Essential lessons

  There has been a big change in the lessons we teach our children. The fundamental difference being perhaps best expressed by this little story. The little engine that could. A favorite in the little golden book series it told the story of the little train engine that believed in itself. The line, I think I can, I think I can being a mantra for success. The little engine thought he could and he did! At least that is the way I remember the tale, I haven't read it in quite some time. I have retained the lesson however, don't give up and don't expect anyone else to help you. Three other train engines refused to help that little engine as I recall. Each had their own reason.

  The change I'm seeing is that today, the message is quite a bit different. You can't do it alone! We even had a president saying that. If you have a business you didn't build that yourself. The messaging now is to seek help, demand help, and insist on that help. You are entitled to that help. You are entitled to emotional support services and possibly compensation for some injustice that happened in the past generation. You can't do it and don't even think that you can. You're oppressed by the past and societal norms. Attempting to go it alone is just being a capitalist, probably even a communist or Nazi. 

  If you encounter any obstacle today, the government should simply remove that obstacle. That is the message. The government should make everyone change to suit you. We'll make it a law. The moral and ethical questions will be pushed aside in favor of legislation. Hey, they are all individual things anyway, they don't have anything to do with the law. Only government can decide on what is good for the nation and what isn't. You can't make any decision like that. That's dissention and won't be tolerated. You can't do that! And we don't want to hear, I think I can; you can't do it alone. You need to be empowered by some outside force. Empowered ( give someone the power or authority to do something) You can't do it alone, you need permission. And isn't that the message today, the big proclamation? I feel empowered!

  When I was told the story of the little engine that could that message was, I think I can, I believe in my own abilities and will persevere. I knew that lesson before I knew the word persevere. I knew right from wrong without being told because I had experienced right and wrong. I certainly wasn't confused about boys and girls. I wasn't driven to paranoia about everyday things in life like getting a deadly disease because I stood too close to someone. I wasn't outfitted with every piece of "safety" gear before being allowed to go out and play. The only warning I got was, you're going to break your neck! That was sufficient warning and instruction. It was up to me to show you that I could, not that I would. A few times I thought I could, believed I could, and was proven wrong, lesson learned. That was how we learned to exercise sound judgement.

  No I wasn't empowered by the story of the little engine that could. I didn't require permission to keep on trying. We had sayings like, being pulled up by your bootstraps and god helps those who help themselves. Our empowerment was, try to stop me. I wasn't standing around waiting for anyone to empower me, I was allowed to do as I chose, and held accountable for those choices. It wasn't anyone else's fault no matter how often I said, but everyone was doing it. I couldn't even blame historical events that shaped my world. If only, just wasn't an excuse for anything. Can I make it through another day? I think I can. Thought about that when I heard this, "I brought you into this world, I can take you out" I started making better choices, on my own. 

 As for the story of the little engine that could the message was clear enough. You are only limited by your own effort. You can do whatever you want, if you really want to do that. You don't have to be the very best, the strongest, the fastest or the smartest. You don't have to the richest kid on the block. You can still do whatever it is you want to do if you just keep on trying. We called it having guts. Intestinal fortitude and the willingness to work. Yeah, it was about a work ethic, that little story. You went from I think I can to, I did it, and that was the message. Self-empowerment! 

 That was the lesson. You also understood that came with self-accountability, what we call morality and ethics. We learned that was essential to a productive life and a productive nation. Self empowerment, self accountability and self sacrifice. And sacrifice, contrary to popular belief, isn't given freely. Sacrifice comes with an expectation of a return. That's why you do that. It's a small hedge to, I think I can. Doesn't hurt to ask.  

                                                                                

a cultural institution?

  A cultural institution. That is what the current mayor of the city of Baltimore says about the illegal riding of dirt bikes on the city streets. It has been and continues to be a major issue during the summer months in Baltimore. Hundreds, yes hundreds, of dirt bike riders gather in the streets, calling it a take over and ride those dirt bikes in traffic, around traffic, weaving in and out and in some cases down the sidewalks. It may continue for hours at a time and the police are powerless to do anything to stop that. Why? Because the mayor and others insist it is just a cultural institution, an expression of culture. It's black culture, although you won't hear that said out loud, unless it is from a black person. It's what we do! I have heard that.

  Last year there were big talks and plans being made to build a dirt bike facility. The plan was in that way they wouldn't "have to" ride in the streets. As it currently stands they just don't have any other choice. Of course there were discussions about how would they get those bikes to the facility? The vast majority of these dirt bikes are not street legal, in fact, a big portion of those bikes are stolen and so not registered at all, that too, is just a cultural institution I suppose. Hundreds of motorcycles are seized each year by the authorities but there is always a ready supply of replacements.

 That was once again the topic in the news this morning as this past Saturday was another of those take over days. The dirt bikes were out in full force, racing around the streets and disrupting everything. Naturally the police can do little. No chasing after them, no attempting to stop them. Can't do anything to endanger them, it's a safety issue. Safety for the riders, not for the motorists and the general public! Well that and you can't interfere with a cultural institution. An institution of illegal activity. A cultural legacy? That is what the mayor and others like him are saying. It's what we do! 

  The deal is this, it isn't a cultural institution. It is a societal issue. That is what that really is. It has absolutely nothing to do with culture, especially black culture. Now if there were a bunch of white guys on horses wearing cowboy outfits would that be a cultural institution? Ye Haw, we are just celebrating our culture and heritage. I don't think so. How did it become a cultural institution among inner city blacks, of all age groups, not just youngsters, to ride dirt bikes illegally on the city streets? The reason isn't hard to understand, it is allowed. It has even been celebrated by city leaders. When you begin to offer to build multi-million dollar facilities to stop criminal activities, that is enabling that activity, it is encouraging it. And now you have that, no facility for us means we just take over the streets! It's an expression of culture! 

  Law and order. It's a term we hear often and it is the fundamental principal upon which a society is formed and functions. The law defining what is expected of its' citizens and order is those citizens obeying those laws. It is a very complex issue, I understand that. The reality is you have to work within that framework to have a productive society. You can't just have chaos every time a group of individuals decide they don't like the law. And that is exactly what we are seeing in America today. 

 Then we hear all the cries about my "constitutional rights" and how I can cause havoc and chaos because that is my right. Right now in the city of LA you are hearing that very statement. And who is saying that? City government! And if that doesn't concern you deeply you just aren't paying attention at all. You are enabling a revolution, an insurrection, and the erosion of the republic! And yes, this is a Republic! That is what our constitution established. It wasn't written for the individual, it was written "for the people" and it was codified "by the people." Time to restore law and order throughout the land. You can't make dissent a cultural institution no matter what race, creed or color you are. Not if you want to be "included" in the republic you can't.  

                                                                                         

This is LA, just another peaceful protest! And city government refuses to act. 

If only

 Reasons and excuses. We spend a lifetime debating, fighting, arguing and in general, complaining about either one of those actions. We are seeking an advantage. That is the sole reason for that. The entire time we are doing that we are also proclaiming all we want is equality. But, as I like to point out, everyone wants to be treated equally; until they are. Then the reasons and excuses come out as to why you should be given an advantage of some type. The reason or excuse may, or may not have had a direct impact on you, it may have taken place decades ago or centuries ago but you feel it is valid today. It is the reach for advantage that is important, not the actual reality of the current condition. In business it is called leverage. Something, anything I can use to my advantage that is very difficult for you to dispute. 

  I asked this question some time back. If you receive benefit from something, some action, some legislation or whatever does the motivation behind that matter? It's another way of asking about pandering. Is it alright for others to pander to you as long as you get what you want? Is pandering only bad when it applies to others? Well now, that's also reasons and excuses. Consider this discussion of DEI that is currently in the news. In particular, the diversity hire thing. Should one be hired because of their abilities or because they would check some other box? Checking that box may indeed provide a benefit to the business or organization but how to balance the benefit between reason and excuse?

 That's the sticking point isn't it? Certainly the person being hired is receiving the benefit. Will anyone place the responsibility on the one accepting that benefit? I haven't heard that happening. Nc, the blame is placed on the one doing the hiring, they are accused of pandering. Where is the individual responsibility in all of that? It is being erased because, well, allow me to list the reasons and excuses for that. But never mind all of that, don't analyze any of that, just give me the advantage! I deserve it! It is the only way to make me equal with everyone else. I'm not qualified for the position, and if I'm not given this advantage I will never get that position, so to be treated equally I have to be given this position even though I am not equal in ability but I have an excuse for that, or a reason. 

  That brings us to the "if only" portion of this scenario. If only I had been this or that, my ancestors had done this or that or if only someone else was doing the hiring, the selecting or extending of those benefits. If only I had gone to college or technical school and gained the necessary training. I didn't because. If only I had. If only the Portuguese hadn't purchased black captives for tribal members and sold them to British colonists in 1607. If only the King of England, good old George, had listened to the voices of his subjects in north America, the revolution may never have taken place. If only those southern democrats hadn't decided to secede from the union in the desire to form an independent nation that would enshrine slavery as the law of the land. Yes, if only. 

  If only everyone agreed with whatever you thought and said. Now that would be equality! I get to do whatever I want, say whatever I want and I receive your full support. You even celebrate that! If only that where the case. But, it's not. So I need to provide the reasons and excuses to allow that to happen. I need to press the advantage in some fashion. I need to get you to capitulate in some fashion. The reason you do so isn't important, just that you do. My reason or excuse needs to provide the motivation for your response. It's the idea that you get more flies with honey than you do vinegar scenario. That failing, brute force will suffice in the short term until control can be established. That's true, even when that force is simply the force of law. The removal of morality and ethics by the implementing of what will be called, the moral and ethical decision. The pressing of advantage. It's the reason and the excuse. Reverse pandering? If you benefit from that it is not pandering, if I benefit from that, it is pandering. Everyone is equal, until they aren't. Well, if only.  

                                                                               

   

                                                                                      

for the greater good

  Once again I see America put on trial by the media. With the return of Garcia, and his impending trial, that is what we all will witness. Those on the left are already spinning this with he cries of, it's not about the man, it's about justice. It's about due process of law, and if he is found guilty of anything at all that means you lose! That alone will be the first step on the road to tyranny and a power grab from Donald Trump. These charges against a "Maryland man" may indeed be valid but that isn't the point here, the point is due process. We are being told to ignore the facts altogether, just focus on the process, the facts aren't really relevant.

  The strategy for the defense will be to undermine the integrity of the system. That is what is being put on trial. More of a pandering to the left than anything else. The poor innocent man pitted against a corrupt and biased government. It's like Robin Hood all over gain, or Braveheart defending his liberties in an epic struggle. All that is necessary is for you to ignore all the evidence, the actual events and his actions. It's not about him being an illegal alien criminal preying upon others, it's about the process. The man, by their own statement, isn't important in any of that. No, he's just a "Maryland man" caught up in the trap of bigotry and discrimination. And America is attacking him! 

  We already know that trust in the government is at an all time low. The media has done its' level best to ensure all of that. What passes for journalism today is really nothing more than what was called "yellow" journalism. It is what sells! It isn't about information, it isn't about the truth, it isn't about offering any explanations, it is just about selling the news. And just who funds that news machine? That is where all of that stems from, the CEO's and CFO's watching the margins, watching what is going to be profitable. Listen to the messages being broadcast. Indeed, listen to what they are saying right now. It doesn't matter what that man did, what matters is the process. It's the same message as, it doesn't matter what your moral and ethical conduct is, what matters is your right to do that. All that matters is the law! 

  Well yeah all that sounds great doesn't it? It does when you are the one it benefits and enables. The law is on my side! But it must be remembered and recognized that civil law and criminal law are quite different entities. It is the defining of what is criminal versus what is civil that creates all the unrest. Civil law concerns itself with individuals and organizations. Criminal law concerns itself with the society as a whole. Whereas both are concerned with wrongdoing, the determination of the wrong is what is in dispute. Simply put, if the action adversely affects the society it is criminal. If the action only concerns another individual (or organization) that is a civil matter. 

  Something is deemed criminal when it adversely affect the society. For that reason criminal law defines the moral and ethical character of the society. I realize it is quite the unpopular opinion but the United States of America, and its' criminal laws, are based in the Judeo-Christian tradition. As such there were, there is, and there always will conflicts with the moral and ethical standards expected in our society. It's been evidenced throughout the 250 year history of America. Still the founding fathers, those composing the constitution and debating its' merits made a conscious choice to not establish a state religion, understanding that each of us establish our own moral standard, and no one standard is infallible. And that is why we have criminal law, to punish injury to the whole. 

  The reality is you just can't legislate morality and ethics. All you can do is establish a standard the population is expected to adhere to. Just as headhunters defined certain tribes in Africa, it was a moral standard that was acceptable to the whole society. In pre-American society we had the Puritans and their sense of morality and ethics. There were standards based on that. When America was established as a sovereign nation slavery was practiced and accepted as a moral choice. In 87 years that was abolished and the entire nation (society) was affected. It became a criminal act! For almost a hundred years afterwards there were those attempting to continue that practice, insisting upon their moral supremacy. Yeah, that was the Democrats by the way. 

  What has destroyed every civilization? The lack of morality and ethics. That is it in a nutshell. The Roman empire became so corrupt, so immoral, and so "tolerant" that it collapsed upon itself. Power begets corruption. Lord Acton is credited with saying that. In America the power lies with the people. That is you and I. When we allow our elected officials to wield that power without accountability or responsibility we are enabling that corruption. It doesn't matter what political party is in power. What matters is you and I using our power. The individual power to either allow or criminalize those actions that cause harm to the society. We the people establish the moral and ethical standard. 

  You first have to be willing to deny yourself. You have to examine your motivation for doing whatever it is you are doing. Is this solely to satisfy yourself, or does it contribute in some way to the whole. Will that contribution cause harm? If your choices are causing civil unrest, the inspiration for violent protests and bringing harm to yourself, you really should closely review that choice. What one does in private should not affect the society. That choice is a much larger responsibility. And that is the premise behind our founding documents. Those choices that affect the entire society are made by the entire society. It's something I was taught as a child and I heard it often, "for the greater good." It involves self denial. It really isn't about me, it is about the future. I figure man will be here on this earth until we get it right or until the God(s) just get tired of it all. I've thought that perhaps the great flood was nothing more than the tears of God. But that falls into the philosophy section. 

                                                                                

                                                                                         

  

   

Calm down

 So Trump and Elon are having a bit of a spat. Not surprising considering the ego's involved in that relationship. It's a difference of opinion between friends. Well, that's assuming that they were friends to begin with. I have no insider knowledge regarding any of that. The personal lives and relationships of billionaires aren't a part of my life. I don't know either one of those men personally. I suspect they wouldn't agree with a great deal of what I have to say regarding world politics and national issues. But none of that matters at all, Trump is the president, duly elected by the people and Elon Musk is well, Elon Musk. 

 I do find it a bit sad when the main stream media begins reporting on this like it is a game of Big Brother or Survivor. The media isn't making any attempt at an intelligent discourse, just fostering a soap opera mentality. If you pay attention that should be quite obvious. The media claims Baron, Trumps son, couldn't pass the entrance exam to get into Harvard, they claim Melania wants a divorce and Trump hasn't paid his taxes. The left has been attacking Tesla, burning dealership and destroying cars in an effort to do what, make Elon distance himself from Trump? Perhaps that strategy is working or perhaps Trump and Elon are just adapting to the market. Could be, it's the art of the deal. Trump has never denied being a wheeler/dealer in fact, taking pride in that. And don't you just hate it when someone like that succeeds? 

  Todays news is designed solely for ratings and to stir the pot. Emotions are the best motivators, but seldom the best guides. That is something I've been saying for quite some time now. If you want to generate a response, want to get people involved, you have to get them motivated. The fastest way to motivate anyone is to make them mad. Tempers flare and reason goes out the window. Another great way to motivate others is to deny them. You don't have to really deny them however, just threaten that action, cause a bit of fear and uncertainty. That will also spur people to action. Barring any of that, just tell people they are wrong, that will usually be enough to raise the ire of others. It gains momentum when you include some name calling and derogatory comments. Put those words in others mouths for them and they will take ownership soon enough. 

  What difference does it make if Elon Musk disagrees with Trump? Are you know going to say, Elon is right and Trump is wrong, when last week, as you burned Tesla dealerships you cried that Elon was a Nazi! Last week you were upset that Elon had any input into anything at all but now his opinion is all important. It is proof positive that Trump is wrong and all the policies outlined in that bill are wrong. Have you turned the Big Brother house in your favor? 

  Well, enjoy the soap opera, the drama. As for me I'll be paying attention to what really counts. The congress still controls the show as far as getting any bills approved and passed. Trump and Elon can argue with each other all they like, I don't care about that. Calm down folks, pay attention to what is really going on. It's embarrassing. Other nations are looking at this as more American foolishness. Millions are invading the borders to take advantage of all this nonsense. Just keep it up and soon there will be no turning back. You will lose the house! 

                                                                                   

making it easy

  There has been talk of not allowing food stamp users to purchase junk food with those funds. It's nothing new, there have always been restrictions on what could be purchased. The intent being to ensure the money is used for its' intended purpose. We al know that doesn't always happen and we all know it will continue regardless. The old adage, where there is a will, there is a way applies. I worked in retail for a time and have seen a few of the tricks used. 

  When I was small my great grandfather was eligible for welfare. He was born in 1879, and so social security and a retirement plan weren't part of his younger days. When I was 15 he was eighty nine, hardly employable and so his income wasn't just fixed, it was welded! At that time welfare recipients received boxes of food stuff, you know, to ensure their health and welfare. That was provided by the government and distributed locally on a regular basis. The government purchased those products as surplus, a benefit to the American economy and farmers. But there was a stigma attached to that, a bit of shame came along with that. Yes, others in the community generally looked down on those receiving those handouts. It was, as it is today considered charity, and many appeared more than able to work but refused. Even my great grandfather at 89 felt a little ashamed that he had to rely on that. 

  Food stamps began in 1939. At first there were two types, one could be used to purchase anything on the grocery store shelves while the other could only be used to purchase surplus products. This was during the great depression. Thing is, those stamps had to be purchased. Over the years things were changed and expanded. Fast forward to today where recipients are issued an EBT card and it is automatically loaded with a set amount. The reasoning behind that was two-fold. It would streamline the process, as having to produce the "coupons" and the attendant paperwork involved in tracking all that was getting cumbersome. Another reason was, to mask the use of those benefits from those that didn't receive them. It's supposed to remove the stigma because no one would know. It didn't work, everyone knows who is using snap benefits! And with that, came the expansion of fraud. It certainly enabled those wishing to take advantage. There are several ways to go about that. I've seen a number of them first hand.

  But you know what it all comes down to is motivation. When you make the road easy to travel, the traffic increases. It's really not a difficult thing to understand. There was a time when accepting charity was viewed in a different light, by those receiving it. There was a bit of shame associated with that. It wasn't viewed as something you were entitled to, something to be proud of, something to hand down to your children as a legacy, it was quite the opposite. Today requiring and qualifying for a handout is considered as some sort of accomplishment, or entitlement, generally based on things that happened one hundred years ago or more. What is the motivation to change any of that? 

  Well, you will hear those proclaiming that is all they want to do, break free. You will hear every excuse, every reason, every possible scenario that prevents them from "escaping" poverty. You will hear how very difficult that is, how impossible a task is set before them. You will hear all the tales or oppression, of prejudice and bias. You will hear how there is just no way to break free. You will hear that this, this is there destiny. And then when someone does succeed, breaks free from the cycle it is hailed as a sort of miracle. It is almost always viewed as some sort of lucky break, like winning the lottery. The truth is, that individual was motivated to succeed, personally motivated. And that is the key, if you are not personally motivated to act, you will not act. And it doesn't what your financial status happens to be. It doesn't matter what race, creed or religion you are. None of that matters.

  But here we are in 2025, removing as much motivation as possible in the name of charity. What we are doing is enabling. By removing any shame, any stigma, any thought of personal responsibility for your position and condition in life, we are enabling those that lack motivation to continue down that path. We have made the road to dependence much easier to travel, removing the struggle and making it smooth sailing. We are even promoting the idea that those that have succeeded, the "wealthy" folks, should be forced to provide the "poor" with all the luxuries the rich can afford, it's only fair! Just because I'm poor doesn't mean I shouldn't own my own home, two cars, a boat and go on family vacations. I should receive exactly the same level of healthcare as the richest person on the planet! I should be able to dine at the finest places, wear designer clothing and go to the most prestigious universities. I'm entitled to that as a human! I shouldn't have to earn any of that, I'm entitled to that. 

  When we started creating entire months to celebrate "lifestyles" we started on the final path to total dependence. It is the removal of responsibility for your choices. In the modern parlance, "it's all good." Well, the truth is, it isn't. It's true you have no control over the circumstances of your birth or your childhood. That ends when you become an adult. Then you can change those circumstances. What do these "lifestyle" months really celebrate? There are reminders to those in those "communities" of how oppressed, how held back and marginalized they are, and that is why they are entitled to special consideration, not being held to the same standard. 

 And what is that standard? Self sufficiency. That is the standard for every person. It has absolutely nothing to do with anything else. Nothing to do with race, creed, religion, or nationality. Perhaps that is best expressed with an old adage, God helps those who help themselves. It means being personally accountable for your choices. You will never be self sufficient when your independence is dependent upon the charity of others. No, you have to earn self sufficiency, it can not be granted, administrated by the government. That is dependence. 

                                                                                

                      These "food coupons" were replaced because they embarrassed the users.

                       Replaced with an EBT card just like the working folks have. Makes things

                       a bit easier, more comfortable. 

Living through the hard times

  I often see posts about the old days, how hard life was back then and all of that. Many folks claiming to have survived through the roughest times, like having no air conditioning in their homes. I just smile about all of that, as a great deal of it is just the way it was in my house growing up. And I grew up in a fine home, good as most everyone else that I knew and visited. We had indoor plumbing, central heating and enough beds for everyone, three beds in one room as a matter of fact! Now, what was there to complain about with that? 

  Thinking about that I do recall some things in homes that you just don't see much anymore. Perhaps the most forgotten feature being a door on the bottom of the staircase leading to the second floor. My grandmothers house was like that and so was the house of a close friend. The reason is quite simple, there was no heat in the upstairs so you kept that door shut to keep the heat downstairs. Heat rises you know. In those homes the only rooms upstairs were bedrooms. You don't need heat in bedrooms that's what blankets and quilts are for. My great grandfathers house was like too, now that I really think about it. Of course he had a coal chute as well, grandma only had a coal box on the end of her house. Well, some folks just have it easier than others I suppose.

  As I said we didn't have air conditioning. We also didn't have wall to wall carpeting. There were what Mom called throw rugs everywhere. Some were quite large and I remember putting them over the split rail ranch and beating them. We didn't have one of those fancy rug beaters though I just used my baseball bat or the broom handle. What we also had was a door stop. It was a cast iron Cat weighed about ten pounds! My house was outfitted with those new aluminum storm doors. You know the type, you get your initial in the middle of it and change it to a screen door in the summer months. The front door stayed open until we went to bed. 

  We did have television and radio. We had a few electric fans, a gas stove and a refrigerator, although it was usually called the ice box. My parents used instant coffee, a modern invention at the time, until the Mr. Coffee machine came out. What Mom did before that I can't say for certain as I don't remember but I suspect it was a percolator. Grandmother Bennett had an electric percolator, state of the art, that was always on. She "put on the pot" first thing in the morning and it stayed on all day, refilled as needed. My home had two and half baths! Yes, one bathroom for my parents and the other for the kids and that half bath in the laundry room. That was there so you wouldn't track dirt all through the house when just coming in to your necessary business. And yes Mom had a washer and a dryer. She seldom used the dryer however, clothes were hung on the clothesline. 

  Homes and the designing of them have changed over the years to meet certain needs and wants. Kitchens have generally grown a lot smaller and formal dining rooms almost disappearing. The Brady bunch had a very modern home but he was an architect so that explained that. Now we did have heat upstairs, as Dad had installed that himself. Hot water baseboard heat! No radiators, we were up to date on that tech. No door at the bottom of the stairs for us. Yeah, all in all I'd say I grew up in a modern home and have nothing to complain about. The kitchen floor was linoleum, that brick pattern that was all the rage. We even had a light over the kitchen table that you could pull up and down. It was shaped like a wagon wheel. Yeah, we had it all. 

                                                                                 

                                                                                  

Letters

  Social media. A fairly new term to describe the platforms we use to interact with each other digitally. I'm so old I recall when that meant writing a letter or postcard. Well, the digital part anyway. Used to be we sat and got out our stationary and began writing. Some thought usually went into what was being written, it wasn't a spur of the moment type thing, more of a reasoned response. Today in this world of instantaneous communication that isn't always the case. In fact, I would suggest that 75% of what is posted is "off the cuff" as the saying goes. You read to react, not to understand the thought being presented. Whatever catches your attention. Also the reason for so many advertisements, meme's, and salacious headlines. I'm not trying to say I don't fall prey to all of that, I've been guilty on more than one occasion, but I do try to present something that will at the very least give pause, make you think about what I'm saying. It rarely works though. 

  Yesterday was a case in point. I had posted about this being Pride month. I had gone to the internet to receive an explanation of just what Pride month is supposed to be representing. The gist of that explanation was to celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of those in the LGTBQ community. I asked, what have those folks contributed or accomplished that others have not. That is what I wrote. An argument immediately broke out about all of that. The problem being, I had dared to question that, dared to question the narrative of Gay pride. You are expected to throw your full support and praise behind that. Failure to do so will quickly get you labeled as all sorts of vile things. The thing is, if you read what I wrote I was just asking what special or unique skill or contributions has that community made? Their title identifies there sexual preference's, is that a contribution or accomplishment? I don't think so, it's just their choice.

  But all of that devolved into a discussion of being oppressed, marginalized, white supremacy and the evils of slavery. Yes, all those things were mentioned as justification for a Pride month. Well, because there are those that do not agree with those life choices and get offended when that is presented as something to celebrate. I don't like lima beans, I don't hate Lima beans. I will not attend any celebration for Lima beans, you are however, free to partake. Is Pride month supposed to be some abject lesson in morality? An entire month devoted to telling us that we should celebrate what we don't agree with because that is the only moral thing to do. The imposition of your moral choices on others isn't tolerance or acceptance, it is bullying. To further suggest that it is some kind of accomplishment or contribution is an insult. Being Gay isn't some 20th or 21st century accomplishment or contribution. There have always been those that chose that preference. That's the reason there are so many letters identifying that "community." 

  What turns you on is a very personal thing, and should remain that way. We don't need a month to celebrate all of that. Whatever contribution or accomplishment you achieve beyond that, may or may not be celebrated by others. I don't need to know your personal choices to celebrate your accomplishments. It isn't "being in the closet" it is exercising discretion and sound judgement. It's as simple as that. Those celebrating their Pride are in the minority, less than 14% of the population in fact, they really shouldn't be surprised when the other 86% don't want to celebrate that as an accomplishment or contribution. It really isn't relevant. In fact, you could view that as pandering. It's really like saying, I have Black friends. And that is the point I was attempting to make. But, you're not supposed to do that today! 

  Now if I were to post this missive on a social media platform like Facebook how much of it would actually be read? According to one study, any more than 80 characters and the engagement drops off swiftly. Just eighty characters, that isn't a lot of words. On average that is four sentences, including spaces. Perhaps that is the reason for all these acronyms in play today and the use of emojis. That wasn't the case when we wrote letters to one another, or published pamphlets and books. Maybe this started with the Readers Digest condensed books. Some of the story is missing. I've found, generally speaking, that folks aren't accepting my synopsis when I post something like that. I just think they need to read the whole thing. I mean a postcard is great, but a letter is better. Maybe that's the problem today, no one is getting letters anymore. Lots of folks interested in putting letters after their name but not interested in understanding the subject at hand. 

                                                                                  

                                                                                     

  

What are you expecting?

  Listening to the news this morning they were discussing the salary of the Baltimore City superintendent of schools. The CEO of Baltimore City schools earns 479,672 in compensation. 414,000 for a base salary. The test scores for the city school system are just pathetic. A solution was being offered. She should also receive incentives for improved test scoring, something that is not currently a part of the contract. So, what I'm hearing is, you should get paid more if you actually do the job you were hired to do! In my way of looking at things, the incentive for improving test scores is that you get to keep that job. If you fail, as a minimum, to maintain that average you lose your job. That's the incentive for doing your job! 

  I've been saying the same thing for quite some time now in regard to this matter of parole. That is also backwards in my opinion. If you are sentenced to five years in prison, you behave yourself for that five years, you are then released. You have paid that debt. Forgiveness comes after the debt is satisfied, not before. In this case the debt being five years incarcerated. 1826 days is the debt, nothing more, nothing less. If you don't behave yourself, your stay just got extended! You start at day one all over again. That's the incentive for good behavior. 

  It is the lowering of expectations that causes these problems. People must be held accountable for their actions, or lack of them. That is why parents should plainly tell their children what the expectations are. Us old people called them, having chores to do. Yes, they were chores because most of us really didn't want to do them. But we did, mostly because of the consequences from not doing them. Doing the chore was the less of two evils! Yeah, I did think my parents were evil at times. I had a job to do, the expectations were made clear to me, and I was aware. Failure to complete the assignment was usually met with one statement, you know better. And yeah, I usually did. 

  The incentive for doing as I was told was the absence of punishment. It really was as simple as that. If I did more, exceeded those expectations I might receive praise, a reward of some kind, but that wasn't a guarantee, not part of the deal. My incentive was always that I wouldn't be punished and I didn't want to disappoint. Yes, as strange as it may seem, disappointing others has always concerned me, for me it is a lowering of my worth. Today we are concerned with being empowered, well yeah, I was empowered alright by not being punished, and that was something I had control over. Today it's called accountability. Yeah, same thing just in a different light. 

  The problem today is the lowering of expectations for ourselves, while raising the expectations for the way others will treat us. Something we call entitlement. The reality is you are entitled to what you earn, nothing more than that. If you earn yourself a jail sentence you are entitled to serve that sentence. You may expect me to feel sorry for you, forgive you, or grant you special consideration but that doesn't mean I will. If I hire you to do a job, and you fail to do that job, to my expectations, at the very least I will not hire you again. If you exceed my expectations I may reward you. It's like giving a tip, a gratuity, a gift. It isn't a requirement, not a part of any contract, it's a personal choice. That choice is on both ends of that. 

  Adjust your expectations to align with the reality, that's my advice. It's all well and good to dream, to have high hopes and expectations but that must be tempered with the truth. Don't expect to be a star if you ain't shining! I expect I will be treated pretty much the way I treat others. That's my expectation with those people that I know. I don't expect that with strangers, as I don't know anything about them. Yeah that is where "profiling" comes into the picture. If it looks like a duck, it is probably a duck. Whether that duck is inherently good or bad is a different question altogether, adjust your expectation accordingly. 

  The ultimate incentive is eternal life. That is what all religious belief centers around. If we follow the tenets of that religious instruction, behave ourselves, we will ultimately receive that reward. Well, maybe. And it is the maybe part that so many are forgetting about. If I do my job, and I do it well, I may get to keep that job, that's the hope anyway. If I don't do the job well, don't meet the expectations of my employer (or God for that matter) I may not, in fact the reality is, I won't keep that job. So, if it is just keeping your job or obtaining eternal life the incentive remains the same, the fulfillment of your hopes and dreams. It is really up to you.

                                                                               

 

It's a bit crazy

  It's a crazy world we are living in now. I was just reading where a gender test must be taken in order to compete in the Olympics. Yes, we now have to have scientific proof of gender, tests conducted by experts in the field. It's all about those pesky X and Y chromosomes. What combination(s) do you have? The experts will analyze all of that and render a judgement. Yes, you are a male or you are a female. Or, you may be some variation of either one, containing some elements not normally found in the "straight" version of gender, the binary choice before them. It's really a bit bizarre. 

  In other news the state of Connecticut has passed some legislation allowing illegal immigrants to sue local authorities for reporting their status to the federal authorities. This is of course designed to impede the function of ICE, a federal government program for the protection of American citizens. So what we have is a state government attempting to block the enforcement of federal authorities. It shouldn't be surprising though if you consider the cannabis laws. Many states have decided on simply ignoring federal law concerning all of that. They even go so far as to proclaim it legal! You hear that all the time on all the news agencies and it is simply not true. It isn't legal! State law does not override federal law. It is still a federal crime. Crazy isn't it? I don't care about what you think the law should be, that is what the law currently is. 

  The current administration established what they call the Department of Government Efficiency. It really isn't anything new. It was first called the USDS, United States Digital Service, and created by none other than Barrack Obama. Trump renamed it. Now many are all upset and excited about that. What do you mean we are going to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse! That's how we have been operating for decades. And why did we have an "outsider" looking into all of that? 

 During the days of the USDS the top position was a political appointee, which is very convenient, Trump changed the name and made the top position a career position, not a political one. A subtle change but significant. USDS was created solely in an attempt to fix Obamas failed website. Changing the hiring requirements to employ those supporting Obama and his left wing ideology. The bureaucrats had bungled that job so badly they where left with little choice. It wasn't about eliminating fraud, waste or abuse, it was about attempting to cover up incompetence. 1.7 billion dollars was spent on the healthcare website that is a failure, a flop, and still is to this day. And the crazy thing is, people are upset that it is being fixed.

  Yes it's a crazy world we live in for sure. Employees are walking the picket line because they are being told they have to wear a plain back shirt. Starbucks has established a dress code for work! The workers are feeling marginalized! The requirements are far too strict! A plain black shirt, black, khaki or blue denim bottoms, shoes must be closed toe and heel, no sandals or open footwear, hair color if it is permanent, semi-permanent and food safe, beanies and hats are allowed but no scarves or anything else that covers that green apron. Just how are we supposed to express our individuality! They are being paid, on average, $13.50 an hour to serve coffee and these requirements are just too strict! It's crazy. You are working for the brand, you should wear whatever you are told to wear. It's a job, not a social club, a pastime, or your "safe" space. But they proclaim, I'm a barista! Yeah, you serve coffee.