John McCain is dead. At a time when we're all looking for honesty in our politicians, Democrats and Republicans are singing his praises... now that he's dead, of course. No politician from either party in Arizona dares to say anything critical about the man ...now that he's dead, of course. And very little bad was ever said publicly when he was alive, either.
John McCain was the son and grandson of admirals, and he was captured and tortured... much like Jesus, of course, regardless of the motives of the military-industrial complex that profited so wonderfully from that war in that puny country - a country that no American had ever heard of until people started coming back in flag-draped caskets. Yes, he was an American hero... just like everyone else who went over there.
And he was lauded for "reaching across the aisle." That was nice, wasn't it? Despite his famously salty language, he was relatively civil in an era of increasing polarization. Somehow, he could find that middle ground... or so the legend of the maverick goes.
But what was his real legacy? Frankly, he really didn't have much of a legacy. Despite the eulogists on radio and television, there simply wasn't much positive that could be said for what he actually did do.
Clean Elections
He verbally supported clean elections and "taking the money out of elections," of course. He even sponsored a bill to that effect. Sounded good, didn't it? So who could blame him for taking so much money while the getting was good? And the getting was very good (and still is, although he no longer has need of it). Let he among you who is without since reject the first buck. Big donors loved John McCain just like they loved Hillary.
Minimum Wage
The lion of the Senate was extremely wealthy, so who can blame him for not doing anything to improve the lots of the working poor? Time after time, he voted against increasing the minimum wage. The only time that he voted for increasing the minimum wage was when it was tied to a defense spending bill.
Military Spending
He was very much opposed to waste in the military, but that didn't stop him from repeatedly supporting increases in the military budget. In fact, he didn't simply support the increases; he advocated for them. He was all for throwing money at the military... as long as it wouldn't be wasted (and probably even when he knew it would be wasted). It would take a lot of money to support U.S. involvement in so many wars all over the world.
Equal Rights for All
Being a red, white and blue 'merican, McCain supported equal rights, except for the gays... of course. And the working poor, of course.
Healthcare for All
He verbally supported better healthcare for the veterans, but if you weren't a veteran, you couldn't expect him to care much about your healthcare. Yes, he famously broke with his party and voted against getting rid of a horrible healthcare system for a return to the pre-Obama chaotic money grabs... but he really wouldn't know what it's like being part of the working poor, having seen so few of them.
There were times when he seemed not to object to socialized medicine, though. He certainly didn't vociferously oppose it for those in Congress or those who ever were in Congress. It's a wonderful entitlement that the taxpayers afford to their Congressmen. Maybe we should all have it.
Rest in Peace, John McCain
May John McCain rest in peace. We wish him only the best in the next life. We harbor no malice. Maybe if we could have met him, we would have understood why he didn't want to help us. But we didn't run in his circles, and he certainly didn't run in our's. He lived in a different America, a fairyland that we will never see.
Followers
Sunday, August 26, 2018
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Jesus to U.S. Christians: "Cut it Out!"
Dear U.S. Followers,
I have
chosen this humble venue for my open letter because, frankly, nobody else would
publish it. I considered sending this to
all of the churches so that my message would be read in churches from sea to
shining sea, but my words would be viewed as heretical and offensive to the
oh-so-easily-offend flocks – and no pastor wants to offend his flock. Similarly, I considered radio, but people
have the attention span of a gnat and the memory of a locust. So I settled on this tiny blog.
It seems to
me that after two-thousand years of bad arguments based on bad premises, I
should clear up some misconceptions. I
am mad. Furious, really. I intend here to turn over a few tables in your
sacred temples. Unpleasant, but it must
be done! That said, here are some
clarifications of my expectations of you church-going Christians. I number them here for your convenience.
I. Don’t say, “I know Jesus!” You don’t.
So, cut it out! You wouldn’t know me if I came up to you on
the street and slapped you silly (and believe me, if I wasn’t so enlightened, I
would). You can bet that those who say
they know me don’t know me at all. Even
atheists don’t do that!
II. Don’t say, “I love God” or “I love Jesus,” when
what you love is the creation of your ill-informed imagination, which is inaccurate
at best and a cesspool at worst.
III. Don’t
praise me. I’m not a dog or a young
child. I don’t need my ego stroked or my
self-esteem built. And besides, it
doesn’t impress me favorably.
IV. Don’t worship me. Worship is what people do instead of doing
what they should do, which is following the path God has provided, loving one another, and
cherishing the good.
V. Don’t get “washed in the blood of Christ”
confused with “washing the blood of Christ off your hands.” Focus on the second, and the first will take care
of itself.
VI. Don’t say “God wants to see” or “God is
testing.” The Creator is not an idiot or
a mad scientist.
VIII. Don’t trust any politician who uses my name; it
will always come back to bite you.
IX. If you must paint a picture of me, paint me as
someone from the Middle East. And don’t
forget the scars of torture and the headdress.
X. Do not say the Bible is a “manual.” It is NOT. If it were, it would be no more than two
sheets of papyrus long and would read like a soup can.
XI. Don’t be mad at people who only come to church
for solace and a service when they feel the need; they have chosen the better
part. They have no obligation to take
part in your pot lucks, bake sales, and the thousand things that you all do to
convince yourself that you’re doing something very important for God. Not everyone wants to spin their wheels the
same way, and some have better things to do.
So stop attacking them.
XII. Do not adorn your vehicle with bumper stickers
that say, “Jesus Loves You” and then cut people off in traffic. It almost seems as though you are trying to ruin my reputation (and,
besides, someone might get killed).
XIII. If you’re going to pray, do it alone. I may have said, “When two or more of you are
gathered in my name…” but I didn’t say, “Build a big church and contribute to
the building fund.” I was thinking more
along the lines of friends talking about my teachings over a pitcher of beer.
XIV. Don’t say, “I am a Christian.” Say, “I am your friend” (and mean it).
XV. If the only thing that keeps you from killing someone
is a Commandment or “Let he among you who is without sin cast the first stone,”
get a clue, because you really need one.
There, I’ve said it. I know that those are hard truths, but it
doesn’t do anyone any good to ignore them.
We are not amused by what we’re seeing done in our name. Let those who have eyes see. And let those who have ears hear. Straighten up, American Christians. Right now, I’m feeling a lot better about the
atheists!
Regards,
Jesus, Nazareth
Saturday, August 18, 2018
Climate Change: Discerning the Hoax
If you keep telling people what they already know enough times,
most will believe you when you tell them what they can’t know. As any successful, confidence man,
politician, business leader, preacher, and radio commentator knows, once you can build
that confidence, you can lie about almost anything. It’s a fact of life. And, as Hitler argued in Mein Kampf, the bigger the lie, the more it will be believed.
To understand why people take different positions regarding
climate change, then, we need to understand how the believers and deniers
think.
We all have one thing in common: We weigh the truth of what we hear against what we
see or experience. We dismiss what doesn’t
“compute.” We tend to believe what we see in our own neighborhoods over what is
reported about distant places on the news. We respect our own experience more than we
trust the reporting of others.
Similarly, we tend to trust people who seem to have
something in common with us. Those of us
who express honest opinions in vulgar or crass terms tend to believe that
people who use the same terms are simply “being honest,” even though style and
honesty are two totally separate things.
We see this repeatedly in diverse groups. Religious people will believe almost
any religious person (of the same faith tradition) over an atheist, even when
it comes to non-religious topics. Those
who believe that research is necessary will tend to believe research over
casual observation, even if the research is manipulated. To some extent, we are all sheep looking for support from other sheep.
With such a diversity of groups, each getting its
information from different sources and filtering out information that contradicts
their personal experiences, it is easy to see why the country is so divided. And anyone who taps into that division can
use it to his/her advantage. Add to this
bubbling cauldron the belief that opinions don’t have to be related to fact and ... tick-tock, tick-tock, KABOOM!
Which is where we are now... about two tick-tocks from KABOOM.
For those who don’t base their opinions on facts, only a
radical change in their experience will change their minds.
Keeping these things in mind, we should ask ourselves WHY we
believe what we believe about climate change.
In areas hit repeatedly by unusual and terrible weather events, educated
people may be easily convinced by the climate science data. However, in those areas where the changes are
more subtle, less-educated people may be less likely to believe in climate
change. Each will gravitate toward the
evidence that seems most believable, most consistent with what they are
experiencing.
Now here’s the rub: Somebody
is right, and somebody is wrong. You can’t
average out the opinions expressed in a poll.
And the opinion of the majority does not change the facts. So maybe we should be asking the following
questions:
- Who profits from inaction regarding climate, and by how much?
- Who would profit from acceptance that climate change is a reality?
- Is it likely that 97% of climate scientists are wrong?
- What are the arguments on both sides, and what evidence are they NOT including in their arguments?
- How could the burning of fossil fuels NOT impact the environment?
I don’t mean to imply a false equivalency of positions. Reality is reality, regardless of what we think of it. I absolutely believe that the climate is
changing rapidly. The evidence confirms
my own experience. I believe the 97% of
climate scientists who have come to same conclusion. I do not believe these scientists because I’m
a fan of Al Gore (I’m not a fan). I don’t
believe them because the position seems to be embraced by many Democrats (who
cares?). I don’t even believe them because the fossil fuel industry has a lot to
gain from debunking the scientific arguments and a lot to lose otherwise. I believe that climate change is real because
the propensity of the evidence, the logic of the scientific arguments - and my
own two eyes - compel me to believe it.
Sunday, August 12, 2018
White Lies Matter
It’s tough out there for honest people, isn’t it? It’s so hard to maintain any personal
integrity when the entire system relies on lies. Downer, huh?
If you’re honest, you may wonder why you can’t succeed when so many
around you seem to sail through life.
You might wonder whether you’re just a loser. You may wonder… but perhaps you shouldn’t. There are reasons why good guys finish last
and why honest people find life so hard.
And often no amount of cleverness will part the sea for you. One thing is certain, though: The only thing that you can take with you
when you die is your soul, so don’t lose it in a blizzard of white lies.
White lies are socially acceptable lies, and they are
everywhere. We usually think of white
lies as harmless, undeserved compliments or defensive lies that we tell to people who had no right to ask in the
first place. Those
white lies may not be so white, but those are not the kind of white lies that
are damaging society beyond its ability to repair itself.
No, there are other kinds of white lies, and they do REAL
damage. They don’t rise to the level of
criminal perjury, and they aren’t punishable under the law, but they are as
malignant as the blackest of lies. They
are everywhere, but they are perhaps most common in any field related to
employment, because employment affects our personal economic survival. From resumes and
interviews to being a “team player” in the workplace, white lies are required
by most employers. Of course, employers
would never admit it (another white lie).
After the economic bubble burst, many found themselves
looking for work. The process often
began with outplacement counseling. The
counseling used terms like “strategy,” of course – since no self-respecting
outplacement counselor really wants to admit to offering courses on “how to
fluff your resume” or “how to lie to get that job.” The newly depressed and desperate were told
how not to look so newly depressed and desperate … even though they were newly depressed and desperate, and it would be quite natural to be so. They were told
to tailor their resume to each recipient… even though it would be impossible to tailor the resume
for every potential job. They were told
that key words were important, since company computers would only kick out
resumes that had certain words. They
were told to grab the attention of the reader in just a few seconds, because
readers will spend less than 20 seconds to judge your whole life and determine your fitness for the
job. They were told that, if you don’t
hit every single expected buzz-word in a few seconds, you won’t get the
call. .
These messages were elaborated upon by a flood of
experts, often associated with job fairs, on TV. They claimed to know what “employers look
for.” From the shine of your shoes to the
trim of your nails and hair, there were rules.
From the firmness of your handshake to the twinkle in your eyes, there
were rules. Never let them see you
sweat. Never appear nervous. Look confident but not too confident. Stand up straight. When sitting, lean forward. And if they ask you why you want to work
there, NEVER say, “Because I need a job” (never mind that it might be the only
honest answer).
Now, what if you’re a very competent but shy person, as many
are? Too bad. Lie. Fake
it. What if you’re creative, have some
tattoos or jewelry? Cover the tats up,
and take the jewelry out of your ears (unless you’re a woman, of course). Show
the human resources judge how well you can lie.
If you can lie well, the company can probably trust you not to make waves.
Let that conformity SPARKLE!
In recent years, some human resources departments have even added
the psychological test to their arsenal of “tools” to filter out people who
might think too much. You might be given
a test in which you are asked general questions and given a choice of vague
answers. If you are in the habit of thinking,
you will want greater clarity in the questions and potential answers. Case in point: A very qualified applicant for a position in
a medical device company applied for a job.
He had done the job for 15 years in a different company, and his old boss
would be his new boss in the new company. He
had jumped through all the hoops except the psychological test, which was
administered by a chirpy young human resources representative. She asked, “Are you a big picture person or
are you detail oriented?” The man
answered that the big picture is made of a lot of little details. She then asked, “Would you rather have a
purely professional relationship or work with friends?” He answered that most of his friendships
started out as purely professional relationships and that he guessed it depended upon the people. After several silly questions and thoughtful answers, the woman
told him that he would be contacted by the end of the week. After a few weeks without the promised call, the man called his old
boss. “I haven’t heard from H.R. yet,”
he said. “Well,” said the old boss, “you
apparently didn’t do too well on the psychological evaluation. They thought you were evasive.” The man then said to his old boss, “So I
should have lied?” Yes, lying was
required.
Anytime someone asks a question and tries to make you choose
from answers that do not reflect what you believe, they are requiring that you
lie.
When people find work, though, a whole new set
of white lies is required. To refuse to
play ball is to refuse to be a “team player.” What used to be called "go along to get along" has now been re-termed in more positive nomenclature as "teamwork." Annually, one state agency gives a computer survey regarding job
satisfaction. The answers can all be
traced back to the individual computers, and everyone knows it. Very few questions allow for a negative
answer, but most employees won’t take a chance on being perceived as negative, as a non-team player. Generally, the employee is only given a way
of saying that he/she is happy or very happy and that management is doing a good job or a very good job.
In fact, many state workers who have taken the survey will admit privately that they lied on the survey because they
want to keep their jobs. Your tax dollars at work….
The agency's annual how-extremely-happy-are-you? survey is not management's only attempt to coerce statements of happiness from the workforce. Employees were recently asked to select, from a list of about 50 positive descriptions, the five or six that best describe his/her boss. Even an ax
murderer would come out looking pretty good. The exercise is presented as a "something fun to do," and the employee is not forced to take part in this "fun" exercise - but who dares not to? Again, lying
is required.
White lies occur every single day in almost every cubicle across the country. When a birthday card for someone whom you detest crosses
your desk, what do you write? You write,
“Happy Birthday,” don’t you? You want to
be pleasant, after all. And what would
happen to you if you were honest, after all?
And so the card, and everything written in, ends up having little or no meaning to
the person who receives it. Because kind words are a political requirement, they mean nothing.
White lies do matter. People have come to accept lying, expect lying, and require lying. In this vast white wilderness where truth is buried under six feet of white lies, the honest
person shivers and struggles to survive. Although we seem to be forced into expedient lying, maybe we need to push the envelop to the point of discomfort. Honesty is still worth the grief. After all, we can only take
our souls with us.
Welcome to Hard Truths America!
The chances are good that, if you’re not crazy, you think that
most of the world is. You’re probably
upset with the loonies on the right and the loonies on the left. You may know a few of them. They are the bane of holiday meals, the
spoiler of parties, and they are completely incapable of reasoning. They are the brainwashed ones, the Kool-Aid guzzlers. But, unless you’re in certain geographic pockets, you
probably don’t know many such people.
Most of us would consider ourselves to be slightly right or
left of center. And most of us would
prefer not to be lumped in with the loonies.
Unfortunately, many in the corporate media would have us believe that we
in the vast middle abyss are all lonely and isolated, that we have no support,
that our voices cry pointlessly in wilderness.
We often hear from the corporate media how supposedly polarized our
countries are. We may be polarized, but we are not polarized along the lines that are so commonly and sloppily drawn by so many in the corporate media.
The corporate media seems to make a lot of money from
sloppily lumping together different sets of ideas, labeling them as “right” or
“left,” and then pitting us against one another. And as we are manipulated into believing that
“the other side” is the enemy, somehow the real news, the real issues, and the real travesties aren’t reported. On the right, the churches, which too often
have replaced honesty and compassion with reasonless “faith,” have become the
propogandists of that tightly bundled set of ideas called “the Right.” And to make matters worse, they claim the
right is the CHRISTIAN right. On the
left, we have news people who smirk at the name of Bernie Sanders or report
endlessly on Trump’s divisive non-issues (e.g., abortion, affairs) while
ignoring the fact that so many people are being victimized by the crushing
disparities in income.
The truth is that most of us can, and do, sit down with one
another and discuss issues. We are the
silent majority, and we’re getting pissed off.
We’re becoming radicalized. We
are becoming subversives, finding that the political establishment has no moral
authority. We wish nobody harm. We do not want violence, but our illusions
are quickly being dispelled.
Ultimately, we want the same things: personal freedom, a safety net that is there
but not abused, peace, prosperity, an educated population, economic justice,
safety, and a certain amount of mercy.
In short, we want “life, liberty, and the American way.” We want the American dream back; we sometimes
just can't figure out the best way to get it back. Once we do figure it out, though, there will
be change for the better. But we’ve got
to unite. The reasonable middle MUST
become the radicalized middle.
Imagine a country without corporate media manipulation. Imagine a country where big business can
profit without oppressing the workers and where the workers are paid justly. Imagine a country where crooked politicians of
any stripe go to prison. Imagine a
country in which the poor get the same healthcare as the rich (as is the case
in other civilized countries). Imagine a
country where respect is based on the honesty of the job and not on economic affluence
or political influence. Imagine a
country in which memes are replaced with reason and compassion.
We can unite. We must
unite. We can build a new country, a new
world. But we will have to fight. And if we lose a battle or two, we must keep
fighting. The war never ends.
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