True Colors

Well I am surprised at how quickly the Socialist has come out of our new Presidient and the Democratic party. In the job less than 90 days and he is already moving to direct the hiring and firings of private industry, and moving to nationalize the banks.
I wonder how long it will take before he proposes to expand the number of judges on the Surpreme Court so he can have a majority position to allow him to enact his agenda?

A Tribute to Jonathan Livingston

Life is an interesting thing. As I go through it I find myself wondering about how it is we are here, and how I can be so blessed. I have a wonderful wife, two children who have reached successful points in their lives and a wonderful, if sometimes loud, granddaughter.

In the 70's there was a nice little book, written by a pilot named Richard Bach. I have always thought of the philosophy captured in it as a basis for my approach to being. It wasn't long, it had lots of pictures, but it set out for me the course my life was to take.

I strive each day to remember Johnathan's advice "you've got to understand that a seagull is an unlimited idea of freedom, an image of the Great Gull, and your whole body, from wingtip to wingtip is nothing more than your thought itself."

I am not the strongest in the flock, nor the swiftest, nor the smartest, but I hold myself to the pursuit of excellence in what I do. I strive to do well in my profession, to lead by example, to have faith in myself, and to be a mentor to those around me.

My hope for all those I love, and those who know me, they find their own vision of life, and pursue with love and understanding their own journey. Be true to yourselves!

Three Letters

As I watched CBS's "Face the Nation" this morning the President's representative was explaining why the President intends to approve this budget, even though it goes against his promise to reduce excessive ear marks. It is interesting how this administration chooses to hold itself to its promises and deal with the crisis of this nation.

I am reminded of an old joke, carried over from the cold war and the similarities are very funny, sad, but very funny. The joke centers on the transition of power from Joseph Stalin, to Nikita Khrushchev, and how to establish and maintain power, without upsetting the apple cart, or as we would say today "affecting real change." The year is 1953 and with the death of Stalin various factions within the Communist party struggle for control. Ultimately Khrushchev emerges as the force within the party and gains control of the Politburo and Kremlin.

It is his first day in power and he is settling into his new office, the office Joseph Stalin had occupied for so many years. He is behind the massive oak desk and trying to get comfortable. He looks in the center drawer in sees an envelop marked "to be opened by the new Premier." He rips opens the envelop to find a hand written letter from Joseph Stalin.

"Comrade Premier;

If you are reading this, congratulations, I have died and you have risen to control of the entire Soviet Union. You will face challenges and of course the evil capitalists will attempt to foil the gains of the worker. Your enemies will bark at your heels and use every attempt to bring you down. I leave you three letters to guide you in the coming years. Use them at the time of crisis to further your ambitions and control the Union. JS. "

Khrushchev tucks the letters away for his time of need and begins shaping the Soviet Union. A year goes by and the wheat crop fails, famine threats the nation and his power base begins to abandon him. He opens the first letter

"Comrade Premier;

At this, the time of your first crisis, tell the people this. You will solve the problems of the state, but they must accept their role and your vision. You will create a new plan, a five year plan to resolve the crisis before you. Use this to consolidate your power and prepare for the worst. Good luck, JS "

A couple of years go by and the state moves to consolidate the crops and the farms under the new five year plan. The state, knowing better than the farmer, what is best attempts to impose "reform" on the farmer. Moving city workers to the farm to improve the harvest, it fails to resolve the famine. As the crisis builds Khrushchev opens the second letter.

"Comrade Premier;

Your five year plan has failed, alas they always do! The people want too much freedom, and the State can not make wise decisions. This is a critical time for you. You must blame your predecessor for all the problems of the State. Blame me for this crisis and promise to bring reform to the State. This will give you time to consolidate your power, use this time wisely, JS "

Of course Khrushchev follows the advice, blaming Stalin for the corruption, the purges, the executions, the internal spying, and all the other real and perceived shortcoming of the State to meet the peoples needs. This carries him through the next several years, until the next great internal crisis erupts. He again goes to the drawer to seek the advise, just as he has done twice

"Comrade;
Write three letters!"

I find it interesting the Democrats choice to place all the blame on the Bush administration. Apparently, even though they've controlled Congress they are victims of the Executive Branch domination. Unfortunately, I wouldn't expect the Republicans to be any different. In fact, it is especially galling they do not offer clearly understood options to the people, just vague statements of pseudo fact like "if our plan was implemented we would put twice the number of people back to work for half the cost."

Thoughts on a Sunday morning

What makes it so easy to find faults in others, yet so difficult to reflect on our own weakness? Is it a necessary quality as we build our own position, our own status, our own individuality? Or does it come from our own insecurities or prejudices? Do the confident ever believe themselves wrong, or the insecure themselves right? How can we make tomorrow better?

I grew up in a family where blame was a normal part of life. My father, insecure in himself, found fault in almost everything around him. He was an alcoholic, and when he was drunk, he took all his frustrations out on my Mother, me, my sisters, or my younger brother. I find that it has shaped my life. It is easy for me to see the wrong in others. My defense mechanism became humor; biting humor, where I focus on the mistakes of others. This does not bring me but momentary satisfaction, and I would be a better person if I kept my thoughts to myself, but I admit they must find their way out or I would burst. I've spent a lot of time considering this fault of mine, and as a compromise with my inner demon I've worked hard to not let spill meanly out as the venom I grew up with, or routinely dispensed to those I love. Still it lurks not far below the surface. After much reflection I believe I am a confident individual, with a solid self-understanding, yet I experience doubts all the time, especially when dealing with issues that are beyond my control. So I find, for me, the answer to these questions, stem from childhood experiences shaping who we are as adults, and while reflection of ourselves may be easy, changing the fundamental approach to life, built as a child, is very hard.

I think this is where our faith and a belief in redemption become so important. Each day we strive to improve, each day we fall short, and each time we fall short we seek forgiveness. If we don't believe we can be forgiven, the burden of our failures would build an ever higher fortress of isolation, much as I saw in my father. He approached life with the idea change was impossible, and his only option was to continue as he was, attempting continuously to bring all others down to his level. As hard as he tried to reach out, to show compassion, to gain acceptance, he was unable to change his approach when confronted with adversity. His attempt to escape the petty frustrations of life led to his addiction and his addiction led to loss of esteem.

This brings me to the most important of all questions, how can we make tomorrow better? This is a question each of us must answer for ourselves, and only for ourselves. We can't tell others how to run their lives, nor can we run their lives for them. Each of us must find our way through life, we must find our own path, but along the way we must find ways to shine brightly so the paths of those closest to us are illuminated. I start each day with this simple prayer.

Lord,
Help me put yesterday behind, forgive my sins, and make me a mirror reflecting your light. Remind me to think before I act, and be an example for those who know me. Amen

So What's the Story

In an earlier posting I expressed my concern this new administration and the Congress must find a way to govern. Even though they have won a strong majority, I had hoped the Democrats would not duplicate the mistakes of the previous administration. I had hoped they would learn to compromise and work towards the common good, bringing in the minority and addressing their concerns.

Now, 800 plus billion dollars later have they done that?

Sadly I find the answer to be no! I am sure if you ask Democratic leadership they will find cause to blame the Republicans, and if asked the Republicans have reasons for their positions as well. The unfortunate truth is they refuse to work towards compromise and a shared vision. This doesn't not offer me hope they will grow to lead the nation, or work towards compromise and a stronger government where we can all buy into the end solution.

Regardless of the rhetoric of the President, I don't see the Congressional leadership buying into a bi-partisan approach. With his background in IL politics I have to wonder how many of his sound bites are heartfelt, and how many are but smoke for the backroom deals he's already made? How many congressional "bridges to nowhere" are in this latest stimulus package? How many worthless studies, or grants for already well endowed endowments?

I don't see my stocks or mutual funds returning to 2005 levels in this decade....ah well.

Time and Tides....

As we enter what is being touted as a new era, I can only wonder what has fundamentally changed in the body politic? We have a Congress that is overwhelmingly Democratic, but filled with the same politician's who could find no way to compromise with the Executive these past eight years. We have a new President, who learned first hand the lessons of political compromise, or principle compromise, in pursuit of greater personal gain.

I am hopeful, along the way, he will remember his promise of service before personal gain, but if the senior leadership of the House and Senate, both sides of the aisle, are any indication we should not be expecting too rapid a move towards Camelot.

A couple of years ago a friend relayed a story with regards to individual expectations and perks of the office as expected by the leader of the House of Representatives. The story went to what I think of as the heart of a rhetoric versus substance with regard to service to our nation, and protecting the average citizen. I was told, and I choose to believe, that upon securing the senior position this congressperson identified to the USAF his/her requirements for executive transportation, on a weekly basis, back to his/her home. When told what the previous incumbent had used, a small executive jet like a Lear or Gulfstream, the new congressperson was quite adamant that would never do and he/she needed something with intercontinental range and the capacity to carry his/her entire entourage. Cost be damned, he/she deserved it and it would be provided or the AF could expect no support in upcoming budgets.

I hold this akin to the abuses of the former senior Senator of Alaska, who would hold authorization bills hostage until his pork barrel programs where inserted. Like the Ketchikan Alaska "Bridge to No Where." The fact he, or the senior Senator from WV, or MA, or ND or almost anywhere else see nothing wrong in this speaks volumes about how little they are concerned with national debt, or the national survival. I believe every Congressperson works towards their personal self-interest, what do they tell their district at reelection time about how much of the federal budget they were able to bring home. I doubt anyone was ever reelected for showing how much they saved their district in taxes by not approving some unneeded works project, or worthless studies like the study of hibernation problems with bats, or the potential for transexual flies (I am making this up, not suggesting a new field).

Ah well, it is easy to complain when they really don't care about your opinion, they just want your vote.

Promises

I've had a chance recently to observe the act of promising, and the rationalization of compromising that promise. It strikes me odd how we can so easily make a promise, a commitment, or obligate ourselves and then rationalize why that promise isn't important, or didn't really mean what we said. How easy it has become to compromise ourselves if we see a better path, or a personal desire that conflicts the promise.

It seems we are only what we hold ourselves to be, and what others can expect of us. This is one of the foundations of our society, and civilization. I was taught that my word is my bond. I am sure most of us were taught a similar concept, but so many have thrown that away that I am left to wonder what is the value of a promise made, or what do I do when someone promises me something.

I see examples all around that significant portions of our nation now see no value in keeping their promise. Whether it be a coach of Boston College who signs a new contract, only to go to the first available job interview for what he views as a better job, a corporate executive charged with managing a company to profitability, a financial CEO who sacrifices others money in the pursuit of personal gain, or even two unnamed individuals who make a personal commitment to each other. If we can not trust each other to do what they say they will can this nation long survive?

I have also observed that those who are most likely to violate the trust of another are also the most likely to protest when this is pointed out, or they are held accountable. For me, in the final analysis, all I can do is hold myself to the standards I would hope for others, and accept that not everyone shares that view. It will mean from time to time I may be disappointed, and that when I know someone will habitually break their word I hold that promise as worthless and not ask them for one.

Twenty-eight years ago a group of my comrades and I made a promise to put our lives at risk to rescue Americans held hostage by the Iranian's. I can tell you, to a man our promise to each other, the mission, and the nation was made without duress, without hesitation and without compromise. Each of us gave one hundred percent of your skills, our abilities and effort. Eight of us gave their lives to towards that promise. Once made, not one of us, that I am aware of , ever gave a seconds thought to breaking it. We were the best chance the nation had, and if our best was not good enough that was beyond our control, but we were committed to the effort, and each other. We didn't do it for money, glory or fame, if we had been successful most of us would never have been singled out or recognized.

Today's military continue that tradition of service before self and I salute them for their sacrifices, I wonder how may civilians can even put their efforts in context. Service before self, too bad business leaders can't grasp that concept.