Is Obama up to the job?

Obama Obama has certainly scared the living daylights out of the established powers. To be honest, I like the idea of a candidate who worries the very people who have made the term ‘healthcare’ an oxymoron in the U.S. I enjoy the prospects of a candidate who furrows the brows of the ultra-wealthy and those who have sought to make game out of socio-economic misery. And I rather relish the idea that the masses might overcome the wishes of American dynastic politics – and Karl Rove in particular.

But I have been a second-guesser since birth and while the urge to cheer rises to my lips I wonder about Obama’s ability to be more than a visionary and a charismatic presenter? Make no mistake, the coming years will be very difficult for us. A deep recession not withstanding, we also have the prospects of further devaluation of our currency, harsher economic situations for the poor, and spiraling cost for energy and other commodities. We cannot afford to make any more rash decisions and unschooled policies. And on the military side, the situation may be worse than you know.

For those of you looking for a quick exit from Iraq. Forget it – unless you really want trouble. The fact is Bush broke Iraq – now we have to fix it or suffer some very dire consequences down the road. I think even a dove like Obama knows this – or will come to realize the fullness of the situation and end up trampling his campaign promise to leave (remember George Bush’s “read my lips”).

We can’t leave Afghanistan either – if we did the whole place would quickly fall back into the hands of the Taliban. And there’s the Sino-Triangle. This is the only place in the planet where three major nuclear powers share the same border; India, China, Pakistan; and guess what? There are long-standing border disputes with all three. This place has always held special attention with global strategists. These days, even far-out scenarios (e.g., Pakistan starts a global nuclear war) now bears grim scrutiny in our highest intelligence offices. And need I mention a rising Russia, an emboldened China, the rest of the Mid-East, and an awakening Third World that’s not really pleased with their colonial legacy. These issues require experienced leadership, elder statesmanship, and more than charisma to navigate. So think before you cheer and wave the red shirt of victory. I like Obama too, but is he the right man for this time?

The Great Fibber

Bill and HillI’m not a die-hard dem and I never considered myself a supporter of Hillary Clinton, but it really makes my blood boil every time I hear some nimrod or bush-head call Bill Clinton a liar – and as though lying is a unique family trait.

Get YOUR facts straight kiddies. Bush 41 lied through his teeth when he denied involvement in Iran-Contra. He lied about his involvement in the grandmother of CIA coverups when they silenced Noriega. But Bush 43 has surpassed every president in recent memory as the Great Fibber. And there’s really no need to get into a quibble over why that is.

No matter how cynical you want to be, when Clinton lied, nobody died. The Clinton stain is on some dumb girl’s dress and tarnished the office of the U.S. President. Dubya’s stain is on the Flag and in the sands of Iraq – and we may never wash that out and there are quite a few people who will never forgive us. Clearly, Bush and the the ultra-cons (with Cheney, et al as their beloved leaders) betrayed this country with their lies and deceit. So, the more THEY chant “Clinton Lied” the more I am likely to say “FU” and pull that lever in Hillary Clinton’s favor.

The nightmare is now kids. Time to wake up.

God Bless America.

Success vs Happiness

!headuphis.jpgConfucius noted that there are two distinct paths that a human can take: one of happiness and the other of success and power. To appreciate the path of happiness, one must live in the present and forget all that has past and disavow any notion of the future. Thus he is happy because he lives only with what he sees before him. Conversely, to embark on the path to success, one must remember the past, plan for the future and obsess about the present, for success and power requires strategy and tactics that foreshadow the goal. Sometimes I think that Confucius was a judgmental asshole. There must be at least some people out there who have planned well for a job that they loved and is/was successful and happy all their lives – and who are not monks and don’t have their heads up their asses. Then again, what do I know?

Give Pedro Zapeta His Money Back

Pedro Zapeta Have you heard of this one? It’s all over the ‘sphere. The long and short of it is a dishwasher Guatemalan immigrant named Pedro Zapeta who worked for 11 years and managed to scrape together $59k in savings. He tried to walk into an airport to cart his cash haul home. The Feds seized the money because it was undeclared and now this guy is back to washing dishes… that is, until the Feds come back to toss him out of the country.

It’s too easy to be cynical and look to law and order as a reason for putting this bloke in so much pain. He isn’t a criminal – he doesn’t even have a parking ticket. He didn’t shirk the law any more than the next working stiff and he’s certainly no Enron corporate hack working at the behest of Kenneth Lay. No… Pedro came here with the best intentions of doing a job that few Americans will do – he cleans our dinner plates for a buck.

I did the math. If Pedro trimmed his living expenses to 50% of income, worked a steady 8 to 10 hours per day, 6 days a week (accounting for about 25 days off per year besides Sundays and perhaps some down days when he couldn’t find work, he could have easily accumulated $59k in savings after 11 years.Two things come to mind. One: I earn almost ten times what this guy earned per year and can barely scrape together enough to meet the IRS minimum for my IRA exemption. Two: most people I know earn at least 10 times what this poor guy earned and are struggling to pay their mortgage and Beemer lease payments. I’m certain that there are folks out there who think that there’s a deeper more sinister story here. But I assure you, there isn’t. Perhaps we’re all fed by the same lopsided American consumerist attitude; what doesn’t make instant sense makes us so cautious that we become overly judgmental and cruel.We should be able to figure out how to give this guy a break. Yeah, okay; force him to pay income tax; at his bracket that might be around 20% of gross. Maybe fine him a little for trying to walk through the airport with all that cash. But he should at least walk away with about $30k – definitely not empty handed.

This story assails our sense of fairness in so many ways. On one side are folks to believe that the letter of the law must be observed; in their mind, fairness comes from equal application of punishment. But this view ignores the ‘global effect’ of our current economic activities. It is no secret that we are the primary beneficiaries of a thick web of offshore supply and demand – in terms of products and services, but also in blood, sweat and tears labor. Our actions clearly affect the emotions and attitudes that are directed toward us; as a country and as a society; individually and severally. Therefore, it is in our best interest to at least show some kindness from time to time. Are WE THE PEOPLE blind-minded bureaucrats, hard-nosed executors for the rule of law? Or are we a grateful citizenry, obedient to another, much higher order of law that requires us to acknowledge the sacrifices of those who come to this country to do the work that none of us want to do, e.g, wash our dirty dishes for a buck.

By the way, if you disagree with the ruling of US District Judge James I. Cohn (the guy who exacted justice on Mr Zapeta), let the Hon. Judge Cohn know what you think. Hold him accountable for his cruelty. Call 1-954-769-5490, then press 6 and either talk to his staffer or leave a message.Or you could write him: this is his address: 299 East Broward Boulevard, 203F, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301

Why is this man smiling?

Read the following edited transcript from last night’s ANDERSON COOPER (CNN) segment. Show title: “O.J. Simpson Arrested in Alleged Robbery Case” — Aired September 17, 2007 – 22:00 ET. Link to the full transcript is located at the end.
Another Mug of Oj
OJ’s got quite an SEG (shit eating grin). Guess he has practice…

****EDIT****

COOPER: Now Simpson is under arrest facing charges that could send him to prison for many years.

On his latest mug shot, a grin for the camera. One legal expert thinks she knows why, saying normal people don’t smile when they’re charged with serious crimes.

MURPHY: If that’s not the behavior of a sociopath, I don’t know what is.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: She says Simpson’s a sociopath. Let see what our expert thinks. With me now is Dr. Drew Pinsky, an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the USC School of Medicine.

What about it, Dr. Drew? A lot of people called him a sociopath. What do you think?

DR. DREW PINSKY, ASSISTANT CLERICAL PROFESSOR OF PSYCHIATRY, USC SCHOOL OF MEDICINE: Well, I don’t know about him particularly. But I think it’s important for us all to understand what a sociopath is. And you can decide for yourself.

A sociopath is someone who has difficulty deciding the difference between what’s right and what’s wrong, who tends to be very grandiose, who really cannot appreciate that other people have feelings or agency other than what he needs from him.

And they become very exploitative of other people, can be violent and aggressive. They tend to do drugs and alcohol. It’s — it’s a spectrum of disorder he does kind of fit. And it’s possible he does.

The only other thing that can really create that same kind of manifestation is really drug addiction. And you know, if somebody does manifest circumstances and behaviors like that, you almost hope they’re drug addicts, because at least that’s treatable. Sociopathy, unfortunately, is not.

They tend to have run-ins with the law. They tend to have more trouble. They tend to keep going until something stops them.

COOPER: Dr. Drew, stick around. We’re going to talk to you just after this commercial break, along with Ryan Smith and Jeffrey Toobin.

****EDIT****

With me again, our CNN senior legal analyst, Jeffrey Toobin, sports and entertainment attorney Ryan Smith, who’s also the co-host of “My Two Cents” on BET, and Dr. Drew Pinsky of USC’s School of Medicine.

Jeff, I just want to play a little bit more of this audiotape, reported to be from the incident in the room. TMZ.com is where it’s from. Let’s play that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SIMPSON: Don’t let nobody out this room. (expletive deleted) Think you can steal my (expletive deleted) and sell it?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

SIMPSON: Don’t let nobody out of here. (expletive deleted), you think you can steal my (expletive deleted)?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: Does it surprise you that, Jeff, that O.J. Simpson, who has had so many brushes with the law, would put himself in a situation like this?

TOOBIN: No, because of the incredible narcissism and sense of entitlement that he has always reflected in his behavior.

This is a guy, since he was a junior at USC has been one of the most famous people in the United States. He’s been coddled. He’s been told he was great. And he beat this case, and he left the trial with a smirk on his face, and it’s never gone away. And he just thinks that the world has to accommodate to him, and largely it has.

COOPER: Right. I mean, is that the fact that he is this — was this sports icon and was sort of coddled?

RYAN SMITH, CO-HOST, BET’S “MY TWO CENTS”: I think that’s a lot of it. I think we talk about this difference between right and wrong. When you’re coddled like that, particularly an athlete, there’s the sense all the time that you’re right. Everything you do is right.

When I hear this and when I hear O.J. conducting his own sting operation, it’s not so much that I see it as him thinking he’s above the law but I see it as him making — I’m right in this case, so I’m going to lead these guys to this room and get my stuff back.

COOPER: And when you see that mug shot with that little smile, that’s what you think, too?

SMITH: I think there’s — yes, I think there’s a right perspective.

TOOBIN: There is a deep personality defect there. You know, Tiger Woods is coddled. Michael Jordan is coddled. And they’re fine, upstanding, law abiding citizens. This guy, there’s something wrong with, and there has been for a long time.

COOPER: Doctor Pinsky, you know, despite a number of legal problems, this guy only has one misdemeanor conviction, which was beating Nicole years before she was killed. Do you think this has had an impact on his behavior, I mean, the fact that he has, you know, not been punished for a number of actions which he has been involved with?

PINSKY: Right. It’s the same thing I see with other people that have behavior problems. We tend to think in our society that somehow people cry out for help. They’re looking to be stopped. They’re not. They just keep going until they have to stop. And I think that’s going on here.

And look, one other point about sociopaths and severe narcissists. They are a pleasure to be around. They are wonderful and entertaining. They are the life of the party, and they can really make you feel good. God help you if you cross them.

COOPER: I want to play — Jeffrey.

TOOBIN: That is so true. And let’s not forget the obvious here. He killed Ron Goldman and his ex-wife. I mean, and I believe — and I devoted years of my life to this subject — and many people believe it, he killed those people. And he got away with it, which is the ultimate putting one over on the system.

So having achieved that triumph, you know, everything else is easy.

SMITH: Taking it away from that so much, I wouldn’t really — this is a totally different circumstance. And here, he’s looking at it like, you know what? If something — if something is mine, just like any other citizen in the world, why should I not be able to go get it in my way?

He even said, you know, “People told me to involve the police, but every time I involve the police, it becomes an O.J. story,” which is ironic because now it’s become an O.J. story because he didn’t involve.

COOPER: I want to play something that Alfred Beardsley said on “LARRY KING”. This is a guy who was in the room, one of these memorabilia collectors who witnessed the whole thing. Let’s play what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LARRY KING, HOST, “LARRY KING LIVE”: How many guns were involved?

ALFRED BEARDSLEY, WITNESS: I only saw — I know there were two. But I saw one. You know, this was a very small room in this seedy hotel that Riccio was staying at. And I only saw one. This guy came over and ordered me at gunpoint to pack the items up in the boxes we brought them in. I refused. And I was sitting in a chair, and I was told to get the “F” up, get the “F” up and I did get up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: It just doesn’t get more surreal or sleazy than this. I got to tell you. I mean, I’m going to take a shower, frankly, after doing this hour. But how much trouble is he in? I mean…

TOOBIN: That’s real trouble. You can’t — I mean, you can’t go into a hotel room and wave a gun at somebody and say, “Pack stuff up and give it to me,” even if it’s yours. That’s not how the system works.

SMITH: The only problem…

COOPER: Ryan, finish.

SMITH: The only problem I have with that is this is the same guy who, a couple days ago, was saying, “I don’t want to go to Vegas to participate in this trial. O.J. apologized to me. Water under the bridge.”

So a defense attorney is going to look at that, someone who’s defending O.J., and is going to say that’s what he was saying now. Now look at the story he’s telling. And that’s going to cause problems.

****EDIT****

###

Full transcripts can be found here:
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0709/17/acd.01.html

Failure of Ministry: You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it (Part II)

In my previous post, I brought up a quote from the late Dr Adrian Pierce Rogers – known primarily by this snip: “You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.” In the previous post, demonstrated how Dr Rogers’ well known quote failed on two points. The first failure was how he chooses to define “socialism.” The United States, along with ALL successful industrialized nations, has a long history of supporting a healthy mix of capitalism and socialism. In fact, isn’t is true that the two economic systems appear to support one another? Of course it is.

Second point of failure: Ministry

It is odd that Dr Rogers would try to redefine how public policy ought to serve the lower classes – the “poor” as he called it. He errs on so many levels – chief among them, his attempt to draw a line between capitalism and socialism; a line that ceased to exist (at least in this country) for nearly a century. But economics aside, his greatest failure is his contradiction against the Christian faith.

For those who are not familiar with his ministry, Dr. Rogers served three terms as president of the Southern Baptist Convention, was a Southern Baptist pastor, and an author of several works well-known among Christian conservatives.  Rogers graduated from Stetson University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He eventually became the senior pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, a church with a membership of 29,000 by the time he retired in March 2005.

One would believe that a man of such esteemed pastoral credentials would follow scriptural examples of charitable giving. Instead, this man chose to tell a nation that “you cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.” We know by other writings that his intent was purely political – to defame “liberals” who support welfare policies designed to help poor. But in the process, he makes a terrible, egregious error of faith.

Having read many of his sermons, I know that he had a penchant for quoting the Old Testament. I wonder if he ever got to Deuteronomy 14:28-29:

At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.”

And Deuteronomy 15:7

If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother.

There are dozens of passages like that throughout the OT, but I prefer the New Testament where God leaves us with his most lasting lessons. For instance, Matthew 25:34-40, where Jesus Christ said:

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Clearly, when Jesus instructs us to give to the poor, he asks that we do so willingly. Let’s give Dr. Rogers the benefit of the doubt and say that his point was that charity should not be legislated (“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” – 1 Cor 13:3). And yet, should we all be so cheerful in our giving that there would be any poor left to help? The sad truth is, the free market is not free because greedy humans behave badly and taxes are required by law because selfish humans would never give government a dime.

I will go so far as to say that this unfortunate quote by Dr Rogers attempts to change Christian teaching into something more convenient; something more marketable to Christian conservatives. Moreover, by the example of the feeding of the 5,000, isn’t Jesus Christ demonstrating to us that indeed you CAN multiply wealth by dividing it?

I’ll leave you with my favorite quote today:

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
– 1 Timothy 6:17-18

Failure of Ministry: You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it (Part I)

Yah, I know. Not one single entry since December. What a loser. I’m still trying to get my ‘blog-mojo’ in gear – still looking for that convergent level of awareness and willingness to make this a weekly habit. Work interferes, you know?

I have been doing some reading and just came across this bit of Christian rhetoric:

You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.
– Dr. Adrian Rogers, 1931 – 2005

With all due respect to the late Dr Rogers, his statement fails on two points.

First point of failure:Definition

Thanks to the GOP/Tea Party of late, the definition of socialism has devolved into rote histrionic hate list of so-called “liberal” public policies. Socialism, Capitalism – these are different forms of economics. Period. And this may come as a shock for some – entitlements are not exclusive to socialism, no more than free markets are to capitalism.

Consider the fact that all economics have symbiotic relationships with the people they serve. It follows then that a vibrant economic system depends upon the existence of a free society populated by healthy people who want to interact within the economy. Therefore, the healthier society, the more vibrant the economics, the greater potential for growth and wealth.

Even an ardent socialist such as myself must admit that the wealthiest nations on the planet became wealthy because of capitalism. Bar none – Capitalism grows economies like no other system. It creates markets, it meets demand, and it reaps tremendous profits and tax revenues. But here’s something that Dr Rogers fails to mention. ALL successful industrialized nations support a healthy socialistic infrastructure: public institutions and operations that help raise the standard of living by offering broad benefits to the society at large. Name them: airports, sports arenas, roads, freeways/highways, bridges, military, public schools (including colleges and universities), unemployment insurance, welfare, social security, unions, collective bargaining – all of these activities are firmly rooted and wholly supported by socialism.

Are there any living examples of totally pure free market capitalism? Certainly not among the major industrialized nations. Most definitely not stocks and commodities. Certainly NOT bonds and foreign exchanges (currencies). I’ve heard some traders (cynically) say that the only example of truly free market capitalism is in the pornography and porno trade. But even then… only marginally.

We regulate our “free markets” for good reason. After the debacle of 2007 and the ensuing Great Recession, one might assume that even more regulations ought to be in the wings (a debate for another time). Meanwhile, among our proud socialistic institutions, which one is truly an entitlement? The many sports arenas that major municipalities sponsor through bonds and public money?  Would anyone go so far as to expect to degree without working at one of our proud colleges and universities? And can anybody truly say that poor people in this country really do not deserve at least some help?

On this next point is Dr Roger’s second and greatest failure. See next post: “Failure of Ministry: You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it (Part II)”

Let them make MILLIONS!

I just posted this remark on some sports page somewhere. I find that I’m doing a lot of that lately, so I’ll just repost them here for whoever stumbles on this lonely outpost.

Upon reading newsstories about the mega millions sports players are now earning and weighing the various initiatives for raising minimum wage plus the social-economic imperative for better wealth distribution in the country, I now stand corrected on my long held view that commercialized sports is a waste of time and money; the “Mega Salary” professional player is a fantastic model for wealth distribution. And I hope they make a heck of a lot more. How else can a dirt-poor kid end up making millions of dollars just for playing a game he/she learned for simple entertainment or to stay out of trouble? There are some fans who complain that players are overpaid… that’s probably because they don’t like the price of admission (which is either cable television or paying scalper prices for seats). But sports fans, there are alternatives. Like, paying a living wage to the security guards, maids, janitors (et cetera) who are often the parents of many of these former dirt-poor kids. If these parents could afford better housing and better education for their kids perhaps there would be fewer mega-rich players and more affluent citizens… at least they’d be better educated and wouldn’t have to burn up their lives for this sort of visceral entertainment. And as for the fights… let them fight. Besides, these guys don’t give two hoots about what gentrified suburbia thinks millions of dollars ought to behave. If you don’t like the fights… don’t tune in.

Books Never Written

A woman recently contacted me. She just won a creative writing contest put on by a local newspaper and now envisions herself making money from writing – copywriting no less. At the risk of sounding like some self-important nabob who owns secret knowledge about the Zen of writing, I am discouraging her from joining the “field” – and I do this as a reflection of my own long, sad, and insignificant career.

Offering encouragement to enter commercial writing makes me think of one addict showing another where to put the needle. The bulk of my product is bland by any comparison. I have taken some short trips into creative writing, but nothing has stuck mostly on account that I have trained as a commercial writer. Now it’s a bad habit – an addiction from twenty plus years of ends meeting means. Not comforting in the least is the idea that had I not been such a fucking “accidental” novice I may have penned as many as five novels by now. What is even more pathetic is that I know their titles. I feel like a lonely mother who remembers the names of long-dead children. Of course, had I done so I probably wouldn’t have gotten married to the most wonderful woman in the world and had two really terrific kids. But I constantly wonder about my other life… what I could have been… the stories I could have told. The drawer is filled with dozens more that have never been given enough oxygen to grow and thrive.

I implore all writers who may be thinking about taking that all-important first leap into commercial writing to turn their backs and forget about it. From personal experience, I can tell you that it’s not a dream job and it can be a living nightmare – especially for those of us who are gifted enough to have the ability to do something else with their talent; something other than adding to the heaps of advertising crap that’s produced every day.

Aside from my “lost children,” I also think about the writers who escaped the temptation of “easy money” and went on to succeed as authors: JK Rowling who toiled as a single mother with an hourly wage and went on to write a stunning series of books based on stories she told her son; Patrick O’Brian who was a researcher almost all his adult life until one day he began writing wonderfully detailed and artful stories about a Royal Navy captain and his surgeon; and Frank Herbert who at age 47 had the balls to give up being an advertising executive to write a fantastic tale about a revolution in a distant galaxy. The list goes on… hundreds of writers who went on to be successful authors… and any one of them could have stayed home with their simple, safe occupations and failed to pen much more than titles for books never written.

Confronting the Debate

Lately, President Dubya and Vice DICK Cheney have been issuing warnings of disaster and mayhem if the opposition party is successful in taking over both chambers of Congress. Now British PM Blair is in on the act – recently claiming that a democratic discussion in the Parliament on Iraq could cause unbearable demoralization of the troops. It seems to me that we have endured quite enough disaster, mayhem and demoralization from the present course. It may be just as the war hawks say, that the arbiters of terror are just waiting for the electorate to grow weary of the so-called “war on terror,” we’ll let up our guard and they’ll strike us again. But, it could also be that history has dished out ample lessons on the folly of confronting terror with warfare. Five years of warfare, massive death, and chaos are hardly what I call productive signs. Look at what we have accomplished: We have taught the world that the so-called “free democracies” are limited in both capability and means to stop terror and that we are willing to compromise our democratic principles to that end; that our war machine has a limit to what it can do while the terrorists are unlimited; that we don’t care what happens to the citizen on the street so long as our homeland is safe and we have plenty of gas in the tank. I feel like Dorothy meeting the Wizard for the first time… peering around the curtain to learn the truth. Let the debates rage.