Ok, I have to admit something here. As time moves on and I get older (crap, did I just admit to that?), I see myself more and more moving to the right fiscally. Now to stay bluntly and proudly honest here, I also have to admit that I'm still about as liberal as one can be about ALL the social issues of life. IE: drugs, sex, abortion, gay marriage, religion and everything else that is just flat out none of my personal business.
It just seems more and more logical that our government should run itself the same as us peons have to run our financial realities and lives. The glaring truth about having a successful financial personal system is quite simple really. You DO NOT spend more than you make. Now credit, (the devil in disguise) allows people to do just that. Instead of uttering those words that our grandfathers and fathers were so familiar with "Gee, that sounds nice but we can't afford it", the advent of credit made it possible to have most anything you want right now if you are willing to pay for it over a long period of time. Of course it cost a lot more with the rip-off interest they charge for the "service" but oh well, we want it NOW.
By the way, in the past that outrageous "interest" rate would be called blood money and would be against the law but somehow it became acceptable business practices in our modern world. We now call them "bankers and credit card companies" and pretend that they are just nice people trying to help us. The truth of our present debacle going on in the world now is they decided to go ahead and give anyone credit without even being able to make the payments at all. Now how criminal should that be in a sane society? Those politicians who changed the rules, bankers, loan officers and banks who did that should all be in prison right now to say the least. Maybe a daily caning should be added for good measure, with live video so we could all watch and enjoy.
The other truth that intelligent, thoughtful and careful folks do in their personal financial lives is to at least try at all times to have a "nest-egg" set aside in case of any unforeseen emergencies that inevitably comes along in life. A rainy day fund, we sometimes call it. I've heard politicians for years utter those concepts but their obviously only paying lip service to it to look good and get reelected by saying garbage they think we want to hear. I do know that the Governor of California has been trying to get the politicians to do this for years now without any results at all. Plainly they all are deaf or stupid, probably both and then some.
Some other truths about this subject is normal American's do care deeply about the less fortunate's problems but have to always face the realities of how much if any we can help others. For one thing most people can't afford to just "give" anyone money as they are trying to stay solvent themselves. The other truth is that's really not how you can best help people in need at all. The best way to help anyone is to show them how to help themselves. You've heard of the great wisdom: "Don't give people fish, teach them how to fish." That is the ONLY real way to help anyone, here in America or the rest of the world, for that matter.
So getting back to my original reason for this rant, I started out being influenced greatly from the sixties as the typical long haired Hippy, Musician, Liberal, kicked back weirdo and now shockingly find myself leaning farther and farther toward SOME of the attitudes of my right wing brethren. Unlike most of them I hear talk though, I still choose to see life as a half full cup of wine and have nothing but a positive outlook for us humans on this here planet called Earth. I do purposely choose to not be the typical Rush Limbutt "doom and gloom, anger and hate" right winger I so often hear talk.
Right at the bottom of this posting is a "Comments" link. Click on it, follow the instructions and leave a comment about this post. You can use your name or make up one, by clicking in the circle beside "Name/URL". Or just leave your comment anonymously by clicking on the circle beside "Anonymous".
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Saturday, January 31, 2009
Sunday, January 4, 2009
A party of one
For some reason, I've taken note of something I've seen over and over through my life. As people pass through my awareness, some have stood out as unbelievably special. You see them on the news or read about them in the papers. If you're lucky, you have a couple right in your life, community, town or area you live in.
You always first hear about them because of some great and compassionate thing they are doing. You hear about some program to help youth who are going down the wrong path. You hear about some cool place or technique that helps drug addicts get off drugs. You hear about some place that is dedicated to spaying and neutering all animals so they don't die from starvation or at the pound because of overpopulation. There really is a place just like that right in my home town of Auburn California and of course the whole thing was started with the vision and drive of one women.
The truth is there are super special people all over the world doing great and wonderful things for the betterment of mankind, often times with very little financial or other help. One of the things that stands out about that for me is almost always, if it wasn't for that one special man or women, the great things they are accomplishing would not happen at all. It's one person who always is the creative, energetic, intelligent driving force behind what they do. Always!
Sure they usually have several helping souls. Almost without fail, these creative geniuses have this indescribable power that draws good people to their side, without knowing how they got so involved but are grateful to be part of these great programs. These genius's know how to get things done, no matter the odds. They don't talk crap, they get busy and make good things happen. No excuses. They just do.
The thought that has ran through my mind for years when I see these things is the potential these people have that could be used in much larger ways here. I know it sounds crazy but we as a society should try to get as many of these wonderful people together as often as possible somehow in one place and see if they have any ideas about the many huge problems we in America are having.
Sounds crazy huh? Ok, we have tried professional politicians. Rich people. Successful business people. Through the ages we even tried to let religion fix everything.
Well, I've only one thing to say.............How's that been workin out for ya?
So here's my grand idea for America, first and foremost. Because I'm an American, I think we should try and make ourselves prosperous, healthy and happy first. Then maybe we can help other deserving parts of the world. Never by giving them anything. Just teaching them to do it for themselves, just like we should.
So come on Bill Gates and all those other geniuses in the high tech world. All the other geniuses out there doing all these sometimes almost magical new things to help people and life. How about you putting your minds together for the welfare of mankind, starting right here in America. I know it's asking a lot from you. You're already busy with your magic but ya know what? The world needs you.
Right at the bottom of this posting is a "Comments" link. Click on it, follow the instructions and leave a comment about this post. You can use your name or make up one, by clicking in the circle beside "Name/URL". Or just leave your comment anonymously by clicking on the circle beside "Anonymous".
I will receive an e-mail, OK it and then it will appear for others to view after they click on the comments link.
Come on.......DO IT!
You always first hear about them because of some great and compassionate thing they are doing. You hear about some program to help youth who are going down the wrong path. You hear about some cool place or technique that helps drug addicts get off drugs. You hear about some place that is dedicated to spaying and neutering all animals so they don't die from starvation or at the pound because of overpopulation. There really is a place just like that right in my home town of Auburn California and of course the whole thing was started with the vision and drive of one women.
The truth is there are super special people all over the world doing great and wonderful things for the betterment of mankind, often times with very little financial or other help. One of the things that stands out about that for me is almost always, if it wasn't for that one special man or women, the great things they are accomplishing would not happen at all. It's one person who always is the creative, energetic, intelligent driving force behind what they do. Always!
Sure they usually have several helping souls. Almost without fail, these creative geniuses have this indescribable power that draws good people to their side, without knowing how they got so involved but are grateful to be part of these great programs. These genius's know how to get things done, no matter the odds. They don't talk crap, they get busy and make good things happen. No excuses. They just do.
The thought that has ran through my mind for years when I see these things is the potential these people have that could be used in much larger ways here. I know it sounds crazy but we as a society should try to get as many of these wonderful people together as often as possible somehow in one place and see if they have any ideas about the many huge problems we in America are having.
Sounds crazy huh? Ok, we have tried professional politicians. Rich people. Successful business people. Through the ages we even tried to let religion fix everything.
Well, I've only one thing to say.............How's that been workin out for ya?
So here's my grand idea for America, first and foremost. Because I'm an American, I think we should try and make ourselves prosperous, healthy and happy first. Then maybe we can help other deserving parts of the world. Never by giving them anything. Just teaching them to do it for themselves, just like we should.
So come on Bill Gates and all those other geniuses in the high tech world. All the other geniuses out there doing all these sometimes almost magical new things to help people and life. How about you putting your minds together for the welfare of mankind, starting right here in America. I know it's asking a lot from you. You're already busy with your magic but ya know what? The world needs you.
Right at the bottom of this posting is a "Comments" link. Click on it, follow the instructions and leave a comment about this post. You can use your name or make up one, by clicking in the circle beside "Name/URL". Or just leave your comment anonymously by clicking on the circle beside "Anonymous".
I will receive an e-mail, OK it and then it will appear for others to view after they click on the comments link.
Come on.......DO IT!
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