Politics on Facebook...

My biggest internet addiction, I will admit, is Facebook.  I love it.  I love connecting with people.  I have reconnected with friends from high school who I never would have seen or heard from again if not for finding them through that online site.  I like to chat away to help keep my sanity, and it makes showing pictures and updates on the kids easy to share with the family (well, those who want to know anyway). 

I consider facebook like us sitting in a big classroom or gym.  I would not want anything on my facebook page that I would not be upset with people hearing.  I do have security features on particularly on pictures, but going back to my picture, the gym is by invite only. 

I have always heard that there are 2 things that are not appropriate for the work place or general discussion...religion and politics.  Now I am not saying status updates praising God or saying you will pray for someone is bad, quite the contrary.  But discussions about why everyone else is wrong and you are right...well that is getting into a gray area for a "public" display and may better be communicated in a private conversation.  It may come, but I have yet to see too many people saved by internet....yet.

Now politics...ugh.  I was a govenment minor in college.  Those who knew me then knew I have pretty strong political convictions.  They are even stronger now...I just bite my tongue A LOT more than I did back then.  Why?  Because 1) I respect that others may disagree with me but unfortunately not everyone who disagrees is respectful about it, and 2) there is a time and place for political discussions and Facebook updates and statuses are NOT them in my opinion. 

I get so tired of seeing chain letters and crazy political standings posted as fact on my status update when I log in.  I have blocked people in the past for constantly posting political stuff and I continue to do so, simply because my status update is not a political platform for any candidate.  I can 100% guarantee you that any crap positional piece that is posted I can find the opposite position and look just as credible and damning to the other side.  It is all a matter of perspective. 

Now I am going to get political...remember, no one is MAKING you read on and it is my BLOG...

The most recent political grandstanding is the letter from some doctor saying that health care should not pass because he treated a lower class person who's appearance and choices he did not approve of.  Fine, then start an education program about nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices for inner city residents to teach them how to shop for more nutritional food and assistance in changing their lifestyle.  Instead this doctor chose to broadcast that he shouldn't have to pay for this lazy bum's (my wording) health care.  Well, guess what...if he is indigent, or has no health care, who do you think eats the cost of that?  We all do.  Maybe if better preventative care options existed the ER's would not be full of people wanting to see a doctor over a cold.

The point of the article is not to encourage a better lifestyle or change, it is to take a slam at the health care bill currently in the news.  Never mind the positives that come out of the health care bill, such as no preexisting conditions clause, health care for college students, or health care for the working poor...no, we are only focusing on the stereotype of the evil moocher to justify the self righteousness we feel upon seeing someone abusing the system.

Bottom line, if you post something political on Facebook, don't be surprised if someone happens to disagree with you.  And please do not assume everyone automatically agrees with it or supports it!!