Haven't posted in a long time; the world and the Nation seem so tumultuous as to defy any reasonable discussion...on any level or any subject. But...I finally have come to believe that to do nothing is to approve of what is...even to encourage it. The other side of the coin is that if you do not have a better idea, then perhaps you should hold your criticism(s) until you do have something better to offer. Be that as it may, we all might want to at least be aware of and deal with the matter in my heading.
Each of us view the definition and needs of personal security differently, but the one universal seems to be that we value our personal freedoms and do not wish others to impede or subtract from the baseline that we currently possess. Consistency demands that we honor the converse: that we should not expect to invade others' space or interfere with their freedoms.
At some level each of us also value and have an expectation of truthfulness toward and from others, including our institutions (government, schools, Courts, business enterprises.
At the beginning of the last century, our business enterprises operated within national borders; their identified with the nation in which they operated and supported the general national interests, aligning with the national sense of patriotism. In the last 70 years that has changed. And the change poses dangers to the concepts of national identity and national patriotism.
The largest and most powerful business enterprises on the planet operate across national borders, most (if not all) making profits from both sales and manufacturing in disparate countries throughout the planet. They have no allegiance to any particular country. Oh, they claim to care; their public statements of their Owners, Officers and in their Press Releases claim allegiance...but to each nation in which the statement is issued. Clearly this is a propaganda issue, not a truth issue. Each company is concerned ONLY with profits. Anything that interferes with profits is their enemy. That means that ALL ELSE holds no consistent place of value. Clearly allegiance is toward whatever will positively impact profits...and is fleeting at best. Once the profit element has been secured, there will be neither allegiance nor memory of any such thing.
Under this set of unassailable facts, shouldn't EVERY nation-state consider that every business enterprise be viewed, regardless of national origin, as a non-citizen? Shouldn't each enterprise be required to meet criteria and standards in a proven way and not given the presumptive standing of "citizen?"
Enterprises such as Google, Micro-soft, Amazon and Nike (and many more) currently show more concern about the welfare of China than of the United States. But, you say, those are American companies (with the emphasis on "American"). Not anymore. Follow the money. Follow the power. And any payoffs are a threat regardless of size or scope; there is no such thing as being a "little bit" pregnant. Does anyone think that the proximity of Google, Amazon and Nike offices with multitudes of employees in the Northwest has nothing to do with main cities in that area harboring felons and illegals contrary to United States law? Those companies and their employees see themselves as superior to and having no allegiance to the United States of America. And other countries are having the same experiences.
As of now, each multi-national plays nation-states against each other to obtain financial and regulatory advantages. That is to be expected. But none of these countries are consistent in recognizing (and trying to control the effects of) the threat to their borders, to their government, to their citizens' freedom. Why?
It would be easy...and nice...to state that our governments just aren't as aware of this, or are preoccupied with more important things. Hogwash! Does anyone not question how one can run for public office with relatively low personal wealth, hold elected office for decades at a relatively low salary lever, yet retire with millions in assets? This state of affairs has existed for more than a century, yet the media doesn't care and clearly the governments' Inspector Generals don't care either, even in the face of public inquiries. Why?
One opinion would be that despite the wording of Oaths of Office, laws, and conscience, the awarding of money and/or power constitute bribes more powerful than the concepts of truth, honor, promises, and/or conscience.
So...the ultimate question is how strongly do citizens feel about allowing their freedoms and security to be eroded, dissipated and perhaps even at some point eliminated.
Logic would suggest that the American citizen (and citizens of all the countries of the world) demand of their governments changes that would first arrest and second deminish the power that multi-national companies now enjoy; that such business enterprises not be allowed to fly under the radar of public accountability and not the private accountability of being able to "pay off" those who stand in their way.
Government exists because WE delegate to it power and authority. Perhaps we should consider voiding that delegation and start over?
Showing posts with label Government. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Government. Show all posts
Monday, November 11, 2019
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Why do we have Racial Unrest today? (#3 of 3)
There is a valid assertion that by providing government assistance that assures survivability and is available for virtually an unlimited period we cause the receiving group to not only become dependent on such support, but to train them to ignore all other potential efforts to be self-sufficient.
But given that such dependence now exists, to discuss whether or not it should have been done is a useless exercise.
To be "given" support over an extended period of time with no requirement or expectation of moving from that support to self-support creates a sense of shame (usually deeply buried) and compensatory attitudes to bolster a sense of self-worth. For kids without fathers present in their daily lives, they substitute gangs and gang membership. To support their self-worth, they develop their own sense of right and wrong that supports their own actions, regardless of what those actions are, as "right." And they totally ignore efforts from "others" to change that view, because to change would necessitate that they acknowledge that their previous actions were not "good" or "right." Oh, there are some that see the bigger picture, but not many.
It is this unwillingness to change, and the underlying anger that supports it, that creates the real problem for those kids, their neighborhoods, and ultimately for America as a nation. What can or should be done?
I freely admit that I don't know.
But there are some ideas that might be worthy of at least talking about.
Supposing an organized effort was made to take every single child that did not have a father present and employed out of the neighborhood and put them in a proven, approved foster home that had access to a good school district with support to encourage achievement?
What if the rules on schooling provided not only for school choice, but for schools to be able to bar disruptive kids from the campus, thus allowing students who wanted to learn the teacher time to enable that desire?
What if disruptive kids were required to be put in a military type, government organization where they were supervised and required to work each day for a menial wage until they came to recognize the advantages of learning?
How about city officials discussing with gangs the possibility of them becoming screening groups for calling in regular Police forces, making them officially responsible for the safety of their community? That would give them status but also make them responsible...a good pairing for learning to live a useful life.
Are these answers? Probably not...but it is time we all recognized the very real and difficult problems that our citizens who live in the inner cities have and work to provide good and beneficial options for those there who want improvement.
Unfortunately I don't see our government, at any level, having any real interest in solving the situation. They just want it to be quiet: quiet summers, quiet desperation, quiet unhappiness. And that is just an abdication of their respective oath's of office. Until we demand and see that that attitude changes, we will have to look to private organizations to move forward. And I hope that all of them, both civic and religious groups, step up...and soon. Each of us, as citizens of a great nation, should have available to us a path to success. That path isn't free, and it isn't easy, but it should exist so that every citizen with purpose and motivation can travel forward...and upward.
But given that such dependence now exists, to discuss whether or not it should have been done is a useless exercise.
To be "given" support over an extended period of time with no requirement or expectation of moving from that support to self-support creates a sense of shame (usually deeply buried) and compensatory attitudes to bolster a sense of self-worth. For kids without fathers present in their daily lives, they substitute gangs and gang membership. To support their self-worth, they develop their own sense of right and wrong that supports their own actions, regardless of what those actions are, as "right." And they totally ignore efforts from "others" to change that view, because to change would necessitate that they acknowledge that their previous actions were not "good" or "right." Oh, there are some that see the bigger picture, but not many.
It is this unwillingness to change, and the underlying anger that supports it, that creates the real problem for those kids, their neighborhoods, and ultimately for America as a nation. What can or should be done?
I freely admit that I don't know.
But there are some ideas that might be worthy of at least talking about.
Supposing an organized effort was made to take every single child that did not have a father present and employed out of the neighborhood and put them in a proven, approved foster home that had access to a good school district with support to encourage achievement?
What if the rules on schooling provided not only for school choice, but for schools to be able to bar disruptive kids from the campus, thus allowing students who wanted to learn the teacher time to enable that desire?
What if disruptive kids were required to be put in a military type, government organization where they were supervised and required to work each day for a menial wage until they came to recognize the advantages of learning?
How about city officials discussing with gangs the possibility of them becoming screening groups for calling in regular Police forces, making them officially responsible for the safety of their community? That would give them status but also make them responsible...a good pairing for learning to live a useful life.
Are these answers? Probably not...but it is time we all recognized the very real and difficult problems that our citizens who live in the inner cities have and work to provide good and beneficial options for those there who want improvement.
Unfortunately I don't see our government, at any level, having any real interest in solving the situation. They just want it to be quiet: quiet summers, quiet desperation, quiet unhappiness. And that is just an abdication of their respective oath's of office. Until we demand and see that that attitude changes, we will have to look to private organizations to move forward. And I hope that all of them, both civic and religious groups, step up...and soon. Each of us, as citizens of a great nation, should have available to us a path to success. That path isn't free, and it isn't easy, but it should exist so that every citizen with purpose and motivation can travel forward...and upward.
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
"Words"...or "actions"
Children aren't taught this anymore, but I grew up to the mantra, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." And it was a factual comment. As I grew up, I learned to listen to words for understanding, learning and as an indicator of the the nature of the person speaking the words. For anyone who wants to learn, words and the manner of speaking reveals a lot. Words contain promise as well as threat. Words provide nuance that is available for the listener who wants to hear it.
Actions, however, provide no choice. They simply "are" and the results cannot be changed. Actions can hurt as well as provide pleasure. Of the two, actions are the most immediately dangerous. Words, if used to deceive or misdirect, are just as dangerous...sometimes more so...as actions because they, unlike actions, can seem to promise even as they deceive.
A person who lies lacks both honor and character and is to be avoided. Above all, such a person should never be allowed to have power or authority over you. But such a person, provided that they are aware of their lying, is not the most dangerous.
The most dangerous of people is that individual who not only lies successfully to others, but who also lies so successfully to themselves that they no longer are aware of their own dishonesty. Why is such a person so dangerous? Because they actually exude a sense of belief in their lies that can be very effective in convincing or conning the listener...they come across as believing what they say and there is little defense against such a presentation other than research and verification.
Today children and young adults, particularly those who attend College or University, seem to be indoctrinated with the concept that they should never be challenged by words or ideas which they have been taught or either wrong or hurtful. They have absolutely no emotional callouses; they are ill prepared to evaluate or research ideas, much less challenge them.
But even more concerning is that these young people seem now to consider the "nicety" of words and ideas to be more important that honesty and actions; they are less insulted by those who lie to them and fail to fulfill promises (provided that the lies are phrased nicely and in a complimentary way) than those who speak bluntly and are not "politically correct" (which is clearly an oxymoron). For those who know the "Music Man" play and movie, they would honor the smooth talking liar for his ability to talk and accept the lack of honesty...and then consider themselves superior for so doing.
How can we, as a nation, accept such perverting of our values? How can we allow our children to grow to an age when they must become self-reliant while we allow a government that we elect to spend our children and grandchildren into financial ruin? By what reasoning do we allow our children to be indoctrinated to value "group think" and "avoidance of (or even absence of) consequences" while we fail to teach them that any person or government that is strong or big enough to give them anything is also big and strong enough to take everything away?
One of my own grandchildren has become a victim of this American failure. I am embarrassed that I was not aware and did nothing to attempt to provide some counter instruction. I am embarrassed for all of us who assumed a dedication by our educational and political systems on the part of those who educated and who have and continue to rule us. Our cost of our negligence will be visited upon our descendants and, if justice is served, we will be reviled by those who come after as narcissistic cowards who failed our offspring. I would apologize, but those would just be words...I have already allowed others to throw the sticks and stones.
Actions, however, provide no choice. They simply "are" and the results cannot be changed. Actions can hurt as well as provide pleasure. Of the two, actions are the most immediately dangerous. Words, if used to deceive or misdirect, are just as dangerous...sometimes more so...as actions because they, unlike actions, can seem to promise even as they deceive.
A person who lies lacks both honor and character and is to be avoided. Above all, such a person should never be allowed to have power or authority over you. But such a person, provided that they are aware of their lying, is not the most dangerous.
The most dangerous of people is that individual who not only lies successfully to others, but who also lies so successfully to themselves that they no longer are aware of their own dishonesty. Why is such a person so dangerous? Because they actually exude a sense of belief in their lies that can be very effective in convincing or conning the listener...they come across as believing what they say and there is little defense against such a presentation other than research and verification.
Today children and young adults, particularly those who attend College or University, seem to be indoctrinated with the concept that they should never be challenged by words or ideas which they have been taught or either wrong or hurtful. They have absolutely no emotional callouses; they are ill prepared to evaluate or research ideas, much less challenge them.
But even more concerning is that these young people seem now to consider the "nicety" of words and ideas to be more important that honesty and actions; they are less insulted by those who lie to them and fail to fulfill promises (provided that the lies are phrased nicely and in a complimentary way) than those who speak bluntly and are not "politically correct" (which is clearly an oxymoron). For those who know the "Music Man" play and movie, they would honor the smooth talking liar for his ability to talk and accept the lack of honesty...and then consider themselves superior for so doing.
How can we, as a nation, accept such perverting of our values? How can we allow our children to grow to an age when they must become self-reliant while we allow a government that we elect to spend our children and grandchildren into financial ruin? By what reasoning do we allow our children to be indoctrinated to value "group think" and "avoidance of (or even absence of) consequences" while we fail to teach them that any person or government that is strong or big enough to give them anything is also big and strong enough to take everything away?
One of my own grandchildren has become a victim of this American failure. I am embarrassed that I was not aware and did nothing to attempt to provide some counter instruction. I am embarrassed for all of us who assumed a dedication by our educational and political systems on the part of those who educated and who have and continue to rule us. Our cost of our negligence will be visited upon our descendants and, if justice is served, we will be reviled by those who come after as narcissistic cowards who failed our offspring. I would apologize, but those would just be words...I have already allowed others to throw the sticks and stones.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
We are a "stricken" country!
I suspect that most of the citizens of Greece and of Rome were surprised when their civilizations collapsed. After all, just living life and taking care of one's responsibilities to provide for one's family and to attend to each of our obligations takes time and attention. We all tend...and I thing the citizens of Rome and Greece also..to trust those with governmental power to preserve our safety.
We assume!
Of course we are aware of just how wrong that is...but we do it anyhow. In part, we do it because those who got our vote promised us that they would look out for us...and, after all, they grew up in our town or county and knew what our attitudes were. How could we expect that they would ignore us in favor of "strangers?" Yet...they did. And do.
Once our politicians leave our (their) town...they don't want to come back. Even running for re-election is a chore and make them uncomfortable. Just watch them at local "Town Halls." Notice how controlled it is! Notice how it "feels" like "us" versus "him (or her)". Didn't feel that way the first time he or she ran for office, did it?
They went to Washington and became part of a new community. The Washington establishment doesn't truly care about your town, your county, or your state. They no longer are a part of it. They have become a part of the elite establishment who, as a group, reassure each other that they "know best" and that your interests are just "wrong."
Are any of you who read this post for even one instant think this isn't so? Are you that naive? Or that wrapped up in your individual life pressures that you haven't noticed? You have been...and continue to be...scammed. Conned. Lied to. And...IGNORED.
But...you are too busy to do anything about it, so our country is stricken and on the way to oblivion.
We assume!
Of course we are aware of just how wrong that is...but we do it anyhow. In part, we do it because those who got our vote promised us that they would look out for us...and, after all, they grew up in our town or county and knew what our attitudes were. How could we expect that they would ignore us in favor of "strangers?" Yet...they did. And do.
Once our politicians leave our (their) town...they don't want to come back. Even running for re-election is a chore and make them uncomfortable. Just watch them at local "Town Halls." Notice how controlled it is! Notice how it "feels" like "us" versus "him (or her)". Didn't feel that way the first time he or she ran for office, did it?
They went to Washington and became part of a new community. The Washington establishment doesn't truly care about your town, your county, or your state. They no longer are a part of it. They have become a part of the elite establishment who, as a group, reassure each other that they "know best" and that your interests are just "wrong."
Are any of you who read this post for even one instant think this isn't so? Are you that naive? Or that wrapped up in your individual life pressures that you haven't noticed? You have been...and continue to be...scammed. Conned. Lied to. And...IGNORED.
But...you are too busy to do anything about it, so our country is stricken and on the way to oblivion.
Monday, June 13, 2016
Have we become a nation of "victims?"
Once upon a time (and, no...this is not a fairy tale) America was a country full of people who "did" things. Our forefathers never ever expected to be given anything; they expected to live or die on the basis of whether they succeeded or not. And many did die. The actual number of people that died as America was settled and then expanded west is unknown...at least I have never seen any estimate supported by good research. Those who survived accomplished amazing things.
These people were of all kinds: kind, cruel, gifted, lucky and all sorts of other mixes of character traits. The common trait, however, was that they had only themselves to rely on and that meant they had to take responsibility for the path that their lives took. They were doers...NOT watchers. They acted. They acted to accomplish goals: to eat, live, support their family, to defend their family. None of them...that survived...expected this to be done for them. They didn't sit around waiting for someone else to support or protect them.
Very few people of that frame of mind exist in America today. Those that do are vilified as cruel, unkind, uncaring and/or racist...in addition to many other terms of disrespect. Why? For two main reasons: 1. that sort of attitude is embarrassing to those who are supported by government handouts and if acknowledged as a good thing would leave the recipients feeling "less than";2. the politicians who use the "giving" of other peoples' money to those who don't achieve in order to "buy" their votes and thereby remain in office do not want that fact...or the fact that they usually never keep their promises...highlighted, lest they lose their position of power. I can remember the days of the Community Chest and local Churches and Charities taking care of the "deserving" poor. Yes...I said "deserving." Because in those days every town and county had hard working folk who had disaster visited upon them unexpectedly and were as hard-working as any other member of the community...they deserved help. Likewise, every town had some who were poor out of lack of effort or impulse, making a career out of looking for a hand out. Those folk were never indulged...except for the "elitists" and Progressives in town who were rich and make themselves feel worthy by ostensibly giving funds to any poor person providing it could be done ostentatiously...in public.
Today's America is populated by an increasing number of passive and active "victims." Almost half now receive money from the government that has no basis on their contributions to government programs, like Social Security. That is money that was paid by the recipients over past years, and that is repaid by the government now on the basis of how much you contributed during your working and productive years. No...I am talking about reverse taxation, unemployment, welfare and the like.
There was a time when a majority of people who found themselves in a position to have to take such support were embarrassed to do so; they knew that they hadn't earned it, and looked forward to getting back on their feet so that they could take pride in living off of what they earned. No such embarrassment today; in fact, there is a certain pride and braggadocio exhibited by those who are "stealing" tax dollars from those who do work and pay the taxes that are so blithely redistributed by politicians. And the majority allow this sort of attitude...even applaud it. I find it disgusting.
The same goes for defending ourselves. We allow the government to abandon guarding or enforcing our borders. We make excuses to not hold those that attack us accountable, thereby keeping from having to react in any forceful way to eliminate such attacks. A majority sit around as if there is nothing to be done...except to chant mantras and call for peace and love. I remember a saying common when I was growing up: "God helps those that help themselves." One didn't sit around moaning about something...you did something about it. Maybe you failed, but you tried. You didn't whine about it or mis-characterize it for some unrelated agenda item. It wasn't about words. It was about doing! Victims whine. Independent free human beings act, and take pride in that fact.
Too bad that America has forgotten how to do that.
These people were of all kinds: kind, cruel, gifted, lucky and all sorts of other mixes of character traits. The common trait, however, was that they had only themselves to rely on and that meant they had to take responsibility for the path that their lives took. They were doers...NOT watchers. They acted. They acted to accomplish goals: to eat, live, support their family, to defend their family. None of them...that survived...expected this to be done for them. They didn't sit around waiting for someone else to support or protect them.
Very few people of that frame of mind exist in America today. Those that do are vilified as cruel, unkind, uncaring and/or racist...in addition to many other terms of disrespect. Why? For two main reasons: 1. that sort of attitude is embarrassing to those who are supported by government handouts and if acknowledged as a good thing would leave the recipients feeling "less than";2. the politicians who use the "giving" of other peoples' money to those who don't achieve in order to "buy" their votes and thereby remain in office do not want that fact...or the fact that they usually never keep their promises...highlighted, lest they lose their position of power. I can remember the days of the Community Chest and local Churches and Charities taking care of the "deserving" poor. Yes...I said "deserving." Because in those days every town and county had hard working folk who had disaster visited upon them unexpectedly and were as hard-working as any other member of the community...they deserved help. Likewise, every town had some who were poor out of lack of effort or impulse, making a career out of looking for a hand out. Those folk were never indulged...except for the "elitists" and Progressives in town who were rich and make themselves feel worthy by ostensibly giving funds to any poor person providing it could be done ostentatiously...in public.
Today's America is populated by an increasing number of passive and active "victims." Almost half now receive money from the government that has no basis on their contributions to government programs, like Social Security. That is money that was paid by the recipients over past years, and that is repaid by the government now on the basis of how much you contributed during your working and productive years. No...I am talking about reverse taxation, unemployment, welfare and the like.
There was a time when a majority of people who found themselves in a position to have to take such support were embarrassed to do so; they knew that they hadn't earned it, and looked forward to getting back on their feet so that they could take pride in living off of what they earned. No such embarrassment today; in fact, there is a certain pride and braggadocio exhibited by those who are "stealing" tax dollars from those who do work and pay the taxes that are so blithely redistributed by politicians. And the majority allow this sort of attitude...even applaud it. I find it disgusting.
The same goes for defending ourselves. We allow the government to abandon guarding or enforcing our borders. We make excuses to not hold those that attack us accountable, thereby keeping from having to react in any forceful way to eliminate such attacks. A majority sit around as if there is nothing to be done...except to chant mantras and call for peace and love. I remember a saying common when I was growing up: "God helps those that help themselves." One didn't sit around moaning about something...you did something about it. Maybe you failed, but you tried. You didn't whine about it or mis-characterize it for some unrelated agenda item. It wasn't about words. It was about doing! Victims whine. Independent free human beings act, and take pride in that fact.
Too bad that America has forgotten how to do that.
Monday, February 15, 2016
Is Government becoming our "God" substitute?
Even a cursory scan of History reveals a significant involvement presence of "God" in governing. And the records show that it wasn't a particularly "hard" sell; a vast majority of human beings all over the planet have an instinct to look to a "higher power", while any and all of those who wished to govern found it both effective and useful to claim direction from an unassailable higher being that could be challenged at the human level. Even today, we see religion playing a huge role around the world in establishing a "right to rule."
Countries and Rulers who attempted to eliminate any reliance on authority from a higher power have been seen to have a limited shelf life. The exist as long as military force supports the head of State, but collapses when that support disappears, usually accompanied by a lot of ill will.
A common view is that this is because of two elements: 1) as mentioned above, it is nice for a ruler to be able to play "good cop" to God as the "bad cop" when ruling...it allows the human to take credit and kudos for the good things, and blame the bad things on an unassailable and unreachable entity with unlimited power and authority; and 2) many people truly believe in an "Almighty God" and do not need significant convincing to accept the concept.
The Founding Fathers clearly saw that any successful governing entity required the granting of authority of a Higher Power, stipulating that the right to govern was given man by God, and was inalienable. They depended on the concept that by placing governing power in the hands of many, there would be less chance of any one individual claiming, acquiring and exercising his or her personal views by representing them as God's will. All of those who were influential recognized the challenge. Some were expecting success...probably the majority. Others, like Jefferson, thought that the attempt had promise but a limited life span; as he said, "ultimately government becomes the enemy of individual freedom." And they all recognized that the time could very well come when the government they founded would cease to be responsive to God and the People, thus requiring still another revolution.
When there is a general acceptance that governance is ultimately responsible to "God" there is a tendency to grumble when personal lives don't go very well...but most of the time (with exceptions, like the French Revolution) that is where it stops. For more to occur, the "stand-ins" for God have to be supremely stupid...and that does occur. When there is no concept of authority from God, it is much easier for those who object to governmental decisions to brand them as unacceptable and to claim just as much right to rule as does the person in charge. Thus...governmental chaos can occur, followed by a period of optimism to be followed once again by chaos...and so forth.
America has evolved into a state of confusion in this regard. We still have "In God we Trust" on our money. A majority, as slim as it might be today, still sees us as a Judaeo-Christian country that looks to the moral elements of the ten commandments as imperatives. At the same time, our Supreme Court has seen the Constitution's ban on "establishing" an official religion, a ban designed to allow each person the right to worship God in his or her own way, as a direction to remove God from public places.
Similarly, the public and the courts have eroded the once automatic alignment of law and morals as delineated in the Ten Commandments, making legal all manner of activities that were once seen as unacceptable. Increased right to litigation has led to a remarkable lowering of standards considered previously as required civil behavior, the elimination of which once would have effectively brought about the shunning of the miscreant by all in a community. Now they appear to be on the verge of being the majority. Our leaders seem to delight in talking about God but ignoring God when governing.
Government, and human beings, make poor governors; both best succeed when they see themselves as tools, rather than the ultimate authority. At the very least, an elected leader needs to always remember that he serves all of the people...NOT as a God or an authority, but as a representative and servant. Politicians in our Republic have been quick to announce that they are elected because of their judgement and knowledge and ability to deal with many factors; they point to their background and relevant experiences as why they will decide for the people what the best decisions should be. I find this presumptuous and repugnant; I fail to understand why so many citizens just accept this balderdash as authoritative.
But no longer do our leaders look to the people for guidance as to what the people want. And they eliminate any concept of praying for guidance from any higher power either. They have determined to be an authority of and for themselves. The attempt to create a government for the people, by the people and of the people (with a presumption that all were accountable to "God") has become a government for the government and the office holders, by the government and the office holders, and of the government and its office holders.
It is hard to see how this will ever turn out well for what once was the United States of America.
Countries and Rulers who attempted to eliminate any reliance on authority from a higher power have been seen to have a limited shelf life. The exist as long as military force supports the head of State, but collapses when that support disappears, usually accompanied by a lot of ill will.
A common view is that this is because of two elements: 1) as mentioned above, it is nice for a ruler to be able to play "good cop" to God as the "bad cop" when ruling...it allows the human to take credit and kudos for the good things, and blame the bad things on an unassailable and unreachable entity with unlimited power and authority; and 2) many people truly believe in an "Almighty God" and do not need significant convincing to accept the concept.
The Founding Fathers clearly saw that any successful governing entity required the granting of authority of a Higher Power, stipulating that the right to govern was given man by God, and was inalienable. They depended on the concept that by placing governing power in the hands of many, there would be less chance of any one individual claiming, acquiring and exercising his or her personal views by representing them as God's will. All of those who were influential recognized the challenge. Some were expecting success...probably the majority. Others, like Jefferson, thought that the attempt had promise but a limited life span; as he said, "ultimately government becomes the enemy of individual freedom." And they all recognized that the time could very well come when the government they founded would cease to be responsive to God and the People, thus requiring still another revolution.
When there is a general acceptance that governance is ultimately responsible to "God" there is a tendency to grumble when personal lives don't go very well...but most of the time (with exceptions, like the French Revolution) that is where it stops. For more to occur, the "stand-ins" for God have to be supremely stupid...and that does occur. When there is no concept of authority from God, it is much easier for those who object to governmental decisions to brand them as unacceptable and to claim just as much right to rule as does the person in charge. Thus...governmental chaos can occur, followed by a period of optimism to be followed once again by chaos...and so forth.
America has evolved into a state of confusion in this regard. We still have "In God we Trust" on our money. A majority, as slim as it might be today, still sees us as a Judaeo-Christian country that looks to the moral elements of the ten commandments as imperatives. At the same time, our Supreme Court has seen the Constitution's ban on "establishing" an official religion, a ban designed to allow each person the right to worship God in his or her own way, as a direction to remove God from public places.
Similarly, the public and the courts have eroded the once automatic alignment of law and morals as delineated in the Ten Commandments, making legal all manner of activities that were once seen as unacceptable. Increased right to litigation has led to a remarkable lowering of standards considered previously as required civil behavior, the elimination of which once would have effectively brought about the shunning of the miscreant by all in a community. Now they appear to be on the verge of being the majority. Our leaders seem to delight in talking about God but ignoring God when governing.
Government, and human beings, make poor governors; both best succeed when they see themselves as tools, rather than the ultimate authority. At the very least, an elected leader needs to always remember that he serves all of the people...NOT as a God or an authority, but as a representative and servant. Politicians in our Republic have been quick to announce that they are elected because of their judgement and knowledge and ability to deal with many factors; they point to their background and relevant experiences as why they will decide for the people what the best decisions should be. I find this presumptuous and repugnant; I fail to understand why so many citizens just accept this balderdash as authoritative.
But no longer do our leaders look to the people for guidance as to what the people want. And they eliminate any concept of praying for guidance from any higher power either. They have determined to be an authority of and for themselves. The attempt to create a government for the people, by the people and of the people (with a presumption that all were accountable to "God") has become a government for the government and the office holders, by the government and the office holders, and of the government and its office holders.
It is hard to see how this will ever turn out well for what once was the United States of America.
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Does Socialist Governing make for a resigned populace?
During my life I have had opportunities to visit many different countries. Many of them were, at the time of my visit, ruled by governments that were Socialist in nature...some even coming close to Dictatorships. And, over time, I have noticed a peculiar constancy of national attitude: the level of "contentedness" is the inverse of the level of personal freedoms. The higher the level of government control of personal and business life, the lower the level of happiness and the higher an attitude of "resignation."
There have been volumes written about the financial toll as well as the results of Socialist, Marxist and even Communist governing. And one finds it hard to disagree with the fact that those types of governments have always ultimately failed...usually after having exhausted the earnings and savings of the "rich" to finance government benefits. It is undeniable that during this period of governance there is a sense of "happiness" and contentment with this approach.
One difficulty with all of this is that during this period of euphoria over low cost or "free" benefits, the majority become accustomed to doing less work, lowering production as well as efforts to succeed; after all, the government is guaranteeing an acceptable existence without any consequences from failed performance...one need not "earn" anything. It is, indeed, the good life...apparently. And people adjust to that attitude.
But ultimately life demands the discovery and acknowledgement that there is no such thing as "free" anything...lunch, government benefits, guarantees, etc. This is not a "happy" discovery, even to those who know in their depths of soul what the truth is...no one enjoys playing life's equivalent of Musical Chairs when the loser finds his family going hungry, without housing, and having lost the knowledge and conditioning to be independent.
Many of those nation states then turn to anarchy and slowly develop new government entities that for a time do not forget the lessons of the previous experience.
This commentary is NOT about those.
There are nations that even after the early blush of easy benefits continue to support a Socialist style governing...it usually has some democratic element, such as elections and the appearance or fact of some popular representation, yet applying the leveling elements of a Socialist environment. Much of Europe is governed in this manner.
One of these nations is Norway. My father immigrated to the United States almost a century ago; he waited for years and had to have a sponsor that guaranteed that he had a job ready for him, and had a place to live, and generally could show that he would not be a burden to the government or to anyone if he were allowed to come to the United States. In due course he became a citizen...and held the United States in high esteem for the rest of his life; we were told that while our heritage was important, we were first and finally Americans and this was our country and to which we owed our total allegiance. We were here to be a part of the American existence, not to complain or try to change it.
Why did he come to America? Because he was from a family that had fallen on hard times, with the early and unexpected death of his father. Norway guaranteed an existence. He would never have gone hungry. He would never not have had a job.
But...he could never have improved his existence. He couldn't save enough to buy property and build a house...the taxes were too high. Sure, that meant that he never had to pay for Doctors or hospital or elderly care services. But he could not improve his personal existence. The governmental system protected his status, but did not allow him the financial freedom to improve it.
America guaranteed nothing...BUT the chance, the opportunity, to risk all but allow him the reward as well as the consequences of his own efforts. THAT is what America used to offer; it is the essence of a Capitalistic and Democratic governing status.
That opportunity to succeed on the basis of your individual efforts...as well as the risk of failure...is what makes democracies different from Socialist nations. And that governing approach encourages an optimistic point of view as well as the total effort to succeed on a self-reliant basis. For my father and for many of his friends, a government guarantee would have been an insult...an indication that someone thought they weren't good enough to succeed on their own, that they were "less-than" others. Even during the Great Depression, my father did whatever work he could find and never once doubted that he would survive and ultimately succeed. Even during that period, my father remained optimistic, knowing...believing...that the hard times would pass and he would then succeed.
His attitude was the same that our Founding Fathers must have had; they wanted independence, not patriarchal or matriarchal care and governance.
Americans always have complained...but they also found much to support their internal happiness. For every element in their lives that were a challenge, there was one or more that provided a source of happiness, of opportunity, of joy. No one problem was insurmountable.
In socialist nations the government is the single, overwhelming element in your life; if you have a problem and the government cannot "fix" it, it will never be fixed. You are locked into a level of existence and, while that might be insured, you will rarely be able to change it or improve your place in that society. And that promotes a certain sense of resignation and even sadness that colors your existence. Oh sure, there are celebrations and moments of joy...but they are temporary and often seem transparently unable to hide the underlying sense of having to be satisfied with what and where you are.
Lately, I have found myself looking around and growing sad as so many Americans seem to be coming to the conclusion that their only choice is to take what the government can provide, feeling uneasy but finally accepting the not-always-so-slow incursion of government into their lives, regulating how they can live, what they can say, what they can read or hear, who or what they may worship in public. Like wild pigs, they are becoming comfortable with being fed, instead of foraging on their own, and ignore the erection of a fence on one side of the food, to be followed by the erection of a second side...and so on, until they will find that they have allowed themselves to be imprisoned and no longer have any freedom of choice at all. And then they, too, will feel what my father felt so long ago in Norway; an imprisoned existence. And there will be no "United States of America" to hold the promise of a different way of life.
There have been volumes written about the financial toll as well as the results of Socialist, Marxist and even Communist governing. And one finds it hard to disagree with the fact that those types of governments have always ultimately failed...usually after having exhausted the earnings and savings of the "rich" to finance government benefits. It is undeniable that during this period of governance there is a sense of "happiness" and contentment with this approach.
One difficulty with all of this is that during this period of euphoria over low cost or "free" benefits, the majority become accustomed to doing less work, lowering production as well as efforts to succeed; after all, the government is guaranteeing an acceptable existence without any consequences from failed performance...one need not "earn" anything. It is, indeed, the good life...apparently. And people adjust to that attitude.
But ultimately life demands the discovery and acknowledgement that there is no such thing as "free" anything...lunch, government benefits, guarantees, etc. This is not a "happy" discovery, even to those who know in their depths of soul what the truth is...no one enjoys playing life's equivalent of Musical Chairs when the loser finds his family going hungry, without housing, and having lost the knowledge and conditioning to be independent.
Many of those nation states then turn to anarchy and slowly develop new government entities that for a time do not forget the lessons of the previous experience.
This commentary is NOT about those.
There are nations that even after the early blush of easy benefits continue to support a Socialist style governing...it usually has some democratic element, such as elections and the appearance or fact of some popular representation, yet applying the leveling elements of a Socialist environment. Much of Europe is governed in this manner.
One of these nations is Norway. My father immigrated to the United States almost a century ago; he waited for years and had to have a sponsor that guaranteed that he had a job ready for him, and had a place to live, and generally could show that he would not be a burden to the government or to anyone if he were allowed to come to the United States. In due course he became a citizen...and held the United States in high esteem for the rest of his life; we were told that while our heritage was important, we were first and finally Americans and this was our country and to which we owed our total allegiance. We were here to be a part of the American existence, not to complain or try to change it.
Why did he come to America? Because he was from a family that had fallen on hard times, with the early and unexpected death of his father. Norway guaranteed an existence. He would never have gone hungry. He would never not have had a job.
But...he could never have improved his existence. He couldn't save enough to buy property and build a house...the taxes were too high. Sure, that meant that he never had to pay for Doctors or hospital or elderly care services. But he could not improve his personal existence. The governmental system protected his status, but did not allow him the financial freedom to improve it.
America guaranteed nothing...BUT the chance, the opportunity, to risk all but allow him the reward as well as the consequences of his own efforts. THAT is what America used to offer; it is the essence of a Capitalistic and Democratic governing status.
That opportunity to succeed on the basis of your individual efforts...as well as the risk of failure...is what makes democracies different from Socialist nations. And that governing approach encourages an optimistic point of view as well as the total effort to succeed on a self-reliant basis. For my father and for many of his friends, a government guarantee would have been an insult...an indication that someone thought they weren't good enough to succeed on their own, that they were "less-than" others. Even during the Great Depression, my father did whatever work he could find and never once doubted that he would survive and ultimately succeed. Even during that period, my father remained optimistic, knowing...believing...that the hard times would pass and he would then succeed.
His attitude was the same that our Founding Fathers must have had; they wanted independence, not patriarchal or matriarchal care and governance.
Americans always have complained...but they also found much to support their internal happiness. For every element in their lives that were a challenge, there was one or more that provided a source of happiness, of opportunity, of joy. No one problem was insurmountable.
In socialist nations the government is the single, overwhelming element in your life; if you have a problem and the government cannot "fix" it, it will never be fixed. You are locked into a level of existence and, while that might be insured, you will rarely be able to change it or improve your place in that society. And that promotes a certain sense of resignation and even sadness that colors your existence. Oh sure, there are celebrations and moments of joy...but they are temporary and often seem transparently unable to hide the underlying sense of having to be satisfied with what and where you are.
Lately, I have found myself looking around and growing sad as so many Americans seem to be coming to the conclusion that their only choice is to take what the government can provide, feeling uneasy but finally accepting the not-always-so-slow incursion of government into their lives, regulating how they can live, what they can say, what they can read or hear, who or what they may worship in public. Like wild pigs, they are becoming comfortable with being fed, instead of foraging on their own, and ignore the erection of a fence on one side of the food, to be followed by the erection of a second side...and so on, until they will find that they have allowed themselves to be imprisoned and no longer have any freedom of choice at all. And then they, too, will feel what my father felt so long ago in Norway; an imprisoned existence. And there will be no "United States of America" to hold the promise of a different way of life.
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Why do we Disrespect Congress?
I will admit to disrespecting Congress...a lot. If I want to be totally truthful, it usually rises to the level of hatred. But lately, I am stung by the question, "why?" Oh, I can complain about their actions (or perhaps I should say inaction). I can marvel at their ability to squander money that we as taxpayers had to work hard to earn, only to watch our politicians treat it like so much dirty water...to be splashed about and not even clean anything up.
It occurred to me earlier this week that I was blaming the forest, instead of the individual trees...and by doing so, was insuring that nothing would ever change. And it can be argued that most of us in America do the same thing. Of course there are reasons for this: we are busy earning a living; we believed and expected our Congressman (or woman) and Senator to do what they promised; others know more about the governmental challenges than do we. These are all legitimate points and facts.
But...it is our government. At least on paper. We are the ones doing the voting.
Perhaps we have our priorities wrong. Maybe checking on whether or not our Congressman and/or Senator is doing his job is a bit more important that watching that third football game of the day. Maybe writing or calling our Representative and asking why he voted for or against a particular bill...and asking directly (Yes,...or No) if he actually read it before voting is a mite more important than that tv movie.
Maybe our anger should not be at Congress, but at our own (the guy or gal that is supposed to be serving us, protecting us, listening to us, fulfilling their promises to us) particular member of the House of Representatives and/or our United States Senator. Perhaps it is time to tell them that their allegiance should be to us, not their party and certainly not the leaders of their party. We didn't elect a party...we elected a person. That person made promises and took an oath. We should be checking to see if they are keeping their promises, if they are fulfilling their duties to which they took that oath...instead of feathering their own or others' nests or making self-serving deals and not respecting our wishes and our needs.
Oh, they will scream bloody murder...much as our children do when we check on them and insure that they are doing their homework and keeping the right kind of company. But if we are going to serve ourselves and meet our own obligations to both us and our country, we need to treat our elected officials just as we do our children: trust...but verify. There are some that are doing their job for us. There are others that will only do it if we monitor them and hold their feet to the fire...or whatever other euphemism you want to use.
We should get on with it.
It occurred to me earlier this week that I was blaming the forest, instead of the individual trees...and by doing so, was insuring that nothing would ever change. And it can be argued that most of us in America do the same thing. Of course there are reasons for this: we are busy earning a living; we believed and expected our Congressman (or woman) and Senator to do what they promised; others know more about the governmental challenges than do we. These are all legitimate points and facts.
But...it is our government. At least on paper. We are the ones doing the voting.
Perhaps we have our priorities wrong. Maybe checking on whether or not our Congressman and/or Senator is doing his job is a bit more important that watching that third football game of the day. Maybe writing or calling our Representative and asking why he voted for or against a particular bill...and asking directly (Yes,...or No) if he actually read it before voting is a mite more important than that tv movie.
Maybe our anger should not be at Congress, but at our own (the guy or gal that is supposed to be serving us, protecting us, listening to us, fulfilling their promises to us) particular member of the House of Representatives and/or our United States Senator. Perhaps it is time to tell them that their allegiance should be to us, not their party and certainly not the leaders of their party. We didn't elect a party...we elected a person. That person made promises and took an oath. We should be checking to see if they are keeping their promises, if they are fulfilling their duties to which they took that oath...instead of feathering their own or others' nests or making self-serving deals and not respecting our wishes and our needs.
Oh, they will scream bloody murder...much as our children do when we check on them and insure that they are doing their homework and keeping the right kind of company. But if we are going to serve ourselves and meet our own obligations to both us and our country, we need to treat our elected officials just as we do our children: trust...but verify. There are some that are doing their job for us. There are others that will only do it if we monitor them and hold their feet to the fire...or whatever other euphemism you want to use.
We should get on with it.
Sunday, July 5, 2015
America has left me behind...and I miss her!
I am glad that I am in my twilight years and won't have to suffer the emotional pain for long. It hurts me and I feel sad when events force me to think about what has happened to and in the America that I have loved my whole life.
My parents were immigrants. My father came to this country poor, but with a work ethic and a friend who guaranteed the government that there would be a job and a place for him to stay...a requirement for legal immigration in those days. That may still be so...I don't know. But...my Dad just wanted a chance to see what hard work on his part might accomplish. No guarantees, no promises...just a chance. He didn't speak English, so he took whatever job was available. He learned the language...not perfectly, but well enough, and to read and write it...he wanted to; he saw America as the embodiment of what he wanted to become. He wanted the freedom to put himself on the line and see if he could succeed.
It took him some time to achieve what he saw as success. He and, later, my mother worked long hours. First it was for others then for themselves. They went through the Great Depression and were intent on being prepared should another ever occur. They saved. The borrowed only to purchase a house...and that with misgivings. We never spent money we did not have...that was anathema to them.They taught me to read and to do simple math early in life and explained that those skills would enable me to educate myself and not be dependent on others. And there was no such thing as an excuse for not taking advantage of schooling: I was required to have perfect attention, to do all homework (and show it to my parents daily), and to achieve good grades as they explained that education was the key to getting a chance to succeed in life.
My father never took a Social Security payment...ever...despite living to almost 70. He had saved and he saw taking anything from the government as a hand-out. He had left his native land at a time when his mother had no money and the family had significant debts. Over the years, with increasing means he paid every one of those debts off in full, with interest (even if interest was not demanded).
He gave to those who came on hard times through no fault of their own...but refused even the time of day to those who did not try; those who were slackers, liars, cheaters and what in those days were called naer-do-wells were to be looked upon as unworthy and disreputable and not to ever even be around.
I grew up in an America where to be respected, your word had to be good...it was your bond. And work was honored, and doing your utmost was the standard. Dependence on the good will of others was seen as embarrassing and a failure and you would all you could to get out of that situation, pay back what had been given and again regain your place as a contributing member of the community, not a taker.
Civil discourse was the norm. People could argue on many things: religion, politics, raising children and more. But those arguments were conducted with personal respect of each other...for the right of every person to his or her opinion. And we used good language: whole sentences, with decent construction. In those days, "Sailor's" language was not used in mixed company and only occasionally even when men got together. And even then there was a certain embarrassment after some of the utterances...it just wasn't polite and generally was seen as a sign of an inadequate vocabulary. How much more effective, we felt, to use a word of criticism that required the other person to run to a dictionary, rather than revert to clearly inapplicable scatological utterances.
Classmates of mine in High School got jobs upon graduation: good jobs that paid well. Some of them used the pay from those jobs save up enough to later get a College Education to pursue and dream to which they were dedicated. And some took an occasional course to extend their knowledge but were content to live in the practical world of having a loving family and supporting it and themselves. Those of us who went to college, went with a dream. We wanted to achieve something in particular. Of course in the midst of the striving, the dream often changed a bit...but there was never the thought of spending on a College Education because of any right or entitlement: it was a gift of opportunity and not a way of avoiding the real world or military service. That would have been dishonorable and a waste of our money...or, in some cases, our parents' money...in in even more cases, both our and our parents' money.
That America no longer exists. I liked my country. I respected my country. I respected the morals and the ten commandments of that country. And I respected the immigrants who come to this country according to its laws and with the intent to become Americans...not to bring their previous country's practices and attitudes and languages and make America more like them. They wanted to become Americans. And, except for the grandmothers and grandfathers...they did just that.
Now, everyone seems to believe that consequences of one's actions are a thing of the past. That no one should be either expected or required to earn a living, but should be given any job they want and not held to standards. People "working" for the government don't do their jobs, lie about it and are never held accountable. Our government spends money it doesn't have and claims that it doesn't matter. Our politicians lie to us with increasing frequency and are not only not embarrassed by it...they don't even admit it. And the Press which for decades was a watchdog over all facets of government activity, protecting the public by shining the light of truth, now joins with those in power to protect them from any revelation to the public. Meanwhile the "public" apparently has come to believe that there is such a thing as a "Free" lunch...or free anything. Make that everything.
I miss the America that called out to my parents. I miss the America that I grew up in and both enjoyed and revered for much of my life. I don't recognize the country I now live in...it is still called America, but it no longer has the soul of the country into which I was born and raised. And it makes me feel sad.
My parents were immigrants. My father came to this country poor, but with a work ethic and a friend who guaranteed the government that there would be a job and a place for him to stay...a requirement for legal immigration in those days. That may still be so...I don't know. But...my Dad just wanted a chance to see what hard work on his part might accomplish. No guarantees, no promises...just a chance. He didn't speak English, so he took whatever job was available. He learned the language...not perfectly, but well enough, and to read and write it...he wanted to; he saw America as the embodiment of what he wanted to become. He wanted the freedom to put himself on the line and see if he could succeed.
It took him some time to achieve what he saw as success. He and, later, my mother worked long hours. First it was for others then for themselves. They went through the Great Depression and were intent on being prepared should another ever occur. They saved. The borrowed only to purchase a house...and that with misgivings. We never spent money we did not have...that was anathema to them.They taught me to read and to do simple math early in life and explained that those skills would enable me to educate myself and not be dependent on others. And there was no such thing as an excuse for not taking advantage of schooling: I was required to have perfect attention, to do all homework (and show it to my parents daily), and to achieve good grades as they explained that education was the key to getting a chance to succeed in life.
My father never took a Social Security payment...ever...despite living to almost 70. He had saved and he saw taking anything from the government as a hand-out. He had left his native land at a time when his mother had no money and the family had significant debts. Over the years, with increasing means he paid every one of those debts off in full, with interest (even if interest was not demanded).
He gave to those who came on hard times through no fault of their own...but refused even the time of day to those who did not try; those who were slackers, liars, cheaters and what in those days were called naer-do-wells were to be looked upon as unworthy and disreputable and not to ever even be around.
I grew up in an America where to be respected, your word had to be good...it was your bond. And work was honored, and doing your utmost was the standard. Dependence on the good will of others was seen as embarrassing and a failure and you would all you could to get out of that situation, pay back what had been given and again regain your place as a contributing member of the community, not a taker.
Civil discourse was the norm. People could argue on many things: religion, politics, raising children and more. But those arguments were conducted with personal respect of each other...for the right of every person to his or her opinion. And we used good language: whole sentences, with decent construction. In those days, "Sailor's" language was not used in mixed company and only occasionally even when men got together. And even then there was a certain embarrassment after some of the utterances...it just wasn't polite and generally was seen as a sign of an inadequate vocabulary. How much more effective, we felt, to use a word of criticism that required the other person to run to a dictionary, rather than revert to clearly inapplicable scatological utterances.
Classmates of mine in High School got jobs upon graduation: good jobs that paid well. Some of them used the pay from those jobs save up enough to later get a College Education to pursue and dream to which they were dedicated. And some took an occasional course to extend their knowledge but were content to live in the practical world of having a loving family and supporting it and themselves. Those of us who went to college, went with a dream. We wanted to achieve something in particular. Of course in the midst of the striving, the dream often changed a bit...but there was never the thought of spending on a College Education because of any right or entitlement: it was a gift of opportunity and not a way of avoiding the real world or military service. That would have been dishonorable and a waste of our money...or, in some cases, our parents' money...in in even more cases, both our and our parents' money.
That America no longer exists. I liked my country. I respected my country. I respected the morals and the ten commandments of that country. And I respected the immigrants who come to this country according to its laws and with the intent to become Americans...not to bring their previous country's practices and attitudes and languages and make America more like them. They wanted to become Americans. And, except for the grandmothers and grandfathers...they did just that.
Now, everyone seems to believe that consequences of one's actions are a thing of the past. That no one should be either expected or required to earn a living, but should be given any job they want and not held to standards. People "working" for the government don't do their jobs, lie about it and are never held accountable. Our government spends money it doesn't have and claims that it doesn't matter. Our politicians lie to us with increasing frequency and are not only not embarrassed by it...they don't even admit it. And the Press which for decades was a watchdog over all facets of government activity, protecting the public by shining the light of truth, now joins with those in power to protect them from any revelation to the public. Meanwhile the "public" apparently has come to believe that there is such a thing as a "Free" lunch...or free anything. Make that everything.
I miss the America that called out to my parents. I miss the America that I grew up in and both enjoyed and revered for much of my life. I don't recognize the country I now live in...it is still called America, but it no longer has the soul of the country into which I was born and raised. And it makes me feel sad.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
I Truly don't Understand
I used to think that America's biggest problems came in the political arena.
Perhaps that was incorrect. I have been avoiding the news for quite a time now, because it was just so disturbing and disquieting. The political events in this country just seem beyond control, and I was just not ready to even consider the reports of every day events. After all...the news is always bad. No one ever makes money reporting good news.
But...I cannot understand how Americans have allowed their lives to deteriorate to the degree that nightly news reports suggest is becoming the norm.
Child molestation is apparently now being "punished" by probation or less than one year sentences. There was a time when such a crime would require the death penalty with approbation from all. Those with criminal records that show a consistent lack of honor for a civil life when suffering invited injury or death by law enforcement are eulogized by demonstrators, some of the most vocal of which are clearly interested more in defying law of any sort rather than any individual injustice.
Colleges refuse to allow movies or discussions about abortion criticisms, but refuse to allow the showing of a movie documenting "honor" killings by Muslims and other domestic violence practiced by Muslim extremists. Charter Schools in NY that provide true opportunity to disadvantaged students are closed by the NYC Mayor arguably elected by that same electorate.
HUD is a vehicle to bring the wrath of the Federal Government on property owners who operate in good faith on the basis of just one complaint, with absolutely no showing of a balanced view of counter claims, thereby threatening fiscal disaster to individuals and HOAs across the country.
Ever try to get the government's help on anything? Unless you claimed minority status, did you ever get any satisfaction? The odds are great that you would answer "no." Why is that? We live with the belief that the government exists to serve us, right? But it turns out that our belief is an illusion. Our government's actions would appear to prove that it serves their own officials, both elected and appointed, and those who can pay them (with votes or money...or both). So we are being governed by a dictatorship by committee...and we are powerless to defend ourselves.
I have this feeling that when I die, it will be by natural causes...whether that is true, or really by government action or neglect I do not know, but I know what I suspect...
Perhaps that was incorrect. I have been avoiding the news for quite a time now, because it was just so disturbing and disquieting. The political events in this country just seem beyond control, and I was just not ready to even consider the reports of every day events. After all...the news is always bad. No one ever makes money reporting good news.
But...I cannot understand how Americans have allowed their lives to deteriorate to the degree that nightly news reports suggest is becoming the norm.
Child molestation is apparently now being "punished" by probation or less than one year sentences. There was a time when such a crime would require the death penalty with approbation from all. Those with criminal records that show a consistent lack of honor for a civil life when suffering invited injury or death by law enforcement are eulogized by demonstrators, some of the most vocal of which are clearly interested more in defying law of any sort rather than any individual injustice.
Colleges refuse to allow movies or discussions about abortion criticisms, but refuse to allow the showing of a movie documenting "honor" killings by Muslims and other domestic violence practiced by Muslim extremists. Charter Schools in NY that provide true opportunity to disadvantaged students are closed by the NYC Mayor arguably elected by that same electorate.
HUD is a vehicle to bring the wrath of the Federal Government on property owners who operate in good faith on the basis of just one complaint, with absolutely no showing of a balanced view of counter claims, thereby threatening fiscal disaster to individuals and HOAs across the country.
Ever try to get the government's help on anything? Unless you claimed minority status, did you ever get any satisfaction? The odds are great that you would answer "no." Why is that? We live with the belief that the government exists to serve us, right? But it turns out that our belief is an illusion. Our government's actions would appear to prove that it serves their own officials, both elected and appointed, and those who can pay them (with votes or money...or both). So we are being governed by a dictatorship by committee...and we are powerless to defend ourselves.
I have this feeling that when I die, it will be by natural causes...whether that is true, or really by government action or neglect I do not know, but I know what I suspect...
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Happy Easter!...Thoughts and Ruminations...
It has been a long, long time since I was a "practicing" anything...so I guess for most people that would make me a CINO in current acronym parlance (Christian in name only). I am not sure if that is factual, but perceptually I cannot disagree with that moniker. I was raised in a fundamentalist Christian home, but the idealism of what was taught clashed with the apparent hypocrisy of how people actually lived their lives resulted in disillusionment. The resulting search and study of most of the known religions of the world for "the Truth" revealed scads of pretenders to that throne, not all of them religious. But there was one constant theme: do what we say and your life will be better, either here or in the hereafter. And Islam was downright threatening with it's instruction to convert or kill non-believers; there was no element of invitation or choice there.
This "obedience" thing was and is a non-starter for me. My mother named me for the eighth disciple of Jesus...Thomas...often known as "Doubting Thomas." I have no idea what moved my mother to that choice, but I have no question that it was accurate...and I have been both blessed and cursed with that attitude most of my life. Now I just embrace it as a characteristic like having blue eyes or black hair...neither good nor bad, but a fact.
But, returning to the point, this obedience thing usually involves money, and doing as I am told. It also involves not questioning either the ultimate destination of that money or the purpose behind the commands...at least not beyond getting generalities, like "helping the poor or deserving" or "to insure your being blessed by God" or the infamous "we know better than you" which occurs most often in political ideologies and is uttered by those in or vying for public office.
So I have turned my back on all organizations, both religious and secular, because when man gets involved in any group activity it inevitably becomes most concerned with controlling others for the benefit of the leadership, ultimately abandoning all but lip service to it's original reason for creation.
What does this have to do with Easter? Well, it gets back to the instincts within us that exist without indoctrination, training or learning; it involves that "gut" feeling that we all experience when coming across something or someone for the very first time. When that happens, I always get one of two feelings: either a "wow, that is great", or a "Whoa...I don't like that much." Of course, we then spend hours...or days, weeks or years...trying to get our brains to agree, or trying to convince our gut that it was wrong. But the end result most of the time is that if we follow our gut, we turn out OK. To me, that is God (or whatever higher power of any kind that you are comfortable with) trying to guide us.
And this morning, my gut turned my attention to the part of the scripture that dealt with God knocking on the door and waiting to be invited in. And the part of offering...but not ordering... needing to be invited, resonated within me. It was not obedience to commands as much as it was an offer to reveal choices from which I would have to select that was important...it was that I was also free to not "answer" the door.
That "aha moment" was, for me, the granting of the ultimate personal freedom simultaneously with the offer of knowledge and guidance beyond the scope of personal experience. No strings attached. No contract. No hypocrisy...well, except for my own.
I learned a lot of things during my search for the "truth" and I have been blessed with much because of it...but in terms of what I thought I was specifically looking for, I did waste a lot of effort and time. For me only (I am sharing, not proselytizing) the answer was within me, and the only requirement was that I stop and both "listen" and "feel" instead of being so "busy".
One final note on organizations. People should band together to accomplish certain things...but their "organizations" should disband once the initial need is achieved. If a secondary "need" is seen, form a new organization...do not continue the old one. Keeping "standing" anything...committees, governments, religions...leads to power struggles and loss of individual freedoms that have little or nothing to do with the original purpose.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Slavery...are we slaves?
Slavery is a simple concept...I thought. The definitions are rather clear and seem easy to understand. Merriam-Webster says that a slave is one held in servitude as the chattel of another or that is completely subservient to a dominating influence. All that seems clear enough.
Can one be a slave if not owned by another? And, can you be a slave if you are not aware that you are one,i.e., either born or have become accustomed to being controlled by others or another? That is, is self-awareness of the condition a requisite for the classification. Apparently not, from the definitions...but more on that a bit later. Also...if you voluntarily give power over yourself to another, but then decide you wish to rescind it and find that you cannot, does that result in a condition of slavery.
These questions came about because of an article I read recently that suggested that living in America had become an existance subject to a "plantation mentality." The idea that we looked on the government much as slaves in the south had looked on their plantation farmer owners. Seemed ludicrous on it's face, but....
It is undeniable that slavery has existed in the world since recorded history began. Every one of the societies throughout the ages has employed the concept of slavery: the Romans, the Greeks, the Aztecs, the Muslims...all of them. But our history books suggest that WE are different. "Really?"...and, if so, "Why"?
In ancient times, slavery often had nothing to do with "ownership." True, the Romans and Greeks did transfer title, but neither the Aztecs nor African tribes have any formal title for their slaves...it just was a result of losing a battle or war. Losers became the slaves and winners became the owners or "masters." America codified ownership, with formal documentation...until they were emancipated. But...why did America and most of the western world do away with slavery. Did it really disappear? Or did it just morph into another form under a different name?
After all, how could a system that has existed for so many years suddenly become anathema to the human race? If it were a gradual thing, one could argue that it was a developing "something": perhaps moral awareness, perhaps a religious revelation, but whatever it was, it would logically be something that mankind came to over an extended period...but this apparent elimination of slavery has come upon us suddenly in less than a century, eliminating a pattern of behavior that has been consistent and constant for ages. Why now...and how?
I do not think it has disappeared at all. I think that it exists all around us and that in fact, we may all be not only complicit in its preservation but be slaves ourselves.
Remember the second side of the Merriam-Webster definition...",,,completely subservient to a dominating influence."? Let us try out some comparisons of the usual vision of slavery side-by-side with living in America today:
What happens when you disobey the orders of your slave master? Punishment of various degrees, depending on how severe and how many previous transgressions, right?
What happens when you disobey the orders of the government? Not much different, I would suggest.
You may argue that you get a jury trial. Sometimes...but not as often as you think. Most transgressions against government are punished by taking your "stuff," usually in the form of money but sometimes they just take you property...especially if they want it and you think you own it. How, indeed, is it different?
You say "...but my elected officials made the decisions, and I agreed by electing them." Oh, really? Was that your intention...or is that just a mantra that the government throws back at you to explain that it is really either your fault or that you agreed to allow this control and this "taking" of your stuff or your freedom? Isn't the "election" thing something that you have been indoctrinated into believing actually protects your freedoms" I mean, how many of your freedoms have disappeared in your lifetime without your specific approval? Remember that unfortunate "property rights" thing that has been taken? How about wiretaps without a judicial warrant? How about the right to have the implements necessary to defend yourself? Think about it. How has that "our elections protect our freedoms" mantra been working...other than to lower your blood pressure?
Some people that lived centuries ago made an agreement to be governed by others. We were born into it and raised to see it as a good thing...something to cherish and not to question. Did we choose it? Did YOU choose it? If we are really created with unalienable rights from God, why does the government have such absolute control over our lives? Why does not every generation have to pass again, ab initio, and approve, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights? Why are we encouraged to suffer indignities that our founding fathers saw fit to revolt against? Sort of a loss of logic here, it seems.
Is there some fear on the part of those in power that some or all of the provisions might be seen by the majority of "citizens" as objectionable and the results as being enslaving? You think?
Slavery is alive an well throughout the world. In fact it is more extensive than ever before in human history. And it is a natural existence, as proven by the history of the world...it has always been and it will always be, albeit defined differently for the exigencies of the moment. Today, most of the "Slave Masters" have simply morphed into "Elected Officials" and "Government Representatives." They have refined themselves into a multi-headed hydra that cannot be clearly identified, and thus not ever truly defeated or removed, so the slavery continues.
Those who are poor cannot chose to remove the power that feeds them, while those who's earned wealth is taken by the government are too few to be able to fight the taking. It is the perfect form of slavery where, for the sake of narcissistic ego, the enslaved cannot even countenance the idea that they are, indeed, slaves in fact if not in name. And so it is.
Can one be a slave if not owned by another? And, can you be a slave if you are not aware that you are one,i.e., either born or have become accustomed to being controlled by others or another? That is, is self-awareness of the condition a requisite for the classification. Apparently not, from the definitions...but more on that a bit later. Also...if you voluntarily give power over yourself to another, but then decide you wish to rescind it and find that you cannot, does that result in a condition of slavery.
These questions came about because of an article I read recently that suggested that living in America had become an existance subject to a "plantation mentality." The idea that we looked on the government much as slaves in the south had looked on their plantation farmer owners. Seemed ludicrous on it's face, but....
It is undeniable that slavery has existed in the world since recorded history began. Every one of the societies throughout the ages has employed the concept of slavery: the Romans, the Greeks, the Aztecs, the Muslims...all of them. But our history books suggest that WE are different. "Really?"...and, if so, "Why"?
In ancient times, slavery often had nothing to do with "ownership." True, the Romans and Greeks did transfer title, but neither the Aztecs nor African tribes have any formal title for their slaves...it just was a result of losing a battle or war. Losers became the slaves and winners became the owners or "masters." America codified ownership, with formal documentation...until they were emancipated. But...why did America and most of the western world do away with slavery. Did it really disappear? Or did it just morph into another form under a different name?
After all, how could a system that has existed for so many years suddenly become anathema to the human race? If it were a gradual thing, one could argue that it was a developing "something": perhaps moral awareness, perhaps a religious revelation, but whatever it was, it would logically be something that mankind came to over an extended period...but this apparent elimination of slavery has come upon us suddenly in less than a century, eliminating a pattern of behavior that has been consistent and constant for ages. Why now...and how?
I do not think it has disappeared at all. I think that it exists all around us and that in fact, we may all be not only complicit in its preservation but be slaves ourselves.
Remember the second side of the Merriam-Webster definition...",,,completely subservient to a dominating influence."? Let us try out some comparisons of the usual vision of slavery side-by-side with living in America today:
What happens when you disobey the orders of your slave master? Punishment of various degrees, depending on how severe and how many previous transgressions, right?
What happens when you disobey the orders of the government? Not much different, I would suggest.
You may argue that you get a jury trial. Sometimes...but not as often as you think. Most transgressions against government are punished by taking your "stuff," usually in the form of money but sometimes they just take you property...especially if they want it and you think you own it. How, indeed, is it different?
You say "...but my elected officials made the decisions, and I agreed by electing them." Oh, really? Was that your intention...or is that just a mantra that the government throws back at you to explain that it is really either your fault or that you agreed to allow this control and this "taking" of your stuff or your freedom? Isn't the "election" thing something that you have been indoctrinated into believing actually protects your freedoms" I mean, how many of your freedoms have disappeared in your lifetime without your specific approval? Remember that unfortunate "property rights" thing that has been taken? How about wiretaps without a judicial warrant? How about the right to have the implements necessary to defend yourself? Think about it. How has that "our elections protect our freedoms" mantra been working...other than to lower your blood pressure?
Some people that lived centuries ago made an agreement to be governed by others. We were born into it and raised to see it as a good thing...something to cherish and not to question. Did we choose it? Did YOU choose it? If we are really created with unalienable rights from God, why does the government have such absolute control over our lives? Why does not every generation have to pass again, ab initio, and approve, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights? Why are we encouraged to suffer indignities that our founding fathers saw fit to revolt against? Sort of a loss of logic here, it seems.
Is there some fear on the part of those in power that some or all of the provisions might be seen by the majority of "citizens" as objectionable and the results as being enslaving? You think?
Slavery is alive an well throughout the world. In fact it is more extensive than ever before in human history. And it is a natural existence, as proven by the history of the world...it has always been and it will always be, albeit defined differently for the exigencies of the moment. Today, most of the "Slave Masters" have simply morphed into "Elected Officials" and "Government Representatives." They have refined themselves into a multi-headed hydra that cannot be clearly identified, and thus not ever truly defeated or removed, so the slavery continues.
Those who are poor cannot chose to remove the power that feeds them, while those who's earned wealth is taken by the government are too few to be able to fight the taking. It is the perfect form of slavery where, for the sake of narcissistic ego, the enslaved cannot even countenance the idea that they are, indeed, slaves in fact if not in name. And so it is.
Monday, February 28, 2011
A "tax" to promote real Christmas Trees?
I just finished reading an article where the promotional arm of the Christmas Tree providers of America think they need a 15 cent tax on each Christmas Tree sold to raise money to promote the purchase of REAL Christmas trees. Seems like the sale of real trees is way down and the only way they think they can offset or reverse this trend is to get the government to set up this tax, which would fund the promotional effort. Really!
Want more Christmas Tree sales? Put "Christmas" back into what has become the "holiday" season. As the Secularists succeed in their agenda to do away with "Christ" and "Christmas" as celebrated (well, as USED to be celebrated) in the United States, fewer and fewer people are "into" the holiday except as a way of getting free stuff. Years ago, the week before Christmas was a time of family activity: going out and looking for just the right tree, setting it up, taking a full evening together to decorate it with all those reminders of people and years gone by...a time for reverence and remembrance. It was "magic." And for the majority of Americans, it is gone. Now many don't even bother with trees, much less lights. No more "family" time, no more reverence, nothing...just give me the gift...or gifts, ...or money...and then back to the ipod, internet, or ... to work. A tax to promote Christmas Trees???? Don't make me laugh.
Want more Christmas Tree sales? Put "Christmas" back into what has become the "holiday" season. As the Secularists succeed in their agenda to do away with "Christ" and "Christmas" as celebrated (well, as USED to be celebrated) in the United States, fewer and fewer people are "into" the holiday except as a way of getting free stuff. Years ago, the week before Christmas was a time of family activity: going out and looking for just the right tree, setting it up, taking a full evening together to decorate it with all those reminders of people and years gone by...a time for reverence and remembrance. It was "magic." And for the majority of Americans, it is gone. Now many don't even bother with trees, much less lights. No more "family" time, no more reverence, nothing...just give me the gift...or gifts, ...or money...and then back to the ipod, internet, or ... to work. A tax to promote Christmas Trees???? Don't make me laugh.
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