The insidious cell phone

We live in a different age in which for many a person, communicating in-person has taken a back seat to memes, social media, text messaging, and things of that ilk, as if whatever has gotten our exclusive attention on our cell phone, trumps all.  There is nothing worse than seeing people who are at a restaurant, in which, it is assumed that they like one another and who want to be together, but who aren’t actually having a conversation with the party that they are with, for rather they are each busily involved endlessly scrolling on their phones.  To believe, somehow, that whatever is going on with our cell phone is somehow always more important than in-person human interaction is to get what life is about, fundamentally wrong.

 The thing about cell phones is that the most appropriate way to deal with such is to see our phone as a versatile tool that can provide us with an online encyclopedia, along with contact with our friends or work, take pictures, keep up-to-date on events that interest us, provide us with entertainment, while also serving as an emergency tool should we find ourselves in a situation in which we feel quite uncomfortable or are lost.  Indeed, cell phones can provide us with a lot of aid and pretty much represent something that has considerable value, but we do so find that certain people treat their cell phones as if it is, the be-all and end-all of their existence, and therein lies the rub.

 It has to be acknowledged, that there are those situations in which too much of a good thing is no longer good for us, such as way too much dessert at one time, for once we get well beyond moderation and suffer from a lack of self-control, we can find ourselves seemingly addicted to stuff that really isn’t worth all our time and energy, and thereby to do so is to our detriment.  So then, those who become habitually attached to their phone, need to recognize that there are other things that life consists of, besides what is on their screen, and if they lack the self-discipline to do anything constructive about it, they need to recognize that if they are unable to regain control, that they will hurt themselves by putting front and center their online phone interactions, above family, friends, work, and other in-person social interactions.

 While we can applaud the genius behind cell phones and the applications that go with such, it has to be acknowledged that this thus serves to entice far too many people to see whatever that is happening on their phone to be the most important thing, even when it really isn’t.  So then, there is a need to take the time to evaluate as to whether our lives are actually better for all the time that we spend on the phone, or whether by the indiscriminate usage of such, we have done so to our lasting harm.  That is to say, at the end of the day, we need to understand better that having our eyes solely on our cell phone basically signifies that we have traded real life for an artificial construct, and in that, we have lost what we could have more of, which is all the advantages represented by healthy human interaction.

The unfair property tax

The one important thing about any taxation is that it should be fair.  That is to say, those who can opt out or get special consideration, or simply are held to another standard, present the proximate problem of taxation as being unequal and thereby unfair.  As it stands, property taxes are needed to properly fund schools, law enforcement, first responders, and other governmental agencies.  So then, to the degree that certain entities, whether universities, churches, nonprofits of all types, or special dispensations provided to for-profit corporations who thereby don’t pay property taxes, signify that more of the burden of having to pay those property taxes, will thus rest on the shoulders of homeowners.

 Indeed, when it comes to property taxes, not only should all property taxes, be absolutely transparent, but also it is necessary to have visible all those who own property that don’t pay taxes, thereby providing the general public with knowledge of which of these entities are not pulling their own weight, because whenever certain peoples, organizations, and corporations are accorded special consideration whereof they don’t pay their fair share or any share at all when it comes to property taxes, there needs to be a clear understanding as to why this is so. For instance, for-profit corporations should always have to pay their fair share and should not be permitted to exert pressure upon governmental representatives that because they will, in theory, provide local jobs, they should be exempted from such.  So too, when it comes to universities as well as all non-profits, each of these should be examined very closely, and audited in a way and manner, to determine as to why these are exempt from the payment of property taxes, as opposed to the belief that just because they are non-profit that they shouldn’t need to pay property taxes, because not every non-profit or university is in and of itself, doing enough for the community, at large, that they should be able to avoid paying their fair share, or some portion of such in property taxes.

 The thing about property taxes, unlike other taxes that are based upon capital gains or income, is that whether or not the property that is owned, still has a mortgage, property taxes are assessed to such, each and every year, signifying that when it comes to property taxes for regular folks, even when they no longer have a job, or no longer have a mortgage, those property taxes still are mandated to be paid.  So too, for those who own property but are still paying their monthly mortgage, having to pay property tax, is just one more burden upon them, that most people, would prefer to see such as being fair and equal for all.

 In sum, all those that are exempted from paying property taxes or get such reduced or abated for some period of time, should not only be public knowledge, but it also should be periodically reviewed or examined in its totality because the fewer entities that pay their fair share into the common welfare of a given community, the more the burden rests on those that are not exempted from such, which is unfair and unwise.

Problems are meant to be resolved

In this life, we will be confronted with challenges, and how we react to those challenges defines who and what we really are.  This thus signifies that those who try to escape their challenges, problems, and issues with drugs, drink, or mindless entertainment, rather than confronting them, will not only not make progress, where they need to, but are clearly not accomplishing what they were set upon earth to overcome and to accomplish.

 While some problems that we are confronted with, seem insurmountable, it has to be noted that as Rome was not built in one day, we thereby cannot resolve everything that confronts us in a short period of time, either.  For some of us, overcoming what we need to overcome, will require us to develop a certain skill set that will permit us to utilize this to make the progress that we need to make.  For others, it may necessitate the help and aid of friends, and so on.  Each of what we have to face is personal to our own cause, and therefore it is essentially up to us as individuals, to take on the responsibility to do what we need to do in order to conquer what has to be conquered.

 Regrettably, there are a fair amount of people who in one form or another, simply give up, whether they desire to admit to such or not.  Thus then, those who give up, even to the point of death, do so in the wrongful belief that by dying or conducting themselves in a way that they have surrendered to that which they believe that they cannot overcome, become the very same, that have placed themselves in the somewhat unenviable position that having failed at their task, they will have the burden of tackling that task, again, until such a time that they eventually pass their test.

 Indeed, there are far too many people who seem to believe that drinking alcohol or taking illicit drugs will solve their problems, or if not, to successfully mask such, but just as in the movie, Groundhog Day those that will not pass the level that they are at, are doomed to face it, again and again, until they do pass.  So too, those who believe death will bring them a full release from their troubles, aches, and problems that this world has presented to them, have it partially right, and partially wrong.  What death releases us from is the constrictions and restrictions of this world and our relationship to it, but what it does not release us from, is our character flaws that we have not amended or corrected.

 To believe that death brings a disappearance of all that ails us, is wrong-headed, for death is merely the transitioning from the raiment that covers our spirit, to pure spirit, but when that spirit is not in harmony with God, it must correct itself, or it will not be able to ascend to those heights, that only those that are truly enlightened have reached. This means that one way or another, one dimension or another, we must assert ourselves to be what we were created to be, or else cycle through that which will not present us with everlasting peace until we resolve that this, above all, we must have

The correct purpose of the law

We are taught to obey the law, but this simplistic command is not nearly comprehensive or vetted enough, for us to thereby blindly follow, for the law as written and enforced by the societies that make up humankind often has its own purposes which can be in serious conflict with what the law should and ought to be.  For instance, all of us understand, that there have been laws, such as the law that permitted human beings to own other human beings, and to treat them as property, which though law, was not good or fair law.  So too, when the law as implemented is unfairly applied so that some must suffer the ill effects of that law; whereas, others are positioned to be above the law, this is not good or fair law, either.  This thus signifies that for any law to be truly correct, it must adhere to core principles that are consistent, fair, ethical, and that together serve the highest good purpose, possible.

 Indeed, the law as written and implemented must be enlightened enough to recognize that human beings not only have a strong tendency to be flawed in one way or another but to also be corrupt, especially in their desire to see that the law is enforced against certain people or principalities in a way and manner that punishes those that they do not like or that they don’t respect their beliefs -- rather than recognizing that the law must be in harmony with natural law, which is beyond and above the vicissitudes of humankind.

 To believe that the law should reflect or imitate what is perceived to be the natural order of human tendencies, as opposed to the law reflecting or imitating what human beings are supposed to be about, is a mistake because to believe that, in essence, the best law is a law that mirrors what has occurred, thereby signifying that an eye for an eye, is what should be enforced upon the disobedient members of society, without exception, or nuance, is to misunderstand what law should be about fundamentally.  Rather, the correct purpose of the law is to hold humankind to a higher standard than like-for-like or to impress punishment without a pathway for reformation -- for the correct purpose of the law is to overcome humankind’s frailties and mistakes, by molding human nature into what it is supposed to be, which is to be in harmony with the ethical standards which represents humankind interacting with one another at its best.

 Each of us is a special creation of God, and should not be seen as being just some sort of advanced animal, and nothing more.  So then, the purpose of our free will that we have been bestowed with is to use this gift in its proper way, which is to rise above human frailties and bad tendencies to become what we were meant to be, which is moral agents of good, thereby signifying that the correct purpose of the law is to correct our mistaken selves, to reflect that as equal creations, we are all equally entitled to the same unalienable rights, that we are meant to honor by our actions, above all.

Learn to see the human being in all

Regrettably, wars and ongoing battles of all sorts, promote far too often essentially the very same thing, which is that there are certain humans that we do not recognize as being human. Therefore, when we dehumanize them, it makes them far easier to deal with in the most violent, torturous, and aggressive manner.  That is to say, whenever the other is treated as something that is less than what we believe that we are, and therefore not deserving of their unalienable rights, because they don’t apparently have any unalienable rights, then it's easier to do all sorts of nasty things to their person, mainly because they aren’t looked upon as being fully human, or even human, at all.

 Indeed, the danger of today’s high technology is the fact that the further distance that we are from what we are trying to kill, as in when we are situated in a remote room or are using a drone, or things of this basic sort, to target and thereby to kill a human being, and further to the point are prone to the utilization of words that do not even describe the killing of another human, as such -- but rather has been replaced by targeting the enemy, and then neutralizing them, thus seeks to absolve those that are participants in this killing, as actually not being killers, though they are.

 So too, anytime we dehumanize the enemy in order to take on the mantle that we are the righteous ones and that our mission is one so needed to protect our people and our nation, then what we have to accomplish may become a slippery slope, since those that we are killing aren’t often considered to be fully human.  This thus signifies that as long as humankind continues to dehumanize one another, wars and violence will continue along the same course that it is, presently, because without respect for one another, the pathway for this sort of violence is wide open.

 The tragedy of this day and age is no matter how demonized a person becomes, they are, in essence, still human, and therefore those that encourage such demonization or buy into such, have done this to their own psychological detriment, if nothing more, because the taking of human life, should never be something that is seen as some sort of game, or is something that is welcomed, but should be seen for what it is, an event to avoid unless it must be faced, and when faced, done so for the necessity of that time and place.

 The human race has existed too long for it to continue to play mind games with one another because it doesn’t like another society’s race, creed, or habits, and instead to understand that each of us is fairly entitled to the same unalienable rights, and those then that uphold those rights, for everyone, are expressing what humanity correctly represents; whereas, all those that do not, have failed to recognize that when we take away the humanity of the other, we do it also to our self.

Switzerland’s 1,000 franc note

In America, the highest denomination of money which is still being printed and is common to see in circulation is the $100 –  though $100 simply doesn’t buy nearly what it used to buy because of inflation.  Indeed, there are many fairly common purchases such as done at a nice restaurant, or for fashion accessories, that $100 just isn’t going to come close enough to paying that bill.  Yet, the United States isn’t going to change to printing any bill higher than $100 anytime soon, not only because the United States is continuing to use less and less physical cash in financial transactions, but also because it doesn’t desire to print anything higher than $100.

 What we do so find is that not every nation has the same sorts of beliefs or fears that America demonstrates, in regards to its physical currency.  For instance, Switzerland has the 1,000 franc note worth about $1090, and this 1,000 note is also quite popular in Switzerland.  The two main reasons why Switzerland embraces its 1,000 note is that first of all, Switzerland does not suffer from the same degree of inflation that the United States suffers from, and therefore, a 1,000 note is thereby seen as being a safe store of value.  This signifies that the second reason why the 1,000 note is liked so much is that, unlike something like gold or silver or diamonds or cyber currency, a 1,000 note is not only convenient but also because its value is implicitly recognized this thus serves to make transactions of any sort, straightforward, which provides comfort for those that have those notes, in the sure recognition that in an emergency or an electronic data meltdown, that they have ready access to money which is universally accepted and appreciated.

 While the United States can decry all they want, that only criminals need access to large dollar denomination bills, it has to be said, that there is a significant amount of licit people and organizations, that prefer to conduct their business in a way and manner that the government is not able to track what they have transacted, which is why bartering still has its place, along with cash transactions being the preferred way to conduct certain business dealings. It should be at a given person’s prerogative how transparent that they are or are not with their transactions, thus indicating that those who prefer privacy and discretion over full disclosure should be permitted to do so, without “Big Brother” seeing and knowing everything that people do when it comes to their personal business.

 No doubt, America isn’t going to come out with a $1,000 bill or even a $500 bill because American governance claims that such isn’t needed, though, in truth, these bills, if they existed, would actually be popular, though not as popular as the 1,000 Swiss franc note, mainly because of America’s persistent inflation. Yet, it has to be noted, that people have an abiding desire to store their wealth in one form or another, and storing such through the medium of the dollar or the franc can be sensible, given the right circumstances.

Ignore what people claim to believe and look at what they do

Just about everyone desires to make themselves look better than what they really are, which is why we see some pretty stark inconsistencies between certain people who profess to be one thing, but by their behavior, belie that in their subsequent actions.  To know what we ought to do, and to claim to others that we do those very things, but in actuality, not to do what we ought to do, despite knowing better, designates that individual as being someone who lacks the discipline and ethical courage to do the right thing, despite knowing better.

 We are, in essence, the things that we do, of which, to fairly evaluate anyone shouldn’t be done on the level of what they say, or what they profess to believe, but rather should come down to pretty much what they actually accomplish, for in the end, words are just words, beliefs are just beliefs; whereas, what we do does in actuality, tell the tale of what we really are.

 This thus signifies that we not only should not judge a book by its cover, but we shouldn’t judge a person by strictly what they say, for rather we should be determined to discern as to whether a given person’s actions are consistent with what they profess to believe and thereby adhere to, and when there is an inconsistency in this, we should recognize that one’s actions speak louder than one’s words.

 Indeed, there are plenty of people who have sensible beliefs, and express the right words on how we should conduct ourselves, but when push comes to shove, or for other reasons, unknown, they push aside that sensibility to do stupid things that are unbecoming of someone that really knows better, but somehow can’t seem to do better than what they end up doing.

 In this world, it isn’t good enough to say the right words or to even have the right thoughts, because the way that we express ourselves through our actions, demonstrates whether we have taken to heart, what we ought to do.  So then, those that lack the discipline to do the right thing are the very same that either need to amend their character or if lacking the moral rectitude to do better, lean upon others that will help them to stiffen up their spine.  There is no shame in asking for help, for that is what a society is made for, to help and to aid one another, so that together, we can help make society a better place for our good participation in it.

 As they say, talk is cheap, for talk does not in and of itself get anything done, which is why what we do is so important, of which, the first step is knowing what we ought to do, and the second step is to go about to get it done, because in those accomplishments, we prove to ourselves as well as to others, that we mean what we say, and we say what we mean.

The wounded and the maimed

The thing about war, in any of its myriad forms and titles, is that while there are invariably those who are killed, through battle, disease, or as unintended victims, there are plenty of other people who are wounded, of which, oftentimes there are those that are so severely wounded that they are maimed, in which, by definition, to be maimed is to have part of one’s body that will either no longer work as it should, or simply have a body part that doesn’t exist anymore, such as a missing arm or leg.  Further, it could be stated, that those through battle who no longer are right in their mind, could be seen as also being maimed in the sense that their brain and thereupon their thinking have been seemingly permanently impaired.

 So then, it would make a whole lot more sense when classifying those who have been wounded, to see that the powers that be are more cognizant of how many of those wounded, are, in fact, actually maimed.  The reason that this is so important is that while we can mourn the loss of somebody who has died, it could also be said, that those who have been permanently maimed, are entitled to be mourned, as well, for now existing in a society in which they are handicapped as they are no longer physically or mentally whole.

 Indeed, war is a terrible thing, in which, one of the things that should be better disseminated must be a greater emphasis on addressing those who have been wounded -- for being wounded can be not only quite serious and debilitating but especially in the case of those that are maimed, something that permanently affects the person in a way and manner that they will have to conduct their life without the usage of an appendage or a good mind to make their way in the world when they come back into civil society.

 So too, because of medical advances, we find that the type of catastrophic injuries that would have easily killed a soldier or civilian years ago now provide those who would have lost their life, with the continuation of their life. Still, sometimes that continuation involves having to compensate for a very serious wound that has maimed the person.  This indicates that probably more needs to be done by a conscientious government to see that those who are amongst the living, but have been wounded in action, are accorded the vital material support that they need, so that they can have a fair opportunity to have a good life, because to not do so, shows an uncaring regard to those that have been wounded.

 In short, nowadays, humans can sustain some very serious injuries, of which, that person will still live, but when their body or mind is not whole, then some entity needs to step up to the plate, to make good on seeing that those who are wounded can still have viable and quality lives, which is the duty that this governance has to all who have faithfully served them.

The favored race and getting into trouble with minimal consequences

Those who clamor the most for more law and order are typically those who don’t need to worry about law and order negatively affecting them all that much or even ever.  Further to the point, the reason why they need not overly worry about police officers causing them personal trouble is the very fact that the favored race often sees the policing arm of the state as their friend, willing to come to their aid, making them therefore not to be their enemy.  Indeed, those of the favored race, almost by definition, are provided with the type of courtesy by police officers which labels them as the type of people to protect as well as to show consideration to, as opposed to being seen as targets that need to be dealt with by the criminal justice system in a harsh and unforgiving way.

 To live within an enclave in which interaction with the police, is not something to be afraid of, is a real privilege because the police when interacting with these people are going to give the benefit of the doubt to those that live and congregate there, mainly because the police know that these juveniles and young adults are the products of good families, so that those that are privileged need not worry that the state will impose their will against them, and because of that, they have more room to breathe and to make juvenile mistakes because they will not have to pay the fair price for their misbehavior.  On the other hand, not being the favored race, and living within an enclave that has a bad reputation, places a high degree of stress upon juveniles and other young adults because they know for a certainty that police presence in their community isn’t there to serve and protect them, but rather often serves as something to be feared, for the punishment that they could be susceptible to, in which, the wiggle room to get out of trouble, is minimal, if it even exists.

 In life, there are going to be growing pains for a significant portion of juveniles, in which, mistakes and misdeeds will occur, that could by the letter of the law, get these juveniles into some serious degree of trouble, so that, to be in that privileged position, in which, bad behavior is forgiven is going to be a heck of a lot better place to be, as compared to that place in which forgiveness is not in the equation.  Indeed, those who are the favored race need not overly worry about trouble affecting them, because they are protected and given plenty of space, by the policing arm of the state; whereas, those that are not protected, are quite vulnerable to the very same, and therefore need to tread a heck of a lot more carefully, because their lives can be turned upside down, in a blink of an eye, which will place them upon a pathway which has a very bleak outlook, mainly because the trouble that they get into, has the type of consequences that make them pay a very heavy price.

Build underground!

While virtually all homes and buildings are built aboveground, it has to be noted that oftentimes aboveground structures necessitate the need of the underground for items such as pipes, cables, general utilities, sewage, water supply, structure stability, gas, electricity, and just about anything in which traveling below ground, will result in having to deal with fewer obstacles, problems, or interferences, along with the fact that by being underground this alleviates having to deal with extreme or dangerous weather events, in addition to the superiority of the underground for its being quite robust in the accomplishing of these tasks.

So too, when it comes to transportation, while it is common to travel aboveground, as well as to use the waterways or even the air, there is something to be said about the brilliance in the construction of the underground subway system, which first began in London in the 1860s and is fairly commonplace to be constructed in cities of high density that need to move people from one place to another, thereby helping to alleviate the suffering from undue and undesirable gridlock aboveground. 

 While it might not be easy to build underground, it is typically well worth the effort, especially when taking into consideration that what needs to be constructed, has a purpose that will help serve society well over a very long time.  So too, we can see that ancient civilizations understood the value of underground structures for their protection from outside elements, in addition to the fact that underground living often does not necessitate the need for much heat or cooling, providing those with the foresight to understand that underground living is a safe and valued refuge to lean upon.

 Indeed, while it is fairly common to dig underground to extract minerals of all sorts, and to move soil around for the construction of buildings and the like, there isn’t all that much building underground by the general public, except essentially for the support of utilities and occasionally for transportation needs.  However, it is also true that defense ministries understand well the value of building underground for the protection of valued defense infrastructure, as well as for the storage or the use of offensive munitions that are thereby available for retaliation, to a military attack.

 Still, the overall usage of what the underground could be, in the sense of constructing a true underground city is not something that is done presently, but should at least be considered more forthrightly, for that which is built aboveground is always subject to the ravages of weather events over time; whereas, that which is built underground is not only a lot more energy efficient, but also provides a more stable and sustainable living space with far less maintenance and upkeep to contend with.

 As it stands right now, pretty much only the military has gone forth and constructed underground living quarters, specifically to support the military in their defense of this nation, but this shouldn’t just be happening in the domain of the military, for the will and the drive to build skyscrapers and the like, should be diligently applied to build the very same in its own way, underground.

"Heaven is our heritage, Earth but a player's stage”

Heaven is our heritage, as expressed above by the poet Thomas Nashe, of which, we find that the more people that actually believed in the truth of this sentiment, the better perspective we would have on what life represents in this world.  It is rather sad, that so many people and the societies that are made of those people are absolutely serious that everything that occurs in this world, is the most important thing going, but don’t behave accordingly.  Indeed, it would be one thing, if those who espoused that belief, thereby lived their respective lives with purpose and principle, but alas, many a person who knows better, isn’t able to follow through with interacting consistently with people by being kind, considerate, and caring.

 So too, the sadness that so many people feel when they lose a loved one or see an injustice played out again and again would be better mitigated if we were to understand that this world, represents a proving ground, that tests our character in the “stress tests” of life, which enables us to prove our mettle or to be found out to be untrue with what we should be about.  However, the crux of the matter is, that as players on a stage, each of us has a role to play, and as long as we desire to participate in that play, we will have the fair opportunity to take on many a role, thereby giving us the fair chance to prove that we will have not only learned our lessons well but also, more importantly, that we have applied them for a useful and good purpose.

 Indeed, all the unfairness that we perceive, of how some people seem to have it so easy; whereas, others, have it so difficult, should provide us with the first clue, that the object of the exercise is to do our level best with the tools that we have at our disposal.  So too, the temptations that we encounter are there for us to contend with, so that we are given ample opportunity to prove that our strength of character is greater than what is tempting us, which thereupon affects the role that we are playing.

 Additionally, the interplay of good and bad is necessary, or else this world without any evil or free choice would be a construct of boredom and tedium, serving no good purpose, of which, when there comes that time when there truly is peace of earth, the earth, itself, will no longer exist, for it has truly run its course.  So then, the times on earth that we are an integral part of, are our opportunity to have our say upon the player’s stage, and those that are up to the task, are the same that graduate into being what they were always meant to be, which should be the abiding desire of all those that are sensible and perceptive, for that which is our heritage, is never going to be earth, for the earth is no more than a player’s stage, which in due time, the final act will play out and the curtain will close.

Alcohol at stadiums and arenas

There are plenty of people and do-gooders that don’t really want alcohol or liquor to be served at sporting events, for some pretty good reasons, such as reducing bad crowd behavior or perhaps also as being a bad influence for those that are underaged.  Yet, the thing about permitting alcohol and liquor is that there is a specific meaningful segment of fans that associate having an adult drink with being part and parcel of experiencing the sporting event and their reasoning really comes down to the fact, that they are of legal age, and should be permitted to enjoy their entertainment without some sort of nanny state dictating to them, that they cannot.  The bottom line therefore is that most stadiums and arenas sell alcohol and some also sell liquor, obviously done in the pursuit of extra income and profit for the stadium operators.

 In regards to young fans and those that don’t particularly care for alcohol, most of these people, don’t mind that alcohol is sold at sporting events for various reasons.  One of the reasons is as straightforward as when it comes to seeing beer hawkers that go up and down the stadium stairs, selling bottles of beer that they pour into plastic cups for the patrons of such. Indeed, many a person admires the strength, grit, and overall hustle that these beer hawkers display, because carrying lots of beer, especially when it is hot and humid is no easy task to perform, so the sweat generated is honest sweat that a hard-working man emits while performing their duty, and therefore patrons and others see them as being deserving of the compensation, appreciation, and tips that they get.

 So too, there is something to be said about a fan that comes into the stadium, apparently sober, but as the sporting event goes on, proceeds to get intoxicated, of which their behavior typically does materially change, which to the uninitiated is a lesson to be observed.  First, there is the fact that for some drinkers their face begins to get flushed, and their eyes begin to look less focused, in addition to their general demeanor changing, which for some of those that have been drinking, turns to disgust, frustration, despair, self-deprecating humor, or resignation.  To a certain degree, fans who have been drinking, especially when the game is no longer relevant, become the entertainment for those who are young, uninterested in the sporting event, or just curious, for a significant amount of people who are impaired by alcohol, have an entertainment value to those that haven’t been drinking.  So too, there is another lesson to be learned, that alcohol definitely seems to change people’s behavior, not necessarily always to make them uncivil, but seemingly to make them seem different than what they had previously appeared to be, all from the drinking of alcohol, which is an object lesson, that the imbibing of alcohol, does indeed modify people’s behavior, providing those that do not indulge or have yet to indulge, the opportunity to learn firsthand whether they desire themselves ever to be a spectacle, or would prefer instead to watch the spectacle unfold.

Extraordinary rendition and the selling of America’s soul

In the United States of America, this nation is supposed to obey the highest law of the land, which is its Constitution, and to the degree that it does not, it has betrayed its own principles.  We find that extraordinary rendition is essentially the practice in which America forcefully snatches a person, typically accused of heinous crimes from wherever they are currently, by any means necessary, to be rendered to a pliant nation, that will thereby permit the United States or those that are working in conjunction with United States’ interest, the opportunity to abuse and to torture the individual so captured.  In other words, extraordinary rendition as practiced by America means that certain individuals as determined solely by the United States to be terrorists or to have engaged or aided terrorist organizations or other things of this general ilk are taken from wherever they are, no matter the cost to other individuals or the damages done, to innocent or non-involved parties or not, and no matter the sovereignty or freedom that the nation-state that is being invaded represents, they must therefore kowtow to the sole superpower of the world, so that the United States can do whatever it so desires to this person that they have captured, without limitations or law being fairly applied.

 There are several serious issues regarding extraordinary rendition, of which, the first one, is the questionable legality of such.  In fact, no matter what legislation or laws have been passed, extraordinary rendition, cannot be and is not consistent with the Constitution of the United States, which thereby signifies that all those that support, aid, and abet these measures, should be seen not as patriots to this country, but rather as criminals, committing acts which are anathema to the Constitution, under the guise that all is well and fine when it certainly is not.  Further to the point, the discussion as to who, what, and why a given person must be kidnapped and taken from one place to be tortured, is never transparent, it is never brought before a truly independent court and is typically hidden, under the excuse that to provide full disclosure would negatively impact national security.  Finally, those suffering from extraordinary rendition may not even be guilty of anything in the real sense, and additionally, they may not even be the right person to have suffered from this extraordinary rendition, because of a mistaken identity or similar, which is a terrible crime against humanity.

 The truth of the matter is that America consistently insists that it is above the law, which is why it seeks only its own approval to kidnap, torture, and to kill whomever it so desires, without limitations or penalties, which thereupon is indicative that America does not respect the law, but only respects its ability to impose itself upon any other country or territory that stands in its way of rendering its “frontier justice” at any given moment for any spurious reason.  Those nations that insist that they can do whatever they do to anybody at any time while failing to recognize the sovereignty of other nations or an individual are the very same as to why there is no true peace in this world because when the so-called leader of the free world, behaves in a manner in which moral and ethical law is disrespected, that nation has truly sold its soul.

Too many Americans believe that their nation is always the “good guy”

There isn’t any doubt about the dumbing down of Americans, in which, quite frankly, some of the stupidest and credulous people that the world has ever known, are Americans.  In fact, many Americans don’t question anything whatsoever that the government feeds them, seemingly always believing everything they have heard from their governmental representatives as thus representing the gospel truth.  Indeed, many Americans believe wholeheartedly that by definition, whatever it is that American governance does, it does so because America is always representing the “good guys” and those that oppose America are always, therefore, the “bad guys.” 

 This signifies that in every war and incursion that America thus gets itself involved in, it doesn’t much matter what the opposing side has to say because America is right, and always will be right, which is why we need to prove to the enemy, that by killing them, they will know that might makes right, which is why they were wrong to pick a fight with America, in addition to its being their fault that it had to come to warfare because they would not be obedient and compliant to American demands. 

 So too, when it comes to domestic issues, such as our historical slavery, America made sure to pass the Fugitive Slave Act, which stipulated that slaves escaping into free States or federal territories, were wrong in doing so, and therefore those free States and federal territories were mandated by law to return fugitive slaves, signifying that those adhering to such, were considered to be compliant with the law of the land, therefore making them good, and those that were in defiance of such, because they were non-compliant were designated as bad.  Additionally, the forceful removal of American Indians, through the Trail of Tears, was necessary and therefore good, because progress needed to be made which is good for society, and those that oppose progress by not assimilating into the American way and by making it more difficult to conduct business, are therefore fundamentally bad.

 In everything that America touches or espouses upon, America portrays itself as being forever good, and therefore any other entity that does not agree with such, is designated as being disgustingly bad, and will remain bad, until either they surrender or essentially integrate themselves into American norms and desires.  Indeed, the hubris of the American belief that they are perpetually good, and everyone that does not accept this belief as being the absolute truth is forever bad, represents the ethical and moral decay of this nation and therefore the abandonment of what this nation is supposed to stand for, because whenever a given nation will not investigate its own character, and will not make amends to what it is deficient in, then that nation is a nation that has deliberately blinded itself to the truth, and deserves the righteous blowback that it will certainly face as the justice that those that will not listen, must be answered to, sooner or later, for though America is mad as the maddest of hatters, that which judges us, is not.

The hidden agenda behind the endless war on drugs

 In June 1971, President Nixon declared a war on drugs, of which, we find that over fifty years later, this war still continues.  It would be one thing if the war on drugs could be seen as some success on some level. Still, rather it has to be seen for what it is, an absolute failure in its ostensible mission to interdict and to eradicate dangerous and illicit drugs from coming into this country.  However, as in many a thing, there is a hidden agenda behind the war on drugs, and on that level, perhaps it could be said, that it has succeeded in its mission.

 The hidden agenda behind the war on drugs is the fact that the American GDP pretty much dwarfs completely every single country that is part of Central America, or South America, with the sole exception of Brazil. This thus signifies that when the United States comes knocking on a country’s door requesting their aid and cooperation in eradicating the trafficking of drugs into America, that these countries that they are speaking to, don’t have a lot of good options, because being on the bad side of America, is not only bad for business, but is also bad for those that are the leaders of those nations, because the United States of America is quite capable of replacing, through by whatever means suits its purposes, those that would lead a small country with somebody else that listens and obeys American desires, without hesitation. 

 So then, one way for America to make sure that America gets cooperation from these much smaller countries in South and Central America is to have placed within those nations, a very impressive display of military muscle, that is ostensibly there to interdict drugs, of which, because of that might and with the sophisticated tools of the trade, American advisors, personnel, and weapons, can thereby easily be deployed discreetly or not, in the actual interests of United States global corporations or other entities, to effect policies which will be beneficial to America and those corporations.  So too, this muscle can also be utilized to help put down domestic civil unrest in those countries that are suffering from such, thereby signifying that the drug war, is basically just a front to permit American manipulation of these countries for the expressed benefit of America, while also benefiting the right connected domestic entities within that country, as well.

 As in any good mission, there is the overt mission, disseminated again and again to the credulous media, and then there is the real mission, which is for America to keep it straightforward and simple, which is that they want these small countries to be compliant to American interests, be it corporate or strategic, in which, those that understand well what they are supposed to do, benefit greatly, often though at the expense of their own people and their economy, but as long as that America muscle exists and persists, those that would rise up and rebel will be dispatched, disappeared and silenced, with the cover of the endless war on drugs, getting the blame.

Corporations believe too often that “only the little people pay taxes”

Billionaire Leona Helmsley is alleged to have said, “We don’t pay taxes; only the little people pay taxes.”   Indeed, this appears to be the mindset grasped by so many mega-corporations in America, of which, when we look at the tax rates as estimated by americanprogress.org, we find that within the Fortune 100 of 2021, there were at least 19 corporations that paid a tax rate well below the federal corporate tax rate of 21%, in which, for instance, Amazon’s effective federal income tax rate was 6.1%, ExxonMobil’s effective federal income tax rate was 2.8%, Bank of America’s effective federal income tax rate was 3.5%, and Ford’s effective federal income tax rate was 1%, to list just a few.  This indicates clearly that a significant proportion of America’s biggest and most profitable corporations do not come close to paying the 21% federal corporate tax rate, of which, the less in taxes that these super profitable corporations pay, the more that the citizens of the United States, have to pick up the shortfall in the payment of.

 What many people fail to recognize is that our biggest corporations have annual sales in the billions upon billions of dollars, and corresponding profits, year in and year out, also in the billions upon billions of dollars, and these entities that have an abundance of money are the very same that can easily afford to hire the best tax attorneys, the best CPAs, the best lobbyists, of which when combined serve to do everything possible to reduce their tax footprint, at the direct expense of the American people.

 Far too many corporations, mouth the words, that they pay all the taxes that they legally owe, which may or may not be true. What is true, though, is that many of these same corporations are not good servants to the government that permits them to exist and to persist, in the first place, because these same corporations are not paying even close to the taxation rate that they truly owe to this nation, and because these superrich corporations don’t pay their fair share, the burden of picking up the slack on taxes not collected, falls upon the aching shoulders of the America public, instead.

 When it comes to taxation, it really isn’t all that complicated, as to what this governance should or should not do, because as much as we might decry or even admire the individual billionaires that this country has -- corporations, routinely make profits in the billions upon billions of dollars each year, signifying that for those in the taxation business, it is corporations, above all, that should be focused upon, because they are the ones with the wealth of money that needs to be more effectively taxed.  To believe, somehow, that corporations should be permitted to avail themselves of all sorts of pathways to circumvent paying their fair taxes, is fundamentally wrong, for these corporations are not only well positioned to pay their fair share but need to pay their fair share, especially for the privilege that has permitted them, as artificial creations of the state, to have vibrancy, in the first place.  This signifies that until such a time as the “big boys” pay their fair share in taxes, the “little people,” shouldn’t have to pay a dime.

How good is our government?

There are a lot of ways to measure the goodness of a given government, of which, one of the fairest ways is to see how that government treats those that are most disadvantaged and vulnerable.  Of course, another way to measure a government is by virtue of what that government does or does not do on behalf of a given individual and society, in whole.  So too, governments should be measured by how prudent they are, in the distribution and the usage of monies collected through taxes of all types.  The bottom line is that while most governments profess that they are agents of good, the reckoning about how good a government is or is not, should be best adjudged by the people who are the subjects of that government.

 Indeed, when we look upon our governance, it has to be determined as to whether or not what is occurring to the people is to their direct or indirect benefit in the sense of infrastructure, education, healthcare, safety, employment, shelter, and so on.  That is to say, there are fundamental things that people need in order to have the semblance of a good life, and to the degree that our governance helps to provide access to those necessary things, the better that government actually is. Additionally, we need to know as to whether or not our government plays favorites, which presupposes that by doing so, there are obviously those other people and entities that are unfavored.

 While governments are prone to stating that they as a government are only as good as the people that they govern, it is fairer to state, that what the people possess and the quality of their respective lives have an awful lot to do with the governance that they have to contend with, of which, the best governance isn’t necessarily that which governs least, but rather the best government is that which does its best to provide a level playing field, to be fair to all, and to lend a helping hand to those that need it most.

 When we take an honest look at our government, we want to believe that the laws as initiated and implemented are fair, necessary, applied correctly, and wise – for if the laws of the state are corrupted then the end result will be a corruption in which the connected few will have all the advantages and the many will not.  So too, a good government isn’t necessarily a representative government but rather is a government in which the people collectively have a true voice, as opposed to that governance selling the illusion that it answers to the people, when, in fact, it answers to a small cabal that have an undue influence upon it. 

 In sum, a good government is one that does its best to provide the people with the tools of the trade that will give those same people a fair opportunity to live a wholesome and valued life.  On the other hand, a bad government is that which seeks its own good for those that are its principal power brokers, at the expressed detriment of those that it governs, by cheating the people of opportunity, fairness, equality, and a pathway to a good life, by manipulating and controlling the population to its own preferred ends.

Tests, trials, and the overcoming by the Christ

People understand Christianity in different ways, of which, one of those ways is to recognize the great character of our Messiah, for this in the scheme of things, proves the mettle of the Man.  That is to say, as much as we want to believe that healing, proselytizing, and profound words of wisdom, are the marks of an astute and gifted man, that isn’t necessarily going to be enough to demonstrate that Jesus was the Messiah, for each of our lives are filled with important trials as well as temptations, in which, those that pass these specific tests are indeed great souls, deserving of our appreciation and admiration.

 In regards to Christ, He endured many trials, including the unjust trial that led to His crucifixion.  Yet, Christ would not bend to the laws of the land, or the injustice meted out to Him because this world is not the creator of souls and because it is not, it is not our master. Indeed, this world represents the opportunity for all that engage upon it, to prove themselves through the boiling cauldron of troubles and tests, of which, no greater test is there than the one that impinges upon the content of our character and has us risk what appears to be everything, represented by glorious life and of ignoble death.  Indeed, Christ faced that trial and did not bend, compromise, or diminish who and what He represented, because to do so, would give in to what was mistaken and wrong, which would be an abomination to His mission for all of us.

 So too, Christ was tempted with false flags and bad agents, subtly administered against Him by bad actors that desired to distract Christ from His mission, of which, these were real temptations, that would take down a lesser man, but did not take down Christ, because those of principle, who not only know the difference between right and wrong, but also have made it their solemn duty to always do right, will not relent from that which is superior to give in to that which is inferior, no matter how tempting such might be, on some level.

 In truth, Christ’s willingness to face trials and temptation without wavering, and without making a mistake, is the epitome of that which has surmounted those trials and temptations, demonstrating to all that have eyes to see, and ears to hear, that we are obligated to do our level best, when facing our own challenges in this life -- for those that subsequently fail their trials and temptations are the very same, that have done so to their own diminishment and shame.  Yet, Christ proves to us, that we need not hang our heads in shame because we have erred, but rather that we should be about our proper business, in the understanding, that we cannot and will not graduate to the level that we need to be on until we prove that we have the strength of character demonstrated by overcoming and thereby conquering our individual obstacles, so as to become a strong pillar in the temple of our Holy God.

Let there be Light

There are plenty of people who live lives of despair, desperation, hopelessness, and fear.  For these people, there appears to be no way out, but there is always a way out if we make it our point to search for the right way and thereupon to follow it, without ever meandering away from that pathway.  To live a life in the darkness of despair is not something we are ever compelled to do, for our free will provides us with the opportunity to replace that which is without light, with light, which should be our abiding desire to accomplish.

 So too, plenty of people somehow seem to wallow in their pain and misery, and thereupon express such to friends, acquaintances, and family, without having a real interest in seeing that this pain and misery should ever dissipate.  Those who will not turn to the light are the very same who prefer to live in the shadows, for they fear that leaving what they are familiar with, might perhaps be worse, or they are simply fearful of the unknown and thereupon take comfort in what they do know, even though it isn’t what they claim to desire or want.

 Those who continue doing the wrong things or doing nothing constructive about what has sadly occurred to them, which places them in a position of unhappiness and despair, are the very same, that will not ever generate the escape velocity to get to where they ought to be, because they don’t ever avail themselves of what they could lean upon to get to where they should be.  Those who prefer darkness are the same that seem to prefer isolation, for those who cannot see are the same who do not know that within the darkness that surrounds them, is always a light and the opportunity that comes with such that if turned on, will help free them from their misery.

 While it is good to share our pains and troubles with one another, it is better if, with that sharing, we decide that we will do something of meaningful substance with our lives, for those who will not put forth the effort to improve their condition, for whatever reason, are not doing their good part to become that which they could be, for without light, we stumble here and there, and thereby progress is made much more difficult to come by.

 Look, it has to be said, that berating oneself over one’s failures, perhaps has its place, but it’s not going to do much to improve a given situation without appropriate positive actions.  So then, rather, than beating ourselves with a figurative stick, or having someone else do that to us, we need to wake up and activate the light that will permit us to actually see and to change our perspective for when we do see the light, we become better able to not only take in our surroundings but also to understand what we need to do, because Light eliminates the darkness, and from there opportunity abounds.

We can’t all be rich

There are certain objectives that it is important for societies to try to achieve, of which, one of those objectives should be to provide for one another, the necessities of life, and further to the point, set the foundation for as many people as possible, to better achieve those necessities.  That which is necessary for life consists of liberty, freedom, employment, shelter, food, opportunity, education, healthcare, justice, and fairness.  This thus signifies that the governance of any society needs to prioritize the achievement of those very necessary things because without certain necessities of life, such as food and shelter, life, itself, becomes problematic and troubling.

 To live in a capitalist society is to live in a society where without proper government controls to ensure that there is a level playing field of fair and open competition, as well as appropriate taxation being imposed, lends itself to being a society that can easily tilt in which the very few have it all, at the overall expense of the many, thereby signifying that those very few will have an abundance of the wealth of everything that could ever be imagined and then some; yet, within, that very same society there would be plenty of people, that is, an underclass, that would be struggling to just have some fair portion of such.

 This would surely indicate that any sane society needs to get the proper perspective of what it is trying to accomplish for the greater good, of which, if it is believed, that the overarching objective is to see that all have fair access to a baseline of the necessities of life, than that governance needs to prioritize that, above all.  On the other hand, if such governance has been essentially co-opted by the richest and most powerful, then the end result in this modern age, is going to be something more akin to an aristocracy, because mega-corporations extract profits in the billions upon billions of dollars, and without proper taxation upon these corporations as well as proper taxation upon superrich individuals, then essentially as time goes on, more and more assets and monies will have been funneled and are going to continue to be funneled into those specific few entities, pretty much at the painful expense of those that don’t really have fair access to the necessities of life.

 Indeed, no matter how wealthy a given country is, not everyone can be rich; but, at the same time, everybody doesn’t need to be rich.  That is to say, at the end of the day, what makes for a good society is fair access to opportunity, as well as the comprehension that we must do our best to provide and to see that as many as possible have a seat at the table of opportunity, democracy, and a true voice to express their concerns, and when this is accomplished, society becomes a more caring and a more wholesome place, because where there is fairness and justice, there will not only be peace but also a lasting satisfaction that life is good.