Home

Educate Yourself!

02/24/2013

Brian Sunday Posts , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

It is quite discouraging the number of people I run into that have decided to accept the absolute minimum amount of education with which they can get away.  Students that put in minimal effort (not paying attention in class, not doing homework (or as little as possible), not studying for exams).  I wonder how they expect their life to turn out.  When I ask, I end up with the unenviable task of informing them they are living a dream.  I grade point average of 2.5 is not going to get you into a quality engineering school.  That is not a goal.  It is a dream.  As well, would you put your life into the hands of a doctor or pilot or lawyer or whatever professional that finished in the bottom or even middle of his class?  Would you rather one that put in the effort to learn as much as he could about his craft?  I tell my students, adulthood begins the first day of high school.  What they do from that day forward counts.  Their grades and effort will matter to their future college and employment plans (whether they attend college or not).  My concern also is that few professions require (and therefore few people take advantage of) continued education.  With the help of modern medical science, many people die at an advanced age knowing little more than the minimum they got away with in high school.  Sad and discouraging.

Vernon Law once said, “Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward.”  Rarely does the test come only once.  Since most of us fail the test, we had best learn the lesson – preferably the first time.   On the other hand, someone once said, “Good Judgment comes from Experience, most of that comes from Bad Judgment.” [the quote in one form or another is actually attributed to numerous people]  Unfortunately, most of you seem content with failing the test over and over again and bad judgment.  You never take the time to learn the “why’s and wherefore’s” of the lesson.  This leads me to…

Funny thing about knowledge, the more you have, the more you know.  This may seem obvious (as should many things about which I write), but many don’t seem to get it.  They claim to “know” an awful lot just due to life experience (especially teenagers – the claim being an endless source of amusement to me).  Now, while I will grant that you gain some knowledge just from living, it is a slow and painful way to attain it.  It WILL happen.  Let it.  But don’t, as so many do, let it be the only avenue.  And if you do, don’t claim to know it all just because you have lived.  It would take 1000 lifetimes just to make a dent in the knowledge of today.  And since each day our body of knowledge grows exponentially, individually we are always losing ground.  As well, it is interesting that the more you know, the more you know you don’t know.  At least you should, if you put any effort into thinking about it.  While this may seem discouraging, it doesn’t have to be.  As mentioned, man is discovering new things each day.  Many are contributing to this body of knowledge.  Recognize you don’t and never will know everything.  But certainly don’t give up or be discouraged.  Just recognize and accept there is no way to keep up with everything and concentrate on those things of interest to you.

Formal education should never stop.  I realize life gets in the way sometimes.  You have work, families, etc. to deal with at numerous points in your life.  So put it on the back burner for a short time if necessary.  While all the things listed above DO “get in the way” at times, many use them as an excuse.  There are those on the other hand that manage to move on with their education in spite of all the other things going on.  Watch less TV.  Go out with the guys/girls less often.  Play fewer video games.  Limit your internet surfing (unless it is for a necessary purpose).  Stare at the wall less often (yes, I am to understand someone I know actually does this to pass the time).  So never stop.  Formal education is not limited to universities and/or community college.  It can come in the form of on-line courses from various educational institutions or private firms, private lessons, etc.

Another point is that once you are pretty comfortable in the level of education you need for employment in your chosen field, you are free to pursue education in all those wonders of the world in which you’ve been interested since childhood.  Learn to fly, gunsmith, build knives, paint, sing, write poetry, design websites, culinary, automotive technology, sign language, carpentry/wood working, dance, martial arts, play a musical instrument, yoga.  These are just a few off the top of my head.  I suspect there is a course in virtually anything in which you may be interested.  While books (to be mentioned momentarily) are a great way to acquire knowledge, learning from “experts” is usually the best way.  Community colleges normally have teachers that have worked in the area they teach and know of what they speak.  They can provide “war stories” from first-hand experience.  Unlike books, they can answer questions and guide you in further study in the direction YOU wish to go.  Community colleges are also significantly less expensive than universities.  As well, many community centers and adult centers provide inexpensive ways to learn from people that have “been there and done that.”

Not so formal education is what should be accomplished between sessions of formal.  READ books, magazines, newspapers, etc.  Go to lectures at local museums or community events.  Watch educational television shows on occasion (my wife tends to “force” me to do this – stupid animal shows!).  There are many DVDs you can buy or rent that have lectures/lessons on various subjects.  If you can’t afford community college tuition or fees (if any) for community center events, there are a less expensive way of gaining much of the same knowledge.  Books and magazines can be free.  Try your local library.  You won’t have the expert there to answer questions, but a search of quality sites in the internet can often provide that additional information you seek.

Just get some!  Get more!  Make it a priority.

Ok, so why am I bringing this up.  Remember that blog on apathy.  If not, go back and read/reread it.  Apathy, sloth, lazy, indifference – similar ways of expressing the same issue.  And it leads to a less productive and less enjoyable society.  A culture of ignorance is a sad and hard existence.  Why would someone purposefully make their life more difficult than it need be?  Many think getting and continuing an education is difficult.  What they fail to comprehend is that NOT being educated is actually more so.  And in all reality, the more education (read – knowledge) you have, the easier life gets (unless you take into account the growing frustration with those that choose ignorance).  As well, I will be speaking in the near future of Class/Refinement/Sophistication/Style.  The individual lifestyle and a society that practices civility is by necessity educated in all classes (poor, middle-class as well as the “rich”).  I dream of the time when we again practice such in our private and public lives (or are they nightmares of never expecting to see it).  But it will never happen if a significant number of us accept the limited knowledge present society allows.

>>> The day is at a close, the night is drawing in and my cigar awaits – ’til next time…

Intelligence

02/10/2013

Brian Sunday Posts , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

As quoted on my “Why?” page:   “Everything has been said before, but since nobody listens we have to keep going back and beginning all over again.”   -Andre Gide

Also on my “Why?” page I said I am doing this “Because the world DESERVES to know.”

As well, I said, “I have taken the burden upon myself to grace humanity with a written account of what they SHOULD already know and practice.”

That said I also want to make clear I do not have a monopoly on this knowledge.  In fact, much of what I have to say has at least been hinted at by others.  That is part of the point, people haven’t listened.  Sometimes that is due to the “others” being relegated to ancient history (about which we should, heaven forbid, read), sometimes to limited access (to a venue or an audience).  Sometimes (but rarely) I am just repeating.  Sometimes I am elaborating.  Therefore, on occasion, of which this is one, I will be setting out a series of quotes on a particular subject that spells out, by those far more intelligent than I (at least on that given subject), much that we SHOULD know.   NO, this is not a copout – not a way to just make it easy on me.  It is an acknowledgement that some people are smarter than I.  Although the first quote suggests against appealing to authority for proof of right.  I’ll let you figure it out.  Please enjoy and contemplate.

Let us start with the topic of Intelligence.

Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using his intelligence; he is just using his memory.   –Leonardo da Vinci

[Editor’s note:  I will have future comments with reference to education.  This is the sighting shot]

It takes a lot of things to prove you are smart, but only one thing to prove you are ignorant.   -Don Herold

You have to be smart. The easy days are over.   -Robert Kiyosaki

[Editor’s note: a lessen I hope my cadets get]

The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.   -Niccolo Machiavelli

Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.   -Confucius

Intellectuals solve problems, geniuses prevent them.   -Albert Einstein

{Editor’s note:  another thought for my cadets (Think Ahead, Do Ahead!)]

Small minds are concerned with the extraordinary, great minds with the ordinary.   -Blaise Pascal

There is nobody so irritating as somebody with less intelligence and more sense than we have.   -Don Herold

We all agree that pessimism is a mark of superior intellect.   -John Kenneth Galbraith

There are some ideas so wrong that only a very intelligent person could believe in them.   -George Orwell

[Editor’s note: If you have to think about this too long…]

Success in almost any field depends more on energy and drive than it does on intelligence. This explains why we have so many stupid leaders.   -Sloan Wilson

I won’t insult your intelligence by suggesting that you really believe what you just said.   -William F. Buckley, Jr.

[Editor’s note:  always did like this guy]

If there are no stupid questions, then what kind of questions do stupid people ask? Do they get smart just in time to ask questions?   -Scott Adams

[might be my favorite – well, except for the 1st]

>>> The day is at a close, the night is drawing in and my cigar awaits – ’til next time…

The Biggest Day of the Year?

02/03/2013

Brian Sunday Posts , , , , , , , Leave a comment

It is Super Bowl Sunday.

If you get it, that is all that need be said.

If you don’t get it, that is all that can be said.

 

49ers.  Ravens.  The Harbaugh brothers.  Colin Kaepernick.  Ray Lewis.  Joe Flacco.

Tied for 1st with six.  Or not…

If you understand all this, enjoy the game.  If not, I think opera tickets are still on sale.

 

Next week – a philosophical discourse on something or other that needs be understood.

 

In the mean time, enjoy the game.  Or enjoy the peace and quiet that comes from your husband enjoying the game.  Enjoy the food (regardless if you are watching the game – it is not a requirement).

 

And always remember:

“There is no limit to the good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit.”

General of the Army George C. Marshall

 

>>> The day is at a close, the night is drawing in and my cigar awaits – ’til next time…

 

Randomness or Weariness

01/27/2013

Brian Sunday Posts , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

So, working on taxes.  Not happy.  Which I think is kinda a requirement when doing taxes.  Don’t get me wrong.  I’m all for paying my fair share. Whoa! Almost sounding like a liberal there. Wait. No. I’m ok. Libs are for OTHERS paying THEIR “fair share.”  Hard to keep this stuff straight sometimes.

So, where was I?

I have been somewhat remiss in my blogging.  My excuse?  No, I have not run out of things to say.  By far.  I’m going with illness and work. Of course, had my wife taken proper care of me I would not have gotten sick.  Of this she is well aware.  Mainly because I made her so.  Work on the other hand is work.  For some reason the payroll department seems to want me to show up to “earn” my pay (sorry, my wife’s pay – I suspect I will get that wrong many times today).  Sigh!  Maybe switching to Liberal wouldn’t be so bad.  I’m sure somebody out there wouldn’t mind having their money stolen and given to us for my wife’s benefit.  Off topic (although I’m not yet sure what the topic of the day is).

Where was I?  Working on taxes.  Boy is that a fun thing to do.  You are always caught between loving and hating the thought of a large return.  Loving it because it is “found” money.  Hating it because when you think about it, and you should, it is YOUR money that you lost in the first place.  While it is never fun to write yet another check to the government so it can waste even MORE of your hard earned money, getting a refund of your interest free loan to those bureaucrats is not the best thought either.  Although I am nowhere near the end of this year’s journey into the annual tax nightmare, I have no doubt I will be writing that check.  To all you Libs out there, you are welcome.  To all you conservatives out there, where the heck are you?  What’s the deal leaving me to continue to fund bridges to nowhere, midnight basketball and mating habits of African Bullfrogs (or was it Australian?).  Next time get off your sofa and vote!  I blame YOU far more than the bottom-of-the-pyramid Libs.  They are just sheep.  Pawns with no desire to educate themselves.  Apathetic.  Easier to just follow their government shepherds and eat whatever the mass media feeds them.  But enough of that.

So many things to discuss.  So many things in this country that need tweaking or a major overhaul.  So many things I am just not in the mood to discuss today.  I am tired.  Illness?  Work?  The problems of this country and the world?  I don’t know.  Just tired.  The more I venture out and view the actions and interactions of my fellow man, the more tired I grow.  Maybe not tired.  Maybe weary.  At church today we were instructed on the parts of the whole.  Not to despair at whatever part you are to play.  The example, for those of you that have ventured into the world of the Bible, was of a physical body.  The foot, the hand, the ear, the eye.  Each has a reason for being.  Each should except its role and understand it has an important part to play.  The idea is that we individuals also have a specific role to play.  A role in the totality of mankind.  I sat there and thought about that (yes, I can think and pay attention at the same time).  I thought many of the problems we have in society may very well come from many of us not “playing” our role.  Not satisfied with being a foot or an ear.  Always thinking that someone else has a better role to play and against all the talents with which we’ve been blessed we try to be something we are not.  Why is that?

For some odd reason we look up to the White Collar workers – the doctors, lawyers, professors, etc.  We look down on the “unskilled”, Blue Collar workers – the garbage man (sorry, sanitation engineers), custodian, cook, etc.  Why is that?  When we come home from work in the evening on “Trash Day” are we not glad the can is empty and prepared for another week of our rubbish?  When we go out for a nice evening on the town or a Sunday breakfast are we not glad there is a cook in the kitchen of our chosen restaurant?  Are we not happy the end of each work day does not include having to take our waste basket to the dumpster?  Someone will be there after we leave to clear it out.  We all have a role to play.  We should be not only thankful for our own, we should be thankful for that of each of our fellow man.

That said, I see much of the problems of society and the world stemming from individuals that want to play a role for which they are not suited.  As mentioned, we all have God given talents (and yes, God still gave you talents whether you believe in Him or not).  To be truly happy in life, it behooves us to make a determined effort to recognize and appreciate what ours are and make it our life’s ambition to select an appropriate role.  A role that uses the talents we have.  Not only for our benefit, but the benefit of all.  Not only would we be happier, but mankind as a whole would be far better off.

So many want to be something they are not, should not and often cannot.  But for whatever reason – envy; desire; pressure from peers, parents, others in authority – they insist their “lot in life” is not theirs.  They MUST be something they are not.  They MUST be something for which they are not prepared.  For which they have no talent.  If an individual’s talents lie in a specific area and they fail to use them, something in the play of mankind is not getting done.  A role is not being played.  This tends to throw everything out of whack.  Take my word for it (or not, don’t really care all that much today), everything is out of whack.  The play is not following the script.  This leads not only to unhappiness on the part of the individual but a “disturbance in the force” (yes, I actually said that).  There is currently a major disturbance.  I believe my weariness derives from this disturbance and, in part, my lack of time, talent or treasure to fix it.  I know, I know.  Who the heck am I to take the world on my shoulders?  I’m actually not.  My weariness stems from the knowledge that neither is anyone else.  So many of us are not fulfilling our role.  Nobody individually is able to solve the problem.  However, as each domino falls due to someone not fulfilling their role, those around it, fulfilling their obligation or not, are also brought down.  This leads to the state of affairs in which we now find ourselves.  Sigh…

Ok…  back to taxes.  The topic or the task?  As long as everyone is of the understanding that I am (sorry, my wife is) being robbed and my (sorry, her) treasure is being wasted, I will get back to the task.  However, if I learn in the future that some of you out their actually believe I am (she is) not paying my (her) fair share, I shall delve DEEPLY into the subject and pelt you unmercifully with the facts.  You WON’T like it I assure you…

>>> The day is at a close, the night is drawing in and my cigar awaits – ’til next time…

We the People have lost control

01/06/2013

Brian Sunday Posts , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

The majority of those voting in the last two U.S. elections voted for Socialism.  I’m not sure many of them understand that, but they did.  I AM sure the officials for whom they voted are well aware of it (see my post of 12/23/12).  I do not want to specifically dwell on this issue.  However, I do want to mention of few consequences thereof.  I think from the standpoint of the average citizen that voted for this government, they will find many of the consequences unintentional.  I know many of these people and am dumbfounded that they could actually cast their vote the way they did.   While on the surface they can reconcile their underlying beliefs with what they were being told.  I am dumbfounded however because these are otherwise intelligence people that refused to look any deeper than the political rhetoric, the stump speeches, the sound bites.  I am dumbfounded because of the overwhelming data that demonstrates over extended periods of time in countless different circumstances and situations that none of what they were being told works.  Two of the most pressing topics of the day are ObamaCare and gun control.

I’m not exactly sure how birth control became a medical issue.  It is not a disease to be cured.  It is not an injury to be repaired.   In many forms of birth control you are putting chemicals into your body but you do so also with aspirin or any other over the counter remedy.  However, in those cases you ARE actually attempting to cure, or prevent, some disease or injury.   So why again is birth control a medical issue?  In the past, from a “societal view”, it really hasn’t mattered.  However, in the new Socialist state in which we live, it does.  It does because the government has decided that employers must pay for it.  I can hear many of you now.  Why does THAT matter?  It matters because, although we continue to ignore it, the Constitution is still the law of the land.  The 1st Amendment to said Constitution explicitly states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; …”  So what has THAT got to do with birth control?  It just so happens that some people are opposed to birth control on religious grounds.  So, contrary to popular belief, those privately owned companies that do not believe they should pay for their employee’s birth control are not just doing so on religious principal.  They are doing so on Constitutional grounds.  This is the type of thing our Founding Fathers fought against.  Not just against a government that tells you what religion you must practice (such as belonging to the Church of England in pre-Revolutionary days), but a government that tells you what you are allowed to practice and what you are not.  A government that tells you that unless it is practiced inside four walls designated a religious building, it is not religion.  Your religious beliefs are not a concern of the government.  Control is.

I saw a poster the other day that said, “We don’t blame cars for drunk drivers, why do we blame guns for violent criminals?”  I would add that we don’t blame the alcohol either.  I find it a darn good question.  What I find dumbfounding (apparently my word of the day), is that so many people don’t get it.  In More Guns, Less Crime John Lott demonstrated the inverse correlation between guns and crime.  In doing so demonstrated yet again that gun control does not work.  He demonstrated in fact, the exact opposite.  As an aside, Mr. Lott is an economist quite familiar with how to do honest statistical analysis.  Not being a gun enthusiast himself, he originally planned to prove exactly the opposite of what his results showed.  However, unlike so many that manipulate either the question or the answer in order to achieve their going in supposition, Mr. Lott let the honesty of the results speak for themselves.  Of course, many blame neighboring cities, states, countries, etc for such statistics.  They claim that we must get rid of ALL guns and control them getting into the country.  Hmmmmm…  Let’s ask England and Australia how that is working for them.  Both island nations.  You can’t get better control of your borders than that.  Both saw a marked increase in violent crime as access to firearms became more and more restricted.  Not just crime but crime in which individuals were more directly involved.  What do I mean by that?  In England, prior to guns being outlawed home break-ins were mostly limited to vacant houses.  The robbers were of course concerned with discovery and confrontation if someone was home.  This is problematic if the person at home had a means of defense.  Since that means of defense (firearms) was removed from the home (first restricted to the shooting range/club and then altogether), burglars have little to be concerned about as relates to their safety.  They are now going after homes whether someone is there or not.  Now the citizens of England not only have the crime of burglary but assault.  You need now not fear only the loss of possessions, but the lost of limb or even life.   Australia’s “experiment” proved the same.  Has either country admitted its failed policies?   Oh NO!  We can’t have that.  The fact that their subjects (specifically chosen term) are in far more danger now than ever is not a concern of theirs.

What has all this got to do with us?  We are yet again on the trajectory of more restrictive gun control.  The fact that the Clinton Gun Ban was a failure and we actually have far fewer “gun” crimes now than under that failed policy is beside the point.  The problem they argue is the same as what those in other countries pushed.  It didn’t go far enough.  That these other countries have gone to complete bans and finding exactly what John Lott found (in this case, less gun means more crime – while not the title, also covered in his book) is ignored.  We are now again pushing for another “assault rifle” (aka, black, menacing looking rifle) ban.  In addition, the latest FBI data (2011) shows more murder victims in the U.S. by blunt objects (clubs, hammers, etc) than all types of rifle combined (496 vs 323).  I could cite reams of data demonstrating the absurdity of blaming the weapon instead of the user.  But this is what will always continue to baffle me – the complete denial of data demonstrating anything that disagrees with their view.  Your safety is not a concern of the government.  Control is.

Let us set aside the “moral” aspect of birth control and the logical aspect of gun control for a moment.  The question with which we are left amounts to control.  Society is a “contract” in which man bands together for collective benefit.  In such a situation, control is to some extent necessary.  Of this there is no doubt.  Because of this, there becomes a delicate balance between individual and group requirements. Using the example of traffic management makes it quite easy to see such a balance.  Traffic lights and stop signs are used to control vehicles at intersections.  We acknowledge that in order to have an ordered society we may have to come to a brief stop at a stop sign or sit at a stop light for a few minutes even if another vehicle is nowhere to be seen.  I would suggest both evidence and logic would demonstrate this is an acceptable price to pay to ensure a level of safety while driving.  I would also suggest that if individuals choose not to practice birth control or own a gun, this is an acceptable price to pay to live in a mutually beneficial society.  However, when government, against all logic and honest data, decides to take our money to pay for something for another individual that we find objectionable or that we are not allowed a specific tool we find necessary, both with no regard for our Constitutional rights, it is probably time to question into what we have gotten ourselves.  We the People have lost our Constitution.  We the People have lost control.

>>> The day is at a close, the night is drawing in and my cigar awaits – ’til next time…

The Union of American Socialist Republics (UASR) ~ U.S. Socialism

12/23/2012

Brian Sunday Posts , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

It is official: the “U.S.” is now, and I suspect forever more will be, a Socialist nation.  We are no longer the United States of America.  The 10th Amendment has been all but nullified.  A reminder to those that “have better things to do” than learn the government of our country:  The 10th Amendment reads “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.”  Depending on exactly how you count them, the enumerated powers in Article I, Section 8 number 18.  In addition, amendments, such as the 16th, granting power to “lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived”, add a few more.  Unfortunately that particular amendment seems to be a major contributing factor to the redistribution of wealth.  [In addition, according to official records, the amendment was technically never ratified (although it was proclaimed to have been in February 1913 by then Secretary of State Philander Knox).  Hmmmm. But that is a story for another time.  The government is going to get its money somehow…]  Regardless, these powers are by definition enumerated and therefore finite.  The Socialists currently running the country, and those especially of the more recent past that have been little by little pushing their Socialist causes, can’t seem to count.  They tend to make them up as they go to fit the need they have to cause dependence and then steal from those that work for their status in life and community to pay for those that become reliant.

We are now the Union of American Socialist Republics (UASR).  The evil that is Socialism is now our national governing philosophy.   There is no turning back.  Those bent on stealing from their fellow countrymen under the guise of government have won.  They are not even feigning the desire for, or goal of, Communism where at least all are supposed to be “equal” in worth and provide all they are able and take only what they need.  There is no “from each according to his ability, to each according to his need.”  They are better than us.  They are smarter than us.  They know what is best for us.  And they are going to provide what we “need” whether we need it or not.  And of course in the true Socialist fashion, they are going to steal and borrow (technically also stealing when you can’t pay it back) from those that have to pay for it.

There is nothing now we can do.  We have crossed the “magic line”.  The percentage of those that pay no Federal or State income tax is at 51% (some argue only 49% – however, keep reading… even it that percentage is accurate, they have friends!).  While I will agree that it is virtually impossible to completely escape taxes (gas, sales, etc), for all practical purposes these people are living off the government’s (aka – taxpayer’s) dime.  They outnumber those that contribute their hard earned wages to the common good.  They will never let us go back.  They are greater in number and they vote.  What’s more, many bleeding heart liberals (the pawns of the movement) that have been convinced these people are incapable of supporting themselves vote as well.  They are willing to sacrifice ALL our money to the “Cause of the Bleeding Heart” (the fact that it has nothing truly to bleed for is beside the point).  They are also unwilling to admit that state and local governments, under that watchful eye of local voters, along with charitable organizations are capable of taking care of those truly in need.  It is apparently better to steal from your neighbor for your cause than allow your neighbor the choice of his.

The major remaining question is: “What happens when the victims (aka – those that actually DO pay taxes) run out of money?”  Or what happens when the victims decide enough is enough and stop working themselves?  If they are working for 20-25% of their pay, why work at all?  Or maybe take their money to another country.  Don’t think it can/will happen?  Consider the ultra-rich French film star Gerard Depardieu who recently sold everything and moved to Belgium.  He moved to the little “hamlet” of Nechin.  Nechin’s population of 2000 is approximately one-third French (I for one do NOT wonder why).  Or France’s richest man Bernard Arnault who applied for Belgian citizenship.  Arnault decided he will continue to pay the 75% tax on his income (for now anyway).  However, there has been a shot across the bow.  He is making a point.  It wouldn’t surprise me if he soon joined Depardieu.  The concern is: what happens when the ultra-rich in the U.S. get the same idea?  They take their money with them (presuming they don’t run out first).  They stop paying taxes in the U.S.  Who makes up for that deficit?  Under current policy of course we would just borrow more.  Our children and grandchildren will get the bill.  No worries.  [Just a quick aside – those ultra-rich that pay all those taxes to begin with (and whom some believe should pay even more) are the ones that create jobs for the rest of us.  If they quite or leave, not only no taxes, but no jobs.  A result of the “law of unintended consequences” (or are they unintended???).]

Our destiny is of that of North Korea, Cuba, and Greece.  Those in power will survive off the backs of the rest of us.  We, just as they, will lose the middle class.  Not a rich living, but at least a nice one.  We will become the servants of the few rich, the few powerful.  They of course will be in the government controlling us.  The ones most of our fellow citizens voted for.  What our fellow citizens don’t understand is that in accepting the “gift” of no tax and being on the welfare rolls, the ObamaCare rolls, the Food Stamp rolls, etc., you accept modern day slavery.  You can NEVER obtain a better life by accepting the handouts the government, in the name of compassion, stolen from others and given to you.  You can NEVER obtain a better life by not working for it.  In the Middle Ages they were called peasants.  Are we heading there again?

If you are one of those that voted for this evil, you must do the following:

-If a parent, you must now look your child in the eye and explain voting for the destroyed economy and crushing debt, now destined to increase even further, you are leaving for them to clean up.

-If a Christian, or any other God fearing person, you must now face God and explain voting for an individual/party that wishes all hints of Him wiped from public view, that prides itself in the destruction of His children (both young and old), that promotes theft.

-You must now look those of your neighbors with a job in the eye and explain how you are robbing them of their hard earned pay to fund federal programs for those too lazy to take care of themselves.  Programs so inefficient they cost far more than they would at the state level or in the private realm for those actually in need.

-You must now look your neighbor without a job in the eye and explain how you are robbing those that create jobs of their ability to provide them work in order to fund programs for those too lazy to take care of themselves.

-You must now look the elderly in the eye and explain how you stole from their medical safety net to pay for those that were already covered by another plan.  Another plan far more efficient than that of the now mandated federal program.

-You must now look everyone in the eye and explain to them how the government knows better how to take care of them and their children than they do.

-You must now look EVERYONE in the eye and explain having voted for the evil that is Socialism.

>>> The day is at a close, the night is drawing in and my cigar awaits – ’til next time…

The Holy Day Season

12/16/2012

Brian Sunday Posts , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

So…  It is the “holiday season” and we are told we must be politically correct (PC) in how we address people and refer to this time of year.  Certainly wouldn’t want to offend.

Hmmmmmmm…  Let us think about this for a moment.  While of late “Merry Christmas” is taboo, “Happy Holidays” is the alternate preferred by the PC crowd.  Why would that be?  Why is “Happy Holidays” better than “Merry Christmas”?  Maybe because they have no clue of what they speak.  Few actually understand what they claim and are good sheep following their leader.  The leaders of course have no other agenda than keeping the sheep in line and keeping their power.  Those truly of faith do not tend to follow the PC leaders and this upsets them to no end.  Regardless, as long as the sheep are content to not question, the PC leaders can lead our nation down the path of ruin.  Let us not be PC sheep.  Let us look at the “holiday situation” from a truthful point-of-view.

“Holiday” – from where did this word originate.  To make it short and sweet, holiday means Holy Day.  And while we currently call pretty much any non-weekend day we have off from work a holiday, the celebration of such days in the past was a religious celebration.  Therefore, whether the PC crowd likes it or not, “Happy Holidays” is still a religious pronouncement.

Let us take it from the beginning to the end of the major holiday season.  This is not to leave out Easter and a few others throughout the year, but since they have yet to create a crisis in the secular world – since it is much harder to turn commercial and make a profit (other than chocolate bunnies) they tend to leave them alone for the most part.

The 31st of October is Halloween.  Halloween translates to “All Hallows Eve”.  What is a “hallow” and why would we participate in such a ritual.  Must be from some old Druid tradition – at least that is what so many would have us believe.  Nope.  “Hallow” means to “render holy by means of religious rites” or “honor as holy” and normally refers to the saints as per the Catholic Church and some Protestant denominations.  According to several sources, “the best available evidence indicates that Halloween originated in the early Middle Ages as a Catholic vigil observed on the eve of All Saints Day, November 1.”  Of course in today’s secular and politically correct world we certainly can’t have that.  So “it has become commonplace to trace its roots even further back in time to a pagan festival of ancient Ireland known as Samhain [Summer’s End].”  This is quite easy to pass off since very little is actually known about Samhain.  So we can say about it whatever it takes to discredit the Christian custom.  As well, again according to several sources, many “modern historians, notably Ronald Hutton (The Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain, 1996) and Steve Roud (The English Year, 2008, and A Dictionary of English Folklore, 2005), flatly reject the popular notion that November 1 was designated All Saints Day by the Church to ‘Christianize’ the pagan festival. Citing a lack of historical evidence, Roud dismisses the Samhain theory of origin altogether.”  Bottom line:  regardless of the continued falsehoods spread even to this day connecting Halloween to pagans (Irish or otherwise), it is and always will be the eve of a Christian holy day.  If we choose to celebrate that evening by running from neighbor to neighbor begging for sweets, so be it.

Thanksgiving is ok – so far.  Although it is called an American “holiday”, it is not technically one.  According to history.com “in November 1621, after the Pilgrims’ first corn harvest proved successful, Governor William Bradford organized a celebratory feast and invited a group of the fledgling colony’s Native American allies, including the Wampanoag chief Massasoit. Now remembered as American’s “first Thanksgiving”—although the Pilgrims themselves may not have used the term at the time—the festival lasted for three days.”  Seriously, THREE DAYS!  What gives with our current culture?!  I could sure go for 3 days off to eat, drink and be merry.  Of course, the PC crowd has yet to create a crisis around Thanksgiving.  Why is a little difficult to understand, although I suspect it has something to do with it being more a celebration of America than a “holy day”.  It is definitely not a holy day as it is normally defined.  No religion of international recognition claims it as its own.  However, they will at some point start to question to whom are we giving thanks.  Once they figure out that God is in the picture, watch out!  Thanksgiving will be on their hit list.

Christmas is of course the most attacked of all.  As mentioned, saying “Merry Christmas” is wholly inappropriate.  It turns all but Christians into second class citizens by its very utterance.  However, “Happy Holidays” – aka “Happy Holy Days” is perfectly fine – so far.  Curious is it not?  Are we as a society THAT afraid of God?  I mean we SHOULD be.  But not for celebrating the birth of His Son.  We should be for marginalizing or allowing to be marginalized the celebration thereof.  What is wrong with our society that is should be so afraid of one segment celebrating something.  They lean on the claim that we are bound by the Constitution to not push our religion on others.  They lose the fact that allowing a worker or even a group of workers, even in a government office, to put up Christmas decorations is certainly not forcing anyone else in that office to convert.  Although I find it ridiculous to have to say, I am lucky to work in a government facility (a school) that still decorates for Christmas.  Teachers, administrators and students are allowed to select whatever type of decoration they wish for their individual space.  Nobody is offended.  Everybody seems to be much more relaxed and happier this time of the year.  Well, except for the students’ worry about those pesky finals!  They seem much less worried though as they walk by various doors or desks and smile at the holy day decorations.  Or when they smile and laugh amid the greetings of “Merry Christmas!” (yes, we still allow that to be said as well).  I suspect someday the PC crowd will get wind of this merriment and attempt to censor it.  Maybe, just maybe, society will come to its senses prior to that and declare we’ve had enough with yet another loss of our freedom and put an end to political correctness itself.  Let us hope it is soon.

Finally, New Years!  Happy, happy, happy – at least so far.  One version holds that the celebration of New Year’s began in ancient Babylonia in Mesopotamia as the festival which renewed the world for another year.  Another (also of the same timeframe) holds that it began technically as the celebration of the creation – in this case, not strictly the beginning of time but the beginning of man.  While Western Society eventually settled on 1 January (in the year 1582 by, of course, Pope Gregory XIII), other cultures and religions celebrate other days.  Hence, the Chinese New Year (based on the Chinese calendar) and the Christian New Year (the first Sunday of Advent based on the Liturgical calendar) and Rosh Hashanah in the Jewish faith.  Cultures celebrate the “new year” (whenever it happens to fall) for various reasons.  However, it primarily boils down to the commemoration of creation and a renewal of life.  This, as these originating cultures will tell you, is from a theological perspective.  While we don’t want to stretch the point too far, yet again, God (in whatever form or theology) is present in this holiday as well.

This ends our quick journey through the holy day season.  From All Hallows Eve to the New Year.  How much more religious can you get.  All ye of no faith, if you don’t like it, QUIT celebrating OUR holidays.  Get your own.  But definitely stop pushing the idea we must keep quiet about what we are doing.  Most, if not all, religions have their holidays.  Christians have no problem with others celebrating Hanukkah (last celebrated 8-16 Dec 2012), Rosh Hashanah (next Sep 16-18 2013), Yom Kippur (the holiest day of the year for Jews – next celebrated on 25-26 Sep 2013), and of course Passover (next 25 Mar – 1 Apr 2013).  Nor do we have a problem with Ramadan (next starting 9 July 2013) or any other Muslim holidays.  Or the Chinese New Year (not technically a “holiday” but celebrated nonetheless by a visit to the temple to offer prayers) or Magha Puja, Buddhist holidays that few in this country are even aware.  There dates, similar to Jewish dates, are not on the “Western” calendar so “move” from year to year.

I have numerous friends, coworkers and acquaintances of different faiths.  I wish them a Merry Christmas.  They don’t get offended.  They may return a “Happy Hanukkah” or other greeting/response based on their beliefs.  We are a country founded in the Christian tradition – or Judeo-Christian if you must but that is actually redundant for anyone of knowledge about Christianity.  While we absolutely SHOULD respect the religious rights of all, we should NEVER secularize or marginalize the most profound beliefs and traditions of our neighbors and fellow countrymen by pushing them behind closed doors.

It is now becoming a cliché, but one to which few listen.  The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution declares freedom OF religion (“Congress shall make no law … prohibiting the free exercise thereof” [religion]), NOT freedom FROM religion.  The public square has always been a place for display and discourse for ALL.  Those that want to shut it down must be afraid of SOMETHING.  I for the life of me have no idea what it is.  I only hope we can learn to discuss and not bury our differences.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The day is at a close, the night is drawing in and my cigar awaits – ’til next time…

Winston Churchill on Socialism

12/09/2012

Brian Sunday Posts , , , , , Leave a comment

This has been an extremely busy week for me and I’m afraid I had not the occasion to do justice to my views on any of the topics on my current list.

However, so as not to leave you with nothing this week, I thought you’d like to hear from one of the supreme intellects in man’s history.

I will have much to say on the issue of Socialism in the future. But for the moment I leave you with this:

 

“Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.”

Winston Churchill

 

>>> The day is at a close, the night is drawing in and my cigar awaits – ’til next time…

The solution to the U.S. illegal alien and immigration problem

12/02/2012

Brian Sunday Posts , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Not the completely detailed solution, but a pretty darn good draft/outline of major actions to accomplish.  Fleshing out the details and implementation of this outline will no doubt solve both the short-term and long-term problem.  Until, of course, everyone wants to get their pet issue/concern into the mix.  Kind of like a “clean” bill in Congress being hijacked with all the addendums, amendments, riders and/or earmarks.  Bottom line:  in order for this to work, the outline below must be followed as written.  Details are necessary but modifications to the major points will render the solution null and void allowing the problem to continue in perpetuity.  Regardless, now that I have solved the problem, whether it is implemented or not, I will be able to sleep at night knowing the solution is available.

>  I’ve read and heard from time-to-time that we need to modify the U.S. immigration policy and there very well may be a necessity to do so.  However, I am not completely convinced and this overall topic is for another time.  However, since many suggest current immigration policy is “wrong” and therefore provides rationale for the interlopers’ unlawful activity, the basics of our current policy are listed here for your consideration [from a summary by the American Immigration Council]:

  • Provides for an annual worldwide limit of 675,000 permanent immigrants, with certain exceptions for close family members.
  • Based upon three principles: the reunification of families, admitting immigrants with skills that are valuable to the U.S. economy, and protecting refugees
  • [I will mention US citizenship below so let me give you the current US policy on that.]  “In order to qualify for U.S. citizenship, an individual must have had LPR status (a green card) for at least 5 years (or 3 years if he obtained his green card through a U.S. citizen spouse or through the Violence Against Women Act, VAWA). There are other exceptions for members of the U.S. military who serve in a time of war or declared hostilities. Applicants for U.S. citizenship must be at least 18 years old, demonstrate continuous residency, demonstrate “good moral character,” pass English and U.S. history and civics exams, and pay an application fee.” [American Immigration Council]

>  With that policy in mind, let us begin with the borders.  We have completely bastardized the concept of national security as applies to illegal entry.  So the first indispensable item on the agenda is obviously stopping the influx of illegal aliens into the country.  We have got to stop looking at illegal entry as a social issue.  Our immigration policy deals with that (see above).  This is an issue of national sovereignty.  Regardless of their rationale for entering the country, they are doing it unlawfully.  Build a “wall”.  I don’t care if it is physical, electronic, human or a combination thereof (although I’d recommend the combination).  We do not need Border Patrol or other Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agencies to protect the U.S. borders (although there is a necessary, but limited, role for law enforcement).  We have a military to deal with interlopers – use it.  To the full extent of its capability if necessary.  The military exists to secure this country.  Defending it from illegal entry is as important in the long run as defending it from immediate and obvious enemy combatants.  Although, sometimes they are the same thing.  We deploy our military overseas to protect the homeland of others as well as to stop the spread of “evil” to keep it from our shores.  It is no less necessary to do so at our own borders.  Yes, yes, yes.  Many (most) are coming here to make a better life and are not combatants or intending to perpetrate any ill will against us.  And I really do sympathize.  Nevertheless, we should differentiate these individuals through proper/legal immigration procedures.  Not in the middle of the desert as they try to sneak in.

Now don’t get me wrong.  My expectation here is NOT to have the U.S. military just killing anyone coming across the border.  As mentioned, there is a role for law enforcement here.  However, I contend that a larger, more capable force on the border would go much further to deter, detect and halt entry than does our current arrangement.  The specific Rules Of Engagement would have to be worked out in detail (and I would be happy to sit on that council!).

>  While securing the border and considering modification of US immigration policy to whatever extent, the following guidelines should be used for those already here.  To begin with, all those here illegally will be required to register with the DHS.  U.S. citizens essentially have birth certificates to document their “entry” and status.  Look at this as the equivalent.  They would also be required to have an international “background check” performed.  An implication being that if you do not register and are later found out, regardless of anything below, you and any dependents will be immediately deported.  From there:

  • If you are already here illegally but otherwise a “good person” (i.e., you have no criminal record in the US or any foreign country, are a contributing member of society and have a means of support for yourself and any dependents), you may stay.  However, you may NEVER become a U.S. citizen nor be permitted to participate in those actions/opportunities rightly reserved to citizenship (i.e., voting in Federal elections).  Should you wish to become a U.S. citizen, you must return to your country of origin and come to the U.S. legally via following appropriate procedures.  While you are here under illegal circumstance of arrival, you will of course have to participate in paying taxes and will be afforded the same considerations as any other resident alien.  I realize some would suggest this creates, in a sense, a situation of “taxation without representation” but this is by YOUR choice.  If you want to vote for someone to represent you, come to this country legally.  That said, you will still be provided serves for your taxes.  You will still be accepting use of roads, military/police/fire protection and many other services.  If at any time you become a problem at any level of our society (from numerous misdemeanors (say three strikes you’re out) to committing a felony (singular)) you will be required to leave the U.S.

I realize this may seem like a pardon to some and I fully understand that.  This is not my first choice of solutions.  But I believe this is the best balance between a complete pardon for all (again!) and an attempt (and most likely failure) to deport all those here illegally.

  • If you are here illegally and not being a good person, you AND your dependents, whether born in the U.S. or not (see below), will be required to leave the U.S.  This would include (but not be reserved exclusively to) not only those that have committed crimes while in the U.S. but those that have committed crimes in their home country (or anywhere else for that matter).  We don’t welcome alien criminals (other than a onetime exception, obviously from the previous bullet, those whose sole crime is having entered the U.S. illegally).  Any dependent you may have that is under the age of 21 when you, and they, are deported may apply for entry under appropriate immigration policy when they are of legal age (specifically – 21). If they are 21 or older and have an application for citizenship in process, they may remain if they choose until such time as their application is adjudicated.
  • If you were born here of parents who are here illegally, you are not a citizen.  Sorry.  I fully understand you are not complicit in the unlawful activity preceding your birth.  However, we all “suffer” consequences in one form or another of those that came before us.   If you and your parents are being good people, you may stay.  It was not your fault your parents broke the rules and entered this country illegally.  You must register regardless of age and you may apply to become a U.S. citizen upon reaching your 21st birthday by following the appropriate procedures to do so.  However, if after your 14th birthday and prior to gaining U.S. citizenship you are found to have participated in felonious activity, you will be deported to the country of origin of your parents.  This would take place immediately following your 18th birthday (to ensure you are of legal age to vouch for yourself), or immediately if you are already of age, and is regardless of the citizenship status of your parents.

>  The final plank would deal with why people go to such lengths, put their lives and the lives of their loved ones in peril and break our laws just to get here in the first place.  Problems at home maybe?  I will provide some thoughts on this topic at a future date.

>  This should solve the problem.  I am well aware that the Socialists in our country would not be happy about this.  Contrary to popular belief, they have no actual desire solve a problem or provide assistance anyway.  Most of their “solutions” are still in search of a problem.  Their real objective is power.  To obtain and maintain that power they need votes.  They cannot get votes from non-citizens.  They therefore need immigrants as citizens dependent upon their socialist programs to vote for them.  Allowing anyone to vote regardless of their immigration status definitely benefits them.  So this MAY help solve two problems.  First is the problem of future illegal immigration and what to do with those already here.  The second is to help limit or break the hold Socialism currently has on this country.

>  This solution would benefit us in other ways as well.  A few examples:

  • Help reduce the federal deficit by “legalizing” and taxing the income of illegal immigrants thereby providing more tax revenue.
  • Reducing Federal expenditures on social programs since fewer people will be taken advantage of by employers holding the illegality of their status over their heads.  The employers will be forced to provide better wages and benefits instead of hiding the employment of these people under the table and making them no better than indentured servants.
  • Killing two birds with one stone by providing combined operations and training for our military right here at home.
  • I’m no expert on drug trafficking but I suspect having a full time military presence on the border would help with the interdiction of drugs coming across our borders.  I highly doubt a complete solution but every bit would help.
  • Reduce Federal expenditures by reducing the number of, and therefore expenses for, law enforcement agencies.  The US Customs and Border Protection as law enforcement in the form of border security would be significantly reduced.  Since we are paying for the military and its training anyway, that is a wash.

>>> The day is at a close, the night is drawing in and my cigar awaits – ’til next time…

Things (aka, “stuff”) we “need”

11/25/2012

Brian Sunday Posts , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

What most these days call the “Christmas Season” is almost upon us.  It is actually the Advent Season, the season in which Christians prepare for the birth of Christ, and it begins 2 Dec.  Of course, for most it begins the day after Thanksgiving – Black Friday.  It is the season in which all men should celebrate and share God given time, talent and treasure.  Even if you don’t believe in the Western philosophy of God, at least a time when we should all look to each other and ask, what can we do to make our lives, the lives of others and this world better?  However, this is not a thought for this time of year only.  I would contend that each and every day of our lives could be devoted, if only in some small measure amidst the difficulties of life lived, to such an end.  Nonetheless, since few days are (or at least few by most), such thoughts and actions should dominate this time of year.

Yet this time of year seems more and more devoted to that ultimate goal.  The goal to die with the most toys…  We also need the most expensive toys.  We need what everyone else has.  We need it whether we need it or not (confusing isn’t it?).  It is almost impossible for many these days to differentiate between a need and a want.  Commercialism wins.  Not Capitalism mind you. Commercialism.  The art of convincing us that “wants” are “needs”.  Sometimes, often times, convincing us that things we didn’t even know we wanted, we need.  The art of devotion to the ultimate goal.  How depressing.  How miserable.  How distressing.

It is interesting that most people’s unhappiness comes from the desire for things they want but don’t have.  Notice I didn’t see “need” but don’t have.  I have traveled the world and met many that have far less than those in America we consider in poverty.  Interestingly enough, they are happy.  Maybe ignorance IS bliss.  If it means lack of knowledge of what we are persuaded we need, I am convinced.  Few Americans know what true poverty is.  I hear or read about many that are “so impoverished” due to lack of something the rest of the world gets along just fine without.  Mind you, many in America ARE hurting.  Have no doubt.  Not nearly though the number of which we are convinced.  And certainly not for the reasons we are oft times given.

I have many students that live below the federally established “poverty line”.  Two come to mind and have two very different perspectives on their situation (there are many others in both categories).  They are of pretty much the same financial status.  One is miserable.  Everyday he’s miserable.  His friends have this and his friends have that.  It affects his happiness.   It affects his attitude.  His attitude toward his school work (yes, he grades are below average in all classes).  His attitude toward extracurricular activity.  His attitude toward life.  His is owed!  And he is not getting his due!  The other, as you might imagine, is actually quite happy.  I am utterly amazed by his outlook on life.  He takes advantage of every opportunity and couldn’t care less if he lacks the toys or clothes or houses or what-have-you of so many of his friends.  He is getting good grades and participates in every extracurricular activity he can fit in his schedule.  If you believe I am writing fiction here you’d be wrong.  One is a senior, the other a sophomore.  One is happy, the other – not so much.  Both attitudes come from the same “concern”.  One is making the most of what little he is given.  The other is lamenting the fact that he doesn’t have more.  One will be going far in life and, as most parents wish for their children, will surpass his family status and make a better life for his kids (I’m making a presumption here – he doesn’t actually have kids yet).  I have little doubt we, as taxpaying Americans, will be taking care of the other.  One is happy with having his needs, and a very few of his wants, fulfilled.  The other is miserable because he doesn’t have what society (in the form of mass media and advertisers) tells him he should.

I am writing on “Black Friday”.  What a bizarre day of greed, insatiability, and self-indulgence.  It is bad enough that people wait in line for days for things neither they nor the others for who they may be buying truly even need.  But the stories of pushing and shoving, fights, arguments, etc that take place show the true nature of many indulging in such activity.  Stories abound but some of the most grievous include “a Massachusetts man [that] left his girlfriend’s 2-year-old son in a car while he went shopping for Black Friday bargains, then went home with his new 51-inch flat screen television and left the toddler behind” (apparently the TV wouldn’t fit in the car so he called a friend for a lift home and forgot about the child) and “a man who tried skipping line outside a Sears store in Texas punched a fellow shopper and that man responded by pulling a gun”.  Doors busted down by shoppers who “couldn’t” wait for the store to open, a customer actually run over in a store parking lot, shots fired, “gang” fights, actual battles over merchandise.  These are all true stories of this year’s Black Friday.  This is a typical year.  Seriously people.  We see this every year.  We are appalled every year.  We continue every year.  Also interesting is that it supposedly revolves around the Christmas holiday.  Who is this Christ?  Why does He matter?  What is His message?  Why are we celebrating His birth?  Who has time to consider such silliness?  “Get the best deal on Christmas gifts for the whole family!” is the cry of the retailer.  “Save, Save, Save” on SO MANY things nobody actually needs.  This is neither the Capitalism nor the values upon which our country was founded.  It is the Commercialism contributing to its fall.

Don’t get me wrong.  I have no problem with people living a comfortable life within their means.  The concern is threefold.  The extent to which they will go to get what they think will make them happy, the debt they will incur for the same reason and those that feel they need to emulate them (not their fault of course, but a concern in the big picture). Every day we are told that material things will not make you happy.  For the most part this is true.  We obviously need SOME material things.  The Physiological Level of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs dictates that.  We truly need food, water, shelter, etc.  However, we don’t need lobster and filet mignon, we don’t need Perrier, and we don’t need a McMansion in a gated community.  If you are truly able to afford such things (this means without getting into debt you are unable to repay as a practical portion of your income) I am all for living a good life.  I am a big proponent of the ultra-rich.  Many people are employed by those that build, maintain, and supply yachts (as a single example).  Many are employed in numerous industries that provide products and services for those able to afford great luxury.  Do not condemn those that have the means and spend well above most of our capabilities.  They are providing jobs and therefore income to many of us.  However, if you are NOT one of them, it is within you to be happy in whatever state of life you live.  Strive for more if you wish.  It is the drive of man to want to be and have better.  Just strive to be BETTER and to make your community, country and the world better.  Not for more “stuff” for the sake of more “stuff”.

Live and let live.  This doesn’t mean don’t get involved or allow others in society to just do what they please.  I do not advocate anarchy.  What it means is leave others to their own material goods.  Consider only that which is necessary to YOUR happiness.  And “what makes YOU happy” should be actually well thought-out.  No, being “convinced” by that cool advertisement on TV is not a considered choice.  Is that new video game bringing happiness?  Is that new pair of shoes bringing happiness?  Just because someone else has it doesn’t mean it belongs in your life.  Live your life.  Live your goals.  Notice I didn’t say “dreams”.  Dreams are nice ideas.  Goals are dreams to which you apply action.  Many have dreams.  Few turn them into goals.  Consider what would actually make you happy.  Turn that thought into a goal.  Live your goals.  Let others live through commercialism if they must.

As well, consider on occasion that using some of what you have to help those that ARE truly in need might actually provide you with more fulfillment than acquiring more “stuff”.  Having lived through some level of this in my young adult years I can assure you that it is not worth it.  The sleepless nights, paycheck-to-paycheck living due to acquisition of unnecessary things, constant worry about how to pay for not only the true necessities but those unnecessary things acquired is more headache than it is worth.  Ensuring “needs” are reasonable and limiting consumption of “wants” will allow for time and treasure to be devoted to something besides yourself.  Maybe a favorite charity looking for a cure for a disease or medical condition about which you are concerned.  Or helping those in areas of our country or abroad that truly need more to eat or fresh water to drink.  Even if you have no extra money, your time is also of great value.  Many of my students have little of their own.  However, visiting the elderly in retirement homes or helping younger student at elementary schools doesn’t cost them a thing yet sure seems to bring far more happiness and fulfillment to them than I see in the kid that just received the newest video game.

I could go on and on about this topic.  So much greed – so little time.  So many examples of those that are sad they don’t have more and others so happy because they understand what they don’t need.  Do you need most “stuff”?  My departing counsel – consider what is truly important in your life.  Consider what is driving your attitude.  Are they balanced?  Are you happy?

>>> The day is at a close, the night is drawing in and my cigar awaits – ’til next time…

Older Entries Newer Entries