I’d Make a Great Socialist if I Wasn’t Such a Brat: Part One

The other day, my four youngest were all kind of flopping around staring into their technology like sweaty summer sloths so I challenged them to find the presidential candidate that they liked the best and write down at least three reasons why they would vote for that person.

Their first question was “Is this for your blog?” A couple of them were frowning.

Weird.

“It might be I’m not sure. It’s just that since the GOP debate I am wondering what your thoughts are, so just be completely honest. There are a lot of candidates from multiple parties. so do your research. Just don’t pick Hillary Clinton. Bahahaha.”

At first they were all chatty and smack talkish. But then there was this delightful pause while they used their iPods, iPhones, iPads for research. Life has changed so much with technology and it can be quite fantastic when it is put to thoughtful use.  I could just feel their witty wheels turning.

My children have a lot of things to say about a lot of things. One evening we were sitting around the pool, our feet dangling in the cooling water and the conversation went from what an existential crisis was to Irish slavery to an asteroid scheduled to hit the earth in 2029 to the idea of Hillary Clinton being elected president to how many water bugs might be in the pool to should we save the bee floating toward the filter to the question ‘is all life valuable?’ and so on. Until someone splashed someone and then intelligent conversation turned into screeching and more splashing and then water got in my wine so I left. Mostly because my brain hurt and I needed to go google a few things.

I am always torn between delight and pissed-offed-ness when my children prove to be smarter than me.

But I like to think I am wiser.

I like to let them tell. And then ask questions.

So I am at LEAST more annoying than they are. Mitchel may have been wrongly accused as being the biggest “ask-hole” in the family.

Now. It was requested that I put “in verbatim” what my children wrote down about their choice for president. And so I have done this.  But I did not say that I would not comment on their words. Or make them dig deeper. SO there will be a part two to this blog when they have answered my questions. Or commented to my comments. There are no rules except that a thought out response is required.

Or else they won’t get dinner.

Dinner that their dad cooks. Just to clarify that it would be punishment.

I’m sorry my beautiful smart children. Your mother is a socialist-want-to-be who loves a good chat. And you are each up to the challenge of a brat. That rhymes!

Daniel (14) was finished first. He likes to be the fastest. His choice was Ted Cruz for the following reasons:

1. educated from Harvard and Princeton
2. former advisor of Domestic Policy to former President George Bush
3. US Senator from Texas
4. Against Planned Parenthood
5. Appointed to four Senate committees
6. His middle name is Rafael Edward, that’s cool
7. He’s really funny in the debates
8. Lastly he was born on December 22nd, three days before Jesus, that’s cool

Daniel:

• How does an education at Harvard and Princeton make one better qualified to be president? Were you hoping to go to Harvard and Princeton? Crap. You better start mowing some lawns.
• Which George Bush was he an advisor to?
• What things was he “for” when it came to domestic policy? What IS domestic policy?
• In what ways is he against planned parenthood?
• Are you saying we should have given you a cooler middle name than Arthur?
• I agree that one would need a sense of humor to be president. You might stand a chance even WITH a boring middle name. But you COULD change your name to Daniel Jesus Siwinski. That would be cool.  But I think you have to wait until you are 18.

David (12) was next to finish. His choice was Jeb Bush. He wrote only the required three reasons and with briefness because I am pretty sure he wanted to get back to some important game he was playing on his iPod. And that’s okay. He’s twelve. I think. David: are you twelve?

1. Instead of dividing the country he wants to unite it
2. Let businesses express religious freedom against gays
3. I like the other Bush Presidents

David:

• Do you think our country is divided? How so? What ways would Jeb Bush fix this?
• Do you think our family is divided, considering the fact that we disagree about something every four minutes?  If so, what are some ways you would unite our family?
• How would you rephrase number 2 to explain your thinking in a more loving and careful way but not compromise your own beliefs? 
• Wait, were you even born when the other Bush’s were president? Why do you like them?

Maria (16) chose Rand Paul and wrote a front and back dissertation as to why. In pink pen.

1. Helped find an anti-tax organization in his years serving Kentucky, will hopefully do the same with our country
2. Extremely intelligent and well spoken at the debate (during the parts I saw)
3. Strong faith
4. Pointed out why Hillary Clinton sucks
5. Performs well in Colorado, which is an important saving state vote against Hillary
6. Wants to end surveillance on American citizens, in other words believes the importance of our privacy
7. Wants to end “crony-ism” and that means wrongfully appointing friends or relatives to positions of authority
8. Wants to reduce national debt
9. Wants to “preserve” the social security system for seniors who have worked long and hard and planned their lives around that system
10. Wants to repeal Obama Care
11. Stern with the media, sometimes angry

Maria:

• Explain the anti-tax organization in Kentucky. Do you think it is possible to fund necessary social programs without taxes??
• In what ways does Hillary Clinton suck?
• Wait, are we being watched right now? Should I put on some lipstick?
• So are you saying you wouldn’t appointment me as queen of something cool when you are president? Well what the hell is the point of being your mother then?
• How would YOU reduce our national debt?
• Do you think there will be social security when you are at retirement age? Or will you get to retire 10 years after you are dead instead of 2 years, like me?
• Do you think that being stern/angry with the media will harm his chances of winning in the primaries? Does stern/angry help anything?

Mitchel (10) chose Hillary Clinton. Yeah.

1. One reason is that it would be good is because she went to Wellesly College. And because it would be cool because she could be the FIRST GIRL President!!!!
2. Hillary Clinton is a young 67 year old Democrat and she was born on October 29, 1947. So she would be a young president.
3. Everytime she does something in government, she talks to people about it so she can have good advice before she does it
4. She is a former secretary of state and she was first lady at one point

Mitchel:

• Where is Wellesly College?
• Can you tell me three things that a “girl” would do better as president than a “boy”?
• There is another “girl” running in the primaries. Tell me her name and how she is different from Hillary?
• I am so GLAD you think 67 is young! Why is being young a good thing when you are president?
• Do you think it is important to ask the RIGHT people for advice when you are making important decisions? Can you give me an example of when you asked the WRONG people for advice?
• What does a first lady do?
• What does a secretary of state do?
• Which of these jobs do you think is the most interesting?

So. This is a lot to mull over for my kids and I look forward to hearing what they each have to say from their own unique perspective of place and time. Stay tuned for part two.

Or a post on life without dinner.

Either or.

I, myself, have been pondering the possibility of a utopian world where every person is able to look outside their current set of circumstances, past their own fears and hang-ups and contribute to the world with free will (it can not be forced by the government) using their time, talent and treasure, each according to his or her own ability without any kind of distinguishment between race, gender, religion, pants size, physical/mental ability, income level, hair color, sexual orientation etc.

How about we use the fact that we are all breathing as our common denominator? We all want to keep breathing right? How about for each breath we take IN we savor ourselves for who we are and when we breathe OUT we delight in all the other breaths taken in at the very moment of our selfless exhale.