Whither We Go?

As I write this it is the first day back to work and school in the new year. Yes this post is for January 6^th but I’m penning it on the 3^rd. I work a few days in advance, sometimes bursts of energy produce two weeks of posts and I am able then to sit back and ponder larger ideas while posts are published regularly.

There are times I wonder if what I wrote a week ago or so is still relevant. Let me tell you it is. Surprising but true. I edit each piece before publishing, that means it gets a going over at least three times before the readers are exposed to it. This gives me the opportunity to rethink the piece and replace it if need be. It has never been needed in five years of blogging this column. There have been times I wanted to insert something more timely, like the Orlando Pulse Nightclub massacre. That event interrupted my thoughts and I adjusted my timeline a bit. But previously written material was still good and was eventually posted.

I know that a lot of my material is on politics. For some of you that is a turnoff. Fine. It is to me as well. But I must write about it or my mind would explode in frustration. This is my only outlet for retaining sanity in a world gone mad!

Politics is about control – a society’s control over its own business and instincts. Some of those instincts are base; so society needs a method to address the bad things before they get worse. Governance structures are designed for that. They don’t always work as intended. Politics is also about influence – a method of control. Influence, however, doesn’t always rely on facts and truth. Only perception counts to those who think of themselves as influencers. Entire industries have been constructed on this basis. Think advertising and marketing, for starters. These are two industries based on finding and influencing specific target groups so sales can be had. Religion and theology may not be thought of as an industry, but a lot of business transactions are included in their fields. And facts and truth are talked about but rarely can the subject matter be proven. That is what ‘faith’ is all about. So influence is a tool for many people engaged in both the good and the bad in society. Influencing is not a bad thing by definition; no, it is the objective of the influencing that is in need of evaluation.

Today’s influencers want us to believe that paying taxes is a bad thing. If that statement is not true then why did Trump get elected without divulging his financial records and tax records? Every presidential candidate and President has done so. It is a badge of truth and honesty. But not Trump. He is held in high esteem by many for avoiding taxes and not paying federal income taxes for many years.

Yet the rest of us do. These taxes fund many services and programs that are essential to a well run government and society. Think of the military. Think of the State Department and international affairs. Think also of the banking system, Federal Reserve system, currency and standards of measurement for everything (math, science, food, health, weight and liquids, etc.). Education quality and access is another field of government attention much in need. Health care – quality of and access to – is a major focus of government.

Policy is always a bone of contention for many and that is fine. Go ahead and argue the merits of one policy over another, but still accomplish the policy objective. Settle the policy for the time being and get on with the job. Don’t block progress entirely. Keep the work flowing.

We have a lot of bone pickers in our midst. Some think women should not have authority to choose whether to have a baby or not. Others think women should not be allowed to have an abortion. No one, apparently, seems to think that a man should keep his private parts from helping create the problem in the first place; evidently that is a man’s right! Ha!

Other bone pickers feel the Supreme Court should be packed with people of only their stripe of beliefs. The rule of law in their mind is variable and malleable to support their ideology. Well who, pray tell, decides the ideology? We have elected representatives to do that, and they don’t follow through very well, do they? They say they do but they vote their own ideology based on what it is worth to them in influence, power and wealth.

Somehow that is not a comfort to me. Nor should it be to you.

The fact that our representatives act this way is not fiction; it is based on solid research and study over many decades of research. The American system of governance is a good one but not infallible. That’s what voting is supposed to be about. We the electors are supposed to be the final protectors of an honest system of governance.

That role has not worked very well in recent years. Illinois is a case in point: a deadlocked legislature open to the highest bidder and a wealthy governor who freely spends his own money to influence votes, elections and policy. The only protector is gridlock. Although painful it might just be less painful than the alternative.

And of course our Congress in Washington, DC. Gridlocked by wealthy people still looking to become more wealthy and powerful. All you have to do to be convinced of this is to look at CSPAN broadcasts of both the Senate and House of Representatives. Nothing much gets accomplished.

And if you think the Trump administration will do better, just gaze upon his cabinet. All of his picks are wealthy, ideologues without an idea in their head on how to do the job they are being asked to do. No resident expertise for any of them. Only points of view and wealth to protect.

Do you feel secure yet? Are you thinking things will somehow work out? Well, yes they will work out; we just don’t know if for good or ill. Or for whom.

Wither we go is the question still posed. What will be the answer? Who will control it? Good Lord! Who will even report it honestly and accurately?

I shudder!

January 6, 2017

Meanderings

So many things going through my mind. SCORE and my resignation from it (then changing my mind and staying involved with SCORE). Mother aging toward 103 (2/24/17) and less and less a part of this world. Retirement and the time to reflect but not do. Senior citizen status with a lifetime of experience and knowledge but fewer opportunities to apply the knowledge and wisdom for the benefit of others. The world spinning farther and farther out of control with inexperienced ‘leaders’ at the helm bent on changing the world in their own ways that are mightily different from reality. Nations spatting with one another. People spatting with one another daily. Drivers on the same roadway fighting with one another.

The signs are everywhere pointing to disagreeable people and minds. Minds. Not made up but twisted with anger, frustration and bad humor. Moody and pouty. Childlike. Not getting their way. Not thinking things through. Not allowing themselves to ponder things that matter so they can make sense of them. Use them in their lives.

And the ‘rest of my life’. What does this mean? What are the possibilities? What are the potentials? Will I use them? Will I be allowed to use them? Will anyone listen? Or is this all babbling - unintelligible and meaningless?

I remember when want and yearn were good things. We wondered about the future and poked at it enough to make some of it come into fresh being from time to time. Then back to serious work and building life in the usual way.

Now is different. It is compartmentalized by age. Young have futures and possibilities. Some don’t see this but many do. Those that do are forward thinking and have positive mind sets. Those that don’t see possibilities are stuck in the present or recent past. They do drugs, booze and whatever else abets their escape to make believe places.

Older people see futures and have a wealth of experience to assist their belief in knowing great things are ahead. Still older people know this is true but not for them. Their future is limited by health, skill sets not kept fresh, and dwindling financial resources. For them bleak speaks but with a whisper. Don’t let anyone know this is running through the mind. They might get the wrong idea!

So pleasant faces greet others until a retreat is made to home and the best chair in the world!

Turn on the TV and see what’s on; anything will do as long as it isn’t an ad. Just make noise and keep my eyes moving on shifting images. Maybe a storyline will get through until bedtime?

Once in bed turn on the TV there, too. Watch reruns of old programs because they are familiar and take no effort to watch and keep track of. Soon sleep comes and brings quiet and release.

Later – many hours so – the mind awakens and the good stuff returns. What is the meaning of such and such term, or who was the person that told me so and so did whatchamacallit? Yes ideas that suggest new activities and projects, goals and objectives to spend time on. But will I remember these thoughts when I get up in the morning? Why not get up now and jot them down? I can work on them tomorrow and have some fun with them.

Good idea! Up and at the computer keyboard. I’ll just take a nap later in the morning and catch up on sleep. Meanwhile there’s fun to do!

January 5, 2017

Relations: Israel and America

Not good. Not good at all these days. And the blame goes straight to Netanyahu. Bibi is a bully - for many years. He has proven over and over again in US relations that he will play the bully if he does not get what he wants. And what he wants is political strength within his own nation. When he is on the war mongering front, he has the most strength.

More’s the pity with Israelis. The more bellicose they are, the less respect they earn throughout the globe. They don’t seem to get that simple point.

Let’s review: America under the leadership of Obama grants Israel $38 billion aid package, mostly for military strength to be used to protect themselves from the Middle Eastern gaggle of enemies; peace negotiation efforts led over the decades by American diplomats and presidents have emphasized the two-state solution to gain peace between Palestine and Israel. Israel has agreed to this principle several times. However, Netanyahu has broken the accord many times and uses it as a bargaining chip. Yes, he has torn down settlement housing, but then rebuilt them when he didn’t get what he wanted from Palestine.

Also in the review: any time Bibi thinks he might not get what he wants from America, he goes to his American Jewish friends and lobbyists to thwart the sitting president and the congress and the UN. He has done this time and time again. It is a non-starter. Friends don’t do this. Especially repeatedly.

And yet he has the gall to claim the same thing about America taking Israel to the UN Security Council. We didn’t; someone else did and we abstained from the voting because it was the right thing to do. Sorry, Bibi. Your argument doesn’t hold water. The Bully Emperor is shown without clothes.

I’m a supporter of the Israeli State. I support the safety of Israelis. I don’t mind subsidizing them to ensure their safety. But I will not sell out American ideals and global hopes for peace by siding with a bully like Netanyahu. He dictates his wishes and is not a good loser.

If we were to respond to him in kind, we would withdraw our financial support from Israel. But we don’t. Why? Because the Israelis are our friends. Netanyahu is not our friend. It seems clear to us now. So the question is what to do about this going forward?

Well, this has nothing to do with Obama now. It is in the hands of Trump who has no understanding at all of international peace negotiations and their delicacy. I guess he will settle this matter with getting his own way in some economic matter or other. To hell with peace. Why would he bother?

It is also time that our Jewish friends in the United States and in Israel, understand this point: our relationship can be abused for only a so long. After that we understand what you are telling us, or at least your elected officials are telling us. And what we hear is not pleasant news. At some point you should expect a reaction from Americans that you will not like. We have hesitated on this point for decades. I think, however, our patience is at an end. Beware.

And the same warning to Putin: we are on to you and have been for many years. We get it. You want to win adulation from your people by making Russia great again. The only problem is that picking a war with the world will destroy both you and your enemies. What a stupid game play to make, Vlad. Stupid.

And if you think dealing with a similarly stupid Trump will get you what you want, you are in for a very nasty surprise.

You do not represent the Russian people. Neither does Trump. On paper it may seem so, but in reality our two nations are made up of smarter people who understand what the two of you are doing. Wise up, or not. That is your choice. Ditto to Bibi and all the other bullies.

January 4, 2017

Understanding

Fresh landscapes of the mind is the topic today. Our own understanding of the world is our inner landscape. Dealing with other people introduces their inner landscape to us, and vice versa. Communications uncover how these landscapes are different from one another. It is the stuff of unique personhood that emerges during our relationship over time.

Some emergence is fascinating – a different way of seeing an idea or concept; or interacting with a world view that is truly challenging to our way of thinking. The world view isn’t necessarily right or wrong, just different. The challenge is making it somehow fit with our own world view. Why the difference? How is the difference measured? Is the difference minor or of major consequence? Does it pull on our logic and pressure us to think in a different way?

Interacting and understanding these fresh landscapes is both challenging and exciting. The challenge to overcome past experience so new experience is possible can be upsetting. Old ideas are pushed aside so new ones can enter the logic stream. What was comfortable is now uncomfortable. Glimmers of light hint at seeing things differently. The light shimmers a bit and bounces off other unknowns; it is not altogether understandable but it does take form.

Eventually ideas fall together and make sense – a new sense – of things we are still getting to know. Nothing is totally clear but dimly we sense a direction the thinking is taking us.

Decisions are made in time based on these understandings. Little by little a new reality takes shape. And this happens ever unfolding through consciousness.

The process is static but for a moment. That is its nature. Bit by bit the world comes into focus in tiny pieces. Understanding grows from these intersections of living moment to moment. But only if we are open to them.

These intersections are plentiful. Sometimes it takes effort to cultivate the awareness. Examples –

• The body changes, ages really; sensations accumulate not felt in prior times
• Accommodating an aging body allows us to live with pains and aches natural to the process of aging
• Observing other people living their experiences, their truth, gives experience to me
• Blending those experiences toward fresh understanding of broader issues creates ideas previously unthought
• How are others different from ourselves – gender, age, culture, religion, ethnicity, race – the many ways we are different from one another
• What do the differences mean?
• How do all these things come to equilibrium moment by moment so we can grasp them and realize their uniqueness, and meaning?
• And do we purposefully think of these things so we are challenged by them? Or do we avoid them? 

Equilibrium is a point of balance, a moment of understanding the new and the old in juxtaposition to each other. That balance might not last very long as different aspects of the same thinking come to mind and lead us toward a fresher equilibrium. This process is a struggle to understand the world surrounding us. And the process is a basic intellectual process that demands attention and energy from each of us.

Not all people care to engage this process. It can be frustrating and confusing. Especially true if colleagues are not similarly engaged and committed to finding collaborative equilibrium.

All groups do this sort of work on a continual basis. It is interesting and vital to the group’s health. But not all people are comfortable with this process. Some are authoritative and want to dictate results or conclusions of the group. Others don’t like making conclusions but prefer to continue the intellectual maneuvering because it is fun to them. Still others detest this ‘not knowing’ basic facts as acceptable norms and retire to less stressful use of time.

Group life for me is a testing ground for ideas. It is exciting and refreshing. How about you? What is your reaction to group life? Do you seek it or avoid it?

Inasmuch as our political lives have changed with the last presidential election, I suspect much group thinking will be taking place in the coming 12 to 18 months. News cycles, too, will be challenged to accommodate many ideas in need of understanding before they are included in our intellectual banquet.

For now the menu is undetermined but promises a large feast to taste and digest before making conclusions. A lot of work to do this is in store for all of us so engaged.

I wonder how well we will do? Or if we have the stomach for it?

Time will tell. At least we know what is required.

January 3, 2017

Differing Messages

Henry Kissinger has stated that Trump might prove to be an extraordinary President because he is so different from the past and may open new opportunities for consideration. A total unsettling of established order in international affairs

China media has claimed Trump does not know how to run a super power.

Russia’s Putin seems to know what China’s media is saying and is counting on Trump’s naïveté to get what they want out of an altered relationship with America.

Trump’s supporters stated they thought America’s governance structure was riddled with corruption. The first thing Trump has done is to cram the same kind of corrupting people and industries into his government’s inner circle. Will this eliminate corruption or just change its face? If the latter, how will Trump’s supporters then react?

Republicans claim Trump is offering a fresh start to clean up government. However, they have not stated what needs cleaning, who needs eliminating, and what replacement elements are being proposed. In fact, there have been no substantive proposals from the Republican side of things for decades. Obamacare was created to fill a vacuum that was swamping and killing people. Republicans said no but had no offering to replace Obamacare. Still don’t. They say they do, but no evidence exists that demonstrates the fullness of their ideas. Just that they are against what Obama wants or wanted.

Kissinger claims Obama left the arena of international affairs. This created a void in which other nations had to assess their own problems and needs and figure out what to do. I think that is a very shallow and misleading statement on Kissinger’s part.  The truth is this: Obama followed the international messes created by Bush/Cheney. He calmed the waters of international concerns and invited all nations to participate in the governance of the world. Isn’t this what peace on Earth and goodwill toward all mankind is all about, or must we always have one nation hold power and sway over all the others? Don’t we understand yet that this is exactly what has destabilized the world community for so long?

It is time to gather all the players on the global stage and share power and possibility with everyone. That is one way in which we all have our needs aired and understood.

Oil is a problem. Energy is a geopolitical issue. Water is a geopolitical issue. These three are the primary items that upend the world community. It is the question of resources which sustain human life. Without these three elements each nation is at risk. Working together we can solve the problems. And then we will achieve what we surely will not risk losing. The result is peace. Long sought and rarely achieved for any length of time.

If Republicans do not understand this then they are less intelligent than I gave them credit for being.

There are those who have stated Obama should have been a more forceful leader. I think that is the argument of a lazy person. They want to be told what to do and when, and even how. Isn’t that what we have had for leadership in the past? Did that get us lasting peace and a sustainable quality of life? No. It did not. It might have seemed so, but in truth, the sustainability was always in question.

Leadership embraces the goodwill and good sense of those being led. Define a problem and ask for collaboration to fix the problem. Do so on a regional basis, even on a national basis. Then move to international arenas. The broader the scope of cultural involvement the more complicated the process. But it is still manageable. It just takes more leadership skill and trust and faith in others that the opportunities will be used for the good of all our futures.

The pity is Republicans didn’t get this here at home. It is also a pity that the UN is so weak that it could not use the opportunities offered by Obama to build peace. And of course, the Middle East potentates and Netanyahu were all too willing to use what they felt was certainly a muddle for their own advantage. They are the cause of the muddle, of course; have been for the last 30 years or more.

Obama offered something much more transparent and hopeful. The fact that the human community the world over didn’t take advantage of it for the right reasons is not the fault of America or Obama.

We have much to ponder these days. Not the least of which is our own honesty to face our problems head on and actually commit to doing something productive about them. Trump does not understand or know of the catalog of problems under discussion. That frightens me a lot. But maybe cooler minds will prevail and use this as an opportunity to accomplish what was wasted during the past 8 years?

One can only hope so! If so then this might just be a Happy New Year!

January 2, 2016

Happy New Year?

After yesterday’s post one wonders how I could possibly countenance wishing anyone a Happy New Year! I wondered the same thing, and still I write this post!

After some thinking, however, I came up with this reason to wish you, and everyone else, a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year in 2017. In fact I came up with several reasons, but one sticks out from all the others.

2017 holds the promise – as do all fresh, new periods of time – to make the best of circumstances and discover startling new things that will alter the course of history for the good of all people everywhere. And I think we have the wherewithal to do just that in 2017. Here’s why:

1. We know more about medicine and the human body today than we ever have, and we have the engineering know-how in biotechnological methods and materials to make wondrous things happen. We can replace worn out body parts much more simply and with less rejection of replacement parts.
2. We have the ability to lessen the effects of most medical conditions that have plagued humankind for centuries. And we now can plot how to eliminate many of those diseases entirely.
3. We know our public education system in the United States is not as effective as it should be and we have the resources to replace it and offer the very best methods to achieve desired outcomes – an educated and self sustaining populace. All we have to do is make the decision to rebuild and replace the system.
4. We have the ability and know-how to provide safe drinking water to every human being on earth. It is only a matter of will for us to do this.
5. We have the inventive genius of mankind to invent our way out of any problem we define as a solvable issue. All we have to do is identify the problem and gather the will to solve it. We can do this, and have had this ability for quite some time now. All we lack is the will.

With all of this going for us 2017 holds the promise to be a remarkable year for planet Earth. It will require agreement on priorities and use of resources. That will require leadership that intelligently understands the stakes at hand. It also requires intelligent followers to support the decisions.

The only question left is – will we make use of the opportunity before us?

I can only wish you the courage to engage in this promise and then experience a truly happy New Year!

December 30, 2016

Heart Sick

As the year comes to a close my mind continues on track to feeling desperately depressed. It is the election that did it for me. But then, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) also affects me at this time of year. It begins before Thanksgiving, probably about November 5^th when days are noticeably shorter and nights longer. With trees bare of their leaves and lawns beginning to brown for winter’s long night, the entire landscape takes on a barrenness that sucks joy out of our lives; at least mine!

Of course there is the season of expectations we call the Holidays, or Christmas to many. When we were little kids we placed great hope on Christmas for our wish lists to be fulfilled magically. And when some of those wishes went unanswered we became sad, disappointed. So there is this element, too, that adds to the seasonal woes for people like me.

Impending disappointment of the Holidays and SAD are both heavy causes of depression at this time of year. Add to that the joy and happiness of many others that are not shared in all households. The distinction is hard to avoid. And depression is often an outcome of this.

Now add the Trump Presidency about to begin.

You see the problem for people like me? And if you are not one who shares this problem, what is your response? Do you commiserate? Or do you gloat? If the latter you will only add to the problem. Perhaps that is what you wish to do. If so, you deserve our pity.

I thought I would gradually feel better about the election results. I haven’t so far. If anything, my feelings are worse. I have wondered what the specifics of those feelings are. I don’t have a full list yet, but here are some of them.

1. I am gay. I didn’t always know I was gay because I fought it but admitted finally when I was 37 years old. Didn’t do much about it, but another 13 years ended in divorce and gay bachelorhood at 50. Not the best of times to explore one’s universe! I am aware of the efforts to secure gay rights in a hostile nearly all heterosexual culture. But we did gain rights. Now I fear losing them under Trump.
2. I am a supporter of women and their rights as well. Through hundreds of years women’s rights were in question but finally they were secured. Now I fear losing them under Trump.
3. I am a supporter of abortion rights, mainly because I view this as a woman’s right. Now I fear losing them under Trump.
4. Although I support the 2^nd Amendment to bear arms, I do not see that as a right to sell unlimited numbers of guns to anybody who wants them, especially those who are incapable of controlling their instincts to kill. Now I fear losing even more control over guns under Trump.
5. So many important issues in recent years have been settled in the Supreme Court by way of ideological splits. The conservative/liberal power struggle is razor thin and not pretty. The Supreme Court has a key vacancy among its justices. Now I fear losing a reasonable ideological balance on the court under Trump.
6. I believe in democracy but feel collaboration and compromise are the lubricants that make it work. Such has not been present in American government for 16 years. Now I fear hegemony decisions made under Trump.
7. I used to believe in the Electoral College because it has been a part of our amended constitutional form of government for many hundreds of years. But it can be thwarted and has twice since 2000 – the Gore-Bush election and now the Clinton-Trump election. Never has the majority of votes gone to the candidate that did not become inaugurated on January 20, 2017. Now I fear the inequality of the Electoral College especially under Trump.
8. I believe in the melting pot strength of the USA with immigration a joyous addition to our nation’s culture and future. Now I fear losing that under Trump.
9. I am a lover of international relations and the hope it holds for a world at peace with itself. Now I fear losing that hope under Trump.
10. I believe in our nation as one of the people, for the people and by the people. Now I fear that has a radically new meaning under Trump.
11. I believe in educating all of our citizens of whatever age for life-long learning as freely and accessibly as possible. Now I fear losing that possibility under Trump.
12. I believe in free trade among the nations of the earth. Now I fear losing that promise under Trump.
13. I believe in the free practice of religion as long as it isn’t forced down anyone’s throat. Now I fear losing that freedom under Trump.
14. I used to believe in the free press but have witnessed its horrible decline in research and finding of truth. Now I fear losing freedom of the press under Trump.

I could go on but you see the well established pattern from the above. I am heartsick because I worry that so much of our history and national story of equality, logic and fairness will disappear under Trump. I have yet to see any hint that my worries are unfounded. Trump and his supporters are quick to maintain the fears of all of the above.

And I see no loyal opposition readying itself to bring witness to the opposition. This is our birthright in America. Will that be lost as well?

December 29, 2016