Flowers of the forest
The title is a Scottish traditional lament for the dead, at least as I believe on the Cumberland Plateau in this rural part of east Tennessee.
I think about this a lot, for reasons which will follow. Like all humans, I too can have feelings, laments, thoughts, and worries; and plans of action, too.
Now my main lament is that our votes may be taken away in the next few years. Now since all I can report and lament about is the local votes where I live, like school board, city, county, and even State. Now that right now I don't think will happen, though locally some well meaning types may try to do it, like manipulate the local voting system. Much friction will follow, as has happened in my part of the Country.
It is the federal types that worry me a lot. And yes, I lament and have feelings on this subject, too. Anyway, the federal government also collects federal taxes, has rules, and even has a Congress, Executive, and Judiciary which rule at that level, hopefully with friction between all three branches of federal government.
What I worry about is our Federal Executive trying to rule by fiat. These days it is called things like Executive fiat, even Executive authority our elected Congress has given the Executive, which even now has begun having the Congress and Judiciary being ignored. I still wonder why we the people put up with it, but I suspect that may end soon, like in the next 10 years. Here I hope the vote will predominate over another Revolution, which will come if our American vote is ignored.
Now I personally have lived in and under other political systems, and I really don't want to go through a Revolution in America. But I can and will, if I need to. Right now, I think, this Revolution idea is simply beyond the experience of most fellow Americans, all over our Country. A Revolution is not a fun thing for so many. Going through checkpoints and raiding party visits are an obvious example of what I am lamenting. Nobody wants to go through their Family divided, for another example.
Last, another lament. Why did we Americans get to this state? I don't know my answer right now, but I am sure am worried! And I sure have my guesses.
Translate
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Friday, December 03, 2010
What a bunch of losers
There was a time when the term “lightweight” applied. Now it is much worse I think.
And we elected them. And we can also elect replacements. This assumes “they” won’t try assume some kind of royalty way of ruling, or even try steal our votes. And it has gotten down to even below the federal level, though that federal level stuff gets all the media attention these days on TV. But I can report, at the more local level where I live on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee, the vote idea is alive and well at all levels, to include the local levels, to include even the school boards.
So even a normal human like me can distinguish between political ideas and politicians. The losers I think of are too many of the present politicians, and those they hire. Now we do have some good politicians, too, but that is a voter decision.
We can argue and debate over political ideas all we want. After all, all most families want to do is live.
What is happening now is that USA and other citizens of the World are beginning to die at a new rate. Not just cold and hungry, but just die, but more now. Like in wars, present, and probably future, and because our loser politicians are influencing the action.
One definition of insanity, or even political silliness, is to keep repeating the same thing expecting a different outcome. How dumb are we humans, in the end?
Do we New World people have something worth preserving, and even fighting for? I think so when my life and my kid’s life is being threatened, in my opinion.
Now in the USA even a third party is arising in 2010. This one is not based on an individual, but an idea. If you follow this theme, then much change is coming.
The present USA national political parties will sink, in the end. By 2020 things will be different, but still human, I think.
And the political losers will suffer in the end.
Much friction is coming. The status quo politicians at all levels won’t go down easily.
There was a time when the term “lightweight” applied. Now it is much worse I think.
And we elected them. And we can also elect replacements. This assumes “they” won’t try assume some kind of royalty way of ruling, or even try steal our votes. And it has gotten down to even below the federal level, though that federal level stuff gets all the media attention these days on TV. But I can report, at the more local level where I live on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee, the vote idea is alive and well at all levels, to include the local levels, to include even the school boards.
So even a normal human like me can distinguish between political ideas and politicians. The losers I think of are too many of the present politicians, and those they hire. Now we do have some good politicians, too, but that is a voter decision.
We can argue and debate over political ideas all we want. After all, all most families want to do is live.
What is happening now is that USA and other citizens of the World are beginning to die at a new rate. Not just cold and hungry, but just die, but more now. Like in wars, present, and probably future, and because our loser politicians are influencing the action.
One definition of insanity, or even political silliness, is to keep repeating the same thing expecting a different outcome. How dumb are we humans, in the end?
Do we New World people have something worth preserving, and even fighting for? I think so when my life and my kid’s life is being threatened, in my opinion.
Now in the USA even a third party is arising in 2010. This one is not based on an individual, but an idea. If you follow this theme, then much change is coming.
The present USA national political parties will sink, in the end. By 2020 things will be different, but still human, I think.
And the political losers will suffer in the end.
Much friction is coming. The status quo politicians at all levels won’t go down easily.
Thursday, December 02, 2010
We New World humans are OK
In this there is hope. Good on us!
What unites us in the world is the ”idea” of family future, and hope in a new land to help in this process. Right now that land is the new world, like our present USA in my case. And as recently as a century or two ago, the idea was agriculture. Now it is more services and sometimes making things.
Much is being said of our new land in the USA. Most of us enjoy what we have, and our hopes and work towards our kid’s future.
Yet much change is going on, too! Mostly it is the idea of a Constitution with legal rights, like the rule of law. That is a bigger deal than who you know, for example.
Hence, we are not too shabby in the new world.
There are other alternatives.
I would rather have a family here, and raise them here.
Let others pursue their goals, while I will pursue mine.
That’s why I like living and voting in the USA.
Now that is an idea worth defending.
In this there is hope. Good on us!
What unites us in the world is the ”idea” of family future, and hope in a new land to help in this process. Right now that land is the new world, like our present USA in my case. And as recently as a century or two ago, the idea was agriculture. Now it is more services and sometimes making things.
Much is being said of our new land in the USA. Most of us enjoy what we have, and our hopes and work towards our kid’s future.
Yet much change is going on, too! Mostly it is the idea of a Constitution with legal rights, like the rule of law. That is a bigger deal than who you know, for example.
Hence, we are not too shabby in the new world.
There are other alternatives.
I would rather have a family here, and raise them here.
Let others pursue their goals, while I will pursue mine.
That’s why I like living and voting in the USA.
Now that is an idea worth defending.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Some ironic thoughts
When I think about several things, sometimes on face value, the thought often seems kind of crazy or silly.
Here’s some thoughts.
Thanks to modern medical practices, and some good education about diet and exercise, I think our life spans and quality of life are being extended. Now I think we are also talking about extending the retirement age. I find the linking of the two ideas ironic. Is keeping we humans healthier longer so we can work longer? I don’t think so, but that seems to be what is happening in the USA.
The present USA federal executive and the recent control of the two federal legislative houses by the same National political party prompt another ironic thought. It is one thing to debate the politics being practiced by the party in federal power, and another thing to debate the competency of those actually practicing these policies. Linking those two is a normal human tendency, and often results in people talking past each other. I find this ironic because it is really two different things, at least to me.
Are we in one United States, or fifty different states united for federal purposes? The question still goes on all the time, and I find it “interesting” when people say, in essence, why can’t all people think like me? Extend this to the whole world, with the Eastern value customs often being different from the Western value customs. I find it ironic that many humans think of the world has a whole vice a collection of many different states and government types, some which seem to perform better than others.
People often think of intelligence, education, and experience as being much the same. I find that ironic, since they are all different ideas, at least to me. How many people have heard others say that their kids are smarter than them? Well, if that were correct, then I think we should have a bunch of little Einstein types running around, and most of us don’t think that is the case. Better educated, perhaps? Better connected because of ancestors, maybe? But smarter, or more experienced, I don’t think so.
I find it ironic that many humans think their status quo will go on indefinitely. It could be our politics, our language and customs, even such things as public electricity or clean water and waste water treatment, or public travel at modern speeds, all on demand. Now the old expression that death and taxes will probably always occur is correct, and probably for sure change will always also go on. I believe this change idea for three reasons: humans are involved, and both gradual and catastrophic evolution are happening and will continue to happen.
Now the reader may apply these ideas to their experience and thoughts. I suspect other words like naive, idealistic, inexperienced, dichotomy, educated fool, shame, key-stone-cops, and even dumb may cross their mind. Another old time expression comes to mind too, kind of like Clausewitz's famous "fog of war" idea. This one is slightly older, but in modern terms says: "for lacking knowing what to do, we do what we know".
Last I find it ironic that most humans who promote change faster than other change already going on are also usually comfortable in their status quo existence. Their quality of life is usually pretty nice. Other humans live in a more base way where their status quo is not so comfortable, or predictable. Their quality of life is not so good, like coldness, sickness, and hunger are every day kind of problems.
I conclude this post with one example to show this is not just some idealistic diatribe about ironic situations. I once went through a Philippine village after a typhoon had come through, and all was pretty well devastated (so was where I lived at the time). And no government "help" was coming in, and people, husbands, wives, and kids were hungry and unhappy; and I went armed with 45 ammunition after that experience, and did not return there on purpose.
When I think about several things, sometimes on face value, the thought often seems kind of crazy or silly.
Here’s some thoughts.
Thanks to modern medical practices, and some good education about diet and exercise, I think our life spans and quality of life are being extended. Now I think we are also talking about extending the retirement age. I find the linking of the two ideas ironic. Is keeping we humans healthier longer so we can work longer? I don’t think so, but that seems to be what is happening in the USA.
The present USA federal executive and the recent control of the two federal legislative houses by the same National political party prompt another ironic thought. It is one thing to debate the politics being practiced by the party in federal power, and another thing to debate the competency of those actually practicing these policies. Linking those two is a normal human tendency, and often results in people talking past each other. I find this ironic because it is really two different things, at least to me.
Are we in one United States, or fifty different states united for federal purposes? The question still goes on all the time, and I find it “interesting” when people say, in essence, why can’t all people think like me? Extend this to the whole world, with the Eastern value customs often being different from the Western value customs. I find it ironic that many humans think of the world has a whole vice a collection of many different states and government types, some which seem to perform better than others.
People often think of intelligence, education, and experience as being much the same. I find that ironic, since they are all different ideas, at least to me. How many people have heard others say that their kids are smarter than them? Well, if that were correct, then I think we should have a bunch of little Einstein types running around, and most of us don’t think that is the case. Better educated, perhaps? Better connected because of ancestors, maybe? But smarter, or more experienced, I don’t think so.
I find it ironic that many humans think their status quo will go on indefinitely. It could be our politics, our language and customs, even such things as public electricity or clean water and waste water treatment, or public travel at modern speeds, all on demand. Now the old expression that death and taxes will probably always occur is correct, and probably for sure change will always also go on. I believe this change idea for three reasons: humans are involved, and both gradual and catastrophic evolution are happening and will continue to happen.
Now the reader may apply these ideas to their experience and thoughts. I suspect other words like naive, idealistic, inexperienced, dichotomy, educated fool, shame, key-stone-cops, and even dumb may cross their mind. Another old time expression comes to mind too, kind of like Clausewitz's famous "fog of war" idea. This one is slightly older, but in modern terms says: "for lacking knowing what to do, we do what we know".
Last I find it ironic that most humans who promote change faster than other change already going on are also usually comfortable in their status quo existence. Their quality of life is usually pretty nice. Other humans live in a more base way where their status quo is not so comfortable, or predictable. Their quality of life is not so good, like coldness, sickness, and hunger are every day kind of problems.
I conclude this post with one example to show this is not just some idealistic diatribe about ironic situations. I once went through a Philippine village after a typhoon had come through, and all was pretty well devastated (so was where I lived at the time). And no government "help" was coming in, and people, husbands, wives, and kids were hungry and unhappy; and I went armed with 45 ammunition after that experience, and did not return there on purpose.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
This is one to write home about
Sometime in our future, when one’s kids ask about how things were in the “old” days, just tell them what you think now, and observed in your lifetime and experience. Of course, this probably goes on about everywhere and anyway, but these days are full of more change than has happened in even the recent decades. And the change is mostly human caused, I think.
Much like the idea of a “perfect storm” (either the book or the movie) things are converging in ways worth recording. Some of the outcomes may be surprising to many humans. Even the novel “The Coming Global Superstorm” may have some validity.
If you buy the idea of a “perfect storm” then think about this. In the book and movie, three different relatively individual storms combined to make a catastrophic event. Such a similar set of events may be occurring to we humans today.
Now just what do I mean, or imagine.
Storm one: Much of the world is going through economic distress, and nobody will tolerate them or their kids going cold and hungry.
Storm two: The clash between east and west value cultures continues. One has to live in other cultures to believe and observe this. It is the increased modern communications means that brings this to the front. Sometimes it is more base, like being chauvinistic. The good news is that we new world humans are “balancing things out”. And we New World humans are “from all over the world”.
Storm three: The friction between the rural human world and the urban human world will continue. Most of the human world is still rural, and any “progressive ideas” these days by urban humans will probably fail, like fall on deaf ears. Even the various forms of governments, like royalty, dictatorship, western style democracy or republican governments, tribal government, or some combination will only assert that we humans are still different in so many ways.
Like I said, these are times to write home about.
Sometime in our future, when one’s kids ask about how things were in the “old” days, just tell them what you think now, and observed in your lifetime and experience. Of course, this probably goes on about everywhere and anyway, but these days are full of more change than has happened in even the recent decades. And the change is mostly human caused, I think.
Much like the idea of a “perfect storm” (either the book or the movie) things are converging in ways worth recording. Some of the outcomes may be surprising to many humans. Even the novel “The Coming Global Superstorm” may have some validity.
If you buy the idea of a “perfect storm” then think about this. In the book and movie, three different relatively individual storms combined to make a catastrophic event. Such a similar set of events may be occurring to we humans today.
Now just what do I mean, or imagine.
Storm one: Much of the world is going through economic distress, and nobody will tolerate them or their kids going cold and hungry.
Storm two: The clash between east and west value cultures continues. One has to live in other cultures to believe and observe this. It is the increased modern communications means that brings this to the front. Sometimes it is more base, like being chauvinistic. The good news is that we new world humans are “balancing things out”. And we New World humans are “from all over the world”.
Storm three: The friction between the rural human world and the urban human world will continue. Most of the human world is still rural, and any “progressive ideas” these days by urban humans will probably fail, like fall on deaf ears. Even the various forms of governments, like royalty, dictatorship, western style democracy or republican governments, tribal government, or some combination will only assert that we humans are still different in so many ways.
Like I said, these are times to write home about.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
The military, expeditionary, and farm life
The purpose of this post is to talk about the common themes that surround the subject topics. More specifically, I want to think about portable electricity, mostly batteries, that seem to power most portable widgets that benefit us these days. A recent email from a relative got me thinking this way.
Anyway, public electricity to use in general is a recent phenomenon in human history, like the last one or two hundred years depending on how you count and where you live. Where I live today it is in the last 80 years or so. And in the older days here a two or three day electrical outage was considered OK…now people call to complain (on the electrically powered telephone) if they have to go 15 minutes without electricity for their home or business.
And it is a wonderful way to help we humans in whatever endeavor, like even sports games at night. Even gasoline or diesel engines that power so many good things usually get their fuel from electrically powered pumps. We are so spoiled, but can do OK if we need too, though.
When I think about batteries, I now think about them in two terms. One is the “battery case” or delivery method. Most think in terms of battery size, like “D” cell or “AA” cell. The other way to think about batteries in the chemistry that makes portable electricity, like lead acid, alkaline, lithium ion, or the various other schemes for rechargeable batteries. None are created equal.
Fast forward to the present day as far as batteries go. Most of us still have widgets (like cell phones) that use proprietary batteries. The wonderful military transceivers that talk to airplanes that support ground forces use batteries, too. Proprietary to me means custom designed, but hard to get after a few years (though they do work pretty good when they are working). And in the military, and especially in expeditionary situations, and now in farm life, getting batteries that will run whatever widget I have is a pain in the tail. Even a marketing and retail sales giant like Amazon.com should be applauded for all their inventory efforts.
But when one lives in rural America, or rural China, or rural Haiti, or rural anywhere (like the Saudi desert area) then the problem becomes both more apparent, and more obvious. There is a solution other humans have already thought of. And it is decades old. After all, right now Wal-Mart mostly exists in the USA.
Why not sell and use widgets that all of us use, be it military, expeditionary, farm, or mostly city use, that rolls in the wonderful portable electricity efforts going on into deliverable means, like the present batteries like “D” cells and even “AA” cells. Old companies like Racal out of England have figured this out already in then sales efforts to the third world where I captured some of their equipment. I was always impressed with the night vision equipment that ran on “AA” batteries, for example.
Whoever the human was that got the DVD standard for movies and later discs should be applauded. Later one could observe the competition between the follow on technology, BluRay vs DVD HD, two competing technologies, and both worked just fine for most of us. I for one hoped it would get sorted out other than the way it ended up. I am pretty much a generic human in this regards.
Now the portable widgets will always be around, and most help us humans in good ways. I just hope some smart people will make it easy on the rest of us, to include the batteries in our future.
The purpose of this post is to talk about the common themes that surround the subject topics. More specifically, I want to think about portable electricity, mostly batteries, that seem to power most portable widgets that benefit us these days. A recent email from a relative got me thinking this way.
Anyway, public electricity to use in general is a recent phenomenon in human history, like the last one or two hundred years depending on how you count and where you live. Where I live today it is in the last 80 years or so. And in the older days here a two or three day electrical outage was considered OK…now people call to complain (on the electrically powered telephone) if they have to go 15 minutes without electricity for their home or business.
And it is a wonderful way to help we humans in whatever endeavor, like even sports games at night. Even gasoline or diesel engines that power so many good things usually get their fuel from electrically powered pumps. We are so spoiled, but can do OK if we need too, though.
When I think about batteries, I now think about them in two terms. One is the “battery case” or delivery method. Most think in terms of battery size, like “D” cell or “AA” cell. The other way to think about batteries in the chemistry that makes portable electricity, like lead acid, alkaline, lithium ion, or the various other schemes for rechargeable batteries. None are created equal.
Fast forward to the present day as far as batteries go. Most of us still have widgets (like cell phones) that use proprietary batteries. The wonderful military transceivers that talk to airplanes that support ground forces use batteries, too. Proprietary to me means custom designed, but hard to get after a few years (though they do work pretty good when they are working). And in the military, and especially in expeditionary situations, and now in farm life, getting batteries that will run whatever widget I have is a pain in the tail. Even a marketing and retail sales giant like Amazon.com should be applauded for all their inventory efforts.
But when one lives in rural America, or rural China, or rural Haiti, or rural anywhere (like the Saudi desert area) then the problem becomes both more apparent, and more obvious. There is a solution other humans have already thought of. And it is decades old. After all, right now Wal-Mart mostly exists in the USA.
Why not sell and use widgets that all of us use, be it military, expeditionary, farm, or mostly city use, that rolls in the wonderful portable electricity efforts going on into deliverable means, like the present batteries like “D” cells and even “AA” cells. Old companies like Racal out of England have figured this out already in then sales efforts to the third world where I captured some of their equipment. I was always impressed with the night vision equipment that ran on “AA” batteries, for example.
Whoever the human was that got the DVD standard for movies and later discs should be applauded. Later one could observe the competition between the follow on technology, BluRay vs DVD HD, two competing technologies, and both worked just fine for most of us. I for one hoped it would get sorted out other than the way it ended up. I am pretty much a generic human in this regards.
Now the portable widgets will always be around, and most help us humans in good ways. I just hope some smart people will make it easy on the rest of us, to include the batteries in our future.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Recording what you observe in your lifetime
Seems like a silly idea to most, and it may be. After all most adults think greater changes went in on in their ancestors’ times, and they may be correct, depending on where they live. That is correct in my case.
But much human change is going on in the whole world, including the USA America, and these days we all effect each other more than used to be the situation. This is a good problem, I think.
Now change can be recorded many ways…video is popular in many places I inhabit. But it still can be recorded in stories, as when some young person asks me about living “in the old days”. After all we humans are inquisitive, to include our kids.
Now one thing did hurt my feelings when I was telling some youngsters about fighting some dinosaurs at the rural place I live in Tennessee, and naturally some of them challenged me (after all I was making up a story). I used as my reference the movie “Jurassic Park”, and they wanted to know what that even meant, because that young crowd around the fire had never heard of the movie. Then I knew my time had passed, and recording history was a bigger deal than ever, and a little honesty might help, too, at least in my case.
Last, a little bit of politics from the Cumberland Plateau in East Tennessee. Even here, it appears, the times they are a changing. Not all I like, but at least I get a chance to vote my opinion and preferences.
It is when I sense hints of royalty and dictatorship at this low county level, as in stealing the vote, then I get alarmed.
And for sure, my stories about what I record these days will be interesting…some maybe even true.
And all I want to do is live OK until I die in Putnam County, Tennessee, USA. And record it of course. Mostly it will be with words, and that includes a blog.
Seems like a silly idea to most, and it may be. After all most adults think greater changes went in on in their ancestors’ times, and they may be correct, depending on where they live. That is correct in my case.
But much human change is going on in the whole world, including the USA America, and these days we all effect each other more than used to be the situation. This is a good problem, I think.
Now change can be recorded many ways…video is popular in many places I inhabit. But it still can be recorded in stories, as when some young person asks me about living “in the old days”. After all we humans are inquisitive, to include our kids.
Now one thing did hurt my feelings when I was telling some youngsters about fighting some dinosaurs at the rural place I live in Tennessee, and naturally some of them challenged me (after all I was making up a story). I used as my reference the movie “Jurassic Park”, and they wanted to know what that even meant, because that young crowd around the fire had never heard of the movie. Then I knew my time had passed, and recording history was a bigger deal than ever, and a little honesty might help, too, at least in my case.
Last, a little bit of politics from the Cumberland Plateau in East Tennessee. Even here, it appears, the times they are a changing. Not all I like, but at least I get a chance to vote my opinion and preferences.
It is when I sense hints of royalty and dictatorship at this low county level, as in stealing the vote, then I get alarmed.
And for sure, my stories about what I record these days will be interesting…some maybe even true.
And all I want to do is live OK until I die in Putnam County, Tennessee, USA. And record it of course. Mostly it will be with words, and that includes a blog.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Affirmative action gone bad
Now I still believe in the idea of “a diamond in the rough”. And I even taught at the Atlanta University Colleges for three years.
Now for those who think Negroes are inferior humans, just join the Marines and make up your own mind. I would not want to be on the other side when fighting Marines, from any race.
The key question in my mind is the cost of our national policy of trying to overcome past racial discriminatory policies and even laws. Or as a recruiter, I had quotas, and finding enough qualified females to make my quota made me happy when the rules changed. Thank goodness we can man our military, for example, with competent people to accomplish the mission. I, and we, should be proud of them.
What bothers me is our present federal President, Barack Obama.
When he spoke of 57 States, or even spoke of creating a new National Service equal in funding and manning to DOD, that got my attention. Then when I read he was elected President of the Harvard Law Review by his peers, that also bothered me since I also read he did a poor job. And after he was elected President and took a much needed vacation in Oahu, Hawaii, and then visited his dying grandmother from Kansas, and did not take his kids and wife; that bothered me a lot.
I have concluded he is a lightweight. While his ego and intentions are his alone, he is still, and in the end, a lightweight. And the “perfect storm” idea of having a National Party back him is also bad, in my opinion. When Nancy Pelosi began practicing her own foreign policy visits, that also got my attention.
Now as one who also thinks about consequences and which way to go forward, I am worried about the consequences of affirmative action when it affects me and my family. After all, nobody wants a lawyer or doctor they think is some beneficiary of affirmative action.
In such a consideration, affirmative action can also work against our best national interests. Some “diamonds in the rough” are in fact poor stones that should not be promoted beyond their ability. Most parents know this. And most of us want to make our kids happy.
Now I still believe in the idea of “a diamond in the rough”. And I even taught at the Atlanta University Colleges for three years.
Now for those who think Negroes are inferior humans, just join the Marines and make up your own mind. I would not want to be on the other side when fighting Marines, from any race.
The key question in my mind is the cost of our national policy of trying to overcome past racial discriminatory policies and even laws. Or as a recruiter, I had quotas, and finding enough qualified females to make my quota made me happy when the rules changed. Thank goodness we can man our military, for example, with competent people to accomplish the mission. I, and we, should be proud of them.
What bothers me is our present federal President, Barack Obama.
When he spoke of 57 States, or even spoke of creating a new National Service equal in funding and manning to DOD, that got my attention. Then when I read he was elected President of the Harvard Law Review by his peers, that also bothered me since I also read he did a poor job. And after he was elected President and took a much needed vacation in Oahu, Hawaii, and then visited his dying grandmother from Kansas, and did not take his kids and wife; that bothered me a lot.
I have concluded he is a lightweight. While his ego and intentions are his alone, he is still, and in the end, a lightweight. And the “perfect storm” idea of having a National Party back him is also bad, in my opinion. When Nancy Pelosi began practicing her own foreign policy visits, that also got my attention.
Now as one who also thinks about consequences and which way to go forward, I am worried about the consequences of affirmative action when it affects me and my family. After all, nobody wants a lawyer or doctor they think is some beneficiary of affirmative action.
In such a consideration, affirmative action can also work against our best national interests. Some “diamonds in the rough” are in fact poor stones that should not be promoted beyond their ability. Most parents know this. And most of us want to make our kids happy.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Rehearsals
The idea is pretty common.
The traditions, for example, of wedding rehearsals, most humans know about.
How about plays? Most performers go through rehearsals for human reasons.
How about amphibious landings? The military does it mostly to figure out the lessons learned. How about a future raid somewhere in the world to rescue people?
How about a musical rock tour? Most are rehearsed, too, for obvious reasons.
How about our wonderful emergency responders to police, fire, and water problems? They also rehearse, and good on ‘em. Even where I live bad weather brings down trees, for example. Even this can block roads, and maybe bop me in the head if I am dumb enough to go out in the storm.
To conclude, most humans can plan about most things ahead. That is a good reason for enjoying being a human. But sometimes, other things happen, and then a rehearsal is not a bad idea.
And I don’t mind paying for it in local city and county taxes since I respect these boys and girls good work and self sacrifice, and thinks it benefits me and my fellow citizens when we need it.
The idea is pretty common.
The traditions, for example, of wedding rehearsals, most humans know about.
How about plays? Most performers go through rehearsals for human reasons.
How about amphibious landings? The military does it mostly to figure out the lessons learned. How about a future raid somewhere in the world to rescue people?
How about a musical rock tour? Most are rehearsed, too, for obvious reasons.
How about our wonderful emergency responders to police, fire, and water problems? They also rehearse, and good on ‘em. Even where I live bad weather brings down trees, for example. Even this can block roads, and maybe bop me in the head if I am dumb enough to go out in the storm.
To conclude, most humans can plan about most things ahead. That is a good reason for enjoying being a human. But sometimes, other things happen, and then a rehearsal is not a bad idea.
And I don’t mind paying for it in local city and county taxes since I respect these boys and girls good work and self sacrifice, and thinks it benefits me and my fellow citizens when we need it.
Friday, November 05, 2010
What happens if we have crummy leaders?
Now this question can apply about anywhere, and at all levels, like school board, city, county, state, and federal in the USA. Now it can also apply anywhere in the world since leader types are all over the place. Some are elected, some are dictators, some are royalty or tribal, and some are even some combination of all. Even nepotism is still around in a few places.
What worries me is if I think they can cause death or even starvation to my descendents while they are leaders that can influence my descendents. Then I have a problem, to me. Now if they die too, that is OK with me, but I doubt it.
Now maybe it was gonna happen anyway in the USA. But maybe not? After all we have all the advantages of being New World with all the Old World problems being shed. Maybe even the USA is destined to be an agricultural breadbasket, but probably not. Most Americans like working and making things.
Even one Marxist theory of dialectic materialism is an old world term appropriate to the Old World and another way of thinking back then about human history and actions in their time and experience.
Along the way, much friction is still occurring since most humans don’t like change, to include, it seems in this New World USA. Yet change is always occurring since it seems humans are involved, including immigrating humans.
So what happens if we have crummy leaders where we live today in the USA?
My suggestion is twofold.
First is to do whatever you think is right. Now that will probably be a painful process. And it is most important to start, thinking the finish will maybe be much later in the future, and good leaders at all levels may perish along the way. At least they will be proud leaders until the day they die. And they will have started things that are important to them.
Second is to applaud all the social and political change efforts that have gone on so far in the USA. A soft revolution is much preferable to what I imagine as a hard revolution.
To conclude, change is good, though most humans don’t like it. It makes us feel uncomfortable. Yet how are we going to elect in the USA New World leaders who represent us better than some of the crummy leaders it appears we have elected up until this time.
Yep, the times they are changing. And that includes the political status quo of the last century.
Last I heard, we are still in charge of our future, and our kid’s futures. My guess is this non revolutionary change ( I hope) will in the end take up to around the time 2020. The Moody’s forecast about two years ago suggested 2016. So where you live be yourself, and then guess and plan anyway you think is correct.
Now this question can apply about anywhere, and at all levels, like school board, city, county, state, and federal in the USA. Now it can also apply anywhere in the world since leader types are all over the place. Some are elected, some are dictators, some are royalty or tribal, and some are even some combination of all. Even nepotism is still around in a few places.
What worries me is if I think they can cause death or even starvation to my descendents while they are leaders that can influence my descendents. Then I have a problem, to me. Now if they die too, that is OK with me, but I doubt it.
Now maybe it was gonna happen anyway in the USA. But maybe not? After all we have all the advantages of being New World with all the Old World problems being shed. Maybe even the USA is destined to be an agricultural breadbasket, but probably not. Most Americans like working and making things.
Even one Marxist theory of dialectic materialism is an old world term appropriate to the Old World and another way of thinking back then about human history and actions in their time and experience.
Along the way, much friction is still occurring since most humans don’t like change, to include, it seems in this New World USA. Yet change is always occurring since it seems humans are involved, including immigrating humans.
So what happens if we have crummy leaders where we live today in the USA?
My suggestion is twofold.
First is to do whatever you think is right. Now that will probably be a painful process. And it is most important to start, thinking the finish will maybe be much later in the future, and good leaders at all levels may perish along the way. At least they will be proud leaders until the day they die. And they will have started things that are important to them.
Second is to applaud all the social and political change efforts that have gone on so far in the USA. A soft revolution is much preferable to what I imagine as a hard revolution.
To conclude, change is good, though most humans don’t like it. It makes us feel uncomfortable. Yet how are we going to elect in the USA New World leaders who represent us better than some of the crummy leaders it appears we have elected up until this time.
Yep, the times they are changing. And that includes the political status quo of the last century.
Last I heard, we are still in charge of our future, and our kid’s futures. My guess is this non revolutionary change ( I hope) will in the end take up to around the time 2020. The Moody’s forecast about two years ago suggested 2016. So where you live be yourself, and then guess and plan anyway you think is correct.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Things are “different” now
Stealing the vote seems to happen all the time. All too often I would say. Asian dictatorships are especially good at this idea and following legitimacy.
Now it seems many fellow Americans want to do it for their reasons and advantages, and are more obvious now than in the past. Many are bureaucrats, hired minions if you will, and will manipulate the system where they may live. After all they have their sincere opinions and beliefs, too. But still they only get one vote in the area where they live.
But it sure seems too many of them want to rule us in their way. One can even think of dictatorship in some USA sort of way, but there are other obvious also human ways to rule which ignore the vote.
Now there is nothing magical about the vote, other than the key idea that the ruled people are in charge.
So one guess is that the massive change going on includes the power of the vote. Yes, things are “different” now.
For example, I don’t want some drifter idealist who gets an election job at my local county elections office (though local family connections) deciding my vote. How about my “vote” counts, too.
Like the title suggests, things are “different” now. Or so I hope.
Stealing the vote seems to happen all the time. All too often I would say. Asian dictatorships are especially good at this idea and following legitimacy.
Now it seems many fellow Americans want to do it for their reasons and advantages, and are more obvious now than in the past. Many are bureaucrats, hired minions if you will, and will manipulate the system where they may live. After all they have their sincere opinions and beliefs, too. But still they only get one vote in the area where they live.
But it sure seems too many of them want to rule us in their way. One can even think of dictatorship in some USA sort of way, but there are other obvious also human ways to rule which ignore the vote.
Now there is nothing magical about the vote, other than the key idea that the ruled people are in charge.
So one guess is that the massive change going on includes the power of the vote. Yes, things are “different” now.
For example, I don’t want some drifter idealist who gets an election job at my local county elections office (though local family connections) deciding my vote. How about my “vote” counts, too.
Like the title suggests, things are “different” now. Or so I hope.
Friday, October 22, 2010
A soft revolution is underway
Let me define this idea. Much change is coming, as in the 100 year old status quo is changing throughout the world, and a soft revolution means many more people will live in the process. A hard revolution usually means death to so many humans in my definitions. Being soft, it will go on to maybe 2020.
Now this guess is at a World sort of view, but even in the USA new world, people are making it happen in their own way. Most humans don’t support failure, but rather success. And here in the USA that idea still seems to resonate. The present USA political system has been “under performing” at best. After all, we still have many vast riches to exploit, at least right now. Meantime a lot of people are going cold and hungry.
The motivations are pretty simple. Most people want to live, and provide for their family’s future. Now this is a whole World family idea, though those of us lucky enough to live the new world USA are provided an opportunity to do it our way.
There is always friction in the World, and now is no different. What is different, though, is that more humans have, or think they have, the power to vote where ever they live. Now maybe I am wrong, and dictatorships and tribal cultures will still have an influence for the foreseeable future. But my guess is even in these cases a soft revolution is underway. Change is coming to them, too.
Now let’s be realistic, too. For example, too; much of present day boundaries around the world are often boundaries decided by western diplomats back about 120 years ago. I think of this idea mostly in the Middle East and Caucus areas, though Africa counts, too. And old style dictatorships and tribal leaders still have a role now for muddling through and ruling in their way these days.
Bummer. And the times they are a changing. Thank goodness we in the USA have the advantage of all that our immigrants bring. Hopefully it will be a soft revolution here, too.
Let me define this idea. Much change is coming, as in the 100 year old status quo is changing throughout the world, and a soft revolution means many more people will live in the process. A hard revolution usually means death to so many humans in my definitions. Being soft, it will go on to maybe 2020.
Now this guess is at a World sort of view, but even in the USA new world, people are making it happen in their own way. Most humans don’t support failure, but rather success. And here in the USA that idea still seems to resonate. The present USA political system has been “under performing” at best. After all, we still have many vast riches to exploit, at least right now. Meantime a lot of people are going cold and hungry.
The motivations are pretty simple. Most people want to live, and provide for their family’s future. Now this is a whole World family idea, though those of us lucky enough to live the new world USA are provided an opportunity to do it our way.
There is always friction in the World, and now is no different. What is different, though, is that more humans have, or think they have, the power to vote where ever they live. Now maybe I am wrong, and dictatorships and tribal cultures will still have an influence for the foreseeable future. But my guess is even in these cases a soft revolution is underway. Change is coming to them, too.
Now let’s be realistic, too. For example, too; much of present day boundaries around the world are often boundaries decided by western diplomats back about 120 years ago. I think of this idea mostly in the Middle East and Caucus areas, though Africa counts, too. And old style dictatorships and tribal leaders still have a role now for muddling through and ruling in their way these days.
Bummer. And the times they are a changing. Thank goodness we in the USA have the advantage of all that our immigrants bring. Hopefully it will be a soft revolution here, too.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Analyze this
Much has been said about politics in USA America today. I myself have both the time and inclination to read much of it. Well, we all do have our own hobbies.
What still astounds me, as in disappointing me, is the amount of time pundits spend analyzing, which usually amounts to doing amateur psychobabble type stuff. And it seems to pay well these days as far as I can see, and read.
What I would like to point out is the alternative. Rather than try put oneself in some other’s shoes and analyze their way of thinking and their intents, try soothsaying their capabilities. In my mind, the latter option is both more reliable, and a better and easier way to predict the future.
Four examples come to mind.
1) Are the Democrats in the USA simply executing some party conspiracy, or simply incompetent, or is it something simpler? For my mind, I think they (the Congress and the Executive) are running our economy into the ground, and hopefully we can recover in some other new human world less likeable to we USA citizens than before. In this example, it is the capability I can act and vote on. I won’t waste my time trying to analyze this group’s intent.
2) In Zimbabwe, is it simple human greed and ego or something else that is forcing so many to starve, or emigrate away. Again, the idea of capabilities vice intents is an idea one can vote on. Either way, a big piece of land is being run into the ground, and it appears to be human caused.
3) In Moro land, aka the Southern Philippines, is the now century old Islamic insurrection still locally based, or now exploited by outsiders? Just how to deal with this brings me back to intents vice capabilities. I myself think of the Philippines as the 51st state, but would never venture into Moro land.
4) Is the present Islamic terrorist threat to so many (who want to live without such a threat) based on some Arab Wahhabi sect or some other Islamic idea that others like in Indonesia accept? Again the example is what is the intent? And again, what is the capability of those intending to kill some of us. I myself have done my math, lived in these areas, and even worked with these others in the USA. In my math, 99.99% of Muslims are good people, but with a world population of 1.6 billion Muslims, the remaining 0.01% still amounts to about 160,000 people. Now eliminate most non Arab Muslims, and I am still left with a big number of potential people who want to kill me. Now that is an example of capability. And where does their money come from?
Intents are one thing. Capability is another.
Much has been said about politics in USA America today. I myself have both the time and inclination to read much of it. Well, we all do have our own hobbies.
What still astounds me, as in disappointing me, is the amount of time pundits spend analyzing, which usually amounts to doing amateur psychobabble type stuff. And it seems to pay well these days as far as I can see, and read.
What I would like to point out is the alternative. Rather than try put oneself in some other’s shoes and analyze their way of thinking and their intents, try soothsaying their capabilities. In my mind, the latter option is both more reliable, and a better and easier way to predict the future.
Four examples come to mind.
1) Are the Democrats in the USA simply executing some party conspiracy, or simply incompetent, or is it something simpler? For my mind, I think they (the Congress and the Executive) are running our economy into the ground, and hopefully we can recover in some other new human world less likeable to we USA citizens than before. In this example, it is the capability I can act and vote on. I won’t waste my time trying to analyze this group’s intent.
2) In Zimbabwe, is it simple human greed and ego or something else that is forcing so many to starve, or emigrate away. Again, the idea of capabilities vice intents is an idea one can vote on. Either way, a big piece of land is being run into the ground, and it appears to be human caused.
3) In Moro land, aka the Southern Philippines, is the now century old Islamic insurrection still locally based, or now exploited by outsiders? Just how to deal with this brings me back to intents vice capabilities. I myself think of the Philippines as the 51st state, but would never venture into Moro land.
4) Is the present Islamic terrorist threat to so many (who want to live without such a threat) based on some Arab Wahhabi sect or some other Islamic idea that others like in Indonesia accept? Again the example is what is the intent? And again, what is the capability of those intending to kill some of us. I myself have done my math, lived in these areas, and even worked with these others in the USA. In my math, 99.99% of Muslims are good people, but with a world population of 1.6 billion Muslims, the remaining 0.01% still amounts to about 160,000 people. Now eliminate most non Arab Muslims, and I am still left with a big number of potential people who want to kill me. Now that is an example of capability. And where does their money come from?
Intents are one thing. Capability is another.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
It is so obvious
There are few bad bureaucrats…only bad leaders.
I personally don’t know anyone who wakes up in the morning wanting to do a bad job. And I mean this at any level: school board, city, county, state, and federal.
So if you want to shoot the messenger, so to speak, then keep the political leaders in your voting crosshairs, too. In my mind, the hard working “mindless” bureaucrats are doing the best they can with what they’ve got. And what they’ve got is what their political leaders lead them to. Like I said, I don’t know anyone who wakes up in the morning wanting to do a bad job.
And of course the political leaders are those we have elected.
So if we want to change things, like make the future better for our kids and grandkids, then we should think about who to vote for while we are alive and can vote.
One idea drives me crazy.
Now most families will work months for making house payments in order to raise their family, but if in the near future one family has to work months just to pay interest on all the federal borrowing that has already occurred, and that means they cannot borrow to buy a house for their family, then generational warfare is coming. At least that is what I would do.
Now generational warfare is an idea that is still evolving. Just what it means even I don’t know. There are options. One is revolt, one is simple default on the debt, one is civil war, and one I can think of is more gradual, like using their vote to change things and sort it out the best they can.
While one today is alive and can vote, do whatever you think is obvious.
There are few bad bureaucrats…only bad leaders.
I personally don’t know anyone who wakes up in the morning wanting to do a bad job. And I mean this at any level: school board, city, county, state, and federal.
So if you want to shoot the messenger, so to speak, then keep the political leaders in your voting crosshairs, too. In my mind, the hard working “mindless” bureaucrats are doing the best they can with what they’ve got. And what they’ve got is what their political leaders lead them to. Like I said, I don’t know anyone who wakes up in the morning wanting to do a bad job.
And of course the political leaders are those we have elected.
So if we want to change things, like make the future better for our kids and grandkids, then we should think about who to vote for while we are alive and can vote.
One idea drives me crazy.
Now most families will work months for making house payments in order to raise their family, but if in the near future one family has to work months just to pay interest on all the federal borrowing that has already occurred, and that means they cannot borrow to buy a house for their family, then generational warfare is coming. At least that is what I would do.
Now generational warfare is an idea that is still evolving. Just what it means even I don’t know. There are options. One is revolt, one is simple default on the debt, one is civil war, and one I can think of is more gradual, like using their vote to change things and sort it out the best they can.
While one today is alive and can vote, do whatever you think is obvious.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
I get to vote, too.
Now I also get to vote, too. Why the cynical title? Because I am suspicious that others may try to take away my vote. If and only if that happens, then some kind of physical revolution will occur in the USA.
Now some kind of political revolution is already occurring from where I sit on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee. And the vote counts a lot, I think, in making the changes that are needed to keep our new world USA American idea going. Of course, much of what has happened and will happen is simple human selfishness, but what is wrong with being warm and eating and supporting a family at a reasonable rate? And if we exploit our resources to the end, so what? Let the voters decide what to do next, and then expect our elected representatives to do it. If they don’t do it, then I suspect more humans will step up the plate and get elected.
In my thoughts, and if you buy this argument, then capitalism is a good way to balance human behavior with creating wealth. Now let me define what I think creating wealth is…getting others to pay for my work in a way that benefits us both. In this example, all families benefit from their labor, or as John Kennedy is quoted as saying, a rising tide raises all boats. In the USA example, we don’t have to work through a caste system, like in India. After all we never started it.
Why do I worry, or become cynical? I have thought about this a lot. My answer is that our present USA political system has screwed us in the long term. Both of our present and old two National Parties are simply failing us. They had their chance, and have simply failed. And it is not the economic recession problems today, which are considerable. More it is what I think of as the interference with the wonderful human ideas that have made the USA the Mecca of the world. After all, people do vote with their feet and pocket book, and there is still much good going on here in the USA. As the military says, let’s reinforce success, not failure.
Not too many decades ago, this idea was called public policy, and our politicians used this idea to advance we in the USA.
Last idealism only goes so far. One has to be practical, too.
To me, that means voting at the local public school board level, the city level, the county level, the state level, and even the federal level. And continue paying taxes all these governments presently levy on us. Practically speaking let us just elect humans who will dispense our tax money the way we want it done using their hired bureaucrats, too. Of course this idea assumes our vote still counts.
Now to me I also buy the argument that one of the intrinsic faults of any kind of democracy is that when the have nots can vote themselves benefits from the haves, then the system will collapse in the end. Hence, let the majority vote!
And of course, practically speaking, historical change takes time. So do we humans I think.
Now I also get to vote, too. Why the cynical title? Because I am suspicious that others may try to take away my vote. If and only if that happens, then some kind of physical revolution will occur in the USA.
Now some kind of political revolution is already occurring from where I sit on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee. And the vote counts a lot, I think, in making the changes that are needed to keep our new world USA American idea going. Of course, much of what has happened and will happen is simple human selfishness, but what is wrong with being warm and eating and supporting a family at a reasonable rate? And if we exploit our resources to the end, so what? Let the voters decide what to do next, and then expect our elected representatives to do it. If they don’t do it, then I suspect more humans will step up the plate and get elected.
In my thoughts, and if you buy this argument, then capitalism is a good way to balance human behavior with creating wealth. Now let me define what I think creating wealth is…getting others to pay for my work in a way that benefits us both. In this example, all families benefit from their labor, or as John Kennedy is quoted as saying, a rising tide raises all boats. In the USA example, we don’t have to work through a caste system, like in India. After all we never started it.
Why do I worry, or become cynical? I have thought about this a lot. My answer is that our present USA political system has screwed us in the long term. Both of our present and old two National Parties are simply failing us. They had their chance, and have simply failed. And it is not the economic recession problems today, which are considerable. More it is what I think of as the interference with the wonderful human ideas that have made the USA the Mecca of the world. After all, people do vote with their feet and pocket book, and there is still much good going on here in the USA. As the military says, let’s reinforce success, not failure.
Not too many decades ago, this idea was called public policy, and our politicians used this idea to advance we in the USA.
Last idealism only goes so far. One has to be practical, too.
To me, that means voting at the local public school board level, the city level, the county level, the state level, and even the federal level. And continue paying taxes all these governments presently levy on us. Practically speaking let us just elect humans who will dispense our tax money the way we want it done using their hired bureaucrats, too. Of course this idea assumes our vote still counts.
Now to me I also buy the argument that one of the intrinsic faults of any kind of democracy is that when the have nots can vote themselves benefits from the haves, then the system will collapse in the end. Hence, let the majority vote!
And of course, practically speaking, historical change takes time. So do we humans I think.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Just another report from the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee
Just in the last month two things got my attention.
One was the answer to my question where do you come from? The fellow was probably from India in the long run, but his answer got my attention. His answer was that he was from London. And he was being honest, I think. He runs a local restaurant and beer store. Wine and liquor are not permitted for sales in this Putnum County.
Second was having my new “maid” show up to try keep up with all the main house upkeep. Now I am an OK cleaner, but the dust is still a constant problem when the local breezes flow through the main 1905 house. This is where I appreciated Bianca’s good work and time. Anyway, when I asked her where she was from, she answered Los Angeles. Now that got my attention, since I have about 6 years of my life in southern California.
Now I asked Bianca how she ended up living in the local city, Cookeville. She reported her grandmother moved out here from L.A., and then got her parents to move out here.
Now I am the beneficiary, at least for a while.
In the meantime, 12 out of 24 local county commissioners recently got elected as first time members. Here locally county commissioners are like the local legislature.
Last, local connections count, too. Recently an appointment to a routinely elected position was made by the local already elected politicians. Now that bothered me, even though I think well of the appointee.
Just in the last month two things got my attention.
One was the answer to my question where do you come from? The fellow was probably from India in the long run, but his answer got my attention. His answer was that he was from London. And he was being honest, I think. He runs a local restaurant and beer store. Wine and liquor are not permitted for sales in this Putnum County.
Second was having my new “maid” show up to try keep up with all the main house upkeep. Now I am an OK cleaner, but the dust is still a constant problem when the local breezes flow through the main 1905 house. This is where I appreciated Bianca’s good work and time. Anyway, when I asked her where she was from, she answered Los Angeles. Now that got my attention, since I have about 6 years of my life in southern California.
Now I asked Bianca how she ended up living in the local city, Cookeville. She reported her grandmother moved out here from L.A., and then got her parents to move out here.
Now I am the beneficiary, at least for a while.
In the meantime, 12 out of 24 local county commissioners recently got elected as first time members. Here locally county commissioners are like the local legislature.
Last, local connections count, too. Recently an appointment to a routinely elected position was made by the local already elected politicians. Now that bothered me, even though I think well of the appointee.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Change is constant
What’s new? A lot, or so I think as just one citizen.
Here in the New World USA, we New World humans are actually starting to take control of our interests, which are mostly ourselves and our families. Now that seems fair and normal human to me.
Here in the New World USA the old time National Political Parties are going by the wayside. They had their chance, and I think they have failed. This is pretty much normal for humans, I think. As long as we can vote and have it count, I would say. This idea is a big deal
So what will the future be. I am hopeful, and cynical too.
I expect some humans to exploit the “gaps” to do many things, both to delay the inevitable, and gain or preserve power at whatever level during this change time. This change time I imagine will take one or two decades.
I also think we voters will “change” things to our advantage. As an obvious example, if elected officials downgrade their fire department in favor of other ways to dispense the taxes they spend, and humans die as a result, I think many people will vote otherwise the next time they can vote. After all, there are priorities about those that govern us spend “our” money.
The other obvious thing to me, and again I only have one vote at all levels, and still pay taxes at all levels, too, is how well I am being represented. In my mind, are we a United States (like one country) or still a United States of many people? Right now I think the latter.
Now I am age 62, and these times are different from our past. The times they are a changing. This I can report as an opinion.
And the New World idea I think still applies around here on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee. We have the best of all worlds whether some like it or not.
Even some of us humans have to put on more clothes to stay warm when mother nature makes things cooler. After all we are now locally in the fall. And having lived around the world, I still don’t like cold Siberian winds, or even cold Canadian winds. Now I did research what the two competing Farmers Almanacs forecasted. And both suggested the winter was coming!
What’s new? A lot, or so I think as just one citizen.
Here in the New World USA, we New World humans are actually starting to take control of our interests, which are mostly ourselves and our families. Now that seems fair and normal human to me.
Here in the New World USA the old time National Political Parties are going by the wayside. They had their chance, and I think they have failed. This is pretty much normal for humans, I think. As long as we can vote and have it count, I would say. This idea is a big deal
So what will the future be. I am hopeful, and cynical too.
I expect some humans to exploit the “gaps” to do many things, both to delay the inevitable, and gain or preserve power at whatever level during this change time. This change time I imagine will take one or two decades.
I also think we voters will “change” things to our advantage. As an obvious example, if elected officials downgrade their fire department in favor of other ways to dispense the taxes they spend, and humans die as a result, I think many people will vote otherwise the next time they can vote. After all, there are priorities about those that govern us spend “our” money.
The other obvious thing to me, and again I only have one vote at all levels, and still pay taxes at all levels, too, is how well I am being represented. In my mind, are we a United States (like one country) or still a United States of many people? Right now I think the latter.
Now I am age 62, and these times are different from our past. The times they are a changing. This I can report as an opinion.
And the New World idea I think still applies around here on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee. We have the best of all worlds whether some like it or not.
Even some of us humans have to put on more clothes to stay warm when mother nature makes things cooler. After all we are now locally in the fall. And having lived around the world, I still don’t like cold Siberian winds, or even cold Canadian winds. Now I did research what the two competing Farmers Almanacs forecasted. And both suggested the winter was coming!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
They still don’t have a clue
The old joke about who runs any organization comes to mind. The old joke answer is “they” and “some son of a bitch”, whoever they are.
The recent primary elections and the rise of the “Tea Party” comes to mind. Too many still think in a status quo sort of way, that is, the future will always be like the recent past, which I define as the last 60 years, or since WWII. And after all, the evidence points that way. And all third party efforts since Theodore Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party have depended on one person to personify the third party effort. I offer as evidence, Strom Thurmond, George Wallace, John Anderson, and Ross Perot’s efforts.
Now another third party effort is arising, but this time it is more based on an idea than a person. This changes everything, at least to me. I expect that most of the people who identify and vote this way will come from all past walks, to include Republican, Democratic, and Independent. It’s the idea that binds these people, not some status quo national party or traditional third party. Hence the one characterization that the Tea Party effort and votes are all over the place is probably a fair statement.
In a way, I have always wondered what went on during the time of the American Revolution in the 1770’s and I think much of what is happening today probably happened in similar ways back then. Even one image in my mind of a dinosaur railing against the world as the comet has struck comes to mind. I suspect there are a lot of status quo dinosaurs that are railing, or going to rail, against the catastrophe they sense occurring around them.
Now I also suspect that because humans are involved, much friction and bouncing around will occur in the near future, like between now and say 2020. Some humans will take advantage and if elected, simply fail to perform. They will be replaced as locals decide their futures.
These are momentous times, and great changes are occurring and will continue to occur. People want change from the status quo, and will make it happen, one way or the other. And I think this idea will occur at all levels: school boards, cities, counties, states, and federal.
The old joke about who runs any organization comes to mind. The old joke answer is “they” and “some son of a bitch”, whoever they are.
The recent primary elections and the rise of the “Tea Party” comes to mind. Too many still think in a status quo sort of way, that is, the future will always be like the recent past, which I define as the last 60 years, or since WWII. And after all, the evidence points that way. And all third party efforts since Theodore Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party have depended on one person to personify the third party effort. I offer as evidence, Strom Thurmond, George Wallace, John Anderson, and Ross Perot’s efforts.
Now another third party effort is arising, but this time it is more based on an idea than a person. This changes everything, at least to me. I expect that most of the people who identify and vote this way will come from all past walks, to include Republican, Democratic, and Independent. It’s the idea that binds these people, not some status quo national party or traditional third party. Hence the one characterization that the Tea Party effort and votes are all over the place is probably a fair statement.
In a way, I have always wondered what went on during the time of the American Revolution in the 1770’s and I think much of what is happening today probably happened in similar ways back then. Even one image in my mind of a dinosaur railing against the world as the comet has struck comes to mind. I suspect there are a lot of status quo dinosaurs that are railing, or going to rail, against the catastrophe they sense occurring around them.
Now I also suspect that because humans are involved, much friction and bouncing around will occur in the near future, like between now and say 2020. Some humans will take advantage and if elected, simply fail to perform. They will be replaced as locals decide their futures.
These are momentous times, and great changes are occurring and will continue to occur. People want change from the status quo, and will make it happen, one way or the other. And I think this idea will occur at all levels: school boards, cities, counties, states, and federal.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Make up your own mind
These are momentous times in the new World USA America. In my imagination these times are more like the 1776 revolution than the times today. I have always wondered what went on then.
We new World people, and our descendents, are doing OK, in spite of hard times, especially compared to the rest of the World. Some might say we are being ourselves to enhance ourselves and our families. Many might even say our vote counts to change our future. This idea sure beats the old world alternatives, like revolution, or even dictatorship. Yet all of us want to work, and do a good job, and will compromise to survive.
In the new World, the vote does count. We are in charge of our future, to include our descendents future. Those who choose to deny our vote are on a losing end of history and humanity.
Those who might use ideas to deny our vote are on the wrong end of history, though that is pretty much normal in 2010 in the USA these days. I hate to admit I can even think this way, that some fellow Americans want to take away my vote.
We have better ways to go, and will.
I sure count on it.
These are momentous times in the new World USA America. In my imagination these times are more like the 1776 revolution than the times today. I have always wondered what went on then.
We new World people, and our descendents, are doing OK, in spite of hard times, especially compared to the rest of the World. Some might say we are being ourselves to enhance ourselves and our families. Many might even say our vote counts to change our future. This idea sure beats the old world alternatives, like revolution, or even dictatorship. Yet all of us want to work, and do a good job, and will compromise to survive.
In the new World, the vote does count. We are in charge of our future, to include our descendents future. Those who choose to deny our vote are on a losing end of history and humanity.
Those who might use ideas to deny our vote are on the wrong end of history, though that is pretty much normal in 2010 in the USA these days. I hate to admit I can even think this way, that some fellow Americans want to take away my vote.
We have better ways to go, and will.
I sure count on it.
Just another local report. The times they are a changing!
Indecisive committees get little accomplished
by Liz Engel
17 hrs ago | 336 views | 2 | |
PUTNAM COUNTY -- The biggest unknown for those looking to start a community garden in Cookeville has been the location. That will continue to be an issue after members of a Putnam County committee disagreed on two suggested pieces of county property last night.
The commission's planning committee, meeting for the first time since 12 new commissioners took office in August, split on many other agenda items up for vote. The committee made no decision made on the location of the proposed garden -- a motion to place the garden at the suggested spot on the corner of Walnut and Veterans Drive near the Putnam County Fairgrounds and another motion to place it near the Upper Cumberland Soccer Complex on Washington Avenue failed in 6-to-6 ties. The committee even struggled to make an appointment to the nominating subcommittee.
The committee did, however, elect its chair, District 8 Commissioner Eris Bryant; vice chair, District 1 Commissioner Tom Short; and secretary, District 12 Commissioner Cathy Reel. Four commissioners were nominated for two spots on the intergovernmental committee, two-year terms set to expire in September 2012, and Bryant and District 4 Commissioner Ron Williamson received the most votes for that position. And four commissioners were selected to serve one-year terms on the road committee, including District 11 Commissioner Marsha Bowman, District 7 Commissioner Mike Medley, District 5 Commissioner Anna Ruth Burroughs and District 10 Commissioner Kim Bradford. The appointments were made by acclamation after Reel withdrew her name from consideration.
But the commissioners stalled when it came time to approve the nod for the nominating committee and the location for the garden. District 2 Commissioner Jim Martin and District 6 Commissioner Reggie Shanks were both recommended by their peers for the committee slot, but a vote on who should ultimately hold that appointment twice came to a 6-6 tie. Later in the meeting, Medley nominated Jonathan Williams for the seat, and Martin edged out both candidates in a third and final vote.
As for the location of the community garden, it's an agenda item that will be forwarded to the full commission next week without a recommendation. Some commissioners argued that the original location proposed, on the corner of Walnut and Veterans Drive, is a valuable piece of county property, one that has been proposed as the home of a future veterans hall building. Others were worried that it would limit parking for the Putnam County Fair.
But County Executive Kim Blaylock said organizers of the garden would move from that spot, considered a temporary location, whenever the commission said to. Lisa Luck with the Cookeville-Putnam County Clean Commission said they would like a centralized and highly visible location to get the garden off the ground.
"I think you need to choose another place," Medley said. He made a motion to move the garden to the soccer complex, which had been discussed by the garden committee, but it failed with a 6-6 tie. Voting in favor were Burroughs, Shanks, Medley, Bradford, Bowman and Reel. Voting against Medley's motion were Tom Short, Martin, David Gentry, Williamson, Bryant and Williams.
Short then made a motion to place the garden at Walnut and Veterans Drive, but it was amended -- Bowman wanted organizers of the garden to talk to the fair board first. But that amendment, as well as the original motion, failed 6-6 as commissioners voted along the same lines.
The planning committee was also set to appoint members to the land and facilities subcommittee, currently an eight-member board, but that decision was deferred until the October meeting.
"This is a committee we need to put some thought into," Bryant said. Before the meeting, she said, no commissioners had expressed interest in serving on that committee, which has studied several hot-button issues in recent years, including the location of a new Putnam County jail. "This is going to be a very important committee for the next four years."
Yearly disaster drill to take place Wednesday
17 hrs ago | 271 views | 1 | |
PUTNAM COUNTY -- A county-wide, full-scale disaster exercise will be held Wednesday morning at Tennessee Tech, the Cookeville Surgery Center and Cookeville Regional Medical Center.
Emergency responders will practice responding to these locations after they have been struck by a severe weather event. The goal of this drill is to practice searching, rescuing, stabilizing, transporting and treating a large volume of patients at one time during adverse conditions.
City and county agencies along with Tennessee Tech, The Cookeville Surgery Center and Cookeville Regional Medical Center will participate in the drill. Tennessee Tech will test emergency communication systems and internal response procedures including activation of its tornado sirens and other emergency notification systems. At Tucker Stadium, Putnam County Rescues' structural collapse team will practice stabilizing a "collapsed" building with trapped individuals during the drill. CRMC will simulate damage to the emergency room entrances and set up a fully functional portable hospital tent in the north parking lot to receive the mock patients. The Cookeville Surgery Center will become a receiving station for the injured from TTU.
"All emergency responders participate in these exercises to help build competence and confidence," said Mike Hellman, public information officer for the Cookeville-Putnam County Emergency Management Agency. "This way, should there be a major event in or around our area, we can respond in a quick and effective fashion, much like we did during last month's floods."
Many emergency vehicles will be in the area, but the public should not be alarmed. Everyone is being asked to avoid the immediate area from 8:30-11:30 that morning so the practice session will not be hindered. Tennessee Tech classes will proceed as scheduled. The emergency department at CRMC will accept and treat patients as normal during the drill.
The Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) consists of representatives from city, county and state emergency agencies along with members from local businesses. For more information on the LEPC, contact the EMA office at 528-7575.
Indecisive committees get little accomplished
by Liz Engel
17 hrs ago | 336 views | 2 | |
PUTNAM COUNTY -- The biggest unknown for those looking to start a community garden in Cookeville has been the location. That will continue to be an issue after members of a Putnam County committee disagreed on two suggested pieces of county property last night.
The commission's planning committee, meeting for the first time since 12 new commissioners took office in August, split on many other agenda items up for vote. The committee made no decision made on the location of the proposed garden -- a motion to place the garden at the suggested spot on the corner of Walnut and Veterans Drive near the Putnam County Fairgrounds and another motion to place it near the Upper Cumberland Soccer Complex on Washington Avenue failed in 6-to-6 ties. The committee even struggled to make an appointment to the nominating subcommittee.
The committee did, however, elect its chair, District 8 Commissioner Eris Bryant; vice chair, District 1 Commissioner Tom Short; and secretary, District 12 Commissioner Cathy Reel. Four commissioners were nominated for two spots on the intergovernmental committee, two-year terms set to expire in September 2012, and Bryant and District 4 Commissioner Ron Williamson received the most votes for that position. And four commissioners were selected to serve one-year terms on the road committee, including District 11 Commissioner Marsha Bowman, District 7 Commissioner Mike Medley, District 5 Commissioner Anna Ruth Burroughs and District 10 Commissioner Kim Bradford. The appointments were made by acclamation after Reel withdrew her name from consideration.
But the commissioners stalled when it came time to approve the nod for the nominating committee and the location for the garden. District 2 Commissioner Jim Martin and District 6 Commissioner Reggie Shanks were both recommended by their peers for the committee slot, but a vote on who should ultimately hold that appointment twice came to a 6-6 tie. Later in the meeting, Medley nominated Jonathan Williams for the seat, and Martin edged out both candidates in a third and final vote.
As for the location of the community garden, it's an agenda item that will be forwarded to the full commission next week without a recommendation. Some commissioners argued that the original location proposed, on the corner of Walnut and Veterans Drive, is a valuable piece of county property, one that has been proposed as the home of a future veterans hall building. Others were worried that it would limit parking for the Putnam County Fair.
But County Executive Kim Blaylock said organizers of the garden would move from that spot, considered a temporary location, whenever the commission said to. Lisa Luck with the Cookeville-Putnam County Clean Commission said they would like a centralized and highly visible location to get the garden off the ground.
"I think you need to choose another place," Medley said. He made a motion to move the garden to the soccer complex, which had been discussed by the garden committee, but it failed with a 6-6 tie. Voting in favor were Burroughs, Shanks, Medley, Bradford, Bowman and Reel. Voting against Medley's motion were Tom Short, Martin, David Gentry, Williamson, Bryant and Williams.
Short then made a motion to place the garden at Walnut and Veterans Drive, but it was amended -- Bowman wanted organizers of the garden to talk to the fair board first. But that amendment, as well as the original motion, failed 6-6 as commissioners voted along the same lines.
The planning committee was also set to appoint members to the land and facilities subcommittee, currently an eight-member board, but that decision was deferred until the October meeting.
"This is a committee we need to put some thought into," Bryant said. Before the meeting, she said, no commissioners had expressed interest in serving on that committee, which has studied several hot-button issues in recent years, including the location of a new Putnam County jail. "This is going to be a very important committee for the next four years."
Yearly disaster drill to take place Wednesday
17 hrs ago | 271 views | 1 | |
PUTNAM COUNTY -- A county-wide, full-scale disaster exercise will be held Wednesday morning at Tennessee Tech, the Cookeville Surgery Center and Cookeville Regional Medical Center.
Emergency responders will practice responding to these locations after they have been struck by a severe weather event. The goal of this drill is to practice searching, rescuing, stabilizing, transporting and treating a large volume of patients at one time during adverse conditions.
City and county agencies along with Tennessee Tech, The Cookeville Surgery Center and Cookeville Regional Medical Center will participate in the drill. Tennessee Tech will test emergency communication systems and internal response procedures including activation of its tornado sirens and other emergency notification systems. At Tucker Stadium, Putnam County Rescues' structural collapse team will practice stabilizing a "collapsed" building with trapped individuals during the drill. CRMC will simulate damage to the emergency room entrances and set up a fully functional portable hospital tent in the north parking lot to receive the mock patients. The Cookeville Surgery Center will become a receiving station for the injured from TTU.
"All emergency responders participate in these exercises to help build competence and confidence," said Mike Hellman, public information officer for the Cookeville-Putnam County Emergency Management Agency. "This way, should there be a major event in or around our area, we can respond in a quick and effective fashion, much like we did during last month's floods."
Many emergency vehicles will be in the area, but the public should not be alarmed. Everyone is being asked to avoid the immediate area from 8:30-11:30 that morning so the practice session will not be hindered. Tennessee Tech classes will proceed as scheduled. The emergency department at CRMC will accept and treat patients as normal during the drill.
The Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) consists of representatives from city, county and state emergency agencies along with members from local businesses. For more information on the LEPC, contact the EMA office at 528-7575.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)