Sarah Palin and the Black man.

I only refer to this person as a Black man since that is how he identified himself to Sarah Palin.

First, my choices for President are Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, or Allen West.

With that said, over the weekend Palin had an excellent opportunity to win some new votes.

She was confronted by someone identifying himself as a Black man.  He had a question that threw her off guard and then sputtered and then answered in a "canned" way.

I do not point this out to criticize but to help.

Fox News Syndrome

To argue with those who have renounced the use and authority of reason is as futile as to administer medicine to the dead ~ Thomas Paine


This describes the state of the Democratic party today.  So, why does the GOP keep arguing as if their were an ounce of reason in their opponent?

I call it the Fox News Syndrome (FNS).  To appear superior through a fair and balanced debate, to take the high road, to present Reason for the hope of miraculous conversion just as the Humanists envisioned Chrisitans flocking to them when presented with Reason, which hasn't happened btw.

Could be brilliant.

The Obama initiative reported by Fox News is a scam of a crackdown since it targets only For-profit colleges.  However, it could be brilliant if applied to all educational institutions.

Educational costs in America today are as high as they are due to the benevolent government intervention in the guise of making education affordable for the masses.  Unintended consequence of this benevolence is that it allows educational institutions to take advantage of it and then keep increasing the cost(s) through the roof.

If this initiative were enacted upon all educational institutions it would force prices back to earth.  If no one could afford college or the Uni then you'd see prices drop so fast it would create a sonic boom.

This problem is also seen in Healthcare, Cars, Homes, or anything that has a benefactor promising to make something affordable while at the same time making it ever more unaffordable.

Time to think outside the box, not accept the conventional wisdom, to get rid of business as usual.

Business as usual

After spending too much time on tweets and political blogs instead of my philosophy readings, I've become frustrated again.

Republicans think that when they are speaking they are communicating.  They allow the thunderous applause of the already converted to delude themselves into thinking they've been successful at communicating.

Until Republicans understand my previous points, then it will be business as usual which in the past has lead to temporary gains akin to one step forward, two steps back.

Add another GOP mistake

I spent some time on two mistakes that Republicans make or are making in the current campaign.  Their lack of knowledge concerning their opponent and their lack of knowledge of their fellow Americans both of which are evidenced by the shape of their message.  In other words, the shape of their message does not address the nature of the opponent nor the desires of their fellow citizens.

The newer mistake is that the GOP thinks ideas are enough.  Competition of ideas will win the day.  Republicans, to their credit, believe that the public is smart enough to know a good idea from a bad one.  Maybe.  Someday.  How long have they been following this strategy?  How far has the country fallen while waiting for these miraculous conversions to truth?

The election is not going to be won on ideas.  The election is going to be won on who can best Lead the people to their ideas. 

As of now, there is no one in the GOP race that can lead.  They are all managers at best, politicians at worst.

To lead is to attack, defend, spar, make the hard decisions in order to bring his/her people through the wilderness.   A fighter that battles the enemies within and without.  A person that stands firm in the storm.

There is no one like that running as of now for the GOP.

Ideas are not going to save this country.

Barriers to Entry

I find less and less Freedom every day in a country that is supposed to be known for its Freedom.  Although there are many causes, I believe the biggest violator are the various Barriers to Entry (BOE) created by our society.

Due to my recent job loss, I decided to follow the American dream by deciding to change my career path for a more satisfying life.  But after reading through job postings that interest me and that I know I'm more than smart enough to do, I'm afraid that won't happen... if I believe the requirements listed in these job postings.

The job postings list requirements that require huge amounts of time to accomplish while incurring massive amounts of debt.  Doable for the young but a great burden or just impossible for actual adults.

Each, time & debt, becomes a BOE to anyone that is seeking change in their careers (loss of Freedom).  Conversely, Business & Government are robbed of truly diverse experiences brought in by those who wish to change their careers.

Instead of looking for attitude (creates healthy work environments) and aptitude (creates loyalty and infuses real or better ideas, solid work ethic) these requirements show the lack of imagination or even lack of thought processes which would prevent stagnation and a false sense of security also known as status quo.

Unfortunately these BOE's will not change.  They are entrenched into the minds of those in charge of hiring, believing that these are truths.  They are further blinded by technology, mistaking it for knowledge and progression while ignoring human nature.

The sad truth is that a goodly amount of truth in our society today would have been met with ridicule and or disdain by our ancestors. 

 I will press on and view this as another opportunity to be on the outside looking in.

Thought for Today

The idea which shuts out the Second Coming from our minds, the idea of the world slowly ripening to perfection, is a myth ~ CS Lewis

Mothers Day Quote of the Day

Mothers are fonder than fathers of their children because they are more certain they are their own ~ Aristotle


:-p

Fundamental mistakes of the GOP

Fundamental mistakes that Republicans make are that they don't understand their opponent nor do they understand their fellow man.

Obama and party are not stupid, they know what they are doing.  And they are doing it well while Republicans, ignorant of Democrats true motives, chase shadows and smoke.  Until they realize what is really happening then they, Republicans, will never be able to undo the negative change this country has endured nor simply defeat their opponent.

Descartes - First Meditation

Everytime I re-read this short but powerful work, I get stuck on two phrases.

The first... "there is not one of my former beliefs about which a doubt may not be properly raised...".

The second...  "I will suppose therefore that not God, who is supremely good and the source of truth, but rather some demon of the utmost power and cunning has employed all his energies in order to deceive me."

Quote of the Day

In a republic this rule ought to be observed: that the majority should not have the predominant power.

Cicero

Quote of the Day

Capitalism is the only moral political system because it is the only system dedicated to the protection of rights, which is a requirement for human survival and flourishing.

http://www.importanceofphilosophy.com/Politics_Capitalism.html

Away in Europe

If I can find internet access again I will leave my thoughts on my travels through Europe for the next two weeks, otherwise, will begin blogging about my Philosophy readings and other things when I get back.

Montaigne- First thoughts or a knee jerk reaction

Reading "The Consolations of Philosophy".  Current chapter- Montaigne on Inadequacy.

It seems that his best argument is that since everyone farts and has sex, that, we are all equal.

My first reaction is that how is this superior to Christianity?  I ask, since this book is supposed to show how Philosophy can "console, inspire, and motivate us" in lieu, presumably, of other belief systems.

Yet, why is believing that you are a created being in the image of a "Maker" inferior to proof of everyone's bodily functions equalizing the herd?  That arguments about farting or sex trump morality stories in the Bible seem almost childish.   My six year old niece does love a good fart joke as much as Montaigne seemingly.

One debases the Human to crude explosions of toxic fumes and the other gives dignity and purpose with a really good set of tools to overcome all of life's challenges.

That was my knee jerk reaction.  Now, I must figure out my award winning version that will pass my exam with honors.

Caroline Heldman's bad argument on Hannity

My greatest pet peeve with Fox is the inability or unwillingness to challenge their guests and then give their, the host's, viewpoint and why its the correct way to think about the subject at hand.

Tonight's big debate was on the Birth Certificate.  The Liberal defending the President came up with two of the weakest arguments that I have ever heard in defense of this issue.  This leads me to believe that this person is nowhere near as smart as they think they are or they are outright lying and grasping for straws.  Either way, loss of respect almost immediately after she began speaking.

First defensive argument was that no one else has been asked to show their birth certificates.  To his credit, Hannity did challenge that and proved her incorrect but the two arguments that followed could have been challenged and settled.

Quote of the Day

rickhenk wrote:

I read that smoking was bad, so I quit smoking.

I read that drinking was bad, so I quit drinking.

I read that sex was bad, so I quit reading.