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Aristus

Aristus's Journal
Aristus's Journal
April 22, 2015

I need ammo to refute anti-immigrant arguments.

In what ways, other than sales taxes, do undocumented immigrants living and working in the US pay taxes?

We all know the old chestnut this needs to refute: "Well you know, they're all on welfare and they don't pay any taxes, either!"

Help, please.

April 20, 2015

It's official: I'm for Hillary.

I'm looking forward to the Democratic primary, and I think good things can happen when Dems get together in public to discuss the issues that will decide Election 2016. But absent any other viable Democratic candidate, (and there isn't one), I'm voting for Hillary Clinton.

I still shake my head sadly over her vote in favor of the Iraq War Resolution. She may never again need to face an important issue with the kind of courage it would have taken to vote 'no'; but she didn't. I'm not happy about that. But I think all other things being equal, she is the Dems best hope for 2016, for continuing the social legacy of Barack Obama, and for controlling appointments to the Supreme Court. She has the skill, the experience, the chops, the intelligence, and the drive to be a great President.

If Elizabeth Warren is her running mate, Hillary will be unbeatable.

If Julian Castro is her running mate, she will win in a landslide.

I don't dismiss those Dems who oppose Hillary Clinton as too conservative, and too in-bed with Wall Street. But I'm not going to give their "She's just Republican-lite" accusations too much weight, either.

It is now 23 years since I cast my last vote for a Republican. And far from trying to win back this straight, white, male Christian, Southern war-veteran, the Repubs seem more intent than ever in making me despise them and their insane clown posse masquerading as a political party.

I'm for Hillary.

Let's vote.

April 6, 2015

I think my grandson might be gay. And I couldn't be more thrilled.

Not the least of which reasons is that, at the age of 15, he doesn't seem to be interested in hiding it.

He recently posted a Facebook status update in which he tells all of his friends and loved ones about his new best friend. Not just any old BFF, but one he calls a "sexy beast" and explains how he "loves him deeply and always will."

My grandson is the most darling, wonderful angel on the planet, but he is rarely this effusive, even about his greatest interests and enthusiasms. He has always displayed a sort of "Yeah, whatever..." reserve. My only reservation is that he is smack-dab in the middle of a family of conservative Christians. His mother and father are pretty progressive, though. But I'm the only out-and-out hardcore liberal in the family. When I saw him on Saturday, I took him aside and gave him a big hug. I told him how happy I was that his new best friend makes him so happy. I didn't say any more than that. If he is gay, I don't want him to feel forced to come out with it before he's ready.

Anyway, I hope he understands through my gesture that he has at least one ally. Although I'm not worried about any real backlash if he comes out. Conservative or not, his entire extended family adore him beyond the power of words to describe.

Profile Information

Gender: Male
Hometown: Puyallup, Washington
Member since: 2001
Number of posts: 66,310

About Aristus

I truly believe that we will all live in peace and brotherhood someday. And so that I don't lose my faith in humanity, I will live my life as if that day had already happened.
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