Judging by what’s going on in my town of Altadena, and even further out into the city, state, and across the entire nation, it appears that people have a very low opinions of those in leadership positions. Could it be that our form of government is no longer working as it was intended?
Nationally and even internationally, it appears that people are revolting against “the status quo” forms of government. Much of this may be because the world is facing very trying financial times. The world’s economy is sick and suffering greatly. Naturally those who are in charge of leadership are blamed for the problems we’re facing.
Take a look at the U.S. government. We are a democracy, which supposedly give the people a large say in how we are governed. But is that really true? Do “the people” actually participate in setting the laws, rules, and boundaries whereby they are governed? Apparently not! If so there would not be this much unrest.
If you had looked ahead in time from the period of the 1960s and 70s you wouldn’t have imagined how little people would be paying attention and getting involved in how they are governed in current times. Back then people rebelled against poor government to the point that the regime that was in control would be ousted if they did a poor job.
However today we are looking at more of a “me generation.” People are not as concerned about society, the public, or even the nation as much as they are about their individual gains. “What’s in it for ME.”
Because of this people in government routinely get away with very poor political decisions, at least until it hits individuals squarely in their pockets. Who cares about the poor, the needy, the helpless, the starving, and the hungry as long as it is not “me” doing the suffering? This is more of the attitude of the common people.
Think about it! If you are not currently in default with your mortgage or behind in paying most of your credit bills, or going hungry at night, just how much can you relate to those who are currently suffering?
If crime is not prevalent in your neighborhood, but instead across town how concerned are you about the crime reports? If things aren’t directly affecting you, just how much worry do you give the situation? Think about it!
We’re living in a “me generation.” Somehow we’ve lost part of the brotherhood that connected us as people. Perhaps this is due in part because current technology allows us to be more independent than in times past.
Currently we can connect to world affairs almost instantaneously concerning things that could alter our prosperity. Rather than going through intermediaries we can access information ourselves and thereby take care of our situations, with no “middle man.”
Since we’re learning to trust in our resources more than we trust in institutional resources we no longer rely upon them. This would include people in government of which we already have a very low opinion… for very good reasons.
There was a day when politicians were considered to be dirty, but we couldn’t prove it so people had to go along with their programs. However in this day everything is more transparent. It is not that leaders prefer it this way, but that current technology makes it possible for us to see things clearly as they are happening.
Where in the recent past political dirt (backdoor politics) was done in the dark, today it is done right out in the light of the media. This technological curve happened so relatively fast that people did not learn how to make the proper adjustments before their dirt was fully exposed to the public. Hence too many government officials were exposed, (caught literally with their pants down) thereby painting a bad picture of people in leadership.
Rather than ordinarily trusting in government and leadership, as was the case in the past, the “new ordinary” is to mistrust them. In fact it would be more rare to find an honest trustworthy politician these days than it would be to find a crooked one, at least by public consensus.
This is why we are becoming more of a “me generation.” We’d rather not trust the idiots we see almost daily in the media making fools of themselves.
While it’s good that we take responsibility for our actions we must be careful not to get overly involved in the “me generation.” Yes, self-preservation is a good thing, but our personal gain at the expense of others is not usually a win/win equation.
If we are to grow as a society we must make sure we do it together, not as one person at the expense of others. We need to tell the people we elected in government that this is not their show, but our lives they are abusing. In addition we need to let them know this by using the only real power we have, and that is in our right to vote them out in the next free elections.
Remember our government officials are elected or otherwise hired to do their jobs by the people and it is for the people that they should be serving. When they do a poor job we must let them know by firing them.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Our Squawk Boxes are getting louder
There was a time when we only heard chatter from those closest to us, primarily the ones in our inner circle. This could have included the people that you are in contact with at home, work, or play.
Back during the 1920’s, thirties, forties, and beyond the radio, started penetrating into one’s personal chatter space. If you had access to the radio the chatter increased beyond just one’s inner circle. You were able to hear chatter from a much wider area.
Before I get too deep into this article I need to explain what a “squawk box” is for those of you who may not be familiar with this term.
What Does Squawk Box Mean? An intercom speaker often used on brokers' trading desks in investment banks and stock brokerages. A squawk box allows a firm's analysts and traders to communicate with the firm's brokers.
We have expanded this definition to mean the inner-voice that sounds off in your head. It was limited to certain types of chatter for a while, but now I dare say the limit has been increased almost infinitely.
After the radio came another pervasive protrusion into our chatter space, which was the television. Contrary to what you might think, the television was not invented by a single inventor but instead by many people working together or alone over many years.
Henry and Faraday’s work with electromagnetism jumpstarted the era of electronic communication way back in 1831 and it has been developed and evolved ever since, although it was not until the 1900's when the term television was first used and further into the 1920’s and 30’s before it was put into full gear. Needless to say this form of intrusion into our minds and heads made the squawk even much louder.
Long before we had the television we had the telephone. Its history was just as confusing because so many inventors worked on this concept from back in the 1840 as part of the attempt to explore electronic communication. Alexander Bell and Thomas Watson may be best known for the ones that commercially brought the phone to the market.
By the middle of the 20th Century and afterward most of these electromagnetic forms of communication devices were common in the average household. At this stage our chatterboxes is literally filled from numerous sources. With time we are becoming so addicted to this connection that it is like we are tied to it as an umbilical chord.
Just when you think our space was filled beyond what we need to keep in touch with each other now we have the ability to reach worldwide and connect with almost unlimited resources. That means that our squawk boxes are getting louder than we have the space in our brains to disseminate easily. What’s next? How about a V-chip directly into your brain?
You ready for this!
Back during the 1920’s, thirties, forties, and beyond the radio, started penetrating into one’s personal chatter space. If you had access to the radio the chatter increased beyond just one’s inner circle. You were able to hear chatter from a much wider area.
Before I get too deep into this article I need to explain what a “squawk box” is for those of you who may not be familiar with this term.
What Does Squawk Box Mean? An intercom speaker often used on brokers' trading desks in investment banks and stock brokerages. A squawk box allows a firm's analysts and traders to communicate with the firm's brokers.
We have expanded this definition to mean the inner-voice that sounds off in your head. It was limited to certain types of chatter for a while, but now I dare say the limit has been increased almost infinitely.
After the radio came another pervasive protrusion into our chatter space, which was the television. Contrary to what you might think, the television was not invented by a single inventor but instead by many people working together or alone over many years.
Henry and Faraday’s work with electromagnetism jumpstarted the era of electronic communication way back in 1831 and it has been developed and evolved ever since, although it was not until the 1900's when the term television was first used and further into the 1920’s and 30’s before it was put into full gear. Needless to say this form of intrusion into our minds and heads made the squawk even much louder.
Long before we had the television we had the telephone. Its history was just as confusing because so many inventors worked on this concept from back in the 1840 as part of the attempt to explore electronic communication. Alexander Bell and Thomas Watson may be best known for the ones that commercially brought the phone to the market.
By the middle of the 20th Century and afterward most of these electromagnetic forms of communication devices were common in the average household. At this stage our chatterboxes is literally filled from numerous sources. With time we are becoming so addicted to this connection that it is like we are tied to it as an umbilical chord.
Just when you think our space was filled beyond what we need to keep in touch with each other now we have the ability to reach worldwide and connect with almost unlimited resources. That means that our squawk boxes are getting louder than we have the space in our brains to disseminate easily. What’s next? How about a V-chip directly into your brain?
You ready for this!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
The Joy of Grandparenthood
During the summer months is probably the best season for grandparents to enjoy their grandchildren. Whether for a short or long visit, these memories are indelibly etched in both the children and the adults.
If you are fortunate to live in the same general area of your extended family members it is probably a more frequent occasion. However, in this era it seems that extended families are spreading out geographically further and further for various reasons.
The really neat thing about grandchildren is how you may enjoy them fully, even to the point of burning your energy out of your tank because you know the time is only temporary. After a while they get to go back home with their parents. Because of this you may be a little more liberal with nearly everything than you were with your own children, their parents.
Recently I had a chance to keep my grandchildren for an extended stay. With my wife (Grammy) at work and my daughter back in her home packing for a move, I (Pa-Paw) was the one left most of the day with 2 little sweet grand daughters for over a week.
As a writer I am used to having my quiet space in order to develop the essays I write. Now as a columnist I have to come up with my weekly article on a specific date and turn it in to my editor.
Needless to say my grand daughters will have nothing to do with my deadlines. They want me 24-7. When their motor is running mine has to be on as well. Since they are six and four years old, theirs is running from the time they wake up until well past the time I normally turn down in the early evening these days.
Just a few weeks back I was doing hard manual labor working on improvement projects around the house. For homeowners this never seems to end. I did about 4our weeks of projects that demanded so much of my time and energies. At the end of each day I just passed out with the television watching over me.
As I have aged I find my body does not match my mental capacity, or so I thought. In other words the things that I used to do quite easily are suddenly much more difficult for me. This older body seems to tire and wear out much faster than it did, seemingly just a short while back. This is what aging does to us humans.
I just had a rude awakening about the new limitations of my aging body. Every bone and muscle was sore from the constant hard work trying to do all of my projects, which included pouring several bags of hand-mixed cement in a wheel barrrow, hours of painting, hauling dirt to the garden, and cleaning out around the home.
I thought I had figured out the new limits of this older body until I spent the entire week with my two grand daughters. I love them more than life itself, but it appears that I had also forgotten how much energy it takes to spend over ten hours a day with children that age.
You have to have your brain in full attention mode all the while and you have to constantly plan things to do all that time. You have to settle disputes ever so often, fix meals and snacks nearly every two hours, go to the park, go to Mac Ds,’ explain things that you don’t really know (make up stuff) and a few more surprises that you didn’t plan. With children you never quite know what to expect.
I thought I was tired at the end of a full working day around the home, but at the end of the day with my two grandchildren I was ready to go back to the physical manual labor. My sweet two grand daughters wore me out in ways that I didn’t realize could be worn out.
I remember raising our daughter (Mr. Mom) when she was a child as my wife continued to work full time. Somehow I managed to raise her as the primary home-based parent because that is just how things worked out.
What I forgot was the fact that I was nearly 20 years younger then and I had sufficient energy to do what was necessary to keep up with a young child, plus it was only one child back then.
One little girl, twenty years younger, compared to two little girls and this body twenty years older. Now I know why God made us fruitful while we were young and less fruitful when we are older. You earn the right to be grand parents. You can enjoy them fully when they visit but after a while they go back home with their parents so you can recuperate.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my wife, my family, my kids, and my lovely grandkids, but now I can really respect what the generation before me did. Before I was a parent I did not know what they sacrificed and what their role really meant. When I became a parent I learned full well what my parents went through.
Before I was a grand parent I did not know what my parents had gone through as usually we sent our daughter for an extended visit over the summer vacation. Although my mother never complained, I am sure when that summer was over she relished a quiet home and a long, hot bath for a few months afterward.
What a joy it is to be a grandparent. When your grandchildren can come and visit for a short while you can just love every piece of them as you give their parents a break from the kid(s).
Now my mother and mother-in-law are in their 80s. They are the great-grandmothers. They have paid their dues. They can sit back, relax, and look down the line at the many generations under them knowing what all are going through as they smile and sip on their nice cool lemonade in their comfortable rocking chair. One day that will be me.
Life just constantly unfolds just as a rose bud opens its pedals revealing what comes next.
What a joy it is to be a grandparent, but now I look forward to being a great-grandparent and watching what all the newer generations go through as I smile with wisdom.
If you are fortunate to live in the same general area of your extended family members it is probably a more frequent occasion. However, in this era it seems that extended families are spreading out geographically further and further for various reasons.
The really neat thing about grandchildren is how you may enjoy them fully, even to the point of burning your energy out of your tank because you know the time is only temporary. After a while they get to go back home with their parents. Because of this you may be a little more liberal with nearly everything than you were with your own children, their parents.
Recently I had a chance to keep my grandchildren for an extended stay. With my wife (Grammy) at work and my daughter back in her home packing for a move, I (Pa-Paw) was the one left most of the day with 2 little sweet grand daughters for over a week.
As a writer I am used to having my quiet space in order to develop the essays I write. Now as a columnist I have to come up with my weekly article on a specific date and turn it in to my editor.
Needless to say my grand daughters will have nothing to do with my deadlines. They want me 24-7. When their motor is running mine has to be on as well. Since they are six and four years old, theirs is running from the time they wake up until well past the time I normally turn down in the early evening these days.
Just a few weeks back I was doing hard manual labor working on improvement projects around the house. For homeowners this never seems to end. I did about 4our weeks of projects that demanded so much of my time and energies. At the end of each day I just passed out with the television watching over me.
As I have aged I find my body does not match my mental capacity, or so I thought. In other words the things that I used to do quite easily are suddenly much more difficult for me. This older body seems to tire and wear out much faster than it did, seemingly just a short while back. This is what aging does to us humans.
I just had a rude awakening about the new limitations of my aging body. Every bone and muscle was sore from the constant hard work trying to do all of my projects, which included pouring several bags of hand-mixed cement in a wheel barrrow, hours of painting, hauling dirt to the garden, and cleaning out around the home.
I thought I had figured out the new limits of this older body until I spent the entire week with my two grand daughters. I love them more than life itself, but it appears that I had also forgotten how much energy it takes to spend over ten hours a day with children that age.
You have to have your brain in full attention mode all the while and you have to constantly plan things to do all that time. You have to settle disputes ever so often, fix meals and snacks nearly every two hours, go to the park, go to Mac Ds,’ explain things that you don’t really know (make up stuff) and a few more surprises that you didn’t plan. With children you never quite know what to expect.
I thought I was tired at the end of a full working day around the home, but at the end of the day with my two grandchildren I was ready to go back to the physical manual labor. My sweet two grand daughters wore me out in ways that I didn’t realize could be worn out.
I remember raising our daughter (Mr. Mom) when she was a child as my wife continued to work full time. Somehow I managed to raise her as the primary home-based parent because that is just how things worked out.
What I forgot was the fact that I was nearly 20 years younger then and I had sufficient energy to do what was necessary to keep up with a young child, plus it was only one child back then.
One little girl, twenty years younger, compared to two little girls and this body twenty years older. Now I know why God made us fruitful while we were young and less fruitful when we are older. You earn the right to be grand parents. You can enjoy them fully when they visit but after a while they go back home with their parents so you can recuperate.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my wife, my family, my kids, and my lovely grandkids, but now I can really respect what the generation before me did. Before I was a parent I did not know what they sacrificed and what their role really meant. When I became a parent I learned full well what my parents went through.
Before I was a grand parent I did not know what my parents had gone through as usually we sent our daughter for an extended visit over the summer vacation. Although my mother never complained, I am sure when that summer was over she relished a quiet home and a long, hot bath for a few months afterward.
What a joy it is to be a grandparent. When your grandchildren can come and visit for a short while you can just love every piece of them as you give their parents a break from the kid(s).
Now my mother and mother-in-law are in their 80s. They are the great-grandmothers. They have paid their dues. They can sit back, relax, and look down the line at the many generations under them knowing what all are going through as they smile and sip on their nice cool lemonade in their comfortable rocking chair. One day that will be me.
Life just constantly unfolds just as a rose bud opens its pedals revealing what comes next.
What a joy it is to be a grandparent, but now I look forward to being a great-grandparent and watching what all the newer generations go through as I smile with wisdom.
Monday, June 13, 2011
What are you made of?
If I cut you with a knife you would bleed blood simply because that is part of what you are made of. Without blood we would surely die. Besides that, if I cut you, I would be in serious trouble because that would be a crime. The point being, what is in you comes out of you when exposed.
High-ranking political leaders that show evidence of very poor character and integrity seriously trouble me. They are in positions of public trust. We elect them into office to serve us and look out for our welfare. They actually take an oath of office to serve us with the highest of integrity.
When someone cheats as in marital infidelity whether on an irregular or a regular basis I have an issue with that. It is not like there was one slip when they were caught in the heat of the moment and made a poor judgment, but in many cases these are ongoing affairs. That shows a personality trait. You are a cheater and that is your nature. You lie to cover your fault.
Am I to trust someone to create laws and vote on issues of public welfare when they cheat on the ones nearest and dearest to them? When you cheat on your spouse you do the same with your children and all the extended family members. You lie and you put on a false front in order to practice your deceit. I have a problem with that!
I realize that people make mistakes and I do believe in forgiveness and restitution. We are all imperfect creatures because of our basic human nature. In fact it takes a lot of discipline and self-control in order to stay within the boundaries established by society.
Weiner is just another fallen leader of a long line of men that has taken this route. It happened to the President of our nation as well and our past governor. It happens to the top sports stars, movie and entertainment stars and yes, to ordinary citizens as well.
Such things happen much more than we are aware f, but the high-profile ones we see in the news are only those who get caught. The larger percentage are those that never get caught so statistically we will never know just how deep the problem may be.
Usually when these incidents leave the front page of the daily news shows and periodicals we tend to forget about them. Ask Tiger Woods, Clinton, Schwarzenegger, John Edwards, and the list goes on and on. Such behavior seems to be so common that we almost accept it as the “new norm.”
When people cheat they expose a character fault. It is something that they ultimately can’t completely control. They are attracted to something and either cannot or do not resist the temptation.
Most of us face temptations from a number of things but we don’t all fall prey or give in to them. Many love illegal drugs, too much chocolate, alcohol, sex with multiple partners, and other things that we know we should not do but we must rely upon self-control to keep us from falling victims to such things.
Those who fall, and fall often, have a problem and should seek counseling or psychiatric help. They should not be in a high office of public trust while they are seeking the help they need because they have trust issues.
When you are in the public eye you are heavily scrutinized. Things that others may get away with are not things that public figures can easily get away with simply because of the additional public pressure.
If you have a problem with a moral issue or with your integrity might I suggest that you do not seek a high profile public position. Such positions are and should be held to a higher standard because you are dealing with public trust. You can’t have your cake and eat it too…not in this case.
We might forgive you as a human being but not as one chosen to deal with our welfare. You can’t hold a higher office and stoop that low and so obviously displaying very poor character choices. Go back to your common ordinary life and build yourself back up to a position that we can trust and then we might give you a second chance. But even then you would still be scarred.
I understand the challenge of human nature. I understand the lure of things that are apparently irresistible. But I also understand that not all people are qualified to fill certain positions. If you have a problem with trust issues simply do not put yourself in a position where people need to depend upon you.
If you are a jerk, do so on your own dime, not ours!
High-ranking political leaders that show evidence of very poor character and integrity seriously trouble me. They are in positions of public trust. We elect them into office to serve us and look out for our welfare. They actually take an oath of office to serve us with the highest of integrity.
When someone cheats as in marital infidelity whether on an irregular or a regular basis I have an issue with that. It is not like there was one slip when they were caught in the heat of the moment and made a poor judgment, but in many cases these are ongoing affairs. That shows a personality trait. You are a cheater and that is your nature. You lie to cover your fault.
Am I to trust someone to create laws and vote on issues of public welfare when they cheat on the ones nearest and dearest to them? When you cheat on your spouse you do the same with your children and all the extended family members. You lie and you put on a false front in order to practice your deceit. I have a problem with that!
I realize that people make mistakes and I do believe in forgiveness and restitution. We are all imperfect creatures because of our basic human nature. In fact it takes a lot of discipline and self-control in order to stay within the boundaries established by society.
Weiner is just another fallen leader of a long line of men that has taken this route. It happened to the President of our nation as well and our past governor. It happens to the top sports stars, movie and entertainment stars and yes, to ordinary citizens as well.
Such things happen much more than we are aware f, but the high-profile ones we see in the news are only those who get caught. The larger percentage are those that never get caught so statistically we will never know just how deep the problem may be.
Usually when these incidents leave the front page of the daily news shows and periodicals we tend to forget about them. Ask Tiger Woods, Clinton, Schwarzenegger, John Edwards, and the list goes on and on. Such behavior seems to be so common that we almost accept it as the “new norm.”
When people cheat they expose a character fault. It is something that they ultimately can’t completely control. They are attracted to something and either cannot or do not resist the temptation.
Most of us face temptations from a number of things but we don’t all fall prey or give in to them. Many love illegal drugs, too much chocolate, alcohol, sex with multiple partners, and other things that we know we should not do but we must rely upon self-control to keep us from falling victims to such things.
Those who fall, and fall often, have a problem and should seek counseling or psychiatric help. They should not be in a high office of public trust while they are seeking the help they need because they have trust issues.
When you are in the public eye you are heavily scrutinized. Things that others may get away with are not things that public figures can easily get away with simply because of the additional public pressure.
If you have a problem with a moral issue or with your integrity might I suggest that you do not seek a high profile public position. Such positions are and should be held to a higher standard because you are dealing with public trust. You can’t have your cake and eat it too…not in this case.
We might forgive you as a human being but not as one chosen to deal with our welfare. You can’t hold a higher office and stoop that low and so obviously displaying very poor character choices. Go back to your common ordinary life and build yourself back up to a position that we can trust and then we might give you a second chance. But even then you would still be scarred.
I understand the challenge of human nature. I understand the lure of things that are apparently irresistible. But I also understand that not all people are qualified to fill certain positions. If you have a problem with trust issues simply do not put yourself in a position where people need to depend upon you.
If you are a jerk, do so on your own dime, not ours!
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Memorial Day Celebration
Unless you were in a war or had friends or relatives that fought or died in a war, chances are that you don’t have as much connection with this holiday as many others. In this country it is a very special day of remembrance for those who died in our nation’s service.
On this day many Americans visit the grave sites of the departed and decorate it with flowers, a reef, or flag in order to give tribute for the ultimate sacrifice paid by our many service members.
We should truly honor them greatly because it was because of their ultimate sacrifice that allows us to enjoy the great democracy and freedom we have here in America. There is no greater gift one person can give than their life for the benefit of others.
Typically we take this day as the first unofficial day of summer kicking off a more laid back time of year for start of the vacation season, a time away from school, work, and summer activities.
Like most holidays the real meaning behind them has been lost in the shuffle as people just look forward to an extended holiday weekend.
This holiday, formally known as Decoration Day, as in decorating the grave sites, was first enacted to honor Union and Confederate soldiers following the American Civil war but was extended after World War I to honor Americans who have died in all wars.
It also was extended to incorporate ordinary people visiting the grave sites of deceased relatives regardless of their affiliation with the military. It is a day of remembrance of the departed.
The spirit of the holiday is one that is somewhat somber, but as in most holidays we treat it as a long weekend devoted to gatherings of friends and family, shopping, fireworks, trips to the beach, and popular sports activities.
For those of you who are still holding down the workforce, enjoy the holiday but at least silently remember the many service men and women that gave their lives that you might be able to enjoy the lives you are currently living.
God Bless America and all those service people that died so we may enjoy this great country.
On this day many Americans visit the grave sites of the departed and decorate it with flowers, a reef, or flag in order to give tribute for the ultimate sacrifice paid by our many service members.
We should truly honor them greatly because it was because of their ultimate sacrifice that allows us to enjoy the great democracy and freedom we have here in America. There is no greater gift one person can give than their life for the benefit of others.
Typically we take this day as the first unofficial day of summer kicking off a more laid back time of year for start of the vacation season, a time away from school, work, and summer activities.
Like most holidays the real meaning behind them has been lost in the shuffle as people just look forward to an extended holiday weekend.
This holiday, formally known as Decoration Day, as in decorating the grave sites, was first enacted to honor Union and Confederate soldiers following the American Civil war but was extended after World War I to honor Americans who have died in all wars.
It also was extended to incorporate ordinary people visiting the grave sites of deceased relatives regardless of their affiliation with the military. It is a day of remembrance of the departed.
The spirit of the holiday is one that is somewhat somber, but as in most holidays we treat it as a long weekend devoted to gatherings of friends and family, shopping, fireworks, trips to the beach, and popular sports activities.
For those of you who are still holding down the workforce, enjoy the holiday but at least silently remember the many service men and women that gave their lives that you might be able to enjoy the lives you are currently living.
God Bless America and all those service people that died so we may enjoy this great country.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Let's Talk Economy?
Make no bones about it; everyone is feeling the pinch with our current economy. Everyone that purchases consumer goods is being financially squeezed more today than in recent memory.
How do we manage to merely survive through times such as this?
It is not so much that the majority of people are at a point of desperation, but more that the case of hearing about how bad things are constantly being heard on a daily basis through the media.
Yes, the cost of many of our consumer goods and products have gone up substantially, but this simply means that most of us just can’t afford to use our previously-discretionary funds as fluently as before. People want what they want and many refuse to cut back until and unless they are forced to do so, and only when absolutely necessary.
Certainly there are people who have already reached the point of despair because of this economy, but right now they seemingly do not make up the majority of the population.
When you hear about 10% unemployment rate, that is speaking about those who are in the job market, the ones that really desire to work.
On the other hand, in looking at the overall picture, another economic category is those who are at, or below the poverty level. Even though the poor feel the pinch just the same as everyone, most did not have those discretionary funds to began with, so to them life remains statistically about the same, except for having even less than they had before. Their struggle just becomes deeper, but not that much newer.
The upper lower-to-middle-income earner is where the pinch is perhaps felt the most. The cost of nearly everything they were purchasing before such as gas, food and clothing went up, yet their incomes has not. Now they have substantially less funds to spread around to cover even their basic necessities.
Since so many people in general seem to have so accustomed to modern conveniences such as cell phones, cable television, Internet access, and other things, giving them up or cutting back is not something that most are willing to consider, at least not at this point.
Although we grumble about how tough things are, most have not reached the point where they are willing to cut back or give up on their conveniences.
If their situation was really in the tanks you would see fewer people with cell phones, more under-fed, seeking financial assistance, homes being lost to the banks, and even fewer cars on the roadways. So far we are not seeing a drastic change in our habits.
Imagine; if people really wanted to better survive this poor economy there are things they could be doing right now even though it would require tightening up one's belt.
Rather than waiting until the cupboards are completely bare they could start being more conservative with their usage of things. They could really think about the things they do that are wasteful.
Many run the water much too long before getting in the shower. We run the dishwater too long while doing the dishes. We eat more food that our bodies need in order to be satisfied. We have gotten too accustomed to having too much of things we really don’t need.
What would happen if more people started using public transportation and really taking a pinch out of the gas cartels? God forbid if those who smoke cigarettes would quit smoking and stop wasting that money. How about if we did not super-size our meals as a habit?
If you really gave it serious thought I would bet you could find dozens of ways to trim back on things that are not absolutely necessary. Some of these things are probably purely wasteful.
Yes, the economy is bad, but we are the ones that helped drive it into its current situation by our poor spending habits, gluttony, and wasteful spending. I would bet that if society became more thoughtful and conservative with their spending habits our economy wouldn’t appear to be as bleak as it currently is revealed in the media.
Tighten up your belt straps before you are forced to do so and things will work out just fine.
How do we manage to merely survive through times such as this?
It is not so much that the majority of people are at a point of desperation, but more that the case of hearing about how bad things are constantly being heard on a daily basis through the media.
Yes, the cost of many of our consumer goods and products have gone up substantially, but this simply means that most of us just can’t afford to use our previously-discretionary funds as fluently as before. People want what they want and many refuse to cut back until and unless they are forced to do so, and only when absolutely necessary.
Certainly there are people who have already reached the point of despair because of this economy, but right now they seemingly do not make up the majority of the population.
When you hear about 10% unemployment rate, that is speaking about those who are in the job market, the ones that really desire to work.
On the other hand, in looking at the overall picture, another economic category is those who are at, or below the poverty level. Even though the poor feel the pinch just the same as everyone, most did not have those discretionary funds to began with, so to them life remains statistically about the same, except for having even less than they had before. Their struggle just becomes deeper, but not that much newer.
The upper lower-to-middle-income earner is where the pinch is perhaps felt the most. The cost of nearly everything they were purchasing before such as gas, food and clothing went up, yet their incomes has not. Now they have substantially less funds to spread around to cover even their basic necessities.
Since so many people in general seem to have so accustomed to modern conveniences such as cell phones, cable television, Internet access, and other things, giving them up or cutting back is not something that most are willing to consider, at least not at this point.
Although we grumble about how tough things are, most have not reached the point where they are willing to cut back or give up on their conveniences.
If their situation was really in the tanks you would see fewer people with cell phones, more under-fed, seeking financial assistance, homes being lost to the banks, and even fewer cars on the roadways. So far we are not seeing a drastic change in our habits.
Imagine; if people really wanted to better survive this poor economy there are things they could be doing right now even though it would require tightening up one's belt.
Rather than waiting until the cupboards are completely bare they could start being more conservative with their usage of things. They could really think about the things they do that are wasteful.
Many run the water much too long before getting in the shower. We run the dishwater too long while doing the dishes. We eat more food that our bodies need in order to be satisfied. We have gotten too accustomed to having too much of things we really don’t need.
What would happen if more people started using public transportation and really taking a pinch out of the gas cartels? God forbid if those who smoke cigarettes would quit smoking and stop wasting that money. How about if we did not super-size our meals as a habit?
If you really gave it serious thought I would bet you could find dozens of ways to trim back on things that are not absolutely necessary. Some of these things are probably purely wasteful.
Yes, the economy is bad, but we are the ones that helped drive it into its current situation by our poor spending habits, gluttony, and wasteful spending. I would bet that if society became more thoughtful and conservative with their spending habits our economy wouldn’t appear to be as bleak as it currently is revealed in the media.
Tighten up your belt straps before you are forced to do so and things will work out just fine.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
When is enough really enough
For months, maybe years by now, we have watched starlet bad boys and bad girls treat their celebrity status as a trump card to do whatever they want or act any way they choose at our expense.
Apparently they don’t get the fact that it is the fans that motors their success. If people suddenly stop purchasing their offering they would quickly see what it feels like to be normal or, even worse, a “has been.”
I am particularly tired of the media giving a megaphone to Charlie Sheen to parade his sickness. To just look at him you can clearly see that he has some sort of problem, most likely substance abuse. People are trying to say that this is his brand of humor, but there is nothing funny about his behavior or the things he is portraying.
If he wants to be a playboy with wild drug or sex parties, let him do so in his own world. But do we really need to give him a platform in our homes almost daily through the media to showcase his madness?
Why would a major network put up with such shenanigans for such a long period of time before they eventually come to their senses and cut him loose? It’s simple! He brings big revenue into the network, because the general public will avidly read and devour anything set before them!
I understand economy 101, but at a point don't morals, bad messages, signals, or lessons; or the way he is personally impacting others, especially vulnerable children, count? Is money the only God that we are to respect in this case? I think not!
This is a very strange generation that we are facing. We have dropped the bar so low that even an earthworm could get over it with ease. Almost anything goes!
I thought I could be a liberal and just let people to their own thing, but unless I am willing to cut off all my media resources I cannot get away from those that wish to impose and expose their wickedness upon me.
I suppose I could just shut up and allow others the freedom to be themselves, but in this case I have had enough! Since I too have a small megaphone I wish to make my voice heard even though it may come across as a mere whisper coming out of a vast desert.
COME ON, FOLKS… THAT’S ENOUGH! Turn off his megaphone and allow this man an opportunity to get the help he needs. Certainly he does not have the will power to turn it off for himself. He is sick and more than likely being controlled by something unnatural, if nothing other than just his own alter ego.
I am waaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy past having enough.
Enough is really enough already! My late Grandmother-in-Law frequently said:
"ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, AND TOO MUCH IS GOOD FOR NOTHING!"
Apparently they don’t get the fact that it is the fans that motors their success. If people suddenly stop purchasing their offering they would quickly see what it feels like to be normal or, even worse, a “has been.”
I am particularly tired of the media giving a megaphone to Charlie Sheen to parade his sickness. To just look at him you can clearly see that he has some sort of problem, most likely substance abuse. People are trying to say that this is his brand of humor, but there is nothing funny about his behavior or the things he is portraying.
If he wants to be a playboy with wild drug or sex parties, let him do so in his own world. But do we really need to give him a platform in our homes almost daily through the media to showcase his madness?
Why would a major network put up with such shenanigans for such a long period of time before they eventually come to their senses and cut him loose? It’s simple! He brings big revenue into the network, because the general public will avidly read and devour anything set before them!
I understand economy 101, but at a point don't morals, bad messages, signals, or lessons; or the way he is personally impacting others, especially vulnerable children, count? Is money the only God that we are to respect in this case? I think not!
This is a very strange generation that we are facing. We have dropped the bar so low that even an earthworm could get over it with ease. Almost anything goes!
I thought I could be a liberal and just let people to their own thing, but unless I am willing to cut off all my media resources I cannot get away from those that wish to impose and expose their wickedness upon me.
I suppose I could just shut up and allow others the freedom to be themselves, but in this case I have had enough! Since I too have a small megaphone I wish to make my voice heard even though it may come across as a mere whisper coming out of a vast desert.
COME ON, FOLKS… THAT’S ENOUGH! Turn off his megaphone and allow this man an opportunity to get the help he needs. Certainly he does not have the will power to turn it off for himself. He is sick and more than likely being controlled by something unnatural, if nothing other than just his own alter ego.
I am waaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy past having enough.
Enough is really enough already! My late Grandmother-in-Law frequently said:
"ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, AND TOO MUCH IS GOOD FOR NOTHING!"
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