Same As it Ever Was. . .

This may not be what you want to read or hear from someone, but there’s nothing you or I can do about it. You – me – everyone – are going to die. Having this as a reminder and a terrific conversation starter, let’s go a little further with this, and in the end, it’s all going to make sense. If it doesn’t, I’ll give your money back. Wait! You didn’t pay me. Lesson learned, you get what you paid for…

That’s really the first lesson everyone needs, you get what you paid for. Your thinking, that’s another dumb thing, he just said. Well, actually it’s the first smart thing I’ve typed, but you might miss the point.

Whenever you get an offer that sounds too good to be true, it’s definitely not going to turn out the way you expect. Sure, you heard what you wanted to hear, or they’re saying all the right things, however the delivery or the outcome isn’t going to be what’s promised.

Promises made and quickly found to be false.

• This won’t hurt much
• Trust me
• This won’t make you pregnant
• Hi, we’re from the IRS, and we’re here to help you.

We need to learn how to be critical in our thinking. Although the repeated life lesson is, “don’t trust a promise”, we hear words that we like, and we fall for it, almost every time. That’s how bad relationships start, used cars get sold, and politicians keep their job.

When a politician of your preferred party of choice makes a promise, don’t listen to their words, look at their history of delivery. Here are some examples, which are only applicable when the promise is made. These aren’t their exact words, but it’s what they generally say.

• I’m going to make your schools better.
• I’m going to give you good jobs.
• I’m going to make you safe.
• I’m going to make things fair.
• I’m going to get you a tax break.
• I’m going to really screw over the wealthy but make you a deal.
• I’m going to protect you from all those bad people outside of our group.
• I’m going to give you clean water.
• I’m going to give you clean air.
• I’m going to regulate all those things that need regulation.
• I’m going to ban all those things you know need to be banned.
• I’m going to give you a bunch of free things without concern how they get paid.
• I’m going to keep you healthy.
• I’m here for you.
• … And god bless ‘merica …

Does any of that look familiar?

I started out with something that’s known to be true. Then I proceeded to tell you what you probably didn’t want to hear. Well the fact is, everyone lies, some are whoppers designed to sucker you, but to tell their lies they start with something almost everyone accepts to be true. It’s the “mom & apple pie” story we like hearing. Then come the promises. My advice is to not believe them, unless and until they deliver on that promise. Chances are they won’t.

Put on your thinking cap anytime you hear a story that doesn’t fit what you know to be true. Don’t fall for the promises of boyfriend, girlfriend, theologian, politician, soldier, sailor, or salesman. Find out whether something is PROVABLY TRUE, NOT WHAT’S BELIEVED OR SAID TO BE TRUE!

Yes, you’re going to die, but why not live your life on your own terms, and not the promises of someone else?

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You Want a Government Solution or One That Works?

I’m amazed how these politicians, or “activist groups”, get us to think we need another service or law to make our life wonderful. In spite of real world experience, we keep betting on the horse that never seems to win.

The people we elect, have a variety of ideas, mostly about, how to remain employed by the federal government. If not the federal government, then as a lobbyist to that government. We debate these ideas and listen to candidates on how they will solve our problems.

Climate

Projections of global sea level rise by 2100, these projections range from 0.2 meters to 2.0 meters (0.66 to 6.6 feet) [Melillo et al., 2014]

In the recently updated Copenhagen Diagnosis, the carbon that we are releasing into the atmosphere today is in the process of ‘programming’ a potential 2-5 meters of sea level rise by around the year 2300.

That’s a wide range of predictions.

As you can see from the video associated with the above image, the young, ambitious, political candidate, believes the government will be able to manipulate climate if we allow them. These wonks and wizards can’t even control spending, which is far more tangible and predictable than the global climate. Examine the government’s historical record of managing anything to a degree which could earn them, well done.

What’s their solution? As usual, tax, spend, regulate.

Abortion

We begin the catastrophic tumble, down the bewildering, pandering, deceitful, rabbit hole of political marketing 101.

First, a problem is identified. Next, they advertise they’re the people who are going to solve the problem and give you what you want.

Do you want a safe, clean & Listerine abortion? Then vote for us.

Do you want to stop abortions? Then vote for us.

If you want to be “pro-choice”, they got you covered. If you want to be “pro-life”, they got that covered, too. It’s the complete package.

Now that’s some slick Madison avenue. Better still, if you don’t agree with them then they’re going to get in your face, march down your main street, and call you derogatory names to embarrass you through social media.

I have this crazy idea. How about we quit looking to government to solve our problems? What if we quit blaming each other, and start to do things for ourselves? Sure, it might be baby steps at first, but think for just one moment (maybe two). When have you witnessed a noteworthy, praiseworthy, glad the feds took over responsibility and solved that problem?

I found a relatively simple way to solve the problem of unwanted pregnancy, it’s guaranteed to work. Don’t have sex with someone you don’t want to co-parent. I know, what a crazy, stupid idea, right? Let’s just say, that’s not possible for you. Your impulse control is limited. Then why not get fixed? A vasectomy or tubal ligation. You, thought that’s too much to ask? How about safe sex? You know, when a man simply wears a condom. Wait! That’s not a 100% guarantee. Tell me something, anything in life is guaranteed. If you say there’s anything other than death or taxes, you’re a fool.

Health care

He claims it’s working. Wake up! For who? For example, my family members received their health care through employment and they still do. The shared costs have risen dramatically and the deductibles have as well. I personally tried to get insurance through the government web site and the premium costs exceeded 50% of my gross income. He continues to put forth the number, 44 million people were without health insurance, prior to the ACA. We solved that problem, really? All of these people are covered? The exceptional cost containment we were promised, the keep your doctor, and everyone is covered? Where is this magical solution no one I know is experiencing?

Do you know how well the Feds run the VA? I’ve had a hit and miss relationship with them. Sometimes I’m quite happy, and other times, I’m highly disappointed. It’s generally not top drawer care. To say we get what we paid for, isn’t exactly correct. Some have paid with their limbs or life. None the less, government doesn’t do a very good job with it, and yet people are clamoring for “free” or “single payer” health care. Our government doesn’t handle anything that’s large in an efficient cost effective way. Quit thinking about little countries like Norway, Sweden, or the UK. We have never seen our government demonstrate real concern or efficiency. Look at what the Feds do now with the VA, and tell me you think it’s going to get better on an even larger scale?

There are people in each political party, despite the lip service, who have raided the Social Security and Medicare funds using them to augment the general fund. They (Congress) continue to give themselves raises and perks, then tell us Social Security and Medicare are in financial trouble. Of course they are. Look who’s in charge! Even though those have been separately collected funds from our paychecks, they call them entitlements, then go on to say, they’ve got to cut back “our entitlements”. I suggest those who are entitled have offices in Washington DC and live very well off the populace.

We’ve gone from stubbornly independent to stubbornly dependent

“This is how you survive the unsurvivable, this is how you lose that which you cannot bear to lose, this is how you reinvent yourself, overcome your abusers, fulfill your ambitions and meet the love of your life: by following what is true, no matter where it leads you.”
― Augusten Burroughs

Sadly, year after year we fall for this nonsense. We take great pride in our “political utopias”, meanwhile the carrot(s) continue to get dangled in front of our collective noses and we chase after them.

There’s something really wrong with this picture and we never quite seem to catch on. Oh sure, we complain about it, but it’s that other party, race, or age group’s fault.

The Veteran

Anyone who served or is currently serving in the military realizes they’re doing a job that most won’t do. It’s a 24/7, 365 day committment.

They come from diverse backgrounds. They are volunteers who do the things that allow everyone else the freedom to say and become what they want.

At the time of their induction, they have given an oath which says they’re willing to lay down their life if necessary to preserve yours.

How many people do you know that will protect you from every threat imaginable in order for you to keep living the life you choose?

They don’t make policy. They’re often used to carry out policy which can be good or bad. It’s everyone’s responsibility to be informed well enough to make good decisions at the ballot box, and to select people who choose wisely how the military is used.

Freedom is full circle choice. To act as if it’s someone else’s job, is to think in ignorance. We all preserve it by learning to be responsible for our own actions. The military is a reflection of our own lives carried out on a massive scale.

If you or I are only interested in ourselves, our wants, to the exclusion of all others,  this will become the work, the policy of our nation. The military will act on that policy and our relationship with the rest of the world community will have the same impact abroad as we have at home.

If you want peace in the world, find a way to live it locally so it will be that way globally.

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