Steve Carell, The Office and my confusion

For six seasons, Steve Carell's character, Dunder Mifflin manager Michael Scott, has been at the center of NBC's "The Office," perfecting his "idiot boss" persona and driving his onscreen coworkers to insane absurdity. Carell recently left the show, calling his exit "bittersweet" and "emotional" when interviewed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
I understand the show is extremely popular with many, many hardcore, dedicated followers. I understand these followers are left wondering who will take Carell's place and if this person can do it justice and keep the show entertaining.
What I don't understand ... well ... where I find confusion over all this is ... well ... "The Office" (with or without Carell) is not funny, never has been and never will be. I turn the show on to help me fall asleep at night because it is so boring (I'm serious).
It's reminds me of the time I reviewed a book by famed author Elmore Leonard. I have a rule when reviewing (and when reading books in general): I will give the author 100 pages. If I am not interested after 100 pages I am calling it quits and we are breaking up. For whatever reason, I could not get into Leonard's book and described my experience in the review as, "it's not you, it's me." Keeping in mind he's a famed and celebrated author, I figured it was my bad, although not a bad thing. To each her/his own. I explained why I didn't enjoy the book but filed it under my weird taste for literature and called it a day. Good day sir! Elmore Leonard = 1. Kate Vendetta = 0.
So, years ago when I kept hearing about "The Office" and how funny it was and how my friends were so excited all week for a new episode and all about the sexual tension between Pam and Jim's characters as well as Dwight's awkward and weird hilarity, obviously I was turned off. Some people get excited by this shit and say, "Oh, well I gotta check this out then. If you say so!" Not me. For whatever reason it turns me off to hear over and over how wonderful something is and how much I need to watch, listen or visit. Like a pushy guy after one date, calling and texting and "all up in my Jello-O when he don't even know the flavor," I was like whatever. No thanks.
It was a while later when I finally got around to watching an episode. Snooze alert. I thought, wtf?! But then I questioned my thinking ... wait, maybe I have an overinflated view of this show because of all the hype I've heard. Don't believe the hype! Thus, I must give it another chance. So, I gave it another chance and another and another and ... no dice. It's fucking boring and I don't laugh. I start to feel the pressure, as if I should be laughing. Maybe I don't get the humor. I became confused but kept coming to the same conclusion. It's not funny.
It's like when I turn on the TV and see Jay Leno is on. I think, "Oh Jay Leno, let me check this out." Then I turn it on and after 2.5 minutes I remember, oh wait, Jay Leno is f-ing horrible, absolute rubbish. For some reason I forget and give it another chance every time. It probably has to do with the way Jay Leno is shoved down my throat every chance possible by the media but luckily it only takes mere minutes before I remember he is a total unfunny, sellout smuck.
As for "The Office," I find myself not laughing after jokes but thinking, "yes, that was a joke. Congratulations." Maybe it's me, not the show, but I find it absolutely boring.

Donald Trump, Barry Obama, birth certificates and poppycock

Today (Wednesday, April 27) the White House released copies of President Barack Obama's original long-form birth certificate in an attempt (hopefully the final) to squash rumors, recently brought to further absurdity by The Donald, that Barry O was not born in the U. S. of A.
The Donald answered this release by saying, "I am so proud of myself. I got this guy to release his birth certificate. I'm really, really happy," in an attempt to claim credit. Well, gee golly wiz, I was having a bit of a bad day but to know The Donald is not just happy, not just really happy, but really, really happy ... wow. My day has risen from outhouse shitter levels to glory proportions. Oh happy day!
What an egomaniac America created by s-ing his old man d every chance they get. He's happy he "got this guy" to release his birth certificate, which is disrespectful on so many levels including referring to him as "this guy," but is he upset that he's wrong? Obama was born in the U.S. End of story. Does he feel like a half-wit twit? Well he should.
But wait ... there's more. Of course The Donald doesn't blame himself for this nonsense. Trumpity Trump Trump blames Obama for all this Birther talk and says Obama should worry more about high gas prices as well as increasing problems in Libya (which sounds like Donald Duck turned on CNN for five seconds and heard gas prices and Libya and, in turn, figured he was now educated on everything going on around the planet), which would be easy if he would "get off his basketball court." Yeah, he said that.
Oh, silly me, I almost forgot. Barry O = black dude (light, bright and damn near white) = love for basketball = plays basketball all day instead of working. Picture a grubby basketball court in the middle of downtown Chicago surrounded by a chain-link fence. That totally makes sense. That's not racist in the least.
Sigh.
As for the release itself,  so many things come to mind.
Didn't The Donald say he'd release his tax returns as soon as Barry O released his birth certificate? So ... where it at Donald? Put up or shut up.
Furthermore, in order of importance, why on Earth is squashing rumors of Obama's origin of birth more important than rising gas prices and equally rising food costs spiraling hard working Americans into further debt and chaos and the economy into full-on "oh shit" mode? How about whether Apple is tracking iPhone location data? Is the NFL going to have a 2011 season? What about the breach on the PlayStation network -- should gamers worry about hackers? What about Americans dying overseas in attacks by the Taliban and other groups out to erase us from the world -- especially the nine recently killed in Kabul by an Afghan pilot? How about the serious upheaval around the world in places such as Libya and Syria? How about the recent tornadoes that took lives and left turmoil? Earth to Americans. Any signs of intelligent life? Bueller, Bueller. No, let's set our sights on Barry O and if he botched his birth certificate.
With this in mind, I got to thinking (which can be a dangerous thing). Are "birthers" of the Birther Movement targeting Barry O for a false document he knowingly provided (i.e. the bitch lied) or the U.S. government for accepting a false document and not knowing where this man was born or perhaps knowing that he was born somewhere else and trying to cover it up for some ridiculous reason? Not that charging the president of the United States with such an accusation isn't serious but the U.S. government? That's some pretty serious shit.
So many questions, so little time. What it boils down to is The Donald as a politician and future president hopeful is as big a joke as his orange complexion and namby pamby hair-do. A big a joke as his ridiculous looking children and wife and ridiculous life. He's a businessman who knows how to promote himself, especially on his joke of a TV show. This is all happening so The Donald can be in the spotlight. He wants attention, he wants to glare at YOU as if he's looking into direct sunlight (ol' squints) and talk about what he loves best: himself! Looky what I did!
I would say he's pathetic but the most pathetic thing when it comes to this situation is that there are people who, if given a ballot right now, would vote for him. Not jokingly vote but honest to goodness voting. Now, that is fuel for my cynical fire.

Royal wedding, Prince William, Kate Middleton & fairytales

With the royal wedding just days away, tick-tock tick-tock, I joined most women (and some fabulously gay men) across America and have been excitedly chatting over the details, from Kate Middleton's wedding dress to her status soaring from commoner to princess. I've watched news stations, from credible CNN to the janitors of newscasters Billy Bush and Access Hollywood Live, shoveling shit about every detail and interviewing every British woman/man-on-the-street they could get their grubby hands on.
What interests me most about this royal event (being called the wedding of the century, which is funny to do so earlier in the century) is the loud sighs from hetero American men, who are so annoyed with all this "bullshit." They want us to focus our attention on more American things, such as the upcoming NFL draft, NHL playoffs and how bad their favorite baseball team is playing. They want to talk about things that make sense to them, not this fairytale nonsense.
These manly men bitch and moan about how Americans, more specifically their American significant others, should not get so excited about princes and princesses. They don't get what the "big deal" is about the royal wedding. It's 2011! Princes and princesses are a thing of the past! Who cares? It's not like they have any power! It's not like you are going to become a prince or princess ever. We are across the pond in America but suddenly all these morons have forgotten where they live and begin to talk of their English roots and how they are going to get up at 3 a.m. Friday and eat crumpets and drink tea and watch the whole drawn-out thing! Wtf. The only prince these men wanna hear about is Prince and about him wearing 5-inch platform sandals with some turbo-hottie by his side at the airport as he flies around the world being f-ing awesome.
I will admit the coverage is ridiculous and I do live in America. America, fuck yeah! However, ever since I can remember I've been fed healthy doses of fairytales. Princes and princesses, knights in shining armor, servants and royalty, glass slippers and magic spells both on land and under-the-sea. What do little girls dress as for Halloween? Princesses! Disney princess ring a bell? Well ... except me, I guess, since I was more interested in being a geisha or a skeleton for Halloween. But I digress.
I have been brought up to want the fairytale which is not just present in age-appropriate G-rated bullshit but on TV shows, movies and books for adults. I want to live happily ever after, I want a knight in shining armor, I want to be treated like a princess, I want Mark Darcy in "Bridget Jones' Diary" or "Pride and Prejudice" ... really just Colin Firth as Mark Darcy in my boudoir but that's another rant for another day or for my dreams tonight.
Women want romance, they want to be treated like the princesses they think they are. Think about it this way. Princess status, servants, ballgowns, the adoring public, romance, carriage rides, tiaras and jewels, Buckingham palace, the queen mum, royalty (maybe not all real but it's what the public is fed) ... it's what fairytales are made of so I don't understand why I shouldn't be fantasizing about this.
What do you want me to fantasize about? Being poor? Wearing rags? Living on the street? Marrying a complete and utter loser who is totally cruel and unromantic? It reminds me of Fantasies Night Club, a strip club in Baltimore, Md. It's filled with half naked beautiful women which provides meaning for the use of the word "Fantasies." Yes, I'm talking about boobies and strippers so now I have the attention of the hetero men.
Sigh. Let me have my fairytale!

Derrick Caracter has no character

What a jerk. News outlets across the U.S. are buzzing with reports that Los Angeles Laker reserve forward Derrick Caracter was arrested in the wee morning hours Sunday in New Orleans after grabbing and shoving a pregnant cashier (she is pregnant!) at an IHOP restaurant because he was refused service and, in turn, became belligerent. The 22-year-old was booked on charges of battery, public drunkenness and resisting arrest but was released on $1,000 bond. He didn't play in Sunday night's playoff game against the Hornets, shocker. Way to hold your booze Derrick! Is this how you prepare for a game? Booze and pancakes? Why don't you just beat up a deaf child or shove a developmentally disabled person? A pregnant lady? What a wimp!
This is a player who was suspended many times in college and transferred from Louisville following his sophomore year because he was "academically ineligible" and had "other issues" according to coach Rick Pitino, who described him as having "too many issues to overcome."
Why on Earth are people like this allowed to play professional basketball? Does character not count because his athletic prowness is so amazing? This is someone children and teens around the U.S. know about and perhaps root for and now they are going to hear he grabbed and shoved a pregnant woman because, boo hoo, he was too wasted to get some late night drunk-face food.
The thing irritating me the most is I'm sure he will go about his professional career and continue to make loads of dolla dolla bills, just like Kobe could care less about his latest infraction. People will forget about his vulgar slur showcased on televisions across the country just like they forgot about his short-lived rap career. Fo shame professional sports, fo shame! Please, would it be too hard to find America's impressionable youth some true mentors and heroes in the world of professional sports. Is that too much to ask?

Diet and dieting everywhere, oh my!

I had too much weekend. Not as in I was a crazed booze-hound, although I did have a healthy amount of white wine, but I indulged too much. Blame it on the Easter weekend "holiday" (don't we always blame overeating on holidays as if Christmas or Baby Jesus made you eat 37 sugar cookies?) but there was eating out, tacos, pizza, chocolate cake, Easter dinner, late-night ice cream and popcorn (This is why doctors always say to keep a food diary because as I'm writing down all the shit I ate I feel really guilty) and perhaps some Easter candy -- no one can help but savagely rip the ears off the big Easter bunnies and smile wide with chocolate covered teeth. Grr! All sounded fabulous at the moment prior to consumption, as well as during consumption and right after consumption but here I sit Monday morning attempting to veer off the road of over indulgence back onto the golden route of dieting bliss.
Although I backtracked over the weekend and must make up for that, today is a new day and I will finally take this diet seriously and slim down in time for summer! Make it a life change and start eating more sensibly and drinking plenty of water because water is the life force of our bodies. I must (which makes me think of Margaret from Judy Blume's "Are You There God? It's Me Margaret" who chanted, "I must, I must, I must increase my bust!" as an attempt to keep from being president of the Itty Bitty Titty Committee for the rest of her life) but I must get plenty of sleep so I'm not tired and therefore hungry because my body needs fuel and to be recharged. Think of your body as a car, a car needs fuel and to be maintained to run properly.
Yeah right ...
Is this what most people do? Go on these whirlwind diets where we cheat at least once a week? It makes me think of those impossible-bodied celebrities who say, when interviewed, "oh I just have good metabolism and eat whatever I want!" "My favorite foods are pizza, nachos and beer!" Tee hee hee, I'm America's sweetheart! Barf.
I know you're lying. Just tell America you eat extremely healthy and work out everyday hardcore for at least three hours. Don't tease us with your b.s. so we think we could look just like you. Show us it takes sacrifice and dedication, something most of us don't have in the extreme amounts needed. I know you have your agent whispering in your ear sweet nothings to make you say this or that so everyone thinks you are such a sweetheart and, in turn, goes out and watches your unoriginal bullshit, ripoff movie or TV show or whatever your hustle is at the moment, but you are messing with peoples minds and that is messed up.
Everyone is on a diet of some sort except for those portly fools who just don't give a damn and would rather die with a last spoonful of Half Baked Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream softly caressing their lips. mmmmm At least they will die with a full stomach and a slap happy smile on their chocolate covered faces.
But here I sit on the 1,000th Monday morning trying to detox my weekend overindulgence and follow the well-known diet tricks, i.e. drink plenty of water throughout the day so you don't confuse hunger with thirst and make breakfast the biggest meal of the day (Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a pauper, and dinner like a peasant). Here I sit with a plan to workout every day at the gym by doing cardio for 45 minutes and strength training, maybe more if I'm feeling randy. Here I sit with a plan to eat a set amount of calories each day with no snacking after dinner. Here I sit frustrated this keeps happening over and over again, I keep back tracking over and over again, I keep having the same inner monologue over and over again because although currently I know I have to make up for the eating I did over the weekend before even getting to those 10+ pounds I want to lose on top of that, even with this in mind I know I will slip up again. I know I can not eat one tablespoon (serving) of peanut butter without eating half the jar. I know this. I know snacking after dinner is my biggest problem.
Guilty as charged, do not pass go, do not collect $200.
I know when the weekend comes around, if I can get through the week without "cheating" (which makes me feel so guilty each time, no wonder people refer to it as "cheating"), I will be faced with overindulgence opportunities that will stare me down and laugh hysterically! Eat me! Drink me! I will make you feel so good! (For some reason I picture them sounding like the Vietnamese prostitute in "Full Metal Jacket").
There are a few things at play with dieting but the main ones are in the media women (that's not to say men don't worry about dieting and seeing their wives and girlfriends drool over heart throbs with ridiculous six packs on TV and in movies and wonder if they will ever compare) but in the media women are beautiful and done up with makeup and great hair and they have beautiful bodies and us wives and girlfriends look at them, look at our other halves staring at them, and go, "well, that's what I'm supposed to look like." It's not like men self-pleasure to photos of fatties or ugly women, unless you're into that and, if you are, good for you! The celebrated body images across magazines, TV, movies and porn are thin, big breasted, long haired women with beautiful teeth, beautiful big eyes, clear skin and bright smiles. The men are not so important. Sometimes they are very good looking but, more often than not, they look like normal Joe Everymen with soft bodies and thinning hair. It's not as important as having a hot leading lady for men across the world to fantasize about. They just wash their face, keep that 5 o'clock shadow and gel their hair back and they are good to go!
Also, when being faced with temptation, as in a jar of reduced fat Skippy Peanut Butter or a large meatlovers pizza deluxe from my local shop, it's easy to say to yourself, "just have one spoonful or one piece and it will be fine" or "you deserve something cheeky to eat because you've had a tough day at work or a long week" or whatever bullshit your delusional mind creates when attempting to find any excuse. You are quick to forget the inner monologue of regret and trying to get back on your diet, as in the one I am facing now, because, to be honest, it f-ing sucks. I don't feel like going to the gym today, especially not everyday this week. I know I will feel great afterwards and after a few days I will have more energy and feel better overall but wah wah I don't wanna go!
Maybe I should just start cutting out pictures of models from my "Cosmopolitan" magazines and glue them to my refrigerator and food items around the house. Maybe that will work!

Do as I say, not as I do

Bullshit flies out of peoples mouths so fast I wonder if it gives them mild whiplash or at least a headache. They tell you this, they tell you that, they tell you everything you want to hear (or think you want to hear) but when it comes time to do something, actually do more than spew words from between wide open lips, they are miraculously absent.
Put up or shut up!
It reminds me of people who are rude on the phone to others, such as when calling a doctors office to schedule an appointment or when placing an order for take-out from your favorite greasy Chinese. These jerks treat the person on the other end of the phone line like a second-class citizen. They are quick tempered, annoyed and sarcastic while miles away, safely blabbering away on their phones but when in person it's a whole new ball game. They can hardly make eye contact and dare not say one unkind word. Chickens! Who's the tough guy now?
Talk is cheap and actions speak louder than words. These are cliched sayings everyone has heard or read a million times but apparently not often enough to follow them on a regular basis. We are quick to buy "the next best thing" we see on commercials, in magazines, on TV. We are quick to take your word for it. We listen to politicians deliver precisely crafted speeches as if they believe any of the nonsense they are saying, as if they aren't always thinking about getting re-elected and winning votes, about pleasing their donors. As if those eloquent words came directly from their soul. Like all the people who voted for Barack Obama simply because he's a terrific speaker and excellent storyteller. All the people who get frightened and excited over words like terror/terrorist, socialism, freedom and Republicans/Democrats. Barf.
I don't believe in absolutes so I don't believe there is one definite reason for all this nonsense. I don't think it's necessarily because we are all stupid and incapable of empathy like some sort of prehistoric cavemen and women (grunt grunt), I think it has more to do with being lazy. It's easier to talk and feed your ego by delivering opinions and experiences to anyone in the line of fire. It's easier to believe everything you hear -- not in the long run but right now. It's easier and comforting. Keep lying to yourself and the lies eventually become truth. You believe the lie.
When it comes time for action not many people step up to the plate, and, even if they do, will they take a swing? Probably not. They worry more about how helping someone else or doing what needs to be done will affect them and their life. Many people have a mentality that someone else will take care of it so they don't need to worry. So, they go home and remind themselves how wonderful they are and what a great person they've become while knowing deep down you can't suppress the truth forever. Their lies become truth. When did we all become so narrow minded? Just keep your eyes down and keep walking and pretend you don't see anything. Put your headphones on, turn up your iPod and tune out the world!
What's so hard to grasp is "action," instead of spewing cheap talk, will take what, a minute, an hour or a few days? A week? Out of your lifetime that is but a pinpoint and you will help someone who needs you instead of stroking your ego and letting someone else deal with the drama, you will feel better by helping them and they will feel better with the help from you. How hard is that to understand? Help the others you are so quick to say you "care" about, those you are so quick to sob over when they are sick so others feel sorry for you, because talk is cheap and those people won't be here forever. Nobody gets out of here alive!

One Life to Live, All My Children ... are people upset?

News stations across the country are bursting at the seams with reports that ABC is ending long running soap operas "All My Children" and "One Life to Live" as sexless, chubby haus fraus across the country weep and cry out in horror! Once a dominant source of escapism for these women, these shows are getting the boot in favor of lower-cost lifestyle shows.
Obviously people aren't watching or TiVo-ing enough of these programs since they're getting the ax, but are there really enough people upset? Is this really going to ruin your life? These shows are ridiculous and a waste of time. Is this really a source of entertainment?
I'm not one of those jerks who complain and poke fun at things they've never seen or experienced. I've watched these shows and given them a chance. My verdict is: what's the point? Mindless drama that is both absurd and boring. It provides only poor acting during a time slot I'd rather spend actually cleaning my home (as the housewives who watched the shows should!) or doing something beneficial and enjoyable. These programs don't provide an "escape" for me because if my husband isn't giving me the business (which is why these women are looking for escape) I'm not going to turn on some stupid TV show, I'm going to say to him, "hey, what's your problem!?"

The lie becomes truth and then becomes a lie again ...

It's likely I read George Orwell's timeless classic "1984" too many times or I've guzzled too many glasses of wine this evening (or a bit of both) but I am becoming more and more skeptical as I read national and world headlines smeared across my computer screen. The U.S. deficit, Libyan rebels, Japan's nuclear crisis, suicide bombings in Afghanistan, pacts with South Korea, upheaval in Egypt ... the news media reports and I feed upon their words like a pig at a trough. Oink oink! Yum Yum! I am at their will for information and take what I can get. That's not to say I believe everything Google feeds me, but I take the best out of what I am given, i.e. CNN or New York Times, something reputable.
However, I can't help but wonder ... what if it's all a lie? What if they are slanting the headlines, changing the news? Maybe just a little, leaning the information to favor one side or the other, or maybe a lot, completely hiding key facts and important scoop. The thing that makes me most uneasy is how would I ever know? I go about life, doing this and that, working to make money and living and worrying about what's going on right here and right now. Outside my bubble, I check the news online or watch it on TV. How am I supposed to know if what I'm being given is a lie? And, if I find out it's a lie, what am I supposed to do and, more importantly, what am I going to do? I am at the mercy of their information and the powers that be know this.

Facebook, staying connected?

Most everyone is on Facebook ... even my Baby Boomer mother. As soon as her finger pressed send to register, questionable pictures from benders and other lewd happenings once proudly displayed on my profile were magically untagged and hidden.

Anyway ... with the universality of Facebook in mind, there are certain people who fill your News Feeds everyday with nonsense. You know who I'm talking about ... the people on your friends list you can't delete for whatever reason who post too much crap and/or inappropriate or annoying items.

Those who post brief and cryptic messages so people pay attention to them.

Those who post highly personal and inappropriate comments they would never say out loud to another person but feel comfortable enough typing on their Facebook page.
It's like a car crash ... you can't look away.
I am moving closer and closer everyday to believing technology is taking us farther and farther away from humanity. We are going in the wrong direction. On Facebook we are "staying connected" but are we really? We are half dressed and half awake in our homes, hunched over a computer screen Facebook stalking people we hardly speak to or interact with in real life. Commenting on pictures of their newborn child and family, pictures from vacations and parties and updates about stressful days at work or fun weekends. Lucky for us, with the advancement of technology, we can do this from Smartphones now!
Is this really staying connected? Does anyone talk on the phone anymore or visit people for face-time or write letters or e-mails? Look around you ... people are glued to their Smartphones, surfing the Internet and stuck on Facebook while life is passing them by! It reminds me of a growing trend I've seen: a couple on a date at a restaurant, sitting at a table but not interacting because they are glued to their phones.
Are we obsessed with Facebook because we don't care about people anymore and want to take time when it's convenient for us to look in on their lives and comment so they think we actually care? Or are we trying to have too many friends and be too involved?
Yeah, it feels good to write a status update and have people comment or when your birthday rolls around and all your "friends" are reminded and you get about 50 brief one-liners saying happy birthday! Don't lie. You know it feels good. But it's all bullshit. Instead of living we are focused more on sharing every detail of our lives across a network. It's like when something funny happens at work and you can't wait to tell your better half or roommate or best friend when it's quitting time ... now you can't wait to tell all your Facebook friends instantly.
I understand the pros of Facebook -- staying connected with family and friends who live far away, sharing pictures and life experiences, inviting friends to events, making humans unite and become one over a large network. But have we gone in the wrong direction with this technology? Overdosing?
What are we in now, the Technology Age? What if we are moving farther and farther away from knowledge and meaning and towards unneeded luxuries like Smartphones and iPads? Using our brains to build bigger bombs and smaller laptops. Why? To what end? Does anyone care about why we are here? Other life forms? What it is to be human? After-life? Does anyone think about these things anymore or am I the weirdo in this scenario?
The more technology we create, the more we "learn," the more we get farther away from knowledge and the more we do not know about what it is to be human, at its core, at its base. We are moving away from caring about this and into the phase of The Material Possessions Age.
What do we, as a society, worship? Beauty. Our bodies, which serve as mere shells and will resemble empty papier-mache forms as people mourn our death at an open casket viewing. We all know the end game so why the plastic surgery? To live life to the fullest because all we have is our years on Earth? Why don't we worship knowledge and intelligence instead of our computer screens and instant satisfaction? 

U. S. of phonies

Citizens of the U.S., as well as citizens of countries around this big beautiful ball we call the world, are quick to question their government. Quick to point fingers and blame their leaders if shit is hitting the fan. Anything from high gas prices to escalating problems with Libya to unemployment to a bad economy ... the blame game is key. After being fed manufactured bullshit from some talking head on the local news channel, whatever the hot ticket item of the day is (ratings, ratings, ratings!) must be Barry O's fault!
While it's too easy (and ignorant) to blame one man for the complicated state of a magnificently large and complexly organized country, I am more interested in this: What do these complainers, and you, know about the country you live in? How it works? Its history?
Take some sample questions from the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services test for all immigrants applying for citizenship ... can you answer these? For people from other countries, take a minute and Google your country's name and sample citizenship test questions and see if you can pass the test.
For the U.S., there are some questions every Joe Six-pack can answer correctly, i.e. What are the colors of our flag? How many states are there in the union? Who is the current president of the U.S.?
However, what about these ...
How many changes and amendments are there to the Constitution?
What are the three branches of our government and what does each branch do?
What are the 13 original states?
Who has the power to declare war?
What is the U.S. Capitol?
How many times can a senator be re-elected?
Who are your senators?
What countries were our enemies during World War II?
Out of the 100 possible questions you are asked 10 and must get at least 6 correct. Not so easy. Reminds me of my eighth grade Social Studies class where we learned about the U.S. government in order to pass a citizenship test at the end of the year. Too bad all I remember about the class is the black spandex pants my extremely overweight teacher wore as she sashayed around the room, babbling about the Supreme Court and other snooze-worthy nonsense while passing gas. Great student I was!
So, next time you are about to complain about some aspect of the government or some government leader, take a minute and think about your knowledge of "the system" you are so quick to blame.
By the way, I Googled "United Kingdom citizenship test" and learned with this test you must score at least a 75 percent out of 24 questions. Yikes!