Don't make promises you don't intend to keep

In a previous blog I wrote about parents that I label as "screamers"...they threaten their children but don't seem to ever actually do anything resembling consistent discipline.

I have hesitated to write about personal family stories but thought I might share some that you might find humorous or helpful. I am confident my family will not mind.

When our son was in his middle school years his homework habits were not exactly optimal. Much like his father was at that age, I'm sure. In his bedroom we had set up a wall unit that included a desk area. Because of his ability to get distracted when he was doing his homework, my wife told him that he needed to keep his bedroom door open if he was going to do homework in his bedroom...so we could keep an eye on his study efforts as we walked to and fro through the house.

One one occasion, I had come home late from work and was eating in the kitchen, where I could clearly see down the hallway that included his bedroom and the laundry room. Carol was going back and forth from the various "hamper areas" back to the laundry room as she did the laundry. On one of those trips she noticed that Michael had gently eased the door closed. I'm sure it was because he was trying to avoid the noise of the washer or dryer....yeah right. When Carol opened his door, she discovered that he was playing with his Gameboy (remember..this was a few years ago) or some other device...but clearly not doing his homework. She reminded him about the rule about studying in the bedroom and keeping the door open. In her frustration I clearly heard her say "if you close this door one more time when you are supposed to be doing your homework, I am going to have your father remove the door." I doubt that Carol even knew that I heard this but I filed it away in my mind wondering when the next "door closing" was going to occur.

Several days later...maybe even a couple of weeks, I was again late coming home from work and was eating my leftover supper in the same exact spot where I heard Carol's "promise" about the door.

"Michael, didn't I tell you to keep this door open when you are doing your homework?" was the next thing I heard. She continued down the hall and that was the end of the matter.

I wiped my mouth with my napkin, got up from the table and proceeded into the laundry room where I used to keep a few of my hand tools. I grabbed a large screwdriver and a hammer and headed to Michael's room where I began tapping out the hinge pins from his door. Carol came back around the corner and said "what are you doing?" Turning my back so that Michael couldn't really hear me I said "didn't you tell Michael that if he closed his bedroom door one more time when he was supposed to be doing homework that you would have me remove the door? ...well, I'm removing the door."

You know the way that people will sorta whisper with that funny expression out the side of their mouth? Well, Carol did that while quietly saying "I wasn't really serious!"

Well, I took it seriously because I think if you tell your child that something will happen if they do something (good or bad) you should follow through on it. This is also a good reason not to exaggerate things like that in either direction. Now, if she had said that his punishment would be that we would lock him up in the trunk of the car all night...that's a ridiculous and inappropriate thing (don't say those kinds of things either.)

So, I went on with my door removal activity. Michael's mouth was wide open the entire time but I don't remember him ever saying anything. He heard what his mother told him about the door (and remembered it) and he now saw me doing what she said I was going to to. And Carol was in agreement that the door needed to come off because that's what she said would happen even if she didn't intend her statement to him to be taken literally.

Michael's door remained off the hinges (and out of his room) for a couple of weeks...maybe longer. It wasn't long before word got out to his friends about his door and a few would ask him "Michael, got your door back yet?"

Promises are important things. We all make them and break them. But we shouldn't break them. And we shouldn't make promises that we don't really intend to keep. That story probably has had more impact on me over all these years than it did Carol or Michael. It is a reminder to me to try my best to keep my promises. I don't want to just be a promise maker.

Your past sometimes catches up with you

I have some bad news

I received an interesting phone call today at my sign store. A prospective customer called inquiring about some signs (duh...we're a sign shop.) He told me his name (we'll call him Joe) and said that we worked together at the company I was previously with. He went on to say that he was one of the ones caught up in the "big layoff of 2001." Partially recalling the name, I sheepishly asked him if I was the one that laid him off. He said yes. I asked him a couple more verifying questions, all of which he answered in the affirmative. Uh oh...my past was coming back to haunt me.

Here was someone from whom I sat across a desk in the Human Resources Department to inform that his job with the company was over. He had to go home that day and try to explain to his family how and why he no longer had a job. Unfortunately, he wasn't the only person I laid off that day...I think he was the 6th (and final) one to whom I had to deliver this devastating news. One of the worst parts of it was that I couldn't really articulate a sensible reason as to why he had to lose his job. Oh, I had the company line that we delivered but, in my heart of hearts, it didn't really make good sense to me.

He took the news very well. He didn't get angry or start to cry or (heaven forbid) attack me with a folding chair or the letter opener on the desk. He was calm...almost peaceful about it. I told him that the Human Resources person would go over the various financial, insurance, severance details with him. In the meantime I waited for him to finish his paperwork so I could walk with him back to the building at the rear of our sprawling campus. I'll admit that I was regretting having to make that 10 minute walk with him but I wasn't about to make him make that walk alone.

Just about a year earlier our company was merged with another, greatly increasing the size of the company but causing much redundancy, including in my area- Customer Service. I went from having 100 or so employees to more than double that...now including people in Wisconsin, Ohio, North Carolina, and Nebraska. It was later decided to close one of the locations in Wisconsin. That meant that, except for the few that were offered and accepted transfers to the Charlotte location, the remainder of the 18 employees I had there would be laid off. When I flew up to Wisconsin I was going to be meeting most of my "new" employees for the first time. And I was going to tell them that they no longer had a job. The day began early as they came in one by one to hear first hand from me that they were being let go. The first one to cry was a man in his late 50's who had been with the company probably since I was in college. A couple of the ladies also cried. This was awful for them. Oh, it was no fun for me but c'mon...I was a VP and wasn't losing my job...my career...my paycheck.

I chose to retire early (well I was there for almost 33 years) in part because of that day in Wisconsin. I just didn't want to do that anymore. I know that layoffs, restructuring, RIF's...whatever you want to call it are a part of the business world...and even necessary in many cases. But I just couldn't stomach being a part of that kind of activity anymore. That doesn't mean that I will never have to let an employee go again but, at least I will be the one making that decision...not just picking which one it has to be.

So, let's get back to my long walk with "Joe." I asked him as we walked back if he was going to be alright because I was just about to break down myself and lose my composure. Sensing this, he put his arm around my shoulder as guys tend to do and gave it a squeeze and said, "Hey, it is going to be fine...I don't want you to be upset about it...you were just doing what you had to do." He went on to tell me that he was a part-time minister and had been praying for God to give him some guidance about what to do about his ministry. He said that the layoff may have been just what he needed to happen so he could make some decisions about that. My intent in walking back with him was to offer some consolation and here he was lifting me up and telling me that  maybe his job loss was an answer to prayer. Now I was really in tears feeling guilty about what had happened to him but at the same time overwhelmed with the grace and compassion he was extending to me. I have never forgotten that day and that 10 minute walk with him.

You see, in a real way, he was an answer to my prayers too. I had been feeling the tug to move on to whatever God had next in store for me. Not too long after this, I had made up my mind to step away from a career that had been so good to me and my family to see what I was supposed to do next.

Turns out it was to buy a sign company. "Joe" called me today to ask me if I would look at some signage at an historic church downtown that needs to be changed because his church has taken over the building.

So as to provide all the facts, "Joe" called me because his "day job" is working for a company that includes another former employee (no, I didn't lay him off) that recommended me when he heard that "Joe" was looking for some signs. That little clarification does not in the slightest way change the amazing turn of events of our re-connection. It has been almost 10 years since "Joe" and I took our seemingly insignificant walk and had that very God-filled conversation.

Sometimes our pasts do catch up with us. And thank the Lord they do.

My appointment is at 9:00

old school

Appointments. We all have them. And we have  a myriad of ways of keeping up with them. In the old-school days we had things called appointment books. American Express used to solicit my interest in a very formal, leather bound appointment book that weighted about 5 pounds. It looked like something you would put out on a coffee table. Of course, there is also the "stick it on the refrigerator with that pizza ad magnet" method of displaying those little appointment cards the dentists and doctors give you. Most of us now have the information stored on our cellphone, smartphone, iPad, or whatever other computing device we use. Lots of ways to keep up to make absolutely sure we do not miss an appointment. We don't want to be late.

I have a peeve about one particular type of appointment. I think this may actually be a universal peeve. Where in the world did the word "peeve" come from anyway? And the word is almost always preceded by the word pet. 1500's Middle English word pevish...becomes peevish (adjective) and about 1910 morphs into the noun variant "peeve." Enough of that tangent.

OK... let's get to it. If you have a doctor's appointment at 9:00am on any given Tuesday morning...what time would you expect to actually see the doctor as he or she begins his or her examination? Here's how it typically works... You arrive around 8:53-8:56, sign in on the clipboard in front of the window indicating the time you arrived, the time of your appointment and the name of your doctor. Why do they want to know when you arrived? Is there a punctuality award that is presented each week? If you arrived at 9:02 does that mean you have lost your place in the queue and will be penalized?

OK, so you arrive at 8:55, sign in, sit down and search for a magazine that was actually published during the term of the Obama administration. Finding none, you grab a Sports Illustrated where you can relive the 1998 World Series final game. Around 9:20 the door to the medical inner sanctum opens up and you hear your last name called out in the form of a question. Bueller? You pop up like a jack-in-the box, put the magazine back and head towards that door...not too bad...only 20 minutes late seeing the doctor.

Oh, but it is just an illusion. The nurse escorts you to the examination room (aka holding pen 3a) and as she slides right back out she says (with a surprisingly straight face) the six magic words..."the doctor will be right in." This isn't your first rodeo but you refrain from shouting out "liar, liar, pants on fire." Now it is 9:30. You look around the examination room and take inventory of all the things you can see. You notice a jar filled with tongue depressors (does the same company that makes popsicle sticks also make tongue depressors? If not, maybe this is one small way to bring down the cost of healthcare.) You wonder if you are supposed to sit on the examination stool or go ahead and take a sit on the butcher paper covered examination table.

At 9:47 you hear a knock and a different nurse comes in, sits down on the stool and begins her questioning. "So, why are we here this morning" We? I assume she is here because she works here and I am here for the same reason I gave the receptionist 11 days ago when I made my appointment. But I guess someone forgot to write that down. So I explain my reason for ruining my Tuesday morning by having to come to the doctor. After several more questions, she gets up and says those same six words I heard the other nurse say. Hmmm...another liar.

At 9:57, the door opens and in pops the doctor who asks the question "so, why are we here today?" My goodness, don't any of these people share information?  The examination takes all of 4 minutes and 34 seconds then you are being escorted out the door and down the hall to the "pay your bill" window and to tell the check-out person the date and time when the doctor wants to see you again...and to pay your bill.

Is it too much to expect that if you have an appointment to see the doctor at 9:00 that you could actually see the doctor at 9:00? Why does this never happen?

I mean, you had an appointment...

To everything there is a season

If you are a child of the 60's, you remember the 1965 Byrds hit song Turn, Turn, Turn. (click for song on YouTube) The lyrics are straight from the Bible...the book of Ecclesiastes chapter 3:1-8. And while the passage and song are not primarily about the "seasons"...as in Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall (all you have to do is call and I'll be there yeah yeah yeah....oops that's a different song from James Taylor ) I mentioned the Byrd's song because I like it and I love scripture. But this post isn't about either. Sorry.

What is your favorite season? Since I am writing this in October you might think that my favorite season is Fall. Well, you would be correct. I LOVE Fall (aka Autumn.) I know some folks that love Summer the most, others love Spring while there are some that choose Winter as their favorite season. Do you think that your favorite season says something about who you are? There is some research that has been done on this topic but it is still a fairly new field of study.

Sarah Jio, in her blog, cites information from Dr. Scott Haltzman concerning favorite seasons. Dr. Haltzman is a well known psychiatrist and author. "Any scientific exploration of how people choose seasons must be colored by the fact that different seasons appear differently to those in different parts of the country," he notes. "For example, May days in the Northeast are glorious, while San Diego has very mild and warm winters, but a cloudy and gloomy month of May."

 Fall: You could be a risk taker, a bit of a wild child even. "The inconsistency of fall, and the dramatic colors and weather of the season tends to appeal to risk takers," he says. "For instance, when people choose what color clothes appeal to them, they are often unconsciously reflecting the colors in nature that appeal to them. In my clinical experience, individuals who wear bright colors or die their hair in off-beat shades often prefer fall as their favorite season." (If I had any hair, I might be tempted to color it some crazy shade.)

Winter: Break out the hot cocoa and a good book! Sound like your thing? "In my experience, people who say they favor winter are those who are less adventurous," he says. "They tend to be homebodies, and feel less comfortable when they are out of their element." (I would think those that love the Winter sports...skiing, snowboarding, skating, snowmobiling might declare winter as their favorite.)

Spring: If your favorite season involves waiting for the tulips to pop out of the ground, you're likely to be patient and easy going. "I think that individuals who are drawn to spring are less prone to seek immediate gratification," he says. "Like waiting for summer to unfold, they seem to enjoy a pace of life more low key than those who prefer summer or fall." (Masters Week in Augusta, Georgia makes NOT choosing Spring as the favorite very difficult.)

Summer: You're likely to be the life of the party--fun and lively. "People who are drawn to toward the sun, surf and open space of summer, for example, tend to be more outgoing," notes Haltzman. (Does anyone NOT love Summer? ...not my favorite, though.)

Cooler weather, baseball playoffs, football season, watching the leaves explode with color, camping, hiking, Halloween candy, Thanksgiving dinner (and more football)...what's not to love about Fall?

So...what's your favorite and why?


You Can Read More of Sarah Jio's Blog At  http://www.glamour.com/health-fitness/blogs/vitamin-g/2008/12/your-happiness-whats-your-favo.html#ixzz1ZsQwrRRH 

No child left behind

Every time I hear or read about the federal government's "No Child Left Behind" I am reminded of the story in the Bible of Jesus being left behind at the temple when he was 12 years old. The story is found in Luke 2:41-52 if you want to look it up. If we are honest, those of us that are parents probably have at least one story of leaving our child behind or forgetting to pick our child up at the appointed time, effectively deserting our child if only for the briefest moment. The passage of time usually make these stories much funnier than how our mood was when the event actually occurred.

Jews were required to attend three annual festivals in Jerusalem...Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles but, for poorer people, especially those that lived farther away, Passover was sometimes the only one that was strictly observed. It is during the Passover festival that the account in the Luke passage takes place. I have always found it interesting that Mary and Joseph lost Jesus. I'm sure there were many people that had traveled to and from Jerusalem with them and so it would be easy for each to assume that the child was with the other or with other family or friends. I find it even more interesting that they lost Jesus at church (the temple.)

I think it can be easy to get lost at church. Oh, I don't mean you or others not knowing where you are...I also don't mean lost as in "not saved" in evangelical terms. I mean lost.

Church can be a difficult place, especially for someone that hasn't been a part of church all their life. Church people talk a little differently, using phrases that may not be understood by everybody. People also seem to think that when they are at church they are supposed to put on their most joyous faces, even if nothing on the inside feels very joyful. We can get lost in all the church activities. They can sometimes be a little overwhelming. Often we feel lost if we believe that we can't participate as much as other people..maybe making us feel a little guilty.

Despite all those people, church can also be a very lonely place, especially if we don't quite fit the mold. Maybe it's a guy or gal in their late 20's or early 30's who hasn't found (or doesn't want to) their companion for life and the people around you continue to ask...and ask ..when? Maybe you are a younger person who is only there because Mom or Dad makes you go. Maybe you are a person whose life took a path that included divorce or problems with the law or business failure or addiction or homelessness or something else that doesn't fit the "Leave it to Beaver" or "Brady Bunch" model. We can also get lost in all the theology and a feeling that we aren't scholarly enough regarding the Bible. We can start to think that maybe God isn't as interested in those of us that can't quote chapter and verse.

Maybe we wouldn't feel so lost if, instead of people telling us they are are praying for us when they know of our difficulty, they would just listen and talk to us. The prayers are important but sometimes we just need another person to listen and hold our hand. Some of our churches are so large we feel like we are on a university campus. Sometimes it can make us feel very small, insignificant, unnoticed....lost.

Have you ever gotten lost at church? Don't feel like you are alone... I think all of us at some point felt a little like "a child left behind."

The truth is that Jesus wasn't at all lost at the temple. Because He was with His Father. And if you are feeling a little lost at church...take comfort in knowing that your Heavenly Father is always there with you...even when you aren't "at church." He wants No child left behind.

Why do we still talk like that?

From time to time I actually pay attention to the things I say. Sometimes, I will use a phrase that makes absolutely no sense today but did mean something specific a while back.

"I am going out to crank up the car" (at one time you literally had to turn a crank to start an engine)
"You sound like a broken record" (vinyl records that had a scratch would sometimes keep playing the same part over and over)
"It was all caught on tape" (video cameras at one time recorded on magnetic tape)
"Dial her number and see if she answers" (telephones used to have rotary dials)
"He hung up on me" (in the old days, the phone was placed in its cradle to end the call)
"Wind up your watch" (in the days before watches with batteries)
"Please cc me on that memo" (CC means carbon copy, we used to use carbon paper for making multiple copies)
"Roll up the car windows" (I don't think they even make manual window cranks anymore)

Then there are common terms that in the past meant something different. Computer and calculator are common enough terms. 60 years ago those terms were a job description, not a machine. Yeah, 60 years ago a guy came home from work and told his wife that he was promoted. He was now going to be a computer. Maybe his name was Dell.

It just goes to show that the world we live in is changing at a rapid pace. Doesn't seem that long ago (to me) that we had VCR's, bag phones, a Walkman, record players, 8-tracks, typewriters, 35mm film, Polaroids, toilets that actually flushed everything, penny candy, Palm Pilots, AOL disks that came in the mail, Blockbuster, paper maps, pay phones, pinball machines, floppy disks, encyclopedia salesmen, and New Coke (New Coke lasted about 3 weeks).











Tell me the ones I left off.

Which are you?

Where's the restroom?

The world is full of different types of people. We have male and female, young and old, wealthy and poor, married and single, people with children and people without... illustrating just a few of the distinctions....some of which allow for some middle ground. I have often thought about how people are different; how and why they observe, relate and react to things so differently. Of the few distinctions I've mentioned... do you think the greatest "difference" is between male and female? Certainly there are significant differences between the two. I used to think that was the greatest distinction...until we had children. Then my position changed and I leaned more towards the distinction between "people with children" and "people without children."

But I have abandoned the contrasts above as being the most distinct. I have a different theory. I think there are two types of people in the world and this distinction has a huge influence on how people view themselves, view others and how they respond to the world around them. Ready?

One type of person views mankind as basically good. The other views mankind as basically "bad" or, as described in the Bible, sinful. Now, I know some of you are going to react strongly to this. But bear with me..hear me out. Group # 1- Mankind is basically good. Group # 2- Mankind is sinful (or, for lack of a better word... not-good)

I know I am making some generalizations but, if you view people as basically good, your view of how and why people behave badly, do bad things, commit the most horrible of crimes, mistreat others, etc. is different than the "how and why" explanation that Group #2 has. Group # 1 may argue that humans have a basic "goodness" to them (or start out as basically good) and through circumstances, external influences, injustices of society, etc. ...some ...become "bad." Let me also say that "good" and "bad" as used in most conversations, are relative terms but, most people observe the world around us and can generally agree that certain people are seen as good while others are seen as bad or, at least, behaving badly.

What about Group #2? Isn't it a bit harsh to say that people/ mankind is basically "bad." It might be harsh but I'm not the one that first said this. The Bible tells us "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) [It has been argued for a long time whether the word "all" in this passage (pantes in Greek) is meant as every single human without exception or the more collective "all of us" or even something different still. I am not attempting to answer that argument here...it would encompass the remainder of this post and more. Bear in mind, I also lifted the Apostle Paul's words out of context]

Where did they learn selfishness?

Observing our and other people's very young children, I saw the nature that demonstrated selfishness and manipulation long before anyone could have taught or modeled that behavior to them. So, where did it come from? How did they learn these "bad" behaviors at such a very young age? Group # 2 might suggest that it is our basic nature to be selfish, and demonstrate the other "bad" behaviors that often results from this most basic not-so-good quality.

If you subscribe to Group # 1, then you probably believe that some people "become" bad primarily due to their circumstances or some thing/ many things unusual that happens to them. This often leaves parents/families and society feeling that they have somehow failed the person and have responsibility for the person's actions/ behaviors. Don't get me wrong, parents/families and society certainly can contribute to the resulting "bad"-ness. But if the bad behaviors of parents/ families or society are causal, where did their "bad"-ness originate?

So as not to make this any longer than it already is, here's my take. Man is born with a sinful nature...we are NOT basically good. Only through the guidance of others, the influence of God's Holy Spirit, and the redeeming work of Jesus Christ do we have any hope of "goodness." In reality, when compared to God, we are so far from good, the minor distinctions between each of us in that regard are minuscule. That's like you bragging that you can jump higher than me. But if the standard for jumping is to jump to the moon, your ability to jump a foot higher than me is irrelevant.  If the standard for goodness is Jesus Christ...well, we all need help. And the Good News is we have just that..the help and Hope of Jesus Christ. None of us are good. When we acknowledge that, it reveals things like racism and elitism for what they are...our simple-minded ideas that we are somehow "more good" than another. So, you can jump higher than me? Wow, aren't we impressed. I don't expect some of you to agree with me and would love to read your comments whether you agree/ disagree or just want to weigh in. Your comments, like a gift, are so appreciated

Who the heck is Max Factor?

The daily ritual

Let me just say from the outset...this blog post is going to get me into big trouble. But I am a dashing and daring man who is not afraid to throw caution to the wind so...here goes.

This is an open letter to all the women of the world. But first, let me recall a story. Many years ago my wife Carol and I were driving to Atlanta for a weekend getaway. Somehow the topic of make-up/ cosmetics came up. For the life of me I can't imagine how it "came up"...but, it did. I asked Carol why women wore make-up... it's time consuming to apply, it is expensive (worldwide cosmetics sales are over $170 billion dollars per year) and, in my view, unnecessary. She argued that men would not find women attractive without make-up or that many woman who are not "natural" beauties, need to wear make-up to improve their appearance. I asked "improve their appearance in whose eyes?" She said...men. I said she was wrong. See, I think women wear make-up primarily because they compare themselves to other women. They have convinced themselves that they must wear make-up to be "attractive." I told her that I thought she was attractive without make-up. She looked at me like I had two heads and accused me of lying. Lying? Why the heck would I lie about that?

But, you see, I think women are beautiful or, are at least seen as beautiful by the men and families who love them...(make-up not required.) This "discussion" we had lasted for nearly an hour and the more I talked the more angry she became with me. I'm not sure why she was angry when I was telling her that I thought she was beautiful just the way she was. I also said that if someone could convince all women to stop wearing all make-up for two weeks, by the end of that two weeks no one would care anymore that women had stopped wearing make-up. You see for this to work...EVERY woman would have to agree to stop. No cheaters. Again, she looked at me like I was crazy.

Men don't wear make-up (most men at least.) How can women bear to look at us? I mean, it's just us and our plain faces. I think the cosmetics industry has done an amazing job of convincing women that they are not attractive enough. That's just a big fat lie.

Max Factor began his career in the film industry in the early 1900's. Stage actors had been wearing grease paint for years but the film industry required something not as heavy or thick. Max Factor ultimately produced creams in various shades for actors and actresses to wear. We, of course, know where those early beginnings eventually led. And the more well to do people have been using various forms of face paint, lip coloring for thousands of years. I know, I know...it's been around since Cleopatra. I saw how Elizabeth Taylor was made up.

But, I still don't understand it. One of Carol's arguments for make-up was that her eyes seemed to be more sensitive to light if she wasn't wearing mascara. I think she was actually on to something there. You know how baseball and football players will put the black stuff under their eyes? It's to absorb the light shining near their eyes...it cuts down on the glare.

So, I guess mascara can have the same effect. OK...she scored one point. But I was still getting hammered because I think she thought I was just teasing her. I wasn't.

So...am I full of you-know-what, or not? Hold that thought.

Let me get something else off my chest. First, I will admit that I think Angelina Jolie is a very attractive woman...one reason being her very full lips. (Carol thinks I am crazy on this point as well.) But, that's not the point. What is it with women injecting stuff into their lips to make them look plumper (if that's a word?) Every actress whose before and after pictures I have seen that has "enhanced" her lips looks so much worse afterwards. Every one. What's that all about? I know there are other "enhancements" out there as well. We'll let that lie for now.

I love the line in "Mrs. Doubtfire" when the old bus driver is hitting on Robin Williams' cross-dressed character who inadvertently reveals some hairy male leg despite being fully decked out like an old woman. The bus driver never misses a beat. He says "Oh, I like that Mediterranean look in a lady...healthy...natural...just the way God made ya."

So...that's my line to all the woman out there...you are beautiful. Because that's the way God made ya. No need for Max.

nine eleven

Raising the flag at Ground Zero

Nine eleven....two words that will forever be etched in our memory. Ten years ago on this day we witnessed and, for some, experienced something that, all these years later, are still difficult to describe and nearly impossible to understand. The television networks have been broadcasting all day about the events of Tuesday, September 11, 2001. The collective need to make some sense of what happened and, more importantly... to understand why... dominates the dialog.

If you are expecting me to say that I know why 9-11 occurred, you are going to be disappointed. I don't. But I do have some personal thoughts.

As a person of faith, an immediate reaction is to wonder about God. Did God cause this to happen?...did God allow this to happen?...the questions go on and on. The organizations that birthed the terrorist attacks claim that they did this in the name of Allah. They say....
I am a Christian and don't know much about Islam or its teachings. What I do know is that God created humanity. My Bible teaches that God gave his creation the ability to choose...choose to love and follow God or choose not. We know how the story starts.

Because mankind chose to disobey and break fellowship with God, mankind alone is responsible for the consequences of its actions. But, like a small child that has broken the lamp in the living room, we try every way we know to get back in the good graces of our parent. It's not my fault...if Mommy hadn't put the lamp there, it wouldn't have broken. Or we lie and say that we didn't break it, it must have been someone else. Or, rather than deny the wrongdoing, we draw Mommy a pretty picture and smile our most innocent smile hoping Mommy will pick us up and tell us it's OK...that Mommy still loves us (which, of course, she does.)

Over the ages, mankind has been doing all kinds of terrible things in its desire to impress God. We (humanity) unilaterally decide to go to battle against God's enemies or, at least, who we determine God's enemies to be. The depths that mankind can go and has gone continue to astound us. The horrific events of the past....the atrocities of the Assyrians, the brutality of the Romans, the wholesale massacres of the Middle Ages, the Crusades to cleanse the Holy Land, the modern-era mass murders under Stalin, Hitler, Milosevic...the genocide in Cambodia, Rwanda, Iraq, Sudan...the terrorist attacks of the last 15 years should painfully illustrate the capacity for evil in the human heart. Many of these events in human history were done in the name of God. But that certainly doesn't make any of these tragedies "of God." Scripture tells me that there is a battle going on...but those same scriptures tell me that the battle is the Lord's.

9-11 showed all of us the worst of mankind. To intentionally fly an airliner full of people into a building full of people is incomprehensible to us. But 9-11 also showed us the best of mankind. The human heart also has the capacity for love, kindness, compassion and we witnessed that in an incredible way in the aftermath of 9-11. People joined hands and hearts as we consoled and held onto one another. We joined hands and voice to lift up people, a city, a nation...ourselves. We picked up the pieces of the brokenness and started again. Church attendance surged as people sought comfort and answers in the place where, for ages, people have come to be in God's presence. But time passes, memories begin to fade, wounds begin to heal and we go back to being reliant on our own strength. But God is still here...and He is still in control even when our human minds wonder how that can be.

What do I learn from 9-11? Mankind, after all of human history, still has the capacity to do the most evil things imaginable. A human heart full of hate and anger and fear is a powerful force for evil. But mankind also has the capacity to be be an imitator of God...living a life full of love, full of grace and full of mercy.

How has 9-11 changed your life?

Get a job

Let me just proclaim up front that I am no economics expert. I spent many years in corporate America, about half of those years in an executive position, and have a pretty good idea of how large corporations operate and how they make business decisions. I have been a small business owner for almost 5 years and have learned (sometimes painfully) about what it takes to operate and try to grow your own business. Over my career I have hired and fired and laid off many people. Hiring people is pretty cool...the other two...not so much.

The President is going to give a speech later this week about his ideas for creating more jobs. I'm not sure why he has waited so long to release his plan. Like most of you, I will listen intently to what he has to say although I am not optimistic that he will present much that will actually be successful in creating more jobs. Again, I'm no expert but here's my opinion. Take it or leave it...

• Real job growth has to come from the private sector...that is the engine for job creation
• Adding government jobs is a stop-gap measure that, while providing some short-term relief, ultimately has a negative effect on our free market economy. However, this is the only way the Executive Branch can directly "create" jobs (assuming Congress will fund it,) but not a good reason to employ this strategy.
• The White House and Congress need to stimulate job growth by making the regulatory, monetary, trade and tax policy changes necessary that will create the incentive for businesses to move back down a path of spending with some confidence that the government is not going to do things that add to the inherent cost and risk of investing for the future. The White House seems to be in a punitive mode regarding business. It might satisfy some personal desire to "get back" at business but we all now are facing the consequences of that posture. Bashing business does nothing to enhance the economic environment. Helping businesses and workers that are non-union must carry as much priority as your union favorites.
• The passage of the "to hell with what they think" Obamacare has had a serious negative effect on the business world. Just look at what many companies say they are going to do...pay the penalties and drop their employer sponsored health plans. Of course, this fits well with the ultimate goal of the Democrats of a single-payer system. Those businesses that keep their health plans will be looking even more closely at their headcount.
• While we must provide some safety net, we have to be mindful that extended unemployment benefits, while keeping some people afloat, can do great harm to a person's psyche. The hope has to be in finding a job, not in getting an unemployment check. I have had people turn down jobs I offered because they could make as much, if not more staying home, watching TV and receiving a check. I was told, "if my benefits were about to run out, I'd probably take the job, but I'll just keep drawing unemployment as long as I can." I know most people probably don't have this mindset. But, the longer the benefit remains the more likely the person will eventually acquire this kind of attitude. This is a tough issue. I don't know the answer...more jobs is really the only answer. 
• It is going to take many years for the unemployment rate to drop to historically low levels...it may be never. The world has changed.
• The minimum wage should not have been changed. Minimum wage jobs are not intended to provide a living wage. Most of these jobs are targeted towards students, part time employees and the lowest skill level workers. Unfortunately, raising the rate hurts more than it helps.
• The progressive/liberal ideology that generates a particular view of "social/ economic fairness" has clouded, not only the view of the role of government, but has also made it convenient to stereotype the business community as greedy and evil. There has been and will always be parts of the business world that do really bad things and they need to be dealt with accordingly. But let's make sure the federal government isn't part of the problem by manipulating our very complex economy with unrealistic objectives such as home ownership for all. We see how that turned out.
• Overhaul the tax system. Period. I personally like the concepts of the Fair Tax but I'm open to anything that is better than what we have now....which would be just about anything. Neither party, however, wants to lose the power that is inherent in our current system. They can reward those they want to reward and punish those they want to punish...not a good system....completely corrupted. I doubt I will ever see this change in my lifetime without term limits.
• President Obama...give ONE speech where you do not blame our problems on the Bush Administration and where you do not attack the Republicans/ Tea Party/ Conservatives/ Talk Radio or any other group you disagree with. Do not talk as a partisan Democrat...talk like you are the President of the entire United States...because, at least for the next year or so...you are. Powerful, dynamic leaders have the ability to inspire others to do incredible things. Show us what you've got. But remember, it's not all about you or fulfilling your own personal agenda. It's about America and Americans. Be realistic but also be positive. In many ways, you set the tone.
• The reality is that some people do not like you and will never listen to you simply because you are black. They are ignorant, small  people and represent an insignificant portion of the population. They have always been around and, unfortunately, always will be. Those of us that do not agree with your policies resent being included in that group and are angered to be accused of being racist.

 President Obama, I continue to pray that God will grant you wisdom and courage to lead this nation. Millions of Americans need a job. Let's figure this thing out.

Happy Birthday to You

see the resemblance?

I wonder when the tradition of wishing someone a "happy birthday" actually began? I'm 56 years old (as of yesterday) and I remember it from my earliest memory. Of course, the celebration of your birthday is typically accompanied by a song. Other traditions include cake, ice cream, parties, gifts and even the strange ritual of spankings given to you to equal your new age. But let's get back to that song.

Songwriters put a lot of effort into the songs they write and, under US and international law, have the ability to copyright the song...meaning they own the use of the song and are allowed to collect royalties from certain uses of the song by others (you can look up information on US copyright law if you are curious about things like that.)

Did you know that the song "Happy Birthday" is protected by a copyright? Seriously...it is. In 1893 sisters Mildred and Patty Hill wrote the melody and lyrics to a song titled "Good Morning To All" for the teachers in their school to sing to the arriving students. The catchy little ditty morphed into "Good Morning to You" and was actually published in some children's songbooks in the late 1800's. No one knows exactly who wrote the lyrics we know today as "Happy Birthday" but a version titled "Happy Birthday to You" so resembled the Hill sisters' song that they successfully filed suit and ultimately won the copyright to the song we all sing today. In 1935, the music publisher Clayton F. Summy, working with a third sister, Jessica Hill, published and copyrighted "Happy Birthday." Under copyright law in effect at that time, Hills' copyright was good for 28 years and, after another allowed 28 year renewal period, would have maintained the copyright on the song until 1991. The copyright laws were changed in or around 1976, effectively changing the copyright term to 75 years from publication date. Another change to the copyright law in the '90's added another 20 years meaning the song is protected by copyright until 2030.

There are people and organizations out there that actually pay royalties when they use the song under certain circumstances. Today, Warner Music Group owns the rights to the song and  they collect about $2 million in royalties each year. You ever wonder why restaurant wait staff in larger chain restaurants sing their own made-up birthday songs to customers celebrating at their establishment? They don't want to violate copyright law by not paying royalties if/when the "real" song is sung.

For all of you that missed the opportunity to sing Happy Birthday to me yesterday, you can just forgo that and send me $5 rather than pay any royalties to Warner Music for performing the song. When you see me next you can just give me a hug.

Update! After a lawsuit in 2013 claiming that Warner Group's copyright claim was no longer valid, a federal judge ruled in 2015 that the copyright only applied to a specific piano arrangement; not the lyrics and melody. In 2016 Warner paid a settlement of $14 million and the court declared that the song is now in the public domain.

Adventures at the drive-thru

Would you like fries with that?

Americans love convenience. Who could blame us though? We have the ability to do so many things without even needing to leave the comfort of our cars...we have drive-thru banking, dry cleaners, car wash, bill pay, beverage stores and, of course, fast food. Back in the good ol' days we even had drive-thru gas stations where, when you ran over the magic bell ringing hose, 5 guys wearing bow ties would come running out and fill up your car, check your oil and battery, fill up your tires and wash your windows. Now only the rare service station like Smith's Chevron in Augusta does that (minus the bow ties.)

Most of those drive-thru transactions work fairly well. My experiences with some of them, however, have been less than satisfactory. Have you ever had a problem at the drive-thru of a fast food restaurant? I know that we have already lowered our expectations in the first place because, after all, it is fast food....not exactly gourmet. But I actually like fast food. I think the cheeseburger is nearly the perfect food. It contains ingredients from all the major food groups...grain, meat protein, dairy, vegetables, fruits (I think tomatoes and pickles are technically fruits) so it must be good for you. But I digress.

The fast food industry has taken great strides to make the drive-thru experience an impressive one. Now they have flat screen panels where you can have menu items suggested and see your order status. The menu boards are the size of a Times Square billboard. We have multiple lane choices resembling a New Jersey turnpike toll booth area. They cover the ordering area with a roof or awnings so we don't get wet in the rain when we lower our window. All that effort and expense so we can order a cheeseburger from our car. I wonder if they pay enough attention to the employee they hire to be on the other end of the speaker? And how come they can spend all that money for all the latest technology but still end up with sound that resembles the 1950's era drive-in movie speaker that you used to hang from your window? I don't get it.

I had the opportunity to go through the drive-thru the other day. As I pulled into lane 7, ordering station 2, I heard something resembling a human voice but wasn't sure what was said. I assumed it was "may I take your order." So, I placed my order and received 20 seconds of silence. Next thing I heard was "thank __ __waiting, __ take __ order?" Huh? I am pretty sure it was in English (still the national language) but I could be wrong. So, I repeated my order. Then I heard either "that will be $5.20 at the first window" or "the cat will eat plenty at Donner's widow" Huh? ...not sure which it was because it was said at warp speed with no hint of enunciation. So, after waiting my turn coming out of the multi-lane drive thru intersection, I proceed up to Donner's widow and the window slides open. She asks me "Filet of Fish sandwich and a High C? "No," I say, "a cheeseburger value meal with a Diet Coke." I give her my $5.20 and pull up to the "Get-Your-Food-Station-2b" where I see an arm already sticking out the window with what looks like a Diet Coke. But, alas, upon closer inspection, I can see from the day-glow red color revealed through the side of the cup that it must be High C Fruit Punch. Then she tries to hand me a Filet of Fish. Evidently this restaurant thinks that I haven't had enough fish in my diet and insists that I eat some that day (that assumes the Filet-O-Fish is actually fish anyway.) I finally get my correct order of cheeseburger and french fry goodness. In the bag I also find 11 packets of ketchup (or is it catsup?), a napkin the size of a dryer sheet and a straw that is long enough to allow me to drink my Diet Coke from the cupholder on the floor of my truck without even having to lean forward.

Roger, you are cleared for food retrieval on three-niner

Have you ever paid for your order and they tell you that whatever you ordered isn't quite ready and they ask you to pull forward to the non-existent food delivery holding zone? If you pull up too far, cars can't get past you to make the turn and if you pull up too little the car behind can't quite get to the window. You are now in fast food purgatory where you have become priority #53.  One time I told the gal at the window that I was fine with just waiting at the window for my order. That prompted the manager to tell me in his best "you must pull avay from ze vindow" voice to pull forward to wait the 7 minutes it will take to cook my spicy white meat chicken. I'm surprised they don't tell me to just keep circling the restaurant like some Boeing 747 in a circular holding pattern around Atlanta Hartsfield. They could just throw it in my window on pass #7.

Adventures at the drive-thru. Maybe next time I'll just eat a peanut butter sandwich at home.

Driving. Me. Crazy.

I am not a patient driver. There, I said it. The first step, they say, to overcoming a bad habit is to admit your problem. I have to confess that bad drivers drive me crazy. I'm not totally sure why.

There is a part of me that gets so frustrated by the danger they are to everyone on the road. You know the kind of drivers I'm talking about. I've seen people driving while doing all sorts of things. Texting? Oh sure that's a problem but how about driving while putting on makeup, reading a newspaper, or changing clothes...? Seriously? I've seen all of these numerous times.

Green means go

Then there are the poky drivers. If you are the first car in line at a red light, you have a moral responsibility to all the other drivers behind you....its like you are the leader of the parade. When the light turns green, you must first check to see that all the cars coming from both sides are actually going to stop at their red light and then ....MOVE...get going.... at a safe speed that allows as many cars behind you to get through the light before it turns yellow. I have seen occasions where there are 10 or more cars backed up at a red light and only 3 cars get through the intersection.....THREE! I know, I know...I should just be patient and hey, if it takes 3 cycles of the traffic light for me to get through the intersection, what's the big deal? Its only time. But it drives me crazy. It is so discourteous to other drivers. You may think that I am a horn honker. I'm not... unless someone is so asleep at the wheel for so long that they need a little wake up call.

I also don't do well when traffic is just backed up and running slowly. I will take an alternate route that adds 10 miles to my trip just so I can keep moving.

I took a driver education course my junior year of high school. We had driver's ed at my school but the order in which you could take the course was determined alphabetically based on your last name. That meant I would have to wait until the end of that school year before we got to the TUVWXYZ people. So I paid for private lessons. My instructor was incredible! He taught me so many things that I remember to this day. If the speed limit is 55, go 55, not 50, not 52...55 (he didn't encourage speeding either.) When you get to a YIELD sign....yield....then GO. Some people must think that YIELD is French for GIVE UP. 

Sir Isaac Newton..no relation to Fig

He also instilled in me a recognition of what a privilege and huge responsibility it is to drive an automobile. To wield control of a 2 ton vehicle traveling at speeds of 60-70 mph is a serious thing. A 4000 lb car at 70 mph generates 654,686 ft/lbf of kinetic energy. 






That's a lot of mass at a lot of velocity. But some drivers drive as if they are in a balsa wood soap box derby car going 5 mph.


I'm not sure why I get so bothered by bad drivers. I guess part of it is that something that should safely take 15 minutes shouldn't take 25. Driving is also a matter of courtesy. Don't block the intersection, don't creep along in the left lane, don't speed, don't clip or paint your fingernails while driving, don't tailgate, don't fail to use your turn signals, don't cut people off, don't fail to let someone into the traffic flow if it is safe to do so, move over, get a room, put your child in a car seat, pull over for emergency vehicles, pull over and show some respect when the funeral procession comes by....I mean drive like you have some sense.


OK...I feel a bit better. Until tomorrow when I have to hit the streets again. Lord, give me patience. They're driving me crazy. 

Man's best friend

Nothing clever about the title of this one...I am talking about dogs. Experts tell us that the dog (domesticated form of gray wolf) may have been the first domesticated animal maybe dating back 15,000 years. We know that dogs have been used for hunting, herding, and to perform other tasks since they were domesticated. But the vast majority of dogs today are simply our companions.

Lucy (click to enlarge)

I think God planned for mankind to have this special relationship with dogs. He must have because they are the perfect companion (I mean aside from your significant other...) If you are a true dog-lover, you have to admit that your life is enriched by your dog (or dogs.) When I was growing up, we always had at least one dog. I remember Roxy and Lisa and Willy. As an adult, I had Bernie, Buster and Booker. My wife and I had Buffy and Lucy and we now have Kaya and Maddie. I'm sure I have forgotten some of the dogs we had when I was a young kid. But I remember that I loved them all. Even the pain-in-the-neck Cocker Spaniel that came as a part of the package deal when my wife and I got married. I wasn't really crazy about that dog...at first. But I vividly remember crying on the drive home from the vet when I took her to have her put down. Lucy was the most prominent dog we owned. Our daughter and son had her as a pet for almost their entire childhood. We were crazy about that German Shepherd. One of Jessica's friends once made the comment "the Toomeys are obsessed with their dog." She was correct.

Kaya and Maddie hiking in the mountains (click to enlarge)

Dogs love us unconditionally (another reason I think it is part of God's plan...reminds us of how He loves us unconditionally.) Dogs are always happy when you come home...can't say that about anyone else in the family. They are loyal, loving, and would probably die for you if the situation called for it. Oh...and another reason I think it was God's plan all along. Did you ever think about the fact that dog's don't sweat? Can you imagine how badly they would smell after being outside in the heat all day...they would be wet and stinky. Who would want to love on a dog that perspired? But they don't sweat...they pant. I'm certain God planned it that way. Man's best friend? Absolutely.


UPDATE TO MY POST

This photo below is evidence that a picture is worth 1000 words and it puts an exclamation point on what I said above. This is a picture of "Hawkeye" the loyal Labrador retriever of Petty Officer John Tumilson, one of the Navy SEALs killed in action in Afghanistan when the helicopter he was in was shot down.. Hawkeye refused to leave the side of his master... enough said.

Hawkeye lies by the casket of his owner, Petty Officer John Tumilson

Home of the brave

When I was 8 years old, my Mom remarried and my brother, sister and I became military brats. My stepfather was a Marine and we proceeded through the remainder of my childhood years to move to Boston, MA (Boston Navy Shipyard), Jacksonville, NC (Camp Legeune), Beaufort, SC (Parris Island), Keene, NH (back "home" while my stepfather served in Vietnam), Berwick, ME and Rochester, NH (Portsmouth Navy Shipyard), and Augusta, GA (Fort Gordon.) I had some issues with my stepfather with regards to his role as husband and father but I had great respect for his being a Marine and serving our country. Unfortunately, he died several years ago. In my formative years, I developed a great love and admiration for all the men and women that put on the uniform and put their lives on the line ...for us. Nothing has changed that emotion in me.

Today I have a nephew who is a Marine serving somewhere in Afghanistan, a son-in-law who is an Army aviator flying Blackhawks in Korea, and another nephew who is currently going through Air Force basic training at Lackland AFB in Texas. All three are young guys with their whole lives ahead of them. One happens to be married to my precious daughter who is with him in Korea. I love them all. I am sometimes overwhelmed by their willingness to voluntarily become part of such a dangerous occupation.

On Saturday, a Chinook helicopter was hit by a rocket propelled grenade, killing everyone on board... 30 Americans and 8 Afghan soldiers....a tragedy made even more sensational by the sheer number that perished at one time. A tragedy even more noticed because we heard that members of the elite SEAL Team 6 were on board... commandos from the same group that killed Osama bin Laden.

Words fail us when we try to describe how we felt when we heard this news. These were brave soldiers, actually coming to the aid of a ground team that had come under heavy fire from Taliban forces. We collectively grieve with the families of these soldiers. Their deaths will make us question whether the price being paid by our men and women is worth it.

Does it take 30 Americans killed by a single RPG to make us question whether it is time to bring our men and women home? How about the one brave Marine that was killed by a sniper last week? How about the 2 Army soldiers who were killed when their vehicle ran over an IED 6 months ago? Are their deaths not enough to generate the same questions?

Am I selfish for wanting my family members to be out of harm's way? Am I unpatriotic to say let's bring all our men and women home from a war that I do not, after 10 long years, understand anymore?

I cry inside for the 30 brave Americans that perished on Saturday...but I cry no less for the one American that will die tomorrow...or last week. Their deaths, however, won't (or didn't) make the headlines.

America...Home of the brave? You're damn right. But I hope we are also brave enough to know when enough blood has been spilled in a decade long war.

They call it tolerance

In my last blog I discussed the different meanings of the word "compromise." There is another word I have some issues with relative to the way it is used...the word is TOLERANCE (and its various forms.)

I do not consider myself an intolerant person (so therefore, I am tolerant?) That declaration requires, however, that my understanding of the words intolerant and tolerant be accurate, otherwise it is likely I am making an inaccurate declaration.

Can we be "tolerant" on the one hand but still legitimately be able to state that there are some things we just won't tolerate? Doesn't the practice of tolerance, therefore, have some "reasonable" limitations?

So what does the word even mean? There are various online dictionaries but I usually try to stick with ones that also have printed versions that I am familiar with...tried and true if you will. Merriam- Webster online defines "tolerate" this way and in this order:
1. to endure or resist the action of (as a drug or food) without serious side effects or discomfort
2.a. to allow to be or to be done without prohibition, hindrance, or contradiction
2.b. to put up with

The Macmillan Dictionary has the first 3 definitions as follows:
1. to allow someone to do something you do not like or approve of
2. to accept something unpleasant without becoming impatient or angry
2a. to accept someone without welcoming them or liking them

People accuse one another of not being tolerant without mutual agreement of what the word even means.  I suppose there are things, people, behaviors, ideas that are worthy of tolerance and others that are not. Is the line of demarcation between the two immovable...does it or should it change? Who gets to decide? If you tell me I must be tolerant you probably must also require me to accept your meaning of the word. No fair.

What are some things you believe that you can not or should not tolerate? How about racism? I strongly believe that it should not be tolerated but, what can I really do about it (other than not practice it myself?) I have no power to "not tolerate" it. I can only not tolerate it in my own heart and head. I can refuse to associate with people that I am aware are racist but, is that really "not tolerating" it? I can vote for laws that apply but still, how am I not tolerating it?

What are some things that you can or should tolerate? By definition, it has to be something you do not like or don't approve of. To "tolerate" something requires that you continue to dislike or disapprove of but allow it to exist or be practiced without interference, prohibition or hindrance. If I were to change my mind about the issue, I would no longer be merely tolerating "it." I could now be ambivalent about it or embrace it...but it would no longer be accurate to say I was "tolerating" it.

We are told that we should be tolerant of various things or beliefs and I can generally agree with that. But you cannot say I am not being tolerant if I continue to disagree. By definition of the word...it is actually required!

So, what you really want is not for me to be tolerant but rather to change my mind/ opinion and to now agree with you. Sorry...you can appropriately accuse me of being hard-headed, stubborn or even dead wrong, but you can't say I am intolerant if I do not do anything that prohibits you from doing or believing whatever it is we disagree on. Am I right?

To be found in a compromising position

Compromise....it is an interesting word and, at face value, sounds like a noble thing. But the word has dramatically different definitions. One definition is "an agreement or a settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions" as in "the secret of a happy marriage is compromise." (This is the noble definition)

Oops

Then there is the definition "the acceptance of standards that are lower than is desirable" as in "she would not compromise herself by sleeping with him." (this is the not-so-noble definition)


We hear a lot of talk by our political leaders about the need to "compromise." I'm curious which definition they are referring to. I think they want to convince us that it is the former but frequently give us the latter.


There is the old joke that ends with a woman asking the man at the bar "what do you think I am?" He says "well, we've already established that, now we are just negotiating price." (If you want the entire joke, you can Google it yourself)


Something happens to politicians that stay in Washington (in power) too long. They are almost like prisoners that spend a long time in prison...they become "institutionalized" and forget what the real, outside world is actually like and, in many cases, don't want to return to the "real world." Our founding fathers never intended for our elected officials to become career, professional politicians. Something bad happens...not because they are bad people with initial bad intentions. The institution itself is dysfunctional at best and corrupt at its worst. 

The problem with fixing this is many of us believe that "our" guy or gal in Washington is one of the good ones and should stay. Individually, they may be sound legislators but, collectively, they are out of touch, and hungry to maintain the power that the office provides. The other problem is that, unless a newcomer becomes your party's candidate, you are forced to vote for someone from the other party in order to not vote for the incumbent who needs to leave along with all the others. I'm not sure this will ever be fixed unless term limits are implemented. Even then it will be difficult to change the course for a very long time, if ever. Our politicians are driving us over a cliff and, in the meantime, they are arguing about who gets to ride shotgun.


The uprising that produced the current Tea Party began, not under Barack Obama, but George Bush. It was not about Democrat or Republican or Obama or Bush...it was about our government spending money at such an enormous rate with no end in sight. People said...enough. We are over 14 trillion dollars in debt...and climbing fast. The number is so large it defies comprehension. At some point, it cannot be sustained...we may already be past the point of return. We are paying our Visa bill with our MasterCard and a Ponzi scheme like this would normally put someone in prison. Our representatives in Washington have painfully demonstrated that they cannot or will not fix this crushing debt problem and our grossly punitive tax policy.


There are some things on which I am unwilling to compromise...they are just too important. I wouldn't make a good politician.