let's start a list

a few weeks ago i watched the documentary maxed out. the film examines this nation's attitude toward credit and debt as well as specific aspects of this industry. it was marvelously made and, at times, quite unsettling. especially troubling was the information presented on the tactics of credit card companies and debt collectors (who thrive hand in hand) who prey on vulnerable people, some of which have basically no chance of ever escaping debt (short of death). but the most tragic story in the film was shared by two mothers. each had children who went to college and were offered credit cards during campus orientation events. the students got cards and began charging. they quickly amassed considerable debts. the interest set in, and they saw no way to pay off their debt. they viewed death as the only way out, and they took it. they each committed suicide.

now certainly you might think these stories extreme, and perhaps they are. but they are not uncommon, and they expose severe problems with this nation's attitude toward credit cards. we live in a society in which one practically must have a credit card. without one, there's no way to establish credit. without credit, there's no way to buy a home, and to buy a car or any other significant purchase (even basic utilities) costs more. they are a necessity now. of course, just because one must have a card it doesn't follow that this person will get into trouble with debt. but, it's considerably easier than you might think. you could be a very responsible person who always pays your balance on time. but accidents happen. what if you're in a car wreck with someone who has no insurance, and you miss work for several weeks. if you hadn't been able to save lots of money before the wreck and you have no wealthy family to fall back on, what might happen?

credit cards are a necessary evil it seems. but i think we can do a lot to curb some of the damage they do. at the very least, they should be far less accessible - especially to people who clearly have not established any kind of ability to make payments on them. they should never be offered on college campuses, and leaders at universities should fight to keep them away and educate students about the real risks involved in having credit cards.

i've all but given up hope on the government passing laws that are beneficial to us, but here's one i've thought up: how about a registry for people who don't want to receive credit card offers? i receive probably ten a week. i never ask for them. i don't want them, and i immediately rip them up and throw them away. such a system serves no good purpose. if people want a credit card, they can very easily apply for one. but sending applications or statements of pre-approval only wastes tons of paper and exposes people to identity thieves (another dire problem you'd think we'd want to end). this practice doesn't help us at all; it only helps the companies. but why care about them when they don't care a thing about you? oh wait, i forgot, they do care about your money.

not funny

i've been told for most of my life that i have a good sense of humor. usually it comes across sarcastically as perhaps this blog demonstrates. i make fun of a lot of things and point out the absurd. but i have always been a fan of comedy. i love hearing jokes and ridiculous stories that make me laugh. i've listened to all kinds of comics and been exposed to humor of every stripe.

i read a blurb in my newsweek tonight about kathy griffin winning an emmy. during her acceptance speech she dismissed the customary thanking of a higher power and declared "suck it, Jesus." i can only see this as a transparent stunt from an attention starved person to get some publicity. well, unfortunately it worked.

she's been denounced by several Christian groups including one from good ole pigeon forge, tn. at the same time, "atheist groups" have rallied to her support, or perhaps the support of free speech. i don't think the speech itself is really that big of a deal. i mean, if it offends you then i guess it is a big deal - but i don't care about what she said very much, and i doubt God cares either.

consider the state of the world right now. millions are dying needlessly from disease, war, and poverty. most churches seem to care more about internal matters (helping themselves) than the many crises in the world (helping others). so imagine God seeing what a mess we've all made of creation. then someone walks up to God and says, "oh, by the way, in this acceptance speech for an award that means nothing a woman said 'suck it, Jesus.'" i feel like God would be really angry that 10 seconds of His life was wasted getting that report. God truly doesn't need us to defend Him. i think it would help so much more if we actually worried about the image of God we portrayed with our lives and the choices we make.

i honestly feel pity for kathy griffin. she's had a sad comedic career and what appears to be a sad life. she craves attention so much she'll say anything. it reminds me of girls i knew in high school and college that would do anything just so some guy (usually a creepy one) would notice them. perhaps the worst thing of all is that she's just not funny. i know some things are relative, and saying this or that isn't funny is such an opinion - but this is a judgment from a great deal of experience about what is or isn't funny. she's not. in none of her work have i ever so much as chuckled. the episode of seinfeld she appeared in was an hilarious episode with a great premise, but it was great in spite of her performance. so i guess to paraphrase jerry from another episode, she doesn't offend me as a Christian, just as someone with a sense of humor.