Maybe This Is A Recession

Growth stalled in the last quarter of 2012.
Who expected this?

What does it mean?

There are plenty of negatives for our society.
Where is our attention? A lot of it is on tax avoidance. A lot is on how to deal with government.
The drag of government.

New rules.

Little stuff that adds up.

In California there is a new rule about CO alarms. They are now required in all rentals.
They cost money. They must be installed and inspected and maintained.
They are a small drag on the rental business, a small increase in the cost of doing business.

And there is no real perceptible improvement of the quality of housing. It remains to be seen whether this will actually save lives or improve health. These alarms sound like a good idea but how much good do they really do? Will the rate of CO poisoning be lower in 2013 that it was in 2012?

This is one example of a new regulation taking time and energy and money that might be used elsewhere.

I am sure there are hundreds more. Our energy gets directed by government. Damn the cost!
All this leads to increasing inefficiency and a sort of lack of mindfulness.

When I am forced to do what the government requires, it makes me less able to do what I think is required.

And that means required for the good life, for health, for safety, for peace of mind.

Robbed of peace of mind by government overreaching. And the economy is stalled because of government overreaching.

A Good Time

what most people consider to be a good time, isn't.

College Degree

What is the point of getting a college degree?
A diploma?
Of graduating from college? Of being a college graduate?

Of EARNING a degree?

It is evidence of intelligence and responsibility
In order to earn a degree you must have some intelligence and you must be able to negotiate the system.
Not easy
The point of the degree is that you did something difficult over a sustained period of time.

The point is to earn a degree

to EARN it

Then other people you meet in the world, regardless of what sort of relationship you need, will know that you had what it took to earn a degree. That is all.

And it does make a difference where you get your degree.
How impressive is it to say you are a Harvard graduate?
Prestige is important.

Is it about what you learn in classes? Not exactly.
It is that you are capable of learning and of demonstrating proficiency in something.


And there is more

a bachelor's degree is often a requirement for another position, a job, a higher degree

so it is worth a lot
the college degree
the diploma
being a college graduate

Justice Racket

American justice is not justice at all.
It is just a con that makes lawyers rich.

We are all made poorer by the devious behavior of attorneys.
They are the masters.
We are the slaves.

There is a better way.

Avoid the lawyers and the courts and the lawmakers
just be kind and generous and careful and responsible and forgiving and
don't be greedy or grasping
and then the lawyers,
like the devil,
can't get you

Syria Revolution 60,000 DEAD

so far

it is not over yet

are violent revolutions a good idea?

who encouraged this? who helped the rebels? who gave them support and money and weapons?

who is responsible for the deaths?

60,000 deaths and untold misery and who is responsible?

plenty to go around

words do matter
stop with words of anger and hatred and injustice and fighting and threats and so on

it does not help to threaten and call out for justice and revenge
I have a simple idea

FOUR Cs

crisis
compassion
communication
cooperation

when there is a crisis, and they are always going on, it is just another word for change

but always start with compassion, look at the other guy with compassion and
do your best to work on establishing communication and dialogue
listen to what they have to say, say what you need to say, and listen and keep listening
until you can arrive at understanding and start to cooperate to help all parties

this is not that difficult
much easier than going to the hospital
easier than killing or getting killed

we should all stop fighting and talk through our differences patiently
stop with deadlines and ultimatums and just keep talking until we reach understanding and peace