassinated. I would come in strong and end some of these games that politicians have been playing just so that they could retain power and keep American blind to the truth.

What political party do you most associate yourself with?
I am a Democrat, but, that is really just in name only. I think the Democrats are more of a catch-all party and I do not agree with that.

I once wrote to the Democratic party to complain about their mission statement.
Their mission statement was basically, to oppose Mr. George Bush. That is not a mission statement, that is an opposition party that is feeding off of hate.

Just like a gay man, I want a party with substance, not afraid to state opinions and back them, and a party that is truly representative of who I am.
The bicameral system that Americans have now, simply stated, sucks.

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