I will admit to being somewhat tardy in my blogs lately...Or maybe it appeared that I have left the country or at least the room. Nope I am still here but have been being lazy. Lazy in blogging at any rate. Perhaps the fact that my wife has retired and is now at home with me had something to with my state of mind. That is not to say I don't enjoy having her around during the day because I do. But sitting at the computer and typing away at some subject that catches my fancy is not what has been happening. For some reason, my life has a different structure now.
We play music, she fiddling, me singing and playing guitar, about 5 nights (days?) a week. Occasionally we manage to make music more often. Surprisingly, (not) I don't spend as much time ranting. Music and ranting are mutually exclusive I believe. Perhaps I will need to change the title of my blog to something else? I guess not...I might need to rant or rave about one thing or another sometime. I would not want a title like, for example, Soothing Thoughts Set to Music to keep me from saying what is On My Mind. Lately though, mostly music has been on my mind.
We have been having coffee with the 'gang' at McDonald's every morning. Because I am able to express my thoughts to the folks there, I don't have the urgency to blog I once had. There I sometimes even get to discuss things more loudly than is necessary. Not me being loud, I am the picture of evenness and moderation, but sometimes what I say brings forth loud comments. That really is fun.
I am going to try to put some sort of opinions and thoughts here, perhaps once a week. I want to keep my hand in at writing a little still.
But I am Still Here!
.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Monday, April 26, 2010
Is it Possible to Rant about Reasonableness???
I have felt that there needed to be a rant (by me, others have already), about what is going on in this country right now. Everytime I started to write about various issues facing us all, I became discouraged. It seemed that all that I would say had been said. I decided that health care is what it is, and will evolve in what ever direction it is blown by political winds. There was no sense in ranting, raving, or probably even thinking about it anymore. (It seems to me that not much will change. The insurance companies will still hold the health of the nation in their hands). Health care was the big issue for months and months, but is a non starter now.
Of course, taxes are a big item. But April 15th has come and gone, and like all Americans I am not much interested after I get my refund. So no rant about taxes and the waste of our money by our government. It is just too late for that.
Then I read a blog by John Phipps which can be found at http://johnwphipps.blogspot.com/ . He was talking about Epistemic Closure, meaning being unreceptive to facts (or opinions) that don’t fit into the pre-approved worldview. { Parentheses Mine.}
Now this I can get some dander up about! I can rant and rave and even think (clearly I hope) about this. This has been a problem I have noticed and been concerned about for some time. There is no discourse between disagreeing factions in this country today. I don't believe that the conservatives are alone to blame for this. Too many times discussions by people who disagree devolve into calling each other stupid...for no other reason than they disagree.
Hurling insults and disregarding any position for no other reason than it disagrees with one's preconceived notions, does not accomplish anything at all. It just makes for causing enmity. We do not need any more of that! We have quite enough thank you.
No matter how badly the other side (of any discussion or isssue) seems ill informed. One should listen to opposing arguments. ("you stupid so-in so is not an argument BTW, it is an opinion, even if it is true). On occasion you can actually change another's mind, and even if that does not happen, you can see what is important to the other person. Even when importance of an issue is nearly the same, different perspectives weigh the parts differently. What is important to you, may only be slightly important to the other side.
I am so tired of people shouting down opposing views, as if that makes their position correct. It only makes them Loud, not right...and Loud is often substituted for real thought. It also shows disrespect. I firmly believe that if you are shouting you probably don't have anything to say. If you did, you would say it not shout it.
My father once said there were two kinds of people...the profound and the profane. I believe that being profoundly profane does not make someone sound more intelligent nor does it make their arguments more sound. Once again all it brings is Loudness to a situation that needs to be dialed down a few notches. In fact, you can't even hear what you are saying when you are shouting.
So, if my viewpoint does not jibe with yours, don't call me stupid. Don't say I am lying because Fox News (for example) disagrees. Sharpen up your arguments with facts, I mean, real facts, not regurgitated Political opinion. If I/you have a valid point there are facts that will back it up. Use them!
I promise to do the same!
Of course, taxes are a big item. But April 15th has come and gone, and like all Americans I am not much interested after I get my refund. So no rant about taxes and the waste of our money by our government. It is just too late for that.
Then I read a blog by John Phipps which can be found at http://johnwphipps.blogspot.com/ . He was talking about Epistemic Closure, meaning being unreceptive to facts (or opinions) that don’t fit into the pre-approved worldview. { Parentheses Mine.}
One of the more striking features of the contemporary conservative movement is the extent to which it has been moving toward epistemic closure. Reality is defined by a multimedia array of interconnected and cross promoting conservative blogs, radio programs, magazines, and of course, Fox News. Whatever conflicts with that reality can be dismissed out of hand because it comes from the liberal media, and is therefore ipso facto not to be trusted. (How do you know they’re liberal? Well, they disagree with the conservative media!) This epistemic closure can be a source of solidarity and energy, but it also renders the conservative media ecosystem fragile.This argument was taken up both by heterodox conservatives and by liberals, who agree with the claim that Frum and Bruce Bartlett and other conservative apostates have been making: that in the era of Fox News, conservatives have effectively created their own reality which cannot be violated by outside facts. [More]
Now this I can get some dander up about! I can rant and rave and even think (clearly I hope) about this. This has been a problem I have noticed and been concerned about for some time. There is no discourse between disagreeing factions in this country today. I don't believe that the conservatives are alone to blame for this. Too many times discussions by people who disagree devolve into calling each other stupid...for no other reason than they disagree.
Hurling insults and disregarding any position for no other reason than it disagrees with one's preconceived notions, does not accomplish anything at all. It just makes for causing enmity. We do not need any more of that! We have quite enough thank you.
No matter how badly the other side (of any discussion or isssue) seems ill informed. One should listen to opposing arguments. ("you stupid so-in so is not an argument BTW, it is an opinion, even if it is true). On occasion you can actually change another's mind, and even if that does not happen, you can see what is important to the other person. Even when importance of an issue is nearly the same, different perspectives weigh the parts differently. What is important to you, may only be slightly important to the other side.
I am so tired of people shouting down opposing views, as if that makes their position correct. It only makes them Loud, not right...and Loud is often substituted for real thought. It also shows disrespect. I firmly believe that if you are shouting you probably don't have anything to say. If you did, you would say it not shout it.
My father once said there were two kinds of people...the profound and the profane. I believe that being profoundly profane does not make someone sound more intelligent nor does it make their arguments more sound. Once again all it brings is Loudness to a situation that needs to be dialed down a few notches. In fact, you can't even hear what you are saying when you are shouting.
So, if my viewpoint does not jibe with yours, don't call me stupid. Don't say I am lying because Fox News (for example) disagrees. Sharpen up your arguments with facts, I mean, real facts, not regurgitated Political opinion. If I/you have a valid point there are facts that will back it up. Use them!
I promise to do the same!
Monday, March 15, 2010
More Music
I liked this! I was informed of this video by my friend Mike, who is in love with a Taylor Guitar!
Monday, March 8, 2010
update!
It has been some time since I last blogged...it's not that I have not had any Rants, Ravings, or even other thoughts on my mind, because I have all of the above. I have been busy. Not that is really an excuse, but it is the only one I can think of right now.
Health Care Reform, or the lack thereof, is on my mind. Especially when I need to visit my doctor. It comes to the forefront of my thinking when the headlines tell of the huge rate increases the Health Insurance Companies are instituting. Increases instituted not because they were not making enough money but in fear that they might now make enough money in the future. While Congress fiddles around we in America are burning our money, out bridges at both ends and just plain Burning! I have no doubt that Congress can fiddle around until this term is up, and so the Insurance Companies will have caused those premium increases for naught. They won't decrease them though, that's not the American Way. If you get away with screwing your customers once keep on, and they will get used to it. That seems to be the American Way.
The Big Banks got Big Bucks and in order to be sure that those taxpayer dollars got spent properly, gave their COO's, CEO's, and any other C*O's, bonuses for doing a good job! I'll admit there was some bad press about that, and the president met with the bankers to resolve the problem...but not much happened did it? But offer the people a helping hand with Health Care is Socialism...but bailing out Banks is good business! Yeah, sure it is.
I know everyone thinks that one day they will be Rich, and that is a good dream to have. In case that should happen we would like to be able to Keep Our Riches. But the truth is most of us are far from being Rich ,and fewer of us will ever be even Well to Do. Most everyone is just hanging on, hanging in. And as more and more of our jobs go overseas to other countries, that will become an increasing situation. It appears that soon having one Part time job will be the norm, and who can feed their family on that. Yeah, you can flip burgers at McDonald's..and then get another job part time at WallyWorld. But no matter how hard you work you ain't ever going to be Rich. Someone else will be from your work most likely...but not you. No longer in America will intelligence and hard work make one wealthy... Not in the 21st Century!
Well, we bailed out GMC and Chrysler as well. Not Socialism I hear...but it is! But only socialism for corporations which I guess is OK. We have lucked out so far. We can still buy Fords and any of the 'foreign cars'. Of course the Big 3 are mostly built in countries not the United States. So all the cars are 'foreign' cars now. So who did we bail out? Americans or non-Americans?
Back to Health Care Reform again, (this is my Blog so I can jump around as much as I want) why don't we the people say that Congress, which has the most socialized medicine available in the world, should have to have the same Health Care that the rest of us Citizens have. In other words, why don't we do away with the socialized health care enjoyed by all of the Four Government Entities. Or give all us Citizens the same benefits that they enjoy. I prefer the latter. I would accept the former. I don't believe the Justices, Congress or the President Need to have completely free health care For Life! Actually I don't believe they need it
while in office. They have a lot more disposable income than most of us, so let them buy their own insurance!
The way this Health Insurance problem is happening, soon only the wealthy will be able to get the 'elective' care. The Care, like transplants, new knees, the latest Cancer treatments, along with the truly 'elective' care like plastic surgery. The rest of us will just be getting 'basic' health care. In other words, if you are Rich you live if you are not Rich you die. I know everyone will die sooner or later, but why should wealth or lack of it determine when one dies. The Rich are not better citizens nor better people, they are only more Wealthy. Might should not make Right, especially in America. That is a strictly European way of looking at life!
OK this has been a Raving Rant! I will get to Other Thoughts next time! Unless I am still Ranting and Raving, and I might! Buffalo Bill
Health Care Reform, or the lack thereof, is on my mind. Especially when I need to visit my doctor. It comes to the forefront of my thinking when the headlines tell of the huge rate increases the Health Insurance Companies are instituting. Increases instituted not because they were not making enough money but in fear that they might now make enough money in the future. While Congress fiddles around we in America are burning our money, out bridges at both ends and just plain Burning! I have no doubt that Congress can fiddle around until this term is up, and so the Insurance Companies will have caused those premium increases for naught. They won't decrease them though, that's not the American Way. If you get away with screwing your customers once keep on, and they will get used to it. That seems to be the American Way.
The Big Banks got Big Bucks and in order to be sure that those taxpayer dollars got spent properly, gave their COO's, CEO's, and any other C*O's, bonuses for doing a good job! I'll admit there was some bad press about that, and the president met with the bankers to resolve the problem...but not much happened did it? But offer the people a helping hand with Health Care is Socialism...but bailing out Banks is good business! Yeah, sure it is.
I know everyone thinks that one day they will be Rich, and that is a good dream to have. In case that should happen we would like to be able to Keep Our Riches. But the truth is most of us are far from being Rich ,and fewer of us will ever be even Well to Do. Most everyone is just hanging on, hanging in. And as more and more of our jobs go overseas to other countries, that will become an increasing situation. It appears that soon having one Part time job will be the norm, and who can feed their family on that. Yeah, you can flip burgers at McDonald's..and then get another job part time at WallyWorld. But no matter how hard you work you ain't ever going to be Rich. Someone else will be from your work most likely...but not you. No longer in America will intelligence and hard work make one wealthy... Not in the 21st Century!
Well, we bailed out GMC and Chrysler as well. Not Socialism I hear...but it is! But only socialism for corporations which I guess is OK. We have lucked out so far. We can still buy Fords and any of the 'foreign cars'. Of course the Big 3 are mostly built in countries not the United States. So all the cars are 'foreign' cars now. So who did we bail out? Americans or non-Americans?
Back to Health Care Reform again, (this is my Blog so I can jump around as much as I want) why don't we the people say that Congress, which has the most socialized medicine available in the world, should have to have the same Health Care that the rest of us Citizens have. In other words, why don't we do away with the socialized health care enjoyed by all of the Four Government Entities. Or give all us Citizens the same benefits that they enjoy. I prefer the latter. I would accept the former. I don't believe the Justices, Congress or the President Need to have completely free health care For Life! Actually I don't believe they need it
while in office. They have a lot more disposable income than most of us, so let them buy their own insurance!
The way this Health Insurance problem is happening, soon only the wealthy will be able to get the 'elective' care. The Care, like transplants, new knees, the latest Cancer treatments, along with the truly 'elective' care like plastic surgery. The rest of us will just be getting 'basic' health care. In other words, if you are Rich you live if you are not Rich you die. I know everyone will die sooner or later, but why should wealth or lack of it determine when one dies. The Rich are not better citizens nor better people, they are only more Wealthy. Might should not make Right, especially in America. That is a strictly European way of looking at life!
OK this has been a Raving Rant! I will get to Other Thoughts next time! Unless I am still Ranting and Raving, and I might! Buffalo Bill
Friday, February 19, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
Partisan Politics
John W Phipps in his blog, http://johnwphipps.blogspot.com/ , was talking about the Federal Deficit and peripherally about partisan politics. One comment was to the effect that partisan politics was not necessarily bad. That got me to thinking, was partisan politics bad?
Partisan politics is the way the government is run, that seems very evident. It has been run that way as long as I can remember. It seems that the partisanship is running deeper now, and more vehemently. I have observed for some time, that what the Dems (or the GOP) introduce this year as a good idea will become the most horrible idea of all time, when re-introduced by the opposing party. The same bill with the same results is a bad bill when introduced by the 'other guys' party.
So is this bad? Or is it good that our government is run that way. Or is it 'not run' that way? It seems that getting anything done is more difficult that way. I am not sure that getting anything done is a good thing. That is dependent on whether or not what is getting done affects me positively or negatively. Notice I said 'affects me' positively or negatively. That is a key point. Whether or not I am in favor of a particular piece of legislation makes a huge difference. If I favor the legislation and the opposing party is not allowing it to pass, then partisan politics is definitely bad. If my favored legislation is going to be passed because of partisan politics then partisan-ism is good. In that case, getting something done is good as well.
But that all begs the question. I believe that basically partisan politics is not a good thing. It is bad. No one is looking at the legislation on the merits of the legislation or how that Bill affects the citizens of the US of A. We have elected individuals who do not even have the courtesy to consider the pros and cons of a piece of legislation. It is easier to be a member of Congress if nothing has to be considered except which party introduced it. I don't believe Congress was elected to do the easy way out. I believe they were elected to consider the pros and cons and vote accordingly. (Actually, they are supposed the vote the conscious of their constituents, but usually getting a consensus is impossible.) Partisan Politics keeps that from happening. So there is much legislation that is ill-considered and just plain detrimental to us Citizens.
My answer to the original question is Yes, Partisan Politics is bad, even when my ox is not the one being gored. If 'business as usual', the 'status quo' is one's goal, the partisan politics is not a bad thing. If one believes as I do, that we are paying those people to think and to not just blindly follow their party leadership then partisan politics is bad. Bad. Bad!
Partisan politics is the way the government is run, that seems very evident. It has been run that way as long as I can remember. It seems that the partisanship is running deeper now, and more vehemently. I have observed for some time, that what the Dems (or the GOP) introduce this year as a good idea will become the most horrible idea of all time, when re-introduced by the opposing party. The same bill with the same results is a bad bill when introduced by the 'other guys' party.
So is this bad? Or is it good that our government is run that way. Or is it 'not run' that way? It seems that getting anything done is more difficult that way. I am not sure that getting anything done is a good thing. That is dependent on whether or not what is getting done affects me positively or negatively. Notice I said 'affects me' positively or negatively. That is a key point. Whether or not I am in favor of a particular piece of legislation makes a huge difference. If I favor the legislation and the opposing party is not allowing it to pass, then partisan politics is definitely bad. If my favored legislation is going to be passed because of partisan politics then partisan-ism is good. In that case, getting something done is good as well.
But that all begs the question. I believe that basically partisan politics is not a good thing. It is bad. No one is looking at the legislation on the merits of the legislation or how that Bill affects the citizens of the US of A. We have elected individuals who do not even have the courtesy to consider the pros and cons of a piece of legislation. It is easier to be a member of Congress if nothing has to be considered except which party introduced it. I don't believe Congress was elected to do the easy way out. I believe they were elected to consider the pros and cons and vote accordingly. (Actually, they are supposed the vote the conscious of their constituents, but usually getting a consensus is impossible.) Partisan Politics keeps that from happening. So there is much legislation that is ill-considered and just plain detrimental to us Citizens.
My answer to the original question is Yes, Partisan Politics is bad, even when my ox is not the one being gored. If 'business as usual', the 'status quo' is one's goal, the partisan politics is not a bad thing. If one believes as I do, that we are paying those people to think and to not just blindly follow their party leadership then partisan politics is bad. Bad. Bad!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
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