C. Henry Martens's Blog, page 8
November 3, 2017
Reality Check for the Racially Biased
©2017 C. Henry Martens
As this blog site is pretty much dedicated to Apocalypse, and we have an interest here in human population and survival in general, I found myself thinking about the trajectory of the human race over time. And that got me thinking about how many relatives I have... or not, and how many progenitors came before me to make my existence possible. Of course, that also led to some random thoughts, one being how likely it is that I am more racially diverse than my skin, hair, and eye color might make me assume.
I mean, I'm pretty white. Blonde and blue-eyed, too. So many people might expect me to be Scandinavian. My parents claimed the Schleswig Holstein area to be their homeland... my father from the German side, and my mother from the Danish side. Far northern Germany, the base of the Danish peninsula. And they would be correct in the short term. I'm pretty sure. Well, kinda. Pretty much. Maybe...
There is a family story on my maternal side, though, an explanation for my mother's dark hair and deeply dark eyes. It is said that there is gypsy blood running through the family veins.
But there is a possible twist, recently discovered, that sheds some doubt.
My sister's son, my nephew, just got the results of one of the DNA tests that are recently so popular. It says that he has an ancestor from Mali. That isn't where gypsies originated, from India. Mali is central Africa.
Cool...
The sleuth in me has been cogitating over the variables ever since I was told. Of course, it is possible my nephew's Mali genes came from his father... but what other explanation is there for my mother's coloring? I have an old picture of her as young woman, and unless my bias is playing tricks on me, she definitely looks like she might be of African heritage. I remember my maternal grandfather, blonde and blue-eyed, and my grandmother, unusually dark. And I have a memory of her mother, my great-grandmother... frail and elderly, brushing her white hair and speaking to me in Danish as her blue eyes twinkled.
So my great-grandfather must have been dark. Where else would my mother's black hair and eyes come from?
Which leads me back to the numbers. I have two parents, just like you. I have four grandparents, and eight great-grandparents, just like you, too. The numbers stay the same for all of us. Only the spacing of the generations varies, the length of each. The average length of time between generations in our modern society is about twenty-five years. That means four generations per century. Of course, we all know that ancient peoples, even a hundred years ago, procreated at a much earlier age. A century ago the average generational turn-over was twenty years.
So that got me thinking. How many ancestors do I have? How many... say... in forty generations? At an average of twenty-five years, to be conservative, how many ancestors would my grandkids have in the year 1000 (roughly, starting at the year 2000 for easy understanding)?
I'm reminded of that old story, the one where a man says he will perform a task for a king every day for a month, paid in a single grain of rice the first day, but doubled each day thereafter. By the end of the month, he owns the kingdom.
And so it goes...
In my assumed scenario, my mother's dark-complected ancestor would be my great, great, great grandparent. Five generations, and thirty-two progenitors. To my grandchildren, seven generations and a hundred twenty-eight progenitors.
Starting and working backward from the year 2000, ten generations in the past, someone would have over a thousand ancestors. Twenty generations in the past? Over a million ancestors. Thirty? Over a billion. And forty generations in the past? How many could there be, really? A trillion, thirty-five billion, five hundred eleven million, six hundred twenty-seven thousand, seven hundred and seventy-six.
Somewhere in that line of descent, we passed the number of humans that ever lived on Earth.
Wrap your head around THAT. I'll say it again, another way. Somewhere before we get to the fortieth generation, probably somewhere around the thirty-fifth, we passed the number of possible progenitors that every individual on earth has... using every possible individual ever born. EVER born. All the way back to the first human.
Let's put a little perspective on this.
Up until about five thousand years ago, human beings died as a fast as they reproduced. The graph which illustrates this can be found here.
If you've looked at the graph, you'll also see that population growth stayed fairly steady until the advent of well thought out medical intervention, finally starting to curve up in about the year 1000. Steadily improving medicine really made the population take off in the early 1800's, and antibiotics in the early 1900's made the world population explosion possible.
What does all this mean in the context of numbers concerning progenitors and generations? Well, it means we are all much more closely related than we modern clueless human beings realize.
After all, those generations on the far side of the year 1000 had the same numbers. They had as many progenitors in the thousand years that preceded them as we have in the last thousand years.
How can this be, if there were so few people?
Well, there was a lot more inbreeding. Our ancestors were far less genetically diverse than the present population. Some of our ancestors traveled to the next village to find a mate, but there were a lot of first cousins with identical progenitors fooling around. Lends a whole different perspective to the phrase, “Kissin' cousins,” doesn't it?
But this doesn't mean genetics weren't being mixed in these prehistoric cultures. There is some evidence of seafaring watercraft as far back as forty-five thousand years ago. And remember, this wasn't some guy in a boat landing once in present-day New York to spread his seed among millions. This was likely a trader with a route, landing in small, sparsely populated villages where his genetic contribution made an impact, and sometimes spending weeks, months or even years among strangers.
Natural barriers concentrated genetic characteristics, but enough genetic diversity occurred to keep humans viable.
This limited contact all changed several centuries ago. Large ocean-going craft paralleled civilization and the construction of larger cities. As population centers grew on land, sea transport carried larger crews.
We all know what the first profession is claimed to be, don't we? This is well before birth control and legal abortion, although they had their ways. Genetic diversity was rampant around the seaports of the last five thousand years.
But this is the crust of the biscuit. There are no pure strains of human lineage. We are all related. If you extrapolate from the numbers, understanding how closely genetic strains are related even today, we are all practically cousins. And as for racial “purity”? ROTFLMAO...
And remember, we started out using conservative numbers. The actual figures are likely much higher, even twice or more as much.
Now, I wonder where my Neanderthal DNA fits into all of this?
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To comment, scroll down and type in your comment. Under Comment As, you can select Anonymous or Name/URL (you don't need to enter a URL). Then hit Publish.
As this blog site is pretty much dedicated to Apocalypse, and we have an interest here in human population and survival in general, I found myself thinking about the trajectory of the human race over time. And that got me thinking about how many relatives I have... or not, and how many progenitors came before me to make my existence possible. Of course, that also led to some random thoughts, one being how likely it is that I am more racially diverse than my skin, hair, and eye color might make me assume.
I mean, I'm pretty white. Blonde and blue-eyed, too. So many people might expect me to be Scandinavian. My parents claimed the Schleswig Holstein area to be their homeland... my father from the German side, and my mother from the Danish side. Far northern Germany, the base of the Danish peninsula. And they would be correct in the short term. I'm pretty sure. Well, kinda. Pretty much. Maybe...
There is a family story on my maternal side, though, an explanation for my mother's dark hair and deeply dark eyes. It is said that there is gypsy blood running through the family veins.
But there is a possible twist, recently discovered, that sheds some doubt.
My sister's son, my nephew, just got the results of one of the DNA tests that are recently so popular. It says that he has an ancestor from Mali. That isn't where gypsies originated, from India. Mali is central Africa.
Cool...
The sleuth in me has been cogitating over the variables ever since I was told. Of course, it is possible my nephew's Mali genes came from his father... but what other explanation is there for my mother's coloring? I have an old picture of her as young woman, and unless my bias is playing tricks on me, she definitely looks like she might be of African heritage. I remember my maternal grandfather, blonde and blue-eyed, and my grandmother, unusually dark. And I have a memory of her mother, my great-grandmother... frail and elderly, brushing her white hair and speaking to me in Danish as her blue eyes twinkled.
So my great-grandfather must have been dark. Where else would my mother's black hair and eyes come from?
Which leads me back to the numbers. I have two parents, just like you. I have four grandparents, and eight great-grandparents, just like you, too. The numbers stay the same for all of us. Only the spacing of the generations varies, the length of each. The average length of time between generations in our modern society is about twenty-five years. That means four generations per century. Of course, we all know that ancient peoples, even a hundred years ago, procreated at a much earlier age. A century ago the average generational turn-over was twenty years.
So that got me thinking. How many ancestors do I have? How many... say... in forty generations? At an average of twenty-five years, to be conservative, how many ancestors would my grandkids have in the year 1000 (roughly, starting at the year 2000 for easy understanding)?
I'm reminded of that old story, the one where a man says he will perform a task for a king every day for a month, paid in a single grain of rice the first day, but doubled each day thereafter. By the end of the month, he owns the kingdom.
And so it goes...
In my assumed scenario, my mother's dark-complected ancestor would be my great, great, great grandparent. Five generations, and thirty-two progenitors. To my grandchildren, seven generations and a hundred twenty-eight progenitors.
Starting and working backward from the year 2000, ten generations in the past, someone would have over a thousand ancestors. Twenty generations in the past? Over a million ancestors. Thirty? Over a billion. And forty generations in the past? How many could there be, really? A trillion, thirty-five billion, five hundred eleven million, six hundred twenty-seven thousand, seven hundred and seventy-six.
Somewhere in that line of descent, we passed the number of humans that ever lived on Earth.
Wrap your head around THAT. I'll say it again, another way. Somewhere before we get to the fortieth generation, probably somewhere around the thirty-fifth, we passed the number of possible progenitors that every individual on earth has... using every possible individual ever born. EVER born. All the way back to the first human.
Let's put a little perspective on this.
Up until about five thousand years ago, human beings died as a fast as they reproduced. The graph which illustrates this can be found here.
If you've looked at the graph, you'll also see that population growth stayed fairly steady until the advent of well thought out medical intervention, finally starting to curve up in about the year 1000. Steadily improving medicine really made the population take off in the early 1800's, and antibiotics in the early 1900's made the world population explosion possible.
What does all this mean in the context of numbers concerning progenitors and generations? Well, it means we are all much more closely related than we modern clueless human beings realize.
After all, those generations on the far side of the year 1000 had the same numbers. They had as many progenitors in the thousand years that preceded them as we have in the last thousand years.
How can this be, if there were so few people?
Well, there was a lot more inbreeding. Our ancestors were far less genetically diverse than the present population. Some of our ancestors traveled to the next village to find a mate, but there were a lot of first cousins with identical progenitors fooling around. Lends a whole different perspective to the phrase, “Kissin' cousins,” doesn't it?
But this doesn't mean genetics weren't being mixed in these prehistoric cultures. There is some evidence of seafaring watercraft as far back as forty-five thousand years ago. And remember, this wasn't some guy in a boat landing once in present-day New York to spread his seed among millions. This was likely a trader with a route, landing in small, sparsely populated villages where his genetic contribution made an impact, and sometimes spending weeks, months or even years among strangers.
Natural barriers concentrated genetic characteristics, but enough genetic diversity occurred to keep humans viable.
This limited contact all changed several centuries ago. Large ocean-going craft paralleled civilization and the construction of larger cities. As population centers grew on land, sea transport carried larger crews.
We all know what the first profession is claimed to be, don't we? This is well before birth control and legal abortion, although they had their ways. Genetic diversity was rampant around the seaports of the last five thousand years.
But this is the crust of the biscuit. There are no pure strains of human lineage. We are all related. If you extrapolate from the numbers, understanding how closely genetic strains are related even today, we are all practically cousins. And as for racial “purity”? ROTFLMAO...
And remember, we started out using conservative numbers. The actual figures are likely much higher, even twice or more as much.
Now, I wonder where my Neanderthal DNA fits into all of this?
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www.readmota.com
To comment, scroll down and type in your comment. Under Comment As, you can select Anonymous or Name/URL (you don't need to enter a URL). Then hit Publish.
October 27, 2017
Top Fears of Americans
©2017 Kari Carlisle
What do you think of when October comes around? Autumn, pumpkin pie, candy? Or death, horror, and fear? With this month culminating in Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), we can’t step into a store or turn on the TV without seeing scary images, some fun and others gruesome. Perhaps that’s why Chapman University in California chose October to announce the results of their annual study of what Americans fear most.
Two of my own “fears,” clowns and spiders, appear on Chapman’s list at #76 and #50, respectively. Had I been one of the 1207 Americans surveyed for this study, I probably would not have answered clowns and spiders as one of my fears, though. They are more a revulsion for me rather than a true fear.
It’s famously said that the number one phobia of people is public speaking and that number two is death, so people would rather die than speak in front of a crowd. Interestingly, Chapman’s 2017 survey puts death at #48 on the list and public speaking at #52, a more appropriate order but well below the #1 and #2 spots.
Looking at the top ten fears in the 2017 study results, you can see that all ten are easily categorized into three main fears: political, financial, and environmental.
Given today’s political climate, it’s no wonder that three of the top ten fears have to do with corruption, legislation, and war.
#1: Corrupt government officials#7: The U.S. will be involved in another world war#9: North Korea using weapons
Fresh out of the Great Recession, many Americans are still feeling the effects of a poor economy so it’s no surprise that financial concerns are included in the top ten.
#2: American Healthcare Act/Trumpcare#5: Not having enough money for the future#6: High medical bills
Interestingly, environmental issues are weighing heavier than ever on Americans’ minds. Whether this is due to increased education on environmental issues, the change in political priorities, or a combination of multiple factors, I think it’s a positive sign that people are recognizing environmental issues as a major concern.
#3: Pollution of oceans, rivers, and lakes#4: Pollution of drinking water#8: Global warming and climate change#10: Air pollution
There you go. Americans have spoken. Or 1207 of them, anyway. Although we don’t know the details of the study other than the sample was taken “across the United States,” the results do seem relevant. The question becomes what do we do with this information?
Psychologists have identified a propensity for animals to react with a “fight or flight” response when faced with a dangerous situation. With humans, it’s a little more complicated. Sure, there’s the “fight or flight” response, but what that looks like can vary dramatically.
The flight response in humans may not be a literal running away but may include avoiding the news (like I do), not voting, and relying on others to take care of the problem(s). I think this is the standard response of most humans to many problems, especially if they seem too big. This response has the effect of “protecting” the individual in the short term, but the complexity of the 2017 top ten fears will potentially affect everyone. I can ignore or run from a spider, and it may or may not bite me, but if I don’t respond to these real fears, the outcome could be devastating to me and everyone.
The fight response in humans is even more complicated than the flight response. Rather than mere avoidance of some kind, fighting involves action. What form that action takes is the wild card. Take politics... Small fight response actions include voting, signing a petition, or contacting legislators to urge them to vote a certain way. Bigger actions might include lobbying, canvassing, or donating to a candidate. Huge actions might include running for office or assassinating an official. You see how the fight response can go from effective to destructive? Like I said, it’s a wild card.
Nations across the world are facing political, financial, and environmental problems. It’s not just the United States. And how we face these fears affects everyone. We may have numerous philosophies on how to manage the threats we face, but avoidance is only sure to allow problems to go unchecked. Take a stand, even if it’s a small one. Start in the voting booth and the checkout stand, and take it from there. Do something bigger for the issues you care about (or fear most). Just please keep your actions civilized and peaceful.
What is your number one fear? What have you done to make a difference?
Click here to receive the Apocalypse Observer Newsletter in your inbox
www.readmota.com
To comment, scroll down and type in your comment. Under Comment As, you can select Anonymous or Name/URL (you don't need to enter a URL). Then hit Publish.
What do you think of when October comes around? Autumn, pumpkin pie, candy? Or death, horror, and fear? With this month culminating in Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), we can’t step into a store or turn on the TV without seeing scary images, some fun and others gruesome. Perhaps that’s why Chapman University in California chose October to announce the results of their annual study of what Americans fear most.
Two of my own “fears,” clowns and spiders, appear on Chapman’s list at #76 and #50, respectively. Had I been one of the 1207 Americans surveyed for this study, I probably would not have answered clowns and spiders as one of my fears, though. They are more a revulsion for me rather than a true fear.
It’s famously said that the number one phobia of people is public speaking and that number two is death, so people would rather die than speak in front of a crowd. Interestingly, Chapman’s 2017 survey puts death at #48 on the list and public speaking at #52, a more appropriate order but well below the #1 and #2 spots.
Looking at the top ten fears in the 2017 study results, you can see that all ten are easily categorized into three main fears: political, financial, and environmental.
Given today’s political climate, it’s no wonder that three of the top ten fears have to do with corruption, legislation, and war.
#1: Corrupt government officials#7: The U.S. will be involved in another world war#9: North Korea using weapons
Fresh out of the Great Recession, many Americans are still feeling the effects of a poor economy so it’s no surprise that financial concerns are included in the top ten.
#2: American Healthcare Act/Trumpcare#5: Not having enough money for the future#6: High medical bills
Interestingly, environmental issues are weighing heavier than ever on Americans’ minds. Whether this is due to increased education on environmental issues, the change in political priorities, or a combination of multiple factors, I think it’s a positive sign that people are recognizing environmental issues as a major concern.
#3: Pollution of oceans, rivers, and lakes#4: Pollution of drinking water#8: Global warming and climate change#10: Air pollution
There you go. Americans have spoken. Or 1207 of them, anyway. Although we don’t know the details of the study other than the sample was taken “across the United States,” the results do seem relevant. The question becomes what do we do with this information?
Psychologists have identified a propensity for animals to react with a “fight or flight” response when faced with a dangerous situation. With humans, it’s a little more complicated. Sure, there’s the “fight or flight” response, but what that looks like can vary dramatically.
The flight response in humans may not be a literal running away but may include avoiding the news (like I do), not voting, and relying on others to take care of the problem(s). I think this is the standard response of most humans to many problems, especially if they seem too big. This response has the effect of “protecting” the individual in the short term, but the complexity of the 2017 top ten fears will potentially affect everyone. I can ignore or run from a spider, and it may or may not bite me, but if I don’t respond to these real fears, the outcome could be devastating to me and everyone.
The fight response in humans is even more complicated than the flight response. Rather than mere avoidance of some kind, fighting involves action. What form that action takes is the wild card. Take politics... Small fight response actions include voting, signing a petition, or contacting legislators to urge them to vote a certain way. Bigger actions might include lobbying, canvassing, or donating to a candidate. Huge actions might include running for office or assassinating an official. You see how the fight response can go from effective to destructive? Like I said, it’s a wild card.
Nations across the world are facing political, financial, and environmental problems. It’s not just the United States. And how we face these fears affects everyone. We may have numerous philosophies on how to manage the threats we face, but avoidance is only sure to allow problems to go unchecked. Take a stand, even if it’s a small one. Start in the voting booth and the checkout stand, and take it from there. Do something bigger for the issues you care about (or fear most). Just please keep your actions civilized and peaceful.
What is your number one fear? What have you done to make a difference?
Click here to receive the Apocalypse Observer Newsletter in your inbox
www.readmota.com
To comment, scroll down and type in your comment. Under Comment As, you can select Anonymous or Name/URL (you don't need to enter a URL). Then hit Publish.
October 20, 2017
Review: The Red Pill
©2017 C. Henry Martens
There is a growing juxtaposition within the debate over male/female rights and roles as the Feminist Movement grows more powerful. This is as it should be, as there are clearly grievances to be addressed and wrongs to be righted.
As a practicing male, I also consider myself to be a Feminist. I am concerned about equality and am enthusiastic to see a world where my daughter and her children exist with proportionate opportunity.
I want the world to be fair.
But I've had this nagging feeling growing in me that the conversation is becoming increasingly one-sided. That the dialogue is addressing the feminine perspective while often ignoring half of the story. Sometimes, a story that could educate the conversation and promote understanding. Such is the way of political correctness.
Certainly, there are many men who understand women have a different role in society than they once had and embrace the change gladly. I hope a majority. But there is a growing number of men who see the one-sidedness of the issue as problematic.
I have had numerous conversations with women discussing women's issues, and there seems a universal anger when it is pointed out that there are two sides to any equation involving the genders. While the issues involved are one hundred percent about how men and women relate, the issues are always couched by Feminists as abusive to women with men as perpetrators.
Women have found their strength, and it is usually in becoming a supportive group to each other. This is an effective strategy when waged against males with little interest in agreeing with each other or disagreeing with the women in their lives. Some men are even sold on themselves as men being guilty by the mere fact they are male.
So, if I am a feminist... how can I question male guilt, or the dominance of the ancient patriarchy?
Well, just as I never owned slaves nor condoned racism, I don't feel I need to harness myself or my son with the seriously faulted behaviors of my fore-bearers. Just as I am of European descent, I never stole land from Native Americans nor slaughtered them as they inhabited the prairies and forests of this continent. I reject the notion that I am guilty of the sins of my father... or my mother for that matter.
On the other hand, if there is some kind of reasonable solution to redress former wrongs, I am glad to participate... and in this context, I am a Feminist.
In this light, I became aware of the Men's Equal Rights Movement.
Netflix offers a movie, a documentary addressing the conversations to be had about the Men's Movement and the dichotomy involved in gender issues. The documentary is also available for sale as a DVD through Amazon and free through Amazon Prime.
The Red PillA Feminist's Journey into the Men's Rights Movement
If you are aware of the context of the red pill in the movie, The Matrix , then you may have some perception of where the documentary goes already because the red pill led Neo to reality, took him down the rabbit hole, so to speak. And the rabbit hole is a very interesting place to investigate. But it's not for everyone.
The documentary is directed and produced by Cassie Jaye, self-defined as a Feminist as she begins her journey into the realities of male issues.
Beginning with admitting she knows little of the Men's Rights Movement, this remarkable young woman makes some assumptions. Many of those assumptions have been my own. I felt a kinship and a sympathy for her expectations. After all, I, too, am a Feminist.
But remember my growing angst about the conversations being one-sided?
I found out that I was not alone. Not only not alone but that I had things to learn.
I cannot adequately address the issues illuminated in the documentary in this article. Besides, I don't believe in spoilers. But I will say that Cassie Jaye and her team presents as fair and unbiased a presentation as I have seen, surprising considering my expectations (my apologies to both sides in that regard).
The story is divulged in pieces, nothing too jarring at any one time, unfolding to reveal surprising and enlightening conclusions. Or perhaps not conclusions but certainly, food for thought. I came to learn that there are far more justified issues involved in gender rights than I knew and some related to being male. I also learned that many of the perceptions are skewed by the current debate. Patriarchy is not all it is cracked up to be.
The debate of rights between the genders is far from settled, and this movie places context in a more informed light. Where one side is certainly justified in changing their role in the world, Jaye's work provides a side less well known and certainly less well verbalized to complete the picture.
I would invite Cassie Jaye to return to being a feminist... as in the end, she states she does no longer call herself one. The Women's Movement needs her voice.
For myself, I am still a Feminist, a more informed one. And I am also a Masculist. Because I believe in equality.
Click here to receive the Apocalypse Observer Newsletter in your inbox
www.readmota.com
To comment, scroll down and type in your comment. Under Comment As, you can select Anonymous or Name/URL (you don't need to enter a URL). Then hit Publish.
There is a growing juxtaposition within the debate over male/female rights and roles as the Feminist Movement grows more powerful. This is as it should be, as there are clearly grievances to be addressed and wrongs to be righted.
As a practicing male, I also consider myself to be a Feminist. I am concerned about equality and am enthusiastic to see a world where my daughter and her children exist with proportionate opportunity.
I want the world to be fair.
But I've had this nagging feeling growing in me that the conversation is becoming increasingly one-sided. That the dialogue is addressing the feminine perspective while often ignoring half of the story. Sometimes, a story that could educate the conversation and promote understanding. Such is the way of political correctness.
Certainly, there are many men who understand women have a different role in society than they once had and embrace the change gladly. I hope a majority. But there is a growing number of men who see the one-sidedness of the issue as problematic.
I have had numerous conversations with women discussing women's issues, and there seems a universal anger when it is pointed out that there are two sides to any equation involving the genders. While the issues involved are one hundred percent about how men and women relate, the issues are always couched by Feminists as abusive to women with men as perpetrators.
Women have found their strength, and it is usually in becoming a supportive group to each other. This is an effective strategy when waged against males with little interest in agreeing with each other or disagreeing with the women in their lives. Some men are even sold on themselves as men being guilty by the mere fact they are male.
So, if I am a feminist... how can I question male guilt, or the dominance of the ancient patriarchy?
Well, just as I never owned slaves nor condoned racism, I don't feel I need to harness myself or my son with the seriously faulted behaviors of my fore-bearers. Just as I am of European descent, I never stole land from Native Americans nor slaughtered them as they inhabited the prairies and forests of this continent. I reject the notion that I am guilty of the sins of my father... or my mother for that matter.
On the other hand, if there is some kind of reasonable solution to redress former wrongs, I am glad to participate... and in this context, I am a Feminist.
In this light, I became aware of the Men's Equal Rights Movement.
Netflix offers a movie, a documentary addressing the conversations to be had about the Men's Movement and the dichotomy involved in gender issues. The documentary is also available for sale as a DVD through Amazon and free through Amazon Prime.
The Red PillA Feminist's Journey into the Men's Rights Movement
If you are aware of the context of the red pill in the movie, The Matrix , then you may have some perception of where the documentary goes already because the red pill led Neo to reality, took him down the rabbit hole, so to speak. And the rabbit hole is a very interesting place to investigate. But it's not for everyone.
The documentary is directed and produced by Cassie Jaye, self-defined as a Feminist as she begins her journey into the realities of male issues.
Beginning with admitting she knows little of the Men's Rights Movement, this remarkable young woman makes some assumptions. Many of those assumptions have been my own. I felt a kinship and a sympathy for her expectations. After all, I, too, am a Feminist.
But remember my growing angst about the conversations being one-sided?
I found out that I was not alone. Not only not alone but that I had things to learn.
I cannot adequately address the issues illuminated in the documentary in this article. Besides, I don't believe in spoilers. But I will say that Cassie Jaye and her team presents as fair and unbiased a presentation as I have seen, surprising considering my expectations (my apologies to both sides in that regard).
The story is divulged in pieces, nothing too jarring at any one time, unfolding to reveal surprising and enlightening conclusions. Or perhaps not conclusions but certainly, food for thought. I came to learn that there are far more justified issues involved in gender rights than I knew and some related to being male. I also learned that many of the perceptions are skewed by the current debate. Patriarchy is not all it is cracked up to be.
The debate of rights between the genders is far from settled, and this movie places context in a more informed light. Where one side is certainly justified in changing their role in the world, Jaye's work provides a side less well known and certainly less well verbalized to complete the picture.
I would invite Cassie Jaye to return to being a feminist... as in the end, she states she does no longer call herself one. The Women's Movement needs her voice.
For myself, I am still a Feminist, a more informed one. And I am also a Masculist. Because I believe in equality.
Click here to receive the Apocalypse Observer Newsletter in your inbox
www.readmota.com
To comment, scroll down and type in your comment. Under Comment As, you can select Anonymous or Name/URL (you don't need to enter a URL). Then hit Publish.
October 13, 2017
Superstitions: The Fourteenth Floor
©2017 Kari Carlisle
Happy Friday the 13th! Or should I say, ‘Watch out – it’s Friday the 13th!'?
History is rife with superstitions, and though we may think ourselves quite sophisticated today, we are still slaves to some irrational fears.
Superstitions make great fodder for horror movies, which is why, I think, we still tingle a bit in fear on this day. Still, the fourteenth floor of a building is really the thirteenth floor if the building does not have a thirteenth floor. Fridays and the number thirteen may get a bad rap, but they are really just a day and a number, nothing to get wrapped up about.
Generally speaking, a superstition is a belief or ritual based on an irrational fear or wish. Most of them we recognize as silly today, but all superstitions were at one time, and in some cases still are, taken seriously.
A few years ago, I was on a trip with a couple of coworkers who are Navajo. We were driving through some rainy weather, and when I noticed a full rainbow, I pointed it out to my companions. I was immediately chastised for pointing at the rainbow. They could not tell me why I shouldn’t point at a rainbow, only that it’s bad luck. And for that matter, I was told, we’re not supposed to allow dogs inside when it’s raining. I’ll ignore that one.
Some superstitions likely have some basis in fact but become an irrational association. An old superstition says that a dog howling when someone is sick is a bad omen. I’m guessing that dogs, being pretty perceptive creatures, sense when someone is dying and might howl. Another one, bad things come in threes, is easy to explain when “bad things” is rather subjective. And another old one, biting your tongue when you’ve recently told a lie, is obviously based on the fact that we’re all liars, so anytime you bite your tongue, you’ve probably recently lied.
Of course, you are likely familiar with a number of common superstitions, such as knocking on wood and the lucky rabbit’s foot. I have to say, when I bought a rabbit’s foot as a kid, I was horrified to discover that it was a real rabbit’s foot! You may also toss spilled salt over your left shoulder and avoid walking under ladders (well, that’s just common sense, anyway). But are these common superstitions really harmless? I knock on wood sometimes, but more as a joke than putting real stock into the act. If your participation in superstitions is based in irrational fear, I would say the superstition is not harmless.
I have my share of irrational fears, but I recognize them as such. When I was a kid, I avoided stepping on cracks. I knew I would not break my mother’s back, but I just didn’t want to take any chances, ya know? Of course, my mother eventually did break her back, but that was long after I got over the stepping on cracks thing, and I knew I was not responsible.
I do still have two completely irrational fears that I will share with you. I recognize them as irrational, but they are not debilitating, so I allow them in my life for now. The first is looking at a mirror in the dark. Blame that one on playing Bloody Mary as a kid. I justify the continued avoidance as lack of need to see myself in the dark. The other irrational fear is of earwigs. No, I don’t believe they will crawl in my ear. I lived through an infestation of them about 30 years ago, and to this day, I shake out my bath towel to make sure there are none in there before drying myself, even in the dead of winter. I’m sure if I educate myself about earwigs, I will probably reduce my revulsion, but I have more important things to attend to.
I also have two rational fears I will share with you. One is rattlesnakes. Some people have an irrational fear of snakes. My fear is rational. That is, I have researched rattlesnake behavior, and I have a rational, i.e. knowledge-based, fear that being located in rattlesnake territory and having encountered rattlesnakes, my dogs or I could realistically get bit.
My other rational fear is contracting plague. Yes, bubonic plague. But again, the fear is based in reality that where I am located, I am potentially exposed. That being said, I know what I can do to mitigate the threat, I am familiar with the symptoms, and I know that early treatment is effective. Or I could rely on the old superstitious method of avoiding plague: wear around my neck a spider inside of a walnut shell. What do you think – good idea?
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Happy Friday the 13th! Or should I say, ‘Watch out – it’s Friday the 13th!'?
History is rife with superstitions, and though we may think ourselves quite sophisticated today, we are still slaves to some irrational fears.
Superstitions make great fodder for horror movies, which is why, I think, we still tingle a bit in fear on this day. Still, the fourteenth floor of a building is really the thirteenth floor if the building does not have a thirteenth floor. Fridays and the number thirteen may get a bad rap, but they are really just a day and a number, nothing to get wrapped up about.
Generally speaking, a superstition is a belief or ritual based on an irrational fear or wish. Most of them we recognize as silly today, but all superstitions were at one time, and in some cases still are, taken seriously.
A few years ago, I was on a trip with a couple of coworkers who are Navajo. We were driving through some rainy weather, and when I noticed a full rainbow, I pointed it out to my companions. I was immediately chastised for pointing at the rainbow. They could not tell me why I shouldn’t point at a rainbow, only that it’s bad luck. And for that matter, I was told, we’re not supposed to allow dogs inside when it’s raining. I’ll ignore that one.
Some superstitions likely have some basis in fact but become an irrational association. An old superstition says that a dog howling when someone is sick is a bad omen. I’m guessing that dogs, being pretty perceptive creatures, sense when someone is dying and might howl. Another one, bad things come in threes, is easy to explain when “bad things” is rather subjective. And another old one, biting your tongue when you’ve recently told a lie, is obviously based on the fact that we’re all liars, so anytime you bite your tongue, you’ve probably recently lied.
Of course, you are likely familiar with a number of common superstitions, such as knocking on wood and the lucky rabbit’s foot. I have to say, when I bought a rabbit’s foot as a kid, I was horrified to discover that it was a real rabbit’s foot! You may also toss spilled salt over your left shoulder and avoid walking under ladders (well, that’s just common sense, anyway). But are these common superstitions really harmless? I knock on wood sometimes, but more as a joke than putting real stock into the act. If your participation in superstitions is based in irrational fear, I would say the superstition is not harmless.
I have my share of irrational fears, but I recognize them as such. When I was a kid, I avoided stepping on cracks. I knew I would not break my mother’s back, but I just didn’t want to take any chances, ya know? Of course, my mother eventually did break her back, but that was long after I got over the stepping on cracks thing, and I knew I was not responsible.
I do still have two completely irrational fears that I will share with you. I recognize them as irrational, but they are not debilitating, so I allow them in my life for now. The first is looking at a mirror in the dark. Blame that one on playing Bloody Mary as a kid. I justify the continued avoidance as lack of need to see myself in the dark. The other irrational fear is of earwigs. No, I don’t believe they will crawl in my ear. I lived through an infestation of them about 30 years ago, and to this day, I shake out my bath towel to make sure there are none in there before drying myself, even in the dead of winter. I’m sure if I educate myself about earwigs, I will probably reduce my revulsion, but I have more important things to attend to.
I also have two rational fears I will share with you. One is rattlesnakes. Some people have an irrational fear of snakes. My fear is rational. That is, I have researched rattlesnake behavior, and I have a rational, i.e. knowledge-based, fear that being located in rattlesnake territory and having encountered rattlesnakes, my dogs or I could realistically get bit.
My other rational fear is contracting plague. Yes, bubonic plague. But again, the fear is based in reality that where I am located, I am potentially exposed. That being said, I know what I can do to mitigate the threat, I am familiar with the symptoms, and I know that early treatment is effective. Or I could rely on the old superstitious method of avoiding plague: wear around my neck a spider inside of a walnut shell. What do you think – good idea?
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October 6, 2017
Have You Forgotten How to Have Fun?
©2017 Kari Carlisle
How often do you do something just for the fun of it? I don’t mean spending hours on Facebook or playing online games, either. I mean pure, unadulterated fun like we had “back in the day.”
There is an epidemic of “connection” these days. Put down your cell phone for a day, and have some real fun. The first Saturday in October is International Frugal Fun Day (IFFD). Established by The Penny-Pinching Hedonist author, Shel Horowitz, in 1999, the day is devoted to having some fun on the cheap.
What is frugal for one person could be extravagant for another, so Horowitz put a spending limit on IFFD of $5.00 per person, with free being best. And of course, what is fun for one person may be mind-numbingly boring for another, so I’ve compiled a list of ideas in case your default fun typically requires a device.
As far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t matter who you’re with on IFFD (alone, partner, family, friends, dog), and it doesn’t matter if you want to have frugal fun on any of the other 364 days in the year, you should be able to find inspiration from this list. And you should not need to venture far from home if at all.Play on the swings, etc. at a school/park playgroundGo for a nature walk/hikeCatch a movie at the $1 theater, or check one out from the libraryGo out for ice creamFake karaoke – sing along to your favorite music (you can use a device if you need to search for the lyrics)Make cookiesPicnic at the park or in your backyard (don’t forget a Frisbee, kite, or hacky sack)Find a local free event to attend; even if it’s something you wouldn’t normally go to, check it outSmall, local museums are usually free or cheap; learn about your local historyGo to the craft supply store and pick out some supplies for something you can make at homePlay a board game; borrow one if you need toShop antique stores - $5 limit!Have a tea party (FYI, it’s not a real tea party unless you make little sandwich triangles with the crusts cut off)Make a care package for a soldier overseas; a search online for “care package for soldier” will yield several sites with instructions (this one may exceed the $5 per person limit since the soldier is the one getting the care package); fun with some feel good added on!Go to a high school sports event or playTake a bubble bath (with toys)Brainstorm Halloween costumes and hit the thrift store to find clothes and accessoriesGo camping (borrow equipment if you need to)Go to a pet supply store and look at all the fish and other critters; you may get lucky if the local rescue is doing an adoption day, and you can pet the dogs or catsHost a potluck party with BYOBIf you’re near Costco, walk the store and try all the samples (it may be enough for a free lunch!)Go for a bike rideBuild a campfire and make smores (be sure to build your fire in an appropriate spot)Dress up and find a beautiful backdrop to take pictures/selfiesSet up the lawn chairs, watch the sunset, drink in hand, and stay for the stars
I hope you found something on the list that sounds fun to you, and I really hope you DO something fun on IFFD and more often. Let me know what frugal fun you enjoy in the comments…
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How often do you do something just for the fun of it? I don’t mean spending hours on Facebook or playing online games, either. I mean pure, unadulterated fun like we had “back in the day.”
There is an epidemic of “connection” these days. Put down your cell phone for a day, and have some real fun. The first Saturday in October is International Frugal Fun Day (IFFD). Established by The Penny-Pinching Hedonist author, Shel Horowitz, in 1999, the day is devoted to having some fun on the cheap.
What is frugal for one person could be extravagant for another, so Horowitz put a spending limit on IFFD of $5.00 per person, with free being best. And of course, what is fun for one person may be mind-numbingly boring for another, so I’ve compiled a list of ideas in case your default fun typically requires a device.
As far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t matter who you’re with on IFFD (alone, partner, family, friends, dog), and it doesn’t matter if you want to have frugal fun on any of the other 364 days in the year, you should be able to find inspiration from this list. And you should not need to venture far from home if at all.Play on the swings, etc. at a school/park playgroundGo for a nature walk/hikeCatch a movie at the $1 theater, or check one out from the libraryGo out for ice creamFake karaoke – sing along to your favorite music (you can use a device if you need to search for the lyrics)Make cookiesPicnic at the park or in your backyard (don’t forget a Frisbee, kite, or hacky sack)Find a local free event to attend; even if it’s something you wouldn’t normally go to, check it outSmall, local museums are usually free or cheap; learn about your local historyGo to the craft supply store and pick out some supplies for something you can make at homePlay a board game; borrow one if you need toShop antique stores - $5 limit!Have a tea party (FYI, it’s not a real tea party unless you make little sandwich triangles with the crusts cut off)Make a care package for a soldier overseas; a search online for “care package for soldier” will yield several sites with instructions (this one may exceed the $5 per person limit since the soldier is the one getting the care package); fun with some feel good added on!Go to a high school sports event or playTake a bubble bath (with toys)Brainstorm Halloween costumes and hit the thrift store to find clothes and accessoriesGo camping (borrow equipment if you need to)Go to a pet supply store and look at all the fish and other critters; you may get lucky if the local rescue is doing an adoption day, and you can pet the dogs or catsHost a potluck party with BYOBIf you’re near Costco, walk the store and try all the samples (it may be enough for a free lunch!)Go for a bike rideBuild a campfire and make smores (be sure to build your fire in an appropriate spot)Dress up and find a beautiful backdrop to take pictures/selfiesSet up the lawn chairs, watch the sunset, drink in hand, and stay for the stars
I hope you found something on the list that sounds fun to you, and I really hope you DO something fun on IFFD and more often. Let me know what frugal fun you enjoy in the comments…
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To comment, scroll down and type in your comment. Under Comment As, you can select Anonymous or Name/URL (you don't need to enter a URL). Then hit Publish.
September 29, 2017
Short Story: Nuclear Winter
©2017 C. Henry Martens
The rat sizzles and pops on the spit, a meager meal for four people. But it is long since a feast to us. Certainly it is better than eating each other, at least for now.
Our circumstances have changed drastically since being booted out of the Presidential Shelter. Underground it was warm, and there was still canned and dehydrated food, short rations but adequate. Above the surface, snow... and starvation.
Once the President died, the situation changed drastically. Two Generals inside the compound took over, and the security team backed them up.
Rumors circulated, one being that the Prez hadn't succumbed to natural causes as claimed. But none of the speculation led to anything productive, other than defining who would be on which side as the group divided.
The woman across from me stirs in her sleep, almost seeming to wake. She even sniffs the air as though testing whether the spitted meat is ready, but she drops off again into slumber.
I feel worst for the women, those left behind. Most of them were journalists that had once been part of the press corps, pretty much the fan base of the administration. The agitators had been expelled early. They were long gone now, and I expected they were dead although who could tell? Now the women still underground were reduced to unsavory activities to ensure their value. Such is the way of desperation.
Studying the sleeping woman, I regret my support of her bid to lead the underground. I expected the President's daughter to be the natural replacement, and I was naive. Her blonde hair frames her smudged face, filthy, as I'm sure my own is. Never well-padded, she has lost a lot of weight. Her eyes sink in, dark circles underneath. I can't help thinking that she will be the first to go, and that brings to mind the morbid humor we have all been experiencing recently. She will be the first to go... into the cook pot.
Garvin gives me a look. I know what he's thinking. We could eat the rat before the other two wake up. What could they do?
The whole thing wasn't supposed to get out-of-hand. But in retrospect I doubt anyone was surprised. The Nuke that landed on Pyongyang wasted those it targeted. The million man army and the leaders that commanded it were vaporized. Talks had warned the Chinese, and surprisingly, they agreed that their southern neighbor was out of control. The empty cities China had built ahead of time suddenly had their purpose revealed. The refugees started to flood in, guided by Chinese to their new homes.
Less than two weeks had passed when the Nuke dropped on Iran. No one had been warned...
Still, no one seemed inclined to begin a conflagration. A strange quiet settled over the world. Crime dropped, and people stayed home if they could. No one talked, except over their devices, and those pronouncements tended to be proclamations of apprehension.
Even in the White House we never learned how it began. We thought it was Russia, but nothing was confirmed. There was no time. It could have as easily been us responding to a fraudulent threat. The irony of a fake attack wasn't lost on anyone but went unmentioned. The mood dictated premature response. In hindsight it all seemed inevitable.
Keith wakes up first. We are all on a last name basis except for the Presidential daughter, and we all call her Trouble. She hasn't even objected. I don't know if anyone else sees the humor in Keith's surname being “Keith.”
The meat is done. Garvin splits it as equally as he can, because whoever does the dividing always gets the last piece.
Shivering, Keith ambles over and kicks Trouble's boot. She wakes with a start and rubs her eyes.
We eat silently.
There is nothing worth talking about.
I savor my meal, contemplating where the next might come from. Glancing out the top of the frosted window of the fourth floor, I can see snow falling. I haven't seen the ground in over two years.
We'll have to move up a floor if we want to see the sun rise.
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The rat sizzles and pops on the spit, a meager meal for four people. But it is long since a feast to us. Certainly it is better than eating each other, at least for now.
Our circumstances have changed drastically since being booted out of the Presidential Shelter. Underground it was warm, and there was still canned and dehydrated food, short rations but adequate. Above the surface, snow... and starvation.
Once the President died, the situation changed drastically. Two Generals inside the compound took over, and the security team backed them up.
Rumors circulated, one being that the Prez hadn't succumbed to natural causes as claimed. But none of the speculation led to anything productive, other than defining who would be on which side as the group divided.
The woman across from me stirs in her sleep, almost seeming to wake. She even sniffs the air as though testing whether the spitted meat is ready, but she drops off again into slumber.
I feel worst for the women, those left behind. Most of them were journalists that had once been part of the press corps, pretty much the fan base of the administration. The agitators had been expelled early. They were long gone now, and I expected they were dead although who could tell? Now the women still underground were reduced to unsavory activities to ensure their value. Such is the way of desperation.
Studying the sleeping woman, I regret my support of her bid to lead the underground. I expected the President's daughter to be the natural replacement, and I was naive. Her blonde hair frames her smudged face, filthy, as I'm sure my own is. Never well-padded, she has lost a lot of weight. Her eyes sink in, dark circles underneath. I can't help thinking that she will be the first to go, and that brings to mind the morbid humor we have all been experiencing recently. She will be the first to go... into the cook pot.
Garvin gives me a look. I know what he's thinking. We could eat the rat before the other two wake up. What could they do?
The whole thing wasn't supposed to get out-of-hand. But in retrospect I doubt anyone was surprised. The Nuke that landed on Pyongyang wasted those it targeted. The million man army and the leaders that commanded it were vaporized. Talks had warned the Chinese, and surprisingly, they agreed that their southern neighbor was out of control. The empty cities China had built ahead of time suddenly had their purpose revealed. The refugees started to flood in, guided by Chinese to their new homes.
Less than two weeks had passed when the Nuke dropped on Iran. No one had been warned...
Still, no one seemed inclined to begin a conflagration. A strange quiet settled over the world. Crime dropped, and people stayed home if they could. No one talked, except over their devices, and those pronouncements tended to be proclamations of apprehension.
Even in the White House we never learned how it began. We thought it was Russia, but nothing was confirmed. There was no time. It could have as easily been us responding to a fraudulent threat. The irony of a fake attack wasn't lost on anyone but went unmentioned. The mood dictated premature response. In hindsight it all seemed inevitable.
Keith wakes up first. We are all on a last name basis except for the Presidential daughter, and we all call her Trouble. She hasn't even objected. I don't know if anyone else sees the humor in Keith's surname being “Keith.”
The meat is done. Garvin splits it as equally as he can, because whoever does the dividing always gets the last piece.
Shivering, Keith ambles over and kicks Trouble's boot. She wakes with a start and rubs her eyes.
We eat silently.
There is nothing worth talking about.
I savor my meal, contemplating where the next might come from. Glancing out the top of the frosted window of the fourth floor, I can see snow falling. I haven't seen the ground in over two years.
We'll have to move up a floor if we want to see the sun rise.
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www.readmota.com
To comment, scroll down and type in your comment. Under Comment As, you can select Anonymous or Name/URL (you don't need to enter a URL). Then hit Publish.
September 22, 2017
Undeserved Award
©2017 C. Henry Martens
There is nothing in the world that ticks me off more than putting significant effort into competition... and seeing EVERYONE get an award.
How did this ugly and demeaning phenomenon get to be acceptable?
Let's be specific. Only the most blatantly unaware persons don't recognize when they are getting some kind of sympathy award when their entry doesn't measure up. It is embarrassing to receive a sympathy award, at least to anyone that truly cares about the effort they put in. Most of us know when our work is eclipsed by another person's effort.
From the winner's perspective, we know we've won... but our effort is minimized and diluted. I know it is now an accepted “thing” to be gracious in sharing the spotlight with those that came in last, but forced compassion is ugly.
Effort is a reward in and of itself. And sure, we like to see humble winners that recognize that their competition fought the good fight and achieved great results, driving the competition to great heights. But genuine admiration for competitors is far more rewarding to those who lose than sympathy.
Look, I've lost and I've won. I've been there. Perhaps you have, too. Genuine awards are affirmation, and sympathy awards are only affirmation of failure to true competitors.
The lessons learned in winning... and losing... are most valuable if they aren't diluted by misguided efforts to make everyone feel good.
So what about unfair or blatant misuse of power in choosing winners and losers?
I've been there, too. If you like to enter competitions... you have, too.
Judges love to overlook their family affiliations, their loyalty to their church, and their expectations of reciprocity when they choose a winner based on who someone is rather than the quality of what was entered.
I've been told by judges that my entry is “too perfect” and must have been purchased from a professional... and then seen the guy that bought his entry declared the winner.
I've been accused of cheating, when I studied hard and legitimately knew the material.
I've been denied a win because I was told I had to run one more lap, and the Bishop's son I had just passed won and somehow had run the race without the extra lap.
I've entered dogs that lost to animals clearly outside of the breed requirements as specified in writing by the organization sponsoring the dog show.
And I've watched and overheard the conversation between the person running the show and the representative choosing an awardee, never taking the time to view any entries other than the specific person's work that was pre-chosen to get the award (On reporting this, the people involved got very quiet, and reporting it to the local newspaper resulted in nothing).
Don't think I am complaining simply because “I” didn't win. Sure, it hurts when effort is denied. But the bigger picture is that EVERYONE competing was denied legitimacy. No one, even and perhaps especially the winner, is reduced, decreased, and diminished by cheating.
But unfortunate choices in judging are part of competition. It is...
If you compete, losing is part and parcel of the effort. So is biased judging.
But don't give me a sympathy award. It's insulting, and it teaches our children that excellence is cheap.
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There is nothing in the world that ticks me off more than putting significant effort into competition... and seeing EVERYONE get an award.
How did this ugly and demeaning phenomenon get to be acceptable?
Let's be specific. Only the most blatantly unaware persons don't recognize when they are getting some kind of sympathy award when their entry doesn't measure up. It is embarrassing to receive a sympathy award, at least to anyone that truly cares about the effort they put in. Most of us know when our work is eclipsed by another person's effort.
From the winner's perspective, we know we've won... but our effort is minimized and diluted. I know it is now an accepted “thing” to be gracious in sharing the spotlight with those that came in last, but forced compassion is ugly.
Effort is a reward in and of itself. And sure, we like to see humble winners that recognize that their competition fought the good fight and achieved great results, driving the competition to great heights. But genuine admiration for competitors is far more rewarding to those who lose than sympathy.
Look, I've lost and I've won. I've been there. Perhaps you have, too. Genuine awards are affirmation, and sympathy awards are only affirmation of failure to true competitors.
The lessons learned in winning... and losing... are most valuable if they aren't diluted by misguided efforts to make everyone feel good.
So what about unfair or blatant misuse of power in choosing winners and losers?
I've been there, too. If you like to enter competitions... you have, too.
Judges love to overlook their family affiliations, their loyalty to their church, and their expectations of reciprocity when they choose a winner based on who someone is rather than the quality of what was entered.
I've been told by judges that my entry is “too perfect” and must have been purchased from a professional... and then seen the guy that bought his entry declared the winner.
I've been accused of cheating, when I studied hard and legitimately knew the material.
I've been denied a win because I was told I had to run one more lap, and the Bishop's son I had just passed won and somehow had run the race without the extra lap.
I've entered dogs that lost to animals clearly outside of the breed requirements as specified in writing by the organization sponsoring the dog show.
And I've watched and overheard the conversation between the person running the show and the representative choosing an awardee, never taking the time to view any entries other than the specific person's work that was pre-chosen to get the award (On reporting this, the people involved got very quiet, and reporting it to the local newspaper resulted in nothing).
Don't think I am complaining simply because “I” didn't win. Sure, it hurts when effort is denied. But the bigger picture is that EVERYONE competing was denied legitimacy. No one, even and perhaps especially the winner, is reduced, decreased, and diminished by cheating.
But unfortunate choices in judging are part of competition. It is...
If you compete, losing is part and parcel of the effort. So is biased judging.
But don't give me a sympathy award. It's insulting, and it teaches our children that excellence is cheap.
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www.readmota.com
To comment, scroll down and type in your comment. Under Comment As, you can select Anonymous or Name/URL (you don't need to enter a URL). Then hit Publish.
September 15, 2017
The Orville Flies
©2017 Kari Carlisle
It may be the year 2418, but the human condition hasn’t changed much. People still deal with personal problems like infidelity and with work problems like not being able to wear shorts to work. If Seth MacFarlane’s new Sunday night Fox series, The Orville, is going to be successful, it’s for this very reason.
You may be familiar with some of MacFarlane’s other work, such as Family Guy and Ted. Whether you’re a fan of his or not, rest assured that The Orville is unlike any of his other work. Not better or worse… just different. His other work is all about the comedy, mostly juvenile, often intentionally offensive, always a parody of someone or something, and nothing is safe or sacred. You will not see this in The Orville.
The Orville is clearly a labor of love for MacFarlane. I get the feeling that MacFarlane is quite the nerd, and while The Orville may on the surface look like a parody of Star Trek, to look deeper is to see more of an homage, speckled with bits of MacFarlane style humor, not quite as juvenile as one might expect and with better timing than we see in MacFarlane’s other work. The ship’s name, Orville, is itself a joke, named for Orville Wright, I assume, a sophistication that MacFarlane fans may not be accustomed to.
Episode one finds the main character, Ed Mercer, played by MacFarlane himself, newly appointed the captain of the Orville, an exploratory spaceship. Sounds impressive, no? Well, as it’s one of 3000 ships in the fleet, and given the lack of enthusiasm shown by Mercer’s superior, the position seems on par with being the store manager of a Gap. Nevertheless, Mercer is honored and excited until learning his first officer is his ex-wife. And the humor ensues…
As I mentioned, if this show succeeds, it will be on the merit of its character development, and so far, I find the characters interesting and relatable, from Mercer himself, to the “racist” (anti-flesh) mechanical alien that serves as science officer, and all others in between. Mercer even seeks relationship advice from the enemy alien captain. This show has heart.
The show also has really cool makeup and special effects. If you are a sci-fi fan as I am, the visuals play an important role. MacFarlane spared no expense in the visual effects department, and viewers will find a plethora of interesting and unique aliens, finely-designed buildings and ships, and a realism as fine as what you’ll see in any other series. Add to this MacFarlane’s skill at comedic element of surprise, and details are not always what they seem… a plant/fish that’s actually a scientist, an odd choice of airplane seatbelts in the space shuttle that plays a crucial role.
Not everything is perfect in The Orville. One glaring plot hole plagues my mind. Why in the ‘verse would the enemy alien Krill, already apparently in the vicinity of the science lab with the device they seek to steal, WAIT for the Orville to arrive to attempt the theft? It’s like a bank robber waiting for the police to arrive before entering the bank. But even this I can forgive because this first episode was fun and enjoyable to watch. As long as The Orville’s writing team can pull it together for the rest of the series, I think we have a winner.
Let us know what YOU think in the comments...
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It may be the year 2418, but the human condition hasn’t changed much. People still deal with personal problems like infidelity and with work problems like not being able to wear shorts to work. If Seth MacFarlane’s new Sunday night Fox series, The Orville, is going to be successful, it’s for this very reason.
You may be familiar with some of MacFarlane’s other work, such as Family Guy and Ted. Whether you’re a fan of his or not, rest assured that The Orville is unlike any of his other work. Not better or worse… just different. His other work is all about the comedy, mostly juvenile, often intentionally offensive, always a parody of someone or something, and nothing is safe or sacred. You will not see this in The Orville.
The Orville is clearly a labor of love for MacFarlane. I get the feeling that MacFarlane is quite the nerd, and while The Orville may on the surface look like a parody of Star Trek, to look deeper is to see more of an homage, speckled with bits of MacFarlane style humor, not quite as juvenile as one might expect and with better timing than we see in MacFarlane’s other work. The ship’s name, Orville, is itself a joke, named for Orville Wright, I assume, a sophistication that MacFarlane fans may not be accustomed to.
Episode one finds the main character, Ed Mercer, played by MacFarlane himself, newly appointed the captain of the Orville, an exploratory spaceship. Sounds impressive, no? Well, as it’s one of 3000 ships in the fleet, and given the lack of enthusiasm shown by Mercer’s superior, the position seems on par with being the store manager of a Gap. Nevertheless, Mercer is honored and excited until learning his first officer is his ex-wife. And the humor ensues…
As I mentioned, if this show succeeds, it will be on the merit of its character development, and so far, I find the characters interesting and relatable, from Mercer himself, to the “racist” (anti-flesh) mechanical alien that serves as science officer, and all others in between. Mercer even seeks relationship advice from the enemy alien captain. This show has heart.
The show also has really cool makeup and special effects. If you are a sci-fi fan as I am, the visuals play an important role. MacFarlane spared no expense in the visual effects department, and viewers will find a plethora of interesting and unique aliens, finely-designed buildings and ships, and a realism as fine as what you’ll see in any other series. Add to this MacFarlane’s skill at comedic element of surprise, and details are not always what they seem… a plant/fish that’s actually a scientist, an odd choice of airplane seatbelts in the space shuttle that plays a crucial role.
Not everything is perfect in The Orville. One glaring plot hole plagues my mind. Why in the ‘verse would the enemy alien Krill, already apparently in the vicinity of the science lab with the device they seek to steal, WAIT for the Orville to arrive to attempt the theft? It’s like a bank robber waiting for the police to arrive before entering the bank. But even this I can forgive because this first episode was fun and enjoyable to watch. As long as The Orville’s writing team can pull it together for the rest of the series, I think we have a winner.
Let us know what YOU think in the comments...
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www.readmota.com
To comment, scroll down and type in your comment. Under Comment As, you can select Anonymous or Name/URL (you don't need to enter a URL). Then hit Publish.
September 8, 2017
Fantasy Laws
©2017 C. Henry Martens
Regardless of one's political leanings, we all have our pet peeves about how the "system" works, don't we? If you could wave your magic wand and add a few laws to the books, wouldn't you? Here are some of my fantasy laws...
NUMBER ONE: Any benefits accorded to politicians must be the exact same as those they vote for their constituents, those laws that provide benefit or penalty to citizens.
Any organization claiming tax exemption must demonstrate a history of charity, including the personal charity of those in charge.
Demonstrated and reproducible evidence will always be given higher priority in law making than belief.
The military is to prioritize disaster relief opportunities to train in logistics within the borders of the nation.
All businesses of over a thousand employees will maintain a customer service department with up to date, working contact information displayed boldly on their home page and any table of contents. All employees in complaint department that deal with customer contact will speak English as their primary language.
All ad prices quoted and overcharged at the register will be free to the purchaser, not to exceed ten dollars. Any ad price published by mistake will be boldly displayed at the front door.
Expectation of use needs to include television and internet limitations on advertising.
Personally owned and private images taken with the expectation of privacy are wholly owned by the person or persons in the image. Any person or business entity, regardless of being incorporated or otherwise limited in liability or responsibility, publishing an image without permission can be held liable for publication.
Free television and radio through ads, not subscription. Subscription means FREE of ads.
All telephone marketing illegal unless a person signs up for it.
Alternatively: Any call originating from a business is to be paid for wholly by that business.
Any person can state they wish to be taken off of a call list for any reason, regardless of any business relationship, and if calls continue they can demand reimbursement for their entire phone bill from each offender.
If a person or business does business in the US, they pay taxes in the US.
Restrictions on pet breeding. Register required for fertile females. Fees used for inspection of facilities. Sign up lists before breeding allowed. National registry of pet owners that abandon animals or are convicted of abuse.
No property tax increases for principal residences of retired people.
Taxes levied for schools depending on size of family.
All prices advertised must include all fees, taxes, whatever. Full and complete disclosure, no surprises.
Eye, dental, and hearing included on health insurance. Boards set up to decide standards of necessary care to avoid over selling of service.
Guaranteed health care for life-threatening disease and mental illness. Restrictions on length of time opioids can be used. No markups on equipment or products used in insurance-covered medical procedures higher than the national average for other profit-generating products.
Required classes and registration to own weapons. Militia membership and participation required to own weapons deemed military.
Reality-based grading in schools based on actual academic ability. Realistic standard testing. Education based on what can be proven and reproduced. Teacher pay dependent on results. Student debt regulated in institutions receiving federal funding. No tenure for school administrators, and limits on teacher/admin ratios. Government funding for higher education prioritized by professions most in demand, including trades.
Term limits. No lobbies. All donations and gifts must be reported and made public. Elected officials required to be in voting chambers for ninety percent of all votes.
Review of all laws every ten years for necessity and how well they actually work. Those not reviewed automatically time out.
Phone blocker on vehicles, blocking all signals to driver area unless car is turned off.
All plastics, glass containers, and batteries will have a deposit assessed at point of sale (This is a personal favorite. There are so many obvious benefits as well as interesting ways to handle both the returned material and the deposit monies).
No free music, film, art, or books distributed from for-profit organizations unless they compensate the person that produces those products fairly.
Now some REAL fantasy laws.
Public corporation pay structure to compensate all employees fairly. No golden parachutes, bonuses should be based on actual performance and not to be more than ten percent of annual salary, no CEO's on boards, no executive compensation more than one hundred times the lowest salary of the business.
All immigrants, temporary or otherwise, are to register on entering the country and declaring their intention to work and pay taxes. They will have three months to find employment and begin working. If a non-citizen should fail to secure gainful employment they lose all rights and are to be deported immediately. If employment is not maintained for ten months of every year, non-citizens lose all rights and will be deported immediately. All rights of citizenship are accorded to taxpayers regardless of citizenship. Children born to non-citizens are declared citizens of the parent's country of origin. If a parent is deported their children stay with them. Children of immigrants are to be given priority in receiving citizenship opportunities but only after reaching the age of eighteen. Citizenship may be denied for any felony conviction, and deportation will be mandatory. Non-citizens serving in the US military will be granted citizenship on completion of two tours of duty. All people applying for citizenship shall be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Any immigrants over the age of sixty-five and not working must have a family member or sponsor that will be responsible for their living expenses.
Professions will form boards to police their practitioners in regards to ethics and quality of service. Citizen boards made up of complainants will oversee them, and if they are found to be unable to police themselves, those citizen boards will administer judgments.
I could surely go on. So many laws are unnecessary, or outmoded, or ignored, or in need of changes easily made. I prefer simple laws and allowing good judges to administer discretion. Care to indulge in the fantasy? It isn't that difficult to leave a comment. You are invited.
Click here to receive the Apocalypse Observer Newsletter in your inbox
www.readmota.com
To comment, scroll down and type in your comment. Under Comment As, you can select Anonymous or Name/URL (you don't need to enter a URL). Then hit Publish.
Regardless of one's political leanings, we all have our pet peeves about how the "system" works, don't we? If you could wave your magic wand and add a few laws to the books, wouldn't you? Here are some of my fantasy laws...
NUMBER ONE: Any benefits accorded to politicians must be the exact same as those they vote for their constituents, those laws that provide benefit or penalty to citizens.
Any organization claiming tax exemption must demonstrate a history of charity, including the personal charity of those in charge.
Demonstrated and reproducible evidence will always be given higher priority in law making than belief.
The military is to prioritize disaster relief opportunities to train in logistics within the borders of the nation.
All businesses of over a thousand employees will maintain a customer service department with up to date, working contact information displayed boldly on their home page and any table of contents. All employees in complaint department that deal with customer contact will speak English as their primary language.
All ad prices quoted and overcharged at the register will be free to the purchaser, not to exceed ten dollars. Any ad price published by mistake will be boldly displayed at the front door.
Expectation of use needs to include television and internet limitations on advertising.
Personally owned and private images taken with the expectation of privacy are wholly owned by the person or persons in the image. Any person or business entity, regardless of being incorporated or otherwise limited in liability or responsibility, publishing an image without permission can be held liable for publication.
Free television and radio through ads, not subscription. Subscription means FREE of ads.
All telephone marketing illegal unless a person signs up for it.
Alternatively: Any call originating from a business is to be paid for wholly by that business.
Any person can state they wish to be taken off of a call list for any reason, regardless of any business relationship, and if calls continue they can demand reimbursement for their entire phone bill from each offender.
If a person or business does business in the US, they pay taxes in the US.
Restrictions on pet breeding. Register required for fertile females. Fees used for inspection of facilities. Sign up lists before breeding allowed. National registry of pet owners that abandon animals or are convicted of abuse.
No property tax increases for principal residences of retired people.
Taxes levied for schools depending on size of family.
All prices advertised must include all fees, taxes, whatever. Full and complete disclosure, no surprises.
Eye, dental, and hearing included on health insurance. Boards set up to decide standards of necessary care to avoid over selling of service.
Guaranteed health care for life-threatening disease and mental illness. Restrictions on length of time opioids can be used. No markups on equipment or products used in insurance-covered medical procedures higher than the national average for other profit-generating products.
Required classes and registration to own weapons. Militia membership and participation required to own weapons deemed military.
Reality-based grading in schools based on actual academic ability. Realistic standard testing. Education based on what can be proven and reproduced. Teacher pay dependent on results. Student debt regulated in institutions receiving federal funding. No tenure for school administrators, and limits on teacher/admin ratios. Government funding for higher education prioritized by professions most in demand, including trades.
Term limits. No lobbies. All donations and gifts must be reported and made public. Elected officials required to be in voting chambers for ninety percent of all votes.
Review of all laws every ten years for necessity and how well they actually work. Those not reviewed automatically time out.
Phone blocker on vehicles, blocking all signals to driver area unless car is turned off.
All plastics, glass containers, and batteries will have a deposit assessed at point of sale (This is a personal favorite. There are so many obvious benefits as well as interesting ways to handle both the returned material and the deposit monies).
No free music, film, art, or books distributed from for-profit organizations unless they compensate the person that produces those products fairly.
Now some REAL fantasy laws.
Public corporation pay structure to compensate all employees fairly. No golden parachutes, bonuses should be based on actual performance and not to be more than ten percent of annual salary, no CEO's on boards, no executive compensation more than one hundred times the lowest salary of the business.
All immigrants, temporary or otherwise, are to register on entering the country and declaring their intention to work and pay taxes. They will have three months to find employment and begin working. If a non-citizen should fail to secure gainful employment they lose all rights and are to be deported immediately. If employment is not maintained for ten months of every year, non-citizens lose all rights and will be deported immediately. All rights of citizenship are accorded to taxpayers regardless of citizenship. Children born to non-citizens are declared citizens of the parent's country of origin. If a parent is deported their children stay with them. Children of immigrants are to be given priority in receiving citizenship opportunities but only after reaching the age of eighteen. Citizenship may be denied for any felony conviction, and deportation will be mandatory. Non-citizens serving in the US military will be granted citizenship on completion of two tours of duty. All people applying for citizenship shall be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Any immigrants over the age of sixty-five and not working must have a family member or sponsor that will be responsible for their living expenses.
Professions will form boards to police their practitioners in regards to ethics and quality of service. Citizen boards made up of complainants will oversee them, and if they are found to be unable to police themselves, those citizen boards will administer judgments.
I could surely go on. So many laws are unnecessary, or outmoded, or ignored, or in need of changes easily made. I prefer simple laws and allowing good judges to administer discretion. Care to indulge in the fantasy? It isn't that difficult to leave a comment. You are invited.
Click here to receive the Apocalypse Observer Newsletter in your inbox
www.readmota.com
To comment, scroll down and type in your comment. Under Comment As, you can select Anonymous or Name/URL (you don't need to enter a URL). Then hit Publish.
September 1, 2017
She Works Hard for the Money...
©2017 C. Henry Martens
Why are we so horizontally opposed to how we are taxed? About what is “fair”? About what works? I would suggest that most of us lack an understanding of context. I mean, why shouldn't poor people pay taxes or the rich get a tax break? Or on the other hand, why shouldn't wealthy people bear the burden of taxes since they are the ones benefiting the most from capitalism?
Can we at least agree that taxes are necessary to maintain a healthy nation? I mean... we do want our government to function, right? That means having and paying employees at the very least. Do we want a military, schools, an environmental protection agency? Or are we okay with anarchy?
I happen to appreciate a strong military, public education, and clean water. We could quibble all day long about the way the money is spent and what programs are necessary or pure waste, but in general... I like the services my government provides.
The way I see it, I pay for what I want, and don't pay for what I don't want. My tax money pays for good highways, not for any interminable wars. I might have had some of my money going toward war efforts in the past, but that time is long gone. I just don't see the point any more. Now it is your money supporting wars, or not. The point is, I can complain about any government program, subsidies, pork, or congressional salaries, but it won't do me any good. So I choose to think of my money going toward veteran care, scientific research, and things that make my nation stronger and more benevolent.
If I didn't see things this way, I would go insane at the amount of government waste.
At the same time, I know that money spent by government keeps the economy flowing. That is something that many people seem to be unaware of... that in a strong economy there has to be money moving from one hand to another, from one pocket to another, from one business to another. A stagnant economy sinks all boats. So the government's best function, even before military strength, is to stay economically strong. You can't pay for a powerful military if you don't have a financially viable economic structure, unless you want to go back to slavery.
So I am rather proud of paying taxes. I hope you are, too.
But none of this stops me from complaining.
I have to choose one example to illustrate first, so let's start with people who make less than the average wage. First off, let's assume these people are willing to work. We could go off on any number of tangents that constantly distract us from getting to a point if we want to, but in this case let's stick with people who work.
The less than average paid worker sweats as much as the rich guy. They just do it at their job, not the gym. Actually, that's unfair. Rich people sweat more in worrying about how to manage their money than they do at the gym. Mental sweat counts, too, right?
Whether the low wage person is paid appropriately is only another distraction. That's another story better told in another article.
What really makes a difference in the context of fair taxation... is what it takes to live on the wages that are being taxed.
Now a poor person uses the same services as a rich person does, right? Public schools teach their kids, they drive on the same roads, and their homes and way of life are protected by the military and police just as we all benefit. So really, our personal expenses, the debits for services rendered by the government, are the same, poor or wealthy. Well, at least pretty much. This is where it is handy to think of your own money being spent on the programs that benefit you.
But opportunity has a cost, too. And this is where it gets sticky. Let's say a person makes a thousand dollars a month. That's poverty level wages in the most inexpensive areas to live anywhere in the country. How much of that income is disposable? I can itemize it if you wish, but is there any question that someone making a grand a month will be hard pressed to put any money away for the future or for investment purposes? Especially if they have children? So my point is there is little opportunity for a low wage earner to do more than subsist. They spend everything they make on trying to survive.
Now we can quibble about this, too. Sure there are examples of people rising from poverty. I say the odds are about the same as a ten year old who wants to play in the NBA going on to realize that dream. But amazingly, the real figures are much higher. This is a testament to the tenacity of people in dire straits. While many in upper income brackets denigrate the poor as lazy or inept, the facts suggest they are just as capable as anyone... and tougher than most. The numbers would be even higher if the poor weren't in an environment that generates bad luck. You have to wonder how many would rise if they didn't have to care for an aging parent or if they weren't preyed on by circumstances out of their control and with no support system worthy of being called one.
What about our example of wealth?
Well, what do we consider wealthy? I define it as a level of comfort based in financial security. Let's say that a person is wealthy if they can pay the average basic living expenses in their present city for the rest of their life without working. But people in this position don't stop making money, do they?
A lot of people resent wealthy people because they have more than the rest and are unwilling to share. On the other hand, a lot of people see the effort or luck involved in making money as a just reward. This is all distraction, once again, from the point of fair taxation. It does not matter unless you want to get caught up in the minutia of over-complication.
I'm going to say this clearly. Most wealthy people deserve to be wealthy. No matter how they come by their money, inheritance, hard work, smart investing, talent, scrimping and saving, or playing the system, they all give the rest incentive to make an effort, to improve their circumstance. The exception to deserved riches is illegal activity.
The most common excuse for limiting taxes on the rich is that with their wealth is used to generate jobs for the rest of the population. I say excuse, rather than reason, because I don't believe the “reason” any longer applies. We live in a diminishing job market where intelligent people are increasingly encouraged to seek higher education to compete, yet there are fewer jobs in all categories.
The times, they are a'changin'.
What worked before will not work in the future.
I'm going to suggest to those people of means who feel financially secure, unless you are in the upper point one percent and maybe much more wealthy, you are the new middle class. You better realize that those wealthier than you are going to be looking to where the money is for their future wealth building efforts.
This means that those paying the most in taxes will be increasingly be the lowest echelon of the wealthy.
Either that or the nation becomes bankrupt and a third world economy.
So what is fair taxation for someone of wealth?
I said before that a poor person and a rich person reap the benefits of government fairly equally. And as an individual, that is substantially true. But a wealthy person has investment in commerce, and that commerce uses roads. Commerce is manned by people educated in public schools. Commerce is protected by a military made up of citizens that come from low wage conditions.
How about we make it simple. Think of the savings in governmental expense if the IRS was only chasing after the fair and just taxes levied on profit... and not income. In other words, taxation only on money made above and beyond the average living expenses in any person's community.
A graduated tax, favoring small business that employs a greater percentage of workers compared to larger more efficient businesses, would encourage employment as well as growth. After all, any percentage of profit that stays with a business is better than no profit.
I have a lot of sympathy for people who have generated their own circumstance, rich or poor. They both bear burdens. But a nation must make an attempt to survive, and if in that endeavor we wish to be seen as Constitutional and cognizant of human rights, we must be fair. Those of us with religious convictions can surely see anything else is irreligious.
There will always be industrious people. There will always be lucky and talented people. Some will succeed beyond all reason, and some will fail through no fault of their own. It could be any one of us. The government can act as a great equalizer. We do not have to pillage those who have nothing, nor do we have to ruin those who inspire our efforts.
Click here to receive the Apocalypse Observer Newsletter in your inbox
www.readmota.com
To comment, scroll down and type in your comment. Under Comment As, you can select Anonymous or Name/URL (you don't need to enter a URL). Then hit Publish.
Why are we so horizontally opposed to how we are taxed? About what is “fair”? About what works? I would suggest that most of us lack an understanding of context. I mean, why shouldn't poor people pay taxes or the rich get a tax break? Or on the other hand, why shouldn't wealthy people bear the burden of taxes since they are the ones benefiting the most from capitalism?
Can we at least agree that taxes are necessary to maintain a healthy nation? I mean... we do want our government to function, right? That means having and paying employees at the very least. Do we want a military, schools, an environmental protection agency? Or are we okay with anarchy?
I happen to appreciate a strong military, public education, and clean water. We could quibble all day long about the way the money is spent and what programs are necessary or pure waste, but in general... I like the services my government provides.
The way I see it, I pay for what I want, and don't pay for what I don't want. My tax money pays for good highways, not for any interminable wars. I might have had some of my money going toward war efforts in the past, but that time is long gone. I just don't see the point any more. Now it is your money supporting wars, or not. The point is, I can complain about any government program, subsidies, pork, or congressional salaries, but it won't do me any good. So I choose to think of my money going toward veteran care, scientific research, and things that make my nation stronger and more benevolent.
If I didn't see things this way, I would go insane at the amount of government waste.
At the same time, I know that money spent by government keeps the economy flowing. That is something that many people seem to be unaware of... that in a strong economy there has to be money moving from one hand to another, from one pocket to another, from one business to another. A stagnant economy sinks all boats. So the government's best function, even before military strength, is to stay economically strong. You can't pay for a powerful military if you don't have a financially viable economic structure, unless you want to go back to slavery.
So I am rather proud of paying taxes. I hope you are, too.
But none of this stops me from complaining.
I have to choose one example to illustrate first, so let's start with people who make less than the average wage. First off, let's assume these people are willing to work. We could go off on any number of tangents that constantly distract us from getting to a point if we want to, but in this case let's stick with people who work.
The less than average paid worker sweats as much as the rich guy. They just do it at their job, not the gym. Actually, that's unfair. Rich people sweat more in worrying about how to manage their money than they do at the gym. Mental sweat counts, too, right?
Whether the low wage person is paid appropriately is only another distraction. That's another story better told in another article.
What really makes a difference in the context of fair taxation... is what it takes to live on the wages that are being taxed.
Now a poor person uses the same services as a rich person does, right? Public schools teach their kids, they drive on the same roads, and their homes and way of life are protected by the military and police just as we all benefit. So really, our personal expenses, the debits for services rendered by the government, are the same, poor or wealthy. Well, at least pretty much. This is where it is handy to think of your own money being spent on the programs that benefit you.
But opportunity has a cost, too. And this is where it gets sticky. Let's say a person makes a thousand dollars a month. That's poverty level wages in the most inexpensive areas to live anywhere in the country. How much of that income is disposable? I can itemize it if you wish, but is there any question that someone making a grand a month will be hard pressed to put any money away for the future or for investment purposes? Especially if they have children? So my point is there is little opportunity for a low wage earner to do more than subsist. They spend everything they make on trying to survive.
Now we can quibble about this, too. Sure there are examples of people rising from poverty. I say the odds are about the same as a ten year old who wants to play in the NBA going on to realize that dream. But amazingly, the real figures are much higher. This is a testament to the tenacity of people in dire straits. While many in upper income brackets denigrate the poor as lazy or inept, the facts suggest they are just as capable as anyone... and tougher than most. The numbers would be even higher if the poor weren't in an environment that generates bad luck. You have to wonder how many would rise if they didn't have to care for an aging parent or if they weren't preyed on by circumstances out of their control and with no support system worthy of being called one.
What about our example of wealth?
Well, what do we consider wealthy? I define it as a level of comfort based in financial security. Let's say that a person is wealthy if they can pay the average basic living expenses in their present city for the rest of their life without working. But people in this position don't stop making money, do they?
A lot of people resent wealthy people because they have more than the rest and are unwilling to share. On the other hand, a lot of people see the effort or luck involved in making money as a just reward. This is all distraction, once again, from the point of fair taxation. It does not matter unless you want to get caught up in the minutia of over-complication.
I'm going to say this clearly. Most wealthy people deserve to be wealthy. No matter how they come by their money, inheritance, hard work, smart investing, talent, scrimping and saving, or playing the system, they all give the rest incentive to make an effort, to improve their circumstance. The exception to deserved riches is illegal activity.
The most common excuse for limiting taxes on the rich is that with their wealth is used to generate jobs for the rest of the population. I say excuse, rather than reason, because I don't believe the “reason” any longer applies. We live in a diminishing job market where intelligent people are increasingly encouraged to seek higher education to compete, yet there are fewer jobs in all categories.
The times, they are a'changin'.
What worked before will not work in the future.
I'm going to suggest to those people of means who feel financially secure, unless you are in the upper point one percent and maybe much more wealthy, you are the new middle class. You better realize that those wealthier than you are going to be looking to where the money is for their future wealth building efforts.
This means that those paying the most in taxes will be increasingly be the lowest echelon of the wealthy.
Either that or the nation becomes bankrupt and a third world economy.
So what is fair taxation for someone of wealth?
I said before that a poor person and a rich person reap the benefits of government fairly equally. And as an individual, that is substantially true. But a wealthy person has investment in commerce, and that commerce uses roads. Commerce is manned by people educated in public schools. Commerce is protected by a military made up of citizens that come from low wage conditions.
How about we make it simple. Think of the savings in governmental expense if the IRS was only chasing after the fair and just taxes levied on profit... and not income. In other words, taxation only on money made above and beyond the average living expenses in any person's community.
A graduated tax, favoring small business that employs a greater percentage of workers compared to larger more efficient businesses, would encourage employment as well as growth. After all, any percentage of profit that stays with a business is better than no profit.
I have a lot of sympathy for people who have generated their own circumstance, rich or poor. They both bear burdens. But a nation must make an attempt to survive, and if in that endeavor we wish to be seen as Constitutional and cognizant of human rights, we must be fair. Those of us with religious convictions can surely see anything else is irreligious.
There will always be industrious people. There will always be lucky and talented people. Some will succeed beyond all reason, and some will fail through no fault of their own. It could be any one of us. The government can act as a great equalizer. We do not have to pillage those who have nothing, nor do we have to ruin those who inspire our efforts.
Click here to receive the Apocalypse Observer Newsletter in your inbox
www.readmota.com
To comment, scroll down and type in your comment. Under Comment As, you can select Anonymous or Name/URL (you don't need to enter a URL). Then hit Publish.
