Mike's Blog

This is my monologue called, “Look What Mike Stepped In” from my weekly podcast called, “Look What I Stepped In!”

Episode #4

This week, I want to talk about “FEAR.” The definition, taken from dictionary.com is:

a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.

We live in a world that loves leveraging fear to control people. Most media outlets use it, because it seems to hold peoples attention long enough, so they can show you more advertisements. Schools use it, to improve performance and attendance. Corporations uses it, to make sure their employees show up to work on schedule, or you’re fired. And… Let us not forget, most religious organizations, because this tax exemption status is just too good to let go. Especially, for the hundreds of crooked people, who have decided to get their “ordained minister” certificate online, all in an effort to establish a legal tax shelter.

I hate “FEAR!” I simply don’t subscribe to it.

Fear comes in all shapes and sizes. Tonight, Conor talked about Ted Nugent. Ted is a radical right winger, who uses aggressive commentary to get attention, which all stems from a lack of confidence. Fear…is at the base of his personal conflicts. I find it sad, that someone, who has had such success in life, could be so unhappy or unwilling to discover a positive solution that works for everyone. The negativity and his behavior simply blows my mind and makes me concerned that he speaks to a base of Americans that would be willing to follow him into the darkness.

The doomsday preppers are another group of fear minded people, that I find simply amazing. Now, don’t get me wrong, I live in earthquake country. I have a “bug-out bag” as the doomsday folks like to call it. I like to refer to it as simply: my “emergency survival backpack.” Not because, I believe the earth is going to swallow everyone but me. But rather, I would like to have a change of clothes, a flashlight, first aid kit and some other survival items, just in case I can’t get back into my fucking apartment. That’s just the Boy Scout in me. I call it smart.

That being said, I have no interest in spending hundreds of thousands, sometimes even millions of dollars, like some of these doomsday preppers. They go to some pretty great lengths to build shelters underground as well as acquiring a shit load of water, canned and dry food as well as flash-frozen meals ready to eat. I have some bad news doomsday preppers, when that day comes…you know, the day you’ve spent your children college money on, you’re not going to make it to your shelter. Basically, you’ve tried too hard. It never works out for the people who try to hard. They are always first to die.

So, put that in your doomsday prepping peace pipe and smoke it.

We’re coming up on a very important Presidential election. My prediction is President Obama will win a second term and guess what? It’s not going to be the end of the world.

I’m not sure why the Right fears another 4 more years of progressive change that benefits the middle class. There are a lot of individuals, who believe in the principles of the Right and who often seem to be in the lower income tax bracket, convinced that the Federal government is taking all of their money. When in reality, it most likely your state, that is “sales taxing” you to death. Is it so hard to try and work toward the middle? Or, do you like collecting government aid and assistance, while blaming the government for everything. Is that just your thing? How’s that working out for you?

Life would look a lot better for all fear mongers, if we learned the importance of constant education. All in an effort to be able to jump into emerging new jobs, where companies leverage changes in technology to get things done. Instead of living in the past, hoping God will bring back the old assembly line jobs, of which an industry thought the job would be better suited for a fucking robot.

People, let shut the blame game down and move onto some more metropolitan thinking, because that will lead us to salvation. Then maybe, just maybe… You’ll be so busy thinking of solutions and being positive and dare we say less racist, that we may just find a cure for your Fear.

This is my monologue called, “Look What Mike Stepped In” from my weekly podcast called, “Look What I Stepped In!”

Episode #3

This week, I want to talk about…America’s Bill of Rights, more specifically, the 2nd Amendment. It states “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”

Or, to put it even simpler, if you’re an American and you do not have a felony, then you can have a gun.

Now, I have a lot of feelings on this subject to say the least, but I have a time limit for this segment. So, I’ll try to make this quick.

The real question I have is, “Does everyone really deserve the right to own and operate a firearm?” I’d say no!

Now, first of all, I have to say, I enjoy guns for sport. As a kid, I used to love going hunting and fishing. It was a lot of fun, and it’s a real skill to be a good marksman.

That being said, not everyone is good at hunting. I got to tell you, there are some pretty piss poor shooters out there. Former Vice President, Dick Cheney frequently comes to mind. Just ask the guy he shot in the face, that one year while Duck hunting.

And, there really isn’t anything worse than the guy that shoots twice at the what he thought was a deer, but turns out is actually a 12 year-old, decaying tree stump. Making absolutely sure, there will be no chance of finding a living thing for the next 10 miles radius.

Unfortunately, guns aren’t just used for hunting.

They’re more commonly used for suicide and other crimes, like strong arm robberies and murder. My favorite use of the gun, is when you use it, when you’re fearing for your life. Because, you’re in the best frame of mind, when you’re scared. I guess, once you’re done pissing on yourself, the next best thing is to pick up your loaded gun and shoot it.

Police Officers, who aren’t perfect, but at least they’re required to practice on a regular basis. I mean, that pretty much all they do. They train and then apply that training to real life scenarios. They put their lives on the line and are equipped with techniques that allow them to defuse situations hopefully without violence.

Gun owners are not required to do anything outside of a few required classes, where you attempt to learn the ethical and legal requirements for owning and operating a firearm as well as safe gun control. Then they leave it to you to learn how to handle the weapon of your choice, which can be anything from a .22 caliber pistol to a .50 caliber Desert Eagle, which is basically a rifle the size of a handgun. It packs a punch to say the least.

To master the gun, you must practice and I mean a lot. At least as much as we practice driving, you know, America’s second best killing device. Think about how much is required just to get behind the wheel.

I think you should be required on a regular basis to prove your sanity, competence and eyesight and that you have the ability to wield a gun with safety and extraordinary accuracy.

And, most importantly, that you have an attitude that is not driven by shoot to kill, but rather shoot after you’ve tried removing yourself from the dangerous situation that had you fearing for your life in the first place.