why is Sarah Palin

Someone who refers to the law department of the whitehouse lacks knowledge of the basic structure of the federal executive. When asked Palin said the "office of Law" at the whitehouse would reject ethics compaints against the president. This statement was given in a video interview with andrea mitchell broadcast yesterday. The issue of Palin's lack of knowledge is not new, what I am curious about is the supported for Palin who either jsut as ingnorant or more and therefore doesn't see Palin's ingnorance, or the supporter who does not care. Well if you think you have enough information to cast a vote and you think Palin knows enough because she knows as much as you. Well can't argue with a rock. If you recognize she may not know a lot about "stuff" but you don't care. I ask... do you pick your doctor based on whether they express the anger you feel. Do you want your boss at work to feel she/he is a victim of powerful forces arrayed against the company because it is a real american company. Do you want help with your taxes from someone who is not aware of all they legal ways you can reduce your taxes ? What disturbs me most is the assumption by many of her supporters that the shares and expresses their anger, fear, frustration, victimization and that is reason enough to support her as a leader. Certainly a leader must understand and even better feel what her/his followers feel, but there is a level of competaqnce about the functions of leadership without which failure is almost certain.
You have to know how to staqrt a car, how to work the steering wheel , brakes, and gearshift, and you have to know the rules of the road or you will crash.. Sarah Palin does not know enough of that to bew effective and if elected her followers will either have to expend a great deal of energy explaining why her failures are not her fault or come to realize, leadership requires more than shares feelings with followers, a =whole lot more

advice to Sarah Palin

Roger Simon at Politico offers seven bits of advice Sarah Palin should follow to get the Republican nomination for President in 2012. All his advice focuses on creating an image which the hard conservative base would support. Unfortunately while simon's advice may be sound politically, wouldn't the country be better off if he gave her some adive on how to be a better chief executive. She seems to conduct herself in Alaska as a disorganized amateur who doesn't hve a clue how to organize or lead. We just had 8 years of both bad policiy and incompetant leadership. Didn't we learn the best intentions are useless if the leader doen't have a clue what leadership and management are all about?
Someone give this Woman advice how to lead than we can concern ourselves if her policies make any sense.

Briilant, Typical, Typically Brilliant

Pres. Obama's speech made two fundemental philosophical points, one polictical, one religious. As a democracy we can move forward by identifying those areas of agreement and working on them. Whatever we feel about abortion almos t all of us would welcome better prenatal support, better options where adoption is in the picture, and better support for single woman who are parents and for their children. Those goals are supported by the vast majority of voters. There is enough to do here to occupy most of or energy and passion. He did not fudge the fundemnetal differences that exist amongst us, but encouraged a respectful debate. It is certainly easier to grant respect and earn respect when you have worked hand in hand with those you have a fundemental disagreement with. Many of us beleive in God. As our president has said, none of us can credibly claim we know the will of God to a certainty. But all of us who beleive can and should struggle to - do right as we are given the light to see what is right. While all of us must recognize we see as we can, and none of us can see the mind of God. Humility about what his will is for each of us is the sign of true acknowleddgement that God is above and beyond our poor ability to know and to understand.

The Dinner

It must be the combination of the dead pan delivery and the self deprecating 1000 watt smile which comes about 3 beats after the comment which makes me laugh out loud, I feel as though I am shearing an inside joke with the President of the United States. It is as though he is saying with that swmile, just between us, I wasn't serious just now, I was kidding, I can't help but laugh cause what I said was funny. He is such a likable human being and that just comes straight thru the screen.

sometimes the small things signify

This morning Pres. Obama, VP Biden and Sen. Arlen Spector held a joint news conference. In welcoming Sen Spector to the Democratic Party. Pres. Obama mentioned the significance to Sen Spector of the Senator's father. How his father had been a force driving Sen Spector to serve and achieve in the public arena. As the three were leaving the podium, an open mike caught the Senator thanking the President for mentioning the Senator's father. It is that kind of human sensitivity, caring and insite into the emotional construct of collegues which will greatly help the President move his agenda forward. The public also sees this. His personal "likability" is significantly greater than agreement with his policies, all the polls show. How completely different than a Pres. and VP who seemed to know very little about what others thought or felt, and did not care either. Is this a difference between Republicans and Democrats? Well Reagan was the last likable Republican, and Pres Clinton was famous for his ability to empathize. Maybe as the Rebpulican party becomes more and more rigid, racially homogenized, and separated from the real world it will also know and care little for what anyone feels, or thinks. If you beleive gay marriage is the end of our country. If you beleive the idea of free markets is more important to people than jobs and homes, if you beleive our place in the world is to bully allies and use the military against those we disagree with, perhaps the only people who will join you also do not know or care what anyone else thinks or feels.

if anyone read my original April 24

post please just acknowledge that as a comment

They still don't get it

Rebpulican concept of bipartisanship. Do most of what we would do if we were in power. they still do not realize the country has seen that cronycapitalism and the gutting of federal and state government regulatory and service work by contracting out to for profit companies only benefits the companies and those republicans who got campaign contributions and bribes. The people got weaker corrput regulatory actiion and degraded service. Ask anyolne you know who served in Iraq or Afghanistan. Sorry Republicans the concept that the "Market knows best and is best for all when unregulated committed suicide. The idea that government services can be delivberied better and more efficiently by private contractors has died of incompetance and corruption.

wrong question

The media seems focused on the question, did torture provide information which prevented terrorist attacks. The sophistcated media asks, could whatever useful information gleaned during torture have really been found somewhere else. The improtant question, unasked so far, is are we going to bypass over 200 years of legal jurisprudence which is continually evolving to balance individual rights and group protections. Are we going to allow namesless, faceless people to determine that individuals can be tourtured. That is the only valid question. I hope someone askes it?

McCain's top adviser sees Republicans as I do

John McCain's top adviser from the presidential campaign urged fellow Republicans on Friday to warm up to gay rights and warned that the GOP risks becoming the "religious party" with its opposition to same-sex marriage. Said on Fox News Today

from the bottom up

John McCain's top adviser from the presidential campaign urged fellow Republicans on Friday to warm up to gay rights and warned that the GOP risks becoming the "religious party" with its opposition to same-sex marriage. 

Michael Steele and Clarence Thomas

Both prove the point that if you are a memeber of a religious, ethnic, cultural, or racial minority and a member of the GOP you are either a fool or a corrupt cynic, trading on your group identity to advance your career.  Does anyone really think anyone involved in appointing Thomas or voting for Steele really thought either was competant or intelligent, nah, just a cynical attempt to put a token out there to try to show the Republican party does not have a white fundementalist base which steers that bus.  I am talking about the Republican leadship here, there are sincere well meaning Republicans out there, somewhere. The powers that run the party on the national and local levels have either sold out or sincerley believe in creationism, a free market which will leave us all at the mercy of predatory corporations, and that the old days where women and minorities knew their places and degenerates ( read gays ) were put in jail were the best days this country has had.  That is the Repoublican base, the "pure core" and watching the buffoonery of Steele and the submissive taging along of Thomas behind Scalia, it just proves my point.  Idiots or cynics.

been a little while

Just have to comment on the Teaparty wavelet.  The bitter underlying assumption is - I don"t wanna, its mine, Wah wah wah.  Really, the original teaparty protested taxation without representation, the new one protests taxation with representaion?  And those are the most rational of those attending.  Sorry we have tried less government since Reagan and we have the biggest bust since the last time republicans deregulated and worshiped business and the free market ( read - took all the money they could get from the rich) - the great depression.  And that one was deeper and longer because Hoover kept trying to balance the budget as things spiraled down.

Sorry you idiots we are not gonna deal with the debt on those children holding signs their parent gave them by balancing the budget and enjoying a 20 year depression this time around.  I guess the best part of the teaparties yesterday was that in a country with over 305 million people only 250,000 attended, about 8 hundreths of 1 percent.  Given the tough times we are in and the strenuous efforts of rightwing media ( Fox-Limbaugh) and The National Republican Party that is a remarkably low percentage of stupid-angry people.

part 2

Books, their size, covers, typeface have a character to me, convey something of their content.  I am sure someone several millenia ago, someone "old" when told about this new way to communicate, by scratching on wet clay.  Complained that the immediacy, the intensity, of listening to a recitation by a speaker was going to be lost, and that was a big loss.  I imagine there was another complaint that the craftsmanship and artistry of the individual scribe which made each hand coped book a work of individual art was being lost when books could be printed on a press.  And now here I am looking at the library I have accumulated over a lifetime and realizing the information it holds is available to be stored in any number of hand held devices.  Some can speak the words to me. Some will allow me to scan and skip anywhere in the text I choose.  It is wonderful for all of us.  The cheaper and broader the dsissemination of information the greater the opportunity we have to interact positivly with each other and the world we live in. The greater the opportunity we have to learn how alike we are as human beings.  Yup I will keep my books, I think there is nothing wrong with nostalgia. But I am downloading works from my local library to read on my laptop and play on my iPod.  I cancled my NY Times daily delivery and read the paper online.  I even blog.

what I realized when I moved

When I moved a week ago, I took as much of my personal library as  could.  I took 6 bookcases and tried to take only as many books as the 6 could hold.  A few days after I moved in amazon announced they are giving free software so your iPod or iPhone can share a kindle file.  I looked at my wall of books and realized they will shortly be oldfashoined, and soon after that antiques. Knowledge dissemination is undergoing another major shift.  Maybe 5 thousand years ago knowledge was transmitted by word of mouth.  Accurate transmission was as reliable as the old children's game of telephone.   Somewhere after that a written language, first on wet clay, than on papyrus, than on rolled animal skin, allowed one person to communicate the exact same message to someone too far away to hear a voice and even those who were not born until after the speaker had died. This process was far less labor intensive than word of mouth communication, but did require a one to one effort between the writer or copier and a single copy of the information. A bit more than 5 centuries ago,  the invention of the printing press allowed a crew of only a few to reproduce multiple copies of information quickly and aqccurately.  Now an individual can be in almost any urban and many non-urban areas around the world and have access to a vast common pool of information, news, books, video while standing on a street corner or walking across a grassy field.

What the Republicans missed, in a nutshell

Americans want help, they don't see business or individuals as a source of that help.  Pres. Obama is right when he says government should and must do what we as individuals cannot do for ourselves.  Governor Jindal's praise for the private acts of help during Katrina show how out of touch the ideological Republican right is with the rest of the world.  Katrina exposed government failure, not private sector success.  It will be a long, hard republican road back if that is the view they take.   

Boston College is right

Some students at BC are protesting the crucifixes which have recently been hung in all classrooms.  One protestor said it is inconsistent with the Jesuit tradition of openminded acceptance of other religious traditions.  The school is a private institution.  It has every right to display symbols of whatever religion it chooses.  The school has every right, if it chooses to require religious study, chapel attendance, ordination, or any other activity which does not violate the law.  No one is forced to go to that school.  No one is forced to take advantage of the excellant education offerred there.  If students disagree with any particular policy of the school they have the right to go elsewhere.  They have the right to apply to the school administration for a change in that policy.  However protest implies the school is committing a wrong.  It is not.

moving out

Getting ready to move.  The new place will be fine, smaller than the old place but all in all okay.  There is something liberating about moving.  You are forced to make a million decisions about what to take, what to give away, and what to throw out.   You find things you don't remember you have and want to keep.  Other things out in plain sight you look at and say I haven't needed it or used it for years, goodbye.  If you have been evan moderatley comfortable where you are, moving to some place that is the same or less is not something to look forward too.  But as Martha Washington said ( at least I read she did ) We bring our happiness with us.  It goes in the same moving box as gratitude for a path forward and the health to go down it.  The most important parts of life, the health and happiness of those we loave and care about, stay in our hearts and move with us wherever we go.

color and behavior

Report in the NY Times today that test subjects performance with detail and creativity were significantly affected by the room color they were in.  Red heightens our ability to deal accurately with detail.  Blue enhances creativity. Other colors affected female attractability, yellow affects hunger and thirst, red and green have other behavioral afffects.  Are these evolutionary adaptations, red associated with primitive hunting, eating, threats.  Blue associated with bodies of water, clear unthreatening sky, no data yet, only speculation.   Up until Freud exposed the hidden workings of our subterranean thoughts and emotions, the European concept of man was of a rational mind fighting with "lower" instincts.  It appears from these studies there is a part of us which subtly reacts to our environment in ways we are not conscious of and which affects our behavior.  All the time we are unaware.  How mysterious we are to ourselves, how unkown to us, we still are.

President Obama today

He has a column in today's Washington Post.  Makes an ironclad case for moving now on the stimulus bill.  Additional comments from White House mention it is a tiny percentage of the whole package drawing most of the negative coments.  Saw some politcal stategist who said the Republicans have realized if they go along they get little credit and democrats maintain power. The only path back to power republicans see: if the public perceives at some point in the future the adiministration's stimulus efforts fail, the republicans can pick up the peices.  Probably true for many republicans, given they cynical way the same people used and abused power the past 8 years.  But not for for all, I think. I predict the eventual bill will show President Obama worked to bring as many diverse congressmen and women together by listening, talking and negotiating without given up the parts of this stimulus bill which he nows will work.  Lets watch the process work out over the next few days and weeks.

Partisanship forever

Well unfortunately the Republican criticism of the Baleout bill seems as much aimed at democrats and President Obama as it is motivated by sincere concern for the good of the country. While some specific objections seem reasonable, and the way Speaker Pelosi went about getting the bill out of the House does not appear bipartisan,  still the talk that "this is the worst start to any Presidency" and the Baleout bill will cripple this country for a generation, seem grossly partisan.  There are sincere objections to the bill, they total way less that 5%, they add up to much less that 40 billion, actually probably less that 2% or 8 billion.  A lot of money to be sure, but really its the baby out with the dirty bath water.  I beleive the American voting public will applaud and approve of the President's work to gather bipartisan support. They will see thru the self-serving Hue and Cry from the Republican right.  That kind of mindless, groundless, misinformed shouting will not work this time.

Vatican update

The Vatican has ordered holocaust denier Bishop RichardWilliamson to unequivocally reject his stated opinions on the holocaust.  The Vatican further states the Pope was not aware of the Bishop's statements when he withdraw the Bishop's excommunication.  If you make an obvious mistake your critics have trumpeted, it is best to correct and move on quickly.  That seems to be the case here.  

juggling as a life skil

Right now I am dealing with several issues which are important to me.  I have to grab ahold of my thoughts.  Look at the issues and their time lines to resolve. Look at each issue and prioritizeall of them in order of immeidaite importance See how they do interweave.  Than figure step by step what needs to be done, and which stpe shoudl be first, second etc. Easy to say and easy to do when the issues are not of great personal moment.  We all handle multiple goals, prioritizes, feelilngs, situations, issues, relationships, etc.  It just gets a bit harder when some of the balls we juggle have heavy emotional content.  Keeping the balls in the air, and knowing which ones can drop without crushing your foot is a useful life skill.

Why do they nitpick

The criticism of the economic stimulus bill seems focused on tiny percentages of the total amount.  Large dollars yes but a very small part of the whole.  So why.  Politically if you are a Republican you are floundering for an identity which will get you re-elected.   The past decade or so many Republicans made a science out of misrepresentation, misdirection, and a focus on the mote in the opposition's eye.  A habit hard to break.  But there is a substantial concept underlying this.  President Obama and those who voted for him want fundemental change.  The Republican Party has been the establishment party for much of the past quarter century.  Even during the Bill Clinton interregnum, he was forced to "trianglulate" to get much done.  The powerful interest groups who have supported the Republican party do not want fundemental systemic change.  They want goverment help for each of them.  They do not want changes that will force them to adapt to a new environment in which they may loose their primacy.  Well, President Obama was right, he won.  He won because the majority of American voters want change.  The fight will be hard, no one gives up power, money, and influence easily. But it is what the voters want.  Compromise to broaden support, will be helpful.  But not neccasary.  Republicans, for their own benefit, should recognize that bowing to the cultural and business interest groups will further isolate them from the voters.  Of course there are valid policy discussions to be had.  Raise them where they exist.  Break free.  Or like Herbert Hoover, you will be for a generation the party of the past.

Bonuses Redux

Obama is wrong and right.  Multimillion dollar bonuses to decisionmakers who failed miserably so badly managing their financial companies is ludicrous.  Eliminating bonuses for the majority of other employees is criminal.  Imagine the factory floor worker who has a spotless record showing up on time, doing his job efficiently and effectively.  Imagine that worker told when he gets his check, sorry we are not paying you extra for overtime, because sales are down.  Because we had you making the wrong product, and it was poorly designed and costs to much also, sorry for that.  And than imagine those same decision makers giving themselves bonuses.  That is where President Obama hit the nail on the head.  Any leader, political, military, or business who takes for himself at the expense of those he/she leads should esxpect no loyalty.  In fact he/she should be tarred feather and run out of town on a rail. Well we don't do that anymore and that's a pity.  That leader is destroying the organizaiton.  We have all heard the stories of soldiers who will follow a particular officer into deadly danger because they have seen he "takes care of his men first"  they eat before he does, they have shelter before he does, they see him accepting the same privations they suffer.  To add a big dollop of salt into the wound, the public excuse offered is "maintaining value of the franchise". News Flash, the franchise is worthless without the loyalty  of those who do the work.  Shame on those who betray the people they lead.    

the Vatican and the Holocaust

A published interview in the NY Times reveals the Vatican says it did not know it was revoking the excommunication of a holocaust denier until after the fact.  Expectations they would look at the public pronouncements of those it is considering welcoming back into the fold sound reseasonable but did not happen.  Various Jewish groups are angry, seem to feel betrayed a Pope they took at his word that improving Catholic Jewish relations were a priority.  Mistakes happen, everywhere, all the time, despite all our best efforts to avoid them.  We look for the issues and obstacles in our way, and try to overcome them.  Meanwhile we can miss what is right at our feet and trips us up.  I have no ideas how the Pope will address the apparent conflicts his decision creates.  The Vatican does not rush, takes time to deliberate on situations.  To anyone who cares, lets all take a deep breath and see how the Vatican responds the protests of Jewish Groups and the knowledge it now has about newly minted Bishop Richard Williamson.  Don't expect anything today or tomorrow.  Lets wait and see 

Talking in a line to pay bills

Standing in line to pay a bill, I started talking with the grey haired guy behind me.  His take on the current "depression" as he called it, compared to the 1930's was.  Last time the big guys got hurt first  and worst.  They were the ones jumping out of windows.  His father had told him all about it.  This time, he said it is the little guy hurt more than the big guy.  I am not sure if satistics support this view.  From what I have read, the little guy got hurt worse than the "big guys" last time. We did both agreed the work Obama was doing was the best hope we had.  But if thinkgs get worse, his view that it is us against "them, the big guys" who have casued the probelm and somhow are not paying for their mistakes, may grow.  If that happens our political system will be susceptible to demagogy.  A desparate, resentful, angry population can be turned to extremist views.  We saw this in the 30's.  I beleive on the evidance and the faith I have in our president that he will lead us out of this.  It won't be quick, easy, efficient, or mistake free. Criticism of the current 850 billion bailout which focuses on elements amounting to less than one half of one percent are illogical and foolish.  Shoot the dog because it had a flea.  Come on! Sure lets try to do this perfectly.  But lets not destroy out chance for recovery because we found a flea on the dog.  His failure could very well be catastrophic for our nation.  

It's Snowing

God I love a snowfall.  I can remember sitting in my first grade classroom at the Eagle Avenue School watching the snow fall and cover the trees, the dirt and the sparse grass of the school playground.  The greens and browns slowly submerged under the falling smooth white.  That day, that few minutes, life seemed so calm and peaceful, so far from the classroom hurly-burly.  I have seen many many snowfalls in the fifty plus winters since that day.  But even so, if I look away from the problems, the issues, the worries, the fears, the life I wear now, if I look out the window at the snow coming down.  If I watch for a little  the trees, the ground  covering with snow, I can reclaim a little of that same peace from long ago.

It's not a bonus

Insularity - when we loose awareness of the wider world.  Wall St. Bonuses, the wider world sees greedy selfish employees getting a lot of money as reward for loosing a lot of money.  The truth is a bonus of some amount for most employees on Wall St., is part and parcle of the expected compensation.  Most of these men and women are paid a salary less than 50% of what they and their employers expect will be their total annual compensation for satisfactory job performance.  Some smaller part of that bonus is in fact based on individual performance.  But most of the bonus is just a way for the employer to delay paying compensation for 13 or more months to it's employees. Yup, those employees do earn more than the average worker in the US.  But most of them work very long hours. I mean a 60 hour work week is a week where the employee had emergency surgery.  And it is alwo true they are amongst the best and the brightest of our workforce.  Wall St. as an industry, just doesn't see the word bonus, for the rest of the country's workers is a rare and unexpected reward for extraordinary achievement, not deferred compensation for satisfactory performance.  Imagine the outcry if a factory floor worker making $10 per hour opens his pay envelope and sees he only made $8 per hour.  Same deal.  But Wall St. I urge you, change the name, don't call it a bonus, call it "the part of your salary we should have paid you last year, but got you to wait a long time to get"  Because that is what it is.

I know, it ain't gonna happen.

35,000 new layoffs on a cold January Monday

Caterpillar, Home Depot and Sprint announced new job cuts this AM.  Unannounced cuts are surely also happening.  It is a grim time for american workers.  All employer categories public and private seem to be shedding jobs at ever increasing rates.  For almost all of us unemployed finding a job is harder than the frozen New England ground.  A philosopher was once commanded by his king to make one statement true for all times, all places, all mankind.  Failure to satisfy his king was death to him.  The philosopher said, "this too shall pass".  Good times, bad times, health, illness, success, failure, life itself.  When times are wonderful and life seems very good it is a cautionary statement, be humble and prepare.  When times are difficult and life seems very bad and likely to get worse, take comfort in change and do whatever you can to make that change happen.   Life is a marathon.  Sometime the wind is at your back, the road runs down hill, It is easy.  Sometimes the air is quiet, the path is level and straight, for a long way forward the way seems steady and predictable.  Sometimes the path twists and turns steeply uphill, the wind blows hard in our faces, we cannot seem beyonnd the next turn, the way just ahead is not visible.  Whatever part of the run we are on this stretch too shall pass.  

Paulson

My son in law and I were discussing former Treas. Sec. Paulson back in Octobber when he seemed to take charge of the government response to the financial crisis.  My son in law has worked very successfully in investment banking in NYC. We both agreed Paulson had the background and understanding to deal successfully with the crisis.  Since than many have said he screwed it up.  Why?  Ben Stein had an insiteful article in last Sunday's New York Times.  The most experienced and brightest are still just people.  Knowledge, talent, experience may be necessaries to success, but they are not sufficient.  People act and re-act to reality for many reasons.  We know this. Smart people do dumb things.  What Paulson forgot, I think, was to keep in mind the changing Global reality. What we should each strive to do as we navigate our own lives is: check frequesntly how the overall environment is changing, re-examine our overall strategy based on that changing reality,  verify that our immediate tactics will still be successful.  Maybe Paulson some of did this.  Maybe new information required, in his mind, that he change course.  But he seems to have forgotten the changing Global reality.  As confidence waned in the international financial and business communites,  his changing tactics appeared capricious.  One example, PNC Bank and Nat City both applied for TARP funding.  He granted PNC's request, rejected Nat City's request.  PNC promply bought Nat City with TARP funds. Paulson did not see the effect a lack of public explaination would have on the global reality. This was one of many unexplained decisions he made.  Business needs to undertand what the rules are, or busness and its investors get very leery of putting money at risk.  That is where we are now. Not all your fault Hank, but some.

Guantanamoand an old Law and Order

Last week I caught an old Law and Order.  A policeman physically roughed up someone who had claerly kidnapped a young girl.  The clock was ticking, any minute she might have died if the police could not reach her.  At the end, after the girl is found alive and the suspect is convicted.  The defense attorney turns to McCoy, the prosecutor, and says "We're all right with what was done to save the little girl right?" McCoy nodds.  the Defense counsel than asks " What about if the cop had roughed up the kidnappers mother?" Just to go further into a moral morass  supposing he had tortured the suspect's child to get the suspect to talk,   It is the ticking bomb question examined a little more closely.  If it is right to torture someone who endangers others, is it also right to torture someone who has no guilt to get that information?  If torture is justified to save lives, than it should not matter who is tortured.  If torture is a part of the punishment for a crime, should that person be convicted of a crime first?  A policeman, I think in England, maybe Scotland, abused a prisoner who had also kidnapped a child.  He got the information, saved the child, and than turned himself in for judgement under the law.  Outside of fiction these ticking bomb situations are supposedly very rare.  It is one of the best aspects of that show that they often pose serious, thoughtful questions.  I wonder what other viewers thought.  Don't we all feel that an individual should not suffer unjust pain, torture, just because that may serve a higher end or greater good.  Otherwise we are on a very slippery slope to eugenics, euthanasia, and genocide.  The Old Testament lays the sins of the father on to the next seven generations.  Surely we have evolved past that.  If I were faced with the policeman's choice I might abuse the suspect, I would not hurt his mother or child.  But I know it is easy to sit in front of a computer and say confidently what I would do in a life or death situation.  No one can say with certainty without being there.

Muammer Qaddafi

His OP-Ed peice in the NY Times today is both most encouraging and discouraging.  His review of the history of the Jewish and Palastinian experience is balanced, if of necessity brief.  He does not pick and choose history which justifies the extremest views of Hamas and other groups which call for the total destruction of Israel. Moderates in the middle, Arab, European, American, Israeli seem focused on a 2 state solution.  He advocates a 1 state solution.  He sees the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their pre 1948 homes, farms, etc. as THE injustice which must be addressed. He calls for the continuation of assimilation between Jews and Palatinians, which he sees already happening in both Israel and the West Bank.  What is most enscouraging to me is his acknowledgemnt of valid historical issues on both sides.  Arab voices have come forward in recent years and acknowledged there are valid issues each side has.  The Saudi proposal to guarentee Israel's right to exist for example.  Arab voices are suggesting pragmatic solutions to the destructive cycle of violence and hate.  These are very encouraging, hopeful signs.  What is discouraging is the fear and hate, the distrust and revenge so many on both sides hold so tightly.  If you believe everything the Palastinian side does is only to advance the goal of the destruction of Israel, Isreal cannot compromise in any way.  If you believe you are the intentional victim of great moral injustice than Palestinians cannot do other than seek  full redress.  There can be no talking, no agreement.  Very discouraging.  For the first time I remember Arab leaders are talking about talking with Israel. Enough of Israel seems willing to reach some agreement if they are confident of the sincerity and control on the other side of the table.  That is very encouraging.

not too much, not too little, just right

Marcus Aurelius noted what people commment about you, tells more about them than about you.  And so I was curious to listen to the comments about President Obama's Inagural speech.  The negative criticism I saw feel into too categories:  Too vague, (see Wall St. Journal editorial),  not enough soaring rhetoric.  Were you ever in an organiztion when a new leader took over?  If so think about what you and your co-workers were feeling.  fear, hope need for change, fear of the wrong change, does he have the answers to hand down to us, will he listen to us.  Those who ask for that do not understand the basic approach of President Obama.  Core prinicples, core values will govern what we attempt to do.  An openness to data, interpretation, analysis and viewpoint, a discussion and debate of the options developed by many from those disparate sources. An examination of which options can be implemented and the cost/benefit of each.  Costs measured politically and monetarily.  President Obama has said over and over we must find common consensus to move forward.  Why would you expect him to start his administration not with a process, but with a destination?

Perhaps the most effective orator and writer we have had in a long time knew it was time to describe the difficult tasks ahead. Soaring, inspiring, words must be mixed with the reality of the hard and difficult issues we face.  He feels, and I agree, we must grow up if we are to move our country forward.  The world is hard, difficult, and sometimes dangerous. Life had it's share of frustration and pain. Achieving anythin worthwhile takes effort, focus, and time.  Anyone who wants to hide from reality should sit home and endlessly replay Goerge Bush's speech after 911...."just go out and shop" The rest of us need to go to work

The Speech

Imediate reaction.  Wonderful to hear a clear, eloquent speech given by our President.  The speech covered all issues, it inspired, it concisely described a philosophy that empowers and makes responsible each of us as citizens of this country, that outlines our purpose as a nation both domestically and with the world at large.  I will read it carefully, it was densly packed, each word and phrase has import.  Except for the foolish fringe on the left and right, there are none who can disagree with the philosophy.  Even CNBC the business channel commentators voiced agreement.  We all have high hopes, great confidence, it is up to all of us to shoulder our respnsiblity, take on our part of the taskes ahead.

Inauguration Morning

Much to feel very good about.  The country elected Barak Obama.  The transfer of power is orderly.  Partisan politics is muted.  83% in the latest poll support our incoming President.  These are all great reasons for optimism.  Our new President has spoken repeatedly of our ability to meet the challenges the country and the world face.  He is right.  Confidence we can meet todays challenges whatever they are.  Confidence we can make tomorrow better than yesterday.  If we do not have it in our national life we will not have the collective energy we need to solve our problems. If we do not have it in our personal lives we do not have the energy to address the various obstacles each of us faces.  Pebbles become boulders, Bumps become hills.  Hills become mountains.  The Frank Sinatra song High Hopes captures the idea.  All great leaders inspire hope, confidence,  that we can overcome, that we can surmount the problems we face, whether they are pebbles or towering mountains.  With understanding that the task is not easy.  The work is not easy. The time may not be short.  America and the world can again look forward to a reborn commitment that we can make it better.

The Torch always passes

I remember JFK's inaugural.   "The torch has passed to a new generation".  It is happening again, the first "post baby boomer" President will take office tomorrow.  That is as it should be. If God wanted leaders to lead forever, he would have made them immortal.  While some have extraordinarily long lives, no one can lead forever. My father never faced up to that simple fact.  My father and his two brothers built a busness.  They proclaimed their intention was to build it for us, the next generation.  They never did let go.  Maybe none of us next generation members appeared capable in their eyes. Maybe we were not.  As their abilities to function declined they did not turn to anyone outside the family either. They owned the business. they had the right to run it as long as they wanted to. They did not have the wisdom to know when to let go.  It was impossible for them to say, " we are not capable any more".  It was impossble for them to say  "someone esle can do this also".  It was impossible for them to say, " for this business to exist beyond our time, we must let go". They talked of a transition to the next generation.  They brought some of us into the business. They could never let go of the power. There were excuses and pleas to the moment's "special circumstances".  "Just need to get things to a better place."  "Just need to have this particular issues resolved."  The unspoken assumption was, you can't handle it now.  We love you so we do not want to dump the current mess on you. We need to make circumstances easier for you than they are now.  Did they believe it? Were they correct?  Was it merely self serving of them?  I don't know.  What I do know is they did not let go. The business failed. Maybe we younger ones should pushed harder? We did not. Why not? Out of respect, perhaps. Out of fear we were not capable? Out of love, maybe? We did nothing.  If they did not want to, or need,  hold on with claws of steel they would have moved back. If we felt fully capable we would have tried to push them. If they felt they had raised us to be what they wanted us to be they would have moved back.  Ultimately our lack of action and theirs were a judgement on us and them.  It is mine and I will not give it up.  We will not try take it from you. Thank God the American people know the survival of what we hold dearest requires a letting go. Thank God America knows when The Torch MUST be passed.

gratitude

Everyone anticipates the Inauguration of President Barak Obama.  His philosophy, serve the community. His humility-"I'll make mistakes". His pragmatism - let us find where we have common ground - where we can agree.  His economic philosophy - lets remove artificial barriers which prevent any of us from rising as far as our work and talent will allow. His leadership calls forth the best in each of us. His oratorical talent inspires most of us and brings tears to many of us.  Very few dispute this country needs his unique leadership now. Every President should have these qualities. Few have, Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Kennedy. We should be grateful to God, that at least in times of great peril, we have such leaders. Not solely for the sake of our nation but preseve the idea that a nation "so constitued can long endure", to preserve the idea each individual has value,  to call to the "better angels of our nature".  One thought I keep having.  The burdens this man has chosen to carry, the burdens we have chosen to place on his shoulders, are so heavy.  I am so very grateful he will be our president in less than two days.  But for the man, he has taken a very heavy wieght on his shoulders.  For all our sakes I am very thankful.  For his sake I wish he had less to carry. God bless him.

Madoff and Bin laden Compare and Contrast

Thursay night as reported today in the NY Times a meeting was held at the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research to discuss Madoff: A Jewish Reckoning.  Comparing Madoff and BinLaden.... I asked myself the following:  

Has each portrayed himself as an enthusiastic follower of an organized religion - Yes

Did each violate clear principles of that religion  - Madoff Yes, Bin Laden - many who know more than me say yes, Bin Laden would say no

Did each cause harm to members of his religion - Madoff targeted and prayed on Jewish individuals and Jewish non-profits.  Bin Laden's actions have been an excuse for anti-muslim prejudice in the non-muslim world,  though he would disagree I expect

Reaction from members of each religious group - from the report of the seminar Jewish Americans feeling betrayed and also wondering, worrying if this will increase anti-semitism.

The Muslim reaction covers a broader range, from outright support to complete rejection and condemnation.

What strikes me most is that each has taken their acceptance by members of a religious group and used it to cause great harm to many members of that group, as well as people outside that group.

One old lesson, proclamations of religious faith and outward adherence of religious devotion are not sufficient proof of a struggle to understand God's will.  All religions require we care about our fellow humans.  Neither Madof or Bin Laden fed the poor, clothed the naked, gave succor to those who suffer.  Though both claimed to do so.  Both practiced destruction.  

David Brooks NY times today

No economic philosophy, including "free market"  is based on actual human behavior. Simple explanations of us are always incomplete.  Rigid policies which do not take into account all aspects of what we are will sooner or later lead to disaster.  HIs point can be expanded to all areas of human activity,  religious, cultural, social, and governmental, We are the total of our genes and experience.  Our species can observe, think, and  learn. That is our hope.  WE progress. Nature does not produce straight lines for any great distance.  Human progress is not linear for long.  But the long term trend is clearly upward.  We humans keep trying different philosophies, different ways to "make it better".  We are a work in progress.  We climb the mountain.  We run, we walk, we pause, we stumble, we roll backwards also.  We get frustrated, we despair, but sooner or latter we get up and struggle upward. We do not agree on what the top looks like, we do not agree which path will get us there.  But we keep trying. I have tried to observe, learn, and think and believe we will keep climbing up. 

From the bottom up

So in a couple of days we get a new President.  Thank God. 

 In his last press conference Bush talked about what he should have done different about Katrina, Anticipating criticism he said that if he had landed Airforce One in New Orleans he would have pulled police from emergency response duty. That would Be Wrong.  That's it!!  The only criticism he can imagine is that he didn't land there?  

How about a disorganized, fatally slow response for desparetly needed food, water, shelter, security.  

How about a government department created to deal with a national emergency, FEMA,

down graded from cabinet to sub-cabinet department.  How about appointing a man to head the department with no experience. 

But why go on.  

This is a chief executive who has held no one responsible for anything except perceived disloyalty to Himself.  God bless and good riddance