Thought for the Day

Smart asses bother me! They swagger. They primp. They sneer. And then I read this anonymous quote on the internet:

            “If you are going to be a SMART ASS…

             FIRST you must be SMART

             Otherwise you are just an ASS”

Ponder this over the weekend. Either develop a defense against smart asses, or wean yourself from such behavior. Either way we all benefit!

Have a great weekend!

August 30, 2014

Hank - A Guy I know

Hank stuttered his way through the lunch meeting. His conversation was halting and unrelated to central topics. Rambling and bouncing from idea to idea would be a better description of his demeanor. I fed him relevant bits and pieces to tie phrases together and develop broader themes to the communication. But it was an effort on my part.

What was he trying to tell me? That was the key thought in my head throughout the ordeal. And an ordeal it was.

It turned out that Hank was sharing a mother lode of personal problems, all of which he wanted help to handle. The list of ‘issues’ was great.  Where to start?

First, he started and ended each day with Tylenol or aspirin. Was this an addiction, he wondered? Next, he outlined his daily routines – the most personal ones! – almost as obsessions. The morning toilet routine, shaving, teeth cleaning, pills to take and shower. Followed by dressing routines and all the rest. Obsessive compulsive disorder was the core of his telling me this. Was it normal to follow these routines each and every day?

And that was just the morning. There was the meal routine, the mid-day toilet regime, the afternoon exercise program worked into his work and study routines. Then there was the evening meal, the kitchen clean up protocol, the evening toilet routine and the undressing and going to bed schedule he followed to the T each and every time.

Obsessive compulsive? Or a self prescribed practice to fight attention deficit disorder (ADD)? It sounded more like ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder). Or a combination of the two? And just who was I to make this observation as a diagnosis? I had no training whatsoever in these fields. 

This was a friend in need sharing his problems with me. Simple as that; but really?

Hank went on to tell me that his routine did include consumption of alcohol. At first it was not everyday drinking but lately it had taken a pattern of daily drinking, sometimes to excess by bedtime. Was he becoming an alcoholic? he asked! Yet another issue.

But wait there was yet another ‘issue’ to be shared: he thought about sex quite a lot but didn't do anything about it.  I mean, he made it clear that he was titillated by the idea of sex in many different manners, but he did not do anything to satisfy it.  He wondered if he was asexual or perhaps sexually dysfunctional?

And then there was his work. He hated it. He did as he was asked by his boss and his clients. He worked hard on their assignments and completed them on time. He hated the pressure of deadlines, yet he accepted the fact that he would underperform if he didn't have the discipline of deadlines. At the core of the work, though, he did not like the tasks. The work did not feed his interests one iota. He wanted to think about other matters that spoke to world issues and improving quality of life for millions of people.  He just thought that way.

So now I’m dealing with a sexually dysfunctional, possible alcoholic with ADD and possibly ADHD, an obsessive compulsive, with hate syndromes related to work. And now I add Utopian thinker, or possibly a visionary to be more charitable?

Hank is a friend. He is good looking, usually calm, insightful, normally a great conversationalist, he enjoys sharing music and literature with me, and we spend quality time in each other’s company. But he is exhausting at times! Surely you see why?!

To my knowledge Hank has a stellar academic record from kindergarten through high school, college and a master’s degree at a fine university. He earns a good income and avoids debt at nearly every turn. He drives a mundane car, dresses casually and without fanfare of style, and lives in a modest apartment close to public transportation that he uses to get to work. He is able to work from home much of the time, however, which gives him the opportunity to indulge in his exercise and toilet routines mentioned earlier.

Hank is 32, never married (of course!) and his parents and siblings live spread out on both coasts while he lives in Chicago. Very little family interaction has been reported to me by him. Besides me, however, I have learned of very few close friends he spends time with on a regular basis. So, perhaps we add ‘loner’ to the catalog of descriptors of him?

This information he has shared with me directly. I could add more detailed information but this would be based on my personal observation and experience with Hank.  Such as, his interest in music – mostly classical with an emphasis on the baroque, loves organ music in general, is partial to Italian opera arias, and has a special thing for choral music, again mostly classical.

Hank avoids live or recorded opera performances. He has attended a few but never felt a return visit was necessary. He does get a kick out of Broadway musicals performed live on stage. He likes the glitter (he says) but especially loves the vocals, choruses and dance routines. To my knowledge he has never attended a ballet performance, or any other kind of dance recital either.

Regarding literature he requires a steady diet of well written detective novels, but reads steadily the old classics. He dutifully wallows through Bronte and Jane Austen classics, but also likes Defoe and other early English writers. He has never strayed to foreign writers that I am aware of. He occasionally tests the waters of non-fiction but never on ideological or political topics. Historical themes, yes; and that will cover important thinkers and politicians of centuries past.

He seems to be a renaissance man – thinking on major themes of the intellect and trying to place these themes in logical order or symbiosis. How do they fit together? What do they mean when taken all together? Yes, this is Hank.

Quite a bit of background on one individual, don’t you think? And what kind of person do you take him to be? Does his type interest you? Do you wish to be his friend? Would you take him at face value – what you see is what you get? – or would you try to ‘fix’ him?

He remains an enigma to me because of that last question.  Who am I to fix anyone? Acceptance of the whole person is a gift I think. It allows us to value life more fully and to value our inner spaces as well. We have the Hanks of the world to help us see ourselves more clearly.

Neither Hank nor I are right or wrong. We are just two people in search of sharing meaningful time together.

And that’s not a bad thing!

August 29, 2014

PS: More about Hank in the future!

Getting Personal

I get to vent my frustrations here in my blog. There are those who read it faithfully every day and those that don’t. There are those who visit once and disappear forever. And then there are those who visit infrequently but read a lot of past posts. And then come back for more.

I fully admit to venting my irritation with political vampires in America. There are many who irritate everyone. That seems to be their job! How on earth can they be happy people?

At any rate pointing out a truth or fact that should matter in our life-long struggle to make sense of a chaotic world, should be a simple matter of communication. Trying to keep the language neutral is not always easy but it is necessary for good communication. Neutrality of emotion keeps the conversation open and functioning.

Taking sides isn't a problem as long as the emotion is reduced or eliminated.  Saying someone is stupid for thinking one way or another is such an emotion to be eliminated from conversation. That seems elemental to me.

I try to keep personality out of my writing when dealing with facts or arguments for one position as opposed to another. The logic should be the focus of the exchange of ideas.  Not the personalities.

There are personalities in the world and in politics that are nothing but personal. Putin is one such character. Obama is not. He is cool, calm, historically based, and mindful of finding solutions to problems and disagreements. He will not be bamboozled.  That’s what makes Putin transparent in his demeanor. He is a person of intentional power rather than peace.  Only his point of view is the one that matters.

That is not how the globe works when seeking justice and peace.

John McCain is another. He switches from personable to personal all the time. He has tried to solve big problems, but when he has not succeeded, he makes the problem a personal one and attacks other people who he views as enemies.  That doesn't work. That is why he is not President.

Sarah Palin is another politician built on the model of personal attack only. I wonder if she every truly governed?  I wonder if she every truly solved a social problem? I doubt it. Alaska is a state in a world of economic trouble and she quit when the going got tough. She tried to be a political mouthpiece and succeeded in that role but lost election after election. She truly needs to shut up. She no longer has credibility other than her nice smile.

When we think of how some presidents performed in their job, and how much time and effort went into countless things the public has no knowledge of, it amazes me that some did so well.

Clinton comes to mind. He was a short term performer in long-term problems and succeeded. Later, his short term performance turned into long term performance when his policy solutions worked better than anyone could have imagined.

Same is true with the first George Bush, (HW). He was a man of history, diplomacy and seasoned social policy. He was successful at it for his lifelong career until he made the fatal mistake of allowing right wing Christian conservatives to take over his republican party. That was doomsday for the party. It’s when I left it.

True to my prediction the republicans have not performed well with the exception of being naysayers and obstructionists in the houses of congress. A pitiful sight. And not one of historical significance in solving problems for this age or the future. And that does not even address global concerns!

Today the pundits fault Obama for everything they gave cause to. The deficit. The wars. The failure of world diplomacy. Chaos in economic markets. Education systems that are turning out too few critical thinkers who can and need to solve problems.

When I was in high school, then in college, I ached for the chance to get an opportunity to solve the world’s problems. Then when I was doing what I thought was right, I learned that others were making matters worse elsewhere.

I had hoped our generation would leave the world in a much better position of sustainable peace and harmony. Obviously that has failed. We now have larger problems than when I was young.  This means today’s younger generation has a lot of work to do.

It is not to be a personal attack on anyone. It is to be a selfless effort to make the world peaceful and a better place for all to live in. This is not a world of, for and by America, or Russia, or France, or any other country. This is a world where every country takes responsibility for doing the right thing for their people and the peoples of the world at the same time. If imbalances develop they need to be addressed.

I have been accused of being an idealist, utopianist, nerd and geek. I’d rather be called a visionary, a person who sees past the cluttered chaos of the present to what ought to be our goals. That requires us to think outside ‘the box’ and be creative. It also allows for sharing the problem, the resources and the credit for getting something done. Something that is worthwhile for us all.

Who will lead mankind out of this mess?  Surely not the republicans; they prefer war and dominance in all that they do. Not the democrats, either. They simply keep their eyes on their own voting districts. They need to focus on global needs and how America can help with those needs.

And diplomacy needs to be returned to its fine arts status. Under George W. Bush (much to his father’s consternation!) the diplomatic corps was decimated. Intentionally, I think, but possibly not. Bad policy drives good people out of organizations and careers. Even then, congress refuses to act responsibly and protect diplomatic missions with proper security. No, they prefer to make politics not solutions.

A fine mess we are in. Won’t someone with talent and credibility please step up and help us all out here?  We have such a person in Obama, but he is opposed at every turn by pure politics. It’s a shame, but the truth.  Who’s next, then?

We have a leadership problem and a vision problem in our nation. And in the world.

When will we get serious and live our principles rather than our ideologies?

A good question!

August 28, 2014

Dissonance 3

I’ll get this out of my system today. The last Dissonance article for awhile.

First quote:

“The corporations that profit from permanent war need us to be afraid. Fear stops us from objecting to government spending on a bloated military. Fear means we will not ask unpleasant questions of those in power.” ~Chris Hedges

You may not know that both the Afghanistan and Iraq wars were ‘off budget’ and off the annual deficit bean counter. Of course the expenditures were tallied up in the national debt figures. When Obama took over the White House following George W and Dick Cheney, the war expenses were placed back on the current operating budget. And yes those annual deficits were built by Bush/Cheney and paid down by Obama/Biden. Still have a long way to go, but talk about a bloated military budget.

Yet you’d think the squealing sounds from the republican camp indicates too little is spent by the Pentagon and more gruff stuff talk to the world is needed to keep Russia at bay, and the Middle East. Hogwash. The military budget in America is well over $600 billion annually. It needs trimming. The whole concept of smaller military task forces recommended by Don Rumsfeld was supposed to contain spending and provide faster, more flexible response from our military to hot spots around the globe.  Those suggestions didn't go very far!  Imagine the horror in corporate suites across the nation when they realized their sales were about to tumble!

Second quote, this one from Bernie Sanders, Independent Senator from Vermont:

“How is it that we can afford to allow one in four corporations to not pay federal income taxes, but we can’t afford to help our veterans?”

Yeah!  Answer that one for us all! Well, you sort of know the answer from quote #1, above.

Quote three is from Elizabeth Warren, Democrat US Senator for Massachusetts:

“How do Fortune 500 companies pay zero in taxes while college loans go up to 6%? This game is rigged.”

It sure is rigged! And if we finally lowered the military budget we could afford to pay college tuition for all students in America. Think of the dividends that would provide to the economy, culture, academia, research and development and so much more! But Congress has other ideas on its mind. They trying to discredit eight years under the first African-American president in history. They are trying to regain the White House for the republicans. Meanwhile, veterans go begging for medical benefits they earned and paid for. Congressional pay has continued its upward, regular spiral while the Minimum Wage Act grows dusty and pay level so low no one can earn a living on it. And while medical and other insurance benefits cost more for all Americans, Congressional benefits continue to rise in value without any premium cost paid by Congressmen. Or retirement benefits, either, for that matter.

Let’s see, there is more: the economy continues to slowly rebuild from the ashes caused by Congressional inaction and favored status for banks, mortgage companies and real estate barons, while all good solutions from the White House and academia are pooh poohed and ignored. Well, not ignored. The abusive nay saying and obstructionism is screamed far and wide over all media outlets.

Leadership? It takes more than one person to lead a nation. It takes collaboration and cooperation from every sector of our nation and its governments.

Quote four from an unknown author over the internet:

“The Wizard of Oz is 70 years old. Today, if Dorothy were to encounter men with no brains, no hearts, and no balls, she wouldn't be in Oz. She’s be in Congress!”

I’m still laughing over this quote. How true, how true.

Lest the reader think I’m picking on only republicans, I’m not. Congressional Democrats have abandoned their own President because they didn’t get everything they wanted.  Poor babies.  Life is rough all over. We all have to make sacrifices. But if you and your pals across the Congressional aisle would listen to one another and patch together some dynamic good compromises, a grateful nation would be at your doorstop.

Evidently that is a pipe dream of mine that will continue to go unserved.  To bad!

August 27, 2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Delivering the Care

As Americans we care. About a lot of people, a lot of things, a lot of ideas. We see someone suffering and we respond. In many ways. Older citizens in small towns who can no longer paint their own home because of mobility and physical ailments, or cannot afford to hire someone to do it for them, get the house painted by volunteers. These folks come out of their churches on weekends and paint the house.

Others spruce up a yard the resident no longer can care for.

These two instances demonstrate the need for elder housing alternatives. Not all people can properly care for themselves or their homes due to age and finances. It is a simple fact of life. Even more so in this era of upside down markets for housing.

My mother told me once that she and dad never earned more than $20,000 a year. I’m not sure I believe her, but she is now 100 years old, and 40 years ago $20,000 a year was a decent income. Usually from one worker in the household. Today $40,000 a year doesn't properly support a family of four, let alone two.

Only the fortunate live to ripe old age without suffering severe economic problems. Care is needed for the survivors.

Caring is important in several ways. First, of course, it takes care of the person in need, easing the way for them day by day. But second, delivering the care does something for the care giver – usually the volunteer, you and I. The act of caring and delivering on that care pulls us outside of our own narrow internal existence. For a moment or two we forget our own problems. We enter a sphere of peace and calm that is focused on others.

A third way caring is important: economic benefit. The person in need receives the goods and services they can’t afford to pay for, but those who have the means pay it forward. The providers or vendors get paid for their supplies and that ratchets up economic activity. But more…the business partners gain from market knowledge working in these programs. To them it is a tax write-off maybe, or perhaps an economic disposal of surplus goods, a charitable endeavor that benefits their public image; but it allows them to gain understanding of the market place. Markets do not work for everyone’s benefit. This is a reality we all need to know.

Caring is also a concrete means of putting to work those fine and lofty principles we often speak of but rarely act on. We all are guilty of this lapse, aren’t we?  We say we are a Christian or Jewish or Muslim faith which means we ought to…but we rarely do.

Oft times it is imperative that we do practice what we preach. It’s good for us. Plain and simple.

I share with you this message from the internet the other day, it is an message printed on a tee shirt worn by a teenager:

“If religion were the key to morality, then mega-churches would look more like charities and less like million dollar businesses.” ~Author Unknown

Point well taken!

Delivering of care, however, has other dimensions. There are huge institutions created for and devoted to caring for special populations.  Harold Itzkowitz has it right when he said:

“You know what’s an even bigger scandal than the one at VA hospitals? The Iraq war that overloaded them.”

Imagine that! A government that claims to care, then messes up with an enormous war of mistakes, damages and kills our own troops, and millions of innocents in Iraq along with the ‘enemy’, then doesn't care for our own veterans and families when they return home suffering, dying or deceased. It is a shame our nation must shoulder. If we make war we must make lifelong reparations to those affected by it, especially those here at home.

You know, there is accountability for caring. There is also accountability for missions undertaken in our name by our political machinery. The latter does not discern among the Judiciary, Executive or Legislative branches of our government. State, federal or local, our governments work on our behalf for our behalf. They are accountable, sure; but so are we. We put these folks in those positions to do our work for us. And then we walk away? We let bad things happen in our name without correcting them?

The final quote today is this one:

“Back when I studied the Holocaust in school, I remember thinking, ‘how did Hitler get over 6 million people to follow along blindly and not fight back?’ then I realized, I’m watching my fellow Americans take the same path.” ~

Anonymous

The holocaust in our age is the damage done to youth who feel aimless and hopeless sucked into a life of underage booze and drugs, or elders dying homeless on the streets and under our bridges and overpasses. Or maybe it’s the under educated young people who fail to be motivated to learn and take charge of their lives in productive ways.

The modern holocaust is anti-gay prejudice, continuing racism in America, anti-immigration hate groups, private militias well armed and filled with rage and hate that spills over to produce mass killings and bombings.

When global militants misled by religious zeal – the religions kidnapped do not support militants or extremism so exhibited – capture innocent tourists, kill them and torture them as symbols of anti-Americanism, or anti global economics, or any other ism, then we have a new holocaust to contend with. ISIS in the Middle East is a good example of this holocaust. They are not elected. They are not educated. They are not religious (they say they are but they have their religion completely backward!), yet they march into the dessert, capture towns and entire countries, destroying homes, lives, economies and histories. Their form of nihilism is catching. It reverberates in anger among many other innocents who take up arms and join forces.

How sad. How horrid it is for the UN to combat, or NATO, or any other peace keeping force on earth. America is not the peacemaker. The job is too large. We Americans can make a different through our government and foreign policy, but we are not the sentinel of security for the globe. That job belongs to each and every person on the globe.

It begins with each of us, though. And we must step up to the plate and do our job.

Don’t be a victim of the new holocaust. It is very real. And it threatens us all.

August 26, 2014

           

Distracted

I surprise myself. I realize I have not written about distracted drivers. First, I encounter them every day on every road at every speed. Second, in Illinois it is illegal to drive while texting or talking on a hand-held phone. Third, research is beginning to catch up with accident data with respect to distraction as cause. The data is hard to capture but electronics are making it easier. Phone records prove a phone was in use for voice or texting purposes at times near the crash.

In our family the phone is left unanswered if the driver is alone. If another person is in the car the phone will be answered by that person. If the conversation is important, the speaker phone feature is employed and a joint conversation is engaged without the driver touching the phone.

Of course hands free calling is still legal in Illinois if blue tooth or built in phone connections are available in your car. Still, paying attention to the conversation, the connection (answering or sending a call) is a distraction.

Our rule in our house is simple: no calls, no texts. If you are expecting an important call or need to make one, pull off the road and attend to that business. Don’t do it while driving.

Other distractions abound as well: kids in the car, youthful driver with car full of youthful friends, laptop computer open on passenger seat so driver can scan his emails, important documents or other business reading materials in preparation for an approaching meeting. Let’s hope what’s approaching isn’t a collision!

I’ve seen women fixing their hair and makeup while driving. I've also witnessed nasty crashes while they were doing this, luckily not involving me.

My favorite is the car that lurches from side to side of its lane of traffic. You just know the driver is reading a text, dialing a call, or deeply embedded in a conversation. The driver thinks he or she is doing quite well at the task of piloting the car, but if they saw themselves through the eyes of observers they would blush. They are not in control of their car. Period. 

Dropping, swivel or quick moves of the head usually tell the story. It may take some time to realize what’s happening, but eventually the tell tale signs are there.  The driver is reading his phone, reading a report, or talking on the phone. Speeds slow down, lane changes without warning, you get the picture; the driver is so distracted he will be lucky to reach his destination unscathed.

I’ve begun honking my horn and flashing headlights to alert the driver that I’m on to him. I get angry reactions, but usually the car stops wandering all over the lane, and speeds pick up to natural traffic flow.

Remember, if you witness a truck driver (semi tractor trailers especially) driving while texting or conversing on a hand held phone, call 911 or other emergency number accessible by your cell phone. Report the trucking company firm, get the license plate of either the tractor or the trailer, and especially the time of the incident. Location, as well, please! That will give the state or local police something to go on to report and warn the trucking firm of the infraction. Most likely no ticket will be issued. What’s important is letting the trucking firm know its drivers are taking on huge risks. The motoring public is at huge danger when truck drivers engage in this illegal activity.

You all have your stories. Commuter traffic fouled up on the expressway and when you finally get past the slow vehicle you know the driver is on the phone or texting. We owe it to ourselves, our families, and to the general public to let these people know that what they are doing is dangerous to themselves and everyone else.

Join the ‘public posse’ and help educate these dunderheads.

Thank you for listening/reading this lament!

August 25, 2014

Thought for the Day

Envision the world. The globe. The starry nights. Then think on this quote:

“Man is the most insane species. He worships an invisible God and destroys a visible nature. Unaware that this nature he’s destroying is this God he’s worshiping.” ~Hubert Reeves

Powerful food for thought this weekend!

August 23, 2014

Dissonance 2

More of the political warp messages shared with you this day. This is Friday so I will be on another topic next week! Just had to vent my spleen on these issues. Thanks for allowing me this forum.

First quote:

“Never in the history of the United States has a political party devoted all of its efforts to the destruction of the Presidency at any cost to the American people.  We cannot in good conscience reward them with our votes this November.”

                        ~Len Miller, Occupy Democrats

I don’t know if it is the only time in US history this has occurred, but the pattern is clear. I seem to recall an all out vendetta against Bill Clinton, too. Remember the lawsuits that were personally levied against him?  $16 million in personal legal fees and court costs. This was some strange kind of blackmail. It makes you wonder why anyone allows themselves to be a target every time they run for public office? The payoffs are generally not worth the aggravation and personal costs. Congress people I can understand. They are well paid, work part time, get terrific benefits and have a worry free retirement.

Second quote:

“Next time someone blames Obama for our struggling economy, kindly remind them that every time he tries to do something to fix it, it’s blocked by Republicans in the House or filibustered in the Senate.  Want to see some real progress? Vote Democrat in 2014 and send the obstructers packing.”  ~The Blue Street Journal

The Constitution allows some minute safeguards to block votes on technical bases. How come the republicans seem to engineer use of these little known tricks and the Democrats don’t? I've never figure that one out. But a 60% super majority is not needed on every vote in the Senate. The ill-used technical rule has become THE rule and it needs to be repealed.  In the House clearly the republicans do not believe they are the board of directors elected by the people to serve the needs of the nation. They must believe they are in office only to serve their own narrow interests. They need to be removed.

Quote three:

I’m disillusioned by the people who are disillusioned by Obama, quite honestly, I am. Democrats eat their own. Democrats find singular issues and go, ‘Well, I didn't get everything I wanted.’

I’m a firm believer in sticking by and sticking up for the people who you've elected. If Obama was a Republican running, because Republicans are better at this, they’d be selling him as the guy who stopped 400,000 jobs a month from leaving the country. They’d be selling him as the guy who saved the auto-industry. If they had the beliefs, they’d be selling him as the guy who got rid of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’, who got Osama Bin Laden. You could be selling this as a very successful three years.”  ~George Clooney

The recession alone killed government jobs and private sector jobs by the millions. This was the work of George W. Bush.  With nearly 8 million jobs eliminated, Obama entered the White House and reversed that toll. He has helped create 6 million private sector jobs by policy determination alone. The obstructionism of the House republicans have killed another 6 million jobs that could have been created.  And don’t forget, with a recessed economy and budget stinginess by the Congress, the federal government shed employees by the hundreds of thousands. The same occurred for state, county and municipal governments. Without the economy humming along creating employment and tax revenues, they had to cut their employment to fit their budgets.  Smaller government. Get it? There are millions of jobs nationwide that used to be in governments of all shapes and sizes. Those folks have not been asked to return to work yet.

Quote, four:

“The Bush tax cuts have cost Americans as much as $6.6 trillion in personal income, an amount that could easily pay off every car loan, student loan, and all credit card debt in the United States.” ~ Source: David Cay Johnston

The tax cuts were supposed to stimulate the economy. You remember, the ‘trickle down theory’? Well it didn't work. Instead it starved every government entity in the nation of revenues that had been used to support the economy. And the rich did not invest their expanded wealth. That’s why interest rates are so low. There’s now about $6 trillion of idle cash bouncing around the nation and global economy looking for investment opportunities. There are few. So large corporations use their cash pots to buy out other companies, giving those out of business a new cash pot to idle away time with. How utterly unproductive. And not inventive.

Quote number five: (this came off the internet; the quote is G.W. Bush’s. The comment cited is anonymous)

            “I promise a stronger and better economy.” ~ George W. Bush

“Then he completely destroyed the economy. He took 879 vacation days during his presidency. That is 2 years and 5 months of pure vacation time. Now it all makes sense. You would have to be totally stupid to trust the again.”

            ~Anonymous (assume a Democrat!)

What Bush said he wanted for the country he could not deliver because he didn't understand economics. He starved the federal government of needed funds and the ripple effect stunted all lower levels of government throughout the states as well. Then he went to war in Afghanistan (understandable) but with the wrong partner (Pakistan) and then adventured into Iraq with a war under totally false representations.  Those wars have cost the US Treasury about $5 trillion and still counting, not to mention the cost of taking care of our veterans and their families.

Bush’s stewardship of the American economy was a travesty of the largest proportions. And somehow the republicans blame this all on Obama while they continue to obstruct every move he makes to fix the long term problems.

One day Americans will better understand economics or we will go the way of the Roman Empire.  One must understand the basics to govern. Clearly many do not. And we all pay dearly for that.

August 22, 2014

           

Dissonance

The topic today is about reality and ideology. I have a few select quotes to present then I will make comments.

The first is from Warren Buffet, an Omaha, Nebraska hero of mine. Very wealthy in terms of money and asset value but even more wealthy in outlook, perspective, values. Here’s a taste:

“The rich are always going to say that, you know, just give us the money and we’ll go out and spend more and then it will all trickle down to the rest of you. But that has not worked in the last 10 years, and I hope the American public is catching on.”  ~Warren Buffet

The second  is from www.StoryofAmerica.org which shared this quote the other day:

“Let us be clear about our choice. When we raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans, no one dies. When we cut Social Security and Medicare, people die.”         ~Annabel Park

The third is from Occupy Democracy:

“When is the last time in our country we created millions of jobs? It was under Ronald Reagan.”  ~Sen.Rand Paul, 4/12/2014

“President Bill Clinton created 23 million jobs. Reagan created only 16 million.”

The fourth quote is from President Obama:

“Republican obstruction is not just some abstract political stunt. It has real and direct consequences for middle-class families all across the country.”

The fifth is from an unknown internet source:

            “Why America is severely broken:

Alice Walton is worth $21 billion dollars, while almost half of the employees at her family’s Walmart Stores are eligible for Food Stamps. American tax payers are expected to make up what she would have paid in taxes because she’s a ‘job creator’. American taxpayers are also expected to pay for her employees Food Stamps because the jobs she creates won’t pay enough to get by. Is it really so much to ask the ‘job creators’ in the USA to try and get by on a few billion dollars less so that American tax payers don’t have to foot the bill for their employees’ Food Stamps?”

I have more of this material. It pours in every day. You see it too. Perhaps you are tired of reading about it? Maybe you don’t even agree with it? Perhaps you don’t believe it?

I believe it because I am living it. I paid taxes all my life. I engaged in business, church and charities all my life. I supported my family, my kids’ education, and my ex wife’s retirement. But I’m barely making it. While republicans think I should be able to earn more income, they forget that few are hiring 71 year old people. They also forget I paid for the benefits I’m receiving. They also overlook the volunteer efforts I invest in my community and the future of our country. I don’t feel like a burden to anyone. But I’m labeled as such.

I’ll have more to say about this topic, but until we Americans understand that we are all one and the same, we cannot afford to let politicians play us against each other so they have power, money and influence. It is all directed toward them, not you and me.

The nation has problems, big ones. The politicians were elected to manage those problems and fix them. Yet here we are many years later still letting them talk a good game without the accomplishments we need as a people.

I’m sick of it. I hope you are as well. Next time ask them what they did for you and the nation before you give them your vote. Maybe after the elections of 2014 and 2016 we can finally get back to doing what needs to be done. I won’t tell you how to vote. You can decide for yourself. But for heavens sake be an informed voter.

August 21, 2014

Coping and Hoping - A Poem

One day the sky fell. Dropped like a stone.

Don’t know now, or then, why I felt like that.

But I did – abandoned, alone, struggling to understand.

Of course the sky didn't actually fall; it just felt like it had.

No clear cover overhead as expected. Just nothing.

What I knew had evaporated. A new normal was unthought.

What had happened to cause this feeling?

It was not a health issue of life or death.

No; it was different. Up was now down; in was now out.

The house was lost. Foreclosed. The clock was ticking.

“Immediate bankruptcy” advised the attorney.

You know, just to keep a roof over our head.

At least until we found a new place. Not like we hadn't

Explored all the options. We had been doing that for two years

And every possibility had evaporated. Like the house.

No lottery winnings to rely on. No support from the IRS.

No consulting gig plopping in my lap. Just nothing.

The money going, going, gone!

The house’s value dropped over $100,000 in six months.

Surely, I thought, it would recover. It didn't.

Instead homes in the neighborhood emptied, for sale.

Not just our neighborhood. Prized enclaves all over town

And nearby towns priced much higher than ours.

A collapse had happened. Then and now. It is still…

Heard the other day our housing complex had sold the last listing.

I doubt that’s true; others just waiting in the wings for a better time.

And now they think it is.

But it isn't. A quick drive through a tony town and in half a mile

I found maybe 15 homes for sale; a desired section of town.

With a big inventory of unsold homes.

The real estate depression in America still has life or what is opposite!

Homes are selling a little better; but not hugely.

Prices are not jumping; some continue to decline.

Upscale markets I’m told are hot. Wait until they have to sell

To take a transfer, or retire for health reasons, or…

Then what will pricing be? Not as good as they had hoped.

Still waiting for normal to return? Still hoping for recovery?

I doubt it is coming. Oh, a new normal will form.

But it is still being invented.

How do I know this? Because workers still look for jobs that don’t exist.

In fact, they look for jobs that are no longer needed.

New jobs titles are springing up. No takers are prepared for them.

New housing prices being worked out. New housing trends being adopted.

New Tiny Homes appearing on the trend scales. New downsizing targets adopted.

Selling the old place only adds to the woes.

But the jobs? The workers need to retool for the new jobs coming on the market.

These are data related. They are technology related.

They are opposite the obsolete now abandoned.

What is needed in business is now still available, just not valued.

Entrepreneur activity is needed. But dwindling.

Risk taking is a must, but not engaged.

If the government, any government – federal, state, county

Isn’t in the game to guarantee my risks, I won’t take it on!

This is not entrepreneurial thinking. This is blasphemy!

New job titles. New career preparations. New industries.

New ways of doing business. New customers and expectations.

Old companies in new apparel in disguise.

These companies must build relationships with customers.

They must not abandon that old reliable skill set.

If they do the new normal will be delayed.

I see mistakes. I see false hopes. I watch others dream.

But they do not invest in the dream. They have no skin in it.

A dream without substance is a wisp of nothing going nowhere.

Education is an investment. Invention is an investment. A dream

Is an investment of sorts. Making it come true takes discipline,

Hope, investment, and hard work. Commitment.

The new normal. It is trying to be born. We are not ready for it yet.

New industries. New services. New products. New ways of buying and selling.

New ways of working and earning a living.

When these are recognized and adopted a new normal will appear.

This will drive housing decisions and markets.

This will steer automobile decisions and markets.

Finally the interest rate markets will respond.

Finally the investment markets will grow.

Finally the normal will take shape.

Housing does not make an economy. It can destroy it.

Financing housing does not make an economy. It can destroy it.

Greed does not make an economy. It can destroy it.

What makes an economy is simple:

Hope, curiosity, education, value of life;

And investment, commitment and hard work.

These all come from individuals and families.

These do not come from government of any kind.

It is helped by institutions of education and caring.

But government does have a role. Just not one of control.

Politics is not an ingredient of hope but of greed and power.

Nope. The role belongs to the people, one by one.

This is our life.

This is our economy.

Let it become what it ought.

Then do your part. Diligently.

August 20, 2014

Kinder, Gentler Nation

I was talking with some young people the other day, late teens and up to mid twenties. They are aware of current events and issues but only because they flash by them on their hand held electronic devices. They have a lot of info and data screaming past them all day long. What they lack is the context of the happenings so they can understand the overall impact of them. That comes with time and experience and curiosity.

Someday they too will be as upset and anxious as I am with today’s America.

On the internet I found this ‘quote’. I suspect it was from another blogger who was trying to put into words what a lot of young people are wondering about today. Here it is:

“I am just learning and getting involved in politics. Do I have this correct? Republicans are against: children eating, healthcare for all, marrying who you love, education, science, global warming, a woman’s right to choose, veteran’s care, equal pay for women, Headstart, GMO free food, voter’s rights, the separation of church and state, and teaching evolution in schools? And people still vote for them?” ~Author Unknown

Yes, whoever you are! I think you summed it up pretty well. And the young folk I was speaking with the other day pretty much mirrored your statement.

The republicans have a problem with many voter blocs: women, youth, Hispanics, African Americans, gay/lesbian/bi-sexual/transgender Americans, the poor, the elderly and the elder poor. That just about covers 65% of the population. And they think they can win elections with such demeaning strategies.

The painful fact is they do win elections. Not just in special districts of like-minded people, but with people who just don’t get it and don’t pay attention. They like the republican label of 40 years ago and stick with the ‘brand’.

If the beleaguered among us forget to vote or simply aren't interested in voting, they toss the elections to the republicans. That’s the reality of a democracy. Not all people care enough to vote.

Meanwhile I imagine a world that cares about all of its people – the young poor kids who deserve a hand up with Headstart programs at local schools, the teens who need community experiences which lead to self discovery and career interests – and preparations for those careers – and a world where we care enough to feed hungry kids because they were born, and try to keep unwanted births to a manageable level. Pro-life activists need to feed the kids that were unplanned and unwanted. They need to figure out how to educate those same kids so they grow up in a world that wants them and values them.

As Eleanor Roosevelt said a long time ago:

“When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?”

I think the ‘when’ will come when average Americans vote their consciences and realize that dreaming together of better days leads to programs that work well. But first we have to dream.

Envision!

August 19, 2014

                                   

Business Development: Who’s Job?

I shared the following ideas with one chief city administrator. I even prepared an email to go to three neighboring towns and their mayors and managers. I’ll let you read through my proposal and discuss the results with you afterward ~~

Business Development Ideas

(Some thoughts and possibilities)

Current Practices:

1. Hospitality Committee: Warrenville: Hotels and Restaurants; working together to build business volumes
2. Warrenville Tourism and Arts Commission: city funding grants to organizations that program events that will attract tourism to town; also development of artistic outlets among town residents
3. DuPage Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Membership; Warrenville pays annual dues of approximately $40,000 to pool city events, features and hospitality resources so DCVB can attract regional and out of state attendees to the community
4. Choose DuPage program from County; Warrenville works to woo new businesses to locate both to the county and Warrenville from other regions
5. Brilliance in Business Awards: West Chicago working with Chamber of Commerce to recognize successful businesses, unique ideas in business, excellence, etc.
6. SCORE business development seminars and workshops sponsored through collaboration with West Chicago Library
7. Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce: Warrenville, West Chicago, and Winfield: business promotion, marketing assistance and training seminars for member organizations; business exhibits and conferences sponsored
8. Other?

Potential Programs:

1. Each of the three communities cooperate as one entity to help develop businesses in the 3-town region
2. Duplicate all of the programs to each of the 3 communities
3. Develop tri-town Job Fair:
1. Help employers find good job candidates
2. Help job seekers connect with employers
3. Develop career counseling and development program for people needing to transition to a new career from one which has become obsolete
4. Develop local transportation system for local 3-town commuters
4. Boost town center success
1. West Chicago downtown exists; improve image, business diversity and sales in existing area; attract new construction and rehabilitation of existing structures
2. Winfield village center development; relocate Village Hall and Fire Station to add commercial space to area; expand shopping district to vacant lumber yard and adjacent land surrounding commuter station; develop other economic zones to diversify local economy
3. Construct and develop dynamic town center for Warrenville in TIF 3 area; consolidate some businesses to new town center; redistribute commercial enterprises to other areas of community and build their identities  accordingly (Old Town area, auto repair zone, etc.); diversify housing opportunities for diverse family units including elders; locate in walking distance to new town center.
4. Other?
5. Develop successful sub area planning zones:
1. Warrenville: Route 59 corridor
2. Warrenville: Route 56 sites
3. Winfield: Roosevelt Road sites
4. Winfield: High Lake Road sites
5. Winfield: Geneva/Winfield Roads area
6. West Chicago: North Avenue sites
7. West Chicago: Route 59 corridor
8. West Chicago: western industrial zone
9. West Chicago: Roosevelt Road sites
10. Other?
6. Attract Specific industries to the three communities:
1. Auto sales, dealers: new and used
2. Art gallery, education, and supplies
3. Art performance venues: musical concerts, dance, theater, etc.
4. Home Improvement themed commercial space: remodeling, refurbishing, maintenance centers: services, goods, design, etc. Include décor and equipment/appliance sales
5. Other?

Note: Rather than competing with each other the three communities should seek ways to collaborate and bring unique opportunities to each town. Land mass availability varies for each town making some developments inappropriate for one town but more suitable for another. Character of communities will also encourage or limit some forms of development. Traffic accessibility is another concern. Projects developed together should share revenue streams in appropriate ways (common investment develops common forms of return on investment).

Suggested Methodologies:

1. Tri-lateral Commission (all three communities)
2. Electronic media corralled for maximum effect (websites, Facebook, Constant Contact, Twitter, etc.)
3. Coordinate with existing programs in county, state and federal agencies
4. Research and development partnered with regional universities (UIC, DePaul, ITT, NIU, etc.)
5. Celebrate diverse cultures in the communities
6. Think big, outside the box
7. Invent, adapt and emerge new models to build our uniqueness

George Safford, Managing Editor

Village Chronicles

July 4, 2014

The results were disappointing. I received a thank you for my thoughtfulness and thinking outside the box and for long term benefits for all three communities. That having been said, however, I was disabused of my notions of potential success. I was told this would not work because the three communities would not share their strengths with others as that would weaken the strong.

Now do you see why the Middle East and relations between Russia and America are so difficult to manage? Even small towns and villages living side by side have doubts about the advantages of working together.

This is not about a polite meet and greet. It is about building a strong future…together.  Why must that be so difficult?

August 18, 2014

Thought for the Day

Living a life of purpose and usefulness to others is a grand idea. Today I share this idea found on the internet the other day. I hope you think upon it and connect the dots back to living a life of purpose.

“I may not be the most important person in your life…I just hope that when you hear my name…you smile and say That’s my Friend!”  ~Unknown Author

This is not about me. Or even you. It is about the ‘we’ in our lives. Think about that this weekend. And thank you!

August 16, 2014

News Not Celebrities!

I will make this complaint public once again: news channels – electronic, print and social media – should be used to spread facts that build understanding and a shared history of mankind’s efforts on this planet. It should not be wasted on factoids about celebrities. That is pure entertainment. It may be of interest, but it is not news.  Pretty simple, isn't it?

But no, it is not. Why? Because the lowest common denominators among us demand this trivia. As long as they do serious news is shoved aside for ratings and ad power. Money and greed take it from there.

I believe in the common good. That is not socialism. It is not communism. It is social good of all of us. Together the human community can move mountains and create good things. But first we must not be distracted by the fluff of life that is paraded before our noses daily.

I do not wish to read one more article on the Kardsahians or Jenners. I do enjoy stories about athletes who have conquered outrageous odds to win a special day for themselves and their fans. But not sports for sports' sake. Please!

Art is an expression of the soul and needs to be shared with all. After all, we live with art in every facet of our lives. We just don’t recognize it. That’s because we are being distracted by worthless factoids of drivel!

The powers of Mother Nature have built a wonderful Earth in which to rejoice. But she also wreaks havoc on the lives of inhabitants from storms of fury, fires of might, and floods of awesome power. We need to read about these things. These are news of the natural world. Like science and history, and other building blocks of human understanding.

News of entertainment and celebrities are unimportant. Politicians especially are celebrities of another sort. I have my favorites; you do too. Fine and dandy. But let’s look upon what these folk accomplish, not what personalities make them comely.

I firmly believe that we would all get along much better if we would attend to these basic rules of media. Why can’t corporations and advertisers in general do good deeds by sharing good words and supporting news media more appropriately?

Theirs is the power that makes the difference. The media channels would listen and act accordingly.

Let’s give this a try!

August 15, 2014

Robin Williams

Where does one start with thinking about, wondering or loving Robin Williams and the stark fact that he is gone from our planet? In our town it rained the day his death was announced. Tears of sorrow from heaven? Tears to match our own? Religious or atheist, Robin Williams was a man that made awe real in my life.

The genius of him struck me first. He opened his mouth and his mind flew out. Rapidly. Odd phrases at first which then formed solid thoughts. Stream of consciousness is like that; it has reality stamped all over it.

Turned just the right way it is funny. You don’t even have to be drinking a cocktail to find humor in his commentary. It was funny because it was a real reflection on life. Those observations make the hard parts of life tolerable for us.

But each of us has differing points of tolerance of personal pain.

Depression is like that. It hurts. It is at times nonsensical, difficult to explain, seemingly illogical. But it is real just the same.

Robin knew depression. He suffered it his entire life. His early school chums talk now of his shyness. Even current friends tell stories of his shyness. It is a special form of humility. And that lets life in.

Depression is like that, too. It is a special personal vulnerability. At those moments our defenses are thin or nonexistent. That is when life enters inward from outside. And we can commune with it, wonder about it, feel its sharp edges and round nodes.

Painful, of course. Valuable, very much so. Depression is a natural part of life for most of us. Managed well it is an asset that feeds deep thinking and understanding. With the edges sanded down we can see the pain of others and reach out to them to comfort and tweedled back to health.

The gift of Robin Williams is also the gift of knowing something more about depression. It was most likely a deep well of creativity for him. It can be the same for all who suffer depression.

Latest estimates place depression as an active experience for fully one-third of Americans. Is this only in the USA or is it worldwide regardless of geography or culture? I’m sure someone somewhere has studied that question. What are the results?

So depression is natural, at least to some extent. How broad the range of affliction on a personal basis tells the story of boundaries with mental illness. And that raises the specter of  treatment, chemical balances in the body, and a whole raft of other issues to be managed.

It is time that we people accept depression as a reality. It is one of the things that makes us human beings. But depression can run out of control and we must accept the fact as normal that help is needed and should be provided without stigma.

All illness is in some form a gift to the sufferer. It gives insights to life and enriches our experiences. We ought not shun illness, but manage it.

I have a friend who has AIDS. At first it was a horror and scourge in his life. Later he accepted it as a gift because it gave him an enriched life of insight and understanding. Indeed, it proves to be a deep well of inspiration for him.

Controlled or not, any illness including depression, can rob us of the person we need to know.

I weep for Robin Williams, the loss of his presence. But also for his humor. He still brings me uproarious laughter. And that brings tears, too.

August 14, 2014

Middle East vs Religious Wars

I am very uncomfortable with what is going on in the Middle East these days.  The choices on what to do, what public policies to support and who’s political thinking to support, is enormously complex.  Let me spell it out for myself. Perhaps this will help you, too?

1. Gaza and Israel: I've written about this recently and frequently. I do not like these two powers fighting each other. The balance of power is not; Israel has the power to carry out its intents. Gaza does not. Gaza is in awful condition because its people gave up on the PLO and gave ‘power’ to Hamas. Hamas is clearly a terrorist organization that attempts to govern but cannot bring itself to make the compromises necessary to govern. So it fails. It does what it knows best to do – do violence to make a political statement.

The problem is their statement kills their own people. Inevitable but true. Meanwhile that same population lives in absolute misery. The only way out if for Israel and Gaza to agree to be peaceful and collaborative on common goals: trade, peace, medicine, health care support, education, and more education. Build a future together in the region. Let peace happen.

2. Egypt and the Rest of the Muslim World: Egypt does not have a recent history of good government. Ask its own people why. They will tell you. Yes, Egypt and the USA have been good partners, but that’s because America has the money and military materiel to help Egypt. At the core, however, are huge in-country problems that need to be fixed. Not mended or dabbled with; fixed. Then we in the rest of the world will believe that Egypt will be a reliable partner with global powers to help make and keep peace in the Middle East.

3. Saudi Arabia: has the wealth, oil resources and education to be a leader. But doesn't lead. It follows silently and lets other nations take the brunt of the upsets so it can calmly enter the discussions and press for peace.

Peace in the Middle East is good for the entire globe.  All of us. That’s the basic fact. All of the peoples of the region deserve peace. But to earn it they must compromise, cooperate and collaborate on making life better for all of their citizens. Pretty simple, really. When there is peace everyone can live their own lives of purpose, of religious study and expression, of education and career. These are the basic goals that should form the vision of peace for the region. With it much is possible. Without it only death results.

4. Religious Wars: these are pure bosh! The God of Abraham is the same God of Islam, Judaism and Christianity. Their prophets are prophets for all three religions whether holy or wise men only. Holiness is the proper concern of each religion, but not for the others to be concerned about. Live your own believes. And understand once and for all that the God of Abraham was not a God of violence and revenge. He was and is a God of love and peace. Why then the wars? Because we are all men and women who are easily misled. Politicians and terrorists are not wise men; they are men of power and greed. And thus wars. There is no need for religious wars. No new Crusades, please. They were wrong back then and they are wrong today.

5. Iraq/ISIS/America: I pray that America is not back in Iraq as a power nation. Broker, yes. I sincerely hope that military intervention at this point is a balancing tool to save lives of minorities and innocents. ISIS is terrorist, not religious. It claims the latter but, remember the God of Abraham! These wars of religion must stop. They will with education and common seekers of peace. That is the turn of events that must be made. Is and can America help make that happen?  We can hope. But first we must be certain that political leaders in America do not misuse this opportunity to wage war as Bush/Cheney did in the past. That was a colossal error; hopefully we have learned our lesson.

Now do you understand my discomfort? So much good is on the cusp. So much bad is currently at work. Can we make it work? Will we?

August 13, 2014

Who Are You?

Asked some teens what three words best described them. These are kids who are struggling with underage alcohol and drug abuse. “friendly, understanding, caring, intelligent” were some of the words used. Not one used loving.

Many hours later, in the wee hours of the morning, I realized that. Loving was a word not used to describe themselves. This got me thinking about being loved. Do they love; are they loved? One is giving outward, the other is letting someone inward to your life. Might this be significant?

Not sure. I recall times when I certainly didn't feel loved. I also felt uncomfortable saying I was loving. I wonder if this is a rite of passage. Are these stages of personal development universal to maturing?

At last night’s session I was once again seeking a common link to self destructive behaviors. Not all in the group identify their behavior as self destructive. They are there because parents or a judge told them so. They have received the message that something is wrong and it is with them. So some of them are following a path back to acceptance. That is not the same thing as accepting one’s own self as being in trouble, in the wrong, or even accepting the label as being unacceptable.

Maturing is, after all, a life long process. It begins at birth and ends with death. The in-between is life and how we deal with it. A lot of experimentation goes on. We learn by doing. Even loving and being loved. And yes, even sex. How does one ‘do it’, and was that the right way, under what circumstances? Was it good for you; hell, was it good for me? What is the transaction we just did? Was it appropriate, normal, good, nasty, whatever?

Pretty basic questions. Feelings, too! How do we ever know what is right at any given moment?

Dealing with that ambiguity is a large part of life’s experience. Allowing myself to observe myself knowingly and making sense of it, is part of life’s experience. It is not easy. Not meant to be easy. It is the struggle that defines the journey of self discovery.

No wonder so many youth don’t get it. We didn't get it at their ages either! A simple truth!

We see the swagger, the puffed up chest, the knowing look. These are all clues that all is cool. But it mostly isn't. In time it is clearer but it takes time, and letting the observations happen, and the learning.

No, these kids are all very smart. All like-able. All with their whole lives before them. some missteps now, and again to be sure, but eventually they will find their way.

I asked them if they felt they were listened to. Two said yes; one did not. But he was afraid to be known on the insides. Still is. So he is avoiding listening and being listened to. That is his dance step in the journey at this moment. Hopefully he will learn to share – outwardly and inwardly. Build relationships with others not based on carnal need or security. But on feeling, intellect and emotion. These are the long lasting vertebrae of our core.

I wonder each week if we are asking the right questions and giving them time to think of the right answers. And then, do we actually listen to their answers? Are we rushing the process because we need to know, or are we helping them feel their way out of a tight spot? Are we easing, placating, and helping them cover up the important stuff of life?

So many questions. So few answers. Is that them or us?

Take a breath and try to understand. Then plant more seeds.

August 12, 2014

Contemplating Homecoming

This October will mark my 49^th anniversary of graduating college. Knox College (Galesburg, Ill.) Class of 1965. Doesn't seem possible. It’s not the 50^th yet, but pretty near. Do I attend or not?

That is the question. And the answer is probably not. For two reasons:

-Cannot possibly afford to go; the meals are $25 to $50 each, hotels will be $75 to $125 per night, gasoline will run at least a full tank at $70, and there are three nights of lodging involved.

-I wonder what attending as a gay couple would be either unique or welcomed? I really don’t worry too much about that, it is a reality of our times, and about time!

The expense part is more real than theoretical. Retired and living on social security does not allow the luxury of even this modest travel expense. And that after a lifetime of good and productive work in meaningful careers in non-profit organizations. I do not bemoan any of that work experience. It was all good and very rewarding. Even highly profitable some years, and good to pay for college of both kids.

My retirement situation was marred by divorce, then self employment (although successful) health matters torpedoed that business and forced me into retirement and living off of investments for a while until social security and Medicare kicked in.

We still live comfortably, but without the extras of travel.  We miss that. New Mexico and Arizona beckon. Montana and Wyoming as well. Then there is a tour of New England we’d like to do sometime. All three of these trip ideas are on our to-do list. Not likely to become reality but it is fun dreaming!

Getting back to college homecoming – it is a time to remember and re-meet classmates from nearly five decades past. That alone would be fun. And sobering.

I don’t recall ever having attended a homecoming in the past. So I am unable to know what it must be like. Even so it is 49 years later. So many of our classmates are deceased. Many more are too ill to attend. Still others of us are in a pinch of history that makes affordability an issue. The middle class has shrunk. Although our classmates had big dreams of high paying jobs in industry, many of us went on with education and dreams of improving the nation and global community. And we did do that. At least we did our part. Peace Corps, international relations, church careers, social work, and non-profit organizations large and small. Teaching, too, so many teachers and researchers.

Thinking back to the early 1960’s I remember discussing with other Knoxites how we should and could make the world a better place. So many of us did just that. At least we worked at it consciously.

Alas the efforts did not pay off as we expected. We lived full, rich lives no doubt. But the world is now in a large pickle. Wars abound. Criminality among third world nations are full-time careers. Human trafficking, rampant disease, poor drinking water, poverty beyond comprehension, and human suffering in every corner of the globe including the USA. We’d like to deny the latter, but it is here. It is among us in this the richest nation on earth. A stunning reality.

I sense the frustration of current generations, the youth that were are kids, and the youth that are now in college and entering the workforce with new degrees and commitment to begin their lives as adults. The challenges today are as ever daunting as they were for us nearly 50 years ago.

Will this always be thus? Should it be? I suppose each generation needs to earn its own merit by struggling with the imponderables, but it would be nice to know that the world actually is getting better year after year.

The reality tells us otherwise. Why is that?

Why?

August 11, 2014