Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

As stated in the United States Declaration of Independence, there are three rights that are referred to as unalienable, yet many who reside in this country don’t experience the benefits of these rights. The right to pursue life, liberty, and happiness often are pushed to the background, in favor of lobbyists who have their own interests in mind, rather than the individuals whose lives are affected by the choices that are made behind closed doors, often with money changing hands. In effect, this is blood money, particularly in regards to the National Rifle Association, or NRA, which is one of the most influential lobbyists. The NRA spends a tremendous amount of money in order to defend the right for citizens to own weapons of mass destruction, while also working to reduce gun regulations, even when it comes to assault weapons. I don’t think that the Founding Fathers had this level of carnage-capable weapons in mind when they drafted the Amendments. According to recent figures, the NRA spends over $3.3 million annually trying to stop gun regulations, even when most of the registered gun owners in the United States support the use of expanded background checks and other proposed measures. 

Life: The opposite of death

How are people supposed to pursue life when there are bigwigs who are trying desperately to prevent this very thing from happening? People are dying due to the use of guns instead of common sense or effective conflict resolution skills. Sarah Winchester recognized the destruction of lives that were attributed to the Winchester rifle, going to the lengths of constantly building on the house in San Jose, CA in order to appease the spirits of those who died by the very thing that was named after her family. Why is it that she could recognize the death and destruction that is caused by the weapons that bear her namesake, but our current society appears to be blind to the issue? More accurately, the politicians, specifically the Republican party, prefer to have people armed to the gills, while also taking away or reducing access to mental and physical health care.

            Now, this isn’t a post against the Republicans or NRA per se, but more of a way to bring to light the “unalienable rights” that have been squashed by the power of the almighty dollar. When it comes to the pursuit of life, access to health care seems to be a no-brainer, but sadly, even with the recent introduction of the Affordable Care Act, many in this country lack access to sufficient or adequate care. While the rich are able to access any type of healthcare they may want or require, it is the poor who pay the price for the decisions made by those in power. As of February 2016, the Republicans have voted 63 times to limit access to health care services. Sixty three times. Although the Republicans have opposed this plan 63 times, they have yet to bring an alternative plan to the table. The changes wouldn’t affect them, but rather the millions of families that would lose any access they may currently have to the services that help them to sustain life. So, there goes the right to pursue life.

Liberty: Freedom from arbitrary or despotic government or control

            Gee, does that sound familiar? In politics, this pertains to both the social and political freedoms that citizens of the United States hold. However, in light of the current political system, it doesn’t appear that this right is achievable. Our current presumptive nominees for the role of the President consist of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, even when other candidates have received higher voter turnouts. Why is it that the “superdelegates” play any type of role in our political system? What ever happened to every vote counting? Our political system appears to be more of a popularity contest, with the one with the most name recognition, winning, despite any of their views, history, or plans for the country.

            Now to the arbitrary government or control aspect...long ago, it was written that there is to be a separation between church and state, but it appears that too has been crossed out in many of the playbooks that our elected officials use to make decisions that affect the citizens who pay their salaries. Many states have placed the lives of those who they are supposed to represent at risk due to the rulings that have been made, often with quotes from the Bible intertwined with the legal standing. This can be seen in the fight against the right to access comprehensive medical care for women, protection for the LBGTQII community, and even legalizing the right for a business to refuse service or insurance coverage if they don’t agree with what’s at hand. There is not a war against Christianity, far from it. There is a war against equality.

Happiness: A mental or emotional state of well-being, defined by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy.

            Now, here is where I will put my psychologist hat on. According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, there are a few basic human needs that need to be met in order to obtain maximum psychological health and pursue happiness. These include physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem, and then the ability to self-actualize. Under the physiological needs, you will find food, water, and sleep. Now, let’s look at our current society. Are these needs being met? The answer is no, they are not, and they are not being met for millions of people residing in one of the richest countries in the world. How are we supposed to pursue happiness if we don’t know where our next meal is coming from or if we are going to have a safe place to sleep at night? How about clean water? One just has to look at the events that have taken place in Flint, Michigan, where in order to save a few bucks, the safety of the water and health of the residents were sent into jeopardy without their knowledge. Even more states have been affected by lead-tainted water, with some suggesting that approximately 20% of the water systems in the country have lead levels that trigger the alarm for a call to action.

            Okay, let’s move to safety, which is the second tier of the hierarchy of needs and is considered to be a basic need. This group includes the security of body, employment, resources, family, health, and property. Again, this basic need and requirement to strive or pursue happiness is not being met for millions of people who live in the United States. Rape, violence, outsourcing of jobs, splitting families up due to some biblical passage that is misconstrued in order to fit the needs of the conservatives, the blocking of access to medical care by the Republican party, and the overpriced housing market...this is just a small number of examples that support the idea that the safety aspect of the steps to pursue happiness are road blocked and inaccessible to millions of people.

            In conclusion, there appears to be a great divide between the haves and the have-nots, with the rift growing larger by the day. If these unalienable rights are supposed to be applicable to all, why are just the elites able to ensure that they have all of their needs met, while millions of people watch from afar, unable to have access to the same quality of life? I don’t pretend to have all of the answers, but I do think that instead of making the divide greater in our society, perhaps we need to build a bridge, instead of a wall. We need more peace, love, unity, and respect, not more wars, carnage, and hate. That’s just my 2¢ though. If you have any other suggestions, feel free to comment.

Not a Willy Nilly Girl

I am not, nor from what I can recall having ever been, a willy-nilly sort of a person. Research is my friend and I try to gather as much information as I can before making any large (and sometimes small) decisions. It can be purchases such as when I bought my previous car, I examined the fuel efficiency, the cost of estimated maintenance, durability, resale value, and which features I wanted and which dealership carried what I wanted. I also research before buying televisions, booking hotels (price comparisons and reviews on various sites), and even the very Chromebook model that I am currently writing this blog post on...basically, I research EVERYTHING. Heck, it makes sense that it is part of my job too, since I actually enjoy it. I also researched the best environmentally friendly homemade laundry detergent since we use the gray water from the washing machine to water a section of our backyard. I even researched the best homemade dog treats (which I now do once a week instead of store bought since the dogs had some unpleasant reactions after they had some Milkbones the last time.

            So, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that I also do my research when it comes to moving and living in various states. Fortunately, the nature of my military background required me to live along the coast, and as a San Francisco Bay Area native, that never bothered me one iota. Sure, I have been stationed in some places that I was not too fond of for one reason or another (basically anywhere on the East Coast...sorry, just not my preference), but I was able to make do, knowing that I wouldn’t be there forever. I have lived up and down both the East and West Coasts, and traveled to close to two dozen foreign countries. None of that prepared me for where I am currently living though.

            While I conduct background research on 99% of the choices I make, I moved to Texas to follow my heart. Good thing he’s worth it, because I am not fond of this state. When filling out my “dream sheet” (basically requesting where I want to be stationed based on the openings and my rate/rank), I researched the areas where the billets were located. I know what I like and what’s important for me to feel comfortable. None of those things are located here in Texas (or at least not in the area where I live). Some of the things that I like to know about a place to help me in making decisions on where to live include:

●       Temperature

●       Outdoor activities

●       Political atmosphere

●       Eco-consciousness

●       Cost of living

See, I don’t think that is too much to consider when thinking about where to live. All of those things are important to me and can help me to thrive if given the right conditions. For temperatures, growing up in NorCal, it was rare when it hit 100 degrees, and when it started to get warm, say around 80 degrees, at least there was a cool breeze coming in from the San Francisco Bay and you knew that Mother Nature’s air conditioning (a nice thick layer of fog) would roll in. Here in Texas, a few days before summer “officially” began, we had already experienced a week of 90+ degree temperatures and broke the triple digit barrier. This week we are expected to be over 100 degrees for a few days at least, which makes me not so happy. You see, the heat makes me irritable. Sure, you think it makes you irritable, but it’s a little more intense for me, as it gives me both headaches and stomach aches. My eyes are photophobic, so the glaring sun doesn’t help much and my ethnic background is basically all of the pale cultures that you can think of...which makes me Casper the Friendly Ghost white and I burn very easily. I also don’t like the feel of the heat from the sun on my skin...so Texas is splendid for me. Can you feel the sarcasm as it drenches you, akin to the beads of sweat that form on your brow, the drops that trickle down your back, ending their journey in your butt crack?

            This brings me to the outdoor part. I lived in Oregon before I moved to Texas, and at least once a week, the dogs and I would go hiking in the forest and nature preserves (Oregon is kind of known for their trees). It was both a good workout (I would wear a weight vest, usually adding an extra 20-30 pounds for our 5-6 mile hikes). During the summer or warmer days, we just went a little earlier in the day, beating the sun and then making it home to sit in front of a fan or open up the windows for a breeze. Nature is and has been a large part of my life. Sure, nature is everywhere, even here, but it’s not the kind of nature I enjoy. I nearly cried the other day because of the fact that I miss trees. Not just the trees themselves, but missed what they represented. You see, I work as a freelance writer and am a full-time graduate student, which means I work from home, on my own schedule. I enjoy the freedom my work allows and I used to use that flexibility in my day to do things that would recharge my mind, such as hiking in the woods with the dogs. I have built my reputation in the writing world and have worked up the ranks to a point where I can earn close to what I used to make as a direct care provider, without clients physically assaulting me or making credible death threats. I now have a little more spare time, since I am making more per page. In the past, such an increase would allow me to spend more time outside, however, here in Texas, I despise the idea of going outside in the heat. Also, there are no forests to wander around and get lost as I recharge. The closest hiking trail to where we live is a sand dune. I kid you not. A. Sand. Dune. That just doesn’t cut it for me. There are a few trees here and there, but NOTHING like what I am used to, nor prefer.

            Okay, now let’s talk about politics. They say polite people don’t talk about death nor politics...but who's to say I’m polite? Back to my roots...I grew up in a liberal family, where differences were accepted and most of my family are registered democrats. Also, the Bay Area is a rather liberal location too, which I am very fortunate to have experienced. I have brought that with me wherever I have lived, as it is part of who I am; like the saying goes…”You can take the girl out of California, but you can’t get rid of the hippie.” Well, maybe I made that up...but regardless, it’s fairly accurate. I have found myself thrust into a land, akin to the Twilight Zone mixed with a zoo. I was aware that places like this existed, but I had never experienced it for myself. I hear that other places in the state are more progressive and liberal, but that is not the case where we live. I am used to being the outcast and outlier of society; this is a bit more extreme. I have found myself living among staunch gun-toting, liberal hating, proud to be oilfield trash republicans who have little tolerance for people who may think differently. I have been told that I don’t belong here since I am not a fan of guns in restaurants and because I don’t think that prayers belong in a public school. I try to understand the thought processes of others, but I just go mad when I try to apply logic to the residents in this area.

            So...yeah. I am planning my escape from this hell hole that is West Texas. We should be sprung from here in less than two years and I am already planning on where we need to move that can tick all of my boxes and allow us to be a happy couple. I feel bad that I am crabby at times due to my location, as that is not entirely his fault (aside from the fact that he grew up in the state). I know what it takes to recharge my mind and body...and Texas just doesn’t have it. So residents of Washington...I may be coming for you soon. Watch out and get out of my way...I think there are trees I need to hug.