- Change -- I read in Newsweek a piece about change occurs gradually, not in jumps. Here in the United States, virtually every one wants major changes, and they want them now. Interestingly, we talk out of both sides of our American mouths -- we want government to fix any major problem that comes up, but then we don't want big government at all. Even economists disagree on whether the Federal Government should fix the economy or just back away and let us fix ourselves.
- Past and Future -- My reading material at the moment is a recent copy of "U.S. History for Dummies," by Steve Wiegand. It's written for adult idiots like myself, not school children. Also, I doubt if it's marked as "acceptable" on the reading list of James Dobson and his "Focus on the Family" organization. Our Founding Fathers just aren't portrayed quite as in touch with God as his group would like us to believe.
- Focus on the Family -- I just jumped to the Focus on the Family Website http://www.focusonthefamily.com/ Apparently the website's current hero is former Florida football star, Tim Tebow, whose mother chose not to abort him. Until about a year ago, I studied the Bible with a great bunch of devout Christian guys over at Glendale Christian Church here in Springfield, MO. I'm not able to attend their early morning sessions anymore because I'm caring for a beautiful little one year old granddaughter who was an abortion candidate momentarily before love and common sense prevailed.
- Abortion -- Through the Glendale guys, I was able to observe that much of their political energies seemed to be focused on the abortion issue. Pro-life was virtually the only litmus test for any political candidate (that and anti-gay rights). I don't think anyone will disagree that political strategists on the right have used the issues to mobilize Christians to vote a certain way. Something happened recently (a Supreme Court decision) that made me think the political right doesn't really want Roe vs. Wade overturned because then the Christians will go back to doing their "churchy thing" (Palin language), and not be so likely to turn out on election day.
- Supreme Court Decision on Corporations -- if you're reading this from the right wing, I'd like to know how you feel about the recent Supreme Court decision that corporations should not be limited on their contributions to political campaigns -- one of those left-wing commie professor types suggested that perhaps the Supreme Court was really just acknowledging what some feel is already the case; i.e., that we're really governed by corporate and special interest lobbyists anyway, and the five conservative judges just pulled it out from under the table. I'm cool with the decision (or rather resigned to it). But if the conservatives still have a 5 to 4 edge, why don't they overturn Roe vs. Wade? Are you thinking what I'm thinking? The abortion issue is needed to keep the Christians in the voting booth for the right?
- Voting Republican in 2010? -- I'm a devout Independent who has some Socialist views and a Capitalist wife of 44 years. Still, I'm thinking about voting Republican in 2010. Why? Because some recipients of entitlements are going to have to be told no, and I think the Republicans can do that more easily than the other side.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Change
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An interesting introduction to the blogging world, Ken. Some reflections, speaking ex cathedra from my belly button, as an old friend used to say.
ReplyDelete1) "Those who do not understand the past are doomed to repeat it." Almost no one is mentioning that this "housing bubble" is a particular parallel to the one that decimated the savings-and-loan industry in the late 80's. Admittedly, the addition of adjustable-rate-mortgages (ARMs), credit-default-swaps and other "esoteric investment instruments" accelerated the disaster.
But what no one else is looking at is that the ROOT of the crisis was speculative land/home purchases using HOUSING incentives for INVESTMENT purposes, and just plain lousy (read: fraudulent) appraisals that justified lousy loans. Same thing that killed the S&L's. Sadly, those particular weapons are still locked and loaded.
2) I've been saying this for years - the undies of our Founding Fathers and Mothers were not nearly so snowy-white as the Dobson Clan would choose them to be. Were they wise beyond years, yes; at least partly inspired by a Higher Power, probably. Innocent, pure and 100% stamp-of-approval Christian? Not hardly. Most of 'em couldn't get elected today, that's for sure...
3-4) It's fascinating to me that the Roe v. Wade issue is not nearly so big a deal in Europe - because people on both sides of the debate work to reduce the demand for abortion. If churches spent half the money on homes and care for unwed mothers that they do on anti-abortion campaigns and smearing those same unwed mothers as harlots, I'd bet the butcher's bill would be a lot smaller.
And your grand-daughter sure is a cutie. I admire what you and your bride are doing a bunch.
5) I usually credit the Supreme Court with more intelligence than the usual man or woman. But I'm with you - both on the campaign-finances (you can't vote for somethin' that's already bought-n-sold) and Roe-v-Wade (How can I possibly have a scorching flame burning, if you take away my gasoline can?) As you might imagine, the whole gay-marriage thing is right up there, too, in my books. (But I admit to a degree of prejudice there.)
6) I'd sure like some centrist candidates to vote for, in EITHER party. Though I'm not sure even Sam Ervin (who, in my mind, saved the country almost single-handedly in the Watergate days) could get elected these days. He actually wanted to find consensus in those days, and I'm not sure that anyone who wants to build bridges is going to be electable. Only bridge-burners need apply, it seems...
It will be fun to see what the rest of your posts have to share.
Thanks so much for reading this initial blog and making all your great comments. This blog is kind of like the old water tower in my hometown of Ava, MO. Every once in awhile it would get filled with water and just starting running over the side making quite a waterfall. My blog posts are largely spillage from my overflowing brain and I so enjoy it.
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