Clear and Present Anger

The television is your enemy!

That's the lesson I learned from watching the character Howard Beale in the 1976 film "Network," who ranted nightly against the evils posed by the televisification (TM) of a new class of humanoids. Beale was referring to people who've gotten everything they know from "that box," the television.

Nowadays the box blares on about this war, or that war, or the other war... about this tragedy, or that tragedy, or the other tragedy, and most Americans simply change the channel, or switch the "tube" off. It seems that either we have faith that someone will step in to correct the woes of the world, or we're sure there's nothing any one of us can do to help out.

The box carrying on about bad news someplace else is easy to excuse away, or ignore. That's what's so troubling about the ramping up of Mexican Drug violence over the last few years. It is someplace else, but not. Murder rates in Mexico, and all crimes in general have escalated year after year, showing no signs of slowing down. And, with the proximity to the US as close as any someplace else can be, I've started to pay attention.

As it turns out, a huge part of the power Mexican drug gangs wield is purchased with the profits of the sale of one particularly useful and popular "drug" called Marijuana. Estimated profits of the sale of Marijuana account for up to 50 to 60% of these organizations' total profits, which are in turn responsible for as many as 40,000 deaths in the last 5 years.

In this age of economic uncertainty over deficits and debts on a nation level, the US would be hard pressed to provide the kinds of resources to assist the situation, not to mention the lack of political will to put Americans in harms way on yet another front.

One suggestion, rather than fighting another war, was made during California's prop19 debate, in support of the measure to legalize the recreational use of Marijuana. It was made clear at that time (2010) that the revenues from the Marijuana sales were on par with those of other, more illicit substances.

This, in my opinion, is where one person can focus their efforts to make a change, and support the stabilization of our nearest neighbor to the south. As it stands, not only do 16 states already allow a monitored form of legalization, but cartels are actually using our own lands to grow the "drug" as well.

Upon hearing that Marijuana is one of, if not the leading monetary contributor to the violence that just recently claimed 52 lives, indiscriminately torched in a Monterrey casino... that the drug is not only legal in parts of the US, but grown here by these perpetrators, makes me as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore.

If you feel as mad as hell about these atrocities that are currently threatening the security of both Mexico and the US... if you agree with former Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge Castaneda, find out how you can help the effort to stem the flow of US dollars to people who kill with impunity. The brave can call their state or federal representatives. Others, check out NORML.org, or just write a blog or term/research paper like this one (or better). The more the word is spread, the more it will be heeded.

Who's OK with Default?

Today, I heard someone on The Diane Rehm Show refer to an interesting statistic regarding the debt ceiling debates. The guest said that 22 Republicans voted against raising the debt ceiling, including 2 Representatives from the State of Florida. Wondering just why someone would be so adamant about not acting to protect the "Full Faith and Credit of the United States of America," led me to consider the debate differently.

Why not default? What's it going to hurt?

In a short article by The Motley Fool, republished online by MSNBC.COM, fallout from a US default would likely include higher interest rates all around, higher commodity prices and the extension of 0 credit to the nation's 308,000,000 people. With these ramifications looming heavy on the American people, the thought of what they actually mean sheds a bit of light on the decision of the aformentioned 22 Representatives.

Since we're reminded daily about the fact that most individual Americans are in debt up to their eyeballs, raising interest rates would mean that those fiscally responsible people who've worked out their family's budget would see a stark change in the expense side of those equations. And, while this seems obvious, the prospect is actually difficult to come to grips with due largely to the huge task of reworking the house books.

With the vastness and darkness of the future this change represents, people tend to adopt a wait and see approach to the shifting sands, rather than beginning to plan for the horror the downside represents... All except for the 22 GOPer's and (presumably) those they represent.

So, why is it that these people would not be concerned about a rise in loan and credit card payments due to increased interest rate? One can only assume they have no, or little debt. I don't know this to be the case, but I wonder if the people represented by these 22 individuals share in the good fortune of owing so little that increases in interest rates don't concern them.

Next on the big scary default prediction list, higher commodity prices, also raises interesting and important questions about the represented. Of the general list of commodities there are too many products and industries to choose from in order to make a valid point, so I'll focus on just 2: Gas and Food.

Rather than search all over the world (wide web) for statistics on prices and production, the previous question begs a reintroduction of this one as well. The availability of gas and food determines the prices (along with a few other variables), so it seems the people least concerned about an increase in commodity prices would be those who already own the commodities, or the means to produce them. Off the top of my head I'd say land-owners, farming corporations and the oil and gas industry, but again, these are just hypotheticals (mostly).

Of the 196,000,000 drivers in the US, and 308,000,000 eaters, what percentage own the commodities they consume, or the means to produce them. Frankly, I don't know yet, but it seems a worthy question.

What I do know (or feel safe in assuming) is that they (the people who own the commodities and/or means of production) aren't housed neatly in 22 Congressional Districts. Just who are the people who lived and work in, say, Florida's 14th Congressional District, or Ohio's 4th Congressional District? And do they own a bunch of food and gas?

I'm guessing probably not, but the comfort to not fear these increases must mean something.

I'd continue on about the unavailability of credit, but even fairly well-off people haven't been able to get personal credit for a while. I wonder, though, if these hypothetical people who have no debt, and own all the food and gas in America, really worry about credit availability anyways.

So, to sum it all up, rather than be concerned about how these 22 Congressional Republicans could possibly be ok with our country going in to default for the first time ever, I'm more curious about the people living within their districts. It seems to me, unless they actually do hold 0 debt and own all the commodities, they'd be screwed just like all the rest of us living from paycheck to paycheck... even with an 8 month buffer.

The curiosity of the thing is what gets me motivated. Fortunately, the bill passed and the debtocalipse was averted. But, maybe we should be looking into these sort of anomalies just to make sure everything's on the up and up, or that we don't have entire Congressional Districts asleep at the wheel. After all, it's all available to be known today.

The Divinity of Truthiness

With the Nation-wide debate over the debt ceiling and the economy at large raging across the country, I figured I'd put my two cents in while it's still worth, well, two cents.

It's seems it's been the job of pundits and "experts" on ideological teams to classify exactly who is at fault during this debate, and who is the champion of "right reason" (right as in correct). The line of victims and perpetrators has been laid out, and depending on your personal world view, you have a clean path drawn for your fingers to point to villains and poor innocents alike. It's become so easy to tell who you root for and who you despise that we're collectively tottering on the edge of a cliff, feeling perfectly justified in our righteous indignation for "those" who are causing the problems.

So, what do we do when everyone's right and the problem still exists? Re-adjust our thinking and support people with real ideas for solving these finite problems? Nope... We turn to divinity!

Governors all over our country are meeting with religious leaders and calling for days of prayer for intervention in the debacle that men created by fooling the trusting majority, who counted on these "leaders" to keep us from having to make that ethereal 911 call. But with so many factions and entities to choose from, which agent of the divine do we pick for our heavenly national audit?

Well, of course there's Jesus and the big man in the sky (ala Zeus/Jupiter), his half-brother Mohamed, or the Hebrew father of them both, Yahweh... er Abraham maybe. We could lean east and pick one of the many Hindu gods or goddesses, but just who would be best suited?

Since, by the extreme percentages, around 135M people world-wide would physically assault someone for the words they speak about these entities, it's worth realizing, regardless of your personal beliefs, all these expressions, these apparitions, these deities, these examples of divinity... all these gods have power. People have proven themselves again and again fully capable of killing and/or being killed in the names of the divine.

Bearing this in mind, I propose a new suggestion. Actually, a very old suggestion. Ma'at. 

Ma'at "was the Ancient Egyptian concept of truth, balance, order, law, morality, and justice." In the grand scheme of things, a little Ma'at could go quite a long way. This deity is depicted wearing the "feather of truth" in her headband, and basically called things like they actually were.

If you dance near a cliff (to continue a metaphor), Ma'at says there's a chance you'll fall off. If you smoke cigarettes (which I sometimes do, sadly), Ma'at says there's a chance you'll get cancer or emphysema. If you do something that increases your risk of calamity, Ma'at says there's a chance you'll experience just such a calamity, and rightfully so. That is the way the universe works.

Now I know that very few people even know the name Ma'at today, but that wasn't always the case. The whole Egyptian empire (millions of people) knew her well for nearly six thousand years. Even with this day's population, on an individual basis, I'd bet as many people have channelled Ma'at through time as have any other idealized figure.

Based solely on the concept, though, it's hard to argue that having our society focus on the truth of our situation, thereby marginalizing the spurious sales pitches, wouldn't be a good thing.

The facts as I understand them are these. Around 3M Americans over the past 30 or so years have set a system in place whereby they make extremely vast sums of money, largely at the expense of people who don't know what they are doing. They made sure no one knew what they were doing so well that many of them couldn't help in the current fiscal situation if they wanted to... which most don't.

The giant wealth factory that is America has been shaped and shifted to funnel the results of the average person's lifetime straight back to those 3M Americans. All the value. All the worth. All the savings and security oozes ever so unnoticeably from the embattled to the jackals who've spent so much time and effort making permanent changes to the rules of the house. (Duh, winning)

I call them jackals, but they're really just people taking advantage of the board they set up for as long as they can. More the problem now, and what could use the benevolent help of the Ancient Egyptian goddess of truth, are the pitch-men selected for there ability to talk for hours and not say anything. Our politicians.

All sorts of descriptions get tossed around when discussing this class of individuals. I prefer unscrupulous, but then I've known a few in my day.

They will brood for hours, days or even years in order to come up with a way to say that a yellow bucket is green... and they do it so well they convince half the country it is so.

And, as always, here's where the factioning comes in. Our national conversation goes from whether a bucket is yellow or green, or whether 3M Americans are now holding more wealth (without creating jobs) than some 290M other Americans, to whether or not two dudes should be able to get married, or whether anyone should pay any taxes at all!

Politicians have tried to make this a battle over ideology, but it's really not. It's a battle to control the public perception of "truth." The people with the money have hired a giant PR firm calling itself a political party to sell the American public on the idea that they're supposed to want to work until they die for two weeks vacation a year and a flat-screen.

My revolution in thought is simple. I don't want to work for a robber-baron or a central government. I just want to work the with people around me to make a stable and secure world for my children and all the children of the world to inherit. That starts in the void left by lust and greed. Rather than being greedy for a personal wealth, I'm eager for the well-being of everyone... after all, many hands make light work and we've got a job to do.

Identity and Reality

I have the suspicion that “getting on board” with a philosophy and “buying in,” literally, to show support has less to do with the money or time one spends involved with an activity, and more to do with the power of having real conscious men and women focusing on a better world. There could actually be a special pride ('spe-ci-al like species, not 'speh-shul, but I might be making that word up) in us that can charge forth out of the ruin of what has both never been, and always was the common goal. There's one planet. There's one species on the planet that has been able to illustrate their notions about the wobble with which our spinning rock revolves around the Sun daily, and there's value in that. We have acquired tremendous means of destruction to defend against the perpetual enemy of the future to no avail... we die anyway. What if we stop acting like our children will have a different world to live in than we have? What if we acknowledge reality instead... Primary Source Reality.

I say we stop making decisions that affect the one and only planet we all have to share into the future as though the realities of those choices are inconsequential. I say you who tell us lies for the sake of money should feel the shame of doing so only as long as it takes for you to tell the truth. I do not blame anyone for making poor choices. I will simply choose not to rely on that one source alone.

What is of utmost importance to my idea of the way I'll teach my daughter about life is not that if she were to try hard enough she could be absolutely perfect to everyone around her. What is of utmost importance is the fact that nothing anyone has ever tried, or ever will try has ever been a failure. Lives are never lived in vain, we just find more consistent expectations. Thomas Edison remarked that he hadn't failed a thousand times, but had “... successfully discovered a thousand ways to not make a light-bulb.” That is my philosophy of life experience as well. If I want a better world, I've got to live to my ideals within a broad reality. The only way the coming generation will have a chance at living in peace is if we truly believe that it will happen. Then we may more easily allow ourselves to openly and honestly discuss identity and reality. As long as glaring tribalism, or nationalism , or rugged individualism ignores the sameness of our planet's life systems, the relative ease with which one may understand much more fulfilling philosophies of life fades into that selfsame ignorance.

A shock to culture - "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

I've just finished reading "Outliers," by Malcolm Gladwell. To those of you who might read this and don't know me, I've been reading and writing for about 18 years, and have recently found a reason to believe in the idea of a better world. This book does a wonderful job of describing a balanced way with which to consider one's self on the road to the phenomenon of identity. It asks wonderfully specific questions, the likes of which would likely help steer our culture toward that better world. Since I don't think I can be any more appreciative (cynics you know I love ya), I'll place my spoiler alert here.

"Culture of Honor" was perhaps the most meaningful thing I've explored in my recent re-education. The idea that my status put me high on the social ladder (height notwithstanding) due to the importance in rural communities of my grandfather's and father's experience, profession and occupation as ministers of faith was not new to me, but it was very hard to permit myself to say.

Preachers taught sermons to crowds at church. Then they taught preaching to their family at home. It is a cerebral environment that lends itself easily to curiosity. So, the reason I haven't drank myself to death, become a raging drug addict, or otherwise broke the rules of life as I could understand them was not due to a fear of reprisal at the hands of an angry god... it was because I thought about the consequences of my actions. That's not to say I always took good care, but that's a detail.

The fact is, I have very little fear of speaking to crowds and it's not just because I'm terribly narcissistic. I grew up with the expectation of a life speaking to crowds. I have found a great deal of value in being able to do what most people fear more than death.

It seems that many of our opportunities in the pursuit of a better world could be served by understanding the stereotypical aspects of seeming individual circumstances. I'm writing this review not with the assumption of impressing anyone, but rather as a signal of value to those looking for a relevant resource along the way. This book should be much closer to the foundation of education, thereby relieving the constraints we apply to our creating a better world that have to do with our acquired culture.

Hate Crimes and the Fights of Yesterday

I was listening to a program on NPR about hate groups in America, today, which disturbed me with some realizations. The discussion focussed on racially charged, divisive rhetoric taking place in the halls of Congress, and from leaders like Texas Governor Rick Perry (who is openly threatening Sucession from the union). The sentiments expressed are the top of a chain of communication which is inciting hate crimes across the United States. Now, I no more want to legislate niceness, than I assume to control such a thing as hate. I just think we could stand to have more of a conversation about it. Sunshine being the best disinfectant and all.

I grew up in a small town, with a tradition of honoring our forefathers in all the ways they have been honorable. As recently as this year, the 'Sons of Confederate Veterans' placed a wreath on my 3rd-great-grandfather's grave. I mentioned to a friend of mine that I wasn't sure how I should feel about it, and the response I got was surprisingly wise. My friend said, "Be proud of your family. Just don't keep fighting old fights."

My question about the event was "why?" though. The people living today have no idea who my 3rd-great-grandfather was, or anything he might have done in the service of the Confederate States of America. I have no idea whether he was a hero who saved the lives of his company, or a stamp clerk at a military post office. I just know he came back home and raised the man who was grandfather to my grandfather.

I'm not offended in any way about my heritage, nor do I find it particularly offensive. I just know that times have changed. The things people believed about other people are different these days, and, knowing the character of my family through the years, I believe my 3rd-great-grandfather would most likely agree with my assessment of our place in the world. We are not at fault for the past. History doesn't chain our development, it gives us a foundation to grow forth from.

Which brings me to the people who commit "hate" crimes. This particular character I have in mind, is proud past the point of respect of his forefathers. He wishes to hold the glory of those years in his hands today. He finds little honor in the way he can provides for his life, and thus yearns for times and trials and moments of real purpose. He imagines stories whereby his grandfather's rag-tag group of "rebels" (which has its own appeal), fight their way to safety in defense of their family and home. Anyone who's seen the movie "The Outlaw Josie Wales," with Clint Eastwood knows these tales. But times today are different.

The people who benefit most from the division of this nation are pulling every string they have at their disposal to invigorate the cracks in the ties that bind us all together. Using my great-grandfather, and Mexican drug violence, and ridiculous stories about socialism to divide us, while using a quote from Thomas Jefferson, with which they have nothing else in common, as just call to arms. I've not been fooled into believing some crazy plan is being hatched which could not possibly exist without overt evidence of itself. We all really do have to learn to live together in this place, if we all want to continue to have this country.

It would be great for me to carve out my place... a country all my own, where everyone thinks what I think, and there is no hunger or disease. But these are the fantasies of a child... even an adult-aged child. All the realities of life must be allowed to be real in our minds.

I will admit I have had romantic thoughts of my great-great-great-grandfather's adventures, but I realize there is still a fight going on. There is a cold war raging between the people who think Columbus "Discovered the New World," and those who think he and a band of Spanish pirates swindled and killed the indigenous peoples of America and assumed control of their lands... and its ok to realize the truth.

So, remember this come November. There are some of us who read, relate our thoughts about events, and address concerns about our safety, stability and overall well-being... And, there are some who believe they are in this self-same romantic dream where Pluto is the ninth planet, and whatever else "they" say about the world is true.

When your neighbor says ignorant things, you have a mildly ignorant neighborhood. When the supposed "leaders" of the nation say ignorant things, you have an ignorant country. We must address this life as though we actually believe we are looking toward the future. Participating in stories based on ignorant, or misinformed pasts, will never provide the security I feel we deserve. When the string pullers can reach the highest offices in the land, the subsequent subjugation of huge sectors of the population can be called nothing less than endentured servitude... or serfdom.

There is no one person I can think of, who may presume to lord over the rest of us. The are several that are trying. This is still the story of America. The preservation of our family names depend on our ability to talk about everything, including uncomfortable moments in the true history of the world.

Inequality still persists in the land where all people are "created equal." Be it racial, gender, ethnic or any other form, if you look closely, we still have much to discuss.

What can one person do? Just share your thoughts as I have shared mine. I'm certainly not above being wrong, but I do feel justified in feeling how I feel. If I've said something you agree with, share this essay with someone else. We can make our world better. We just have to stop fighting old fights.

Lake Worth's Housing Program Proposal

In an effort to understand my community better, on January 11, 2010, I attended the CRA/City Commission meeting in Lake Worth, FL. The topic of the meeting was the allocation of some $600,000 in funds available from the County for city projects, a part of the federal stimulus package. Mayor Varela proposed a new housing program to combat the depreciation of the housing stock in the city. Many of the houses in Lake Worth have several code violations, and some are awaiting demolition.

The proposed housing program is not a program, as it were, just yet. There are 3 initiatives that could comprise a whole package. The program will be groomed over the next few months, and will have taken shape by July, when the funds are made available. The prospective initiatives are: 1) a residential rehab program, 2) an emergency rehab/demolition program, and/or 3) a 1st time home buyer program. The overall program will contain one or all of these individual programs based on the research gleaned over the next 6 months.

Since there has never been a program like this in Lake Worth, there will be several time-consuming steps to take to find out how the funds may best serve the community. There are existing programs within city including the Community Development Corporation, neighborhood associations and local businesses, and the Adopt-a-Family program of the Palm Beaches, which was actually started by 3 local women and a radio station. The difference in the proposed program is that the funding will issued to the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) by the County, then to residents. In effect, the program is different because it is a government program which uses tax dollars repaid to the area for the stabilization of the city. Adding this measure sends a signal to all citizens that the City Commission finds the well being of the housing stock and rental percentages to be a consideration for the city government as well as community organizations.

Those who qualify include individuals making $31,000/year or less, and families of 4 making $64,000/year or less.

Concerns about the proposal came from Commissioner Maxwell, who pointed out that during the citizen proposal process for the funds, not one citizen proposed a new housing program. Several citizens present at the meeting echoed this concern as well as Maxwell's point that the goals of the plan are addressed through the previously mentioned community-driven programs.

Maxwell went on to say that he didn't “think we should be getting into the banking business,” and “I don't think we have the talent to implement a housing program.”

Commissioner Mulvehill, reading a CRA report, stated that several communities within the city have up to 70% rental rate. This means that the community is necessarily a temporary one, constantly changing with the businesses of the County.

City Manager Stanton added that the monies allocated, though not terribly much will find strength when they are leveraged with public funds, the rate of which could be as high as 7 or 8 to 1. It is, therefore, feasible that the city could find the effectiveness of the dollars added to the new program at 7 times the rate of investment.

As to the assessment that other programs exist within the city that share the same goals, Mayor Varela pointed out that since the city desperately needs a higher rate of ownership, additional programs to promote ownership is not a bad thing.

In theory, once the rate of ownership goes up, the rate of taxes collected will go up in turn. Increasing availability for middle class residents who are currently renting within the community will mean added security for the city, as well as increased property tax receipts. Currently, of around 12,600 properties in the city of Lake Worth, 1/3 of them produce no tax dollars, and 1/3 of them produce $100 or less.

The proposed housing program is an excellent way to signal to the citizens living in Lake Worth that the city government appreciates their living here, and would like to make it easier for them to stay. The current economic crisis affects everyone, but the city of Lake Worth is willing to take steps to make sure that the recovery of the area happens in a much more durable fashion than to simple allow developers to come in and scoop up all the property once the value drops to the level that demolition and redevelopment is the only answer.

Both Mayor Varela and City Manager Stanton tried to make it clear to the constituents present that this is a bold new move for the city that will not be quick or easy. The effort, however, will go a long way toward improving the lives of the people who consider themselves permanent residents of Lake Worth, and wish to see this community achieve the prominence that all our efforts can make possible.

The session yielded a motion that $125,000 be spent on a proposed gym renovation, $125,000 be spent on a traffic calming study, and $350,000 be spent on the new housing program. The motion passed unanimously, and the directive will be submitted to the county by January 22, 2010.

The average citizen living in Lake Worth can clearly see the degradation in the housing stock. There are homes in every district of the city that are condemned and/or set for demolition. I believe I represent a segment of people that is willing to do the work to make this place stable and secure going forward. If we are given the opportunity, we will take ownership of our city and be more capable of holding our city to a higher standard than what is possible today.

This city will see no such ownership if it sells the town to developers who will add more and more rental units to an already high market as it is. Why would someone care about the future of a town when they only consider themselves temporary residents?

This shift in policy by the city commission will create a reach back from the community as more people own, and even more look to own.

As for me personally, I was renting a place in Lake Worth so that I could pay off all my debts and move back to North Florida, where I already own land. I didn't expect to love living here, and Lake Worth is truly different from many of the other cities I've lived in during my time in South Florida. I believe this place can be great, and the steps taken by the city government in recent months has convinced me that many other people in town feel the same way.