Commentary

My readers know that I avoid canned news programs on TV – both network and cable news channels – in favor of reading source material and internet stories found in out of the way places. I prefer to do my own thinking. Yes, I do use websites like MSN, but lately some of them disappoint.

They are now displaying ‘sponsored’ articles. Clicking on them you get an initial report that is intriguing, but soon learn that this all leads to a sales pitch to buy some product you simply cannot find elsewhere. Phooey! This is more made up news to line someone’s pocket. It is advertising and hucksterism raised to a fine point. Still, it is rot and bosh.

Shame on MSN and any other major website for doing this sort of thing.

With his storied billions, Trump even has paid for sponsored ‘news’ stories that pull you into a poll on his popularity. The term ‘trumped up’ has acquired new meaning! He is not a serious person let alone a serious candidate for the White House. If I’m proved wrong on this point, woe to the nation should he become President. That’s is more than a nutty proposal; it is a tragic drama with horrors too many to contemplate.

Power saving stories, energy boosting tips to save on gas, electricity and more, also pave this road of nonsense on the internet. If these stories were true then commercial success would be banging down doors. We would already be in the new age of consumer power generation, the fading away of the gas pumps and the skyrocketing electric bills. Yes, we would be in a new age of technology and manufacturing in which homes would be powered by physics not fossil fuels. And cars would be powered by similar power plants based on new, portable physics concepts. Imagine a car that travels hundreds of miles without costly or time consuming refueling. And the companion benefit of no pollution!

Those days are not with us yet because too many special interests are fighting the advancements. Think the energy companies who don’t want to lose the value of their oil deposits already found, and their refinery plants already invested in, and the auto manufacturers already committed now for 100 years to the infernal combustion engine. Yes, special interests rule congress, manufacturing and the military/industrial complex. No wonder so little progress emerges from their hallowed halls.

It’s a wonder we got the transistor. Or rocket ships to the moon. Or the microwave oven. Or GPS  or any of a hundred thousand ‘inventions’ emanating from the space program.

Perhaps we need another space program or serious military threat to get us off the dime of discovering what our next new thing should be? The revolutionary life is the one we invent ourselves to meet the needs that demand attentions. And we need not resort to trumped up wars to make any of this happen.

Cheap energy is one. Accessible drug development for the pharmaceutical industry is another. Flexible and less costly housing would be a good goal to focus on. Excellence in education, as well as accessible education to meet the needs of each person while at the same time serving the needs of society fully is another goal worthy of our inventive minds.

Non pollution should be high on our list of accomplishments as well. After all if we poison our home planet where will be live? What is quality of life all about. More consumerism, or appreciation of what life truly is?

Appreciating life is not all about drugs, sex or luxuries. It is rather much more simple. Knowing and feeling time, air, relationships, mind and intellect; those are the simple things that matter. And what we do with them.

What we do with them. It is not about screeching tires on pavements on the way to a drug/dance or booze fest. It is what we do with our good gifts to make life pleasant and interesting to others and self.

Maybe we should start even more simple. Like being of use. To the world. To the family. To others.

To be of use. Now there’s something we can embrace!

August 20, 2015