Those that know me well know that I have a long standing disdain (fury, really) for the new ‘safety’ measures the TSA requires us to follow when traveling on airplanes. You know, no more shampoo or hairspray than what a 3 oz bottle will hold. And no more than a 1 quart bag full of those tiny 3 oz bottles or we’re in an unregulated safety nightmare!! And if you don’t know – and your $300 Creme de la Mer face lotion is in a 4 oz container in your carry-on, well… you know what happens next.

Waste. Total and utter waste. Trash cans in airports across the land brimming to the top with perfectly harmless liquids that will enter the landfill. And for no more ‘safety’ than if you were able to bring your Suave Extra-Super-Hold hairspray on board to help you style your hair when you land in Chicago. Seriously. Time and time again – we have seen reports of people who purposefully try (and succeed!) in bringing knives, shivs, prison shanks and other potentially harmful items on flights. All the time. In a reality where far more deaths are caused by guns (Aurora, anyone?) you can still get them almost anywhere without much effort – anytime. But Suave on a plane? Well, Suave might kill people.

This issue was raised for me again this past weekend in a different way – at an EDM (electronic dance music for the novices – like me) show in Santa Monica. Apparently these shows are known for rampant drug use and security takes drastic measures to make the environment ‘safe.’ Such as making me throw out my $30 lipstick case because it wasn’t sealed. Apparently in the past – maybe lipstick cases have been a vehicle to smuggle some sort of drugs in? Must be – and now I am in dire need of a trip to the Mac store while a perfectly good lipstick is on its way to the Puente Hills Landfill.

The problem with this is – there was still a room full of hundreds of people who were on drugs. Some of them might have taken them before they came in (shocker!). Some of them maybe put them in let’s say…a pocket. Their shoe. Maybe a sock. In their bra? Or in a myriad of other places security wasn’t even checking. They were basically only looking in purses and wallets, patting pockets – and that’s it. Asking people to throw away innocuous and random items for no real reason at all. And there was likely little to no increase in our ‘safety’ because of it. In fact, there was a guy who sparked up a joint right next to me during the show. Good thing he didn’t try to smuggle that in with a lipstick case!

So, for the greater good, we can add my lipstick to the tip of the trash mountain that also contains hundreds of thousands of unopened bottles of water, hairspray, shampoo, shaving cream and god forbid – Creme de la Mer face lotion – that enters our landfills every month in the name of ‘safety.’

What a waste.

Citizenship. Not only an immigration status but a behavior. A way of operating in society. A word for a person’s rights, privileges and responsibility to that society.

One of the most basic, simple and fundamental rights of citizenship has always been the right (and some would say responsibility) to vote. Until now. A disturbing movement to make it more and more difficult to vote at the polls seems to be making its way through many of the critical swing states this election. The most stringent of which has been passed in Pennsylvania – the very seat of the birth of this nation.

The problem with this? It doesn’t help with voter fraud almost at all, and “voter fraud” is a non-existent, red herring issue. If we really wanted to combat voter fraud – we would probably be better served to focus on absentee ballots. Although I don’t think we should do that either. What these laws focus on is disenfranchising voters that are usually overwhelmingly Democrat. And that should be criminal.

Why are we disenfranchising voters and rigging elections in swing states? Why are the parties not simply standing on their platform, vision and proposed policies for our nation? State your beliefs and let the country vote with the platform they most believe will bring us a better day and a better country.

We’ve lost our way here. The founding fathers are definitely rolling in their graves. And we as a people need to stand up and demand better. We don’t need to agree – but winning at all costs and by any means necessary shouldn’t be the new normal. Candidates should win or lose based on their politics and leadership – not by rigging the game.

Let’s demand a fair fight. And may the best man win.

What does pro-life really look like? Providing help and services to those AFTER they are born. Healthcare. Daycare. Food stamps if needed.

Please don’t legislate that a human exists once cells start to divide while simultaneously denying resources and access to the things that will keep that baby well cared for if the parents are unable or even unwilling.

That is irresponsible. If you’re in for one, you need to be in for both.

Orthodox Jewish people don’t believe people should eat pork – but they don’t try to legislate against it.

Personal trainers don’t believe people should be fat – but they don’t try to legislate against it.

Teetotallers don’t think people should drink alcohol – and if they tried to legislate against it they’d be laughed out of Washington.

You get the point…

Why, then, is it ok for a woman’s uterus to be legislated? For a person’s marital status to be legislated? Why can’t we all have our own values, honor them, live by them – but let others live by their own as well? Why can’t we maintain mutual respect for each other instead of trying to control each other. Who is to say that on another planet, maybe in a parallel universe – male/female matrimony isn’t an “abomination?”

It’s all relative folks. We should love and accept each other. If it isn’t hurting you personally – consider butting out.

While I don’t mind having God in our churches – I definitely don’t want God in our government. Anywhere.

Bill Clinton also gave a great speech at the 2012 DNC. I’d love to give a top 10 to him as well, but he’s got a #1 instead:

“Nobody’s right all the time, and a broken clock is right twice a day. …knowing we’re never going to be right all the time but hoping we’re right twice a day.”

Ok, and one more. #1 1/2: “When times are tough… what works in the real world is cooperation.”

Miss you Bill. Really miss you.

My favorite things about Michelle Obama’s speech at the 2012 DNC Convention:

• The dress
• Stevie Wonder
• The personal anecdotes
• The love
• The humor
• The positivity
• The dignity
• The honesty
• The poignancy
• The words patience, wisdom, courage and grace

Yes Michelle. This is the long game. Glad you and your husband are in it with us – even if we don’t always agree.