"whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, you do to Me." (Mt. 25:40)
I don't know what it was that triggered all aspects of this to fall into place in my mind. Oddly, I remember musing in my post Easter supper trance, whether or not there is an Easter equivalent to the term "bah, humbug". As you probably know, the Dickens phrase is now symbolic with the idea that none of this matters. The "this" in this case refers to a holiday sentiment in particular. After all, there is no downside to "He is Risen". What can work against this?
It's interesting to note that Pope John Paul II's, body is weakened, but what he is saying is so very strong...that life is vital, that his purpose continues to serve His purpose, and that carrying on is precisely what God would have us all do.
Then there is the Terri Schiavo case. There is no new news to share at this point, as it is clear that Terri's court ordered execution will reach it's only ordained conclusion.
I'll have to deal with Michael Schiavo, the various court systems and the politicos later. For the moment the thoughts and prayers are with Terri and her family. For the moment, it should not be about politics, legalities, and the courts. This should have been a slam dunk decision in favor of life; and only a system that is too screwed up to get it right can get it this wrong.
To withhold food and water from someone is criminally negligent. As a society, we wouldn't condone starving a 3 month old baby. Terri Schiavo is a 3 month old in a large person's body. Tragic, yes. The fundamental point is this: How can it be okay to end someone's life simply because they cannot feed themselves? The second point is, how can a court direct the taking of a disabled person's life. Third, how can either of these things be done against the wishes of the persons parents and loved ones? The logical conclusion of all this is that it is okay to kill someone as long as you are the legal guardian.
I'm glad Pope John Paul is still giving us the benefit of his input.
Monday, March 28, 2005
Thursday, March 24, 2005
A young man whose father is a carpenter grows up working in his father's shop. One day he puts down his tools and walks out of his father's shop. He starts preaching on streetcorners and in the nearby countryside, walking from place to place, preaching all the while, even though he is not an ordained minister. He never gets farther than an area perhaps 100 miles wide at the most. He does this for three years. Then he is arrested, tried and convicted.There is no court of appeal, so he is executed at age 33 along with two common thieves. Those in charge of his execution roll dice to see who gets his clothing -- the only possessions he has. His family cannot afford a burial place for him so he is interred in a borrowed tomb. End of story? No, this uneducated, property-less young man has, for 2,000 years, had a greater effect on the world than all the rulers, kings, emperors; all the conquerors, generals and admirals, all the scholars, scientists and philosophers who have ever lived -- all of them put together. How do we explain that -- unless He really was what He said He was?" --Ronald Reagan
Saturday, March 19, 2005
FDR and the Great Depression
News item: ... After scrutinizing Roosevelt ’s record for four years, Harold L. Cole and Lee E. Ohanian conclude in a new study that New Deal policies signed into law 71 years ago thwarted economic recovery for seven long years. http://www.econ.ucla.edu/whatsbruin/news/FDRarticle.htm
Johnson, Nixon and Carter weren't the only ones to screw up a good economy. We always knew that Johnson's "Great Society", Nixon's wage and price tampering, and Carter's era of "Stagflation" and malaise were self inflicted poxes on the economy of the respective eras. It was always much harder to judge what impact FDR's policies had.
We know for example that he inherited the stock market crash from Hoover. People were going to give him a long leash. Just do something, even if it's wrong. I've always viewed the TVA and other programs like it with mixed feelings. Sure, some good came out of it, but giving people high paying jobs during a depression really did gum up the works. It did two other things that I think of as very damaging. It created the false impression that a government program can be efficient enough by itself to maintain an economy. I suppose if that were remotely true, the Soviet Union would be kicking our butt in every market. Second, any "make work" program will never accrue to our personal well being. Digging holes, and filling them up again is certainly work. It's also criminally unproductive. Any big hiring program by the government is going to tend towards "make work".
Today, nobody today knows just how hard the times were for people in 1929. The most damaging thing we saw in every historical treatment of the era, however, were the number of people out of work. Well, that's clearly what happens when wages are artificially high...people lose their jobs.
Johnson, Nixon and Carter weren't the only ones to screw up a good economy. We always knew that Johnson's "Great Society", Nixon's wage and price tampering, and Carter's era of "Stagflation" and malaise were self inflicted poxes on the economy of the respective eras. It was always much harder to judge what impact FDR's policies had.
We know for example that he inherited the stock market crash from Hoover. People were going to give him a long leash. Just do something, even if it's wrong. I've always viewed the TVA and other programs like it with mixed feelings. Sure, some good came out of it, but giving people high paying jobs during a depression really did gum up the works. It did two other things that I think of as very damaging. It created the false impression that a government program can be efficient enough by itself to maintain an economy. I suppose if that were remotely true, the Soviet Union would be kicking our butt in every market. Second, any "make work" program will never accrue to our personal well being. Digging holes, and filling them up again is certainly work. It's also criminally unproductive. Any big hiring program by the government is going to tend towards "make work".
Today, nobody today knows just how hard the times were for people in 1929. The most damaging thing we saw in every historical treatment of the era, however, were the number of people out of work. Well, that's clearly what happens when wages are artificially high...people lose their jobs.
Monday, March 14, 2005
Media election coverage
News Item: 3/14/05 NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. media coverage of last year's election was three times more likely to be negative toward President Bush (news - web sites) than Democratic challenger John Kerry (news - web sites), according to a study released Monday.
(Full article: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=615&e=1&u=/nm/media_report_dc)
I suppose that's news, in a dog-bites-man kind of way. The article goes on to describe a 58% increase in blog readership (Yay!) as an alternative, citing that people "expect to be disappointed" with network news.
(Full article: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=615&e=1&u=/nm/media_report_dc)
I suppose that's news, in a dog-bites-man kind of way. The article goes on to describe a 58% increase in blog readership (Yay!) as an alternative, citing that people "expect to be disappointed" with network news.
Friday, March 11, 2005
Congress and Baseball
"The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only legitimate object of good government." --Thomas Jefferson
"When I was a small boy in Kansas, a friend of mine and I went fishing. I told him I wanted to be a real Major League baseball player, a genuine professional like Honus Wagner. My friend said that he'd like to be President of the United States. Neither of us got our wish." --Dwight D. Eisenhower
At first I was put off by the notion that our federal government should meddle in the affairs of a private entertainment entity like baseball. After all, I find that the free market usually polices itself on matters that get public attention. A big suspension and some community service time should keep basketball stars from slugging fans, and hockey has a year to figure out it's own shortcomings in the market. Baseball last year put in a solid testing program, and it will work to keep the drug out of the game. That's that, and nuff said. Then I saw the Jefferson quote above.
Is it possible that congress is actually taking a leadership role on something important for a change? Nobody likes heros more than Americans. The number of people who wanna "be like Mike" is enormous. For most young people the only way to approach mike-like proportion (in both physical and public stature) is to use some enhancement. We can't have steroids in the nations locker rooms dispensed like salt tablets, without getting a generation's worth of medical problems; so maybe it's a good thing this is getting attention from the top.
I'll be watching this with some interest, and perhaps more than a little regret that a dozen other more important topics are not given this much focus by our legislators. That's not to say there should be any laws enacted from this. Laws are usually bad. Talking about stuff, that's usually good.
Yes, I know it's mostly grandstanding by the lawmakers. They didn't get to where they are without awesome grandstanding capabilities. A message this important just needs to be made from positions of leadership. Then everybody should just shut up and play ball.
"When I was a small boy in Kansas, a friend of mine and I went fishing. I told him I wanted to be a real Major League baseball player, a genuine professional like Honus Wagner. My friend said that he'd like to be President of the United States. Neither of us got our wish." --Dwight D. Eisenhower
At first I was put off by the notion that our federal government should meddle in the affairs of a private entertainment entity like baseball. After all, I find that the free market usually polices itself on matters that get public attention. A big suspension and some community service time should keep basketball stars from slugging fans, and hockey has a year to figure out it's own shortcomings in the market. Baseball last year put in a solid testing program, and it will work to keep the drug out of the game. That's that, and nuff said. Then I saw the Jefferson quote above.
Is it possible that congress is actually taking a leadership role on something important for a change? Nobody likes heros more than Americans. The number of people who wanna "be like Mike" is enormous. For most young people the only way to approach mike-like proportion (in both physical and public stature) is to use some enhancement. We can't have steroids in the nations locker rooms dispensed like salt tablets, without getting a generation's worth of medical problems; so maybe it's a good thing this is getting attention from the top.
I'll be watching this with some interest, and perhaps more than a little regret that a dozen other more important topics are not given this much focus by our legislators. That's not to say there should be any laws enacted from this. Laws are usually bad. Talking about stuff, that's usually good.
Yes, I know it's mostly grandstanding by the lawmakers. They didn't get to where they are without awesome grandstanding capabilities. A message this important just needs to be made from positions of leadership. Then everybody should just shut up and play ball.
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Happy Trails, Dan Rather
"One's reminded of that old saying, 'Don't taunt the alligator until after you've crossed the creek.'"
- Dan Rather (Dan Ratherisms: http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/blratherisms.htm)
Today is Dan's last day as the CBS anchor. Everybody, including Uncle Walter took turns bashing him since last year's memogate. Dan definitely had his faults all right. He presided over an era of political correctedness, blue state snootiness, and leftist condescension that afflicted all major networks since the 1980's. He tossed softball questions to murderous tyrants, and gave the leader of the free world the third degree. None of us is perfect I suppose.
For me, the end of network news came sometime in the 80's. That's when I would tune in at the end of the day to hear about this racist world, this oppression of women, the attack on seniors, and the ravaging of our precious forest land. Then I'd go out in the real world and find none of that, but some very real problems that needed to be fixed. I had to ask, where is the relevance. Where is the priority? Dan, you let us all down.
Hopefully someone at network news can put some reality back into their work. I think that is the only hope for network news going forward.
- Dan Rather (Dan Ratherisms: http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/blratherisms.htm)
Today is Dan's last day as the CBS anchor. Everybody, including Uncle Walter took turns bashing him since last year's memogate. Dan definitely had his faults all right. He presided over an era of political correctedness, blue state snootiness, and leftist condescension that afflicted all major networks since the 1980's. He tossed softball questions to murderous tyrants, and gave the leader of the free world the third degree. None of us is perfect I suppose.
For me, the end of network news came sometime in the 80's. That's when I would tune in at the end of the day to hear about this racist world, this oppression of women, the attack on seniors, and the ravaging of our precious forest land. Then I'd go out in the real world and find none of that, but some very real problems that needed to be fixed. I had to ask, where is the relevance. Where is the priority? Dan, you let us all down.
Hopefully someone at network news can put some reality back into their work. I think that is the only hope for network news going forward.
Monday, March 07, 2005
The Patriot Act
"Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel."
-- Samuel Johnson (Boswell's Life of Johnson)
"Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety"
-- Benjamin Franklin (An Historical Review of the Constitution and Government of Pennsylvania).
There are many excuses that are used to grow the government. One of the biggest government power grabs happened just a few short years ago in the Patriot Act. It was accomplished under the banner of fighting terrorism (i.e., temporary safety) but ravaged our essential liberties. Did you know that the government can now conduct unlawful search and siezure if it merely suspects you of being a terrorist? Yep. No warrant needed. They also can hack into your computer and see what you've been reading and writing (to all you feds out there: A big Howdy from the Wizer--y'all should be reading the stuff I'm reading).
All this is supposed to make me feel safer? I feel less safe. Take airline travel, for example. We have so many security protocols that you can't help but feel substantially less safe. The constant reminders of how unsafe it can be is more debilitating than the actual risk itself. Wizer believes we'd be much safer just to issue firearms to all the passengers. Oh, wait, that's one of those essential liberties we have a nasty habit of giving up just so somebody can "feel" safer.
Now we have created this big honkin' bureacracy (Dept. of Homeland Security) for the purpose of spying on our own citizenry. We're training computer snoops by the hundreds and thousands. All of this so that we can believe the country is doing something to make the citizens feel safer. Word to George: "It's NOT WORKING".
-- Samuel Johnson (Boswell's Life of Johnson)
"Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety"
-- Benjamin Franklin (An Historical Review of the Constitution and Government of Pennsylvania).
There are many excuses that are used to grow the government. One of the biggest government power grabs happened just a few short years ago in the Patriot Act. It was accomplished under the banner of fighting terrorism (i.e., temporary safety) but ravaged our essential liberties. Did you know that the government can now conduct unlawful search and siezure if it merely suspects you of being a terrorist? Yep. No warrant needed. They also can hack into your computer and see what you've been reading and writing (to all you feds out there: A big Howdy from the Wizer--y'all should be reading the stuff I'm reading).
All this is supposed to make me feel safer? I feel less safe. Take airline travel, for example. We have so many security protocols that you can't help but feel substantially less safe. The constant reminders of how unsafe it can be is more debilitating than the actual risk itself. Wizer believes we'd be much safer just to issue firearms to all the passengers. Oh, wait, that's one of those essential liberties we have a nasty habit of giving up just so somebody can "feel" safer.
Now we have created this big honkin' bureacracy (Dept. of Homeland Security) for the purpose of spying on our own citizenry. We're training computer snoops by the hundreds and thousands. All of this so that we can believe the country is doing something to make the citizens feel safer. Word to George: "It's NOT WORKING".
Sunday, March 06, 2005
Dad's birthday
My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, "You're tearing up the grass." "We're not raising grass," Dad would reply. "We're raising boys." -Harmon Killebrew
Dad never lost his sense of priority. Never, at least, in the 50 plus (plus) years I have known him. What was important to him (including love, honor, duty, faith, family) became important to me, too. Not because these were good things (which they were), but because he was good, and you could trust him to know what was good. Over time, these good things become important to all of us.
The Boy Scout meetings, the trips to the junkyards looking for a pan big enough to cook a 27 pound turkey in, building a camper or a shooting pit. All of this was quality time, and allowed me the true honor of watching a dad at work. I didn't realize at the time that he was growing me up.
Today is his birthday. I chatted with him this morning. We talked about cranking up the fishing boat and heading to the northwoods, just as in years past. It's not really about the fishing. The Priority is simpler than that. I don't even need to bring a pole. It's just something to do between hearing his stories around the campfire.
Let's go Dad. The fish need catching.
Dad never lost his sense of priority. Never, at least, in the 50 plus (plus) years I have known him. What was important to him (including love, honor, duty, faith, family) became important to me, too. Not because these were good things (which they were), but because he was good, and you could trust him to know what was good. Over time, these good things become important to all of us.
The Boy Scout meetings, the trips to the junkyards looking for a pan big enough to cook a 27 pound turkey in, building a camper or a shooting pit. All of this was quality time, and allowed me the true honor of watching a dad at work. I didn't realize at the time that he was growing me up.
Today is his birthday. I chatted with him this morning. We talked about cranking up the fishing boat and heading to the northwoods, just as in years past. It's not really about the fishing. The Priority is simpler than that. I don't even need to bring a pole. It's just something to do between hearing his stories around the campfire.
Let's go Dad. The fish need catching.
Friday, March 04, 2005
Social Security
News item: Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.) has recommended increasing the payroll tax cap from $90,000 to about $150,000, essentially financing the transition with higher payments from wealthier workers. National Center for Policy Analysis
I've got three problems with Bush's social security plan:
I've got three problems with Bush's social security plan:
- I don't really want another account to manage. I have this savings account, that IRA, this 401(k), that mutual fund, and a bunch of other stuff to keep track of. And that's not even counting my fantasy baseball team stats. Why in God's name would I want to manage yet another account? Yes, yes, I see the benefit of an ownership society. If you really want to do that, just drop Social Security altogether. Just grandfather it out (so to speak) and let everyone decide how many accounts he or she needs (and for what).
- Has anybody asked the question I find most troubling? What is the effect on the market of putting 4% of our collective net income every year into the stock market. Won't that be a trillion bucks a year into a finite equity market? My take is the inflation will overrun any real gains. Thinking ahead, that makes this a real ponzi scheme. When people start drawing out of this market, it will depress so fast, the net gain we're being told about could very well be a loss. I'm not a zero sum kind of guy, but I don't see the numbers working out.
- This business of overcoming the near term shortfall by raising the social security tax (on middle income people) without increasing their benefits is horsesh*t. I can't believe a Republican came up with it. Get me Hastert on the phone....
Here's a plan: It's clearly better to define the benefits downward. Nobody thinks SS will be their entire retirement security any more. Start phasing it out, and instead, offer insurance policies to those who think they might outlive the average guy.
Thursday, March 03, 2005
Making a blog work
A clear idea is defined as one which is so apprehended that it will be recognized wherever it is met with, and so that no other will be mistaken for it. If it fails of this clearness, it is said to be obscure. - C.S. Peirce
Brevity is the soul of wit - William Shakespeare (Hamlet)
This blog strives for clarity and brevity. Hopefully the ideas will be delivered clearly; and with enough wit to help you remember and apply them in your daily life.
Thus, the pace will be unlike most blogs. What may at first seem to be a fragment of an idea will instead be the whole idea stated as concisely as possible.
You see, I don't get paid by the paragraph. Some authors seem to restate a point with enough clutter to fill out a newspaper column's worth of space. I value your time much more than that.
Brevity is the soul of wit - William Shakespeare (Hamlet)
This blog strives for clarity and brevity. Hopefully the ideas will be delivered clearly; and with enough wit to help you remember and apply them in your daily life.
Thus, the pace will be unlike most blogs. What may at first seem to be a fragment of an idea will instead be the whole idea stated as concisely as possible.
You see, I don't get paid by the paragraph. Some authors seem to restate a point with enough clutter to fill out a newspaper column's worth of space. I value your time much more than that.
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Intro to my blog
"Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence, (I conjure you to believe me fellow citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake; since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of Republican Government."
-George Washington
Greetings! I've been wanting to do this for a while. Ever since the party of George Bush became the party of big government, I've found that I have a lot to say on the subject of politics. No way you're going to agree with me on everything, and maybe there will be precious little we agree on at the end of the day. However there is a lot to say on both sides, and this blog site will be another way to say it.
So, dig in. Read, respond. Let's have at it. Thanks,
-George Washington
Greetings! I've been wanting to do this for a while. Ever since the party of George Bush became the party of big government, I've found that I have a lot to say on the subject of politics. No way you're going to agree with me on everything, and maybe there will be precious little we agree on at the end of the day. However there is a lot to say on both sides, and this blog site will be another way to say it.
So, dig in. Read, respond. Let's have at it. Thanks,
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