At the last meeting of John Knox Presbytery they passed the following resolution to be sent to Gov. Walker of WI. Today I received a forward from the Stated Clerk of General Assembly supporting the John Knox Presbytery position. It may be viewed following the JKP statement.
At the February 19, 2011 meeting of John Knox Presbytery a resolution came from the floor asking the presbytery to make a statement to the state representative and Wisconsin Governor calling for good faith negotiations with Wisconsin public employee unions to deal with the current budget issues. As approved by the presbytery, the following statement was sent to the state representatives, Governor Scott Walker and the other Wisconsin presbyteries:
Statement of the John Knox Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (USA) As Christians, we are well aware that difficult economic times call for hard choices on the part of our elected representatives. The State of Wisconsin, like many states, is facing significant financial challenges and difficult decisions in balancing its budget. The decision to reduce or eliminate the state’s projected budget deficit, however, does not nullify the moral obligation of the elected leaders of Wisconsin to respect the legitimate rights of workers, including public employees, to organize and collectively bargain.
The 207th General Assembly (1995) of the Presbyterian Church (USA) adopted as policy the paper “God’s Work in our Hands: Employment, Community and Christian Vocation.” It affirms a longstanding Presbyterian principle that vocation is a lifelong response to God in all aspects of one’s life, and that work is an integral part of our response to God’s call. Therefore, all aspects of the workplace, including wages, benefits, working conditions, and labor-management relationships, are of concern to God and thus of concern to the church.
The 1995 General Assembly statement specifically provides: Justice demands that social institutions guarantee all persons the opportunity to participate actively in economic decision making that affects them. All workers…have the right to choose to organize for the purposes of collective
bargaining.
Therefore, The Presbytery of John Knox, meeting on February 19, 2011 in Muscoda, Wisconsin, calls upon Governor Scott Walker and Wisconsin’s other elected representatives to enter into good-faith negotiations with Wisconsin’s public employee unions to deal with Wisconsin’s current budget issues and to respect the rights of all workers to collectively bargain for wages and benefits.
We encourage peaceful dialog and discussion to reach consensus for the benefit of all the people of Wisconsin. Further, we call upon Presbyterians to continue to monitor the state budget process in Madison and to join with other Christians of good will in advocating and praying for a just resolution to Wisconsin’s current budget issues
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (U.S.A.)
OFFICE OF THE GENERAL Assembly
GRADYE M. PARSONS
STATED CLERK
February 28,2011
Governor Scott Walker
115 East Capitol
Madison, WI 53702
Dear Governor Walker:
I am writing on behalf of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) on the matter of collective bargaining by public employees of state governments. The policies of our General Assembly, the highest governing council of our church, have repeatedly addressed matters ofunionization and collective bargaining. We fully support the urgent communication you have received from the John Knox Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), our regional judicatory based in Madison, Wisconsin, and repeat what they have quoted for you-a portion of our long-standing commitment to the right of workers to bargain collectively.
The 1995 General Assembly statement ("God's Work in Our Hands") specifically provides: "Justice
demands that social institutions guarantee all persons the opportunity to participate in economic
decision making that affects them. All workers ... have the right to choose to organize for the purposes of
collective bargaining." Therefore, The Presbytery of John Knox, meeting on February 19,2011 in
Muscoda, Wisconsin, calls upon Governor Scott Walker and Wisconsin's other elected representatives to
enter into good-faith negotiations with Wisconsin's public employee unions to deal with Wisconsin's
current budget issues and to respect the rights ofall workers to collectively bargain for wages and benefits.
As Presbyterians we base the rights ofall workers, corporations and governments in a doctrine of covenant or mutual accountability that undergirds all contracts and includes our social contract in the United States. We share with many people of faith the conviction that collective bargaining is a concrete measure by which burdens and benefits are shared in a manner deeply consistent with both our faith and our democratic values.
Our doctrine of vocation affirms that all human beings have a calling from God to serve the common good.
It is our understanding that your state workers have already agreed to significant sacrifices as an
appropriate part of the overall effort to reduce expenses. To take away their future right to collective
bargaining is an attack on a basic principle, rather than simply a cost-cutting measure. We challenge your
administration to embody fairness and the sharing ofburdens in your tax and wage policies, and to lead
by your own example.
In Christ's mission,
Gradye Parsons
Stated Clerk ofthe General Assembly
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
The Ten Politically Correct Commandments
Building contractor
Posted: February 26, 2011 11:17 AM
I have heard it said that we have a million laws to enforce Ten Commandments, a list of rules that several religions have adopted as the basis of, or at least an important part of, living a good life. Interestingly, much excitement and furor has been stirred up recently because of that list of rules connected to a few religions. Words have never intimidated me, but some people have panicked when this harmless list was posted in their schools and/or their government offices.
Giles County, Va., is currently panic central for this debate. The County School Board decided in December to remove the publicly displayed Ten Commandments from the schools. In January, they decided that they were wrong for removing them and decided to flip their decision and reinstalled the lists in their schools. Now, in February, they have flopped and decided to remove them again. This decision came after discussing the issue with the district's legal counsel. I think that it might have been better to have that discussion with the lawyers back in December.
Giles County, Va., is currently panic central for this debate. The County School Board decided in December to remove the publicly displayed Ten Commandments from the schools. In January, they decided that they were wrong for removing them and decided to flip their decision and reinstalled the lists in their schools. Now, in February, they have flopped and decided to remove them again. This decision came after discussing the issue with the district's legal counsel. I think that it might have been better to have that discussion with the lawyers back in December.
I struggle a bit with all the excitement over this issue as various religions once again clash with schools and governments. I have always believed that there is a God, but I am not sure that God had this vision of formal religions in mind as he looked over us. I venture a guess the direction that formal religion often heads is one of God's disappointments.
As I thought about this list of rules, I thought maybe we could solve all this confusion by developing a set of politically correct Ten Commandments. So, I've tried to make it something that could hang in our schools and government buildings without creating mass hysteria.
The Ten Highly Recommended Suggestions for Life Behavior:
1. You are not the center of the universe. Believe in something or someone who is greater than you are. When looking for that guiding power, be careful. Many who present themselves as someone with the answers will lead you down some bad alleys.
2. Show some respect to the source of guidance you are given. There are many ways to show respect. One would be to say good things and use good words when you talk about the one guiding you.
3. Take some time off regularly to honor and thank the spirit who helps you through life.
4. Love, honor and respect your parents for their efforts to do what is right. Try to remember that there are no set rules or blueprints for parenting. All parents make mistakes, but most of them are doing the best they know how with the skills and knowledge they have.
5. You will not kill. Nothing has to be changed to make this politically correct.
6. Protect your bond with the one you love. That bond of wife, husband, life partner or soul mate is a wonderful one. We are human so we often fall short of showing that one person the love and respect they deserve. Trying to share that bond with more than one person at a time makes no sense.
7. You will not steal. This again seems straightforward. If it's not yours, you have no business taking it. It doesn't get much simpler than that. If you want something, work for it.
8. Just tell the truth. It is so much easier than trying to remember how you twisted it. In the end, the truth will keep you out of trouble.
9. Don't covet your neighbor's wife. As Soupy Sales once said, "It always looks greener in the other guy's wallet!" If you aren't happy with where you are, there is a good chance you wouldn't be happy in someone else's life or with someone else's wife, so don't bother coveting.
10. Stop wishing for your neighbor's stuff. Your neighbor's stuff will not make you happy either.
This politically correct business is tougher than I thought it would be. Even though this set of rules eliminates any specific reference to God or religion, I am sure in this politically correct environment, it would still offend some group. That being the case, I have another idea. It is a way we could cover all bases and, I hope, not offend anyone. We could also save on printing costs because this solution only uses a few words. There wouldn't be a long list to remember and maybe just a few people would take note making the world a little gentler and kinder. At the entrance to every school and every public building in all bold capital letters, let's post these eleven words: DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU!
Saturday, February 26, 2011
The Wealth of Nations
I’m back to my remedial college reading, this time from The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith. At the beginning Smith talks about “savage societies” versus “ civilized societies in light of how we treat people. In primitive societies everyone one works hard just to survive and those who can’t – children and the old or infirm – are often abandoned to die; a Darwinian “survival of the fittest mentality, cruel but necessary. In civilized societies, because we are affluent, we can afford to take care of the young, the old and the infirm without any undue burden because of wealth we can produce collectively. Thus we have the difference between savage and civilized societies.
It seems to be the agenda of some of the far right wing politicians of our society to lift up the value of primitive societies. In Gov. Scott Walkers’ 144 page budget proposal we find these elements. If enacted the bill would allow government appointed officials to making sweeping cuts in health care for low income families and ignore normal legislative procedures. It would also allow the selling of any state-owned heating, cooling or power plant to private entities with or without soliciting bids, whatever they deem best for the state. This is another move towards privatization of enterprises for the common good. Let’s hear it for cronyism. This comes along with the drive to crush unions.
I think Governor Walker needs to do some remedial reading of the basic of a free enterprise society along with me. We are a wealthy nation perfectly capable of taking care of all of our population with good health care and economic security. Our problem is that our wealth is concentrated among a very very small number of folk who appear more savage in outlook than civilized.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Can You Trust Eyewitness Accounts?
Take a good look at this picture then walk 15 feet away and look at it again. Enough said.
"Spring Break - Day 3" Plymouth, WI
Our day started off waiting for the school bus and it didn't show up. Ella and I went out @ 6:40 a.m., bus is to come @ 6:50a.m. and I began wondering if there was a school cancelation or something else. So I ran inside, Ella came too because she was getting cold and @ 7:10 a.m. the bus drove by. I jumped into the car and took her to school just in time.
Dale was in charge of getting Adam to school on Wed. Adam starts at 10 a.m. and goes to 12:30 p.m. Dale took Adam out to lunch, Adam said that he didn't get enought time in the play area at Mc Donald's. We had to be back to school to see Ella and her class to their presentations about Presidents at 1L50 p.mm Ella did a great job, her President was George Washington. Maybe I said before in earlier reports that she needed a visual aid of some sort for her report. Kent, Kelly and Ella made the Washington Monument before they left on Sunday. It is reported to stand 555' tall and we figured out that it would take 139 Ella's to match the height. We brought Ella home with us with a stop at McDonald's for a shamrock shake to celebrate her great report.
No homework said Mrs Nelson as we left the class room yesterday, just work on the spelling words. Ella recieved the books "Little House on the Prairie" as a gift and I found on the Hallmark channel she same show. We now have a snack and watch a show. Will be fun when she does start reading, maybe some of the showes will be a chapter in one of her books. A favorite show that Adam remembers was named, "FRED", come to find out it was a goat Laura took home. Not even the preacher liked the goat. Maybe I will peek at the books to see what names are given to the chapters.
Wed night was Survivor night. Grandma's Box O'Fun had a few items for Survivor Night, each of the children had a mask of an animal to wear and we also had sunglasses as they are of course on an island. Everyone in jammies before the show and all settled in. Claire crashed early as she didn't have a nap, so she missed out on the show.
Heard from Kelly and Kent late last night via email that they finally arrived in the TC Islands, guess that they circled it once more before landing :o) that might have made me a little nervous. As Kelly's email read , " We are here, sitting on our deck, having a beverage and a kitten showes up". No feeding the wild life!
So, until tomorrow, "that is all folks"! Weather says maybe another dusting of snow, I am thinking it is white sandy beaches......:o) Nice chatting on Skype.. xoxoxoxoxox
Dale was in charge of getting Adam to school on Wed. Adam starts at 10 a.m. and goes to 12:30 p.m. Dale took Adam out to lunch, Adam said that he didn't get enought time in the play area at Mc Donald's. We had to be back to school to see Ella and her class to their presentations about Presidents at 1L50 p.mm Ella did a great job, her President was George Washington. Maybe I said before in earlier reports that she needed a visual aid of some sort for her report. Kent, Kelly and Ella made the Washington Monument before they left on Sunday. It is reported to stand 555' tall and we figured out that it would take 139 Ella's to match the height. We brought Ella home with us with a stop at McDonald's for a shamrock shake to celebrate her great report.
No homework said Mrs Nelson as we left the class room yesterday, just work on the spelling words. Ella recieved the books "Little House on the Prairie" as a gift and I found on the Hallmark channel she same show. We now have a snack and watch a show. Will be fun when she does start reading, maybe some of the showes will be a chapter in one of her books. A favorite show that Adam remembers was named, "FRED", come to find out it was a goat Laura took home. Not even the preacher liked the goat. Maybe I will peek at the books to see what names are given to the chapters.
Wed night was Survivor night. Grandma's Box O'Fun had a few items for Survivor Night, each of the children had a mask of an animal to wear and we also had sunglasses as they are of course on an island. Everyone in jammies before the show and all settled in. Claire crashed early as she didn't have a nap, so she missed out on the show.
Heard from Kelly and Kent late last night via email that they finally arrived in the TC Islands, guess that they circled it once more before landing :o) that might have made me a little nervous. As Kelly's email read , " We are here, sitting on our deck, having a beverage and a kitten showes up". No feeding the wild life!
So, until tomorrow, "that is all folks"! Weather says maybe another dusting of snow, I am thinking it is white sandy beaches......:o) Nice chatting on Skype.. xoxoxoxoxox
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
News From the Lake Hill Golf Association (LHGA)
I know that a vast numbers of you have been wondering how the golfer Drennan, beside Tiger Woods, has been faring this golf season. In the LHGA there the is the elite A tour; a PGA type followed by the B tour, it could be liked unto the European Tour (if you’re a bit daft); the C tour – Nationwide Tour if we take the analogy to a further extension). Next we would have the D tour perhaps akin to a regional tour; the E tour analogous perhaps to the local regional championship and finally the F tour non unlike the OBGA of Cochrane, WI (Old Bastards Golf Tour.) Drennan, after finishing the required 5 round Q school was placed in the prestigious E Tour; roughly made up of those folk who can move from their wheel chairs and walkers to golf carts with minor assists.
Drennan, a well known professional golfer whose career earnings topped $100 last year on the OBGA, got off to a rough start with a complete lack of chits (what we use in place of money around here.) Drennan, whose long game, fairway game, short game and putting were a bit off began to rally, he gathered in a couple of chits a couple time recently, becoming a bona fide chitter. Last week his old form began to reappear and he came in tied for 2nd place; this has a pecuniary value of 5 chits; big time. Today, however, the old duffer was in rare form and after blindfolding his flight members, shot a dazzling 56 (handicapped adjusted 72). While the outcome lacks total certainty, experts (a one eyed Scotsman and a niblink carver believe it will move him into the number one position with rewards in the 6 chit area.
Next week be sure to watch the NCC (No Chit Channel) as Drennan plays in the LHGA winter/spring tournament. Sparkling commentary by Nicked Frodo and Johan Mueller will cover the event for NCC with ground coverage by Daveed Feret Tee. Big chit is at stake here.
Kelly Tightwoman, chief anchor woman for NCC reported Drennan was last seen muttering, “Bring on the Bob, bring on the Bob.”
Day 2 of "Spring Break" - Plymouth, WI
The day went well. Ella off to school at 7:00 a.m., bus delayed ( she is usually on the bus at 6:50a.m.) due to the snow from the night before and all of it on Monday. Monday night we added another 5" of fresh snow to whatever we got from Sunday. Beautiful day, Dale plowed the driveway and the sun was out all day. After lunch Adam decided to get his snow gear on and climb on some of the piles of snow. Following a good 2 hour nap, Claire and I ventured out in the snow for a while to join Adam and Grandpa.
Chores are going well with the cattle. Dale is in charge of them. They are getting big, all will be 2 years old this year. All are due with "child".
Ella gets home at 3 p.m. and is a "starvin Marvin", Kelly warned me ahead of time to make sure there is something ready to eat when she walks in the door.
Our evening was make your own burger ( I did the frying) but we added tomatoes, onion, pickles,lettuce,etc. They soon became known a Bindl Sliders ! Mostly because they slipped around as the children grabbed them to eat. They were delicious.
Tubby time was last night. Ella and Claire tubbied together, while soaking we worked on Ella's spelling words. This weeks words were shortened due to 1 less day of school. Her challenge word this week is: disciple, she can spell it. Today she does her talk about George Washington, this was delayed from Monday. We will go to school to listen to the class.
Adam has school today. Dale will take him in at 9:45 and school starts at 10, he will be done at 12:30p.m. Dale and Adam have a luncheon date today. I think Adam has already chosen Mc Donald's.
We got a call around 4:30-45p.m. from American Airlines that the flight was canceled, we were put on as a contact phone #. We tried to contact Kelly and Kent to see what was going on. Talked with Megan and she said that she and Kelly were in contact while sitting on the plane in Charlotte, NC so thought they would be at the Islands, WRONG !!! Come to find out, K&K did take off from Charlotte but ended up circling the Turks & Caicos islands, landed in the Dominican Republic and due to the pilot being close to overtime on flying hours they were returned to Charlotte. The problem was a hole in the runway at TC and they weren't able to land.
Talked with Kelly this a.m. She said that they were put up in a hotel for the night and that they would be taking off 10-ish Eastern time to head to the Island. More to follow.
Oh, I did say in the last note that I would tell you about the Naughty List: 1. Make a pillow castle 2. Eat candy 3. Watch more TV showes 4. Paint the cows and Adam said we will add more to it today.
Better go, have to feed Adam and get him ready for school. He is definitely not a morning person.Till tomorrow.
Chores are going well with the cattle. Dale is in charge of them. They are getting big, all will be 2 years old this year. All are due with "child".
Ella gets home at 3 p.m. and is a "starvin Marvin", Kelly warned me ahead of time to make sure there is something ready to eat when she walks in the door.
Our evening was make your own burger ( I did the frying) but we added tomatoes, onion, pickles,lettuce,etc. They soon became known a Bindl Sliders ! Mostly because they slipped around as the children grabbed them to eat. They were delicious.
Tubby time was last night. Ella and Claire tubbied together, while soaking we worked on Ella's spelling words. This weeks words were shortened due to 1 less day of school. Her challenge word this week is: disciple, she can spell it. Today she does her talk about George Washington, this was delayed from Monday. We will go to school to listen to the class.
Adam has school today. Dale will take him in at 9:45 and school starts at 10, he will be done at 12:30p.m. Dale and Adam have a luncheon date today. I think Adam has already chosen Mc Donald's.
We got a call around 4:30-45p.m. from American Airlines that the flight was canceled, we were put on as a contact phone #. We tried to contact Kelly and Kent to see what was going on. Talked with Megan and she said that she and Kelly were in contact while sitting on the plane in Charlotte, NC so thought they would be at the Islands, WRONG !!! Come to find out, K&K did take off from Charlotte but ended up circling the Turks & Caicos islands, landed in the Dominican Republic and due to the pilot being close to overtime on flying hours they were returned to Charlotte. The problem was a hole in the runway at TC and they weren't able to land.
Talked with Kelly this a.m. She said that they were put up in a hotel for the night and that they would be taking off 10-ish Eastern time to head to the Island. More to follow.
Oh, I did say in the last note that I would tell you about the Naughty List: 1. Make a pillow castle 2. Eat candy 3. Watch more TV showes 4. Paint the cows and Adam said we will add more to it today.
Better go, have to feed Adam and get him ready for school. He is definitely not a morning person.Till tomorrow.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Today is the first day of our "Spring Vacation" in Plymouth, WI.
We started our Spring Vacation in Plymouth, WI on Sat.evening arriving ahead of what is now a big snow event, a.k.a 6-12" fresh snow with 20 mph winds.
We were out learning the calf and cat chores around 8:30 a.m. on Sunday and it started snowing and it didn't stop snowing until dark. The snow came from the East and just blew around the house. Kent decided to plow the driveway around 9 p.m. just to make sure that he could get out if needed, he was also on call ( he didn't have to go out last night tho).
Dale and I slept in the "Mother In Law's suite" last night (which is above their garage across the driveway) and upon arrival found a small snow drift in the room under the air conditioner, Dale soon fixed that problem. We hadn't turned up the heat ahead of time so it was a bit cold for a while. Dale said his nose was as cold as it had been when he and Arvid went to New Mexico elk hunting in Arivd's summer tent :o)
Kelly and Kent leave tonight after the children have gone to bed. They will drive to Chicago and stay over and be at the airport very early tomorrow a.m. for the big trip to the Turks and Caicos Islands. They will be home on Sunday, 2/27.
I have a long list of what/where and when for the children, Ella goes to school every day and has to be at the bus stop, end of the driveway by 6:45 a.m. She gets back home @ 3:00 p.m. We will only have to get Adam to school on Wed. Feed them, homework, bedtime and tubbies, shouldn't be too hard !
Now the naughty list begins. For those of you who don't know about my Naughty List it includes things like: ice cream and M&M's on their waffles and pancakes for breakfast. Sometimes we eat in front of the TV, once in a while the children can watch 3 shows on TV and/or let their eyes go square from watching too much TV. This also includes a couple of games on the computer or Ella's DS. This doesn't hapen daily but you should see what we write down. Maybe will post another note after the list is made.
Today school was closed due to the weather. Roads are open and not too bad but that's o.k. The children and I are planning a dinner tonight so we can send Kelly and Kent off on their adventure. More later.
We were out learning the calf and cat chores around 8:30 a.m. on Sunday and it started snowing and it didn't stop snowing until dark. The snow came from the East and just blew around the house. Kent decided to plow the driveway around 9 p.m. just to make sure that he could get out if needed, he was also on call ( he didn't have to go out last night tho).
Dale and I slept in the "Mother In Law's suite" last night (which is above their garage across the driveway) and upon arrival found a small snow drift in the room under the air conditioner, Dale soon fixed that problem. We hadn't turned up the heat ahead of time so it was a bit cold for a while. Dale said his nose was as cold as it had been when he and Arvid went to New Mexico elk hunting in Arivd's summer tent :o)
Kelly and Kent leave tonight after the children have gone to bed. They will drive to Chicago and stay over and be at the airport very early tomorrow a.m. for the big trip to the Turks and Caicos Islands. They will be home on Sunday, 2/27.
I have a long list of what/where and when for the children, Ella goes to school every day and has to be at the bus stop, end of the driveway by 6:45 a.m. She gets back home @ 3:00 p.m. We will only have to get Adam to school on Wed. Feed them, homework, bedtime and tubbies, shouldn't be too hard !
Now the naughty list begins. For those of you who don't know about my Naughty List it includes things like: ice cream and M&M's on their waffles and pancakes for breakfast. Sometimes we eat in front of the TV, once in a while the children can watch 3 shows on TV and/or let their eyes go square from watching too much TV. This also includes a couple of games on the computer or Ella's DS. This doesn't hapen daily but you should see what we write down. Maybe will post another note after the list is made.
Today school was closed due to the weather. Roads are open and not too bad but that's o.k. The children and I are planning a dinner tonight so we can send Kelly and Kent off on their adventure. More later.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Getting Back at Folk
I haven't put anything in from my gospel for a time so here's one that corresponds to part of the gospel that will be read in most churches today.
"Here's an old saw. You have no doubt heard people say, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' Originally that was to hold people in check so they wouldn't take a set of teeth for a tooth or the whole head for an eye; we forget that. What I am telling you is to forget about getting even with somebody who has done something wrong to you. If someone whacks you on the cheek, turn the other one to him or her. If someone grabs your coat, give him or her your shirt as well. If one of the Roman soldiers requires you to carry his backpack for a mile, carry it for two miles. If someone is begging, given them something and don't ask for the gift back.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
FINALLY MADE IT ON HERE!!!
Ok, I think I'm doing this right. We will find out soon enough! What's going on in my life: Been working quite a bit. As said in my profile I work as an Account Coordinator for Charleston Orwig. In a nut shell, that means we are an integrated marketing firm and our clients hire us to basically do their dirty work. My one and only account I work on is Pfizer Poultry Health. Chickens! =) Other than that I enjoy spending time with my boyfriend, Bob, of almost one year now. We've recently joined a gym and have been occupying it frequently, taking up raquet ball! Needless to say, I need to invest in eye goggles because Bob gets a little intense! We moved in together about a month ago and absolutely love our new place. (pics coming soon) We rarely leave. It's in beautiful Dousman, WI. It's a small, quaint little town, but it's a great area and good location for us. Bob leaves for Cancun, Mexico on Monday for one week to follow an event of the PGA tour. Then we both leave the week he gets back to sunny Florida!! Can't wait! I'm ready to disregard the winter blues. Anyway, that's all for now!
My Opinion of Gov. Scott Proposals on Teacher Union Bargaining Rights
As I have said before we should talk about religion and politics rather than ignore them in normal conversation. But we do need to learn to talk about them without rancor and incivility. With that said, let me weigh in on the recent Gov. Scott initiative on limiting union power in the state which has started a national controversy.
The founders of the country and the early practitioners of the free enterprise system, never envisioned mega companies that abused their employees or the resulting unions which wrestled their fair share, and more, of the economic pie. I like to think I am pro business and pro union as a part of our checks and balances in our economic system. And, I believe both naturally and consistently overstep their personal agendas at the expense of others (root cause of inflation). I further believe that individual income ought to have some connection with the value of the good or service a person produces or provides of the common good; a concept that seems to have become increasing foreign to common thinking. The current thinking seems to be just grab as much of the economic pie as you can get for yourself and the hell with others.
Do I think that modern unions have overstepped their grab of the economic pie? Yes!
Do I think that businesses have overstepped their grab of the economic pie? Yes!
I also think that the swing of the economic pendulum has swung predominantly toward the business side, particularly the upper management and money brokers of our society since the beginning of the 80’s.
I also believe that it is almost impossible to over pay teachers for what they provide to our society. And, I believe we have less and less competent teachers in the system due to lack of pay and the means to pay for them and do hold them in as high esteem they belief.
Gov. Scott’s justifies his legislative move to limit teacher pay on budget deficits, which I find a fallacious argument. The Wisconsin budget, while troubled is not nearly as troubled as most states today. More importantly previous to his move on teacher unions last month he gave away $117 million in tax breaks to businesses (mainly to aid expand and aid private health accounts. (numbers taken from a Washingon Post article.) In other words he played a major role in the budget deficit.
We need to have balanced budgets but there are lots of ways of going about that. The major issue I believe we face in this country in a completely out of control tax systems that subsidizes the ultra rich and a medical system that is ridiculously expensive and does not provide adequate care for our citizenry. These are the issues that state and national government need to address. The economic pie is large enough to deal with these issues but we have done a rotten job of allocation largely based on a citizenry that values its own vested self interests over the good of the whole and a tiny portion of ultra rich that have bought the government and use it for self interest, not the public good.
We need to work very hard to educate ourselves to try and understate the common good and work towards a system that benefits all, not just the few. We could begin by working to restrict lobbyists, adjusting the tax system and start to debate without rancor. Take the government back not by condemning those who we elected to pursue our self interest but to write and encourage them to do the right thing. To promote statesmen to run for government and not just politicians that cater to whims or fiduciary inducements of a few.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Ah Diplomacy: A Golf Lesson
David Fay recently resigned as the high mucky muck of the USGA (United States Golf Association) after 32 years in the organization. Fay had always pushed for the US Open to be played on municipal courses, a more liberal guy in a very conservative outfit, known as the long tailed cat in a room of rocking chairs. He was a risk taker and known for direct diplomacy, for instance: at the world team championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina last October the Iranians balked at being seated next to the Israelis during a meeting of the international Golf Association. An Iranian head delegate cornered Fay and asked, "Will our team be positioned alphabetically at tomorrow's flagraising ceremony. Fay said, "Yes." The delegate said this was unacceptable and asked about analternative. Fay said there was an alternative but he likely wouldn't like it. The delegate pressed on asking, "What is your alternative?" Fay said, "You can go back to your government and petition that the official name of your country revert to the name used before the 1930's, Persia. That way you will be seated between the People's Republic of China and Peru." The Iranian said, "I don't appreciate your attempt at humor." Fay replied, "Gee, it wasn't meant to be humorous." Only one representative from Iran appeared for the ceremony.
That's gutsy diplomacy.
That's gutsy diplomacy.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Debate
A young rabbi was stunned by a heated debate that erupted at his new synagogue on his first Shabbat about whether one should stand or sit during the reading of the Ten Commandments. The rabbi went to visit the oldest member of the synagogue--who was in a nursing home--to find out what the synagogue's custom had been. After hearing about the contentious debate, the old man replied, "That is our custom."
[Beliefnet.com]
[Beliefnet.com]
The Costs of American Wars
World War I cost us $334 billion
World War II cost$ 4.1 Trillion
Korean War cost $341 Billion
Vietnam War cost $738 billion
Iraq/Afghanistan cost $1.0 trillion
[Chicago Tribune Jan 6. 2011 dollars]
And if we took descent care of our veterans following those wars the costs would be a lot higher. Moral; fewer wars, better benefits.
World War II cost$ 4.1 Trillion
Korean War cost $341 Billion
Vietnam War cost $738 billion
Iraq/Afghanistan cost $1.0 trillion
[Chicago Tribune Jan 6. 2011 dollars]
And if we took descent care of our veterans following those wars the costs would be a lot higher. Moral; fewer wars, better benefits.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
The Tea Party Then and Now: and a bunch of other stuff...
I must certainly confess a liking for the passion and anger of today’s Tea Party. I share their anger at government that seems to have run amok in so many ways. Particularly we witness the economic frustrations and the increasing distances between the haves and the have nots. Over the last three decades the separation between the lower and upper classes have widened immensely and the middle class is shrinking at an alarming rate. Fewer and fewer people today believe that they will be better off economically than the previous generations. It takes two working members of a family to provide what one member provided of economic wellbeing in the past.
But the problems is, as I see it, is that the Tea Party by in large is blaming the wrong folk. Congress, particularly the Liberals are seen as the out of control spenders of society who have great economic benefits, i.e. retirement and medical care, that those they represent do not have (last part is true).
However, if we examine the economic history of the last three decades, and beyond, it clearly seems to me that the conservatives are more responsible for these economic inequalities that exist today. When Regan came to office the country was relatively stable. His political philosophy was primarily that those who worked the hardest should get the largest share of the economic pie; which is true up to a point. And thus began the great beginning of rampant deregulations that he and others believed cramped the American dream. It is also important to know that the tax rate of the very wealthy was 75-95% (I’ve forgotten the exact figure. Perhaps 95% during the Eisenhower administration and 75% during Regan’s administration. Regan chopped the top rate in half to 35%.) And they continued to increase in wealth at those high rates. And they controlled roughly 1/3 of the wealth of the country (again, I can’t recall the exact figures but these are close.) At that point the concept of a balanced governmental budget went completely out the window; Regan just said, “Don’t worry about it, we’ll just print more money.”; again reflecting a rather sophomoric understanding of economics. The only time the budget was balanced was during the Clinton years, (does that make him most reflective of traditional conservative values?)
What has really taken place over the past 30-35 years is the through the lobbyists the very rich have in essence bought the government. Republican and Democrats alike have fallen for this seduction at the expense of the middle and lower classes. Our exceeding complicated tax code has in essence taxed the middle and lower classes to benefit the very rich. The term for that is socialism; it is just backwards to how it is generally perceived. Tax benefits have gone to the rich and taken from those who need it most. But the politics would have us believe the opposite. For a thorough understanding of this I would encourage you to read Free Lunch by Robert Cay Johnston.
The cry of the original Tea Party (The Boston Tea Party) was “taxation without representation.” The rich, the English across the pond were excessively taxing the goods those in the Americas were receiving, for example that tax on tea. And thus ensued the rebellion that changed the world and gave the beginning of American democracy which is both a political and economic system. There were inherent dangers in the system that Alex DeToqueville wrote about and can be seen today, among them being “the tyranny of the majority or minority.” The Founding Fathers also put together a system based on governing 13 colonies which had inherent safeguards built into them in that folk essentially all knew each other and could call each other out who put their individual welfare ahead and at the expense of others. The world has changed a lot since then. Most of you have heard my lament that the major problem of society today being a state of anomie (a state of normlessness based upon anonymity.)
Today the wealth within the last 3 plus decades has been concentrated among a very very few, the top 1% of the top 1% of the country, who now have half the wealth of the country. These are the same conditions that existed before the great depression and following the great wars (Read John Maynard Keynes). We are in great financial and political danger as a result.
Our anger ought to be at those who have stolen the government and taken advantage of all others economically. The tax codes need to be radically rewritten to go back to pre Regan era times and even better. This should not come at the expense of programs for the poor, which in the long run save money. The idea of privatizing medicine again or more so than currently also worsens the problems for future costs to the country in terms of health, and the privation of social security again rewards the rich at the expense and security of middle and lower classes.
Tea Party go at it. Let Sarah Palin wave her pompoms and cheer, but let it be for the common good rather than privileged. We should flood congress with letters, email, tweets, etc., that anti-lobby legislation and taxes that subsidize the rich.
At the beginning our country following the Boston Tea Party and the fight for independence we were blessed with brilliant, well educated leaders who put together a remarkable process to benefit the common good. We need to become much better educated and put together legislation that is needed today to benefit the common good again, not just the privileged few. Today we have people who have a lot of data but our ability to process that data and see the larger picture is more difficult. We need to seek out statesmen, those who see that larger picture, and work for long term growth and good in contrast to today’s politicians who promote short term vested interests of those who can afford strong lobbyists.
We need to educate ourselves to the larger issues of the day and engage in argumentation, the function of which is to discern truth, not just engage in sound bites, meanness, backstabbing, and sensationalizing that seeks to win for the sake of winning. Here is to intelligent debate among well meaning people; liberals, conservatives and independents. We can and should be those people.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Ahhhhhh Valentines Day
Twas a good day. We both got massages. Had a nice glasses of wine, and a steak (hard to find a good steak in Florida). Now for nice company tomorrow.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
First Presbyterian Church Dunedin
A couple of years ago when we were here in Palm Harbor we visited churches (mainly Presbyterian) almost every Sunday during our winter interlude. This year we are staying in one place and love it. It is the First Presbyterian Church of Dunedin. I'd encourage you to go to its website: www.fpcdunedin.org Check it out it's most interesting and you can even hear sermons and the music is spectacular. I'll going to send an invite to their pastor Victoria ByRoade to be a part of our family website.
I've often said, the consanguineous (blood) ties are the first form of bigotry. So, if you'd like to see our web family expand a bit more let me know and send me their email address. I believe I have to do the inviting.
I've often said, the consanguineous (blood) ties are the first form of bigotry. So, if you'd like to see our web family expand a bit more let me know and send me their email address. I believe I have to do the inviting.
Just finished Great Expectations - this quote was my favorite:
That was a memorable day to me, for it made great changes in me. But, it is the same with any life. Imagine one selected day struck out of it, and think how different its course would have been. Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day.
That was a memorable day to me, for it made great changes in me. But, it is the same with any life. Imagine one selected day struck out of it, and think how different its course would have been. Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day.
Friday, February 11, 2011
In Reaction to Cartesian Dualism
There is no dark, only the absence of light.
There is no evil, only the absence of good.
There is no hate, only the absence of love.
There is no devil, there is only God.
There is no proof, there is only belief.
There is no me, there is only us.
Give me a few minutes and I can probably argue exactly the opposite.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
How Many Times Have You Fallen in Love at First Sight?
Seems like a strange question does it? I think it seems strange because we connect it with romance; falling in love with someone at first sight romantically. But think of it outside that romantic box.
When you saw you baby, niece, nephew or even puppy or kitten, was it love at first sight. I suspect so. When you go to a new place that you perceive at beautiful, a mountain, a lake, a vacation spot; was it love at first sight. Or, the first time you saw a butterfly, a bird, a pony.
I think children fall in love at first sight almost continually for so many things are new and delightful and new for them. And we are so lucky when our eyes become childlike for a moment and we see something beautiful anew.
Falling in love at first sight happens all the time. Don't just get used to it. Celebrate it, delight in it and share it. It's what God's kids are gifted to do.
When you saw you baby, niece, nephew or even puppy or kitten, was it love at first sight. I suspect so. When you go to a new place that you perceive at beautiful, a mountain, a lake, a vacation spot; was it love at first sight. Or, the first time you saw a butterfly, a bird, a pony.
I think children fall in love at first sight almost continually for so many things are new and delightful and new for them. And we are so lucky when our eyes become childlike for a moment and we see something beautiful anew.
Falling in love at first sight happens all the time. Don't just get used to it. Celebrate it, delight in it and share it. It's what God's kids are gifted to do.
There's Just No Pleasing Some People
The Sound of One Hand Clapping[1]
After they got out of the fields of grain, they went on to the Synagogue. There, they met a man with a crippled hand. The scribes and the Pharisees looked at each other with their eyebrows raised, as if to wonder. Would Jesus dare heal someone on the Sabbath? That would be more evidence against him. To push the matter they asked "Is it okay to heal someone on the Sabbath?" It was a trap.
Jesus gave a knowing smile, and then he turned toward the man with the crippled hand and waved him over. The man came. Jesus then turned to the scribes and the Pharisees and said, "Fellas, if you had a single sheep and it fell into a pit on the Sabbath, what would you do? Surely you would rescue it. Is it lawful to save a life? Surely, a man is more important than a sheep." The scribes and Pharisees just stood there, refusing to take a position. Jesus shook his head, then turned back to the man with the crippled hand and told him, "Stick out your hand." As he extended his hand it was healed.
The scribes and Pharisees, instead of being happy for the cured man, were infuriated. The only pleasure they took was found in the fact that now they had more ammunition, more charges to bring Jesus to ruin.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
How Does It Taste
Some of you I am very fond of Zen koans. This feels very similar it comes from "The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the... by Mark Nepo
An aging Hindu master grew tired of his apprentice complaining, and so, one morning sent him for some salt. When the apprentice returned, the master instructed him the unhappy young man to put a handful of salt in a glass of water and then to drink it.
"How did it taste?" the master asked.
"Bitter," spit the apprentice.
The master chuckled and then asked the young man to take the same handful of salt and put it in a lake. The two walked in silence to the nearby lake, and once the apprentice swirled his hand his handful of slat in the water, the old man said, "Now drink from the lake."
As the water dripped down the young man's chin, the master asked, "How does it taste?"
"Fresh," remarked the apprentice.
"Do you taste the salt?" asked the master.
"No," said the young man.
At this, the master sat beside the his serious young man who so reminded him of himself and took his hands, offering, ":The pain of life remains the same, exactly the same. But the amount of bitterness we taste depends on the container we put the pain in. So when you are in pain, the only thing you can do is to enlarge your sense of things...Stop being a glass. Become a lake.
An aging Hindu master grew tired of his apprentice complaining, and so, one morning sent him for some salt. When the apprentice returned, the master instructed him the unhappy young man to put a handful of salt in a glass of water and then to drink it.
"How did it taste?" the master asked.
"Bitter," spit the apprentice.
The master chuckled and then asked the young man to take the same handful of salt and put it in a lake. The two walked in silence to the nearby lake, and once the apprentice swirled his hand his handful of slat in the water, the old man said, "Now drink from the lake."
As the water dripped down the young man's chin, the master asked, "How does it taste?"
"Fresh," remarked the apprentice.
"Do you taste the salt?" asked the master.
"No," said the young man.
At this, the master sat beside the his serious young man who so reminded him of himself and took his hands, offering, ":The pain of life remains the same, exactly the same. But the amount of bitterness we taste depends on the container we put the pain in. So when you are in pain, the only thing you can do is to enlarge your sense of things...Stop being a glass. Become a lake.
Now this is south
This is just as south as you can get in this country. In the Florida Keys Last Friday
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Anxiety
This may well be my favorite passage. H
"Your priorities also determine your anxiety level. Quit worrying about everyday cares, what you are going to eat or drink, what clothes you are going to put on and that sort of thing. Living is far more important than food, and your body more important than clothes. Look around at your fellow creatures here on earth. You don't see the birds planting and harvesting and storing up their seeds, yet God takes care of them. Don't you think God cares for you more than them? It's also pretty silly to fret about how long you are going to live. Worrying won't extend your life, if anything it will shorten it. Take a gander at the wild flowers along side the road; pretty aren't they. Solomon with all his wealth and advantages was never decked out in finery like that. Well, if God takes care of those beautiful things which have a rather short life span, a single season; surely God will take care of you. Have you no faith in God? So, don't sweat the little stuff, clothes, food, drink and the like. Unbelievers worry about those things, but God knows you need them. Your first priority should always be God and being a good citizen in God's kingdom. As a citizen of that kingdom, you will receive all that you need. Don't get all excited about tomorrow, it will come soon enough. First, deal with the issues of the day, there are plenty of them to deal with.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Golf Slink
I played my second round in the men's league today. I was one stroke better than the last time. Unfortunately that's not good. But I'm still enthusiastic. Met 3 new nice guys, one of them was even worse than I am.
We're off to to see Mary and Jerry Lowery tomorrow in Marathon, Florida. With them the next day we'll head down to the Florida Keys then back to their place and back here the following day.
Sure am glad God invented the GPS.
We're off to to see Mary and Jerry Lowery tomorrow in Marathon, Florida. With them the next day we'll head down to the Florida Keys then back to their place and back here the following day.
Sure am glad God invented the GPS.
Who's Number One
"You cannot have two number one priorities in your life. They will always be in conflict. If you commit yourself to one, the other will suffer; or, if you commit to the second, the first gets the short end of the stick. Make up your mind; are you going to serve God or will you be a slave to the 'bottom line.'
[1]See Matt. 6: 24; Lk. 16: 13.
Now I'm off for number 2, that means I'm golfing this morning in the men's league.
Now I'm off for number 2, that means I'm golfing this morning in the men's league.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Daily or Occasional Readings
One of my regular daily reading times is during my morning ablutions (nice was of saying it). This morning I was reading a piece from Christian Century and was struck by a group of women and how they processed scripture. "Aha, another blogging opportunity. My plan is to to take a gospel story and put it on the the blog each day or so with the hope that we will all read it, and make our comments on it as we relate it to ourselves. I am particularly interested in the wee one responses as they often have the most revealing insights; i..e "God stopped throwing it (snow) at us." I will most often use my own gospel translation hopefully to stimulate me to finish the book. But I also want to include other scriptures such a the Koran for the same purposes. This is not meant to be heavy but again just stimulate family conversation on important things. Feel free to comment or not, it's up to you as always.
At any rate, from no particular here comes the first one. [Sidenote: I have found approximately 214 gospel stories in the four gospels and some apocrypha, they are without verses and they were stories, not a bunch of stand alone texts for bad preachers.
Story #53 Good Vision
At any rate, from no particular here comes the first one. [Sidenote: I have found approximately 214 gospel stories in the four gospels and some apocrypha, they are without verses and they were stories, not a bunch of stand alone texts for bad preachers.
Story #53 Good Vision
"How you see determines how your body is going to act and operate. If you see well, you won't bump into trees and will be able to navigate well. However, if you don't see well, you're likely to trip over a lot of things. Open your self to the light and good vision, it's better than stumbling around in the dark.
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