Well, Election season is really going in full force. To tell you the truth, I'm a little surprised we haven't already been overrun with blog entries regarding the candidates... or at least heartfelt please regarding whether or not you should vote for Candidate X because "he's the best" or whatever reasons you have.

Before I get into this, I just want to remind everyone of one thing...

Racism is not illegal.

It is deplorable, ignorant, abhorrent, and at times even unforgivable... but it is not illegal. So as I write my opinions and ask for yours regarding this, please keep this in mind; I dislike racism, I fight against it; but I also understand a person has a right to hold onto it just as they have a right to hold onto any other bad thought in their head. It doesn't become illegal until they use this thought to hurt someone else (or a group of someone elses).

There are arguments for both sides. On one hand, book burning typically implies suppression of the written word or ideas in that word, while flag burning is more of a revolt against the government. On the other hand, the flag represents the country as a whole, and burning the flag is considered virtual treason, while books are just that... books. Which do you find more offensive?

Poverty seems to be one of those things that no one can truly define very well. I mean, we try to by making a blanket statement such as income level. For example, here in Minnesota "poverty level" is set to an income of just over $11,000 per year (for one person) and just over $22,000 per year (for two people). I was thinking about that today as I was reading an article saying that the number of people in Minnesota living in poverty has been increasing drastically over the past couple of years.