compliance

  Once again, I find myself examining what I call situational morality. This is right in this situation but wrong in another. It requires the exercise of judgement, something I'm told I shouldn't do. How am I to react? It's almost as though each situation comes with its' own set of rules or guidelines. I can't murder you outside the womb, but I can inside. And even then, there is a situational morality involved. Is there a specific timeframe? Or does it apply at any time before birth? What's the situation? Have I discovered that the child may have a defect of some type and so that justifies an aborting of life? Or have I simply decided it would be too much of a hassle to raise a child, too expensive, or interfere with my career. I wasn't planning on having a child. Are all of those valid reasons? 

 I think everyone would agree that it is alright to kill someone before they kill you. I don't think the situation matters at all in that case. Whether it is in war or in your home if someone is trying to kill you, you can justifiably kill them first. Self-defense is a human right. Self-preservation is part of our DNA! Perhaps in different amounts but everyone will try to survive in some fashion. Now we all agree that suicide is a terrible thing. We have created crisis centers, interventions and even confine those expressing a desire to do so, but in some situations, we are saying we should assist them in any way possible. Doctors, those that have taken an oath to "do no harm" have even supported this morality in certain situations. Justifiable homicide. It's called a mercy.  Death is a viable choice. It's a mercy?

 I agree that morality is formed by the environment in which you live. You are taught what is morally expected/accepted in that society. That's the situational morality we live our lives by. Governments don't decide on morality however, they decide on legality. Well, unless that government is guided by a moral code as defined in religious texts. Muslim nations are like that, in most situations. But, like everything else there are exceptions depending upon the situation. Moral violations in those countries are normally only enforced as an act of retribution, not a matter of law. Someone wants to prosecute/persecute someone else for any number of reasons. Moral violations in our country are only prosecuted when there is a law about that. Murder is one of those. You can get the death penalty for that, although many places now prohibit that on the basis it is it is immoral. Twenty-seven states and the federal government allow the death penalty. Well, it all depends upon the situation, doesn't it?

 I do believe in natural law. I believe that humans have an innate sense of right and wrong. The objective of government is to guide the citizens to obey positive law. Positive law requires judgement and manmade laws, sometimes in contradiction to natural law. It requires real time punitive actions, unlike the punitive action of a God for violating moral law. 

 The ancient Greeks spoke of natural law, and it has been talked about ever since. The Declaration of Independence is a statement of natural law. We state these truths to be self-evident. The Constitution is an example of positive law. It's imperative that positive law find its' basis in natural law. When that is lost, the situation changes, and must be changed. Positive law that is, that is what has to be changed. And that is the situation we are facing today, in my humble opinion. Our positive laws have strayed too far from natural law. The constitution was written to enforce our declaration. We made that declaration because English laws violated natural law in so many areas a break was required. It appears we are approaching that very situation once again. Time once again to define our national morality. Let's all pray that it is based in natural law and not positive law. Positive law generally is to benefit one group, while natural law applies to all. And that is what we declared! It began with this statement; "When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation." Natural law. We enforced it with this explanation: We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. That is the positive statement. Natural law is the morality, positive law should enforce that. 

 There are moral absolutes and relative morality. The ideal and the reality. I can believe in the absolute and practice the relative. We see this in religious practices all the time. The objective being to create a more convenient faith. Following all the rules, all the time, is very restricting. That is the reason there are so many denominations and definitions associated with the Christian belief system. Each one makes a minor adjustment, a little tweak here and there. King Henry V111 did that when the Pope wouldn't grant him a divorce. He just started his own church that allowed that, just a minor change. We can see this happening right now. Many churches now have female priests and pastors. There is gay clergy. There are those now praying to a non-binary God. Certainly, a change in the situation, a relative morality in response to society and positive law. Positive laws attempt to define morality, or at least that should be the intent. The reality is positive law imposes societal morality. And in general, that will be whatever is the most convenient. 

 We use morals to justify our causes. For that reason alone, we have to adjust the morality of any given situation. We are justified in waging war when that war suppresses evil! In that scenario killing the enemy is 100% justified. It's the only way to stop them. We are then exempt from it's wrong to kill other people. Some people need killing. All wars, revolutions, coups or whatever are fueled by emotions and justified with morals. It all depends upon the situation. Do we respond morally or positively? One is dependent upon the other. The question being, do you want the punishment now or later? It is the threat of punishment that forces compliance, isn't it? 

Vacays

  Now that we celebrated the 4th of July it feels like summer is half over. In fact, it is just 57 days until Labor Day. And Labor Day is the end of summer. It's been that way all my life. Having grown up in an area where "summer" money was of primary importance I was well aware of that. The season we called it. The fourth of July was the peak and Labor Day was the end. The season has lost some of its' importance over the years as tourists became residents. It happens everywhere and continues until a new playground is discovered. It may take a few generations, but it will happen. Newport, in the season, comes to mind for us of the boomer generation and before that. We all heard of the place with its' glorious mansions and social life, in the season. You don't hear much about that anymore. Very few of the wealthy today could afford anything on that scale. Servants, mansions, yachts, huge parties and all of that. Then Labor day arrived, the last hurrah of summer, and those folks went to their winter quarters. They all went back to making money while we counted ours. That's how it worked where I grew up.

 Summer is the time for vacations for those that work indoors. That's the way I always viewed that. Those folks came from the cities where they worked in office buildings. They didn't get to enjoy the great outdoors much, maybe on the weekends, but from Labor Day to the end of June they were indoors. To come outside, to go fishing, swimming, boating, or just seeing the ocean or the bay was a vacation to them. I lived with all of that everyday. Working outdoors in the summer heat, in the cold of winter, on the water when it is rough isn't a vacation, it's making a living. There are few comforts involved with any of that. Now sitting on the sidewalk sipping a cool drink between shopping spree is another thing altogether. Sailing on your yacht is a bit different than scalloping from an open boat in February! 

 I didn't come from a family that went on vacations. Not once did we as a family go anywhere on vacation, not even for a few days. We did go to a large department store twenty-five miles from where we lived and that was an outing. That was about as close to a vacation as it got. Now we did have picnics on the beach, even built a fire a few times, had a clambake. Dad usually had a boat of some kind that we could go fishing on every once in a while. That didn't happen often as Dad was always working. On the weekends, if he had a day off going out to do something, wasn't usually on the agenda. If there wasn't anything to be repaired or built at home just sitting in the shade in the backyard was a vacation. A real vacation meant you didn't have to do anything. Only rich people could afford that. The rest of us had to work.

 I have since been on real family vacations since those days. That happened when my son and his wife decided to go on vacations and let us old folks tag along. We went for a week or more several times. Now funds weren't unlimited, and everything planned carefully beforehand. But yes, money was spent in a rather frivolous way occasionally. It was a treat! There were times, moments, went I felt wealthy indeed. I was standing on the other side of the line so to speak. I was aware of those that were working, waiting on me. It was a sort of power. I began to understand how you could become the way some of those wealthy folks where, obnoxious. The customer is always right attitude. To be honest though, I always felt a bit guilty as well. I'm not one to send the food back, complain about a missing bar of soap or not enough towels. I could get that way though.

 I've been retired for a number of years now. No more vacations for me. I say that because what would I be taking a vacation from? Vacations are an escape from work, that's their purpose. I'm on vacation every day. I have no place I have to be beyond those places that I choose to go. I could go sightseeing. There is plenty I would like to see.  If you go sightseeing for an extended period of time what is that called? Is it an expedition? No, an expedition implies a hard journey of some type with a definitive purpose in mind. Is it a vacation? Well, I guess you could rationalize that by saying you are vacating your normal routine. 

 Summer is half over and I wonder where the time went. Seems like I've been cutting the grass for months. The heat is getting oppressive, storms coming in and the bugs! I don't have any small children around anymore; the grandchildren are all grown now. No kids out of school. I haven't been fishing yet or gone to the beach. No particular reason why I haven't just thought of doing that yet. I do have a crabbing trip planned for next month. That will be the closest thing to a vacation I take this summer. I did enjoy a riverboat cruise a week or so ago and that was like a mini-vacation. I didn't have to pay for a thing! Now that's a vacation. A vacation from reality. Isn't that what all vacations are? Yes, that's the goal. 

told you so

  Investigations have been launched, testimony collected, social media scoured for someone to blame. The CEO of Ocean Gate was killed in that accident so it isn't sufficient to blame him, others must be held accountable. The uproar was loud but is already dying down somewhat. Ocean Gate the company has suspended all operations, for now. Presumed human remains have been recovered from the ocean floor. 

 Now this was a tragic event no doubt about that, but everyone involved was well aware of the risk. I'm certain there were those that expressed concern before this happened. But like a fortune teller they usually only gain attention when they are shown to be right, after the fact. Yes, after the fact experts are plentiful. I have been accused of being one of those myself on occasion. That's when I use one of my favorite phrases, told you so. Call it a vice if you will, but I do find it oddly satisfying when I can say that. There isn't much someone can say in return, is there? Yeah, I told you so. I get it. It comes off as smug or self-righteous, but it does feel good. 

 I don't spend nearly the time on Facebook as I did in the past and that's a good thing, but I still check in with regularity. The conversations are few these days mostly simple salutations, a picture or two and some memes. All the experts are still there, however. There are experts for every field, every conceivable situation, and many with "degrees" they proclaim they earned in institutions of higher learning. With the latest tragic event all the structural engineers and submarine experts have appeared. A good number of them assure us they knew this was likely to happen. Then the moral ethicists chime in with, how could a benevolent government have allowed this to happen? The government should have intervened to prevent anything like this from taking place. All the experts knew it was dangerous! Why was there no warning label on that thing! It's okay as long as there is a disclaimer and a warning label. 

 I'm sitting here writing this little piece complaining about the I told you so's. I have admitted I belong in that group on occasion. And like all the others I do believe I knew what would happen beforehand. I just didn't know this was even taking place. What I mean is, I wasn't aware of Ocean Gate and any sub rides to the Titanic at a cost of 250,000 dollars. I must have skipped over that page in the Neiman Marcus catalogue. I didn't know the sub was made from carbon fiber and titanium. I didn't know it wasn't required to be approved by the government. I didn't know much of anything. I did know that a submarine can implode in deep water. I was in the Navy and worked on submarine antennas at one time. To test those antennas for watertightness at the depth's submarines operate they were placed in a tank, The cover was closed on that tank, air pressure was applied until "depth" was reached. You could put other things in there, like a Styrofoam cup and see how it got crushed to thimble size by that pressure. So, yeah, I knew that could happen. I just didn't know it would happen. No matter though, told you so.

 Three times Ocean Gate sent that sub to the Titanic. Three times it went without incident. I hadn't heard anything about any of that. I suspect not many in the general public had. I doubt that many had any concerns if they did know. Perhaps the ones close to the operation did, employees often express their concerns for one reason or another. Perhaps there are some competitors that voiced concern. No problems until there is one. Isn't that always the way it is? We all cheered the space shuttle until it tragically exploded. Then there were concerns. We had forgotten about the three astronauts killed on the launch pad in 1967. They were conducting some testing at that time. Three died in that event. Seven were killed in 1986. Then in 2003 Columbia exploded upon reentry. The fact is two out of five space shuttles blew up! A nearly 50% failure rate. Even with all the government intervention it's a dangerous undertaking. Things go wrong. Who is to blame? I think we just concentrate on what went wrong and leave it at that. We have lost 17 astronauts so far in our space exploration efforts. I'm certain there will be more. I am as equally certain there will be more tragic events in the future. I have thought I would have "told you so" written on my tombstone. It is going to happen one day, told you so. 

being objective

  Following another mass shooting in Baltimore there is much talk about what to do. The police department is short over five hundred officers! I'm no cop but it might have something to do with being powerless when you have the job. You can't stop and frisk anyone suspected of carrying a weapon, you can't actually enforce the laws about the squeegee kids or those breaking curfew. Several officers have been ambushed and killed in the last few years and the criminals are being released back to the streets almost as fast as they are arrested. Policing on eggshells is certainly a thankless job. Top that off with another change in leadership. The former police commissioner left just prior to this latest shooting. This last incident took place at a neighborhood block party. It's been an annual event for some time now and hundreds gather. The police knew about it, but there were no police present at that gathering at all. On the news following that occurrence the police commissioner tried to deny knowing when that party was. If he had only known! And this is the guy that is now going to lead the department? 

 The latest proposal is to bring in the national guard. The police department is undermanned so we will bring in troops! Now, just what will these troops do? Their purpose will be to patrol the streets in battle gear and do what? Beyond an intimidating presence I can't see where they have any power or authority to do anything at all. If the duly sworn police officers can't stop suspected wrongdoers on the streets to question them what can a national guard private do? The governor would have to authorize this move. Then you have effectively established martial law. I can't see it any other way. The narrative is, bring in the troops to stop the violence. Just how they are going to do that however is not spoken about. Will the guard declare war on the gangs? Is that how we stop the violence? Or is the guard there to simply return fire. It's true that the legal gun owners are being disarmed so only the crooks have guns. I guess that is part of the plan. A means to tell the good guys from the bad. Eventually only the government has arms and control is achieved. The very thing the second amendment is designed to prevent happening. 

 There are a few that are speaking to the truth of the matter, mostly they are pastors. The real problem isn't the guns, it is the willingness to use those guns that is the problem. This problem begins in the home. You can make all the excuses you like, cite every past injustice, offer every explanation but that will do nothing to stop this. Until the parents start holding their children accountable for their actions not much is going to change. It's a cultural thing, this willingness to shoot. It has been glorified in song and the fatalities made into martyrs. A quick look at Google will yield a list of 56 rap stars that have been murdered! Being a rap singer is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world! 

 It begs the question, why. It isn't just black rap singers, it is all rap artists. It's simply that there are far fewer white rap artists than any other group. Really not unlike blacks in country music. The music does represent a culture. A culture of violence. You can say the violence is sparked by injustice, desperation, lack of opportunity, diversity, economic distress, or any number of factors you like but the bottom line is simple enough to understand, it breeds violence. Some say country music breeds extreme patriotism! Those damn rednecks, although the image is changing somewhat. Some cowboys be woke bro. That's one way to sell records. It started with outlaw country, when the good ole boys started smoking that wacky tobaccy. But they haven't decided to start shooting; yet. 

 For me it is all a sign of the degradation of society. It's the same thing my parents said, their parents said and I'm certain every parent has said. Each generation wants better for the next. For that reason, each generation changes the rules. Each generation wants to try what wasn't allowed by the previous. Lessons learned must be relearned. In the study of history, a democracy lasts about 250 years before collapsing. It collapses when the citizens of that democracy place accountability for their failures on the government itself. It truly is as John Adams said, dependent upon a moral and religious people. Simply changing the moral and/or religious definitions will not keep the democracy intact. Like the old adage you can put lipstick on a pig. You cannot have a morality that declares the death penalty as morally wrong, an injustice against humanity while at the same time aborting children on demand is a right. You can't say suicide is wrong and then pass legislation saying I can assist you in doing that. Those actions fall into the moral relativism realm. In that thinking all actions are relative to the society in which you live. The society decides what is right and wrong. Personally, I believe in moral objectivity. I believe there are things that are right and wrong in every instance, in every society all the time, no exceptions to the rule. I also believe when a democracy reaches the point where it is moral relativism controlling the decision making, that is where the collapse begins. Just like Adams said. Adams believed, as do I, that wrongdoing is an internal thing, not an external one. I am responsible for my choices. 

brass tacks

  

• "By passing amendments to the Constitution, Congress can effectively check the decisions of the Supreme Court. But an amendment must either be proposed by Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of state legislatures. Either way, a proposed amendment only becomes part of the Constitution when ratified by legislatures or conventions in three-fourths of the states (38 of 50 states)." 
• This is the method of checks and balances we were taught about in school. This is how we can reign in the power of the supreme court. The power of the court lies in the interpretation of the constitution. When the court issues an opinion that is what they are doing. Now we know that we must follow the constitution. The constitution is the law of the land. No law can be made in contradiction to that law. The only thing that can change is the opinion on that constitution. Just what did the writers mean. There is no doubt that each line, each phrase and paragraph was heavily debated. Concessions were made. There is no other way that document gets ratified. We are still debating those concessions to this day. But that is exactly why those checks and balances were written into the constitution. No one branch of government is to wield absolute power. 
•  The court recently ruled that the president, that is to say the executive branch, has no authority to forgive student debts. It's clear if you read the constitution. The constitution clearly states that congress controls the purse strings. Even Biden has acknowledged that imploring the congress to enact legislation to forgive those debts. It is clear to anyone with a brain that the person(s) controlling the money, control the country. That is the reason congress was vested with that power. The people will decide what money is to be spent where, when and why. The executive branch can veto that decision, the sole response allowed by law, and by a 2/3 vote the congress can override that veto. The individual state legislatures can convene a convention and control the congress! That's article five. All checks and balances.
•   Almost from the beginning the makeup of the supreme court has been an issue. The problem being that those justices are people like you and me. They all have their own opinion. Liberal and conservative views on each and every subject one can imagine. In fact, the constitution does not list any qualifications for being appointed a supreme court justice. No age, no educational requirement, profession or even citizenship. The thought there being, an opinion is an opinion, everyone can have one. I can read the constitution and form my own opinion on exactly what is meant by what was written. Reading between the lines is the art of the lawyer. Their opinions are formed more by the education they receive than any independent thought is my thinking on that. No different than how my attitudes, thoughts and sense of morality were influenced by my parents, peers and education. And when it comes down to the brass tacks, whose opinion counts? Generally speaking, the one that controls the purse strings. Consider what happens to any corporation/organization that upsets the buying public. A boycott, the withholding of funds will quickly change their opinion or shut them down completely. That is the power of the purse.
•  That is what all of this is about, the power of the purse. The purchase of legislation is perhaps the ultimate purchase of all. When you control that, you control the people. The socialist form of government is based on that premise. Dependence upon government is control. It begins with an air of benevolence. Like offering candy to baby. The appeal can't be denied, everyone feels like they "deserve" more. The one controlling the candy, holds the power. Power and promises. That is what government boils down to. No matter the political affiliation the end goal is the same, control of the purse strings. The congress has been charged with being the stewards of the peoples' money. They are required, by the constitution, “No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law . ." That is the appropriations clause of the constitution. You don't need to be lawyer to understand any of that. 
•  We the people control the purse strings through our representatives. Strange, it sure doesn't feel that way though. The executive branch has been trying to wrest control of those purse strings since the beginning. The legislative branch has been fighting to keep control. The judicial branch has been strengthening their position, insisting their opinion is the only one that counts. The 11th amendment to the constitution was passed in response to Chisholm vs Georgia. The supreme court had ruled in favor of Chisholm. Congress didn't agree with that opinion and overrode the ruling with the 11th amendment. The court has changed its' opinion on several matters over the years. Recently at first the court said the Boy Scouts could exclude gays then reversed its' decision saying the Boy Scouts must admit gays. But no new amendments to the constitution. The last amendment to the constitution occurred in 1992. The Twenty-seventh Amendment says that no law can change Congresspeople's salaries until a new two-year term for Representatives starts. Yes, the last amendment was about the purse strings! No supreme court opinion required or asked for. Well, congress does control the purse strings, so there you go. 

born on the fourth

  It's July the fourth 1870. It's the year the United States government officially made the day a national holiday. That's right, many of us tend to believe that the holiday always existed, we tend to think of 1776. But the truth is it wasn't until January the 14th, 1784 that the United States became the United States with the ratifying of the treaty of Paris. Technically we have only been a sovereign nation for 239 years. But that is all history and the telling of history is always done by the victors. But in 1870 it was decided to celebrate the birth of the nation on July the 4th. That was because it was on July 4th, 1776, we declared ourselves independent. We were far from that, but that's a simple technicality. The revolutionary war lasted seven years and the treaty officially ending that war didn't happen for another year. 

 July 4th, 1870 is also the day my great grandfather Christian Reichart was born in Greenport, Long Island, New York. He was the first Reichart of this line born on American soil. I was born just 13 miles northwest of his final resting place in 1953. Just eighty three years between those two events. I was to grow up never knowing his name although he lived until 1940. His wife my great grandmother Katherine had passed in 1914. He never remarried and for reason known only to the past, became estranged from his family. My father never knew him, had no knowledge of him at all. I only came to know all of this when I embarked on the search using Ancestry.com.  It was the internet that led me back in time. Sadly, my own father was gone before I learned about any of this, he having passed in 1990. I'm certain he would have been fascinated by all that I have learned of our German ancestry. My dad, serving in WW2 on B-24 bombers spoke little about the war. He was aware that our ancestors were German, the name gave that away, and said that it was mentioned occasionally by others. He never said he faced any great discrimination or bigotry because of that. Still, that did exist during that time in America, it wasn't a good thing to be a hun! 

 Now great grandfather Christians' father had come to America in 1850. He served in the civil war, fighting for the union. He had gained citizenship prior to the outbreak of that conflict. He was a torpedo maker! Now at that time a torpedo was just a floating mine, very rudimentary and prone to explode prematurely. It was quite a dangerous position to be in. He must have had knowledge of explosives, although his occupation in Germany was listed as farmer. After the war he was a shopkeeper in Greenport. I know little about any of that. But his son, Christian married Katherine Gaffga, another fine German family that was quite prosperous in America. They had a marine business, repairing ships, building marine engines and involved heavily in civic affairs. Katherine would pass in 1914 after having given birth to two children. Elwood, my grandfather and Mildred, his sister, my great aunt. Elwood would marry Clara in 1921, my grandmother, have two sons with her, remarry have two more sons and pass away in 1932. My father was eight years old at the time. 

 Great grandfather Christian would have been 153 years old today. The first born Reichart of the line born on American soil. For me anyway he died in anonymity. I have done the research and discovered he passed away from stomach cancer in the Yapank Long Island infirmary. Also known as the poor house in those days, it is where people went when there was nowhere else to go. They stayed there under strict living conditions, expected to work if at all possible. to do their fair share. They received rudimentary health care in return. The whereabouts of his brothers and sisters are known to me but why they didn't interact with him I just don't know. They weren't wealthy people but comfortable, I think. They had trades such as tailor, mechanics and businesspeople. But great grandfather Christian appears to have become a bit of a loner. Well, whatever the real story is, Happy Birthday Great Grandfather Christian, born on the fourth of July!  

culture and change

 There was a mass shooting in Baltimore, thirty people involved. Two were killed, several in critical condition, and others wounded. All the usual statements are being made. Of course, it is the fault of the guns. I did hear a few talking about this being a societal issue. That is the truth of the matter. It is a societal matter, a cultural issue to be exact. The cultural issue isn't specific to a specific race, something that most want to avoid talking about, but rather a broader culture. These cultures and sub-cultures develop and are noted and talked about initially, that's where we are at right now, and eventually become accepted, embraced as the norm, and sometimes even celebrated. I'm old enough to remember when being a hippie was talked about. A little before my time there were those smashing rock and roll records, that devil music was destroying our children. We all laugh about that today, but it was real to those living with that at the time. Disrespectful children, the wild bunch, riding motorcycles, smoking cigarettes, and loose women! Yes, it was quite the raucous time and today we look back and laugh. All of that has been absorbed into the culture of America, nothing to be upset about. Rock and Roll will live forever. 

 Today we have another cultural shift, call it the thug life culture or whatever, but it is a culture of violence and hate. That culture is what is fueling all these mass shootings, all the "gun" violence that predominates the news. When I was young, in the movies and television shows, the good guys always won, and the bad guys always paid the price for their wrongdoing. The good guys seldom killed anyone, except when someone needed killing and you knew that. The bad guys were the ones always shooting others for no real reason other than they were bad guys. We have reached the extremes in culture. On one side we have the all inclusive, empathetic, I accept you crowd and the other side is the I can do whatever I like crowd. There is little middle ground. It is the basis for the victim and survivor society that we see today. The message is, you are going to be one or the other. When you become a victim and don't die or get killed, you're a survivor! 

 There is an old saying, give them enough rope and they will hang themselves. A lot of truth in that simple statement. It isn't the rope's fault that it happens that way, it is the choices of those folks with the rope. This thug life culture is definitely headed in that direction at break neck speed. They are shooting each other at an alarming rate and many bystanders are getting caught up in the crossfire. I get it, it's cool to be a thug, or at least have other perceive you in that way. Peer pressure is the driving force behind all of that. Hanging out with the "in-crowd" has always been a thing and will always be a thing. You aren't going to change that. The only thing you can hope to change is the culture. No one knows how to do that! If they did, that person could control the world! It happens on a small scale occasionally; we call them cults when that happens. When one-person manages to influence and control others. It has become an industry, this promoting of the thug life! You can even buy merchandise. Today it is tattoos, maybe a scarf or other gang symbol, a certain style of vehicle, things like that, not all that different from the fads of the past. Leather jackets, cigarettes rolled in your tee shirt sleeve and engineers boots sent the same message. I'm a bad dude, don't mess with me. I probably have a switch blade knife! The difference today is I have a gun. An Ar style gun looks the baddest of all, but I will use a handgun just as quickly. It's a cultural thing. I write songs about that to justify my actions. I am defiant, I'm dangerous.

 All the laws in the world will not change a culture. It just doesn't happen that way. The best you can hope for is holding those violating the laws accountable. There has to be a consequence. Thing is, the consequence has to be known to be greater than the cool factor. For Christians that is expressed through what? Eternal damnation is the answer. That is the ultimate consequence of your choices, an eternity in hell! Other religious beliefs offer other consequences. Perhaps you will be a snake in your next life, or a dog. No Nirvana for you! It is the removal of consequence that drives all of this. Spare the rod and spoil the child. That proverb doesn't mean hitting your children with a stick! It does mean if you truly love your children, and others as yourself, you will always do what is best for them. There are consequences! 

 Until those that are behaving badly are faced with the reality of consequence little will change.  Retributive justice is what is required, from birth. It's what our Bible tells us. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. That is the path we need to follow. All the other talk is just about a more convenient form of justice, a more convenient form of love. A love where you don't use the rod at all, just spoil the children. Leave the decisions to the children, relieving yourself of the burden. Hey, I'm not the bad guy here. I'm just the cheerleader! I'm here to support you whether you are victim or survivor. It's all good. 

it's not easy

 To give without the expectation of getting. That is perhaps one of the hardest things to do in life. I believe we all expect something in return, even if that is only a thank you. I make no claim to being any different from anyone else in that regard. The times I have given something freely, just because I wanted to with no expectation of return have been few. So rare in fact, that I remember them. I'm still waiting for that return I suppose. But whatever the case may be, I was thinking about that after reading a post on Facebook. 

 A short time back my wife had joined a group on that platform that calls themselves random acts of crochet kindness. The idea is to crochet these small items and leave them about for others to find. Usually, they include a small note saying something like, "I'm not lost I'm just alone, if I made you smile Take me Home." Some have that little block of dots that you scan, and it takes you to a website. I think they are called a QR code. Do that and you can post to the group on Facebook and express your gratitude. Some encourage you to do just that, that is the expectation of return I'm thinking about. And this morning I was reading a few comments about how disappointed some have been that they didn't receive recognition. They felt disappointed and discouraged. They had placed lots of these about, but nothing on Facebook about that. 

 Like I said I'm no different than anyone else when it comes to that, but it did strike me as odd that you would post about it. I mean, I'm saying that I'm doing random acts of kindness, but I want acknowledgement for that. I went to the internet for a word to describe that but there doesn't seem to be one. Narcissism is the closest thing but that isn't what I'm thinking about. It is seeking a return that makes you feel better about yourself, a sort of affirmation. Yes, I am a kind person, the proof is I left these items around for others to find. I guess it is the public proclamation of that disappointment that bothers me.

 It seems to me that is becoming far more prevalent these days. The awarding of recognition for anything and everything. Now I'm not saying that others are expecting it, but we are extending that on every occasion. It is leading to some expecting that, however. It is fostering an entitlement society, an attitude of, I deserve this. It's a phrase we hear quite frequently these days, get the compensation you deserve! There are those that join volunteer groups for that very reason. They enjoy the recognition. And there are those that I call parade ground patriots. Those are the ones that like to wear the uniform, parade around in it, but don't want to actually do the job, they just want that to be associated with that. We have all known people like that. Actors and musicians have created many awards that they vote on and give to themselves! Some have even sued because they didn't get an award! Others boycott for the same reason. They are demanding recognition. 

 It is a human frailty, the ego. We all require a healthy ego. Although ego is often thought of being a bad thing. That's the exaggerated sense of the word. A feeling of self-worth is healthy. The excessive seeking of recognition is not. I was always told to expect nothing, and you won't be disappointed. One of those things that cause you to sigh and say, yeah. But I was taught to not show that disappointment. I haven't always remembered that lesson. I have been disappointed on occasion and didn't hesitate to express that disappointment. Another lesson that seems to be lost on many these days. There are times when perception is more important than reality. It's the same philosophy of keeping your cards close to your chest. It isn't deceitful, it is simply a wise choice. 

 All of this is the stuff of philosophers and phycologists/physiatrists. They are the ones discussing all of that, attempting an explanation. I checked my Bible references on this and giving without an expectation of reward is addressed 14 times in that text. Some will call that a Christian thing, but I say it applies to all mankind. The disciples. the prophets, the men that wrote the words of the Bible down, were passing down what they had been taught and learned in life themselves. The same advice. Expect nothing and you will not be disappointed. The promise is a reward in heaven. So even then, there is an expectation of a return. It is promised by your own good deeds. No one said it was easy.    

keeping on

  Today the use of recreational marijuana, edibles or whatever will not prosecuted in the state of Maryland. The news outlets all proclaim it is legal. That is not the case however as it remains a federal crime, an inconvenient truth that many will debate endlessly. It is true that you will not be arrested by local, county or state authorities. No matter how you feel about it that is the current state of affairs. The only thing left to debate now is where and when you can use that substance. You can't smoke in public, at least that's the thinking but hasn't been tested in a court of law, I'm certain that will be challenged at some point. With all the edibles, gummy bears I hear are quite popular, there is no practical way of controlling that. You could simply pop them into your mouth and no one the wiser. A lot easier to conceal than smoking a cigarette or drinking some booze, although both have been managed. I have voiced my opposition to this policy of permissiveness and cast my ballot as well. I lost. It is what it is.

 I've heard all the arguments and debate on the topic. People are going to do it anyway being the most popular reason. That is closely followed by, it's no worse than drinking. An argument I counter with it certainly isn't any better either. Whether or not it is a gateway drug I really can't say. My thinking it is no more a gateway than having a glass of wine will make you a raging alcoholic. I think all of that is dependent upon the person and their unique personalities. I do think that peer pressure is one of the greatest influencers going. And today especially we hear about influencers, mostly in a bad light. And yes, I think it is a bad thing to influence young people to use marijuana. Yeah, I know they are going to try it anyway just like I tried sneaking a beer. The big difference was that I was well aware that it was wrong to do that. That's why I was sneaking around. I would be in trouble, the person selling it to me would be in trouble, my parents would be in trouble and all of that meant I was in BIG trouble. There was no argument that I should be able to do that. The attitude was to obey the law.

 There is no evidence that supports saying there is an increase in crime after legalization of marijuana. There is evidence that it increases homelessness, however. Ask the state of Colorado about that. It also creates problems for law enforcement agencies in adjacent states where it remains a crime. Smoking pot does cause problems with memory and your attention span. Yeah, you zone out man. Now the effect doesn't last forever, usually just a few days after you smoke, but there is evidence to suggest permanent damage can occur. It doesn't matter if you eat it or smoke it the effect will be the same. If you choose to smoke it, you can add lung disease to the list of reasons it isn't such a good idea. So, it begs the question, why use it? 

 The answer is to escape. It's why we drink alcohol, why we do most anything that makes us happy. It's only the things we get addicted to that define our lives. It involves making the best choices possible, in all conditions, at all times and in all circumstances. Are we choosing things that helpful or harmful? In whatever can only be considered ironic it appears the things that harm us also provide the most pleasure. Some Christians will tell you that is the punishment from God for eating of the forbidden fruit. That is to say, seeking immediate gratification instead of obeying the law. 

 Drinking alcohol to excess is included in the list of mental health disorders. It's called AUD, alcohol use disorder. If you drink more than four drinks a day or fourteen in a week, you may have AUD. There are no thresholds for pot heads though. It's all good brother. The state of Colorado earmarked a portion of the tax revenue they receive from marijuana sales to drug treatment programs. Do we really want to make available substances known to cause addiction? I know, not everyone will become addicted so that doesn't matter. Strange that same thinking didn't seem to apply when I was being ordered to wear a mask in public. I never got a vaccine or covid, and hey, people were going to get it anyway, but that didn't seem to matter. The narrative then was, if I only save one, it's worth it. Guess that doesn't count with pot, so what if a few become addicted, have mental health issues, develop ling disease or become homeless, no big deal, I can smoke what I want. That's what the disclaimers are for. 

 Well, it is what it is, and the state is anticipating a great increase in tax revenues. Other states have certainly seen a tremendous increase in tax revenue along with money from tourism and folks relocating to the "cool" state. And, in my opinion, that is what is driving this whole legalization effort. It's about money once again. Two things always increase revenues, war and vice. There is always money for both of those activities. Hunter Biden is using the "I was drunk" and "I was an addict" defense and managed to get a slap on the wrist because of that. That avenue will now be opened to the rest of us soon enough. Not my fault, I was high! And yeah, people will do it anyway. They are going to do other drugs too, why stop at pot, just throw the floodgates open and let it be. Heck, cocaine isn't any worse than pot which isn't any worse than alcohol. Just a few different side effects is all, it's all good. 

 It is what it is, and it ain't good. It is just another indicator of the degradation of society in general. A lowering of expectations. Was a day when it was expected of people to remain sober, work hard, be faithful and true. Today those expectations have certainly changed. It's party all the time and do your own thing! Traditional marriage is outdated, working hard is outdated, morals are outdated, and ethics are outdated. We need to rewrite them all. Then after it has all been written, the story ends. It isn't going to end well is my thought. But it is what it is. The natural course of every society is to decline. History has shown us that. It almost like we haven't learned a thing. We just keep on, keeping on and justifying every step. 

                                                                          

Remember him? Guess he is still truckin' on 

how it works

  So, the supreme court has decided that it is illegal to discriminate based on race. It only took the court 45 years to arrive at that conclusion. It's true that it took eighty years and a civil war to pass legislation affirming that right the first time. We call that the 14th amendment, heavily opposed by the confederate states led by the Democratic party. But the 14th amendment got ratified. The law now said, it is illegal to discriminate based on race. Stayed that way until 1965 when Johnson issued an executive order hailed as a landmark in civil rights. Yes, the Democrats again managed to say, it is fine to discriminate based on race, in fact, we should be discriminating based on race it's only fair! Another Democrat, Jimmy Carter was in office when that executive order became law. Again, hailed as a great step forward. It took the Democrats 97 years to reverse the 14th amendment, at least in principle. Discrimination is the law! 

 Here it is forty five years later and the court has issued their opinion. It is illegal to discriminate based on race. The fact is it is just as illegal to discriminate in favor of one group as it is to discriminate against one group. It is all based in one simple thing, equality. Equality means equal, all the same, one isn't greater or less than the other. There are no exceptions to that. It applies in all situations. It isn't affirmative action when it discriminates against others! 

 What is affirmative action? Some have called it positive discrimination. Yes, mostly called that by the ones receiving the benefit of that discrimination. What it does is give an advantage or preference to a specific group based on race. Was affirmative action ever required? Yes, you would have to say it was. But society changes, social attitudes change, and we move forward. It took a civil war to get the 14th amendment. Part of that was the requirement by those southern states to ratify that amendment before they would be allowed back into the union. Yes, it was an affirmative action plan beginning in 1864, treat blacks equally or you will not be readmitted to the union. Those Democrats have been bitter about that ever since. But, as I said, times changes, attitudes change, and we move forward. Now the Democrats really need that democratic vote. They are now the ones protesting this decision. Why? Because it will cost then votes that's why. Can't have "those" people believing they are equal now, can we? No, "those" people absolutely have to have affirmative action to be successful. It is the only way! "Those" people need a boost, an edge, and a guarantee of success. That's the positive discrimination they need.

 Without any of that "those" people will certainly fail, be excluded, and become a drain on society. Thing is they have had one form or another of affirmative action since 1865. The statistical fact is that 39.8% of blacks receive some form of government assistance. 38% of white families receive some form of government assistance. Thing is, blacks comprise about 14% of the population while whites are at about 58%. Why should the black population be so dependent upon government as compared to whites? It all harkens back to the Democrats. It was the Democrats that segregated schools, overturned field order #15, the order that would have provided forty acres of land to freed slaves that were head of households, and passed the majority of those Jim Crow laws we've all read about. It was the Democrats that made it illegal for slaves to be taught how to read and write. Those folks weren't to be educated in any way! If they were, the next you know they want your job! No far better to keep those folks subservient and dependent. That was their affirmative action right up until those folks could vote! At that point the Democrats miraculously became the biggest advocates for the blacks. Now affirmative action is providing handouts and victim cards in an effort to secure the vote. 

 I get it. Lots of folks will be upset by this decision. Imagine trying to make things equal for everyone. Why you can't have that. I could be replaced, or I could have my benefits removed! What happens when I have no victim cards left to play? What happens when I can no longer blame everything on someone else? What happens when justice is blind. Well, the harsh reality is this: discrimination is never a positive thing! You can attempt to spin that any way you like but it is never a good thing. It's like being only a little pregnant! All discrimination is bad. The biggest issue we face is confusing discrimination with discernment. They really are quite different things. Whenever I exercise good judgement and that judgement goes against your wishes I'm accused of discrimination. When I exercise that same judgement and it goes in your favor I'm praised as a wise man. That's how that works. And that is at the heart of the issue. 

 It sure would be nice if we could simply pass a law and everything changes. The law says, I have to love my neighbor as myself, so I do that. The law says if you can't afford a new car and I can buy you a new car, so I do. The says I shouldn't hold any prejudicial opinions against anyone, so I don't. The law says I have to agree with whatever you say, want, or do. No more conflicts! Sure would be nice but that ain't the way the world works. 

 

 

Rational

 Watched a video posted about a Lutheran church reciting a "sparkle" prayer. This prayer begins by professing belief in a non-binary God. I expect this church is catering to the LGBTQ+ community. I don't have an issue with that. It doesn't change my feelings on the subject of being gay.  I believe that goes against nature. But I'm not writing a discussion about that. In response to that video, I had to reply with God isn't a physical being. Therefore, God has no gender, no sex, no color, none of that. God is, as the Bible states, beyond our understanding. We assign all of that to our God(s) to make God familiar to us. The importance lies in the belief. Our God(s) define our moral beliefs. That is the sole purpose of God. To provide the guidance and reassurance that we are acting in an appropriate manner. The manner being defined by the society in which we live.

 There is no disputing the fact that this country was founded on Judeo-Christian principles of moral conduct. That is what was expected of everyone. Exceptions were allowed, something that differentiated us from other nations were non-compliance could mean enslavement or death. Still, the ruling principles were based in Christianity, which of course was derived from the Hebrews. But that, like everything else in the world, has changed somewhat over time. It's what we typically call progress. It's a loosening of the rules. 

 A more convenient faith is required in this new age of progress. Strict adherence to the text isn't acceptable anymore, a redefining of the text is what is needed. It's the same whether you are talking about the Bible or the Constitution. The interpretation of the words has certainly changed. In the Old Testament, in the book of Leviticus, it clearly says, man shall not lie with man as he does with a woman. In the New Testament in 1 Corinthians Paul writes, Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." There are religious leaders today that say none of that means homosexuality is a sin. They agree that is what the words say but it isn't what they mean. The Bible is the word of God, but Paul wrote it! 

 That is a very convenient way of explaining that. The biggest explanation being, God will forgive all your sins. For that reason alone, just change the meaning of the text, were necessary, and you can still be in compliance. In other words, just change the rules. We do the same thing when we change the law. Yesterday it was illegal for me to smoke pot in Maryland, next week it won't be. The action hasn't changed just the acceptance of that action. It doesn't define right and wrong, it defines what is allowed.

 I write all this from my perspective, my belief and my understanding. I believe that God, whatever and however you wish to define that, is the essential element in nature. Something similar to what the Deists believed, but I don't believe God abandoned the universe after creating it. Whatever goes against nature is wrong. That's what I think anyway. Nature is something we can't control but something that can destroy us in a second! The proof of that is clear to see. And now we have reached a point of arrogance that we believe we can control nature! Climate control? No, climate control is all about trying to survive in a world that we have created, not the world God created. It is estimated that the earth is about 4.5 billion years old. It is estimated man has been on earth about 6 million years. And we think we are going to destroy the earth? No, the earth will destroy us is closer to the truth. The lord giveth and the lord taketh away. 

 As far as any church reciting sparkle prayers that doesn't concern me at all. It will not change what I believe. I also have no great desire for everyone to believe what I believe. That being said understand that it will also not stop me from telling you what I believe. Like two children saying, did and did not, there isn't any quit in me. It doesn't mean I hate anyone; it means I believe they are wrong about whatever. Everyone wants the same thing. Everyone wants to be loved and accepted. The only thing different being in what that acceptance is. For me it is the promise of eternal life. My spirit will go on. That's what I believe, what gives me comfort. No, I don't believe I'll be walking around in heaven playing a harp. My spirit is my energy. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed by man. Nature can do that though! It's best to comply with nature, that's my thought. What's the natural course? That's what has to be asked. Yes, you can buck nature, go against the grain, and get away with that, at least for a while, but it will catch up with you. And the thing is, one day the race is over! There will come a day when you can no longer say, sorry, my bad. Ashes to ashes and dust to dust. It's the natural course of events. And nature will determine your ultimate fate. Rationalize life all you like; it will not change the outcome of your choices. 

Foolishness

  We are raising a generation of wimps! Listening to the news and the state fire marshal telling parents to give their children glow sticks instead of sparklers. He goes on to explain a sparkler burns at 2000 degrees and can catch your clothes on fire or you could get a spark in your eye. Yeah, well that was the fun part of having the sparkler in the first place. Learned about that stuff really quick and didn't require a reminder and a disclaimer on the product every year. The lesson was burned into your mind. And then he started in on fireworks and how dangerous they are. You could blow yourself up or suffer hearing loss. Hell yeah, that's the best part, blowing things up. But we are being told to keep your children safe, don't allow them to have any real fun, leave that to the professionals. Glow sticks, really? They sell those at the carnival to wear around your neck, nothing too exciting about that. The excitement comes when the sparks start flying.

 We are teaching our children that they are nothing more than victims. Anytime something doesn't go their way it is because of something from the past. They don't stand a chance because all the bad stuff has already happened, and they have to pay the price for that. We are teaching children that there are more than two genders and that they get to choose. Then we provide counseling and support when they discover the truth. We pass legislation making others go along with the role playing. We give awards and accolades for those that are the best players proclaiming them heroes. If they don't get the praise, the reward or the attention they desire, we blame the past. What a bunch of wimps they are becoming, afraid of their own shadow. There could be germs, virus, global warming, social inequity, and the boogy man! We are teaching them that any time they feel uncomfortable about anything they should seek mental health counseling or some pharmaceutical. And everyone around them should empathize with them, comfort and support them, no matter what. Anything other than that is hate! And hate is a crime! 

 We are teaching our children that having a degree guarantees success. If you get that degree, doesn't make any difference what the degree is in, you are then owed a great income. Don't worry about paying that loan back, the peasants with jobs will do that for you, you have a degree. You don't have to take any job offered to you now, you can pick the one you want and tell the employer what's what. Want to work from home, only work four days a week, and get maternity leave because you are a dad, no problem, your degree earned you all of that and more! If no job appeals to you, the government should fund you until you do. You probably have stress and are being treated unfairly. You should probably get disability, or at least an emotional support animal. Oh, and an I-phone with full internet access at no cost to you because that is a necessary thing to have, you know, to find a job. Probably a new electric vehicle too, to save the planet while you're looking for a job. 

 I sure am thankful I grew up when I did. Yeah, I got burned, cut, scraped, bruised, black eyes, broken bones, teased, called names, and caught colds! I went outside in the rain, snow, hot and cold without a backpack full of snacks, water bottles and an ambulance standing by. I had adults order me around and there wasn't anything I could do about that. I had to use the bathroom appropriate to my biology! To do otherwise would get you in big trouble. I was told sticks and stones would break my bones, and that was true enough, but names would never hurt me. I learned that too. Names only hurt me when I allowed them to. I learned I had to value your opinion before that opinion held any sway over me. I played with sparklers, fire crackers, knives, guns, fast cars and motorcycles. I climbed the monkey bars, rode the merry go around and played on the see-saw. I worked to earn a dollar and learned the value of knowing how to actually do things rather than talk about them. Yeah, being real smart and having a college education was a great thing but if that degree in basket weaving didn't pan out it sure helped to know how to cut the grass. I learned there are a lot of educated damn fools in the world. Seems like we are trying to raise a whole generation of them these days! I sure hear enough foolish proposals and thoughts. I got the wrong assignment at birth. Yeah, that makes sense alright. 

The majority

 First thing I heard on the news this morning was about affirmative action. The question being whether race should be used during the application process for college admissions. I heard arguments on both sides. Also discussed was whether ACT/SAT testing should be required. The argument there being those tests are discriminatory. It was mentioned that nearly 83% of colleges and universities no longer require those tests. All this in response to what the Supreme Court opinion may be on affirmative action. 

 Now the first thought I had about all of that was a simple question. Is the majority prejudicial? That is to say, in a country where the majority rules, is that majority always prejudicial and discriminatory? It feels that way when you are in the minority, no doubt about that. I always felt that way when my older siblings got to do something and I was told, when you are older. The majority opinion being, I was too young. I was forced to comply with that decision, in fact penalized if I refused to do so. My only court of appeal was my grandmother! Problem there was she almost always agreed with the majority opinion. 

 So how do we determine the majority? If we can't simply go on the numbers, what other factors must we include. That's a part of the reason for the electoral college, an institution that many proclaiming the majority rules want to abolish because, well, we should just count the popular vote and the biggest number wins. Well, unless the bigger number isn't your candidate then it is just rigged, discriminatory and probably prejudicial as well. In that case the majority doesn't rule, the majority is obtained on the curve. Just like they started doing with grades in school to boost the lower scores and lower the upper scores, so everyone was on equal ground. When 86% of the class gets a high score, the other 14% should be compensated for that and given a few extra points. That's grading on the curve. When voting if 86% of the voters say yes and 14% say no, that should be a tie! If it isn't, it's discriminatory! That's the thought process there. If you can't pass the ACT/SAT test, we should eliminate the tests. According to the news, the majority of the colleges have done just that. Guess what, admissions have soared! Students after graduation being prepared for the workforce not so much, but they have degrees. Now, that is fair. 

 You can see this in every aspect of society today. Everyone agrees the majority should rule, that's a fundamental principle in our Republic. But the majority isn't the greatest number, not that majority, that's just prejudicial to all the minorities. For that reason, the 1.5%, 14%, and remaining 84.5% should be divided by three. That means that 1.4% should count for 33.3%, that 14% should also count for 33.3% and the 84.5% should also be counted as 33.3%, that way, everyone is equally in the majority. See how that works? The thirteenth amendment to the constitution, enacted in 1865 ended the 3/5 rule, effectively saying every person counts as one vote. Today there are cries for making everyone count as 1/3 or some other fraction. The majority must be determined on the curve.  "Grading with a curve means adjusting student scores after a test or assignment. Typically, the curve raises the average grade and individual student scores." In quotation because I got that explanation from a web source. It does explain what I'm saying perfectly. Adjusting the score after the results are known, like changing the votes after the votes are counted. You know, making it fair to everyone, the majority will be determined after the fact. 

Equity or equitable?

 Are we free to pursue our dreams, or aren't we? That's the question I have. Listening to those talking about the loss of the Titan in a tragic accident the answer would have to be, not without government approval first. Is that how that is supposed to work? There will be no innovation, no experimentation, no risk taking without prior government approval! I'm guessing the, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else argument, doesn't apply in this case. No one was forced aboard that submersible and all were well informed of the risk they were taking. Seems to me that was the freedom to choose. They paid for the ticket. Their choice. This experimental craft was made using carbon fiber and titanium. Engineers figured it would work and it did; fourteen times. A lesson learned. No laws were broken, no regulations ignored, it was just a man with a dream and enough money to try that. He wasn't building a weapon of mass destruction, or developing some virus like governments are prone to do. No, he was building a submersible to be used as a tourist attraction, of sorts. Not much different from space-x and their rocket flights. Not much different from Blue Origin. 

 Yes, there are risks involved with all of that. It was a risk to get in a covered wagon and head west, should the government have cleared the path first, made that as safe as possible? Should Evil Knievel have had government approval and oversight before any of his stunts? I just don't see the problem here. It was their choice to participate in a risky adventure. It certainly didn't have any adverse effects on me other than making me feel sad for the loss. As for the cost associated with search and rescue operations, I don't believe you should start charging for that? How much is a life worth? Are five lives worth more than one? When do you start and stop those operations? Currently that is the only part of this the government does control. Are we to examine your "ability to pay" before launching any attempt at rescue? Sorry your credit score is below 800, no looking for you. After all we can't get you to sign a loan agreement unless we find you and we might not, it's a bad risk. You should have purchased insurance for that! You know, just in case. 

 It's my feeling we already have far too much government control. I don't want to see innovation, experimentation or taking a risk being controlled by the government. If I'm willing to risk my life, without endangering anyone else in the process, I should certainly have that freedom. That should apply even if five people all agree to take that risk. Just as long as no one is being subjected to any risk without their knowledge, it should be good. As far as I'm concerned if I want to build my own house and it subsequently falls on my head that's my business! If I want to strap a pair of wings on my arms and jump off a cliff, my business. If I want to try to reach the Titanic in a discarded LP gas tank, my business. There have been attempts made to row across the oceans of the world, fly balloons around the world, swim across the English Channel and break the land speed record. Many died in their attempts and no cry for government control, no cry of, who is going to pay for this? But, hey this guy was a billionaire, his estate should pay because he can afford it. If you are poor, you get rescued for free. Now that's equitable! You can get a free Covid shot, along with a number of boosters, but if you get Covid that hospital bill is on you! Does your equity determine your equality? That's what I'm hearing anyway.  

a distraction

  So, Hunter gets to make a deal regarding misdemeanor tax charges. He willfully didn't pay over 100,000 dollars in taxes for two years running. No problem though, just an oversight because he was high on drugs and alcohol. And yes, he did have a handgun for eleven days illegally. You can't have a gun while you are a substance abuser or alcoholic. At least that is what was reported on the news. So, he made a deal with them to avoid prison and possible criminal conviction on the firearm charge. He just has to go to "treatment "and not abuse drugs and alcohol for two years. Remember he was discharged from the U.S.Navy for cocaine use. And I'm told all of this is the normal course of action no special treatment for Hunter Biden. 

 Following the news report a commercial came on telling me the IRS was implementing forced compliance! I needed to call this tax service right away to avoid the loss of my home, my car, any assets I may possess and avoid prison! And this would happen to anyone and everyone, act fast time is running out. But this company could cut you a deal with the IRS, a sort of payment plan, or perhaps forgiveness altogether. I did breathe a sigh of relief because I had just seen that news report about Hunter and knew I could just say, sorry I was drunk and avoid all of that. Certainly, if Hunter got that deal I could too and I didn't have a gun! 

 The charge is willful failure to pay. That means he had the means to pay just that he chose not to pay. That seems a bit different than not having the money to pay which sometimes happens to others. They may not have meant it; they were willing to pay just didn't have any money to pay. You still get prosecuted though. Your only recourse is to hire a tax firm, which you can't afford, to represent you with the IRS and hopefully make a deal. But don't worry, those tax firms will finance that as well. You can get the help you need on the easy payment plan. Pleading that you were simply drunk or using drugs won't cut it. Well, unless you are Hunter Biden that is, then that works just fine. He did pay up after all, the only forced compliance he faced was being charged with two misdemeanors, no jail time for those and a firearms charge which is a felony. But, he paid up and the charges are being dropped and the firearms charge will also be forgotten about, no problem. Hey, he was drunk or high, not his fault. 

 I wonder if I was stopped for speeding, you know willfully failing to obey the speed limit, if I could just plead that I was drunk. I'll go to treatment and not speed again for at least two years. And the gun in the car, well, it was only illegal for less than two weeks so that shouldn't count. It all seems to work for Hunter Biden that's his defense. He even wrote about it in his memoirs! That way you know he wasn't just making it up to avoid the charges, he really is a drug abuser and alcoholic. Maybe that is what makes the difference. After all he only refused to about 200,000 dollars in federal taxes a couple years, no big deal, it was an oversight, he was drunk. The poor guy was sitting in his kitchen filling out his tax forms, got drunk and just said, the hell with it, I'm not paying that. I'm certain he didn't have any tax attorneys, cpa's or anyone else preparing those forms. He was struggling with alcoholism and drug addiction! Heck, he even lost his laptop for a while, forget where it was, and it probably had that tax stuff on there. The repairman that had the laptop is the one responsible for that, he should have contacted Hunter. 

 So, what is the deal? The deal is there is an election coming up and we need to settle this stuff fast. Hunter is just a distraction from the real agenda. The real agenda is to eliminate Trump from any possibility of interfering in the election. That interference is his being on the ballot! So, we charge Hunter in an attempt to make the DOJ look fair and unbiased in going after these bad actors. Nothing will really happen to him; he just has to take one for the team this time around. I'm certain there are those that will make it worth his while. It also infuriates Trump who can't resist ranting and raving about all of that, that makes him look bad to some, and that is the point. Poking the bear so to speak. It can work to their advantage. Politics is a game played on a global scale. There is much more at stake than the presidency of the United States. It's the old you can't see the forest for the tree's analogy. Hunter is just a pawn in the game. We are even less than that, we aren't even on the board. 

it's up to you

  Measuring success. It starts when we are in elementary school. Our grades are that measure of success. The value of the measurement is what is in constant change. I don't remember what grades I got in elementary school. What I mean is I don't remember the unit of measurement. Seems to me that it may have been satisfactory and unsatisfactory. At least at some point in my educational journey that was the standard. Letters and numerical values came later on. In high school it was a numerical score that much I remember. I graduated from high school in 1971. It was in a time when a 100% was the best you could get. I see that no longer holds true today. The grades are now given based on a 4.0 scale. 4.0 is like getting 100% but you can do far better than that! I see graduates with gpa's exceeding 5. It's an indication that the student has done extra work, possibly at a higher level. Many take college classes in high school these days. I'm not sure how that works because to my way of thinking you have to build the foundation before adding additional floors. Success is measured by the successful completion of the course. The purpose being preparing you to become a success in life. 

 How do we measure that success? Generally speaking, we measure that success with financial gain. If we have money, we are a success. That is the perception, although most will argue the point. You don't have to have money to be successful! Yeah, I know. My Mom had a little figure of a hobo sitting in her curio cabinet. He held a small sign that said: money isn't everything, but it sure beats whatever is in second place. There is a great deal of truth in that simple statement. Success is happiness. That is what most will say. I wouldn't disagree with that statement but how do you measure happiness? That is certainly a fluid standard. What makes me happy may anger you a great deal. Being successful and being happy at the same time is certainly possible although it does seem like one interferes with the other at times as well. Celebrities will sometimes complain about that, losing their privacy in the process of being a success. 

 I would say success is meeting the standard. The standard is set by others. Our struggle to meet the standard is what drives us in life. We all want to be perceived as a success, no one wants to be a failure. It really doesn't matter what we personally think ourselves to be, it is what others think that define success or failure. That is also the reason we attempt to change the standard. By lowering the standards, we can achieve success. In my opinion that is what we have been engaged in for some time now. The standards that concern me the most are moral and ethical standards. Those standards have little to do with education or wealth. They certainly have a negative effect on obtaining happiness, however. It's an old adage, to sell your soul, but that is what is happening. You are trading happiness for success. A success defined by others. 

 Success can only be achieved through self-discipline. It is the manner in which you discipline yourself that will determine the outcome. All great athletes must practice, practice and practice some more. It's the same with anything you choose to do. If you want to be successful, you have to remain disciplined. What is the measure of success? What I'm asking is, what is a successful life? That is the success I'm thinking about. There are a multitude of things I would have liked to have been successful at but was not. We all have our failures and that is normal enough, no need to be upset by that. The defining of success is ever changing. But it only changes in our own mind. That's something you learn with age. It isn't something that can be taught to anyone and some never learn that lesson at all. In the town where I was born and raised, they had a saying. When someone passed away the biggest compliment they could receive was having it said about them. He or she was of the "finest" kind. What that meant was that person was someone that had met the standard. They were a moral and ethical person and had earned the respect of the community. A success. Success achieved over a lifetime. If, at the end, it can honestly be said, he/she was a good person that person was successful at life. Back to satisfactory/unsatisfactory. You really are one or the other, it's up to you. 

Accidental

  Now we know the fate of those on that mini-sub. It's a tragic loss and one that will be remembered. There will be much discussion concerning that, but the bottom line is, they knew what they signed up for. The cost to take the chance was 300,000 for each passenger. They went through extensive training and signed all the documents, disclaimers and releases. Everyone was well aware that it was a calculated risk. Sadly, all that is left to do is grieve. As to whether the quest will continue to make visits to Titantic a tourist attraction once again that remains to be seen. It's my thinking that it will indeed continue. Many have died in other attempts using various means to break records, be the first, or because it was there. Mount Everest has an estimated 200 bodies lost on its' slopes with more people climbing every day. All of this is risky business. 

 For the next few weeks or months all the experts will be weighing in on television shows and social media. I'm certain Facebook has a good number of submersible experts! The cause of the tragedy will be discussed, debris analyzed, speculation and conjecture propagated, and I expect some form of memorial service performed. Can a made for tv movie be far off? Five lives lost on an adventure they willingly embarked upon. Personally, I don't feel the need to find anyone to blame. All volunteered to go, indeed paid for the privilege. I understand it doesn't lessen the loss, does nothing for those grieving those lost lives, but it was their choice. I can say with certainty if that sub imploded at depth those inside never knew what happened to them. It is my hope that is the case, that it happened quickly, and no one suffered for any length of time. 

 I'm reminded of the time the space shuttle exploded. Challenger exploded shortly after launch killing all aboard. It was doubly tragic as it was still within sight when it happened. The cause of the tragedy was eventually determined, corrected, and flights continued. There were seven aboard that vessel. The cause was an o-ring, a simple part, just a ring of rubber or some composite material similar to rubber. The same part, an o-ring, would be vital to the operation of a submersible. O-rings provide the watertight seal! During my naval career I was assigned to repair submarine components and was trained in the use and care of o-rings and their vital function. Yes, o-rings are a very big deal! But I have read that the "window" or viewing port in that sub was in question, having never been certified as safe for the anticipated depth. There was no government certification required for that vessel. Submersibles are not subject to government regulation, especially when operated in international waters. Falling into the realm of innovation or invention they are experimental in nature. We may never know just what failed. 

 

OceanGate has undertaken 14 expeditions and over 200 dives in the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico since its founding1. The company has been attempting missions since at least 2017, and successfully reached the Titanic wreck for the first time in 2021, and then again in 2022. It has 18 expeditions planned starting this summer of 2023, according to its website. Missions take approximately 10 days, eight of which are at sea, and cost passengers $250,000 each2.

 This from Wikipedia. I hadn't heard anything about this company before this tragic incident. It was founded by a billionaire. Was the motive to make money or to advance science and provide thrills to those that could afford the price? We can all speculate about that; some will demand government intervention and control. My thinking is that all entered into this adventure willingly and well informed. I don't feel like anyone was misled about the dangers. We all take a risk driving our cars or taking a flight on an airplane. I risk my life just driving through the city of Baltimore. So, I don't think anyone is to blame. It's a tragic accident. 

It's your vote

 The cost of freedom is truth. That is the fundamental premise upon which a republic is formed. Integrity is the cornerstone. That is what the founding fathers portrayed in their public lives. A code of honor, if that is what you choose to call that, an expectation of civility, ethics and yes, Christian principles of fair play. The truth was to be told and upheld, no one is above the law as we may say that today. The constitution itself was in question and there was genuine fear that it would not receive the votes necessary for ratification. The fear was the constitution gave the government too much power. James Madison agreed to write the first ten amendments too further that end, that is, give more power to the people. That was to align the constitution with the initial idea of government by the people. The people should have more control. The framers of the constitution were well aware that it may need revision, additions or modifications in the future. That was the reason for adding an amendment process in the first place. That is article five of the constitution.

 Now all that being said it has to be noted that those framers were men like you and me. Their private lives were certainly different than their public lives. It remains that way to this day. What we say and what we do are often quite different things. It is in all of that that we have the mix we call politics. What are politics? The first thought that comes to mind is government. Politics is the control of power. Yes, you could say that and be correct, but it is much deeper than that. Politics involves individuals getting what they want to further their personal agenda. They will work in concert with others when it suits their ends but will break away when it does not. The most important aspect of any politician is the public perception of that individual. The most successful never have their "faults" exposed to the masses. Either through the press, or through private means secrets are kept from the general population. 

 Consider those founding fathers. In the not too distant past, like when I was in grade school, those folks were beyond reproach. They existed on another level above the common man, examples of integrity and honor. Those men would stand on the battlefield facing death for a cause they believed in. Indeed, they would face each other in a duel if their honor was called into question! Sometimes it was the truth that they were defending against. But the thing was to defend that honor publicly, to give that impression of integrity. That's what I mean when I say they were in all reality just men like you and me. But they were judged on their public performance. It was results that mattered. That has certainly changed in today's world of politics. Now it is a no holds barred free for all. Today there is no honor among thieves! 

 Yes, that used to exist, that honor among thieves.  "The phrase “honor among thieves” is a phrase suggesting trustworthiness within a group that is not considered trustworthy to outsiders. It means that even criminals have a code of conduct among themselves, such as not stealing from each other, or not betraying a fellow criminal to the police. The idea of this proverb dates back to ancient Rome, where Cicero used it in his speeches." I extracted that from Wikipedia as I have found others often express my thoughts far better than I do. And that is what I was thinking about. Those politicians can no longer trust one another. I believe it is the removal of consequences for such actions that has led to this. What I mean is, no being called out on the field of honor these days! No more being run out of town on the rails. Far more learned people than I have written volumes on this subject. It concerns what is often called the social contract. There is a contract between those elected and the electors. You expect your elector to vote the way you want him to. You expect your representative to represent your values, ethics and morals. Those are the reasons you vote for that individual. Today we are enamored with this concept of broadcasting our virtues! We feel like all we really need do is show public support for whatever, we have become the politicians!

 The best way I can express this is a passage from this article I read:  "In a good governance society, a moral leader is one who upholds the core principles and ethos and creeds and values of the overall society," says Feinman. "Most societies have some kind of social contract, whether that's written out or not, and if you have a leader who breaks those principles, then people lose trust, diminish their willingness to pay taxes, move away, or take other steps that undercut the fiscal health of the polity." 

I think the social contract has been broken here in the United States. The evidence is all around. The removal of statues that honored leaders of the past, the removal of religious signs and symbols from the public domain, our government ignoring its' citizens in favor of refugees, migrants, deadbeats and criminals! The failure of our educational system. All signs that the contract has been broken. It must be understood that in our form of government the "moral" leader are the people! It isn't one person, sitting behind a desk, signing executive orders. It is the 535 voting members of Congress. That is the moral leader in this country. You elected them! 

 If you want to read the article I quoted here is the link: History shows that societies collapse when leaders undermine social contracts (phys.org)