An 8.8% earthquake hit Chile and within minutes President Obama offered American aid and relief to to the victims and to the country.
Fortunately for the Chileans:
* the 35,000,000 Americans who lived below the poverty line last week all inherited fortunes or won lotteries
* the 10% of our workforce who were unemployed last week all found jobs
* the over 3,000,000 Americans, 40% of whom were under the age of 18, who were reported homeless last year have all been given permanent complimentary rooms at Las Vegas hotels
* medical breakthroughs last week cured all those who had cancer, Alzheimer's, heart disease, Parkinson's, mental disorder or any other disease, illness, ailment, affliction, disorder, infirmity, sickness, allergy and malady...and banished all health problems forever from our shores
* the 46,000,000 Americans who had no health insurance last week now don't need it
* the number of American children under the age of 18 who are reported missing each week in our country...2,000...has been reduced to -0-, and the 800,000 reported missing last year have all been found alive and well
* the expensive wars in Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan have ended victoriously and our troops are all safely back home with their loved ones
*our $15,000,000,000,000 national debt has been turned into a $15,000,000,000,000 surplus!
Fortunately for the Chileans, America is a fortunate country.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
TOGETHER NOW: WE WERE WRONG
When I was a child, it was somewhat jocularly said that the three hardest words for a man to say were "I love you". Today, it is unquestionably true that the three hardest words for anyone to say are "I was wrong".
Excuses...the spin...on why what we once said turned out not to be right, are legendary:
"Perhaps I didn't make my position fully clear"
"You don't get the full meaning of what I said" (aka "You are wrong")
"The world is different now"
"How could I know people would act so stupidly" (aka "They are wrong")
"I was just kidding"
But "I was wrong"? NEVER.
Now I suppose that somewhere deep within the dark hidden dungeons of our minds we all know that we are neither omniscient nor clairvoyant. That is inherent in the nature of our species. Our brains have not been programmed to only recognize and believe truth. We are born without knowledge...all of which must be acquired by us through a process of education. That process is not immune from error. And our nature gives us the free will to believe what we will, truth or falsity. Education is a demanding endeavor. And if knowledge of today is subject to error, clairvoyant knowledge of tomorrow even more so.
There is no need to itemize all of the numerous reasons for avoiding the "I was wrong" confession at all costs...including fear of embarrassment, loss of self esteem, loss other people's admiration, losing future elections. They are well known. They all stem out of a mistaken belief that truths are subjective rather than objective, and that what we hold in our brain to be true, what we want to be true, should guide our actions rather than what is in fact true.
So here are two positive spins to help correct that error:
Alexander Pope: "A man should never be ashamed to own he has been in the wrong, which is but saying, in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday."
William C. Magee: "The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything."
It is not demeaning in any way to have made an error. It is demeaning to know you have made an error and fail to correct it.
Am I wrong about that?
Excuses...the spin...on why what we once said turned out not to be right, are legendary:
"Perhaps I didn't make my position fully clear"
"You don't get the full meaning of what I said" (aka "You are wrong")
"The world is different now"
"How could I know people would act so stupidly" (aka "They are wrong")
"I was just kidding"
But "I was wrong"? NEVER.
Now I suppose that somewhere deep within the dark hidden dungeons of our minds we all know that we are neither omniscient nor clairvoyant. That is inherent in the nature of our species. Our brains have not been programmed to only recognize and believe truth. We are born without knowledge...all of which must be acquired by us through a process of education. That process is not immune from error. And our nature gives us the free will to believe what we will, truth or falsity. Education is a demanding endeavor. And if knowledge of today is subject to error, clairvoyant knowledge of tomorrow even more so.
There is no need to itemize all of the numerous reasons for avoiding the "I was wrong" confession at all costs...including fear of embarrassment, loss of self esteem, loss other people's admiration, losing future elections. They are well known. They all stem out of a mistaken belief that truths are subjective rather than objective, and that what we hold in our brain to be true, what we want to be true, should guide our actions rather than what is in fact true.
So here are two positive spins to help correct that error:
Alexander Pope: "A man should never be ashamed to own he has been in the wrong, which is but saying, in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday."
William C. Magee: "The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything."
It is not demeaning in any way to have made an error. It is demeaning to know you have made an error and fail to correct it.
Am I wrong about that?
Friday, February 26, 2010
STEERING HIS LIFE FIRST
Much has been made of that luger's withdrawal from the Olympic competition because of his fear of the course and his lack of confidence in his ability to steer the 4-man bobsled through some of its dangerous turns. That was the same course on which the Georgian luger crashed and died in a practice run, and on which there have been a number of other smashups. :It is interesting that after the fatal crash, the Olympic Committee saw fit to modify the course and add certain safety features. Why? Was it not safe before the crash?
Criticizing comments of the withdrawing luger included:
"He owes it to his teammates...to his country...to the sport...to the spirit and tradition of the Olympics...to stay in the competition."
Horsefeathers. He doesn't owe anything to anyone, except to be true to himself...to live his life as he chooses to live it...and perhaps to do his best to care for the children he brought into the world, until they are old enough to care for themselves. The notion that one's life is owed to others, at the heart of some popular philosophies and all political tyranny, is an abomination.
I heard no one saying the course was safe and his fears groundless...just that he had to get past his fears. One of the ads run on the tv broadcasts of the Olympics included a reference to FDR's "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself"...and, to some, that no doubt gives support for the luger's chastisement. Problem is, FDR's famous and inspiring message went on to define what fear it was we had to be fearful of: "nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror". Not one word has been offered to show that that was the nature of the luger's fear. Quite the contrary. All the expert commentary was that this course pushed its limits to the edge, if not over the edge, of safety.
Russell Baker said "In America, it is sport that is the opiate of the masses". And we know what opiates do to one's senses and judgments.
The luger's courage in adhering to his own rational judgment and standards, in the face of what must have been overwhelming pressure, earns him, in my view, a gold medal.
Criticizing comments of the withdrawing luger included:
"He owes it to his teammates...to his country...to the sport...to the spirit and tradition of the Olympics...to stay in the competition."
Horsefeathers. He doesn't owe anything to anyone, except to be true to himself...to live his life as he chooses to live it...and perhaps to do his best to care for the children he brought into the world, until they are old enough to care for themselves. The notion that one's life is owed to others, at the heart of some popular philosophies and all political tyranny, is an abomination.
I heard no one saying the course was safe and his fears groundless...just that he had to get past his fears. One of the ads run on the tv broadcasts of the Olympics included a reference to FDR's "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself"...and, to some, that no doubt gives support for the luger's chastisement. Problem is, FDR's famous and inspiring message went on to define what fear it was we had to be fearful of: "nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror". Not one word has been offered to show that that was the nature of the luger's fear. Quite the contrary. All the expert commentary was that this course pushed its limits to the edge, if not over the edge, of safety.
Russell Baker said "In America, it is sport that is the opiate of the masses". And we know what opiates do to one's senses and judgments.
The luger's courage in adhering to his own rational judgment and standards, in the face of what must have been overwhelming pressure, earns him, in my view, a gold medal.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
RELIGIOSOPHY
I have written before as to why public schools ought teach religion, in a post I entitled, "Knowledge, Too, is Power". I wrote, in part:
"The function of schools ought be the teaching of facts for the purpose of aiding students live their lives happily and successfully. It is a fact that a majority of the people almost anyone will meet and with whom they will have relations believe to some degree in God and religion. It is decidedly advantageous to understand the belief system...the psychology and philosophy...of people you come in contact with, and one way of doing so is to study the source of those beliefs."
I want to add another important reason why public schools ought teach religion and it centers on that word "philosophy". Religious teachings are, in essence, philosophies... encompassing guiding principles about how one should live one's life (ethics), how transgressors ought be dealt with (politics), and perhaps most importantly, offering adherents an overall perspective on the meaning and purpose of life.
To each of us, the philosophy we consciously or otherwise live our life by is vital to our long term happiness. To a religious person, therefore, the particular religion that he or she follows, is crucial. And yet, for almost all of us, that religion is not chosen by us...but is thrust upon us by happenstance: the religion of our parents. Born to Catholic parents? You are a Catholic. Parents Buddhist? You're a Buddhist. Born to parents of different religions? Generally, you are considered to belong to the religion of your mother. It is quite natural, and understandable, that from early childhood it is that religion you will be taught, exposed to, and with which you will identify. That unchosen birth religion.
And therein lies my additional reason for public schools to offer courses in religion. Not for the purpose of promoting one over the other, but for the purpose of providing you with information to help you choose the religion and the philosophy most in harmony with, most compatible with, your individual sense of life.
Celebrities and others who choose another religion other than their birth religion are often mocked and viewed as having done something bizarre. And yet, the conversion to another religion (philosophy) may well be the most beneficial and intelligent decision of their lives.
Years ago, I was sitting in a park when two ladies approached each other, one of them pushing an infant in a baby carriage. Staring admiringly at the baby, the other woman exclaimed, "Look at that beautiful Jewish boy." I smiled. If Judaism is a tribe, then yes, indeed, we can say the baby is a Jew. But if Judaism is a philosophy...sorry, he is much too young to have made that critical choice in his life.
"The function of schools ought be the teaching of facts for the purpose of aiding students live their lives happily and successfully. It is a fact that a majority of the people almost anyone will meet and with whom they will have relations believe to some degree in God and religion. It is decidedly advantageous to understand the belief system...the psychology and philosophy...of people you come in contact with, and one way of doing so is to study the source of those beliefs."
I want to add another important reason why public schools ought teach religion and it centers on that word "philosophy". Religious teachings are, in essence, philosophies... encompassing guiding principles about how one should live one's life (ethics), how transgressors ought be dealt with (politics), and perhaps most importantly, offering adherents an overall perspective on the meaning and purpose of life.
To each of us, the philosophy we consciously or otherwise live our life by is vital to our long term happiness. To a religious person, therefore, the particular religion that he or she follows, is crucial. And yet, for almost all of us, that religion is not chosen by us...but is thrust upon us by happenstance: the religion of our parents. Born to Catholic parents? You are a Catholic. Parents Buddhist? You're a Buddhist. Born to parents of different religions? Generally, you are considered to belong to the religion of your mother. It is quite natural, and understandable, that from early childhood it is that religion you will be taught, exposed to, and with which you will identify. That unchosen birth religion.
And therein lies my additional reason for public schools to offer courses in religion. Not for the purpose of promoting one over the other, but for the purpose of providing you with information to help you choose the religion and the philosophy most in harmony with, most compatible with, your individual sense of life.
Celebrities and others who choose another religion other than their birth religion are often mocked and viewed as having done something bizarre. And yet, the conversion to another religion (philosophy) may well be the most beneficial and intelligent decision of their lives.
Years ago, I was sitting in a park when two ladies approached each other, one of them pushing an infant in a baby carriage. Staring admiringly at the baby, the other woman exclaimed, "Look at that beautiful Jewish boy." I smiled. If Judaism is a tribe, then yes, indeed, we can say the baby is a Jew. But if Judaism is a philosophy...sorry, he is much too young to have made that critical choice in his life.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
EXCELSIOR!
America has a love affair with the middle of the road...moderation. Stay in the middle of the road and you are normal, healthy, one of the gang. But do whatever you are doing to a greater degree than what others generally do, be more intense, more passionate, and you will be chastised as being compulsive, obsessive, fanatic, eccentric, neurotic.
Throughout history, ironically, we have admired the iconoclasts who set their own standards. Religious figures, 0lympic athletes, inventors and explorers, are often said to devote 110% of their focus, time and energy to their chosen careers...and are honored, revered and admired. It is disheartening to me to see that middle of the road mediocrity, rather than total commitment and dedication, is being promoted as the ideal for the rest of us, and accepted by so many. The word "excessive" has become a dirty word. The bar has been socially lowered...nay, destroyed.
I do not know why the majority put down the ambitious and committed. I do not understand where words like overactive, overambitious, overenthusiastic, come from...other than from a mind that lacks self confidence, is envious of others people's efforts, and jealous of their success.
I do know this: the setting of any limits to man's capacities, his potentials, his dreams, whether in the name of normalcy or otherwise, is a diminution and denigration of life and the boundless promises of tomorrow. It should be seen as the obscene crime against humanity that it is...and those who commit it should be dealt with, excessively.
Throughout history, ironically, we have admired the iconoclasts who set their own standards. Religious figures, 0lympic athletes, inventors and explorers, are often said to devote 110% of their focus, time and energy to their chosen careers...and are honored, revered and admired. It is disheartening to me to see that middle of the road mediocrity, rather than total commitment and dedication, is being promoted as the ideal for the rest of us, and accepted by so many. The word "excessive" has become a dirty word. The bar has been socially lowered...nay, destroyed.
I do not know why the majority put down the ambitious and committed. I do not understand where words like overactive, overambitious, overenthusiastic, come from...other than from a mind that lacks self confidence, is envious of others people's efforts, and jealous of their success.
I do know this: the setting of any limits to man's capacities, his potentials, his dreams, whether in the name of normalcy or otherwise, is a diminution and denigration of life and the boundless promises of tomorrow. It should be seen as the obscene crime against humanity that it is...and those who commit it should be dealt with, excessively.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
NATION OFF COURSE
Joe Stack, the Texas engineer who seemingly intentionally flew his airplane into the IRS building in Austen and killed one person, was, of course, inexcusably wrong to do so...and had he survived the crash, he would likely and deservedly have been charged with murder. No question there.
But other questions remain.
Stack apparently had an ongoing dispute with the IRS. There are reports that he had failed to pay certain income taxes. In a note he allegedly left, he attributes that failure to his accountant and says he tried but was unable to peacefully settle his tax problems. He railed against a government that he claimed was run by and for the rich at the expense of the middle class. He deplores the "unthinkable atrocities" committed by big business and the government bailouts given to them with his money. He had come to the conclusion that violence was the only solution. To the IRS he wrote, "here is my pound of flesh, take it and sleep well". He chided Americans for their gullibility in naively believing we are a nation of freedom, justice and equality.
There is nothing in that note, nor in the comments of his friends...psychiatric expert that I am noy, to suggest that Stark was psychopathic, or otherwise out of control. He certainly had anger at things happening in our country, and thw his government treated him. He seemed to me to be quietly thoughtful and responsible, someone who loved the country America was meant to be. That's what is so frightening.
I have written before about the injustice of income taxes. I believe all taxes deny our property rights. But I want to deal with other matters here.
The amount of taxes, for one. Im 1913, when the federal income tax laws were passed, the tax rate was 1% (that is one penny on the dollar) for income up to $20,000...which was pretty high in those days. The rate increased slowly to a max of 7% on income over $500,000 (who earned that?). In 5 short years, the max rate was 77%, rising to 94% in 1944. (Was it George McGovern who proposed in his Presidential campaign in 1972 to raise it to 100%?)
Today, the max income tax rate is 35%. Then add to that: state and city income taxes, corporate income taxes (which are a form of double taxation), sales taxes, capital gains taxes, real estate and school taxes, gift and estate taxes...and coming soon, energy use and green taxes. We seem to be working not for ourselves but to satisfy the whims, vagaries and predilections of corrupt power-riddled politicians. It is insanity.
Political leaders have the misguided notion that OUR money is for THEM to spend. No limits! A trillion more in bailouts to often corrupt and/or inefficient enterprises. Aid and never to be repaid loans to countries we could not find on a map. Fifteen trillion dollars (that is $50,000 for every man, woman and child in America) in federal debt...and counting. I, for one, am tired of politicians putting their hands in my pocket. soon What will the federal income tax rates be in 5, 10 or 20 years?
Mr. Obama and every other political figure now and in the future had best learn soon that theirs is not an "anything goes" domain...the wheeling and dealing behind closed doors and under the table, the wasting billions in giveaways and benchmark handouts (buyouts?), the unrestrained spending of our money, are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
One thing further. The government may think it is Big Brother, but it isn't acting like one. Before the government despoiled that title, Big Brother was synonymous with camaraderie and fellowship and appreciation and benevolence and protection and support. Treating citizens and taxpayers like Joe Stark with hostility and enmity and rancor takes America off course and will surely and shortly bring our country down, building by building.
Stark's anger may have been justified, his handling of it was not. We ought throw out of office those who abuse the privilege to serve that has been bestowed on them. Our vote should be our preferred weapon of choice.
But other questions remain.
Stack apparently had an ongoing dispute with the IRS. There are reports that he had failed to pay certain income taxes. In a note he allegedly left, he attributes that failure to his accountant and says he tried but was unable to peacefully settle his tax problems. He railed against a government that he claimed was run by and for the rich at the expense of the middle class. He deplores the "unthinkable atrocities" committed by big business and the government bailouts given to them with his money. He had come to the conclusion that violence was the only solution. To the IRS he wrote, "here is my pound of flesh, take it and sleep well". He chided Americans for their gullibility in naively believing we are a nation of freedom, justice and equality.
There is nothing in that note, nor in the comments of his friends...psychiatric expert that I am noy, to suggest that Stark was psychopathic, or otherwise out of control. He certainly had anger at things happening in our country, and thw his government treated him. He seemed to me to be quietly thoughtful and responsible, someone who loved the country America was meant to be. That's what is so frightening.
I have written before about the injustice of income taxes. I believe all taxes deny our property rights. But I want to deal with other matters here.
The amount of taxes, for one. Im 1913, when the federal income tax laws were passed, the tax rate was 1% (that is one penny on the dollar) for income up to $20,000...which was pretty high in those days. The rate increased slowly to a max of 7% on income over $500,000 (who earned that?). In 5 short years, the max rate was 77%, rising to 94% in 1944. (Was it George McGovern who proposed in his Presidential campaign in 1972 to raise it to 100%?)
Today, the max income tax rate is 35%. Then add to that: state and city income taxes, corporate income taxes (which are a form of double taxation), sales taxes, capital gains taxes, real estate and school taxes, gift and estate taxes...and coming soon, energy use and green taxes. We seem to be working not for ourselves but to satisfy the whims, vagaries and predilections of corrupt power-riddled politicians. It is insanity.
Political leaders have the misguided notion that OUR money is for THEM to spend. No limits! A trillion more in bailouts to often corrupt and/or inefficient enterprises. Aid and never to be repaid loans to countries we could not find on a map. Fifteen trillion dollars (that is $50,000 for every man, woman and child in America) in federal debt...and counting. I, for one, am tired of politicians putting their hands in my pocket. soon What will the federal income tax rates be in 5, 10 or 20 years?
Mr. Obama and every other political figure now and in the future had best learn soon that theirs is not an "anything goes" domain...the wheeling and dealing behind closed doors and under the table, the wasting billions in giveaways and benchmark handouts (buyouts?), the unrestrained spending of our money, are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
One thing further. The government may think it is Big Brother, but it isn't acting like one. Before the government despoiled that title, Big Brother was synonymous with camaraderie and fellowship and appreciation and benevolence and protection and support. Treating citizens and taxpayers like Joe Stark with hostility and enmity and rancor takes America off course and will surely and shortly bring our country down, building by building.
Stark's anger may have been justified, his handling of it was not. We ought throw out of office those who abuse the privilege to serve that has been bestowed on them. Our vote should be our preferred weapon of choice.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
JULY 2, 2012, NOCO DAY!
I have a complaint to make. A recent survey I conducted revealed that 52.7% of the day to day conversations that Americans over the age of 25 have, revolve around complaints. Work, relationships, prices, everything. What's wrong with us? What's wrong with our lives that we complain about it so often? Run into someone on the street, and what was once a smiling, kinda nice to see you chat, turns to something negative. And not only do many of us harbor a festering griping attitude, but we have, not surprisingly, the intense desire to spread it around. All around. I, for one, have heard enough of it.
I was thinking that when I grew up, we didn't have much and there were fewer things to complain about. For reasons I still do not know, we didn't seem to worry about money the pervasive way we generally do now. Sure, maybe the toaster or the oven or the refrigerator or the radio wasn't working right, and we could complain about that. But we didn't own a phone or a car and our complaint list was small and manageable. We seemed more focused on the positives in our lives (a new muffler, a new pen, a new friend).
But modern technology and "progress" have greatly expanded the products we own, and don't yet own, and "need" to own, including hidef tv, desk top and lap top computers, cell phones and IPods and ITouches and Blackberrys, and so on. The potential complaints list is overflowing... and expanding at an accelerating pace.
Time to take action, to reverse course. I am suggesting that we have a national NOCOmplaint Day. It will be one day on which no one complains about anything. 24 hours of noncomplaining. Talk about positive things in your life, talk about plans and dreams and hopes and wishes...or don't talk. NOCO.
Now, I appreciate that 24 noncomplaining hours is a marathon of sorts, and many of us do not have the stamina to endure it. But remember. During our average 8 hour sleep per day, we do not complain. We must add only 16 additional consecutive hours of not complaining to complete a full NOCO day.
Here is my plan. Each of us begins by not complaining for 1 minute tomorrow. That's it. One minute, 60 seconds. Can you do it? The rest of the day, complain away. Spew as much negativity as you wish to as many people as you wish. Each day thereafter, we extend the noncomplaining time by 1 minute...so that at the end of the week, we will not be complaining for 7 consecutive minutes. At that rate, the nation's first full NOCO day will be July 2, 2012. Think about it. What a glorious, life oriented, uplifting, happy, day it will be...perfect way to bring in the celebrated Independence Day weekend! Freedom from negativity!
It is my hope that the first NOCO Day, together with the serenity and contentment it engenders, will, of its own momentum, extend itself to NOCO Week, NOCO Month, NOCO Life.
(I am also thinking about a NOWO Day!)
I was thinking that when I grew up, we didn't have much and there were fewer things to complain about. For reasons I still do not know, we didn't seem to worry about money the pervasive way we generally do now. Sure, maybe the toaster or the oven or the refrigerator or the radio wasn't working right, and we could complain about that. But we didn't own a phone or a car and our complaint list was small and manageable. We seemed more focused on the positives in our lives (a new muffler, a new pen, a new friend).
But modern technology and "progress" have greatly expanded the products we own, and don't yet own, and "need" to own, including hidef tv, desk top and lap top computers, cell phones and IPods and ITouches and Blackberrys, and so on. The potential complaints list is overflowing... and expanding at an accelerating pace.
Time to take action, to reverse course. I am suggesting that we have a national NOCOmplaint Day. It will be one day on which no one complains about anything. 24 hours of noncomplaining. Talk about positive things in your life, talk about plans and dreams and hopes and wishes...or don't talk. NOCO.
Now, I appreciate that 24 noncomplaining hours is a marathon of sorts, and many of us do not have the stamina to endure it. But remember. During our average 8 hour sleep per day, we do not complain. We must add only 16 additional consecutive hours of not complaining to complete a full NOCO day.
Here is my plan. Each of us begins by not complaining for 1 minute tomorrow. That's it. One minute, 60 seconds. Can you do it? The rest of the day, complain away. Spew as much negativity as you wish to as many people as you wish. Each day thereafter, we extend the noncomplaining time by 1 minute...so that at the end of the week, we will not be complaining for 7 consecutive minutes. At that rate, the nation's first full NOCO day will be July 2, 2012. Think about it. What a glorious, life oriented, uplifting, happy, day it will be...perfect way to bring in the celebrated Independence Day weekend! Freedom from negativity!
It is my hope that the first NOCO Day, together with the serenity and contentment it engenders, will, of its own momentum, extend itself to NOCO Week, NOCO Month, NOCO Life.
(I am also thinking about a NOWO Day!)
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