The not-so-free press

In America, we hear the clarion call again and again, about how important it is to have a free press, as well as freedom of speech, but the bottom line is that the mainstream press, so represented by the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Wall Street Journal, ABC, NBC, and CBS, are themselves wholly captured by corporate America, and therefore whatever is good for corporate America is thereby good for these entities.  This means that mainstream media really has little interest in expressing itself freely, but rather has a specific agenda that it desires to get across, and this thus signifies that though they are the press, they are not disseminating to the people the whole truth of what is really happening to the public, whatsoever.

 On the other hand, a vibrant free press, is an entity that questions authority, that questions power, and has as its upmost purpose to put before the people, their perception of what is really going on and what it means, and thereby to let the people decide which side of the issue that they are on.  That is to say, a free press provides germane information to the people, for the edification of the people, so that a more fully informed public can decide what should or should not subsequently be done on behalf of those people.

 Instead, we have a mainstream press whose main interest is profit, followed by the fact that it greatly desires to manipulate the people, along with selling the illusion to the people, that the people are sovereign and free to choose, even though the choices so presented to them, are pretty much the same, no matter which way that they go.  This signifies that, because corporate America has fully captured the mainstream press, that the business of the mainstream press is pretty much selling the illusion that they are providing to the general public, “all the news that is fit to print,” but in actuality they are only printing that which is to their preference.

 Back in the day, when newspapers and circulars were the way that communities got their news about what was going on in their community and beyond, the press really did a good job, of getting out in front of stories of import, because they knew that it mattered to the community, to know what was really happening.  Further to the point, newspapers and circulars weren’t beholden to advertisers but rather depended upon subscriptions for their revenue, signifying that the news that they printed had to matter to those who were reading it.

 Today, our mainstream media simply wants to get across to the general public what they ought to think and what they ought to care about, signifying that they aren’t really interested in people thinking for themselves, and therefore don’t desire for people to have independent or unorthodox thoughts, at all, but rather they want them to believe that the business of the people is simply to concentrate on the earning of money or going to school, and to leave the thinking to the purveyors of the mainstream press, so that the duty of the people is to learn to listen to the what the mainstream press is telling them to listen to, and then to be compliant to it.

A society is only as good as its ruling class

In life, there are those who rule, and then there are those that thereby must follow the rules.  Of course, in countries such as the United States, it is presupposed that this is a nation of, for, and by the people, but when we look at what is really going on, in which the rich have never been richer, and the fact that money consistently can buy the results so desired in a political race or a proposed proposition, a reasonable person has got to conclude that there really is a ruling class in America, and it is these personages who are the most powerful and influential who make the real decisions of import in this nation.

 It isn’t necessarily bad for society when there is a ruling elite that calls the shots, if those so calling the shots are themselves paragons of virtue, generosity, and driven by the desire to do the right thing.  On the other hand, when the ruling elite is absolutely corrupt, filled with deception, greed, and selfishness then the end result for those that are its citizens is not going to be good, for when it is obvious that the rulers have a distorted moral compass, the people are surely going to follow, in turn, because quite obviously playing by the rules, isn’t going to get them much of anything.

 This is why it really does matter who leads a nation, and selfish leaders aren’t good for the prosperity or the morality of a nation, because their example only encourages the population to desire to do the same sorts of things, so at least they get theirs, because, after all, they have goals to achieve, and if that means stepping on someone else’s toes, is necessary, to achieve that which they desire to achieve, they are going to be greatly tempted to do that sort of thing.

 Indeed, whenever the ruling class makes it their point that all they really care about is feathering their own bed, and power for power’s sake, we find that this sort of attitude, is going to suck the good virtue out of the people, because they figure if it’s good enough for the goose, it’s good enough for the gander.  There is nothing more disappointing when those that we should look up to, have feet of clay, and further to the point, don’t seem to care about correcting such, because they want what they want, and the devil take the hindmost.

 One would think that there would come the point when greed is satiated, but incredibly for many a person that is fixated on power and influence, their greed is never satiated, of which, the more that they thereby take from the people the less that the people have, and the more unequal society is.  It follows therefore that those societies that are especially unfair and unequal, are the very same, in which we will hear from the ruling class that we need more law and order, imposed against those that are simply trying to live their best life, but finding that getting their fair share, is often not really achievable, because the game is so corrupt, that there really isn’t all that much left to go after, because the lion’s share is held in the hands of the elite, who are fixated on the people being obedient, compliant, and distracted by our modern day’s version of bread and circuses.

The need to know what motivates an individual

The great thing about society is that it is made up of all different sorts of people, with different backgrounds, different priorities, and different ways of thinking.  The reason that this is good is because if everyone thought the same, wanted the same, and did the same, the redundancy of such would be incredibly boring.  That is why it’s good to interact with people that do not have the same background as we do, or of the same opinion, for it makes for not only a more interesting engagement one to the other, but also it permits us to get a different perspective on things, which helps to expand our own viewpoint.

 So too, it’s good that what motivates us isn’t necessarily going to be the same thing that motivates another person, which is why we need to pay attention to other people, so that we can ascertain what it is or is not that seems to resonate with them, because in doing so, it helps us to relate to one another, better. After all, to assume that everybody has the exact same motivation is to assume that we all think alike, and this simply is not true, which reflects that not only is listening important, but also that we should want to know people at a level at which we can have a more meaningful interaction with them, which is accomplished by us knowing what motivates the other, and what gives them purpose in life.

 That is to say, we can’t claim that we are engaged with the other if we haven’t bothered to do our good part to know the other, which requires that we try to ascertain what makes them tick, and thereby what is of importance to them.  Indeed, the more interest that we show in the other, by knowing what their motivations are, the more the substance of our conversations and interactions will have a more impactful meaning.  After all, it’s very easy to have easy conversations, in which nothing of real import is discussed, but if we are to know somebody else, we need to get beyond mere niceties to that which gets to the meat of the matter.

 Additionally, we can’t expect others to really care about us if we haven’t shown that we care about them, and one way that we demonstrate that we do care is to know people at a level in which there is a good rapport between one to the other.  This is why we should do our good part to find out what a person’s passions and values really are, which will help us to understand them better, in knowing what they truly care about, and in doing this, we will help to build a relationship that has purpose behind it.  Indeed, the more insight that we have into the other, the better we will be able to help them handle the vicissitudes of life, and in this, to be a good and valued friend, for not just caring, but in our sincere empathy, which comes from knowing the other.

Privilege and the inability to see

It seems like those who are most privileged are the very same that can’t recognize that privilege, because not only do they not care to recognize such or even seriously to contemplate such, but they typically feel that whatever is happening, is just the way things are supposed to happen, and if it seems like they have it easier, so much the better for them.  In other words, many people of privilege simply take it as their birthright, and have a strong tendency to feel that while they might have an advantage over others, it’s a very slight advantage, easily overcome by those unheralded others who put their nose to the grindstone.

 As they say, none are so blind as those that will not see, and those that are privileged but will not admit to such, or discount such, are the very same that see through a prism which is distorted and because of this, the reflections of the society that they are a part of, are equally distorted.  Indeed, it isn’t possible to have empathy for the other when a person doesn’t see the other as anything that is deserving of some extra consideration, compassion, or concern.  The reason that this occurs is because privileged people just don’t seem to have the necessary insight to actually see society as it really is, or don’t want to bother to do so, especially if that would mean upsetting their viewpoint to something in which they see themselves as other non-privileged people do.

 Many of those who are privileged don’t want to change a thing, because when you are in pole position to get all the advantages in life, and know that the chips are perpetually in your favor, there isn’t any logical reason why you would want to change anything.  Of course, from a fairness perspective, from an understanding of how society actually is for those who aren’t so privileged, it’s sensible to want to do your part to help level the playing field, because when that field is always titled in your favor, then it is suspect as to how much credit you should get for your success in life.  Rather, in a meritorious society, that merit should come from a perspective which takes into account who has been privileged, and who has not, and adjustments should be made correspondingly, thereby.

 Being privileged is such a great place to be that those who are privileged are typically disinclined to want to honestly examine their life, for if they did, they might just find that their distorted view of society reflects a person who has not bothered to actually see society in a way and manner, that understands that those that are privileged lead lives that are different from those that lack those advantages, and in that inability to see, they have done those others, wrong, because they have failed to even to consider to walk a mile in their shoes.  Indeed, it would behoove all those that are privileged, to put themselves in a position, in which that privilege has been temporarily neutralized or abandoned, and then, they will have the opportunity to open up their eyes to see or else to remain stubbornly blind to that which calls out for justice, fairness, and opportunity.

Knowing the right thing to do but not doing it

There are all sorts of moral crimes that people suffer from, of which, one of those moral crimes is the crime of simply not doing what we are supposed to do, and somehow believing that since we didn’t actively do anything wrong, that all is well, but alas, it is not.  Look, each of us is gifted with a conscience for the express purpose of doing the right thing, and when we don’t do the right thing, our conscience should bother us, because we have chosen poorly, and in fairness, there are consequences for having failed to step up.

 In this world, we will be tested, and the point of those tests, is to adjudge our character, of which, we are given ample opportunity to do the right thing, but when we consistently don’t actually do much of anything, we have failed to understand that inaction, as opposed to a bad action, has its negative consequence, as well.  After all, to get to where we need to be, requires effort, and those who will not put forth a good effort, where effort is called upon, are too lackadaisical to accomplish needful things, and thereby are counting upon other motivated individuals to do all of the heavy lifting, instead. 

 To believe that we can simply ride upon the coattails of great individuals and thereby get to our desired destination is never going to happen.  We are meant to prove ourselves in the cauldron of challenges laid before us, and those who do not participate in what they need to work upon and thereby conquer, have turned their back upon what they know they need to address, and in doing so, have not done the right thing, and thus this will be counted against them.

 In this world, there are no easy roads, for that which we most cherish necessitates a concentrated effort to achieve such.  It is always going to be smoother to take the straight and narrow path to where we need to go, but whatever path that we take, meandering or whatever, it is ours to own, and until we reach the only destination that matters, then we have not achieved what we came here to accomplish.

 None of us simply goes to heaven, we earn the right to heaven, by our good works, and those that hope to rely on the fact that they really haven’t done anything that was actively bad, are mistaken if they believe that this is somehow good enough to earn them a place in heaven, because earning, requires dedication, purpose, and a concentrated drive to get to where we must get to, come what may.  Those then that rise up to the challenges that this world represents, and overcome their obstacles in one way or another, will break through to the promise land, and those that do not, or don’t bother to even try, will be stuck in a cyclic world, in which though the light perpetually shines, they will never reach it.

Restaurants and the takeout business

Back in the day, people went to a restaurant in order to be served and to eat their meal there.  While there are still plenty of people that do that very thing, we find that in today’s modern age, that more people than ever are inclined to order takeout, which provides them with the option to eat their food at home or elsewhere, while also doing whatever that they want to do while eating their meal, which serves to be satisfactory for them, and saves them the time and trouble of not only not having to cook, but also of having to sit in a restaurant when they rather be elsewhere.

 The first thing about takeout, is that the experience is different, because whenever a person eats within a restaurant there is a certain order of things which is followed, in which, first the customer has to be seated, then they have the opportunity to order drinks and/or appetizers, followed by the ordering of the main meal, and finally the eating of a possible dessert, in which those being served aren’t being rushed, which allows them to have a conversation, take in the atmosphere, and to enjoy their food and service. However, all of this takes time, and for many people, they don’t really want to devote that time because they would rather spend that time doing something else.  Further to the point, for those who are going to eat alone, eating inside a restaurant is typically not something that they really want to do, so they often prefer to order takeout instead.

 So too, takeout is a convenience for the customer, in which a good meal is purchased, to be enjoyed at one’s leisure which makes sense for people that have worked a long day, don’t have time to cook, or just prefer having a meal already prepared that they know they are going to enjoy.  In other words, people order takeout because they have a need to eat, and want to eat something that they know they are going to like, and don’t see the point of having to eat that meal inside a restaurant. 

 Indeed, the restaurant business has changed because an ever higher percentage of meals for many a restaurant, is now devoted to takeout orders, which typically requires that order to be completed sooner than for a person that is eating in-house, because the customer ordering takeout, isn’t interested in waiting around for their meal, but pretty much wants it as soon as they can get it, or else they will take their business somewhere else.  This signifies that restaurants have to be more cognizant of meal demands, especially peak meal demands, so that they can more readily accommodate their customer base, without upsetting either those that eat in-house or those that have ordered takeout, signifying that the logistics of getting orders done has to be synchronized in some sort of sensible way, and when done right, everyone is more satisfied, which sets the stage for more repeat business, which every restaurant desires and counts upon.

You don’t know who you are

Isn’t it strange that so many people don’t really know who they are, mainly because they overly identify with the physical and discount the spiritual.  Look, it doesn’t make much sense for those that believe in God, that somehow they aren’t cognizant that they must therefore be, in their true essence, an eternal spirit, and therefore the physical is merely the temporary housing of the spirit, in order to exist within this physical plane and to appreciate therefore the challenges so presented with existing within that physical sphere and those interactions, therewith.

 It would thus behoove people to better understand that our very purpose in this life, is to prove ourselves as to whether we will give in to selfishness and conceit, or whether what we will concentrate our efforts on is for the greater good of the society that we are a member of, and to thereby honor that which first created us by our good works.

 It thus follows that when you do not really understand who you are, that you are going to have a strong tendency to concentrate on that which isn’t of real merit, because the clarity of vision is lacking, for your proper edification. Instead, when we recognize that we are spiritual beings who are currently having our character being tested on earth, we will understand better the importance of doing right, because that is the superior way for us to find enlightenment.

 There are indeed a lot of distractions in our earthly sojourn, and it is quite easy to get caught up in not only the physicality of our existence, but also of the belief that the demands of our body and our ego must be met.  The problem with this mindset is that the more that we focus our efforts upon gratifying our ego, as if it is the most important thing, the more distorted our outlook on life will be, and the more therefore that we will put on the back burner, our eternal spirit, which is our true self, and in this, we have chosen poorly.

 The most appropriate way to see this world is to see it as it really is, a proving ground.  This signifies that each of us has a sacred mission, of which, the general consensus of each of our respective missions are akin to simply doing right in our thoughts and in our interactions with one another, no more and no less.  This might seem like the simplest of things to do, but when the ego is saying one thing, and our body is emphasizing another thing, it all serves to drown out, for many a person, their spirit, which means that our assigned mission will fail.

 So then, if you don’t know who you are, it’s going to be difficult to accomplish what you ought to do; whereas, if you do know who you are, you may or may not accomplish what you ought to do, but for a certainty you are on a much better pathway to do the right thing, and in doing right, will be true to your eternal spirit as well as to Wisdom, itself.

The boss of your credit card

When it comes to credit cards, it has to be taken into fair account, that the bank issuing such credit, is basically providing a loan to the customer up to the limit of the credit line approved, with terms and conditions on how that loan is to be paid back, which typically means a monthly payment, in which the customer needs to at least pay the minimum on-time, along with the customer having the discretion to pay all of the loan back, which seems like a real boon because those that pay off their credit card balance in full each month, are essentially receiving an “interest free” loan from that banking institution.

 The thing about credit cards is that they are now ubiquitous, so that those people who don’t have credit cards are typically seen as people who must not be creditworthy.  So too, being able to pay for items that a person desires through a credit card, with the sure knowledge that the bill, even when subsequently presented does not necessitate it having to be paid in full, seems far superior to having a debit card, which takes the money straight out of a person’s checking account in real time.

 It would be nice if the boss of the credit card, was actually the person whose name was on the credit card, but in actuality, the boss of the credit card is always the banking institution that granted it, and therein lies the rub, because those that issue credit through credit cards have a lot of power and discretion to change things, and can do so at their discretion and without fair warning.

 This thus means that those who enjoy a $10,000 credit limit or even higher, might believe that things will always remain the same, but might just find to their dismay, that the banking institution can just close their account, for various reasons, such as the account not being used as intended, credit score dropping precipitously, or pretty much anything that they can conceive of, and the customer has no real recourse, to reverse things, though they can try, for once the banking institution has determined that you are not the customer that they want, they have the final say, and, therefore that credit and the credit card once priceless, is now as if it never existed.

 Further, to add insult to injury, plenty of credit cards permit the user to accumulate points through their usage, which are good for things such as a statement credit, airline miles, hotel points, or gift cards, but once the banking institution determines that the account will be closed, they will no longer honor those points, so the points accumulated by the user, will simply and completely vanish.

 While the sudden closing of a credit card account by the banking institution certainly seems unfair, especially since there isn’t any independent 3rd party to adjudicate such, it has to be remembered that a credit card as issued is never a right, but is a privilege, and privileges are subject to being taken away, making it all so clear, who the boss of that credit card, actually is.

The rich and powerful have never had it better

The world isn’t fair to begin with, but what has made it worse is the incredible amount of power that is now held by those who are superrich or well-connected, to control the narrative in their favor, and to essentially silence all those who could upset that construct, for they don’t have the social reach or connections to make an impact.

 The thing about social surveillance is that it has never been easier than today, to surveil somebody, best done thru that person’s compromised phone, and once another party compromises a phone, they have a wealth of information, that can be exploited for their own advantage, along with the salient fact they know exactly where a person is, at all times and what they are doing.  Having that sort of insight upon anyone is incredibly powerful, and it need not be used immediately, for such information secured is available for those who have control of it and can be thus utilized at their discretion.

 So too, when the superrich behave badly and are caught at it, they still have the way and means to control that narrative through legal threats, non-disclosure agreements, or just about anything in which they can assert their leverage in a way and manner that they get what they want, for a price, in one form or another.  After all, it’s not a fair fight when a regular individual finds themselves to have been abused or taken advantage of by a powerful personage and can’t get justice, because that powerful person has all the right connections to see that the matter is typically resolved in their favor, and when severely outgunned, most normal people are going to lose interest in the fight, because they don’t see that there is going to be justice, so they give up the fight.

 All of the above means that, quite clearly, this is not a level playing field, for it favors the rich and powerful over regular folks.  This signifies that there clearly is the law as applied to those who are the elite, and a completely different set of rules and laws for those who don’t have those sorts of connections.  This makes for a world of inequality, injustice, and unfairness.  After all, if this government will not play its essential part to see that money does not matter, by asserting the rule of law squarely, even when inconvenient, then the nation as a whole is weaker for this.

 When the rich and powerful are in essence, above the law, then there isn’t any real reason for the rest of the population to believe that playing fair and following the rules actually is the correct or right thing to do, because they can see that the game is completely unfair and unjust, which leads then to many a person having contempt for the rule of law, because the law is one thing for those that are rich and powerful, and something completely different for those that are not.  This would seem to signify that this is not a nation of, for, and by the people, but instead is structured for those who are the richest and most powerful to exploit everyone else to their heart’s desire.

The supposed big bad wolf: non-state terrorism

Just the word terrorism seems kind of frightening, but then again, there are lots of things in the real world that really are frightening, and non-state terrorism, which is something to respect as a possibility in happening, just isn’t something that societies should be overly concerned about, because the chances of a real act of terrorism actually happening to us is almost always remote.

 Look, big explosions and terrorism attacks are going to wreak havoc on any civil society, but it is always important to have some reasonable perspective because the difference between non-state actors and state actors is absolutely stark.  For instance, an effective state actor has all the accouterments of an established military, as well as an established base of corporations that are manufacturing the armaments and are also developing more state-of-the-art armaments.  Further to the point, state actors have a budget to work within and have established as a matter of national policy the need to have military prowess.  On the other hand, non-state actors are limited to what they can or cannot do, and while they may well be innovative in what they can accomplish, given their personnel, experience, and overall footprint, they are, in actuality, limited in their ability to actually wage war upon anyone.

 Look, the elephant in the room is always going to be state actors and is never going to be about non-state actors because the difference between the two is so striking that it doesn’t make sense to group them together as somehow being the equivalent to one another.  The bottom line is that money matters, experience and expertise matter, the sophistication and power of weapons matter, the inventory of weapons matters, and the priority of a government of how much they are going to devote to armaments and things of this sort matters.  In all of this, a state actor has not only the capability but also the capacity to really hurt not just non-state actors but also state actors, as well, because the bigger the footprint, the bigger the potential hurt.

 Non-state terrorism is very much hit and miss, with occasional hits that are quite effective, and a whole multitude of misses, for various reasons. Also, it is important to note that non-state actors cannot often work outside their domain, at any great distance, because they lack the manpower and logistics to do so. Additionally, non-state actors know that they can’t compete against state actors, which is why they specialize in terrorism, in the hope that by doing so, they can make an impact, which is why they do what they do.

 All of the above, makes the point that as much as we might desire for non-state actors who are performing terrorism to simply disappear or to be completely eradicated, it just isn’t going to happen, because it only takes a few motivated individuals with their hands on some sort of weaponry to perform terrorist acts.  So, non-state terrorism is not going to go away anytime soon, and our best response is to simply do what we can to reduce such, without getting completely bent out of shape, or acting the fool.

Efficiency

There are lots of organizations and companies that have a desire and a need to be efficient in the resources that they utilize, which is why it makes sense to periodically take a top-down look at the company to make sure that it is running as a well-oiled machine.  While it could be said that efficiency has its place, but it certainly isn’t the only thing, it has to be added, that the problem with deadweight is that it tends to drag down good people with it, so where there is a need to cutback or to lay off, rather than to ignore such, it’s probably necessary to do what needs to be done.

 That said, it’s those types of meetings in which upper management gets together and decides that 10% of the workforce needs to be eliminated, and then goes about earmarking who is or is not going to stay, without bothering to figure out what different departments and the personnel within those departments are actually doing that causes problems because upper management has failed to previously engage with that personnel. In other words, if there isn’t anybody in upper management that actually knows what is going on at certain departments and they don’t even know who the personnel are that make up that department, or their purpose, they probably should try to ascertain what is going on first, before willy-nilly firing people before understanding what it is that they do.

 After all, to believe somehow that 10% of any workforce is somehow unessential seems to reflect that upper management doesn’t have a very good grasp on understanding the personnel within their organization.  So too, there is a need to better understand what different departments and the personnel within those departments are doing, before just systematically deciding that 10% of them just have to go.  Not only will that be devastating to that individual department, but some of the people being let go may be quite efficient and competent in their work, but because they are unheralded or politically unprotected, they are dismissed.

 Sure, there is going to be “fat” within any organization, but extracting out the right fat is no easy task, because human nature tends to give higher credence and credibility to those that we like or that flatter us, and less to those that seem off-putting.  Yet, from an efficiency standpoint, the personnel to keep should be based upon competency and experience, as contrasted to those who are good at giving lip service, and seeming to be of worth, even though they aren’t.

 Additionally, when it comes to business enterprises and the need to lay off personnel, it’s typically going to be far more efficient to look at the “big hitters” within the organization first.  That is to say, those who make the biggest salaries should be thoroughly examined, because not only will laying off personnel who make big money help to get to the efficiency target quicker, but often the blame for the need to lay personnel off probably rests mainly with top management, to begin with

They tell us not to fight in school

We are told not to fight in school, and school officials do their level best to enforce this upon the student body as much as possible.  This certainly seems sensible since the primary purpose of school is to learn, and learning isn’t going to occur when students are fighting.  Further to the point, fighting is not a proper way to deal with conflict resolution, and those who are in authority want to emphasize that before we decide that we are going to fight, or that we believe it's right to fight, there should be a serious attempt to calm things down, and to let the better angels of our nature to take over.

 That said, none of that really seems to matter, because we learn from our elders and we certainly learn from the conduct of our nation, and because the United States is the sole superpower in the world, of which, rather than to deal with conflicts maturely and diplomatically, it seems to prefer to skip that perceived sort of weak resolution, and just go straight to the flexing of its muscles again and again.  So then, the one thing that you could say about the United States and its military force, which is used all over the world, is that the United States proudly believes that might makes right, and proves that point emphatically to recalcitrant countries repeatedly.

 This would seem to imply that since the United States military imposes its will upon sovereign nations worldwide, in which the vast majority of those nations suffering from that will, have no true defense to such wanton aggressions -- that the bullying of other nations through our miliary might, seems to be something that the United States believes it has the right to impose upon any nation of its choosing, and further that no other nation has the right to tell the United States that it cannot.  This signifies for those who don’t seem skilled at conflict resolution in school or in society that fighting is the American way, and since that is true, they may as well start practicing in school.

 Indeed, the reason that this country is domestically so violent and leads all other Western nations of similar background in domestic violence by a large margin has a lot to do with how bellicose and violent America is when dealing with other nations that aren’t kowtowing to its demands.  That certainly makes sense, since violence has a way of begetting more violence, ad nauseam.  So then, since this is the American way, the United States may as well forget about emphasizing peaceful means to conflict resolution and get right to the meat of the matter, which seems to stipulate that we ought to train our children to be warriors, and when so trained as warriors they will bring that to their persona, and hence we will help to create an even more violent nation, trained in the art of fighting, which will mesh well with what America already represents in reality to the outside world.

Pass the baton

When it comes to American Enterprise, one thing that we can say for a certainty, is that many things are subject to change, and those corporations that are not up to their stuff, are the very same, that will miss their window to change, and subsequently will be left behind, for there are many an American corporation, in their day, which appeared impervious to competition, and seemed secure in their place with the American consumer, but somehow lost it all, slowly and then quickly.

 While a company is made up of many things and many factors, it is vital to recognize, that a company also consists of human beings, and some of those workers aren’t just very skilled at what they do, but have a wealth of information that isn’t necessarily written down in a document, but is contained within the mind, or their muscle memory.  In consideration that these employees aren’t going to be there forever, their skill set should ideally be passed on to the next generation, or it will be lost.

 So too, just because things have always been done a certain way doesn’t mean that it is the best way or that other ways should not be explored, because companies that have lost their innovation are in danger of being surpassed. After all, there is always some other entity looking to improve upon the way that things are, which is why not only is research and development important, but also why it is important to continue to be innovative and to look for ways to improve.

 Additionally, companies should not be afraid to thoroughly investigate just about every aspect of their organization to see if there is room for improvement and then to make it their point to improve. Indeed, one of the major issues with companies that have been successful but are starting to slip, is the fact that those in management are just comfortable with the way that things are, and therein lies the crux of the problem.

 So then, it is necessary to bring in “new blood” to any organization, not only because there comes a time when the best and brightest are well past their prime, but also because the younger generation has something to prove, and wants the fair opportunity to get to the proving.  Indeed, new employees, because they are not caught up yet in the corporate culture, for they haven’t been there long enough, can see things that those who have drunk the company “Kool-Aid” aren’t able to see readily, which makes them of special value. 

 A company is only as good as the people that are within it, and when those people have either seen better days, are resting on their laurels, or don’t seem concerned about innovation and progress, then that company is in trouble. How good the younger generation can do to improve matters comes down to not just their talent and desire, but also coordination with those who have the experience and know-how, so that with that new energy and perspective, along with wisdom, success is best assured.

Doesn’t insurance just seem like a scam?

In answer to the above question, a lot of people would say no, but even those people would admit to the fact that insurance sure doesn’t seem quite right. Then there are those people who are convinced that the way that insurance operates in America, sure seems, at a minimum, to be unfair, if not an outright scam, as well as the fact that it doesn’t do a good job often enough of taking care of business, when the insured needs that insurance to actually be a substance of strength for them.

 Look, insurance in many situations is mandatory or nearly mandatory in America, such as for our auto, our home, or our health, and in any case, in which a given individual is required by law to have insurance, the minimum that this country owes to its own is to robustly regulate the industry so that the profitability of the business is restricted to a certain set modest amount, and in those instances in which annual paid out insurance claims have been lower than expected, rebates should be issued.

 The strange thing about insurance, isn’t that it exists but rather that it’s so profitable, in which, for instance, major health insurance companies are making billions upon billions of dollars off of people, which not only doesn’t seem right, but clearly is morally suspect, because for a health insurer to make that type of money, could only be indicative that their primary concern is profit, not people.  That is to say, if this nation believes that it’s good for the American people, that health insurance providers are able to make billions off of people’s health issues, that seems to state quite clearly that profit for the few is more important than taking good care of the many.

 While it certainly makes sense that we should have insurance to protect what we own, should some adverse event happen to us, the deal as structured clearly favors the insurer at the expense of the insured.  Additionally, material things such as homes and cars should not be in the same category as one’s health, which would mean that health insurance shouldn’t be a for-profit industry, because not only does that seem to be unprincipled, but also because the drive behind health insurance should not be about getting that almighty dollar, but rather should be about doing that which is right by those who need good and compassionate healthcare.

 Perhaps what insurance needs is far less of a nationwide footprint, and far more usage of a localized insurance, in which a consortium of people and businesses get together, to pool their monies, to thereby bring insurance to the people at a reasonable cost.  This would thereby represent something more akin to what credit unions are structured for, and if successfully implemented, would be a very viable alternative to the current insurance situation, which is, quite frankly, a structure that is very, very good for the insurer, and at best, a disappointment to the insured.

The monuments game

It would seem in this consumer capitalistic society that there is constant pressure from a very early age, that each family needs to not only keep up with the Joneses, but ideally, to surpass them on some significant level.  After all, nobody really wants to be at the tail end of the line when it comes to visible achievements and accomplishments, because to be in that position is to be in the position of a loser. So then, many of us desire that others see us as quite accomplished, and thereby deserving of admiration and respect, which is the type of monument that we want to see displayed in front of our house, as a fitting tribute to that success.

 America is a very rich country, so it certainly makes sense that many of us should have a strong desire to take on the accouterments of that success, done through our hard work and dedication.  To a certain degree, that seems like a fairly reasonable thing to strive for because having certain creature comforts often makes for a more satisfying life.  The thing is though that when the game appears to be about getting access to or owning certain accouterments so as to give the impression that we are successful, but at the same time we have little or nothing to show that we have contributed in any meaningful way to the society that we are a part of, then our overall priority should be reevaluated.

 In this world, there are plenty of things that need to be addressed and done, and the more that we see of the real world, the better that we understand that not all is well and healthy within it, which is why rather than accumulating this or that consumer item, which we don’t really need, we should instead focus on doing our good part to help make society a better place for our good participation in it.

 Indeed, a society filled with selfish people who are all about themselves and have completely bought into the rat race is never going to be a healthy society.  Fortunately, we don’t all have the same desires, or the same goals, or the same mindset, for we are a mixture of many different elements, and the best of these people, are often those who have examined their life, and when found wanting, have made it their point, to change what needs to be change within them, so as to be a more complete and caring person, with the understanding that since we are all in this together, that we need to work together, for the greater good.

 In the end, each of us will have to face our Maker, and perhaps there will be those whose only complaint is that they didn’t accumulate more personal monuments or spend enough time appreciating their own genius, who will duly reap what they have sown.  Then there are those others, who took a step back from the madness of the crowds, and understood that the race isn’t to the swiftest, or even to the best, because it’s not really a race, but rather it is us doing our good part to bring light to where there is darkness, and necessary perspective to all those that seem too wrap up in their own supposed glory to see clearly.

Does your voice really matter?

Teachers are very good at getting across the point that all voices matter, and therefore, each of us has a voice that does matter.  While this does sound real good and healthy, the reality of whether our voices matter would appear to be subject to some serious debate, because whenever there are injustices that are well known to be part and parcel of this society, and having been occurring for decades but haven’t been successfully ameliorated or resolved, this would indicate that voices or not, those that have authority and power, seem to have the only voice that matters.

 To believe somehow that power actually listens to the powerless is fundamentally askew.  Rather, while there are a myriad of ways to attempt to get the attention of those in power, it more often comes forth from those who are able to bend the ear of somebody in power, which is indicative that they themselves have a degree of power.  This means that as much as we might voice our disdain about this or that, or voice our concerns about important items of the day, that those in power often don’t pay attention to it, because to them, they don’t hear it;

 Indeed, it doesn’t seem to matter how many people support a certain issue, and how great those numbers are, if the powers that be, don’t feel that they need to lend an ear to hear what the people are saying, because if those powers believe that what is occurring ultimately isn’t going to affect them or their business, then they have the right mind to ignore such, which they often do.

 Power has a strong tendency to concede nothing, and will concede only when they believe they have no good choice but to do so, or occasionally, when they have a crisis of ethical conscience -- for it is possible for people that have power, to suddenly wake up and see the injustice of a situation, and thereby to do something constructive about it, but in absence of this, only unrelenting pressure, unrelenting protest, and unrelenting voices, will possibly serve to press those in power, to consider their alternatives.

 Our voices should matter, but as in anything, how much a given voice matters has a lot to do with whether or not that voice can gain traction with others that favor that message and have the abiding desire to press onward with their collective voice in order to effect change.  The bottom line is that change is not easy to see implemented because those in power aren’t interested in change, because they already have what they want, and therefore want to keep it just the way that it is.

 Nevertheless, those that believe in what they believe, are entitled to air their voice, and in doing so, they are trying to make this democracy a better place for their valued agitation, because this is a nation of, by and for the people, and the people have been blessed with a voice that should be used so as to let be known what it is that they have to say.

High school diploma with Credentials and without credentials

To achieve a high school diploma is not a particularly difficult task, of which, just essentially showing up and doing the minimum of work is often good enough to get across the finish line.  In truth, there ought to be real credentials that need to be achieved in order to truly earn a high school diploma, but in the absence of such a standard, the least this nation owes its high performers is to differentiate them from those who are just doing the minimum. 

 So then, certain high school graduates really ought to get a certificate that stipulates that they have credentials, or they get one without credentials, and those with credentials should be accorded the respect that hard work and dedication deserve.  That said, not everyone is academically inclined, which is why there needs to be multiple pathways to obtain credentials, of which, the traditional one would include taking college courses while in high school, having a high ACT score, or having a high SAT score, but in none of these should GPA be relevant, because the problem with GPA is that many schools, just make it a formality to get a high grade, whereas the scholastic testing of a student, or college course work completed, definitely proves their mettle.

 So too, it is vital to understand that just having students who are academically high performers, should not necessarily supersede everything, because some sensible people just aren’t academically gifted, but they are gifted in other areas, such as in the arts, or in public service, or in general hospitality, of which, these are very important attributes, so that, those that have these particular skillsets, as well as other skills of merit, should be provided with a pathway that will permit them to also graduate with credentials.  That is to say, academics has its place, but it is not the only thing, and a strong argument could be made that some of the finest people in this nation, aren’t all that academically gifted, but they are paragons of virtue, of self-sacrifice, and of a belief that it is noble to do what they can to help make their society a better place for their good participation in it.

 Look, whether this nation should work harder on motivating its students to actually learn and to become something of substance, is something that needs to be addressed, but in the meanwhile those students that are in a good place in achieving something of substance, should be encouraged, and not only that they should receive some sort of benefits from their government to help get them to the place that they desire to go, because the more successful the students of today are, the better it will be for our nation, which is why it is vital that this government of, for, and by the people invest into that which will help assure that America remains a beacon of freedom, fairness, and opportunity, as compared to simply permitting more and more of Americana to degenerate into enclaves of hopelessness and incivility.

Tax audit all personal income above $1 million and all corporate sales above $100 million

There aren’t a lot of people or corporations that welcome a tax audit, but at the same time, there are plenty of people and corporations that are well prepared for such an audit, because those earning high-income, as well as those corporations that are pushing out a lot of product, recognize that they are going to have to be evaluated from a tax compliance standpoint, periodically.  If the point of having a tax code in America is for the purpose that individuals as well as corporations pay their appropriate share in taxes then the least that this nation owes its own taxpayer citizens, is the assurance that those that bring in high personal income as well as those corporations that sell an abundance of goods, have contributed what they should have contributed to the country that has provided them with the opportunity to make that money in the first place.

 When it comes to tax audits, it just makes more sense that there be a particular purpose behind such, and what that purpose should be is to see that the highest performers in this land are audited so as to better confirm whether they are or are not paying their fair share.  This signifies that rather than tax audits being an event which may or may not occur for certain people and corporations, that there needs to be a special category set aside for the big performers, which is why, those that have a personal income of $1 million or more should be automatically audited, and corporations that push out a lot of product, such as $100 million or more, should also be automatically audited.

 It isn’t like being audited is somehow a crime, it just should be common sense for the tax authorities of the state to want to examine the tax returns of the biggest players in this country, which will not only help assure compliance with tax laws, but could also mean the restructuring of some tax laws depending upon what is discovered in a careful examination of those tax returns.  All those who are high-income individuals should simply look upon an audit of their tax return as the price that needs to be paid for their success, as well as keeping in mind the important fact that these high earners can easily afford a tax accountant or attorney to deal directly with the IRS when it comes to their audit.

 So too, just the knowledge by the general public that the biggest players are being audited each and every year, should make them feel better about their own contribution in the paying of taxes, because there is a general consensus that the richest and most connected typically don’t pay their fair share, and one way to answer that question is to audit their returns, which should definitely provide some answers as well as to provide more revenue for the tax authorities, because when people and corporations know that their tax return will for a certainty, be audited, they are going to be more careful about what they put into it.

Pretrial Discovery Rule 16

There is a general belief, especially for people who don’t pay attention to things, to just believe that the way things are at present is the way that things have always been.  This isn’t true now, and never has been true, for changes are all about us, some quite visible, and others invisible.  When it comes to a criminal trial, there is the general belief that pretrial discovery has always existed, but that isn’t the case, it wasn’t until 1944 that pretrial discovery was codified, and by doing so, each side to a criminal case was thereby obligated to become transparent to the other, by providing access to pertinent documents, witness names, and just the general evidence applicable to the case at hand.  In other words, pretrial discovery makes the point that each side needs to have fair access to the other side’s materials, so that they can not only better understand the elements of the case, but also to help build their own case better.

 It might seem really weird that the prosecution, as well as the defense, is obligated to open up their books about the case at hand, as opposed to each side being able to keep their evidence and strategy close to their vest, but the very purpose of discovery is to allow each side a fair chance to prepare their case to the best of their ability, by a more thorough understanding of the perspective of what the other side has, which by this being the rule, precludes either side from “blindsiding” the other side.

 Further to the point, if the very point of a trial is for a fair and impartial outcome, as compared to one side having all the advantages so that they can achieve the result that they desire, then pretrial discovery is the very thing that definitely levels the field.  After all, whatever evidence that there is in a criminal trial shouldn’t be seen as a secret, but rather should be available for the other side to examine and to question thoroughly.  That is to say, the point of a trial is to get to the truth, and pretrial discovery is a huge aid in obtaining that truth, because what needs to be known is there to be known.

 Indeed, there isn’t any point to a public trial if the evidence pertinent to it can be hidden, distorted, or simply not available to the other side.  That isn’t a trial at all, but more an exercise to see that those who should be shamed are shamed, for it is difficult to come up with a sound defense, without having what is needed to properly prepare for it.  Look, a trial should be about the search for truth, and truth should not be something that needs to be concealed, and only then, at just the right time, will it present itself.  If what is true is true, then let it be known, loud and clear, and those then that aren’t able to refute that truth are the same who will have to accept that in the end, it’s always better for the truth to win out.

Utility bills and getting nickel-and-dimed

It used to be back in the day that people would write a physical check and then mail it to their respective utility company when paying their bill, or even go into the utility office itself, and pay it there.  Back then, a utility bill was a utility bill, so if a given customer owed $95, that’s what they paid, no more and no less.  Nowadays, while a customer can still pay most of the time via a physical check, this has been superseded by the paying of bills online, in which, truth be told, some utilities have no additional fee for those paying online, whereas others do.  It is those others, that create the issue about being nickel-and dimed, because quite frankly there is going to be a lot more human effort involved in opening up an envelope, taking out the check, making sure to post the check to the right account for the right amount of money, and then depositing that check.  For those who pay online, on the other hand, the payment structure is seamless because your login information contains the account number, and therefore, what is paid will automatically be aligned with your account.  This would seem to be not only more efficient, but far less prone to any errors.

 So then, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense that fees have to be paid, to the utility company for paying online, when the efficiency of customers paying their bills online, should clearly be superior to the receipt of what use to be thousands upon thousands, even hundreds of thousands, of physical checks.  This then would presuppose that the reason these fees are being imposed really has nothing to do with being fair and considerate, but as a way and means to extract additional money from customers, in which, because utility companies are regulated, just seems wrong.

 In any business enterprise there are multiple avenues to add to revenue, and one of those pathways is to nickel-and-dime the customer, which in theory, doesn’t hurt them much, because the amount of money, they are being charged for the convenience of paying online is minimal, of which, because utility companies can easily have hundreds of thousands of customers, those small fees add up for those utility companies to quite a bit of money.

 It just seems like bad optics to add on a convenience fee, especially when that fee amount is fixed, which signifies for those that don’t have a high utility bill that they are paying a much higher percentage of the total bill that is thus represented by that fee, as compared to someone else whose bill is considerably higher.  Yet, this is the way that it is, because the one thing about America is that it’s considered to be OK to nickel-and-dime a customer, because that demonstrates ingenuity in extracting more from a customer than they really should legitimately get, but it sure doesn’t seem fair, and it sure doesn’t seem right.