Saturday, May 28, 2011

UNWORTHY

Every once in a while something happens to remind me how unworthy we are of the sacrifices made for us by our soldiers. But would you believe that one of those instances was while shopping this morning? I was going into one of the big box membership stores, I won't say which one other than to say that there's a family in Arkansas that's just a tad bit more wealthy. Anyway, there I was heading into the store with nothing more than my shopping list on my mind, and there they were - JROTC from a local high school. Of course they were there in honor of Memorial Day. As I walked in, and then out when I was done shopping they called attention, and saluted me. Now I'm not special they were doing this for all customers going and coming. But it made me a bit uneasy. I finally figured why.

Here I am a middle aged guy who's offer to serve was declined, and these kids who are in high school and already preparing to defend our country and way of life. With their life if necessary. And, they're saluting me? That is wrong. I am simply unworthy of that honor. If anything I should have been saluting them and thanking them.

Every time I get pessimistic about our nation, this sort of thing happens to me. Here are a bunch of upper income high school kids, and they at age 13 – 18 are already planning for a life of service, and hardship to protect our rights. This was not a poor section of town, and the school in question was not some inner city hell hole that would force kids into this. Indeed this was one of the richer parts of town, and better schools full of kids who's families have money and privilege. And they're going to be the next generation of officers serving our nation with all the hardship and sacrifice that entails. Amazing!  If that doesn't give you hope I don't know what will. So, remember our fallen this weekend. That is what Memorial Day is for, but keep in the back of your head that a new generation stands ready to take up the banner, and move us forward into the future, and take pride in them.

Friday, May 27, 2011

PALIN THE TROJAN HORSE?

It is I, your humble commentator, and amidst Sarah Palin announcing her new tour, and everyone starting to wonder if she's getting ready to jump into the 2012 presidential race I wonder if it's not all a ruse.

I can see very clearly in my mind's eye a group of republicans going to Sarah and proposing a way she can make money selling books and speaking engagements while throwing the democrats off the scent. You see by her merely stepping up her profile she has all the dems in a twidget for one reason or another over the fact that she may be running. Either they are happy because they think they can beat the ditzy broad from Alaska, or they're scared out of their mind that she's about to whup them like they so richly deserve.

You see it doesn't matter to my imaginary republicans, either way they can work in the background, and whoever does become the republican nominee has an open field to run in while all the silly dems are still chasing Sarah who's running up and down the sidelines leading them on a merry chase to nowhere. Then all of a sudden they have less time to go after whoever winds up with the nominee, and Sarah has a couple of extra million to add to her fortune, and has the dems to thank for it.

Which is why I firmly believe that this is all a ruse. Not sure I want it to be true, but my feeling is that she's not running. That all of this is intentionally or not simply providing cover for the republicans to do as they wish for a while.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

MONEY GARDENS

You know the more I think about 'tax the rich' or 'spread the wealth' plans they really annoy me. I have recently begun a small vegetable garden, and even eaten some of the tomatoes I have begun getting. And the other day while tending that garden it hit me, that a business is like a garden on a much longer term and larger scale.


In a garden you get out in spring and work your tail off tilling, fertilizing, planting, weeding, and so on. This is much like a business, in the beginning you work 60 – 80 hours a week or more marketing, funding, selling, manufacturing, hiring, filing taxes, and the myriad of other jobs you have to do to get a start up off the ground.


Then your plants start to come in, and you get to relax. There's still not much fruit, but you can see your work starting to pay off, and occasionally you can step out for a day or so to enjoy life. The plants are starting to do their work, and require just a little input and maintenance from you to keep producing and hopefully growing. In business this means you can step away from your plant or store for a week or so and take the wife on a vacation. But that week is all you can afford, and usually only then once every couple of years or so. But your hours are probably down to say 50 – 60 a week, and you can actually put your children to bed some evenings. If the phone doesn't ring with some calamity.


Finally comes the harvest. The garden has grown all it's going to, and you have start picking and eating the food. THIS is why you did all that work back in spring. You get to eat your own food, grown with you own hands, in your own soil. It's not only useful, it's hugely satisfying on a deeply emotional even for some spiritual level. In business this is where you are established, and you have a good staff that handles most of you day to day stuff for you. You can sort of begin to retire here knowing that you money garden is starting to ripen. But WAIT! Now steps in the government and says you are the winner of life's lottery, and your fru... I mean money has to be spread around to those that did not plant anything and are less 'lucky'.


Now they weren't around when you were breaking your back hoeing the rows, planting the seeds, or lugging water and fertilizer all over the place, but now they want your food? We wouldn't dream of taking a gardeners food like that, and yet we have no problem taking a man's money when he spends a life time growing a business or investing wisely. How is that morally right I ask you.


So next time you hear 'tax the rich' think of your garden, and how mad you would be if the government just came in took your harvest and handed it out to those that watched TV all spring and summer while you were in the yard working, and tell them not just, “No,” but, “Hell no! No fucking way!!!!”


Because that business is that owner's garden, and he deserves every bite of food he gets. And like most gardeners I know I'd bet that he'll be trying to give away the excess rather than let it go to waste. Either by reinvesting in other businesses or through charity. So it will get spread in the owner's way as it should.