Freedom from war

I did not have a GI Joe when I was a child. However, I did have a battalion of those green army figures. I remember simulating battles in the "hills." The hills were made up of blankets piled high with the nooks and crannies serving as caves and various turrets for my fighters. Not very romantic, bloody, or technologically advanced, but it got me through many a night as an only child (which, by the way, was cured when I was 12 1/2 with the advent of my baby brother).

Fighting has come a long way from those hills. The fight has taken freedom away from us in every conceivable manner one can imagine. Let us explore this concept, which I imagine runs counter to many of the ideals held by the readers of this blog entry.

1. First, war leads to overspending. There is no plane, missile, or submarine cheap enough. Your funds will be confiscated. "Fine," you say. You will gladly hand over your funds so that our government can fight the bad guys. When they line up for the next hand out, what excuse do you have to offer? I should hope it would be "it's all gone." Instead, like sheep to slaughter, we continue to write the check, buoy our poor troops (which they justly deserve some buoying), and spend, spend, and spend some more. This is making me thirsty.
2. Second, it typically means that the soils of other sovereign nations will be tread upon by our very expensive troops and their machinery. I do not know about you, but I sure would not want anybody else's troops on our turf. Somehow, perhaps through the continuing fascination with manifest destiny or just the sense that we are indeed better (Can anyone say pride? Deadly sin? "How 'bout a Fresca?"), we continue to go over there when we should be working on fixing over here. Our exportation of wrath demeans us as a nation and as a people. I am all for protecting our territory. Our territory does need protecting. The hills of Afghanistan do not pass the test under my definition of our territory.
3. In most cases, it is unconstitutional. War Powers Act and all, the US continues to deny the Founding Fathers' assertion that only Congress has the ability to declare war. It is okay though. I mean who would not want to change the rules and usurp the highest law of the land. Greed, anyone? Just do it. Swoosh!
4. Finally, and I have already mentioned it, it takes the attention away from pressing issues at home: education, healthcare, and infrastructure to name but a few. Who is going to solve these issues? The Iraqis? The Turks? A teacher, a nurse, and a carpenter from Mogadishu?

As we work our way through the seven deadly sins, I must stop and take a breath. We have already committed the most dangerous one and that is pride. Many argue that from the sin of pride blossom many of the other sins. From pride, we restrict the ability of others to live their own lives because we believe our life to be so much more important and so much more redeeming. Look around you. Is it? Are we fighting the right battles? Are we clawing for the best hill on the battlefield? Is all this blood worth this way of life? Are we indeed taxing and spending our way into oblivion?

The resounding, single answer that I always hear is "yes, of course it is," to all of those questions. I am sorry. You cannot have it all because there is just no damn place to put it all (thanks, Steven Wright)! Freedom from war will in fact give us freedom from many other vices. More importantly, it will free up countless dollars that can go back to the citizens of this nation. Let us declare war dead and have its funeral as opposed to the funerals of our brothers and sisters. As Danny DeVito states in Other People's Money, "now that's a funeral worth having."

As always, be thankful for what you have, buy only what you need, and work diligently for peace. I shall try to do the same. From the shortest hills I know in these parts, I bid you all a good night.

Space is a flight of fancy...well, perhaps a leap of fancy.

Several weeks ago, I watched with awe, with my wife and daughter in tow, the landing of Space Shuttle Atlantis at Edwards AFB. I have seen a launch, again with the same tandem in tow, from a rooftop in Orlando. It is all quite amazing. A great deal of pride and unrestrained curiosity overcomes me when I see such things. Alas, amazement and glee are not enough to prove an item's ultimate worth to society. It is even more important given the priorities that await us.

I speak of the space program. I understand that on many fronts the space program has created a great deal of good for mankind. The following page (http://techtran.msfc.nasa.gov/at_home.html) offers the many benefits gained from the space program here in the United States, which is primarily funded through NASA. I respect and honor those accomplishments. I also hope that we continue to fund the space program in such a way that enhances life on Earth and only for that purpose.

This wicked fascination with the far reaches of the galaxy, the water molecules on Mars or wherever, and the like do not, in my opinion, merit the expenditure and the waste we have seen over the years. The Hubble Space Telescope, which is estimated to cost $7 billion dollars over its life, is, according to some, a cost-effective space vehicle. $7 BILLION...say it with me, now. Humbug.

I recently read an article that described our new ascent to the Moon. Haven't we been there already? Isn't it dusty and devoid of life? Isn't Andy Kaufman the man on the Moon? Yes, I'm sure that millions of the world's denizens are enriched by the many space-age beds we sleep on each night, but our ancestors survived just fine on bit of straw or some cotton mattresses. Can't we try to conserve the water we have HERE instead of spending countless man hours and dollars trying to find it on barren planet?

Space provides a clear shot for our enemies or perhaps to our enemies. I think our pursuit of outer space is a misplaced game of cowboys and Indians or cops and robbers. We have been robbed of many other more precious things in life because of these silly expenditures. Because of our romantic enchantment with that which we cannot have, we've completely taken for granted what we do have. Stop the madness today.

As always, be thankful for what you have, buy only what you need, and work diligently for peace. I shall try to do the same. From that little corner where sanity meets craziness, I bid you all a good night.

It's reigning religion...again

Each man or woman to his or her own, I say. It is what we are granted by our Creator and our constitution. But somehow there's this mob, this mob cloaked in tangled words and marginal prophecies that insist we give up ourselves for the church, the temple, the mosque...pick your house of worship. Leave it be already.

What's even more ludicrous is that this nation and many other nations are founded on the principle of freedom of religion. FREEDOM. I love to say that word. Freedom to worship or not worship. Freedom to write blog entries criticizing wholesale religious proselytizing. Freedom to pray for positive change in our time.

Instead, we continue to have so-called freedom lovers that demand religious hegemony play an active role in government. Our god is much better than your god - neh neh ne na neh neh. By all means, we must invoke our god's spirited catechism in each and every aspect of YOUR life. Freedom is simply, at this point, thrown out the window. One's own freewill, individuality, and even the esprit du corps are all put at risk. Much of this comes from those that want maximum freedom - freedom from socialism, freedom from taxes, and the ever interesting, freedom to bear arms (see my blog entry, The Bad Things in Life http://spotonwithtrivedi.blogspot.com/2009/03/bad-things-in-life.html.

Why then push, as a drug dealer pushes, your goods on the rest of us? What's so compelling? Why all the divisiveness? The extremism? The insane amount of PRIDE (a mortal sin in most world religions) in one's own religious dogma? Please, someone explain! Explain without quoting any sort of religious verbiage - men wrote those words. Please speaketh for thyselfeth. How does one rationalize what I see as hypocrisy - OURS is better than YOURS - with the notion that saying that, in and of itself, is also sinful.

Religious fervor is a means of dividing all of us from what it is supposed to uphold and cement - kindness, charity, and love towards others. For those that care (and based on the number of blog followers, there's not much interest), I will be over here in the corner of my flat, praying that we don't annihilate one another on the grounds of god greed. Dang! Another deadly sin rears its ugly head.

As always, be thankful for what you have, buy only what you need, and work diligently for peace. I shall try to do the same. From the home office just outside the gates of the most affluent suburb in Cincinnati, I bid you well.

One measure of obscurity...coming right up?

"I've seen better days, I've seen worse."

Ah, what it was like to be a youngster. Music. Mayhem. Movies. The rhythm of each and every age changes for a reason. We skip beats, part with the harmony of nature, and misread the notes of our poets and scholars. Conversely, some of us still manage to create wonderful song - song full of direction, hope, and, in the words of Rush, mystic rhythms.

I wonder how future generations will look back and judge us. How will they measure us? Will they see the good? Will they see the generosity of those that give and give and give some more? Will they understand that we had our own demons, our own worst enemies, and our own nightmarish confrontation with war, poverty, and xenophobia. Will they tolerate us in a historical context?

The not-so-demure, and let's not forget diminutive, Napoleon Bonaparte stated that "glory is fleeting, obscurity is forever." We have lived through our own Golden Era three times since I was born. Glory giveth and glory taketh away. Divorce continues to escalate in our country. Malfeasance and corruption permeate each and every level of government and industry. Glory, as it is, rests in the hands of God, some say. I just soon keep it that way.

Obscurity is something else altogether. Irrational actions, choices made for the sake of glory, have left our generation, and I will argue the generation before it, bereft of principle and lacking a heightened sense of intellect. Are we doomed to obscurity because of our desire to attain so much glory and indeed so much gold today at the expense of future generations? No. We will continue to be remembered, ladies and gentlemen, as the people - the society - that diminished the leadership of a once great nation. It was tough writing that sentence, folks. We have fallen so far - regardless of religion, race, or financial standing - that we have disgraced not only ourselves but all generations to come.

So, why so glum? Why all the negativism? Why so blunt? Until we wake up and "shake the tree", admit that there is something wrong with our country, and work under the rule of law, we are doomed to repeat the sins of our past. More government or less government will not solve the problem. Taxes are not the almighty terror. God will not save us again and again, indiscretion after indiscretion. Security should not be in the defense budget, but in the health and human services budget.

Our ability to manage our freewill better, to exemplify to others our genuine tolerance of others, and to pursue higher learning or vocation without abandon will, I hope, let us slip into obscurity. What I mean is human nature seldom remembers the good. As long we continue to be good people, harmonious and diligent, I'm okay with obscurity. As it stands now, it will be a tough song to write.

As always, be thankful for what you have, buy only what you need, and work diligently for peace. I shall try to do the same. On this Memorial Day weekend, remember those that have served and those that have fallen for us, and pray fewer and fewer men and women have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

A...ahem...quickie on consumption

An interesting conversation between some bank analysts revealed an interesting factoid (probably a little more "oid" than fact, but hey, can't have everything). So, it turns out, that for the past 25 years...let me say that again...25 years...we, as a nation, have been earning $85 - $90 and spending $100.

Not only is this scary in terms of its historical precedence, but it only demands that we consider that this economic circumstance may yet again prevail. We're animals after all. Predators...shoes, shirts, houses, cars...our prey and nothing to restrain us but our freewill. Well, hell, that's no good. We're doomed. On top of it, the government is giving all sorts of entities free passes - companies, citizens, and even other government folk.

Save. Period. Buy with cash. Period. Don't let the marketers betray you and this country. In other words, don't let 'em screw you. Quickie...over and out.

As always, be thankful for what you have, buy only what you need, and work diligently for peace. I shall try to do the same. From between the thunder boomers, I bid you and your family the very best - cash and carry, of course - that life affords you.

The mirror has many faces

It's that same, shrill sound again. Crying babies? No. Screaming mothers? Maybe. Whiny politicians? Uh...no. That's right, folks, the sound emanating from your inner soul is that shrill sound you hear. There are many causes for it...babies, moms (and dads and kids...and....and), and yes the politicians (who, by the way, are laughing all the way to the offshore bank). The most central cause of it is dissatisfaction with your fellow man. That's right...mirror, please. Take a real long, hard look. See that person in the background...the one hovering over you with a big grin and a steak knife...they're the source of all of your ills. And perhaps last night's fish, but I digress.

The enlightenment came and went. The Sixties were all about love, but ultimately created nothing but the Eighties, Nineties and today. They were all about the guy, or gal, in the mirror. The person that takes and takes and takes. Rampant materialism and consumption encumbered by even more crime, corruption, and cronyism. We're all left wondering what's next? What will happen to the human race as we race and race and race. The substantive element in this entire conversation is the changing face of human nature. The de-evolution of our very nature is underway. We have little mutual respect for one another. We seemingly believe that laws are simply guidelines - follow, don't follow, it doesn't matter.

I guess this is a pretty negative post. But ultimately, it is a challenge to you and to me - don't let the mirror represent reality. Change the view. Command attention by doing the right thing. Make people nervous and angry by denying them a compromise on your values. At the same time, don't expect every person's values to be the same in terms of a given structure. If the golden rule is in effect, praise Allah/Jesus/God/Vishnu or whomever you do or do not choose and be thankful that good prevailed over evil. And don't forget, we, you and I, are not without blame. At the same time, you and I have the will and the courage to prevail and prevail we must.

As always, be thankful for what you have, buy only what you need, and work diligently for peace. I shall try to do the same. From my perch above the trees, I bid you and your family all the best.

Seems like old times...

As some of you have come to know, I'm a huge movie fan. One of my favorite movies is Seems Like Old Times (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081480) starring Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn. This romantic comedy has tons of great lines, fantastic character actors, and a nice steady pace of slapstick. Reminds me a bit of government, replete with the great story lines, characters that don't go away, and the same old, fall-down-the stairs slapstick form of wielding power.

I have to admit that I was a bit hopeful that the Obama administration would make substantive change to how our government takes care of business, specifically fiscal business. Something about "change we can believe in" was thrown around quite often. I'm sure I possessed the same hope for previous administrations. So, my indictment here is not of a specific president or administration. My fight is with the fundamental tenets of our constitution. We must make some changes to our constitution to make a better future for our government, the woeful entity that it is, and for our future generations of bloated, spoiled kids and grand kids (Alas, I'm a bit bloated and spoiled, but I'm working on changing that!).

Term limits. I've said enough already, I know. If there is one thing I despise it's some fat, old, bloated senator who's been living off the tit for some 50+ years. It's not a class warfare statement. They just don't know better.

It is time we instituted term limits in this country across the board. Along with proportional taxation, reduced government scope, and localized living, we must, as a people, herald in a generation of citizen legislators. Time and money...sorry, a shit pot of time and money...should not be spent campaigning for the next round of Mother's Milk. Get on with the business of the people, debate the facts and the issues, relegate the influence peddlers to the brothels and prisons they so richly deserve, and engender great thinking in this country once again.

Why is it so difficult? Why are we, as a people, so careless here? We're lazy. It's too easy to just hit the same button in the booth. Also, we've gotten used to the nice things our fat cats catch for us - roads, bridges, jobs - that swim about in the murky waters of Washington that we cannot get for ourselves. Woe is us. B/S! I'm over the old times. Bring in the new times.

Ah well, I'm back, folks. As always, be thankful for what you have, buy only what you need, and work diligently for peace. I shall try to do the same. From the Nasti, Sic Semper Tyrannis (thanks, little brother, for another great round of ivory-tower conversation)!

The bad things in life

I've never taken drugs. I don't plan on taking drugs. I don't own a gun and, God willing, I won't have to. But you know what, I'm okay with all of the rest of you indulging. Freedom is a terrible and wonderful thing. It often puts us in very odd places. It often finds me at odds with my fellow citizens. That is the beauty of it, right? The freedom of argument (without being shot, I hope!) is a wonderful thing.

Over the last few days, a couple of things have gotten under my skin. Eleven people died in Alabama and another 15 died in Germany. Both were pretty senseless. My heart goes out to the families of the injured and slain. On the other hand, we appointed a new drug czar here in the United States of America. Awesome. Billions - BILLIONS - of dollars will be wasted trumpeting one ill (guns) and outlawing another (drugs). Just leave them be. Regulate, yes. Outlaw, no. (Tax the hell out of them both? Not sure about that). That's the price of freedom. It's not about some poorly worded amendment to the Constitution. It's not in deference to those hoping to cure cancer through cannabis.

For those on the right that seek to shelter your right to guns, you've got to part with the other freedoms that bother you - drugs, abortion, stem-cell research. Get over it and move on. For those on the left, guns are a way of life. Outlawing them will not cease to quell the violence, voluntary or involuntary. Free markets should not be outlawed either. For those of us squarely in the middle, and I believe the luckier bunch, we simply must continue to guide our wayward friends in their respective corners and help them understand that they are moving forward no time soon. We are never going to stop the bloodletting that comes from drugs, guns,and yes, free markets, by simply outlawing them.

The law governs what we can and cannot do. I'm so glad that we, as a civilized society, have laws to outlaw the "freedom" of rape, murder, incest, embezzlement, and the like. Of course, in the past we have, because of our lack of common ethos, sought to ignore certain laws, bend others to meet the needs of our donors, or simply repealed them altogether. Therein lies the ultimate problem - the degradation of our common ethos. If we can ever come to grips with the fact that freedom requires a strong moral fiber, then perhaps we can all live peacefully - armed or unarmed, high or low - together. But ethos should not involve the legislation of morality and the banning of all the bad things in life.

So, no more drug czars, no more NRA boneheads, and no more stimulus packages. Let's get on with the more important items - growth, innovation, search for fine cuisine, and, most importantly, serving one another. Let freedom ring!

As always, be thankful for what you have, buy only what you need, and work diligently for peace. I shall try to do the same. From the home office in Cincinnati, OH, I bid you and your family all the best.

In the fish bowl

"We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl...year after year." - Pink Floyd

Our very existence here on planet Earth is exactly as Mr. Pink described it. We are in fact tied to our fish bowl, forced to live with one another, or perhaps as some would have it, live off one another. So, the fish bowl serves as great context for how we should manage our world, manage our relationships, and stick to a plan.

The burning question for me is: if there is just the one fish bowl, with God looking in on his floating fanatical fishes, how can we not manage to work things out amongst us? Ah, you see, God inadvertently put fish that eat one another in the bowl together. I'm not blaming God. I'm questioning the rationale and I'm also beginning to understand that God too practices laissez-faire economics.

People - and this is not a rant about the environment or helping the common man or even your neighbor - this is it! This is all we got (I heavily discount the ridiculous and bloated excess of the space program as totally bogus). If we start there - if everyone can agree on this simple fact - perhaps logic and reason will prevail. Just use common sense, put your politics aside for a moment, and think about these three words: this is it.

So, just a few more comments about the fish bowl for the practical fish bowl owner:

1. The water has to be changed every once and a while. It's true people. Just admit it. If not, the fish, you guessed it, die.
2. There must be enough food, but not too much. Again, death ensues.
3. All the fish should have access to the food. A bunch of dead fishes just make life, well, fishy.
4. Fish that want to eat other fish should not be entered into the fish bowl environment.

I think if we all worked together - free markets and all, values laden and all - I believe we can truly overcome the first three. Number 4 is the tough one. See, there are some groups of people (or "schools of fish" if we elect to keep with our metaphor) the world over that simply are not content with the food they have, the car they drive, or the homes they own. Others are simply jealous of those that have all those things. Others are just hell bent on destroying the fish bowl at any expense. How do we change them? Can we change them? Should we change them?

I believe that at some point we must christen a new era - buy a new fish bowl, if you will - where there are simple rules to engender simple, yet fulfilling outcomes. That will take discipline, a long term commitment to rational behavior (yes, we will all have to go to school, learn a skill or craft, and feed ourselves and our families), and a focus on more important things - family, community, and, of course, a clean fish bowl. It will also take a firm approach to those that disrupt the general welfare of others. It will take, most of all, trust.

As I look back on this entry, I admit that much of it is idealistic (Idealistic? Sure, why not? It's a free country) and perhaps a bit silly. What is not silly, and in fact very real, is the self-inflicted complexity of life itself. Out of our own sheer greed, desire, or compulsion, we've bloody fallen into the deep end (of the fish bowl?). Simplify, folks. The economy will, in grand elastic fashion, mold itself to our new found freedom. The politicians will have fewer throngs to pander to. I promise you we will all be much happier.

Now, that's a fish bowl worth swimming in every day.

As always, be thankful for what you have, buy only what you need, and work diligently for peace. I shall try to do the same. From inside the murky fish bowl right beside you, I bid you a good night and a wonderful Friday.

A new design

move forward slowly
to a time where the shade tree cools our tempers
and its fallen splinters serve as kindling for new fires

see it through gently
to an empire where the people rein in fear and greed
and its many fallen angels who stood to be kings

dream it aloud soulfully
while my heart beats, the drums of new warriors speak
and our prayers are answered, and our sons and daughters
are not left broken, not left weak

this is a place i want to share
this is a design i want to trace

adt
cincinnati, oh

Copyright 2009 all rights reserved arpit d. trivedi

Gordy speaks

"Values free." The two strongest terms in Gordy's speech today. That's right, Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister of Great Britain, spoke to a joint session of Congress today and, quite frankly, did a fine job. First of all, it was an absolute pleasure to simply listen to him speak. As I have stated before, we have drifted too far from our language, plain old English, and Gordon Brown again accentuated the need to uphold it each day in our schools and our companies (http://spotonwithtrivedi.blogspot.com/2008/11/return-of-kings-english.html). Second, the common heritage that we share, us and the Brits and so many others in the Commonwealth, is undeniable and unbreakable. Third, Mr. Brown asserts throughout his speech, both directly and indirectly that we can live free - markets, nations, and peoples - but we cannot and shall not live "values free." Finally, Mr. Brown, similar to Mr. Obama (Mr. Obamer?) positions the multi-pronged investments in energy, education, and human talent (by extension, health care/welfare) front and center in his global New Deal. Banner fine idea, lads. Who is going to pay for it? That comes later, of course. Regardless of the painful realities, it was a fine speech - a speech that still leaves me with a bit of doubt. Read on.

This common heritage, and indeed this common language, should be utilized to lift us out of our murky and sordid economic woes. Tied to this common heritage are many other peoples and languages. From the islands of the West Indies to the peaks of the Himalayas, in times of world war and fleeting peace, the Americans and the Britons have influenced a great many peoples. What I heard in Mr. Brown's polemic was that all this is quite good and certainly deserves the recognition. He goes on to say that "we must build tomorrow today" and that the events of the day "have forced us all to think anew." I agree.

What bothers me is that the common heritage of our two countries had been mired in imperialism, rogue influence peddling, and, finally and most recently, supporting incalcitrant and disingenuous war mongers. So, in thinking anew, we must seek out a values-based commonality. The almighty quid or dollar is not our Lord and Savior (in this house, we say "paisu maro parmeshwar ane hoon enu das" - Money is my God and I his Servant). I have a great deal of hope but I lack faith in these words.

Can we move ahead towards freedom and free markets girded by core values? Can we truly, as Mr. Brown suggests, invent our way of this chasm? Can we do so without always being led by money? Can we distance ourselves from our history in such a way that we do not repeat its most expensive mistakes? For all of our convictions, our piety, and our words, we often -I often - do "pass by on the other side." Our values-free approach has done much to dampen the hearts and minds of our peoples. Has it gone too far?

Mr. Brown, in his attempt to serve as an inspiration, did give me hope. In our renewed desire to better education, preserve our environment, and invest in our general welfare, we must show leadership. We must not get so absorbed with who pays what (though necessity will demand that debts be repaid). Environmental dominion - our reign over the earth - requires leadership. Who gives a rat's ass whether or not there is global warming? Taking care of the earth should be tantamount to anything else! Taking care of her people comes next.

I'm slowly changing, folks. Many know me as a pretty strong advocate of laissez-faire economics and bold initiatives in taxation. And to a great degree, I still am that advocate. But, there is more to life than economics. Thank you, Mr. Brown and friends alike, for continuing to show me a different perspective.

As always, be thankful for what you have, buy only what you need, and work diligently for peace. I shall try to do the same. From across the pond and by the river, I bid you a good night and a glorious Thursday. Cheers.

Can't sleep, little brother

can't sleep, little brother
put my head back on the hay
golden, the chaff of my life

can't sleep, little brother
where is my soul, in rest or in motion
can't sleep, little brother?
did you see my house of cards?
did you dream of a better place?

can't sleep, little brother
is it too late to borrow a bottle
or a movement from Brahms
the rhythm stokes my embers
and the fire keeps me awake

can't sleep, little brother
is life this grand?
it is in my heart, brave but worn
the comfort calls for me
i'm so torn

sleep, little brother, sleep

adt
cincinnati, oh

Copyright 2009 all rights reserved arpit d. trivedi

Burden of our fears

settled down, inside the window sill
can't hope for anything better tonight, dear
except the dewdrops of you in passing
here i sit, hear me now
one last time

turn it off, outside the prison walls
can't look for anything bigger today, dear
except the smile on your face in the rain
here i sit, hear me now
one last time

cradled, minuet lilts and fades, keeps me warm
saddled, hate spills from the damper like a drum
and my heart breaks
one last time

for those of us that have lost the gain of our lives
i'll carry you on my shoulders, wipe your tears
it just steals away the night, this burden of our fears
but for me
i'm settled down, inside the window sill
dazed yet sobered by her love
one last time but forever
one last time and forever

adt
cincinnati, oh

Copyright 2009 all rights reserved arpit d. trivedi

“Art of the long view”

Amazing words were uttered by our President today – “long-term perspective.” Good night!

No, really, I can’t leave you hanging like that. When questioned about the stock market today, President Obama remarked, correctly I think, that he cannot allow himself to be frustrated by the day-to-day, hour-to-hour fluctuations of life’s biggest poker tournament – the free market and all its brood – the Dow, the NASDAQ, the FTSE. You get my drift, right? Long-term thinking has been completely missing from our modern dialogue, with the last eight, nay sixteen years, completely devoid of thinking about a practical future for us all.

Instead, President Obama suggested that one take a long term view of the market, and encouraged the market to invest given such cheap prices (Unfortunately, Mr. President, the market is not yet done with the losses it has been facing for the better part of a year). But it is not out of knee-jerk fashion that we should invest. On the contrary, Mr. Obama suggests we should go long. That would indeed be a very new concept for many of us that can’t look past the next ten tasks in our planners.

Many years ago, I read a fantastic book entitled The Art of the Long View: Planning for a Future in an Uncertain World by Peter Schwartz. It continues to have an influence on me in that it discusses the concept of scenario-building, something I do every day in my work. It's titles seems to have influenced our fearless leader. Though I do not agree with all of Mr. Obama’s policies and aims, I do understand and agree with his long-term perspective. The devil will always be in the details. Ultimately, it will be a little art, a little science, and a little dance.

As I listen to Mr. Obama, it is clear that an overwhelming shift of the burden in this country is taking shape. The rich, who I daresay have had it pretty nice, will have to pay more for their position in society. On principle alone, I cannot accept this. We should all pay the same percentage, plain and simple. We should all pay on the top line and kill all the lawyers and accountants. I digress or do I? Science will play a major role in revamping the current tax system. Our collective future cannot be sustained by a progressive tax system – it is unfair and it is unwieldy. Proportional taxation must move front and center in our long view.

Art, or artfulness, seems to be one of Mr. Obama’s key strengths. He is erudite, articulate, and positioned as a man of the people. Though many of his foes in Congress see through the “man behind the curtain”, he has had an almost unthinkable impact on the general public. To some extent, I’m intrigued by his cult of personality as well. Will this be enough? Will the long train ride of energy, education, and healthcare carry the very long day ahead of us? Will we make it over the hill to the Promise Land? The ultimate answer from this lowly writer is “I don’t know.” And that’s downright scary.

But let us take Mr. Schwartz’s thinking to heart. Let us understand several possible scenarios that lie waiting in the darkness for all of us. Let the dance begin.

First, there is Scenario A, which I will call “The Chilling Afterglow”. In Scenario A, we continue down the same pathway on which we currently tread – individualistic greed driving unchecked consumption which in turn is accompanied by academic endangerment (I regret all the big words…I was on a roll). We will continue to look at the short view, mesmerized by its lofty returns and hope that somehow our kids will have a better future. Not all bad, but certainly not all good from my vantage point.

Second, there is Scenario B, which I call “Kumbaya”. Kumbaya is the ever present specter of socialism and collectivism. Though no modern free market country is currently free of all socialist accoutrements, they sure would like to be. Maybe the term “they” is too strong a term. Perhaps the term “we” best summarizes my point. But this is a little more than just some socialistic aspects. There are aspects of Mr. Obama’s long view that begin to reek of government takeover. There is too much Keynesian politic for my taste and at no income level do I want to be a burden to society. I should always pay my fair share.

Third, is Scenario C, which I call “Practical Governance”. Practical governance imagines a time when government truly lives up to its initial premise – of, by and for the people. It also means that the people must better govern their behavior and understand their ultimate place in the cycle of life. It neither contemplates complete government control or the chilling afterglow imagined above. Is it naïve to think we can make this journey, find the Promise Land? I think it is. Truly, I am concerned not only about my daughter and her generation but I worry about my own.

So, Mr. Obama, I am buoyed by your call to action and your long-term view of things. It is an amazing time to be an American. It is my hope that all of us should live long to dance to another song. But let us be careful not to invoke one single song on the masses, or worse yet, charge outrageous fees to play the song at all. Dance away!

As always, be thankful for what you have, buy only what you need, and work diligently for peace. I shall try to do the same. From inside the window, I bid you a good night and a fantastic Wednesday.

Stumbling into misconceptions

The deliberate and wrongful articulation of our country’s construction of government belies everything taught to me. The foundation upon which we live and govern ourselves is not, as many on the Hill would lead you to believe, a democracy. In the strictest sense, we are a true and rich republic. For the sake of political hegemony, the Left has continued to charge that no we are indeed a democracy of, for, and by the people. Hogwash!

We are, ladies and gentlemen, a representative form of government. We always have been, from those sultry days in Philadelphia to the point at which my morning paper was delivered today. Inevitably, we continue to stumble around, falling into misconception and outright misrepresentation of this fact. So what? Who cares? I do. You should.

Before you begin prejudging this entry, let me concede that the following paragraphs take shots at both sides of the proverbial Aisle. All sides will have their share of love and war. What is more important is the preservation of our Union, the betterment of our way of life, and the continued operation of our republic form of government. In the hands of the people, our country will recede into misfortune and lawlessness. In the hands of a democracy, Robespierrean turmoil will ensue and a revolution like none we have seen will be our comeuppance. In the hands of Republicans, we are doomed to continue a cycle of greed/boom and greed/bust. Patience, oh Dems and Pubs, patience - you shall have your share!

Our way of life

What is “our way of life?” Let’s examine this. I start with history and work forward. Though the time of our forefathers were certainly not perfect in any country or at any time throughout the ages, there were standards of living, decorum, and discipline. There were certainly acts of duplicity and corruption that ensued in all the epochs before ours. But, I will assert, the people had a sense of duty, a commitment to valor, and a preservation of tradition and social custom. Recently, and not much different to prior inaugural addresses, President Obama spoke of “our way of life.” Mr. Obama has had a tremendous impact on the nation. His appreciation of the language, his dress, and his conduct in public has inspired many young men and women in our country. That is good. But our way of life – crime, abuse, corporate greed, and even presidential usurpations – have little left in them to be admired. We, I, curse like sailors. We put academics after the booster club and professional/collegiate sports affairs. Is this the way of life we seek? Okay, I’m on my high horse. I am not perfect. No one is perfect. But the goals we set should inspire us to a new way of life.

In terms of the republic versus democracy argument, what does this matter? There are a couple of things. First, the American people are not yet prepared, even after two hundred plus years, to self govern. We must be beholden to the elite, and sometimes corrupt, group of elected officials to help us navigate the waters of high stakes politics. However, life is not simply an activity that continues unchecked and misguided. Therefore, we must have limitations on those that govern – balanced budgets, term limits, and campaign finance, to name a few. Earmarks should be a thing of the past. Ultimately, the public informs its representatives of these limitations. Of course, good luck getting any of this passed. Remember, they’re criminals and thugs, all of them.

The Union will become more perfect if we set forth policies and practices which look at all of our ills logically and set about vetting each one based on need. I’m sure the states will have a field day with this. I can imagine there is a ranking or priorities of projects – bridges, levies, schools, etc. Based on the need of each local jurisdiction and in fact the level of deterioration of the asset should drive the need for funding. We must work hard to preserve our Union – its foundation, its roads, its schools and the like. However, we must do it critically, with an eye to frugality and indeed to better project prioritization and management.

As we continue to operate our republic, we must do so with a sense of obligation and duty. Every dollar should be accounted for at each turn. Every dollar, I say. This last round of stimulus was an absolute farce, as I’m sure many other spending attempts before it were also farcical. (Don’t kid yourselves, Republicans, there’s been just as much waste on your side of the aisle and just as much “redistribution”). I believe term limits and other limitations on the career-minded elected body will do much to curb this. Perhaps it will enhance the greed (“let me get as much as I can while I can” mentality). It will likely be a cold day in hell when such limitations past, but a boy can dream, right?

The congressional cartel, the cornerstone of our republic, is broken. Until we fix it, I can understand why so many want to utter the word democracy. Let the people rule! The saving grace is that right now there are only 538 idiots running the country. If the people were running it, we’d have millions of idiots. I hate to say it, but we’re doomed, doomed I say.

More to come…tonight even!

The Sacred Art of Politics (a.k.a. prostitution)

"Executive Order -- Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel" was signed by our new president on January 21, 2009. I was mildly impressed. After 16 years of unethical behaviour and, frankly, sexual deviance in the White House, it was nice to see someone stand up for doing the right thing. I suggested two breaths ago that I was "mildly" impressed. Making bold statements like this ultimately leads to getting caught in one's own snare. It is inevitable.

Enter Bill Lynn, the new deputy secretary for the Department of Defense, and now former Vice President of Raytheon. The snare is set. Mr. Lynn has lobbied heavily on behalf of Raytheon to secure contracts for the shareholders and employees of this defense contractor. In deputizing him, the Obama administration has successfully found an exception to the rule before the ink has even dried. I'm sure he is a great guy. I'm sure he has tremendous intellect. I'm sure he'll go back to lobbying once he leaves DoD. Shameful, I say, shameful.

My detractors, which shall go nameless, suggest that the last eight years have been burdened with such exceptions and underhanded dealings that this pales in comparison, so let it fly. That's not good enough. It is also not good enough that we will now sequester Mr. Lynn in such a way that his role and actions do not influence areas where he once peddled influence, where he once prostituted himself and his company to gain the almighty dollar. All of it is the red-light district to me.

Folks, isn't it about time we did away with influence peddling outright? Is there not another system we can create that allows companies to speak to their products and services without the unscrupulous nature of the political lobby interfering? There is such a system. Ready. Drum roll please. It's called the market - the free market in fact. It's so amazing that companies that espouse the free market system turn and do everything in their power to subvert it. They give so much money to both Pubs and Dems to counteract the very root of our economic system: freedom.

Mr. President, don't make these types of mistakes again and again (see Geithner). It is unbecoming, Harvard education and all.

As always, be thankful for what you have, buy only what you need, and work diligently for peace. I shall try to do the same. From the Queen City, I bid you a good night and a happy Friday.

Inspired by the uninspiring

It is not often that something so uninspiring could indeed inspire me to write. Tonight, I was witness to a crime at our local mall. I had been waiting outside a Claire's boutique when I notice a rent-a-cop position himself just outside the store next door. I imagined something was afoot.

Seconds later, a young - very young - black girl exited Claire's. She was followed by a young, white female worker. The rent-a cop deftly moved into position, and both he and the store worker seized the young black girl. The perpetrator was accompanied by a teenager, who immediately spilled his guts and asked her to give back the goods. The young lady would have none of that because of course she had nothing in her purse.

Alas, the group moved to a now vacant mall kiosk and the young lady deposited what looked like a dozen or more Claire goods on the table. She then proceeded to call someone - parent, sibling, or friend - to come to her aid. Just as we were getting ready to leave, someone approached that knew her. There was no shame, no anger, or no contempt on this person's face. She looked as if she had no clue.

Folks, greed, corruption, and thievery have spread throughout our culture. We have few decent role models. We are obsessed with sports and television. We care less and less about intelligence and smarts, but more about haute couture and having fun. We have "dumbed" down the nation to such an extent that I believe that we are beyond salvation. But somehow, some believe we are still the greatest. Some believe we are the standard when it comes to culture, government, and market dominance. We can be, folks, but we are not. Some believe that it's okay to have pink hair, to flaunt multiple piercings, and to not pay your taxes only to become the Secretary of the Treasury years later. Having the most things and doing whatever one wants does not set the standard.

A 12-year-old girl, in broad daylight (okay, mall "daylight") was apprehended for stealing. The horrific part is that an 8-year-old recently killed two men. This is expression? This is freewill in action? This is the human experience?

Pull up your pants, wear your hat like it's supposed to be worn, stop using your mouth as a gutter and get over the notion of "expressing" yourself. Hold yourself and your offspring accountable and seek a higher standard in life. Speak and write clearly, walk upright, and for God's sake, obey the bloody law. That is all we have left.

As for the young girl, pray for her, people, pray for her.

As always, be thankful for what you have, buy (this used to read "take") only what you need, and work diligently for peace. I shall try to do the same. From the southern rim of the arctic breach, I bid you good night.

The Sandman is as high as a kite!

It is often that I have the opportunity to meet some pretty interesting people. With my travel schedule, and the abundance of thin air at 35,000 feet, interesting people just fall out of the sky. In one of my recent entries, we had two new characters, Rocks and Plastics. Today, I'd like to introduce the Sandman.

With all of the wartime activity taking place, it is no wonder that service men and women are often seen on planes. God Bless them all. No matter my political or economic views of our wartime activities, the people in the theater of battle and on the ground are to be applauded for their valiant efforts. As I was returning home on New Year’s Eve 2008, I had the opportunity to meet one of these fine soldiers. The Sandman is a senior logistics officer in the US Army. A career man if you will. In an effort to repay some of my debt to our troops, I gave up my exit row seat to this man that had been traveling for nearly 30 hours, cooped up on various flights. So, there it is. I move up to the row in front of his. Across the aisle from the Sandman is the gentleman who lends us the rest of the title to the current article. He is an older gentleman, and best I can make out, a former New Yorker turned Floridian. Can't swing a dead cat without hitting one those, can you?

As one can imagine, the Sandman is eager to get home to his family. He's just been blessed with a granddaughter. His wife can't wait to see him. She has forbidden him to return after his final 90-day tour. The Sandman is a gentleman - articulate, generous in his time with the New Yorker, and just, well, decent. Why then is he the Sandman and why is he as high as a kite?

The high as a kite reference comes from the New Yorker. I had not heard it in so long. The reference was to a drinking binge the New Yorker had undergone in Europe some 35 years ago. One could tell the New Yorker love to tell tales. But the Sandman reference refers to what?

He smelled like sand. According to the Sandman, everything about him was sand - his food, his clothes, his pillowcase, and even his piquant odor. I was bemused. It is not all that important that he smelled like any one thing. It was important that he realized it and that it was a symbol of something much greater than all of us on that plane - commitment, courage, and absolute capitulation to the desert. The Sandman had sent his pillowcase home to his loving bride and begged her to understand the infernal aroma of his ways. She was convinced that the sandmen were for real.

It is real, folks. Whether we like it or not, it is real, it is happening today, and we must not let our energies wane in bringing peace to our world. As the Sandman finally relayed the underlying goal of war is peace. The goal of war is not more war. The reality is that the last eight years have followed a pattern of war should mean more war. Peace is pink slip for those fighting the war and that would just be unfathomable.

So, as the Sandman departed the plane as high as a kite, I too thought of getting home early to my family. But I also thought of the many brave men and women fighting for peace. Peace, damn it, peace is what we need. There is plenty for all of us if we work at it. If we do not find it, we are, as they say, doomed to repeat the sins of our forefathers. We stand at the edge of reason, waiting to fire yet another shot heard around the world.

As always, be thankful for what you have, take only what you need, and work diligently for peace. I shall try to do the same. From Cincinnati, OH, Happy New Year!