Up and Down Spring

I know it is coming. Spring is just around the corner. One day it is warm and the next cool. Rain one morning, thunderstorms late in the day and snow the next dawn as we awake. By evening the snow is gone and early spring flowers are pushing up through the soil barely. But they are there and daring to peek out at the hoped for warmth of spring.

So do we all.

This morning, Sunday, it is 40 degrees as we set off for church at 7:30; after church driving home it was 57 degrees. The high is forecast for 62 or higher. We will change clothes, have a great breakfast, and if we do not succumb to a late morning nap (!) we will take a ride into the country, something we haven’t done for many, many months.

I like to view the vistas of fertile but hibernating farm fields. In a few short weeks planting will be underway, and shortly thereafter small green shoots will break forth turning the brown earth softly toward a green tint. Spring will then be official and the great fertility of Illinois farm soils will begin the great crop life of corn, soybean and other crops needed to feed herds of hogs, cattle and dairy cows.

In summer we will experience the bounty somewhat but mainly in fall the harvest will be great. So a ride today at the end of February is to see the hazy blue skies hovering over the sleeping giant of awakening earth. It is something to behold. Many do not understand my excitement on days such as these.

Like spring our nation is stirring as well. We are discussing our future and what it should be like and how to gain access to it. We know we have the talents and skills to make good things happen but we also are aware that burdens lie in obstruction to realizing the gains so many need and deserve.

The argument most commonly heard is – “Get government and its regulations out of the way and progress will be evident!”

I don’t hold with that point of view. I think regulations have a role to play in our complicated society. Greed and manipulation by the power hungry among us need regulations to stem their natural instincts to take advantage of others. Left unchecked their greed will pummel the rest of us.

Food and drug regulations protect the purity and healthiness of our food supply and medicines. Snake oil salesmen may still exist but their job is much more difficult in this day and age to sell junk medicine to the public and take advantage of them. Although there are failures in this area, just imagine how many more failures there would be if no regulations existed to protect us?

Same with food purity, meat inspections and grading of crop quality. People would find ways to cheat others. It is the way of the world here at home and abroad. We may hope for goodness from each person but we know that without regulation, inspection and enforcement people disappoint us with their faulty take on ethics and honesty. It is what it is and thank God we have rules and regulations to protect us.

Need we even go into details about the financial system meltdown and mortgage debacle helped along by relaxation of banking regulations and investment industry safeguards? I think not; the memories from 2007 to today are so much with us!

And with education. What would it be like if only private institutions educated our kids? Do you honestly think everyone would be treated equally and gain access to the highest level of education to match their abilities?  I sincerely doubt that. Look at all the proprietary schools – colleges – and even universities that are private and selling degrees for all kinds of short term technical jobs. Do these students really gain a career from such schools? Do they learn how to learn so they can adapt to a changing career, changing technology and much broader concerns? Is all education vocational?

I think it isn’t nor should it be. Yes we need skills and talents taught to develop trades and abilities that are marketable within our employment circles. But we also need people educated to what is likely to develop over time that will challenge us to adapt much more fully to an unfolding world of experience and career. Learning how to learn is the real objective of education but too many institutions fail to do so. This leaves students stranded over time in useless, out of sync jobs.

Government can, does and should address this issue. Our state universities are tasked with this role. Many people do not understand the role but they benefit from it nonetheless as time marches on. Regulation, management, standard setting – these are the tasks that are thankless but necessary. Cutting budgets for such programs only hinders the effectiveness of government, and opens us all to disasters.

Political campaigns make life too simple. It isn’t. That’s why there are so many layers of issues, problems and solutions in need of public attention. Candidates for public office that don’t address this complexity do dishonor to the electoral process.

It wouldn’t hurt to add a huge dose of civility to this process as well! Oh, when will the November elections get here? Oh right; we are just transitioning from winter to the hoped for spring. November is fall and Thanksgiving time. Maybe that’s why Thanksgiving comes when it does? Whatever. I’ll be thankful for the campaigns being silenced by then!

February 29, 2016

Living With Cable?

We are in the throes of cutting down our cable TV bill and prepared to eliminate it entirely. Seven months ago we called AT&T and told them the cost was too high and we were on a fixed income with rising medical costs and premiums. Thus we knew we had to eliminate at least $50 from our monthly living costs, or better yet, eliminate $100 so we had some wiggle room for the coming 12 months.

They claim they understood. Their bill had been $106/mo but it had shot up unexpectedly to $126/mo. We told them $100/mo including internet hi-speed and some TV cables would work for us, but we preferred if the entire bill could be well under $65/mo. We offered to take a basic cable plan that provided local TV stations and maybe some HD signals. We’d stream over ROKU the programs we wanted to see, even if they were reruns.

The customer service person couldn’t come close to fulfilling our request so we asked that she eliminate the cable service entirely and just maintain our internet service. She transferred us to a special customer service representative whose job it is to retain customers. And he did. We got more service, better service, a land line phone for free, and the bill was guaranteed to remain under $130/mo. You did notice that our objective was ignored and we essentially retained the relationship at a slightly higher cost but guaranteed not to rise for a year.

So we crashed and burned. But wait! It gets worse because our bill has risen to $130.41 for two months in a row and now is coming in at $134.61. So, as I write this Rocky is on the phone with AT&T attempting to reduce the bill or eliminate it entirely. I will keep you posted as the transaction unfolds.

1. She is having difficulty understanding what we want! Pretty clear really; the bill went up when it wasn’t supposed to. Why?  Answer: They agreed! They think we were not informed fully of their increase so they are crediting the account back to the old rate, but that will only be for a month when the new rate takes effect.
2. We asked that we be given a package we can afford. Answer: She didn't have the authority to do that for us. She were transferred us to the Loyalty Department to see what they could do. This is exactly what happened seven months ago; but we will try them again. We are on hold.
3. We have explained that we are on Social Security and cannot afford food, meds and their cable bill. Can they reduce the bill to basic, keep the internet plan, and reduce the cost to $50 or 60 dollars per month? Answer: They couldn’t do that without interrupting our service hugely. They countered with: Remove the land line phone we don’t use, remove a cable maintenance agreement we didn’t know we had, and that would reduce our bill to $85 per month plus taxes. The TV features remain the same. We need to call them just before our contract period ends to work out a new deal price which would include reduction of channels provided. We noted this on our calendar for July 16, 2016.
4. We didn’t need to ask about quitting the service entirely for TV but retain the internet connection. I guess we will cross that bridge when we get to it in July.

We watch TV a lot so we can sleep during nap time. We also use cable to gain HD signal and access to only a few channels, HGTV being the most important one. I know we could eliminate nearly everything and go on a computer access system plus a few local electronic antennas plugged into the TV. With ROKU and those features, I feel fairly certain we can work around cable entirely. The secret is to maintain the computer connection at high speed and fiber optic.

I’ll let you know what happens in July. At some point the cable TV providers have to realize that their services are way too costly and not very much needed. Thinking about it reduces the cost. Really thinking about it eliminates the cost entirely. Kind of a simple decision, don’t you think?

If more of us made this decision, I think the providers would redesign their services and billing plans.  That is way overdue but they are slow to adapt I guess! Or not! They seem to have a good thing going for their bottom line; at least for the time being.

February 26, 2016

Marching Forward

Marching suggests an energetic stepping forward in rhythm to music, shouts or other encouragement. We thrust our bodies forward in a march. It is determined and forceful. Does that describe our activity today?  I think not.

Forward is a direction. If we think we are moving forward I bet we feel we are moving toward an objective, a known goal. Are we doing that today? Again, I think not.

Time is marching forward; at least it is moving. Whether forward, upward, downward or somewhere else is open to debate. Time elapses. It runs out moment by moment. It is real this second and gone the next. Fleeting. Very fleeting. Even with decades of time behind us we realize soon enough that time quickly is spent. Labeling such movement a march doesn’t seem accurate.

What we do with time – or more accurately in time – is more the point. Are we consciously doing something with our time? What are we trying to build or accomplish? Seems to me we are at a crossroads each day we rise from our beds. What are we to do with this day? Do we have a set agenda we are working on and have tasks yet to do? Probably. Still, we need to ask if that agenda and list of tasks is really what we need to be doing or what we truly ought to be about.

I think the year 2016 is a time in which much will be set in motion. We have awareness of global warming and the consequences of that phenomenon if we do nothing about it. At least prepare for rising tides and swamping of coastal properties. Or we can also attempt to lessen how warming is caused and perhaps lessen the extreme of global warming on our lives.

2016 is also a period of time in which we continue to examine who we are as a person and as a people. What is it I wish to hitch my ‘star’ of life? What do I want my life to mean by the time I take my last breath? And what star-like movements or meanings are readily available for me to consider hitching to?

We can consider that from the positive base, or the negative one. The latter is plentiful with examples. Gun proliferation in American society. Dislike and distrust of authority. Hmm, is this connected with the gun issue? We don’t trust government means we have a lot of distrust for other people in general. Perhaps owning a gun and arming my household is the best I can do? Is that the motive behind gun ownership? Maybe. If it is, fear is the driving factor, not a positive emotion leading me somewhere.

Employment opportunities seem limited. Is that caused by massive numbers of immigrants converging on our shores and taking jobs from Americans already here? Or are employers and investors creating jobs or moving them from America to Asia and European cities? Or South America, Africa and Australia? Is that what is happening? Employment is elsewhere or snapped up by others not yet legal citizens here at home? I doubt that, too.

What is the economy doing? Growing? Shrinking? Re-inventing itself with new technology, products and services? What’s going on in the housing markets? Are people really changing how they are living and moving into smaller homes, more natural homes with non-polluting finishes and furnishings? What are the changes amounting to? And is this yet a march to a new tune that will revolutionize housing products and markets? Probably too early for us to know, but something is happening. How clear is our understanding of those changes?

Change. It is all around us. Of course, it always has been. In the past we could predict change and maybe even the rate of change. We had ample opportunity to be wrong about those predictions, but today seems different; change direction and pace are both more complex and unpredictable. It makes us nervous. Perhaps we are growing more worried?

So, going forward into the future is less knowable these days. It is unsettling. And Ted Cruz says we are doing things wrong, forsaking our religious principles and forgetting what America is all about. Marco Rubio speaks a similar patter and wistfully points to going back to old ways. And Trump? He just says everything is mucked up and the cause is with the Democrats, government, liberals and anyone who doesn’t think and talk like him. Fear is on his lips. So too are fear on the lips of Rubio and Cruz.

Bernie Sanders talks of a revolution and the need for it to happen. You know, revolt and bring rapid change and new policies forward to fix problems. Hillary agrees that much needs attention but she, perhaps alone (?), is willing to maintain government processes, policies and mechanisms in order to determine what needs fixing and when, in what order, and why.

Hillary does not speak fear. Bernie speaks in ‘ought tos’ while the Republican faithful fall back on fear if things continue on as they have been. Let’s not discuss how we got to this point in time and who really caused the break down. No, let’s just tell people it is Obama’s fault and concentrate on electing a white man with conservative clothing.

Marching forward. Only the Democrats appear to be speaking of possibilities and the absence of fear. Only they are talking about actually moving forward and building on solid ground.

The Republicans appear ready to toss out the baby with the bath water and move into the future with no vision or program. They have been thunderously mute on suggestions on how to fix things. The only thing they agree on is less government and lower taxes. Let’s not raise the fact that lower taxes killed the economy and government effectiveness. Under funding programs get us more problems, not solutions. Trickle down economics by lowering taxes did nothing but make wealthy people more wealthy, and poor people more poor.

Marching forward? With whose compass are we determining the forward part? I shudder if it is Trump. I suspect he will wet his finger and hold it up to the wind to see where the air currents are coming from. That is not a reliable finder of future directions. Never has been. Nor is it leadership.

And Rubio and Cruz have even less to say about the future or direction or objectives. Just ‘let us pray’ seems to be their mantra.

I’m solidly behind Democrats this season. In particular I think Bernie has interesting things to say but they are not very doable in a fractious political climate where congress is determined to stop all progress in any direction. No, Bernie is interesting but not the answer. Now Hillary has the experience and unselfish purpose to keep America moving forward toward known objectives.

It’s the march we need to practice. But first we have to get through all this noisy campaigning, do the actual voting, and get on with the nation’s business. Now that’s a march I can participate in.

Won’t you join me?

February 25, 2016

Today is Mom's Birthday

I know this may not seem important to you but for our family it is. Mom is 102 years old today.

That's quite a milestone in most people's book. It is for me. Let me be clear that I don't want to reach that milestone for myself. I'm much too tired already to think of holding out for another 30 years. I'll be happy making it past 82. Of course the closer I am to that date I may change my mind. We humans are prone to such behavior!

Anyway today's post is about Mom and milestones. Not me.

Born in southeastern Minnesota on a farm, mom joined her family of one half-brother and four siblings (a brother and three sisters). She remained on the farm until she ventured out to St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, where she suffered a terrible case of home sickness. She returned home, later enrolled in some classes at Mankato State for a short time, and eventually wound up in Minneapolis at a secretarial school.

She met my father while home in Freeborn. Dad was the minister's kid who went off to St. Paul and the University of Minnesota to study aeronautical engineering. Later their dates proved convincing and they married after Dad graduated with his degree. His first job was for Swift & Company in Chicago where they moved in 1936.

Chicago was home to a lot of our family – at least my father's side – and Mom adapted nicely to her large city community and the expanded family. My brother was born in 1938. Dad's career shifted to southern California in 1940-1941 where he switched employers finally settling on the US Navy as a civil engineer. He worked to perfect the torpedo weapons system.  The family lived in Altadena, California, a suburb abutting Pasadena to the north in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains.

My sister joined the family in 1942 and I arrived in 1943. Shortly thereafter we moved to the Naval Ordinance Test Station base on the Mojave Desert located near Inyokern. We remained for nearly 3 years and returned to our home in Altadena.

Mom was a stay at home mother for all this period in California. We built a new home in Glendora to the east of Altadena. However, we were there only six months when Dad got a job in Massachusetts. He reported there soon after while Mom remained behind with we three kids and sold the house. On my 11th birthday we moved to Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The moving van left the house with all of our worldly goods. The date was June 18, 1954 and the family began the long car journey across country. We traveled at night across the desert as we had no air conditioning then. We traveled the major western canyons – Zion, Grand, Bryce – and made it to the Chicago area to visit family and friends. We eventually meandered east across lush green landscapes (to us!). We arrived in Pittsfield in early July and soon after witnessed our first New England 4th of July. We lived temporarily in a large old home where engineers from General Electric billeted for months as a bachelor pad. Dad lived there awaiting sale of our California home and our move east. Mom cooked for us and all the resident engineers!  It was an interesting introduction to New England to say the least.

Dad had bought a house and the real estate closing was scheduled for July when we joined Dad in Massachusetts. The home was west of town on a hill top on Roslyn Drive. A cape cod large for its style, we lived there for six full years. Mom was active in church, various auxiliaries, and Goodwill Industries. She was interested in antiquing in the wonderland of New England. Small villages and old barns and mansions with frequent estate sales. It was a time Dad worried about what she would bring home with her from a day long outing in the country! But then she would dutifully refresh, rehab and alter her 'finds' and decorate the house accordingly. For her it was fun and profitable.

Later, she took up braiding rugs from new and then used woolen materials. At that time in history woolen mills still dotted the New England landscape although they were disappearing. At any rate, we explored countless communities with their woolen mills and brought home her treasures. Soon they were converted to beautiful, multi-colored woolen rugs. Art really to adorn the floor.  She made rugs for every room in the house and then for friends and family in need of such art. She began to sell some of her wares but that phase of life was interrupted with yet another move of the household.

In January, 1960 we moved to Syracuse, New York. It was a blizzardy day and the moving van was delayed by a mishap but no damage to our household goods. We were 'marooned' in a motel near our new home, however, awaiting arrival of the van two days later.

The week before moving in Syracuse had had a snow storm with 24 inches of snow, and on our move in weekend we had another 18 inches of snow. All I remember was shoveling the driveway so the van and crew could more easily empty the van and move us in. Our real estate agent met us at the house and bought us a snow shovel as a house warming gift! Talk about useful gifts!

At any rate Mom made the adjustment to yet another home in another state following Dad's career in the defense industry. During this phase of life Mom took a full time job as I was the last of the kids living at home and soon to begin college. We lived across a large field from the world headquarters of Carrier Air Conditioning. She found a job working there as secretary to the purchasing manager.

Five years later my folks relocated again to Gales Ferry, Connecticut near the New London submarine base. They remained there for 3 years and then returned to Syracuse for another stint before retiring in 1971. By then they had had enough snow and cold and built a house in Arizona near Phoenix.   There they remained until today. Dad died in 1991. Mom continues in good health but now living in a nearby assisted living center with friends and colleagues she has known for many years.

It is amazing to think back on all the homes and communities my mother has lived in. And the family and friends she has connected with over the decades. Think of it in terms of your own life of whatever length. Years and years go by and each with a different focus of interest and people and locale.

Mom has seen a lot. And she has endured even more. But at 102 what would we expect?

Happy Birthday, Mom!

February 24, 2016

Meeting Change Head On

Yesterday’s post marked a change in thinking for me. It might be a small change but all change comes from steps small and large. One doesn’t know which step will take him far or toward a dead end.

Dead ends are frequent. Rarely do we know they are dead end at the time so the path is taken and we wind up nowhere, really. That’s when we confront the dead end and try to make sense of it.

I recall many years ago receiving a phone call from a fundraiser for the Republican Party. After all I was an active member of the party and donated money, time and energy to it. But this time the woman’s voice simply stated that, “surely I want to support the conservative party of the United States.” I responded, “the Republican Party isn’t the Conservative Party.” And she countered with, “Oh, certainly it is.” I told her that was news to me and said I would withdraw from the party and hung up.

I thought about that phone call for years. When exactly had my party of Lincoln become the party of rabid conservatives? Conservatives were John Birch supporters, extremists, fear mongers and anti immigration, anti civil rights, anti Catholic, anti Jewish, and more, much more. They were not warm and fuzzy people who struggled to understand the real world and how to be relevant in it. The rest of us I thought were doing that. Evidently I was wrong about many of them.

Getting along with diverse peoples takes patience, love, intellectual curiosity, exposure to vulnerability and other risks. It is hard work. It requires reading and research. After those efforts it needs long hours of discussion with friends and trusted allies. Those discussions are part of the search for meaning and truth. History is a story of people engaging the present with the tools of the past in order to build the future. It is an unfolding.

The unfolding uncovers new information. It uncovers new meanings. It is a process of growth. Each of us must be open to that growth if we are to be people of the present and future. We are in the process and part of the process. To be there requires us to be flexible and open to fresh understanding.

Doing this is exciting. It is rewarding. It is timeless. It is what caring people do who hope to be relevant.

Best if we don’t go into the process with preconceived notions. Being vulnerable means expecting to be informed with new information and new ideas. It is healthy and energizing.

This journey does not describe conservatism at any point. The definition of ‘conservative’ is rooted in the past and long-held tenets and beliefs. The trouble begins when those folks – otherwise good and sensible people – work diligently to make sense of the new and the pending future in terms that are old and stale. Shifts in meaning take place and suddenly history is rewritten and old tenets become twisted. For example, American history is rewritten to assert that colonial America was Christian, protestant and mostly puritan.

In fact it was not. We had as many freed prisoners among the settlers as we did pilgrims. We had indentured servants, too. Slavery was known at the time because it was a major world trade industry sponsored by many British companies. The American colonies were not pure and religious and morally right. They were, in fact, a product of their times. Best we remember that.

Freedom of religion was a hope of the colonists and so they made certain it was written into the constitution so that they would be free to practice their religious beliefs without interference by anyone or any government. They were not seeking a government of or for religion. Freedom from interference does not make a necessity for government to be involved in religion. Just the opposite, frankly.

You would never know that today. Conservatives foist this idea on the nation that we are Christian and church going or ought to be. They are wrong about this. We are capable of making our own decisions on this matter and leave others to their own designs as well.

This is an important issue for us to deal with. Conservatives apparently think that if we don’t agree with them on this point then we are un-American and unpatriotic. I disagree with them on both points.

I find it funny that Trump states he is religious and Christian. Who knows? He says things because he thinks others want him to say these things. But it takes more than saying it to make it the truth. Same with Rubio and Cruz. They are immigrants and children of immigrants. Why then are they against immigration and an orderly process of welcoming newcomers to our borders? How did they become so turned around?

If this is the face of conservatism, God help us!

It would be better if we truly believe in and care for other people as we would hope they would care for us. Government is not the enemy; it is the tool we build to do important work the rest of us alone cannot do. Now that is conservative in my book. An old concept that guides us well long into the future.

February 23, 2016

Youth and Politics

The vision of the future can be exciting. Fresh energy builds as we face the future and all of its possibilities. When we are experienced, mature people, we have known many things, much change, and evolving perspectives. We have handled emergencies. We have created answers to problems, and we have secured another day toward the future. Safe and sound we have protected our family and friends. The world continues to turn on its axis.

Then come public issues of high impact. Voices are heard on the radio and TV and around the water cooler at work. Until we realize that many don’t have water coolers at work because they work from home on their computer, or travel public transportation to client offices. As this realization unfolds we begin to realize that new voices being heard are much younger than we. So we begin to wonder what their voices mean and how much truth and fresh thinking do they represent in the body politic?

In the 1960’s my contemporaries had strong feelings about civil rights, access to higher education, and especially the travesty of the War in Viet Nam. Oh we had plenty of ideas and opinions. At the time we knew we were right; we felt it in our bones. As time wore on we learned what was doable but what was correct. The two did not always relate well with each other.

I read a piece by David Exner this morning. He wrote about the young activists of today and the issues they espouse. The establishment, Exner contends, tries to calm the young voices by claiming their viewpoints are impractical. But then we are reminded of the Viet Nam War and how truly stupid it was: 55,000 of our contemporaries lost their lives in that war; and the Vietnamese lost what, a million or more? In the end the war came to an end without a win; it can be argued that America lost that war. The enemy after all, reclaimed her land and remains in power to this day.

And the young were right about civil rights, as well. And the fuddy duddy approach to viewing the world as it unfolded. The old, we said, were out of date and blinded by their routines of life to see what was emerging before them.

We were right then. Maybe we were impractical but we forged new ways of managing issues of importance and making them heard. In time they gained traction and they are the law of the land now; more importantly, they are the value standard of our culture.

Perhaps the youth of today have the same message of importance: that times are changing and a recalibration of norms is underway.

If that is true then what are those recalibrations? Maybe these?

• Education ought to be accessible to everyone; and not end up with a degree and a lifetime of debt to pay for that very same education
• Immigration is not a birthright of America – it IS America; make it happen for the good of the entire nation
• Religious beliefs are a powerful force among people; but ought they be part and parcel of our governance structure? Freedom to practice religion in one’s own way, sure; freedom to yield to someone’s religious belief counter to my own? No. That is not the American way
• Respect for the planet and protection of it is a responsibility each generation must adopt for themselves and then live it
• Coming to one’s own understanding of how our governance system works is up to each generation as well

Back in the late 1960’s I became sick of what then was to become a reality: Republicans were the conservative party and they insisted on agreement on religious freedom as long as it was evangelical and right wing;  merging both patriotism and religion was preferred and would underscore the sanctity of the US Constitution. I said at the time this was wrong headed. I believed it so much that I withdrew my active support of the party at the time. Later I was to withdraw even my votes for Republican candidates.

My early conclusions were correct.

The newest generation was telling the establishment that change was in the air. Republicans didn’t heed the warning. They went on to elect Nixon and others and to play dirty tricks on each other and their Democrat opposition. More importantly, however, they adopted conservatism in all capital letters. They went further to adopt Christian Evangelicalism as the national religion, in spite of all the constitutional law and lessons to the contrary. They were unswayed and marched to the rhythm of harsh, one-sided arguments.

They now are wondering why their party is in such disarray. Hmm. Are they really that dense? Do they really think the nation is mostly conservative and religious?

I have news for them. It is not. Neither is Trump, so beware of what you are adopting in 2016, Republicans. You didn’t understand what you were doing back in the 60’s; I can only conclude you still are at sea with the world around you.

Meanwhile, youth among Democrats are signaling a change in how the establishment rules politics. I think the rest of us need to pay attention. The Millennials are telling us. Best we listen!

February 22, 2016

Bits and Pieces

Things are little hectic here these days. Lots of appointments on the calendar, mentor sessions, organization committee meetings as well as personal errands and duties. With the wedding last Sunday, we have been busy leading up to the ceremony as well as the back side of the event as well. Writing this blog consumes time and attention on top of all that so I’m a little behind schedule this morning.

However, true to the spirit of the blog, I will write this posting in real time and hit ‘publish’ when done.  Here goes with what’s on the top of my mind.

Being true to yourself: I just watched a TED Talk video of a young man, a high school football coach, tell his story about coming out gay to his family, friends, students, and profession. In short, his world. He explained why this act was necessary for him and his world. He was living in a constricted, dishonest closet that cramped his emotions, his intellect and his very humanity. He was suffocating and turned to drugs and alcohol to manage the anxiety and pain of it all. He nearly took his own life. Then he heard a motivational speech on what makes a good coach and teacher to young people. In short: teenagers can tell instantly if you are bullshitting them. He realized that his students must have known he was living a lie, and so he began the process of coming out to his parents, family and friends. Then he tackled (no pun intended) the issue of his fellow coaches and then students.  To teach the truth you have to live the truth. It becomes transparent that this is the truth.

Gay Marriage: Living my life with truth and honesty required me to be out. It took many years to do this. And the process is never ending because I am the one who is not living the norm. Eleven years ago we had a public commitment ceremony with family and friends. It was our moment of public truth and it was good. But somehow our 16 years together was not whole unless we could be legally married. That also brings benefits and legal protections that everyone takes for granted but we didn’t. So we got married. The result is a fresh knowledge that we are living honestly and truthfully. It may seem a small thing to others, but to us it is big. For me it was a surprise realization. A very pleasant one. So now we go forward from here, not only as one, but also as truth. See photo below: Rocky is on the right and George is on the left -

Being a Christian: Donald Trump’s bluster aside, there is more to being an honest anything than merely saying it. The Pope is correct in saying that a person who does not build bridges to others (individuals or communities or cultures) but rather builds walls and separation, is not living a Christian life. That’s what the Pope was stating. Trump chose to twist it all around, of course.  He is free to live his truth which is all kinds of twisted and contorted. The more he does this the more we view it. And that is comforting to me that the Donald exposes his lack of understanding, intellect and humility for all to see. He is not a diplomat. He is not a builder of bridges of understanding among cultures. He is a crude bully who intends to get his way in spite of all the facts to the opposite. He is a manipulator and greedy deal maker for his own good. How he proposes his vision to be good for the rest of his countrymen is beyond me.

Political Campaigns: What a demeaning process American campaigning has become. The nastiest of course resides with Republicans. I remember 50 years back when such was a trait of Democrats. But back in the 80’s and 90’s the Republicans made a name for themselves as nasty, take no prisoners campaigners. It was demeaning then and remains so today. But it has won elections and that’s why Republicans continue their behavior. Right now there isn’t one candidate on the Republican stage that attracts my respect let alone support. Perhaps Bloomberg should make a run for the job!

North Korea: For generations the world community has cajoled and donated money and goods to North Korea to keep them calm. But the young leader now wants to make his own grab for attention and power within the global community. Failing that, he wants his goodies paid to him. As his citizens starve and die of poor health care, the North Korean leader challenges the world with rockets, missiles and threats of bombs.  He is no longer a nuisance and the world knows this. China is pleading with the US and the UN to not let North Korea go any farther down this road of dishonor. And do something we must. But what? Whatever it is we do we need to do together as one global community. Can we agree to that? Russia, China, Europe and America, can we agree to control the outcome in North Korea so the rest of the community can live in relative peace? I think we can but it will take direct, honest communication among the leading nations and the UN. Please do so soon before the young fool annihilates us all.

February 19, 2016

Wedding Bells, The Report

Recently I shared via this blog that Rocky and I were getting married. That was just two or three weeks ago. We needed the legal protections and benefits of marriage and, with it now available, we went for it.

Our pastor had an opening on Sunday, February 14^th and we jumped at it. A quick request for our kids and grandkids to join with us and a few people central to our lives, we actually didn’t have a formal invitation list. The idea was to have a small, simple ceremony without much fuss.

We did let people know what we were doing informally via the blog and Facebook. We had no idea how others would react and we were surprised when 100 people showed up, celebrated with us at the ceremony, and remained to enjoy a typical church pot luck supper! The food was nothing short of fabulous! The camaraderie and love in the room was breath taking. And, Rocky and I felt enormously supported by everyone.

Facebook responses numbered nearly 200. We had no idea so many people would be this loving and caring. They were and are. We are blessed and humbled by the out pouring of love from each and every one of them.

Also to be reported is an excitement we feel that is tangible. As important and life changing as our commitment ceremony was nearly eleven years ago, the wedding was different and we feel that in ways unimagined.

We are grateful to a nation and state that supports same gender marriage. We have been active church members and contributors for a very long time. We take our spiritual life seriously. It enriches us and presses us forward toward greater self knowledge and development. So too marriage. We take that seriously. It is an important part of who we are.

I know there are those who don’t understand this, but that’s their problem to work through, not mine to be other than who I am. They need to open their minds and hearts and see the whole world as it really is, not a mirror of what they thought is was and should be. One vision is narrow; the other is open and expanding.

Now there is an endorsement to spirituality if I ever saw one!

Thank you to each and every person who shared with us in thought, presence and action in our wedding. We are grateful beyond words.

February 18, 2016 

Supreme Court Atilt?

Yes it is leaning towards the right wing hegemony that matches the House of Representatives and the Senate. The problem is, left and right ideologues forget a primary principle: the middle is a merge of both right and left. They are composites of one another.

I’m a centrist. I believe that government has a purpose for being. I think the Constitution lays that out pretty well. I also think that ideas from both the left and the right make sense in determining not only which laws ought to be written, but how they also should be interpreted.

Try as we might no one can write a law that applies to a highly complex, diverse people fairly over all contexts and needs. It cannot be done. Instead all sides are considered to find a workable agreement that can be enacted and enforced. Implemented. Used and guided by. Did I say workable?

If a hard position is taken in an argument, one that has no wiggle room at all, then the law is clear until it is implemented.  Think of this law: Thou shall not kill. I know, this comes from the Bible, but all societies throughout all of history have enacted a law that deals with this same thing. But think of it – the law says you cannot kill another human being. So, let’s say you do. What is society to do? Will they imprison you for the rest of your life? Or will they execute you? Will they torture you with hard labor at the end of a whip?

Execute? Did I say execute? Let’s see, that would mean society has the right to kill a breaker of the law about killing another. How can killing of one person be the reason for taking the life of the law breaker? You see the dilemma here, right? If we outlaw murder then we have to outlaw execution, too.  Wiggle room needed?

330 million of us; think of it. So many differences attempting to be treated as one. Not possible. Also unthinkable, one religion. Not possible. So…

We accommodate differences. We accept them among us and deal with the issues they raise. Wiggle room. Life is not one thing but many. So too are the expectations, behaviors, mindsets, religions, political interpretations and everything else.

We do accommodate each other not because we are polite and civil, but it is in fact the only way to make things work. We all give a little and gain a lot. It is how the world works. That is until someone tries to ‘simplify’ things and force us to be what we are not.

We are not the same, you and I. We are quite similar but very much different from one another. It is this plentiful range of possibilities and diversity that enriches us and complicates us. Political power, governance authority, all of this, has to accommodate huge differences among us. That is reality, the way life is.

Conservatives feel government is a bad thing and needs to be limited.

Liberals feel government is a necessity and is useful to get a lot of things done that alone we cannot accomplish.

Middle of the Roaders accept the workable ideas from both the left and the right to make things workable. Work needs to get done. Someone has to do it. Authority to do it has to be available. A range of actions are needed to accommodate the differences among us.

Thus is born the centrists. They are the people who populate the institutions of our nation and make them work – the courts, police departments, libraries, colleges and universities, economic development centers, land use and building permit departments, fire departments, public schools, hospitals, vast numbers of charities, churches – all these institutions do the work of the people because the work is important. They get it done because not doing so means human suffering.

Think about this for a few hours. Let it all sink in. The people on the Right focus on principles and restrictions and clarity. The people on the Left focus on getting the right things accomplished for the good of the people. It is not about power but good they focus on. Right and Wrong are convenient points to think about, but they are hell to implement. Too many variables to consider.

So something in between the two end zones is needed to allow movement, accomplishment. Progress.

So, we witness the two end zones fighting each other for control of the argument. All the while the work of the nation is getting done by the other good folks.

The Supreme Court has been in the control of the Republicans for the past 60 years or more. Rarely has it been controlled by the Democrats. That’s a political fact. And yet we have this powerful skirmish for power between the Republicans and everyone else – to name a 9^th justice of the Supreme Court so the ‘balance’ of power is maintained by Republicans.

Why?

There is a vacancy to fill and the current sitting President has the authority and the duty to nominate a candidate to fill the vacancy. And he will do so. When that happens, the Senate has the duty and authority to consider the candidate and fill the vacancy as expeditiously as possible. There are other justices who will die or leave their position due to health in the coming few years. Age is what it is and will do what it does. Filling vacancies will fall to the then sitting President. For now, Scalia is gone.

Let us get back to business and allow the workings of government to proceed. Tilt or counter-tilt. Whatever; get on with it.

Ideologues! You can’t live with ‘em, and you can’t live without ‘em. Although I’d like to try!

February 17, 2016

The Passing of Antonin Scalia

I don’t have to be politically correct so I won’t. When I first learned Supreme Court Justice Scalia had died, I felt relief spread through my body. I think you would have to be a mature gay man to understand my reaction.

Mr. Scalia was anti gay in a huge way. He claimed the culture and mores of our nation were Christian, Biblically based, and hetero-sexist. He claims the constitution was written by men who believed those tenets in their day and thus was the basis of the US Constitution.

I think he is wrong. The law – whenever it is written – has impact far beyond the time frame of when it is written. It sets out with clarity what it is legislating about and how behavior is to be conducted and enforced. What is lost is the context in which the law was created. Understanding the universe in Biblical times was scant. Science was non-existent. Scientific method and education methodology was non-existent, too.

Religious beliefs were all over the place from none to full control of the nation-state in enforcing the religious thought of the day. Throughout history leaders of governments – political power people – told the populace what they believed and expected loyalty from them for those beliefs. After all, the leader was taking responsibility of the well being of ‘his people’ and the least they could do was give him loyalty. Of course that meant obedience when needed.

It didn’t take much time before leaders wanted their citizens to agree with him in social, moral, legal and religious matters. It was precisely the abuse of these ‘matters’ that gave birth to freedom of religion or at least the desire for it. England morphed from Roman Catholic to the Church of England which is really a protestant form of Catholicism. Henry the 8^th was the king who wanted freedom to divorce his wife and marry another woman. The Pope said no so he told the Pope to get lost, and established the Church of England. Unfortunately, in time, the Church of England enforced many of the same improprieties and power moves unfriendly to the believers.

So freedom of religion protest movements began again in England and all over Europe. Eventually, the New World was settled and pilgrims sallied forth from England to found new, independent protestant churches. Congregationalists were the English Puritans of New England, Methodists and Presbyterians, Lutherans and what became Episcopalians were formed in short order. Furthermore, these struggling congregations duplicated themselves as they aided the move westward to settle this new, huge land mass.

Freedom of religion? It was lived out here in America. The sole point of this was to freely meet with like minded people in theological matters and practice your religious beliefs. Didn’t agree with one group? Then you were free to join with another more to your liking. Didn’t find such a thing? Then you gathered with other like minded people and formed your own discussion group, fellowship group, or a new congregation of believers. Some of these were traditional while others practiced bold new ways of worshipping their God.

Not all churches were Christian. Some were Jewish. Some were Unitarian. Others were philosophy and history fans who met regularly and discussed matters of the day. None of these churches sought power over the government. Read Thomas Jefferson and his discussions with people of the same era and learn how religion was avoided by most of the founding fathers of America. The Constitution specifically didn’t mention religious beliefs because the writers knew the trouble they would create.

Religious freedom and the other Bill of Rights items came later after the Constitution was written and approved.

For any judge of the lower courts or the US Supreme Court to say religion and law are wedded from the beginning of this nation is a travesty of their oath of office.

Abortion, gay rights, civil rights, voting rights and many more issues all are part and parcel of the religious morality arguments. What would God say? What would Jesus do? These are debating points made moot by the Constitution. No law should be founded on a religious principle.

But Scalia begged to differ.  He was a conservative power mind who felt government is limited in power and that the freedom of religion gives power to the people to regulate their own lives. He is partly correct here. Religious freedom gives people the right to regulate their own lives provided they do no harm to others in the working of their religious beliefs. No law should be enacted with respect to or by religious beliefs. That means we don’t harm religious beliefs or practice of same, but neither are religious beliefs empowered to enact laws to harm other people who do not share the same religious beliefs.

Freedom of religion has two sides: Side A gives each of us the right to choose our own belief systems and worship according to them; Side B says I have no right to impose my religion on another person.

I believe abortion is a woman’s choice. Therefore, I make no law requiring abortion or denying abortion. It is up to each woman to make that choice. No law or court ought interfere with this constitutional right to choose moral issues. It is the moral confluence of abortion and religion which denies government power in this issue.

Scalia thought otherwise. He argued similar on gay rights. He felt there was no such thing. His religious beliefs kept him from allowing others the right to live their truth. You can’t have it both ways.

Scalia was an ideologue of the conservative “My Way or the Highway” stripe. Now do you understand why a gay man, a father, a grandfather and a supporter of women's rights, minority rights and religious rights found fault with Antonin Scalia? His was a hideous personality intent on enslaving huge groups of people to his narrow point of view. He had the power and he used it.

I say good riddance to such manipulation. May his soul rest in peace with the universe he so dramatically misunderstood.

February 16, 2016

Russia Proclaims Cold War

Such nonsense! Russia claims a new cold war has begun between the East and the West. Well it is true if they say so because they are the ones at war with whomever.

The West is not at war with Russia. Period.

It takes two parties or more to have a war. Sort of like North Korea. If they want hostilities to break out I guess all they have to do is continue to act warlike and commit acts of aggression against a sovereign people – like South Korea, China, parts of Malaysia, or pick a fight with the US Military. It’s an easy thing to do, an act of aggression. But it is not an easy thing to keep going. War with North Korea would be short and unpleasant for them. Their first act of aggression would meet with a response far outside the size of their initial act.

Besides, North Korea has everything to lose and nothing to gain. They already have starvation broad spread among their people. Living standards are next to nothing unless you are in the leadership caste of the military or government. But those living standards and perks come with the threat of summary execution so one has to question the living standard in the first place.

Any war with North Korea would be too expensive for them to maintain unless their’s is a suicide pact of some sort.

Now Russia is another matter. They have the materiel, the systems and the manpower to maintain a warlike posture for some time. But when that is gone their capability is gone. They have no money to resupply their manpower or materiel and systems. Russia is broke. Their programs are failing as their economy fails. The oil bust has reduced their international revenue flow to near zero. Their oil stores are full now but they cannot afford to use their own inventory and then replace it.

That is the nature of the oil industry bust. Yes, it is temporary. But everyone needs to remember that the oil industry is unlikely to return to the old normal anytime soon. They are, in fact, in danger of being replaced by other fuel and energy sources unrelated to oil. Unfortunately those new sources will almost replace oil as a dominant energy source. And it is about time this happened.

Oil is a fossil fuel that pollutes everything it touches. Pollution kills fauna and flora and people, too. So it is time to reduce its presence in our life style and replace it with nonpolluting energy sources.

Back to the Cold War. Russia has domestic problems. Their method of managing those is via propaganda directed at its own people. For Mr. Putin to remain a hero or potent leader, he must show he has muscle and nerve. We know he has both. But a leader, especially one who desires hero status, must steer his society clear of danger and death. Leading it into military excursions for propaganda purposes is expensive with little positive gain. Furthermore, if an error is made in such excursions, Russia will face a backlash from injured nations that will dash the peace for a long time to come. Totally unnecessary. And everyone understand this.

There may be some Russians at home who don’t understand this, but everyone else does, even Putin. So adventure-ism for propaganda purposes at home is a high cost risk for practically no gain.

There is no Cold War. If one were to actually form, it would be between the entire Western civilization and Russia and a few of its smaller allies. That is the true nature of the world today.

Yes, China is a major factor, but there is no way that China and Russia will combine to wage a Cold War. China would lose far too much and for no gain whatsoever. So Russia is mouthing an empty message.

Perhaps Russia needs a few skirmishes among its own people and the ruling classes? Now there’s a Cold War that might have worthwhile consequences.  Too bad the losers would be both domestic and government leaders.

February 15, 2016

Sanders or Clinton?

Much has been written that concludes Bernie Sanders is beating Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination for President. I think this is erroneous on two fronts: first, it is way too early to make the conclusion; and second, Bernie’s issue discussions are not the reason he is beating Clinton.

What will matter by the end of the campaigns will be the nation’s evaluation of who will be the better President making decisions and leading the mechanisms of government to manage and tame critical issues. The American people will want to know who they can trust in office to do the job well.

And I think in time people will understand that a President Sanders is not a viable choice; rather another President Clinton is the workable choice. And here’s why.

First, experience counts. Clinton has been next to the very seat of power she is asking us to elect her to. Both as First Lady and confidant of President Bill, Hillary has witnessed every huge issue (and many small ones, too!) and how they played out at the time and, most importantly, what impact they had on later development of critical issues. The long term effect is the dynamic here that requires active management. Hillary knows this and has experience with it. She also sat next to President Obama as Secretary of State and was included in the world’s greatest issues and challenges these past seven years. She knows the score and will hit the ground running on them when elected. Bernie cannot hold a candle to this experience.

Second, Clinton has governed as outlined in the previous point. She has been a Senator as well; but so has Bernie. Senators set policy and contribute to legislation. They do not govern in the main. They advise and consent. Someone else doing the governing and leading, not them. Clinton understands this solidly.

Third, age is an issue but one avoided due to political correctness and civility. Bernie is 74 and will be 75 if elected. He will be 79 at the end of his first term facing re-election. That age does not auger well for longevity for him or anyone else of similar age. It is a practical consideration we must face as a nation. Bernie’s age does not limit his usefulness as adviser, confidant, issue researcher or policy maker. But it does, I think, preclude him from the pressures and draining experiences of being the leader of the Free World and Commander in Chief of Americas military might. The rigors of the job make young men old. Let’s not start with an old man and take the risk of learning if we were right or wrong on the longevity issue.

Fourth, women make up 50% of the population of our country. They are the leaders of most of our households, and critical thinkers in our institutions, schools, and corporations. It is time for them to take on the Presidency and prove they are the equal of men. It is their time to do so. Maybe then equal pay for equal work will finally come to fruition if we have a woman President? I’d sure like to see if this happens. First we have to elect a woman to the office. Now we have the opportunity to do just that.

Fifth, we are early in the process of electing our next President. Let the facts, rhetoric and events unfold naturally and then take the pulse of the process. Currently we are just feeling our way into the early stages of the process. Way too early to conclude much of anything.

I think Hillary will demonstrate staying power and wind up as the party’s nominee. I think Bernie will end up a favored adviser and compatriot helping to educate the public on the issues that truly matter and need our attention. He is an excellent spokesman for those issues. 

I do not expect any such thing to happen in the republican party. Way too fractious and unfocused. All they have to talk about is fear of anything and everything. Just like always, they talk about who and what to fear, never any ideas on what to support and work hard for.

I guess working toward one’s own feathered nest and greed takes all of their focus from the really important issues the voters have in mind!

February 12, 2016

New Hampshire Lessons?

The cavalcade of political campaigns goes on and on! What it means is not always what is seems. At least the media makes something out of everything but time will allow us the wisdom to discern what it all really means.  In time, you know. All in good time.

So, the early selection process for the US Presidency has swept through New Hampshire as it does every four years. It is a different process than Iowa’s, and it makes more sense to us. Still the meaning of the results do not always come easily. There are nuances to consider. Later in the season the rest of us will choose among one or two candidates who remain on the ballot. The long list of candidates will be pared down by the time we vote, and for my money, it’s a good thing. Too many candidates who are not serious or of serious quality to perform the job. Those will hopefully be weeded out before Illinois’ primary polls open for business. At least we can hope!

For now, let’s take a look at what New Hampshire voters did on Tuesday night last.

First, the Republicans.

They chose Trump with 34.4% of the vote. He earned the first of his delegates to the national convention – 10. John Kasich, Governor of Ohio, came in second with 16.4% of the vote earning him 3 convention delegates. In third place a close race between Cruz with 11.4% and Jeb Bush with 11.2%, each earning their first 2 delegates for the convention. Rubio came in a distant fourth with 10.5% and no delegates earned, with everyone else falling well behind him and also without delegates. 

These results mean the following candidates will fall by the wayside and withdraw from the race: Rand Paul, Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum have already formally suspended their campaigns; Jim Gilmore, will likely do so very soon; and Carly Fiorina withdrew Wednesday, and so did Chris Christie. Ben Carson will likely withdraw before or just after the South Carolina primary. 

Second, the Democrats.

They chose Bernie Sanders with 59.5% of the vote and 13 delegates awarded. Hillary Clinton came in second with 38.8% and 7 delegates. This result was expected. Bernie has had New Hampshire sewn up for several weeks after months of long, hard work by his campaigners. The rest of the nation is yet to be heard from and New Hampshire’s results will get their fair hearing.

What it all means.

Well, that’s not for me to say with clarity at this early stage. And that’s precisely the point that needs to be made. Throughout the media and internet opinion sites writers are claiming clear portents of the future from the early campaigning and Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary. But I think they do all of us a disservice. It is way too early to divine any lasting meaning from most of what’s happened so far. 

Oh, a few things are clear:

• The electorate is angry and the indecision of current elected officials both at federal and state levels of government
• Young voters are anxious to get involved and help the nation make key decisions
• Women voters are jumping at the reins to get involved as well
• No one wants to be yelled at or demeaned
• Absolutely no one on the republican side of things is talking solutions to any problem they raise as an issue
• Democrat candidates do talk issues and definitively so
• Democrats even talk solutions and support long term vision
• Democrats are for things; republicans are anti everything

That is about the sum and substance of it all. Oh, and one more thing: the enemy is Obama and the mess he has left us with. Let’s remind ourselves of the mess Obama fell heir to following Bush’s tenure in the White House, and that Bush had the full support of Congress while that same Congress has been a major blocking force to Obama’s every move. Obama has proficiently defined the problems and offered solutions and requested collaboration from all parties. None has come forth; he was left alone to make good things happen without any help. A leader does not always have followers within the bureaucracy, but the voters are different. 

Unless voters do something about the cooperation and collaboration problem in government, nothing is going to get done as a result of the 2016 elections. Is that what voters want?

I think not. I think they truly want government to work. The major problem is this: Republicans do not believe government is good and must be tamed and reduced in size and effectiveness. Democrats believe government is good as long as the people participate in it.

This is the fundamental difference between the parties. It is ideological. Republicans claim only individuals ought to have the right to govern themselves without interference from government. Democrats claim the opposite, that government provides the leadership and resources to tame the truly big problems and to govern against the ill effects of greed and power some people wield through economic and brute forces.

That is the issue to be addressed in this election season. Not the personalities that poor thinkers and non governing types project on the electorate at times such as these.

At least the Democrats are discussing real issues while the republicans fiddle as Rome burns to the ground.

Now, let’s get serious about serious matters and dismiss the chaff with noisy voices.

February 11, 2016

Hillary’s Truth

Let’s list the ways political enemies have ganged up on Hillary Clinton as she campaigns for the Presidency:

• She’s married to Bill Clinton; surely this means something dank and dark [Oh  please!]
• She received many emails 24/7 as she tried to be both public servant (Secretary of State) and private person while being yanked everywhere on the globe at a moment’s notice  [She’s not the only Secretary of State mired in the miasma of complex communications during fast moving change in communication technology.]
• Those emails were from government sources so many of them had to be secret, maybe even top secret? [Far from it. And many became top secret long after their initial appearance.]
• She makes millions of dollars annually from speeches paid for by many groups; some of them are bankers and others; are they buying her favor now for when she gets into office? [We have freedom of speech, remember? And freedom to earn a living. In America both can converge to make astounding amounts of money from time to time. Good for Hillary and Bill for making this work!]
• She’s white and female; are we ready for this America? [We better be; we have mothers, sisters, wives, mother in laws and countless aunts and cousins who are all women. They are fully half of our population and fully capable of doing government work!]
• She has worked with foreigners for years in public office and as Secretary of State; she must support illegal immigration [That’s a policy issue that will continue to be a tough nut to crack.]
• While in the US Senate she voted for the authorizing of Bush’s war in Iraq; surely that shows poor judgment? [So did just about everyone else and that was a popular response to 9/11 in spite of broad worry that it might lead to chaos; it did!]
• She’s a liar, claims Trump; and so does this make it true? [Hardly; it points more to Trump for his broadsides and rudeness against just about everyone. Such style that guy has!]
• She’s a…(fill in your favorite campaign claim or slur against Hillary)

This is a hell of a way to pick a leader in any country or under any political structure. It is demeaning, dehumanizing, anti-intellectual, anti-feminist, and any of many other negative sobriquets. It is down right uncivil.

We are trying to learn what each candidate stands for and what kind of person they are. Are they adaptable to fast changing conditions? Can they learn on their feet? Can they delegate and also receive valuable inputs from staff and others, make sense of it, and make sound decisions? Can they withstand unbearable scrutiny in office – both public and private moments? Do they have the experience that demonstrates all of those things?

Is youth and energy a factor? Should it be? Or should it be discounted? And of course why?

What are the primary problems we face in America? What conditions do we want to prevail in times of good. Do we know how to measure and value these issues accordingly? Which problems are the most important for us to attend to right now? And then, which issues come as the next projects to fix, and in what order? What rationale are we using in ordering these priorities?

Once the above is done, what do we do about each problem in their rightful order? Does fixing one problem create problems elsewhere that we will need to address in time? How do we avoid doing that?

Of course the really big question: What do we do to fix anything? What resources are available to do this – funding, change to the infrastructure to support the fix, ideas that will prove sufficient to fixing the problem, who is involved in making these decisions, and how transparent are those decisions to be managed?  Doing this sort of work takes diligence, dedication, delegation and a trust in collaborative work with many other people and experts. This work is not for the faint of heart or the inexperienced. It is also not well suited to people who have little intellectual curiosity and willingness to do research.

The candidates on the republican side of things bad mouth Hillary for a reason. They recognize she is that good a candidate, an intellectual thinker, a solver of problems, a willing engager of people from all stripes of life who might work well together to solve a problem.

Governance is not a science in spite of an academic field named for it – Political Science. Governance is working with diverse people with creative abilities to manage problems for the good of the people without damaging the people. It is a difficult job. Ever tried to lead a PTA? Did you find it hard to do? So many different personalities to account for and accommodate. The objectives were clear and fairly easy to address. But did you do it and without too much rancor and back biting?

Well now you understand a tiny bit of what it is like to balance different ideologies, warring factions in legislative bodies, and then working with leaders from other regions. Add now the factions and fractions of international affairs, global economics and physics.

The Presidency of the USA requires a towering intellect and a personality that is very flexible. Even then leading the unwilling masses of America is very difficult. Observe please the many accomplishments of President Obama who has had an entire Senate and House of Representatives at war with him blocking every initiative. He has continued to lead the military, the foreign policy camp and still quelled a recession, rebuilt the banking system, created a stable platform for economic stability and rebuilding, forged international partnerships for future peace strategies, led international discussions of enormous scope and importance, and come out the winner for America and the peoples of the globe. With naysayers and doomsayers nipping at his heels, he still stood proud, spoke softly and with feeling. And with intelligence. Please, let us not forget this vital element!

I compared Mr. Obama with each of the candidates. The only one that compares well is Hillary Clinton. She does not live in a bubble. She lives in the real world and understands the stakes of that world and hopes of it as well. One wonders if Trump and can even spell some the terms he would have to deal with if elected. And Carson? Or Rubio and Cruz who are so fond of demeaning their enemies? And enemies they have because that is their primary means of political speech: find an opponent and tell the world why they are so bad and my position is so much better.

If you have to manufacture enemies to win an election, then something is very wrong - with you. Illegal immigrants are the enemy? No; they are the answer to so much of what is right in our nation and always have been. Abortion the problem? No; this is a social issue of high conscience that ought remain in the privacy of the woman and home, not of government. Religious freedom the primary bone of contention? No; that is still a private matter for each person and has no business being a part of our government or election discussion. We already have freedom to worship and believe in our own way; but we have the responsibility to not let my religion interfere with yours. That does not mean you get to make laws that force your religious beliefs down my throat. Understand?

So, just because some loony tune talks about a subject doesn’t make that subject a central issue to our election behavior. What it does do is call into question the person’s intelligence and abilities to be considered for a high elected position.

That’s why I’m for Hillary. She can take care of herself. She can manage Bill. And she can do phenomenal good for the American people without antagonizing the entire global village.

Hear, Hear!

February 10, 2016

Ideal Spaces

Every now and again I get memory flashes. Many are from the deep past, you know, when you were a kid. Most of these recalls involve feelings of space I was then living in. One such is the Mojave Desert in southern California. We lived there for nearly three years on a Navy base. It was after the Second World War and the base was used to test weapon systems in development. Rocket engines were experimented with for thrust; so, too, propulsion systems for torpedoes.

The desert was a memorable place. Hot, yes, in the seasons. But winter I recall as cool nights and warm days unless the rare cloud cover robbed us of the warming sun. Quiet was the primary memory. The desert is very quiet. In those days not even planes flew overhead. A rocket test burst the quiet at times, but mostly I remember the sound of air or wind rustling past my ears. Otherwise the sound of silence was broken only by the sensation of my heart beating in my ears. Now that’s silence!

In those early days (1943 to 1954) we lived in Altadena, California, a foothill community to the north of Pasadena. The weather was stellar. Warm air, sunny skies, waving palm trees, blue skies and enough moisture in the air to avoid dry skin. It was embracing, the climate. You felt held in soft arms of love and comfort.

I also became aware of a larger world. At first it was wondering where the long, straight road went and ended up? We took long drives in those days and eventually learned where the roads went. The really exciting ones went up and up into the mountains, curving every which way until we arrived at a point very high above the throbbing cities and towns below. On clear days we could see the ocean and on even rarer days we could see Santa Catalina Island. As years passed by smog grew worse and those sights became even rarer.

California had been discovered by the masses and the inflow of population surged continually year after year. Before despoiling what once was soft and gentle, we lived a charmed life of exploration and discovery.

I felt safe. I felt protected and free to discover what now I see as boundaries. But then? It was a world filled with opportunity and delight.

Then we moved to a new home built in an orange and lemon grove in Glendora. The terrain then was rougher and more mountainous. Cliffs and steep inclines parked at our backyard. We looked up to Mount Baldy and gauged winter storms by the snows that remained after our rains below. Also we watched the progress of brush and forest fires during the summer, wondering if or when they might reach our neighborhood. But they didn’t, at least not then. Of course those fires denuded foothills of their flora that absorbed winter rains, so mud slides were the burden of winter months. We experienced those but not anywhere near our home. I remember Dad telling us of slow commutes following road graders as they cleared the streets of mud into Pasadena.

Before I could gain more experience with such odd events we moved to New England where four seasons ruled the weather forecasts and provided an entirely new view of life. Hills and green, no deserts, but no true mountains, either, gave us spicy, aromatic air filled with new experiences and realms of discovery. Of course that was the beginning of junior high and high school for us kids so exploration was the course of education. Sputnik had been launched and the nation was deep into math, science and engineering education. The public became obsessed with education and we were provided the fruits of this interest.

With this era we met the Cold War full on as kids and we were sobered by the challenges. So safety and warm fuzzy embraces were not the norm. besides there was 18 inches of snow outdoors. And we were still learning how to shovel the stuff off the driveway so Dad could get the car into and out of the garage. I recall the icy feel of snow down my socks and inside my mittens. I couldn’t believe weather could be so painful!

I do recall the soft wonder of spring and summer in New England. I was in the bicycle stage of life then and explored the paths and lanes of rural enclaves of woods, lakes and streams. It was peaceful and embracing in an entirely different manner than Southern California. Thus did climate differences become real to me. They were acclimated in daily routines and expected. Inured and ignored, too.

I remember being asked to write a paper for English class once. The assignment was to describe our ideal place, one we could revisit from time to time and why it was special. My essay focused on the place in my mind that recalled all the places I had lived and remembered as special. And that I could revisit those places at will by thinking about them. She didn’t like my work, gave it a C. I was disappointed with the grade but not with the concept. The teacher didn’t get it but I did and have kept those places special for my life long.

Huh!

February 9, 2015