As a teenager I tried to befriend people who could fit in my niche but it was very difficult because I wasn’t a jock, nerd, snob or any other particular category that was out there. I was and am still a mutt but hopefully a loveable one. What I realized as I grew older and more mature (last night) is that you can be friends with people from all different niche’s and even age groups (of course there are reasonable limits). It’s perfectly fine for a forty year old nerdy male to be friends with an athletic seventy year old male. By limiting the types of people you seek as friends you limit the enjoyment and also the knowledge you might acquire by befriending these individuals. For friendship isn’t just about sharing similarities but sharing empathy, fun and warmth between fellow individuals. Therefore today I will make a great effort to open my heart to those who might seek my friendship.
It’s because of you.
I honestly thought that the economy would be much worse. I believed the increase of taxes and regulations from Obamcare to the rise in the payroll tax would surely bring us into another recession but thank G-D my predictions were wrong. After careful analysis I believe I have found the reason we haven’t slipped it’s because of you.
The entrepreneurial spirit in America has enabled us to continue to pull through these muddy waters. Another factor is our labor force that is although smaller is just as committed as ever to completing it’s work on time and with precision. The regulations and tax burdens have slowed us down but like horse drawn carriage we continue to slowly pull ahead.
Yet this is not the end of the story another key factor which can’t be ignored is those individuals who voted for the President and his administration, they believe(d) in his vision of “hope and change” and worked harder then ever to make sure that this led to a self fulfilling prophecy of success for them and their family. We even find those that believe(d) in the President’s vision but that hope and change skipped not only their house but their block and community continue to support him. They will not blame the President for what is occurring but will instead find fault in anyone else that can fit the bill even themselves if necessary. These individuals will continue to suffer the consequences of poor policy decisions that hurt them and their community because they won’t change teams. They would rather take a hit and/or allow their friends to be hit then make their team look bad.
Imagine if instead of rooting for a team we starting enacting policies that root for us. The greatness shown above would be multiplied and economic growth would hit all sectors of our country. It’s time you realize that you are the key to economic success and tell the government policies to get out of our way. This way we can create not only that shining city on the hill but down the street as well and become that beacon for all the world to see.
A safety net that becomes a prison cell
I’m all for the safety net to help those who are down on their luck but we must make sure that it is big enough so that people will have the ability to escape, instead of being trapped in it’s web. Please review some of the ways I believe this can be accomplished (below)
1. We can free the person on welfare by requiring them to work for the system and/or receive training to get out of the system.
2. Wouldn’t it be great if the people on disability would be trained to have the ability to take part-time jobs and/or develop skills so they can be a productive force for our country and themselves?
3. Would we be able to free those individuals on food stamps by giving them the seeds to grow their own fruit and vegetables then be locked in a system of poverty and hopelessness.
Kindness comes with truth which means helping those learn to help themselves.
Warning!!! Too many choices can get you bored.
I know that I’m dating myself but when I was a kid we didn’t have as many choices on TV and I think we were less bored then the children of today. We had three basic channels and UHF channel if your television antenna was just right. You would wait all week for your favorite T.V show to go on and watch it as a family or at least with your brother or sister. Every week you waited with anticipation for the next episode. It was the time when the movie of the week was truly the movie of the week. Yes we had less selection but I believe this led to more anticipation and as such more excitement when a show came on.
Today if you don’t like the first two minutes of a show you can switch it to over a hundred different choices. If you don’t have time to watch a show one night you can watch it on your computer or DVR it for the next night. Yes there are big shows that “everyone is watching” but if you miss it today you can watch it tomorrow. Don’t get me wrong I’m glad technology has taken us to this level but sometimes I wonder if these choices are truly more enjoyable then the ones we had in the past.
Book Vs Movie
I have yet to see a movie that is able to capture all the details that a book can deliver yet on the other hand I have never read a book that is able to capture the action that a movie can deliver. One example of this is “The Hunger Games”. The books description of the murder of these children was so graphic that it deeply moved the reader while the movie showed these deaths in an almost cartoon way. I believe the producer felt this needed to be done to achieve the PG13 label. It also is hard to deliver a book into a movie form because the reader has their own concept of what the characters and scenario should look like that can’t be exactly duplicated in a film. In conclusion if you’re looking for action go to the movies but if you’re looking for depth read the book.
Shout out the truth
It appears that some people will yell at others when they feel their losing an argument. They use this tactic to annoy the individual into submission. This topic is constantly used in political arguments where emotions outweigh logic. Just like a bully who frightens people this individual needs to be dealt with but how? How does a person battle against these tactics?
(1) Ignore their outburst but deal with the emotional side of their argument “For example I understand your pain but…”
(2)Focus on others who are in the audience and insure that there interests are pursued with your argument.
(3) Tell the individual that you appreciate their passion on the issues but that we should show respect for all points of view.
(4) Do not continue the debate if nothing else is gained. State your points clearly, logical and with passion but no when enough is enough and move on.
A bridge between people’s
I’d like to think that I can help build a bridge between various people’s that appear oceans apart. This doesn’t occur by selling out ones principles but by finding common ground between them. Once that common ground is found then they can work together to make sure they’re both successful in promoting and building on this groundwork.
One example of a solution that could have common ground is on the abortion issue (no I’m not drunk….yet) . My solution on abortion takes in account the views of those that are Pro-Life (myself) and those that are Pro-Choice (my immediate family). It is an unborn baby transplant from a woman that doesn’t want to carry a baby to a woman that wants to carry a baby. This procedure once developed could take place in those facilities that originally terminated pregnancy therefore insuring that they don’t expend monies lobbying against research in developing such procedures. By looking at both sides on many issues we can find ways to insure that policies are developed that have general public support and actually work to solve a problem.
Terrorism- Used as anti-bullying technique?
I never understood why anyone would resort to an act of terrorism but in the book “Radical” Maajid Nawaz describes how others might see it differently. Nawaz and his Muslim friends were continually bullied by a group of British skinheads until one day they stood still. The skin-heads were shocked that they just stood in front of their homes and when they asked their leader to speak. He explained that they were aren’t afraid to die because of their faith but would take them with them. The skin-heads never bothered them again.
This whole event deeply concerns me because nobody should be attacked because of their faith but at the same terrorism should not be a way of defense. Yet terrorism itself is not the act of defending oneself against a bully instead it is the act of unleashing terror on the innocent to try to cause intimidation so they will act in a certain way. If we keep in mine it is an offensive act against the innocents then we can insure that we are battling for the right cause.
Please note I’m continuing to read this book.
Kind without Truth
We are told that it is important to be kind but without truth that kindness leads to dependency and true despair. For example if we keep giving a beggar change every time we see them without giving him/her the opportunity that individual never gets the chance to reach their potential. Not only does that individual suffer but we as a society suffer because that individual has lost the confidence to demonstrate his/her ability through skilled labor.
Government is a main culprit in this philosophy by giving welfare instead of workfare. Imagine if instead of giving food stamps out the government gave the individual the ability to grow their own food and/or earn the monies to buy food, then this individual would see a path out of their despair and we would as a society would reap the benefits of their labor. It’s time kindness and truth become one and then we could truly make a difference in each others life.











