Does it bother anyone else?

(Warning: this might turn long)

I am in shock, that's really all I can say. I just do not know what is happening in this world, and it seems like we are in a rapid downward spiral. Here are two issues that worry me:

First, does it bother anyone else that CONGRESS is spending so much time and money on investigating this whole steroid mess in baseball? Why is Congress the ones to do the investigation? After hearing Roger Clemens interview on 60 minutes last night, I am just disgusted, totally disgusted, with our law makers.

Because my husband is a former professional baseball player I have look at this situation in the most objective way possible. I understand that steroids changes the whole game of baseball, but does it really amount to anymore than a hill of beans? And again, where does Congress come into this whole mix?

So far, the only penalty for steroid use among baseball players is to put an asterisk beside their name in the Hall of Fame. Why spend millions of dollars on an investigation if the only penalty they will get is an asterisk beside their name?

Here is why I am upset. Our Congress is made up of law makers that WE elected to spend time making and passing laws that will better our nation. What is this baseball investigation doing to better our nation? What does it really mean in the grand scheme of things. Instead of worrying about the pressing issues such as social security, health care, alternative energy, and others, Congress is using their time trying to figure out if they will put an asterisk beside a baseball players name after they retire.

I do not agree with professional athletes using steroids, but I don't really think it matters compared to the other much bigger issues! Here is my opinion: The investigation should be taking place, but Congress SHOULD NOT be the ones doing it! The MLB Association should conduct the investigation and confer the penalties. If the penalty is only going to be an asterisk beside the player's name, then just forget the whole investigation all together.

And why only baseball, what about all of the other professional sports? If you penalize one, you must penalize all.

Heres my second issue:

This morning the breaking news was about the confrontation in the Persian Gulf with the U.S. Navy and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard boats. It was a major issue, or at least I thought so. I have been watching CNN and the Today Show, and I have just been sitting here in disbelief.

About 60 seconds was spent on the Iranian confrontation on each program. On both networks this story was followed by a 5 minute summary of what is happening to Britney Spears. WHAT? Our media is more worried about Britney Spears' breakdown than they are a military confrontation that could have been devastating! Can you believe it?

All weekend every news program that I have watched, whether it be local or national, has covered the Britney Spears saga, and honestly I am about tired of it!

It just kills me that our media and our law makers are so wrapped up in stories and issues that do not even matter. What does this mean? What does this say about our nation? I have a degree in political science and feel like I have a pretty good outlook of politics around the world. The more I learn, the less I understand.