Miscellany

Senior Care:

Over the past few years I am increasingly aware of the need for senior care. Not for myself although a person my age ought to have plans for this if at all possible! No, it is for friends or acquaintances of mine that need the help. Most of them have crimped financial ability to pay for senior care, so hodge podge arrangements are made that work. In time social welfare programs do take over near end times, but what to do in the meanwhile? Especially for quality of life?

I’m working on a case right now where friends are attempting to pull together a care program for a couple who wish to remain in their own home. They have the money to make this happen; that’s not a problem for them. No, the problem is their unwillingness to make decisions. Some steps they are willing to take; just not a lot of them. Piecemeal solutions rarely work well, and certainly are not very efficient of resources. Furthermore, truly professional services are available and ought to be secured for the couple. Getting them to make the necessary decisions in the proper order and on a timely basis, however, is the critical issue.

I think senior care is very much an issue for our society to grapple with sooner rather than later. We all need this support. All of us. Wouldn’t it make sense to make some meaningful progress on this topic soon? Especially given the fact that we have an army of Boomers marching steadily toward retirement and senior care needs?

Nuke Agreement with Iran:

Like many in the world, I’m not convinced the agreement is a good deal for global peace. Too many last minute ‘issues’ were raised to be included in the deal. And those issues were raised mostly by Iran.

Iran has been a ‘bad boy’ in the global community for several decades now. They earned global sanctions for goading peace lovers over and over again. They called it national pride, and even gave the religion angle a try as well. But not! It didn’t work and thus a nation endowed with a grand culture, good people, and intelligent abilities, was held down by economic sanctions that crippled Iran.

Meanwhile, they helped equip other bad boy nations in the Middle East with weapons. They fanned the flames of discord in several nations. And they allowed their religion to be misused to further international adventurism by Russia and others. Their brand of bad boy expanded for more than 20 years.

It is hard to believe that once there was a solid bond between Iran and the US. We shared their younger generation here in their pursuit of higher education and acquisition of business know-how. We came to understand their culture and they ours. Back in the 1950’s and 1960’s, Iran and America were a golden couple. But now? Is there really a chance to return to those good old days?

I think not. Too much bad blood and skullduggery has occurred. That is a major roadblock to rebuilding trust. No, another kind of relationship will need to be built. What exactly that will look like is anyone’s guess. For now, we will need to monitor the relationship closely and determine when, if ever, Iran will be trustworthy in the grand project of global peace. For now, the new agreement with Iran is all we have to work with. Let's see if it works to fill the promise!

Greece and the Eurozone:

Well finally another agreement is in place. Greece’s deal with the Eurozone will hopefully allow enough time for both European leaders and Greece to build a workable relationship that will strengthen Greece’s ability to manage its own financial affairs without sinking the banking system of Europe. Greece has not been a willing or easy partner in this business. They have lacked the resolve and discipline to do the right things at the right times. For a nation that for thousands of years provided the basis of logic, education and ethos, Greece has become a major disappointment. Perhaps now they will repair their reputation?

One can only hope so. Perhaps they might be interested in a partnership with Disney? I’d give it a try if I were in their shoes.

July 16, 2015