Nearly every day I ponder why I bother with television. I also consider quitting my newspaper subscription. I have many reasons (a future post?). But this time my main reason is that what I see, hear, and read often makes me angry, disgusted, and irritated.

My ire is directed towards Republicans, in Indiana and nationwide. I simply don't understand their "logic" and lack of compassion. Two items of recent note has raised my hackles.

1) Our illustrious governor has signed state legislature bills punishing illegal immigrants and undocumented students. 5 students were recently arrested on "trespassing" charges for protesting the new law denying undocumented students in-state college tuition fees. (Purdue in-state: $9,070, out-0f-state: $26,622) Not only is this uncompassionate, but a form of racial discrimmination.

2) A measure was also signed imposing some of the nation's tightest restrictions on abortions and making Indiana the first state to cut off funding to Planned Parenthood. (PP is awaiting a court decision in an effort to stop the law.)

These two laws are on top of ridiculous budget slashing for public schools, yet allowing for private school vouchers! Where is the sanity in all of this?
A similar comparison/contradiction is to be made nationally, as the Republican House and Senate scream about our nation's deficit, yet refuse to withdraw subsidies for oil companies or raise taxes on the incredibly rich. (Of course, we know why that is.)

Indiana's Republican governor, Mitch Daniels, is considering a run for the presidency. He may not be as famous/infamous as the Donald or the Newt, but he IS a typical conservative--and you know what that means.

I could turn my TV off, not read the newspaper, not listen to the radio. I'd be far happier, less disgruntled. But I feel obligated to be informed, if not involved, with the news of the day. Then again, I sure feel a lot better out of the house, with a golf club or hoe in my hands!