It becomes clearer every day. We have to define ourselves, like it or not. We live in an angry time when everything we say or write or do has constantly controversial connotations.
Allow me to define myself. You might not agree with my core values but at least you’ll know where I stand. So if you put a gun to my head and demand my position on the following matters, here’s what you get.
I am pro-gun. You can take that a step further: I am pro-Bill of Rights and pro Constitution.
I am pro-choice. No, I don’t believe in abortion. No I don’t believe that the government should get involved. But I don’t have the right to make a decision for a woman, particularly in light of the fact that I have no concept what pregnancy entails for me in a physical and emotional sense. Make that pro-choice, hesitantly.
I am pro-religion. I really don’t care what you choose as your faith, as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone, particularly children. So you can make the case that I am pro-Islam, as long as you leave the decapitation and anger out of it – the same way I’m a Christian who doesn’t have anything to do with the angry, violent, spiteful Christianity (which is very, very, VERY rare anyway – particularly in comparison).
I’m anti-pornography. Because all porn, in some sense, is child porn. My biggest question with porn is: if it were harder to obtain, would life suffer? No.
I am pro-capitalism. Definitely. I’ll put this in very certain terms: in capitalism, you can pretty much make as much money as you want – legally or illegally – and you have to live with your decisions, including your mistakes. Of course, you also get to reap the benefits of risk-taking, hard work and focus.
I am pro-IRS. Pro-taxes. Pro-whatever-you-want-to-call-it. I think there should be an Internal Revenue Service, and I think every U.S. citizen with a job should contribute something to the government coffers. Whatever that amount is should be decided by our elected officials.
I’m also anti-tax hikes. A decision has to be made as to how much people have to contribute, and we stick with that. Plan accordingly. RUN THE IRS LIKE A BUSINESS IN A CAPITALIST SYSTEM, IN OTHER WORDS.
I am anti-celebrity. There is a huge difference between the cast of “Jersey Shore,” who have no appreciable talents or skills, or even an interesting personality among the entire group, and someone who actually accomplishes something through hard work and perseverance. I have more respect for Miley Cyrus or Justin Bieber than I do for “Snooki” or “The Situation.”
I am pro-legalization of marijuana. Here’s why: people who smoke marijuana – and there are tens of millions in the USA – are less threatening and more congenial than people who use alcohol (which is a drug, by the way). Beer and drunk driving is more fatal than anything on the planet, including war. Marijuana smokers are paranoid, mellow and ready to go to sleep. Especially if they can find some food to munch on. Yes, legalizing pot opens a pandora’s box of problems, including more use of the drug as older people buy it for young people. But that’s happening with alcohol right now. And marijuana (like tobacco) can lead to lung cancer and other health problems. So education will have to be part of the process.
That’s just the beginning, but that’s where I stand.
Taylor Mason is a comedian, a musician, a ventriloquist, writer and gadget freak. He has headlined every major comedy club in the United States, and has played Carnegie Hall and The Sydney Opera House in Australia. He has been part of two Emmy-winning television programs, including his children’s TV show, “Taylor’s Attic.” He is featured in comedy DVDs “Thou Shalt Laugh,” “Thou Shalt Laugh 2” , “Thou Shalt Laugh 3,” and “Thou Shalt Laugh 4“ plus two episodes of the hit comedy series “Bananas.” Taylor works a mind-boggling 200 nights a year, in front of every kind of audience, and has managed to stay married for the past 22 years to his wife, Marsia. They have two teen-aged sons and live in New Jersey (the only state in America that uses air freshener … outdoors).
To book Taylor for your event contact visit The Grable Group or email tim@thegrablegroup.com
