Anything is easy

I created the following aphorism a few years ago. Feel free to use it, but please don't forget to include the author:

Anything is easy if someone else has to do it. - Patricia Shannon

Kind-of-a haiku version:

Anything is easy if
you are not the one
who has to do it.
-Patricia Shannon

Eminent domain

In regards to the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing private property to be confiscated by the government for other private parties, for the sake of deriving higher property taxes:

The Republicans tried to make this into a partisan issue, because the justices who voted for this were, for some reason, those who tend to be less conservative. Of course, the reason they voted for this was in order to respect state's rights, which the conservatives have glorified when it comes to denying rights to the poor and minorities. I don't know anybody who agrees with this decision, and most of the people I talk to are liberals.

However, the conservatives have no problems with zoning laws that are designed to keep poor people from living near them in the first place, whether as owners or renters. Also, the poor and relatively poor can lose their property because of high property taxes.

Killing innocent civilians in the name of religion is evil, and another reason that the statement that humans are rational is ridiculous.

The Republicans claim that Bush has kept terrorists from attacking Americans. Well, they are attacking us - in Iraq. They don't have to spend money to come to our country because we are sending our citizens over there, both military and civilians.

Homelessnes vs begging

In the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, there have been discussions about the fact that beggars are not necessarily homeless. I'm sure this is true. I don't advocate giving them money. (When I can afford it, I carry food to give people. ) However, not being homeless doesn't mean you can afford other necessities. There are children who loose weight in the winter because their families cannot afford both adequate heat and adequate food. When I was between jobs, I was not homeless, but I could not afford enough food, and was therefore losing weight.

Dead ends

It is invalid to give a direction such as "Turn right at a dead end." If it is a dead end, there is no where to turn. What do you think a "Dead End" road sign is trying to tell you?