Well, you can't say that I don't like a challenge in my career. Been through the dot bomb looking for a job, been through a number of recessions over the years and I have the bright idea to move to a region of the country that has one of the highest unemployment rates. And how does it feel? Sometimes a little scary, yet also hopeful. One thing that I've been lucky in looking for new jobs is that the general good nature of people always seems to come out. The trick is asking for help and letting people know that you are out there looking for a new opportunity to make a difference.
Last week I met an icon in the adventure travel business. Eddie Frank, the owner of Tusker Trails (www.tusker.com), has been leading treks to Kilimanjaro for over 30 years. The business has also recently added packaged trips to the base camp at Mt. Everest and to Mongolia. He has dedicated his adult life to showing his clients some of the truly epic destinations on the planet. If you have any inclination to take a true trip of a lifetime, check out their website and read about the collective expertise that his company has amassed, then sign up for a true adventure. A big thanks to an old friend, Pam, for helping me with the introduction.
And yesterday I met with an organization in Reno called ProNet. This member-based organization is one of the most unique job search preparation companies that I have ever seen. Entirely free to the job searcher and the employer, this federally funded group looks to help its members find positions in the hidden job market through networking and being properly prepared. It's the only place I have ever seen that works with professionals looking for management level positions that doesn't charge for their services. All they ask is that you participate in workshops to prepare you and to spend time volunteering in the office. I am eagerly anticipating the support that ProNet and its members will provide. And I'll keep in touch here and elsewhere. Wish me luck!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Defiant message or ammunition?
With a Christian pastor getting everyone fired up (pun intended) about burning copies of the Qur'an on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, are there really a couple of sides to this inflammatory issue?
So the pastor says that this is in retaliation for the planned mosque and community center in lower Manhattan. Yes, the planners of the Islamic community center in New York should be labeled as insensitive yet they are within their property rights that are part of our Constitution. When is enough, just plain enough? How far does someone have to be pushed before they just say "STOP"? It's plain to see that this gentleman has had enough. And he is willing to take whatever heat is out there from anyone domestic or foreign. And he has others that are similarly fed up with what they perceive as inroads to their way of living. Yes, freedom is at the core and is this the best way to show it? Is this what we show our children and grandchildren? We all have a breaking point just like we all have a price. Which begs an interesting question - how much money would it take for the pastor to cancel his book burning?
I do have a couple of questions for him and others that may be trying to attract attention to their defiance and anger. Do you not see that you are committing the same crime as those in totalitarian regimes when you burn a book? Do you not see that you are suppressing freedom of speech? (Note: Shame on the local politicians for trying to limit the right to assemble for the pastor's event.) And most of all, do you not see that you are fueling the fires of fear and loathing among our enemies overseas (and some domestically too)? Why are you choosing an obviously emboldening event for our enemies instead of demanding that we as a country be brought up to speed with the progress (or lack of it) in finding Osama Bin Laden? Why are you not questioning the billions of dollars and lives lost in distracting efforts when we apparently have forgotten that we appear to have given up looking for one responsible for the greatest crime on US soil?
Note to the "Christian" pastor: As much as we are all frustrated with our economy with it's lack of jobs and the growth of Islamic influences around the world feeling like a constant threat, why propose an event that gives the imams and Islamic leaders more ammunition for recruitment both domestically and overseas? You may as well just give them a ticket on an airplane in Boston with a free pass through security. And you completely undermine the brave and courageous efforts of our military now in Afghanistan. You put them even more in harms way because you have no idea of the global implications of what you are doing.
Again, as a country are we really putting our best foot forward when someone stands up for his beliefs and whitewashes the rest of us with his righteous paintbrush? Oh, and don't forget all of Americans currently traveling overseas too. It sure is nice of you to put a bulls-eye on their backs too.
So, please, before you go through with your knee-jerk reactionary event this weekend, think again about the big picture and how in the end, your 15 minutes of fame will put real American lives at risk. There has to be a smarter way to get your point across.
So the pastor says that this is in retaliation for the planned mosque and community center in lower Manhattan. Yes, the planners of the Islamic community center in New York should be labeled as insensitive yet they are within their property rights that are part of our Constitution. When is enough, just plain enough? How far does someone have to be pushed before they just say "STOP"? It's plain to see that this gentleman has had enough. And he is willing to take whatever heat is out there from anyone domestic or foreign. And he has others that are similarly fed up with what they perceive as inroads to their way of living. Yes, freedom is at the core and is this the best way to show it? Is this what we show our children and grandchildren? We all have a breaking point just like we all have a price. Which begs an interesting question - how much money would it take for the pastor to cancel his book burning?
I do have a couple of questions for him and others that may be trying to attract attention to their defiance and anger. Do you not see that you are committing the same crime as those in totalitarian regimes when you burn a book? Do you not see that you are suppressing freedom of speech? (Note: Shame on the local politicians for trying to limit the right to assemble for the pastor's event.) And most of all, do you not see that you are fueling the fires of fear and loathing among our enemies overseas (and some domestically too)? Why are you choosing an obviously emboldening event for our enemies instead of demanding that we as a country be brought up to speed with the progress (or lack of it) in finding Osama Bin Laden? Why are you not questioning the billions of dollars and lives lost in distracting efforts when we apparently have forgotten that we appear to have given up looking for one responsible for the greatest crime on US soil?
Note to the "Christian" pastor: As much as we are all frustrated with our economy with it's lack of jobs and the growth of Islamic influences around the world feeling like a constant threat, why propose an event that gives the imams and Islamic leaders more ammunition for recruitment both domestically and overseas? You may as well just give them a ticket on an airplane in Boston with a free pass through security. And you completely undermine the brave and courageous efforts of our military now in Afghanistan. You put them even more in harms way because you have no idea of the global implications of what you are doing.
Again, as a country are we really putting our best foot forward when someone stands up for his beliefs and whitewashes the rest of us with his righteous paintbrush? Oh, and don't forget all of Americans currently traveling overseas too. It sure is nice of you to put a bulls-eye on their backs too.
So, please, before you go through with your knee-jerk reactionary event this weekend, think again about the big picture and how in the end, your 15 minutes of fame will put real American lives at risk. There has to be a smarter way to get your point across.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Are we fearful or hopeful?
So two weeks ago I went on about a few questions that I have about our American life. I know it may have sounded a bit fatalistic and pessimistic but the reality for many in this country is that we are headed in the wrong direction as a country, as a society and as a leader in the global community. That leaves me thinking about some answers to my burning questions.
Fear has almost become a national pastime. Forget baseball, apple pie and winning the war. That's old school. Too simple for this new century. Too boring for our fast-paced, phone app-driven world. At the risk of sounding too old school, I do remember starting my information systems major in undergraduate school and liking the instant gratification of watching a program actually work. I'm sure that many in the trades get this same feeling. Sweating pipe and seeing no leaks. Building a block wall with your bare hands. Seeing the light turn on and brighten a room, making it more of a home. Yet today, we have an insatiable thirst to know everything right now. And yet we are willing to find the information source that supports our own personal belief structures. If we think that another 9-11 style attack is imminent, then we listen and watch to find support for that construct. If we think that there is a conspiracy of global corporate megalomaniacs making the world dance like Pinocchio, then we'll look to the Illuminati and Knights Templar to support that we have no control over our own lives.
While Americans have collectively lost $1.2 trillion in wealth over the past couple of years due to the housing bubble annihilation, most of us are still working, many still have a house over our heads and have food on our tables at the end of the day. Amazingly, businesses are still being started, restaurants are still packing them in and yet we whine. Government is doing too much, too little, not the right thing or definitely the wrong thing while lining their own pockets. Here's the thing - everyone is probably right and yet we operate and have opinions that we think that majority rules in this country. Wake up America - this is a republic not a democracy! We elect officials that represent us. If you don't like them, we all have the right to vote for someone else. But I digress - what are we really afraid of?
For many decades we have been "a little people, greedy, barbarous and cruel" (Lawerence of Arabia, if you must ask) and we have ingrained in our psyche that all of our problems are due to the other guy, the other organization, the other company, the other politician, the other country - all making it so hard on us. I say it's time that we stop spending our energy blaming others and start looking within. How many families are fractured over relatively small issues? What has happened to forgiveness? If we can't resolve our family issues, how can we expect to solve bigger issues? I say look within to find the courage, the strength, the know-how, the smarts to figure it out for ourselves, our families and our communities. Only then will fear of the outside world begin to fall away and can true prosperity be returned to our country and our world. I challenge you to look to the sacrifice that Marines made on Iwo Jima in 1945 (over 20,000 casualties) and then I think you will see that you really don't have much to fear in these amazing times in this promising century.
Fear has almost become a national pastime. Forget baseball, apple pie and winning the war. That's old school. Too simple for this new century. Too boring for our fast-paced, phone app-driven world. At the risk of sounding too old school, I do remember starting my information systems major in undergraduate school and liking the instant gratification of watching a program actually work. I'm sure that many in the trades get this same feeling. Sweating pipe and seeing no leaks. Building a block wall with your bare hands. Seeing the light turn on and brighten a room, making it more of a home. Yet today, we have an insatiable thirst to know everything right now. And yet we are willing to find the information source that supports our own personal belief structures. If we think that another 9-11 style attack is imminent, then we listen and watch to find support for that construct. If we think that there is a conspiracy of global corporate megalomaniacs making the world dance like Pinocchio, then we'll look to the Illuminati and Knights Templar to support that we have no control over our own lives.
While Americans have collectively lost $1.2 trillion in wealth over the past couple of years due to the housing bubble annihilation, most of us are still working, many still have a house over our heads and have food on our tables at the end of the day. Amazingly, businesses are still being started, restaurants are still packing them in and yet we whine. Government is doing too much, too little, not the right thing or definitely the wrong thing while lining their own pockets. Here's the thing - everyone is probably right and yet we operate and have opinions that we think that majority rules in this country. Wake up America - this is a republic not a democracy! We elect officials that represent us. If you don't like them, we all have the right to vote for someone else. But I digress - what are we really afraid of?
For many decades we have been "a little people, greedy, barbarous and cruel" (Lawerence of Arabia, if you must ask) and we have ingrained in our psyche that all of our problems are due to the other guy, the other organization, the other company, the other politician, the other country - all making it so hard on us. I say it's time that we stop spending our energy blaming others and start looking within. How many families are fractured over relatively small issues? What has happened to forgiveness? If we can't resolve our family issues, how can we expect to solve bigger issues? I say look within to find the courage, the strength, the know-how, the smarts to figure it out for ourselves, our families and our communities. Only then will fear of the outside world begin to fall away and can true prosperity be returned to our country and our world. I challenge you to look to the sacrifice that Marines made on Iwo Jima in 1945 (over 20,000 casualties) and then I think you will see that you really don't have much to fear in these amazing times in this promising century.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Fear and loathing in politics and our economy today
Why has fear become such a fantastic motivator in our political system? Is this something that has been cultivated? Are we seeing other countries and factions in our rear view mirror and seeing the possibility of losing our dominant position in the world in our lifetimes? If the attack on the World Trade Center had never happened, would we be living with less fear? How is it that policies by one political party are considered greedy or radical or naive or self-serving - who has been appointed judge or arbiter? Are we now a country that sees the glass has half-empty and wondering why others around the world criticize us for not realizing what great resources we do have? Why aren't Americans happy with what they have? Are we looking to blame others when we all participated in a housing bubble that we are all now paying the price for? Do Americans realize that the current pain the housing market is due to decades of poor economic policies that go back to the Carter years with decisions that have been made by both sides of the aisle? Can anyone else see that our abdication of our manufacturing sector left us with a dangerous dependency on the construction/building industry on a national level? And we still have a gigantic dependence on foreign oil and why doesn't any seem to want to talk about the national security issues this brings up? Are we headed for a "lost decade" like Japan had in the '90's? How are we going to lift ourselves by our bootstraps when we haven't really done it as a nation since World War II? When are our leaders going to get serious about creating an environment that will create jobs in this country?
Just a couple of questions on my mind today. I've been reading the book "Flags of Our Fathers". It's the book about the flagraisers at Iwo Jima that Clint Eastwood made into a movie. It's probably influenced my questions a bit.
I'll give some thought to some answers a little later... Thanks for letting me do a mind dump today. Any thoughts?
Just a couple of questions on my mind today. I've been reading the book "Flags of Our Fathers". It's the book about the flagraisers at Iwo Jima that Clint Eastwood made into a movie. It's probably influenced my questions a bit.
I'll give some thought to some answers a little later... Thanks for letting me do a mind dump today. Any thoughts?
Friday, August 6, 2010
Jerry Rice versus Emmit Smith
Ok, I'm a lifelong 49er fan in the nature of full disclosure.
Now you have to give Emmitt his due in that he has the career rushing yards record in the National Football League, but let's be realistic about who the greatest player being inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame tomorrow. For all the records that Rice has, including most touchdowns, in my mind, there is no argument. For all his work ethic, Super Bowl records and shear dominance while catching the ball from two different Hall of Fame quarterbacks (and we won't even get into the difference between a right-handed and left-handed quarterback), these athletic achievements make Jerry Rice cleanly the best player in the 2010 class much less in the history of the league. Also, understand that in order for Emmit to get his numbers, he was extremely dependent on the ability of the Dallas Cowboys to build some of the best offensive lines ever. Remember when Emmitt finished his career with the Cardinals (oh yeah, you forgot that...), he did not have the vaunted line in front of him. And, oh yeah, Mr. Rice played for 20 years compared to 14 for Emmitt. And look at the numbers for the players that have the second all-time numbers compared to Rice. He is by far the most dominant player of his generation and redefined the position of wide receiver.
So, when you are reading or watching the East Coast media machine try to be fair in giving equal time to Rice and Smith, know in your heart of hearts who was the best player on the field, is the best who ever played and will be the best player in the Hall of Fame, period!
Now you have to give Emmitt his due in that he has the career rushing yards record in the National Football League, but let's be realistic about who the greatest player being inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame tomorrow. For all the records that Rice has, including most touchdowns, in my mind, there is no argument. For all his work ethic, Super Bowl records and shear dominance while catching the ball from two different Hall of Fame quarterbacks (and we won't even get into the difference between a right-handed and left-handed quarterback), these athletic achievements make Jerry Rice cleanly the best player in the 2010 class much less in the history of the league. Also, understand that in order for Emmit to get his numbers, he was extremely dependent on the ability of the Dallas Cowboys to build some of the best offensive lines ever. Remember when Emmitt finished his career with the Cardinals (oh yeah, you forgot that...), he did not have the vaunted line in front of him. And, oh yeah, Mr. Rice played for 20 years compared to 14 for Emmitt. And look at the numbers for the players that have the second all-time numbers compared to Rice. He is by far the most dominant player of his generation and redefined the position of wide receiver.
So, when you are reading or watching the East Coast media machine try to be fair in giving equal time to Rice and Smith, know in your heart of hearts who was the best player on the field, is the best who ever played and will be the best player in the Hall of Fame, period!
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Living in a fantasy world... not a good idea?
Yesterday I found that some folks were posting on Facebook about the lack of merit of certain science fiction movies. The primary complaints focused on the content and how they were basically rehashes of old stories or old concepts or old religions. The common thread was how some people out there are just not equipped to really study original works and certainly don't want to have vapid actors representing such ethereal ideas.
Let's start out by saying that I agree that many people today are spoiled, don't want to do the hard work required and want to just hang out, dude. That being said, who are we to judge these misdirected, vacant and unmotivated individuals? Shouldn't we just be grateful that they are at least deriving something from these forms of entertainment? Oh, that's right – my bad; they're movies, not classic works of art. How silly of me? How do you compare the Mona Lisa to “The Matrix”? Or “Star Wars” to Michelangelo’s David? These types of movies are snapshots of our culture, not objects of art that belong in iconic museums (when our culture produces something like “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure”, what does that say?). Yes, they are inspirational yet bring a simplified version of a concept that is perceived to be too complicated to the masses. And what does that say about our educational system? Not much, unfortunately. And what does it say about our culture? At least it's trying to bring a version of art to the masses. In the distant past great paintings and sculptures were commissioned and paid for by the ruling elite and therefore reserved for their enjoyment only. At least Bill and Ted tried to teach some history, albeit a slightly distorted view.
Are there solutions out there? Shouldn’t we be blessed with the idea of diversity even in the level of laziness someone expresses or should we push the standards of education for all at all cost? I would hope that it would be somewhere in between. At least among those that have enjoyed long lives, many consider lifelong learning to be a major component of the success of their longevity. And guess what; they also are the ones that set an example for those of us that are younger and willing to continue to believe that we don’t know everything.
Is the critique of others tastes in entertainment and education measuring others by our own personal yardsticks or are our protestations laced with the intent that we know that settling is not an option for personal growth – approaching someone like a coach prodding someone to give more than they think they are capable of doing? It’s all in the intent. Are you trying to be superior and righteous? Or are you really trying to help expand someone’s horizons?
So in the end, let's just get off the high, intellectual, spiritual horse and just be okay that some people are on a different intellectual path and bless them on their way.
Let's start out by saying that I agree that many people today are spoiled, don't want to do the hard work required and want to just hang out, dude. That being said, who are we to judge these misdirected, vacant and unmotivated individuals? Shouldn't we just be grateful that they are at least deriving something from these forms of entertainment? Oh, that's right – my bad; they're movies, not classic works of art. How silly of me? How do you compare the Mona Lisa to “The Matrix”? Or “Star Wars” to Michelangelo’s David? These types of movies are snapshots of our culture, not objects of art that belong in iconic museums (when our culture produces something like “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure”, what does that say?). Yes, they are inspirational yet bring a simplified version of a concept that is perceived to be too complicated to the masses. And what does that say about our educational system? Not much, unfortunately. And what does it say about our culture? At least it's trying to bring a version of art to the masses. In the distant past great paintings and sculptures were commissioned and paid for by the ruling elite and therefore reserved for their enjoyment only. At least Bill and Ted tried to teach some history, albeit a slightly distorted view.
Are there solutions out there? Shouldn’t we be blessed with the idea of diversity even in the level of laziness someone expresses or should we push the standards of education for all at all cost? I would hope that it would be somewhere in between. At least among those that have enjoyed long lives, many consider lifelong learning to be a major component of the success of their longevity. And guess what; they also are the ones that set an example for those of us that are younger and willing to continue to believe that we don’t know everything.
Is the critique of others tastes in entertainment and education measuring others by our own personal yardsticks or are our protestations laced with the intent that we know that settling is not an option for personal growth – approaching someone like a coach prodding someone to give more than they think they are capable of doing? It’s all in the intent. Are you trying to be superior and righteous? Or are you really trying to help expand someone’s horizons?
So in the end, let's just get off the high, intellectual, spiritual horse and just be okay that some people are on a different intellectual path and bless them on their way.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
To Hall or not to Hall, that is the question...
Living in this world can either be a challenge (hint: laden with problems, people with attitudes) or an opportunity. With Alex Rodriguez coming close to a major milestone in Major League Baseball – 600 career home runs – the debate over what is considered the “new” credentials to be elected into the baseball Hall of Fame is hot and heavy. It used to be that everyone just knew what it would take to make it into the hallowed Hall. Outstanding performance, grit, enduring statistics, leadership and success on the field all weighed into the measured ballots of the vaunted sportswriters of America. Now, with the taint of steroids on the past 25 years of baseball, the debate rages causing many to attempt to redefine what it means to be an outstanding baseball player in the modern, drug-stained era and how to attempt to compare to the other, cleaner, brighter, “good ol’ days” of baseball.
Unfortunately, even good baseball players that may have succumbed to the pressure of performance for ungodly amounts of money for a short period of time are now suspect. Will Andy Pettitte now be excluded for a relatively small indiscretion? Or will it have to be a gross abuse that physically showed like Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa or a player from my beloved San Francisco Giants, Barry Bonds? Or should we just build a separate wing on the Hall – The Steroid Wing, or the late 20th Century Wing – with a giant asterisk above the door? How will the sportswriters compare the accomplishments of the modern athlete versus those feats of amazing game-changing abilities of the earlier players? Is it even possible to compare the game as it was when all that anyone worried about was gambling and booze?
So do we allow Pettitte to walk through the proverbial gates of St. Babe and keep Roger Clemens on the outs because Clemens has been unrepentant to date? Do we allow Bonds to enter because of his incredible accomplishments before his head got physically a few sizes bigger during one off-season? Do we permanently keep McGwire and Sosa out because they only provided a couple of seasons of excitement? And why is no one looking at Serena Williams and asking the same questions? Have you seen her next to her competitors? Has anyone questioned the amount of muscle as well as the anger management problem that is so obvious that looks like ‘roid rage?
So in the end, it’s really all about the money. If we as a fan base weren’t willing to pay basically a day’s pay for just one seat at one of these sporting events, there certainly wouldn’t be the pressure to perform at a level that is beyond the existing evolutionary chain. So, in the end, we push our kids to attempt to launch themselves into the stratosphere of sport, all so that we can watch them explode like fireworks on Fourth of July when it all comes crashing around them. Good thing they made all that money.
Unfortunately, even good baseball players that may have succumbed to the pressure of performance for ungodly amounts of money for a short period of time are now suspect. Will Andy Pettitte now be excluded for a relatively small indiscretion? Or will it have to be a gross abuse that physically showed like Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa or a player from my beloved San Francisco Giants, Barry Bonds? Or should we just build a separate wing on the Hall – The Steroid Wing, or the late 20th Century Wing – with a giant asterisk above the door? How will the sportswriters compare the accomplishments of the modern athlete versus those feats of amazing game-changing abilities of the earlier players? Is it even possible to compare the game as it was when all that anyone worried about was gambling and booze?
So do we allow Pettitte to walk through the proverbial gates of St. Babe and keep Roger Clemens on the outs because Clemens has been unrepentant to date? Do we allow Bonds to enter because of his incredible accomplishments before his head got physically a few sizes bigger during one off-season? Do we permanently keep McGwire and Sosa out because they only provided a couple of seasons of excitement? And why is no one looking at Serena Williams and asking the same questions? Have you seen her next to her competitors? Has anyone questioned the amount of muscle as well as the anger management problem that is so obvious that looks like ‘roid rage?
So in the end, it’s really all about the money. If we as a fan base weren’t willing to pay basically a day’s pay for just one seat at one of these sporting events, there certainly wouldn’t be the pressure to perform at a level that is beyond the existing evolutionary chain. So, in the end, we push our kids to attempt to launch themselves into the stratosphere of sport, all so that we can watch them explode like fireworks on Fourth of July when it all comes crashing around them. Good thing they made all that money.
Friday, January 22, 2010
The Supreme Court, Corporate Political Contributions and the American People
Ok, I just couldn't pass this one up...
So the Supreme Court yesterday throws out limits on what corporations can contribute to political campaigns. While some folks are saying this is a good thing that will allow middle class candidates to raise copious amounts of campaign funds to run against incumbents that are dug in like a tic, I wholeheartedly disagree. If you think your vote means nothing now, just wait. If you think that candidates for public office have spent obscene amounts of money for an office that doesn't pay that much, just wait. If you think that candidates are bought and paid for now, just wait. This ruling will take our country down a path of corruption and greed that we have never seen - just wait.
I say that we need to borrow from Canada on campaign finance reform - limited amounts that can be raised, limited amounts that can be donated and limited time periods for running a campaign (try 8 weeks on - wouldn't that be a dent in the content for the 24-hour news stations?).
And while I'm at it, let's rant just a little about Senator-elect Scott Brown from Massachusetts. While I understand his basic message of lower taxes and less government, his questioning about health care reform is a bit puzzling. Now I understand that 98% of the people in Massachusetts are covered by some form of health care and that any added national program could be harmful to his constituents, but he has been elected to the upper house in Congress. If I'm not mistaken, this is where you debate issues facing the nation, not just your state. The problem with the partisan politics around health care is that no one is paying attention to the average, middle class citizen. Both sides are focusing on their fiefdoms in each state, some like Brown, only worried about their voters, continuing to create (or re-create) a system that doesn't foster true competition in the health insurance arena and makes sweetheart deals in order to keep the status quo which, HELLO, is not working. When are they going to listen??? Not as long as our elected officials can make a buck for themselves or their friends, we will EVER get any bipartisan legislation that can be good for all. At least that's what it seems like...
Now that I've worked myself up into a lather over this, my next question is, when will the American people wake up and realize that true service to us as a people is being compromised by the almighty dollar? When are we going to realize that we have created a de facto ruling class like jolly old England in the 18th century? When are we going to see that the constant eroding of the middle class through lack of education, lack of affordable health care, lack of true opportunity, is drawing us closer to an economy similar to Mexico with the uber-rich and the chronically poor?
Rulings like this recent one by the Supreme Court only exacerbate the serious problems of our country that will soon have us driving an old, used clunker of an economy trying to catch up to the souped race car that will be the Chinese economy. And we continue to saddle ourselves with an annual military budget of $700 BILLION. So much for capitalism and democracy when we can't hold back our own individual greedy behavior for the betterment of everyone.
So the Supreme Court yesterday throws out limits on what corporations can contribute to political campaigns. While some folks are saying this is a good thing that will allow middle class candidates to raise copious amounts of campaign funds to run against incumbents that are dug in like a tic, I wholeheartedly disagree. If you think your vote means nothing now, just wait. If you think that candidates for public office have spent obscene amounts of money for an office that doesn't pay that much, just wait. If you think that candidates are bought and paid for now, just wait. This ruling will take our country down a path of corruption and greed that we have never seen - just wait.
I say that we need to borrow from Canada on campaign finance reform - limited amounts that can be raised, limited amounts that can be donated and limited time periods for running a campaign (try 8 weeks on - wouldn't that be a dent in the content for the 24-hour news stations?).
And while I'm at it, let's rant just a little about Senator-elect Scott Brown from Massachusetts. While I understand his basic message of lower taxes and less government, his questioning about health care reform is a bit puzzling. Now I understand that 98% of the people in Massachusetts are covered by some form of health care and that any added national program could be harmful to his constituents, but he has been elected to the upper house in Congress. If I'm not mistaken, this is where you debate issues facing the nation, not just your state. The problem with the partisan politics around health care is that no one is paying attention to the average, middle class citizen. Both sides are focusing on their fiefdoms in each state, some like Brown, only worried about their voters, continuing to create (or re-create) a system that doesn't foster true competition in the health insurance arena and makes sweetheart deals in order to keep the status quo which, HELLO, is not working. When are they going to listen??? Not as long as our elected officials can make a buck for themselves or their friends, we will EVER get any bipartisan legislation that can be good for all. At least that's what it seems like...
Now that I've worked myself up into a lather over this, my next question is, when will the American people wake up and realize that true service to us as a people is being compromised by the almighty dollar? When are we going to realize that we have created a de facto ruling class like jolly old England in the 18th century? When are we going to see that the constant eroding of the middle class through lack of education, lack of affordable health care, lack of true opportunity, is drawing us closer to an economy similar to Mexico with the uber-rich and the chronically poor?
Rulings like this recent one by the Supreme Court only exacerbate the serious problems of our country that will soon have us driving an old, used clunker of an economy trying to catch up to the souped race car that will be the Chinese economy. And we continue to saddle ourselves with an annual military budget of $700 BILLION. So much for capitalism and democracy when we can't hold back our own individual greedy behavior for the betterment of everyone.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Fixing Congress
I got this list of suggestions on how to fix Congress via email last week and thought I would pass this on - just because it is so right on. My comments are in italics.
1. Term Limits: 12 years only, one of the possible options below:
A. Two Six year Senate terms
B. Six Two year House terms
C. One Six year Senate term and three Two Year House terms
No one should be a career politician. You are there to serve the people not yourself.
2. No Tenure/No Pension - A congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.
There already is enough money floating around the hallowed halls of Washington. It's not like they can't find work when their terms are up. They can contribute to IRA's just like the rest of us.
3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security: All funds in the Congressional retirement fund moves to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, Congress participates with the American people.
This will make them vested in the plans that they create for the rest of us. Hey, they are supposed to be like the rest of us, so there is no reason why they can't participate in our programs. If they don't like it, guess what, they can change it but only for all of us.
4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan just as all Americans.
See my comments above.
5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
I have a better idea - if an incumbent is re-elected, their constituents get to vote on a raise of the lower of CPI or 3%. If someone new is elected, then they get a fixed, scaled pay rate determined by the electorate during the presidential elections every four years.
6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.
Maybe this will get them off the stick and create something that's worthwhile and not full of special side deals.
7. Congress must equally abide in all laws they impose on the American people.
If you are caught breaking the law during your term, you give up your seat. If you have been convicted of a felony (or misdemeanor in the past 10 years), you are ineligible to hold office.
8. All contracts with past and present congressmen are void effective 1/1/11. The American people did not make this contract with congressmen, congressmen made all these contracts for themselves.
See my comment above about the electorate voting on salary scale every four years. This should extend to other contracts where members are given anything that the people have to pay for. After all, they work for us, we should be able to determine their compensation package.
If you agree with any or all of this, pass it on to whoever you think will listen.
1. Term Limits: 12 years only, one of the possible options below:
A. Two Six year Senate terms
B. Six Two year House terms
C. One Six year Senate term and three Two Year House terms
No one should be a career politician. You are there to serve the people not yourself.
2. No Tenure/No Pension - A congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.
There already is enough money floating around the hallowed halls of Washington. It's not like they can't find work when their terms are up. They can contribute to IRA's just like the rest of us.
3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security: All funds in the Congressional retirement fund moves to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, Congress participates with the American people.
This will make them vested in the plans that they create for the rest of us. Hey, they are supposed to be like the rest of us, so there is no reason why they can't participate in our programs. If they don't like it, guess what, they can change it but only for all of us.
4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan just as all Americans.
See my comments above.
5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
I have a better idea - if an incumbent is re-elected, their constituents get to vote on a raise of the lower of CPI or 3%. If someone new is elected, then they get a fixed, scaled pay rate determined by the electorate during the presidential elections every four years.
6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.
Maybe this will get them off the stick and create something that's worthwhile and not full of special side deals.
7. Congress must equally abide in all laws they impose on the American people.
If you are caught breaking the law during your term, you give up your seat. If you have been convicted of a felony (or misdemeanor in the past 10 years), you are ineligible to hold office.
8. All contracts with past and present congressmen are void effective 1/1/11. The American people did not make this contract with congressmen, congressmen made all these contracts for themselves.
See my comment above about the electorate voting on salary scale every four years. This should extend to other contracts where members are given anything that the people have to pay for. After all, they work for us, we should be able to determine their compensation package.
If you agree with any or all of this, pass it on to whoever you think will listen.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The GJ Main Street Uplift
Ok, so people have sounded off in the You Said It column and with letters to the editor and I am just baffled. Are the residents of Happy Valley so short-sighted? Can they not look at the 7th Street and Colorado Avenue and see what huge improvements have been made? Can they not see the new buildings that have gone up on 7th Street? Can they not see that the businesses on Colorado Avenue are still there after months of construction? All this gnashing of teeth over Main Street really makes me shake my head.
Oh so long ago - back in the '60s, a group of folks got together and created what we know as Main Street today. I'm sure they had their detractors, but let's be real, they changed the face of downtown and made it a destination not just a jumble of storefronts. Yes, businesses have come and gone. I'm sure if you looked really close you will see legitimate reasons for those closings - not changing with shifting customer desires, not offering what the local community wants, getting priced out of the market, refusing to be open late or on weekends, rent going up, the shale bust - need I go on?
Bottom line: Main Street needs to have a consistent look with the other recent improvements. The businesses that are doing well will simply have to do what some have refused to do up until now, market themselves and get prospective customers to walk across their thresholds. Maybe this will be a wake-up call that the downtown folks need to really take their shopping park to another level. Cuz you know what? It's going to look great when it's done!
Oh so long ago - back in the '60s, a group of folks got together and created what we know as Main Street today. I'm sure they had their detractors, but let's be real, they changed the face of downtown and made it a destination not just a jumble of storefronts. Yes, businesses have come and gone. I'm sure if you looked really close you will see legitimate reasons for those closings - not changing with shifting customer desires, not offering what the local community wants, getting priced out of the market, refusing to be open late or on weekends, rent going up, the shale bust - need I go on?
Bottom line: Main Street needs to have a consistent look with the other recent improvements. The businesses that are doing well will simply have to do what some have refused to do up until now, market themselves and get prospective customers to walk across their thresholds. Maybe this will be a wake-up call that the downtown folks need to really take their shopping park to another level. Cuz you know what? It's going to look great when it's done!
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