1) To properly pronounce the word 'nuclear', think 'new clear', NOT 'nuke-you-lar'.
2) The word is 'com-for-table', NOT 'comf-turble'.
3) There is no such word as 'ex-specially'. Also, that coffee drink that you think makes you sound sophisticated when you order it is NOT called 'expresso'.
4) The letter 'r' appears TWICE in the word 'library', and not at all in the word 'wash'.
5) If you don't know the proper pronunciation or definition of a word, you really should learn those things before incorporating that word into your vocabulary. Please.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Words of Wisdom
Some people believe that with age comes wisdom. Like if you manage to not get yourself killed within a certain time frame, suddenly you're 'wise'. I wonder what other ridiculous things those people believe.
Merriam-Webster defines wisdom as:
a : accumulated philosophic or scientific learning : knowledge
b : ability to discern inner qualities and relationships : insight
c : good sense : judgment
So what do acquiring knowledge, developing insight, and exercising good judgment have in common? The prerequisite characteristic is the ability to PAY ATTENTION. Some aspects of wisdom are understanding human nature and learning to look at problems and situations from all different angles.
Another common error is to equate wisdom with goodness. Don't make that mistake. Consider this: people who hold positions of authority got where they are by, among other things, paying attention and gaining wisdom. What they do with that power and authority may be evil or self-serving.
Merriam-Webster defines wisdom as:
a : accumulated philosophic or scientific learning : knowledge
b : ability to discern inner qualities and relationships : insight
c : good sense : judgment
So what do acquiring knowledge, developing insight, and exercising good judgment have in common? The prerequisite characteristic is the ability to PAY ATTENTION. Some aspects of wisdom are understanding human nature and learning to look at problems and situations from all different angles.
Another common error is to equate wisdom with goodness. Don't make that mistake. Consider this: people who hold positions of authority got where they are by, among other things, paying attention and gaining wisdom. What they do with that power and authority may be evil or self-serving.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Did I mention I Live In Tennessee?
My ninth grade American Civics teacher was insane. I mean literally. He would spend the better part of the class period some days carrying on a lively discussion with himself or the nearest light fixture, whichever struck his fancy. Years later I read where he killed himself. So I mean all the way crazy. But even that guy could have figured out what's wrong with this - http://www.liberty.edu/media/9980/attachments/hres_107_tn_10_command_051911.pdf
Before I go any further, please let me make clear that I believe in God, Jesus, and the ten commandments. I also believe that it was God's will from the creation of man that we should have free will. I firmly believe that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are God-given rights that should belong to one and all. I believe it is not for any individual or group to judge the moral and spiritual correctness of any individual or group. And I most heartily believe that what I believe, what you believe, what anyone believes, cannot and must not inform the decisions of our courts of law.
I do not believe that a group of student athletes choosing to have a prayer before a game violates the concept of keeping church and state separate. I do not believe keeping 'under God' in the Pledge of Allegiance violates that concept. But to prominently display scripture taken directly from the religious literature of a specific religion, in a place where people are summoned under the law, or where they go to seek justice...I think it is a blatant disregard for the US Constitution and the word of God.
I'm sure many churches in this area are celebrating this as a 'victory'. I'm praying for those folks to see it for what it really is.
Before I go any further, please let me make clear that I believe in God, Jesus, and the ten commandments. I also believe that it was God's will from the creation of man that we should have free will. I firmly believe that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are God-given rights that should belong to one and all. I believe it is not for any individual or group to judge the moral and spiritual correctness of any individual or group. And I most heartily believe that what I believe, what you believe, what anyone believes, cannot and must not inform the decisions of our courts of law.
I do not believe that a group of student athletes choosing to have a prayer before a game violates the concept of keeping church and state separate. I do not believe keeping 'under God' in the Pledge of Allegiance violates that concept. But to prominently display scripture taken directly from the religious literature of a specific religion, in a place where people are summoned under the law, or where they go to seek justice...I think it is a blatant disregard for the US Constitution and the word of God.
I'm sure many churches in this area are celebrating this as a 'victory'. I'm praying for those folks to see it for what it really is.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Some Things That Annoy Me (in no particular order)
1) People who speak kindly and respectfully to everyone except their own children. This is not just a minor annoyance, this is a real problem in our society that needs to be addressed. Think about how many television sitcoms revolve around the 'humor' of family members trading hurtful, cutting remarks. I do not wonder that so many people can be so full of hate and vitriol, when we are constantly exposed to it.
2) People who engage in speaking and writing, but won't be bothered to learn proper spelling, grammar, punctuation or pronunciation. If you feel that what you're saying is worth sharing, put some effort into it. Language is a vital tool, and like any other tool, must be mastered and used properly in order to be effective. You would want me to tell you if you were holding the wrong end of the knife, wouldn't you?
3) People who behave in a manner that perpetuates any negative stereotypes regarding their particular gender, race, age or other demographic group. Women, I implore you, please do not attempt to drive while applying makeup or fixing your hair. Men, please do not assume your membership in the 'guy club' will be revoked if you wash a dish or shed a tear. More importantly, young black men, understand that, while it may be easy for you to develop a 'thug / gangster' reputation where you live, you will have access to so much more power and authority if you refuse to be cast in that old, worn-out mold. Break out of that rut and challenge yourself to see that, individually and collectively, you have the power to affect real change and progress in your community and in the world.
4) People who are physically less healthy than I am, but insist on giving me health advice because I'm fat. I know I'm fat (not reality-show fat, but still...), and if/when I want to do something about it, I will. Do you know that your diet soda is toxic, that your low-fat microwave meals are killing you, and that your medical expenses probably add up to more than my yearly salary?
I could go on, but I have things to do today. Here's hoping we all have a productive, annoyance-free day!
2) People who engage in speaking and writing, but won't be bothered to learn proper spelling, grammar, punctuation or pronunciation. If you feel that what you're saying is worth sharing, put some effort into it. Language is a vital tool, and like any other tool, must be mastered and used properly in order to be effective. You would want me to tell you if you were holding the wrong end of the knife, wouldn't you?
3) People who behave in a manner that perpetuates any negative stereotypes regarding their particular gender, race, age or other demographic group. Women, I implore you, please do not attempt to drive while applying makeup or fixing your hair. Men, please do not assume your membership in the 'guy club' will be revoked if you wash a dish or shed a tear. More importantly, young black men, understand that, while it may be easy for you to develop a 'thug / gangster' reputation where you live, you will have access to so much more power and authority if you refuse to be cast in that old, worn-out mold. Break out of that rut and challenge yourself to see that, individually and collectively, you have the power to affect real change and progress in your community and in the world.
4) People who are physically less healthy than I am, but insist on giving me health advice because I'm fat. I know I'm fat (not reality-show fat, but still...), and if/when I want to do something about it, I will. Do you know that your diet soda is toxic, that your low-fat microwave meals are killing you, and that your medical expenses probably add up to more than my yearly salary?
I could go on, but I have things to do today. Here's hoping we all have a productive, annoyance-free day!
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Directions
"Excuse me, sir? Sorry to bother you, but I wonder if you could give me some directions? I seem to have lost my way. I'm looking for Truth."
"Truth? Oh, sure, son, sure. I know where Truth is. Why, as a matter of fact, I was born and raised there. Of course, as young foolish men will often do, I lit out as soon as I was old enough. In search of the mythical 'Greener Pastures' you know. I've certainly traveled and seen some sights....oh, the stories I could tell!
But all that wandering caught up with me, and I had to settle down eventually. Could have gone back home, sure. But at the time I just didn't have the means to make the trip, and was too mule-headed to ask for help, so I settled down right in the heart of Mainstream Media. Biggest regret of my life. Oh, don't get me wrong, I've had some good times here, there's always plenty of entertainment. But the cost of living! Funny, it didn't seem that high back then.
Now, listen to me carrying on, and you standing here needing an answer to your question. Just goes to show, I've lived here too long.
Okay, son, here's what you do: you see that road over there? The one with all the traffic? That's the Information Highway. Unfortunately, you've got to take that road. Take care, because those fools drive like they own the road. There's a lot of wrecks, what with idiots changing lanes and doing u-turns without signalling. There used to be a lot of different roads to get to Truth, but once the Info Highway was built, everyone used it exclusively, and all the old roads went neglected and were eventually overgrown and forgotten. Oops! There I go again! Okay, back to your directions....
It'll take you a while to drive all the way out of Mainstream Media, it's a very big town. In fact, just about the entire time you're on the Info Highway, you'll see side roads that lead back here, and you'll run into several detours that run back through here. I know it makes no sense, son, but trust me, you'll double back countless times before the end of your trip.
Just as you finally get past Mainstream Media, the highway will split into three separate roads. One leads to Conspiracy Theory, one leads to a crossroads between the little sister towns of Hyperbole and Conjecture, and one leads to Truth. Here's where we have a problem. See, I've been away too long, and I don't remember which road is which. They aren't clearly marked, and anyway the dang government keeps changing the 'official' names of the roads so they're not shown correctly on any map.
Now, don't get discouraged, son. You can get there. I'll tell you what little I do remember about those roads, and that'll help you know when you're on the right path.
The road that leads to Conspiracy Theory will seem well maintained and inviting at the start, but you'll quickly run into rocky terrain in spots, and the road will drop off and pick up here and there, seemingly at random. There'll be lots of big billboards, some with messages that don't really advertise anything or convey anything meaningful, they just shout at you. Taking this road may not do any harm, and might even teach you some things, but there are an awful lot of roundabouts and dead-end roads in that town, and I've heard stories about people getting lost there and never finding their way out, so be careful.
The road to Hyperbole and Conjecture will be long and winding, through what looks like mostly farmland. But if you take the time to look more closely, you'll see that most of the 'farms' aren't producing anything, they're just taking up space. Again, not necessarily a bad place to visit, so if you find yourself on that road, do a bit of sightseeing if you have the time. When I was a kid, my dad took me on a road trip through there once. He taught me to play this game where we see who can spot the farms that are actually producing something. Because the produce was often small and difficult to spot from the road, it could be quite a challenge. It took me a while to get the hang of it. My dad was always way better at it than me.
The road to Truth will be quite narrow, and may be somewhat overgrown. You may at times be forced to detour through the surrounding towns, which may cause you to doubt whether you're still headed in the right direction. You've got to keep your wits about you, son. Even if you make it as far as the road to Truth, it's still all too easy to lose your way. You seem like a smart, determined young fella. I'm sure you'll get there. Good luck to you, and godspeed!"
"Truth? Oh, sure, son, sure. I know where Truth is. Why, as a matter of fact, I was born and raised there. Of course, as young foolish men will often do, I lit out as soon as I was old enough. In search of the mythical 'Greener Pastures' you know. I've certainly traveled and seen some sights....oh, the stories I could tell!
But all that wandering caught up with me, and I had to settle down eventually. Could have gone back home, sure. But at the time I just didn't have the means to make the trip, and was too mule-headed to ask for help, so I settled down right in the heart of Mainstream Media. Biggest regret of my life. Oh, don't get me wrong, I've had some good times here, there's always plenty of entertainment. But the cost of living! Funny, it didn't seem that high back then.
Now, listen to me carrying on, and you standing here needing an answer to your question. Just goes to show, I've lived here too long.
Okay, son, here's what you do: you see that road over there? The one with all the traffic? That's the Information Highway. Unfortunately, you've got to take that road. Take care, because those fools drive like they own the road. There's a lot of wrecks, what with idiots changing lanes and doing u-turns without signalling. There used to be a lot of different roads to get to Truth, but once the Info Highway was built, everyone used it exclusively, and all the old roads went neglected and were eventually overgrown and forgotten. Oops! There I go again! Okay, back to your directions....
It'll take you a while to drive all the way out of Mainstream Media, it's a very big town. In fact, just about the entire time you're on the Info Highway, you'll see side roads that lead back here, and you'll run into several detours that run back through here. I know it makes no sense, son, but trust me, you'll double back countless times before the end of your trip.
Just as you finally get past Mainstream Media, the highway will split into three separate roads. One leads to Conspiracy Theory, one leads to a crossroads between the little sister towns of Hyperbole and Conjecture, and one leads to Truth. Here's where we have a problem. See, I've been away too long, and I don't remember which road is which. They aren't clearly marked, and anyway the dang government keeps changing the 'official' names of the roads so they're not shown correctly on any map.
Now, don't get discouraged, son. You can get there. I'll tell you what little I do remember about those roads, and that'll help you know when you're on the right path.
The road that leads to Conspiracy Theory will seem well maintained and inviting at the start, but you'll quickly run into rocky terrain in spots, and the road will drop off and pick up here and there, seemingly at random. There'll be lots of big billboards, some with messages that don't really advertise anything or convey anything meaningful, they just shout at you. Taking this road may not do any harm, and might even teach you some things, but there are an awful lot of roundabouts and dead-end roads in that town, and I've heard stories about people getting lost there and never finding their way out, so be careful.
The road to Hyperbole and Conjecture will be long and winding, through what looks like mostly farmland. But if you take the time to look more closely, you'll see that most of the 'farms' aren't producing anything, they're just taking up space. Again, not necessarily a bad place to visit, so if you find yourself on that road, do a bit of sightseeing if you have the time. When I was a kid, my dad took me on a road trip through there once. He taught me to play this game where we see who can spot the farms that are actually producing something. Because the produce was often small and difficult to spot from the road, it could be quite a challenge. It took me a while to get the hang of it. My dad was always way better at it than me.
The road to Truth will be quite narrow, and may be somewhat overgrown. You may at times be forced to detour through the surrounding towns, which may cause you to doubt whether you're still headed in the right direction. You've got to keep your wits about you, son. Even if you make it as far as the road to Truth, it's still all too easy to lose your way. You seem like a smart, determined young fella. I'm sure you'll get there. Good luck to you, and godspeed!"
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
I Remember My Brother
I remember my brother was nice to me when I was little. When he got a bicycle and I was too young to get one, he would ride me double before he rode off on his own, and then again when he came home from riding around the neighborhood. When Mom let him go downtown, but said he had to take me with him, he wasn't mad. He even bought me a ring at Woolworth's. When some neighborhood girls were picking on me, and Mom said I had to fight back or get a whipping, he took on the biggest girl even though she was bigger than him! And he scared away the others, and even yelled at our mom (no one ever yelled at Mom).
I remember my brother was smart. Before I started school, he said 'you're not going to embarrass me by going to school ignorant. You're going to learn to read and write and count before you go. And he taught me. I don't know how much time he spent doing it, but I do remember being eager, almost hungry, to learn. I don't think any other teacher in the world could have done better. My desire for knowledge grew out of my desire to make my brother happy, and I will always be thankful to him for it. Years later, when being smart was equivalent to being unpopular, I never considered slacking to fit in. Thank you, brother.
I remember my brother could be mean. He would boss me around, hit me sometimes (never very hard), yell at me, change the radio station if a song came on that I liked, tell me scary stories and hide my toys. When I was four years old he convinced me that every day was my birthday and Mom didn't love me because she didn't buy me a birthday present. I learned quickly how to take orders, how to fight back when I'd had enough, how to not be intimidated by yelling, how to pick my battles, how not to indulge fear unnecessarily, how to take better care of my things, and that I shouldn't believe everything I hear. Thanks again, bro.
I remember my brother broke my heart. He told me never to contact him again, and then he stopped speaking to me. I had decided to move away, and he didn't want me to go. I could understand his wanting me to stay. He couldn't understand why I had to go. That was 25 years ago. I just found out he's dying. If he were conscious, I would try to go and talk to him one more time, but he isn't. He's gone, and he's to be taken off life support this week. I can't go because he isn't there. I don't know who that man is or what his life has been the last 25 years. I can only pray that he's at peace, and not in pain anymore. And pray that he knows, somehow, that I will always remember my brother.
I remember my brother was smart. Before I started school, he said 'you're not going to embarrass me by going to school ignorant. You're going to learn to read and write and count before you go. And he taught me. I don't know how much time he spent doing it, but I do remember being eager, almost hungry, to learn. I don't think any other teacher in the world could have done better. My desire for knowledge grew out of my desire to make my brother happy, and I will always be thankful to him for it. Years later, when being smart was equivalent to being unpopular, I never considered slacking to fit in. Thank you, brother.
I remember my brother could be mean. He would boss me around, hit me sometimes (never very hard), yell at me, change the radio station if a song came on that I liked, tell me scary stories and hide my toys. When I was four years old he convinced me that every day was my birthday and Mom didn't love me because she didn't buy me a birthday present. I learned quickly how to take orders, how to fight back when I'd had enough, how to not be intimidated by yelling, how to pick my battles, how not to indulge fear unnecessarily, how to take better care of my things, and that I shouldn't believe everything I hear. Thanks again, bro.
I remember my brother broke my heart. He told me never to contact him again, and then he stopped speaking to me. I had decided to move away, and he didn't want me to go. I could understand his wanting me to stay. He couldn't understand why I had to go. That was 25 years ago. I just found out he's dying. If he were conscious, I would try to go and talk to him one more time, but he isn't. He's gone, and he's to be taken off life support this week. I can't go because he isn't there. I don't know who that man is or what his life has been the last 25 years. I can only pray that he's at peace, and not in pain anymore. And pray that he knows, somehow, that I will always remember my brother.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
How To Fix Stuff (Part Two - Welfare)
I think the majority of people who have an opinion on the matter would agree that the welfare system needs an overhaul. The problem seems to be that, as with most other government-run programs, the powers that be cannot or will not agree as to what needs to be done and how to go about it. I'd like to first give some information about what's happening now (as I see it), then a summary of what needs to happen (again, as I see it).
What's happening now:
I tried to find some information on how much money is being spent on welfare programs currently. I now have a new appreciation for the phrase 'looking for a needle in a haystack'. Every time I thought I was close to finding the needle, I just found another haystack. Maybe if I didn't have a job and could devote more time to research....oh, well. Here's what I did find http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/data/2009/table_a1_2009.html
I confess I didn't take a lot of time studying that report. Seeing the twenty-plus billion dollar figure at the bottom made me a little sick. I decided to back up and take a look at what's happening closer to home, to reduce the problem to a level I can more readily comprehend.
I personally have known families who have lived on welfare benefits from generation to generation, women who have had numerous children and subsequently increased the amount of 'assistance' they receive, people who display no shame for the fact that they do nothing to affect change for their present situation or for the future of their children. The government would have us believe that there are rules and limitations to the amount and duration of assistance available, but the fact is that the people who have been raised on welfare know the loopholes and know how to manipulate the system. If one can have a higher standard of living on welfare than would be available if they got a job, what motivation is there to change? I do not mean to suggest that everyone who receives welfare falls into this group, but in my personal experience, there are far more of this type than those who use the current system as a stepping stone to improve their situation.
What needs to happen:
Again, keeping it on the personal level, I believe that every person receiving welfare benefits needs to be required to participate in a complete home economics course. For those who would ask 'where's the money for that coming from?', remember that there's over twenty billion in the pot already. I'm no accountant, but I'm sure we can find the funding somewhere. I'm talking about a program that teaches everything from budgeting to sewing. If I'm going to give a person money to live on, I'll feel a lot better about it if I know they're making an effort to live on less. A complete home economics course would include teaching about nutrition, proper food storage and preparation, gardening, canning, etc.
Every government housing project needs to include a community garden in which all residents are required to participate. Those with real disabilities who cannot physically participate should be assigned tasks that are within their range of abilities. I understand that some people are severely disabled. Under the revised system, there would be funds to provide for those individuals.
Some states are working on requiring mandatory drug-testing for people who receive government assistance, and I think it's a fabulous idea that should be put into practice nation-wide. Most employers require you to pass a drug screen to be eligible for employment, so it doesn't make sense that it's easier to get welfare than to get a job. People who fail can have the option of participating in a rehab program, with benefits to be reinstated upon successful completion, and continued benefits contingent on passing future tests.
Every individual receiving benefits who is able to do so should be required to attend vocational classes or some type of program with an eye toward increasing their marketability and expanding their job choices. They should be allowed to change programs if they find they are not suited to the one they're in, but quitting altogether would result in loss of benefits.
The amount of benefits awarded should never equal more than the current federal minimum wage. This sounds harsh, and I often hear people say you can't live on minimum wage, but the idea here is to make getting a job preferable to living on welfare. And I say that if you provide good home economics education, people can live on minimum wage. Maybe not the rock-star, designer clothes, new cell-phone kind of lifestyle they seem to think they're entitled to, but they can live. And maybe, just maybe, if you force people to work for what they get, they will be more inclined to put forth effort to improve their lot in life.
How about requiring an accounting of how benefits are used from month to month? I personally have a budget in place and can tell you where every dime of my money goes. If I can do this while working full-time, surely someone who doesn't have a job can manage. I believe one of the reasons so many people take advantage of welfare is that it's just so easy to do. Make it harder, and more people will decide they'd rather just go get a job.
For all those people who want to start screaming about violating civil rights, I say this: the government may be the distributor of welfare benefits, but it is not the source of the funds. The working, tax paying citizens of this nation are the source of the funds. I don't give cash to beggars. I'll buy them food if they want (they usually don't), but I can't feel good about just handing money to someone who has obviously already made some really bad choices, and then expecting them to make good choices with that money. So if a person has already proven that they're not capable of managing things on their own, doesn't it make sense to provide guidance and monitoring along with the funds? I'm not talking about violating anyone's 'rights'. I'm talking about providing services that will help recipients acquire the skills they need to move forward.
This is a summary only, and doesn't include the countless details that would need to be set forth in a complete overhaul of the system. But I think it would be an excellent start. One detail I would like to mention is this: I believe no parent should be allowed to receive welfare benefits for a child they are abusing or neglecting. People on welfare are assigned caseworkers, and part of their job should be home visits and interviews with every member of the family. If a caseworker has too many cases to be able to do this effectively, hire and train more caseworkers (more jobs = fewer people on welfare...hmmm)! Child abuse and neglect are rampant in welfare families, and the cycle needs to be broken. I can't be the only person who has seen a family where the children aren't getting proper care, don't have decent clothes, are obviously mistreated and/or not properly supervised, but thanks to welfare the parents have their beer or cigarettes or tattoos or smart phones or whatever.
What's happening now:
I tried to find some information on how much money is being spent on welfare programs currently. I now have a new appreciation for the phrase 'looking for a needle in a haystack'. Every time I thought I was close to finding the needle, I just found another haystack. Maybe if I didn't have a job and could devote more time to research....oh, well. Here's what I did find http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/data/2009/table_a1_2009.html
I confess I didn't take a lot of time studying that report. Seeing the twenty-plus billion dollar figure at the bottom made me a little sick. I decided to back up and take a look at what's happening closer to home, to reduce the problem to a level I can more readily comprehend.
I personally have known families who have lived on welfare benefits from generation to generation, women who have had numerous children and subsequently increased the amount of 'assistance' they receive, people who display no shame for the fact that they do nothing to affect change for their present situation or for the future of their children. The government would have us believe that there are rules and limitations to the amount and duration of assistance available, but the fact is that the people who have been raised on welfare know the loopholes and know how to manipulate the system. If one can have a higher standard of living on welfare than would be available if they got a job, what motivation is there to change? I do not mean to suggest that everyone who receives welfare falls into this group, but in my personal experience, there are far more of this type than those who use the current system as a stepping stone to improve their situation.
What needs to happen:
Again, keeping it on the personal level, I believe that every person receiving welfare benefits needs to be required to participate in a complete home economics course. For those who would ask 'where's the money for that coming from?', remember that there's over twenty billion in the pot already. I'm no accountant, but I'm sure we can find the funding somewhere. I'm talking about a program that teaches everything from budgeting to sewing. If I'm going to give a person money to live on, I'll feel a lot better about it if I know they're making an effort to live on less. A complete home economics course would include teaching about nutrition, proper food storage and preparation, gardening, canning, etc.
Every government housing project needs to include a community garden in which all residents are required to participate. Those with real disabilities who cannot physically participate should be assigned tasks that are within their range of abilities. I understand that some people are severely disabled. Under the revised system, there would be funds to provide for those individuals.
Some states are working on requiring mandatory drug-testing for people who receive government assistance, and I think it's a fabulous idea that should be put into practice nation-wide. Most employers require you to pass a drug screen to be eligible for employment, so it doesn't make sense that it's easier to get welfare than to get a job. People who fail can have the option of participating in a rehab program, with benefits to be reinstated upon successful completion, and continued benefits contingent on passing future tests.
Every individual receiving benefits who is able to do so should be required to attend vocational classes or some type of program with an eye toward increasing their marketability and expanding their job choices. They should be allowed to change programs if they find they are not suited to the one they're in, but quitting altogether would result in loss of benefits.
The amount of benefits awarded should never equal more than the current federal minimum wage. This sounds harsh, and I often hear people say you can't live on minimum wage, but the idea here is to make getting a job preferable to living on welfare. And I say that if you provide good home economics education, people can live on minimum wage. Maybe not the rock-star, designer clothes, new cell-phone kind of lifestyle they seem to think they're entitled to, but they can live. And maybe, just maybe, if you force people to work for what they get, they will be more inclined to put forth effort to improve their lot in life.
How about requiring an accounting of how benefits are used from month to month? I personally have a budget in place and can tell you where every dime of my money goes. If I can do this while working full-time, surely someone who doesn't have a job can manage. I believe one of the reasons so many people take advantage of welfare is that it's just so easy to do. Make it harder, and more people will decide they'd rather just go get a job.
For all those people who want to start screaming about violating civil rights, I say this: the government may be the distributor of welfare benefits, but it is not the source of the funds. The working, tax paying citizens of this nation are the source of the funds. I don't give cash to beggars. I'll buy them food if they want (they usually don't), but I can't feel good about just handing money to someone who has obviously already made some really bad choices, and then expecting them to make good choices with that money. So if a person has already proven that they're not capable of managing things on their own, doesn't it make sense to provide guidance and monitoring along with the funds? I'm not talking about violating anyone's 'rights'. I'm talking about providing services that will help recipients acquire the skills they need to move forward.
This is a summary only, and doesn't include the countless details that would need to be set forth in a complete overhaul of the system. But I think it would be an excellent start. One detail I would like to mention is this: I believe no parent should be allowed to receive welfare benefits for a child they are abusing or neglecting. People on welfare are assigned caseworkers, and part of their job should be home visits and interviews with every member of the family. If a caseworker has too many cases to be able to do this effectively, hire and train more caseworkers (more jobs = fewer people on welfare...hmmm)! Child abuse and neglect are rampant in welfare families, and the cycle needs to be broken. I can't be the only person who has seen a family where the children aren't getting proper care, don't have decent clothes, are obviously mistreated and/or not properly supervised, but thanks to welfare the parents have their beer or cigarettes or tattoos or smart phones or whatever.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Christian?
I stopped calling myself a Christian some time ago, not because my beliefs about God and Jesus changed, but because I did not want to be associated with the majority of so-called 'Christian' religions as they currently exist. You see, as I understand it, to be Christian is to strive to be Christ-like. I have been to a lot of churches in my lifetime, and I have yet to encounter one which consistently demonstrates or fosters Christ-like behavior.
I want to make clear that I do not think myself spiritually or intellectually superior. I have read the bible and other religious literature, I enjoy studying the histories of various religions and talking to people of similar and different faiths at every opportunity, in an effort to gain better understanding of who God is.
I think one of the biggest problems I have with organized Christian religions is that, in the interest of proselytizing, they blatantly misrepresent God. Prospective 'new' Christians are led to believe that, once they join the club, they will be miraculously freed from all pain and suffering, they will instantly be able to hear God's voice, and everything will be sunshine and roses. There are even some organizations that make every effort to convince you that your financial prosperity is contingent upon your inclusion in their ranks.
So you sign up, and wait expectantly for God to show up and start fixing everything from your bank account to your halitosis. And guess what? You get disappointed. And you get confused. And you get angry. And because you were so certain that you were buying into an organization that represented God, you feel it is God himself who has deceived you.
It is among my dearest hopes that anyone seeking to know God should, at first, stay away from organized religion in any form. Always remember that organized religion is a business, with a material interest in increasing its tithe-paying membership. If you have come as far as to believe that God exists, and that He made you, remember that he gave you the gifts of a brain and free will. Think and reflect, study the religious literature that appeals to your sensibilities, meditate and pray, talk to people you know and trust, whose opinions and intellect you admire. Know that not all churches are bad, and that not all those who call themselves by the same name adhere to the same principles. Pray for the ability to discern where (or whether) you need to belong.
If you choose Christianity, study the bible with emphasis on the words of Christ Himself. You will find yourself introduced to a much more accurate description of the mind and nature of God. Nowhere does He suggest that you should expect God to act as your personal genie, regardless of what any church representative might try to get you to believe. "He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust."
I want to make clear that I do not think myself spiritually or intellectually superior. I have read the bible and other religious literature, I enjoy studying the histories of various religions and talking to people of similar and different faiths at every opportunity, in an effort to gain better understanding of who God is.
I think one of the biggest problems I have with organized Christian religions is that, in the interest of proselytizing, they blatantly misrepresent God. Prospective 'new' Christians are led to believe that, once they join the club, they will be miraculously freed from all pain and suffering, they will instantly be able to hear God's voice, and everything will be sunshine and roses. There are even some organizations that make every effort to convince you that your financial prosperity is contingent upon your inclusion in their ranks.
So you sign up, and wait expectantly for God to show up and start fixing everything from your bank account to your halitosis. And guess what? You get disappointed. And you get confused. And you get angry. And because you were so certain that you were buying into an organization that represented God, you feel it is God himself who has deceived you.
It is among my dearest hopes that anyone seeking to know God should, at first, stay away from organized religion in any form. Always remember that organized religion is a business, with a material interest in increasing its tithe-paying membership. If you have come as far as to believe that God exists, and that He made you, remember that he gave you the gifts of a brain and free will. Think and reflect, study the religious literature that appeals to your sensibilities, meditate and pray, talk to people you know and trust, whose opinions and intellect you admire. Know that not all churches are bad, and that not all those who call themselves by the same name adhere to the same principles. Pray for the ability to discern where (or whether) you need to belong.
If you choose Christianity, study the bible with emphasis on the words of Christ Himself. You will find yourself introduced to a much more accurate description of the mind and nature of God. Nowhere does He suggest that you should expect God to act as your personal genie, regardless of what any church representative might try to get you to believe. "He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust."
Sunday, March 27, 2011
How To Fix Stuff (Part One - Same Sex Marriage)
In this and future posts, I will be sharing my views on various topics that are (still) being regurgitated by the mainstream media or argued over (again) in courts of law. I firmly believe there is a solution to every problem, and finding the solution usually begins with reducing the matter to it's simplest terms.
I'd like to start with the question of whether same-sex marriage ought to be legal. This is a matter that has been in and out of courtrooms at various levels, from one end of the nation to the other, for years. This is one proverbial horse that should have been declared dead a long time ago, and yet we are still beating the poor brute.
To fix the issue once and for all, we need to first realize that all this time, we've been having the wrong argument. What we should have been debating all along, is whether marriage is a legal institution, or a religious institution. Decide that, and everything else will sort itself out.
You see, if marriage is declared a legal institution, then the law which determines who may or may not marry must not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, age, gender, etc. So if marriage is a legal institution, then people of the same sex should be allowed the privilege.
If, however, marriage is declared a religious institution, then no government funded or state sanctioned benefits should be tied to it (we'll discuss separation of church and state further in a later post). That means that benefits like social security, pensions, insurance coverage, etc. cannot be based on marriage. Also, it means that the religious authority presiding over the religion practiced by those who wish to marry would be the only body with authority to decide whether they can or cannot marry. So if two men practiced a religion that permitted same-sex marriage, they would be allowed to marry.
That's all there is to it. Decide whether marriage is a legal or religious contract. If we are to have a true separation of church and state, it cannot be both. And either way, you can't stop people of the same sex getting married, if that's what they want to do.
Whether I (or you, or anyone) personally agree with or condone homosexuality or same-sex marriage does not enter into the debate. And I think that's the part people really have a problem with.
I'd like to start with the question of whether same-sex marriage ought to be legal. This is a matter that has been in and out of courtrooms at various levels, from one end of the nation to the other, for years. This is one proverbial horse that should have been declared dead a long time ago, and yet we are still beating the poor brute.
To fix the issue once and for all, we need to first realize that all this time, we've been having the wrong argument. What we should have been debating all along, is whether marriage is a legal institution, or a religious institution. Decide that, and everything else will sort itself out.
You see, if marriage is declared a legal institution, then the law which determines who may or may not marry must not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, age, gender, etc. So if marriage is a legal institution, then people of the same sex should be allowed the privilege.
If, however, marriage is declared a religious institution, then no government funded or state sanctioned benefits should be tied to it (we'll discuss separation of church and state further in a later post). That means that benefits like social security, pensions, insurance coverage, etc. cannot be based on marriage. Also, it means that the religious authority presiding over the religion practiced by those who wish to marry would be the only body with authority to decide whether they can or cannot marry. So if two men practiced a religion that permitted same-sex marriage, they would be allowed to marry.
That's all there is to it. Decide whether marriage is a legal or religious contract. If we are to have a true separation of church and state, it cannot be both. And either way, you can't stop people of the same sex getting married, if that's what they want to do.
Whether I (or you, or anyone) personally agree with or condone homosexuality or same-sex marriage does not enter into the debate. And I think that's the part people really have a problem with.
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