THE Best Stage yet...

The Tour of California, what a magnificent race. First, it's in CA and we all know its the best state to be in, so right away we know a race w/ CA in the name is destined to be great. I've been watching the race. Slowly, each day, I learn a bit more about the riders and the way guys dressed in spandex battle each other both psycholgically and physically, very interesting stuff.

So today was a stage from the Ventura to Santa Clarita, A good amount of climbing towards the beginning of this 105 mile race then a long gradual ascent into Santa Clarita where 3 laps were done on a 3.5 mile course, then the finish line.

A breakaway started near the beginning and these 6-7 riders held off the Peloton forever! I thought they had it, but then they got caught by the pack and a new breakaway started just miles from the finish. This one got caught too and it came to the final sprint, there were the ones who went too soon and broke down and the one who won.

The rider who won had been in an accident just miles earlier...w/ 3-4 Rock Racing guys.

Now to Rock Racing...many of you have no idea about them, but for particular reasons, they have become the underdog which I am rooting for, so any sign of any of there members taking a stage win....I'm at the edge of my seat. (Today Rock Racing even called my shop looking for some stuff for after their race on Sunday, I was gitty like a schoolgirl talking to them)

Anyways, where am I going with this? I don't know, I never do! I think I'm trying to somehow put into words the emotion, the passion, the motivation, I get from this sports discipline which I have yet to truly understand, but I am so intrigued.

Just watching the race, I am frantically picking who I'm pulling for as the race dynamics change, how I want so bad for those six riders to stay away from the pack but when they get caught and have no chance, I quickly have to pick a new underdog to root for, then everything changes again....and I see my beloved Rock Racing Team all picking up there bikes which are broken from a crash and I feel so dissapointed. Then all of a sudden I see Cippolini (of Rock Racing) coming at the last sprint after the wreckage and I'm ready to scream if he wins, but he doesn't quite make it and the EMOTIONS ARE AMAZING!!

Anyways...I cant wait for tomorrow, last day of the race, it ends just two miles from work (hopefully I can take a long lunch and see it) and Rock is coming to my shop! I love it!

Are you Liberal?

You know to be honest with everyone, I am Liberal...its scary to say that...and it can be misconstrued. The ideas of the Democratic party do not intrigue me at all, but the philosophy behind it, well, yes. I guess living in CA for so long, I'm bound to have an overwhelming influence from the left. Its kind of like Marxism I guess. In a perfect world, its a grand idea. But, correct me if I'm wrong, we all live in reality...at least most of us, and the reality is, it just doesn't work.
So, for what I want...I dream of a day when no one has to worry about getting the proper healthcare they need, a time where getting old is ok and seniors get everything they need, a place where there are no factories polluting the air, adding to Global warming. A country who can give higher education to all at no cost, and a world that has no dissputes, and thus, no need for military. Problem is, I live in reality. The time is now and what we have to deal with is now.
All these things would be wonderful, but as I tried so hard to portray to Wabo last week on his ridiculous health care philosophy, THINGS ARE NOT THAT SIMPLE! The idea was that everyone pays a tax for healthcare, and everyone gets covered. Sounds pretty simple, right? Well, it's not.
The problem arises when people think that it only takes one solution at a time. Unfortunatley, everything revolves around something else. So, with the universal healthcare proposal from Wabo, sounds great, but couldn't work. All of a sudden , people who get Healthcare from their employer, all of a sudden don't. Why would a company spend money on health care if the government gives it for free? If I were a CEO, I sure wouldn't. Now, with everyone having free health care, the doctors offices become flooded w/ people who got a paper cut, or bruised their knee. Miniscule inflictions, but hey, the government is paying for me, I might as well go. So eventually the act of seeing a doctor becomes even harder than it is now. Just look at the Emergency room, although I don't have the exact statistics, if you now go to the one place where people aren't turned around...you are waiting a long time!
Alright, say you don't mind waiting for a doctor as long as everyone can see one...cool. But remember, w/ this added tax, people have less money, therefore they are not spending as much and businesses are making less and then they start charging more...its a downward spiral.
I'm going to cut this much shorter than I really want cuz I have a test in the morning, but just remember this. People are like that mouse in the book I loved growing up..."if you give a mouse a cookie, he'll want a glass of milk" The more government providing handouts to people, the more the recievers will want. The more taxes we'll all pay for these free loaders, a larger deficit will be created, and the ambition of Americans, which enables us to be great, will be underminded.
We all care about others and don't want anyone to get the short end of the stick, but what do we really want to promote? A society where no matter what you do, you'll have others taking care of you, or a society where people are striving to better themselves and essentially continuing what has made our counrty great?

Say no to CraCain, no to Hil and Bama...yes to Romney, the one man who is actually smart enough to give everyone in this country (dem or rep) what they want.