Paranoia by John Braun

$15.70

Paperback

Before I begin, I would like to just state that, as a Mets fan, there can be NOTHING worse than a Yankees-Phillies World Series (from a sports point of view). Seriously, it's like asking me, "Which would you rather me do, stab a steel bristle brush through your left testicle or your right?" - regardless which I choose, the results are equally painful.

Now that we've got that out of the way, I'd also like to point out that sometimes, just sometimes, my brain works in ways even I feel cross some boundaries. For example, there is a news story right now in NJ about a priest who was found murdered in his rectory. Terrible story, of course. The problem comes, though, when the suspect is discussed - a man, working as a janitor for the church, by the name of Jose Feliciano. Now, some of you may know where I'm going with this by now, but the point is, I can't stand the fact that as I listen to a horrific story on the news, I can't help but sing, "Feliz Navidad." Serioulsy: I. Can't. Stop.

Anyway, on to more important matters. My government anxieties must be on the rise again, because, as with a month or two ago, I had another dream in which I was searching for help with my car. This time, though, I was in Texas, searching for a Houston auto repair shop. This may have been related back to healthcare, because I've often said that we should be looking to Texas for a fix, as their laws addressing tort reform have brought down costs across the board and have brought doctors flocking back to the state. So there I am in my Acura Integra, seeking an oil change in order to assure myself I'm getting the best fuel efficiency I can, as well as where I can get a tune up. But then I start wondering what the hell a tune-up is and if I actually need one. I have this nagging feeling that I neither want, nor need a tune-up, but somebody is forcing me to get one. This part of the dream smacks of environmental regulations regarding so-called man-made global warming. I feel we neither want, nor need, Cap and Trade, yet the government is forcing it upon us. So, yeah, that's what I dreamt about. How 'bout you?

Speaking of global warming, President Obama returned to his tactic last Friday of attacking anybody with an opposing viewpoint, when he said that climate change 'naysayers would resort to ever-increasing 'underhanded' tactics the closer the Senate came to passing a climate bill. Having Obama as President has been like trying to debate somebody who fights back with, "'Cuz I said so." You must believe what he says and blindly accept his vast, sweeping platitudes, despite any facts that might be presented to the contrary. If you don't, you are an idiot. Period. This is the case with every issue and has been seen most clearly in his attack on Fox News. This Sunday, George Stephanopoulos showed a video on This Week of President John F. Kennedy being asked about how he was being handled in the news media. Did he respond that the media was a joke and shouldn't be taken seriously? Did he urge everybody to ignore them as a legitimate organization? Did he attack his critics? No. He said something to the effect of, I read the headlines and like what I see, lately, less and less, but they're doing their job and being the watchdog. We'll live together for a while, then we'll go our separate ways.

A response, I feel, worthy of, arguably, the most powerful office in the world. Not childish, Chicago-style politics and Saul Alinsky tactics.

On the same program, I also watched an interview with NJ's Governor, Jon Corzine. Honestly, what an arrogant jerk. I'm sorry, but I call it like I see it. He's on there touting his accomplishments, like how he balanced the budget. Unfortunately, nobody took him to task over how he 'balanced' the budget by deferring payments that we'll need to pay back later - with interest. Or how this so-called 'balanced budget' included one-time money, like the stimulus funds. We're looking at a $10 billion defecit next year! Yet, whenever the interviewer did try to take him to task, he put his hand up, repeated her name in a condescending, patronizing manner, and blew off her question. If we vote this man back into office, I will have lost complete faith in my fellow NJ citizenry. Briefly, I thought I'd go for Dagget, until he said on the radio this morning that he voted for Obama in November. All that says to me, is that Dagget has no problem with runaway spending and taxation, so, no thank you, Mr. Dagget. We have enough of that already in the Garden State. My vote is now officially locked in to Chris Christie.

One week until election day. The more I mull over these political issues, the more I realize that maybe the fact that I was driving an Integra was not insignificant. Maybe I was driving it because its name was so close to the word Integrity. Maybe the fact that it was about to break down and I needed a repair shop was my lack of faith in the integrity of our politicians to do what's right for their constituents.

Maybe.

Or maybe I just ate something funny before bed.

J.E. Braun is the author of Paranoia, a 9/11 survivor's tale. Jim survived 9/11, but his life did not. Follow one man's journey through post-traumatic stress as he attempts to rediscover what once made life worth living. 10% of profits from sales of Paranoia will be donated to the Twin Towers Orphan Fund (www.ttof.org). For more information, visit www.jebraun.com.