They are not all morons

Sorry guys, but I have to say it. Just because you do not agree with someone does not make them a moron.

I heard it about George W. Bush. I disagreed.

I heard it about John Kerry. I disagreed.

I heard it about Barack Obama. I disagreed.

Now, I hear it about Joe Biden, Paul Ryan, and Mitt Romney. I respectfully disagree.

While I wholeheartedly disagree with many policy decisions of each of these men, I cringe when I hear them called morons, idiots, and fools. They are not. They are highly educated and ambitious men with whom you disagree. You may be right. You may be wrong. But to characterize the men as “morons” does a great disservice to our process.

If these are educated men with whom we disagree then we can have a dialog. If they are idiots we just throw up our hands.

It is more easy (and more lazy) for us to brand them as dumb and move on. If you do not agree with the policies of a politician then please speak up. Explain your position. Explain why your position is justified. Otherwise, keep your mouth shut. Calling a person who has achieved a great honor “stupid” is…well…stupid.


P.S.  Sarah Palin is still a moron :)

Dear Mad Man: Do the rules of etiquette apply to the new social media?

Dear Mad Man,

I have enjoyed the rise of social media over the last few years, and I love being able to easily connect with family and friends.  I also enjoy sharing articles, photos, and funny quotes with my friends as well as viewing my friends posts.  Recently though, I have noticed a disturbing trend while reading the social media sites.  Political and religious opinions seem to dominate my newsfeed.  I always thought that politics and religion were off limits in social circles.  Have the rules changed with the new media?

Sincerely,

Politically private

Dear Politically private,

Thanks for writing.  I was in the middle of watching Kony 2012 while eating a Chik-fil-a sandwich (Don't worry. I didn't swallow) when I saw your letter.  I too have noticed the trend of which you speak; although, I am torn as to what I should make of it.  On one hand, the rules of politeness and etiquette should surely apply in electronic social interaction just as in the old fashioned kind.  On the other, being exposed to diverse opinion and rhetoric is never a bad thing.  After all, we could alter our position after a thoughtful discussion of the merits of the opposing viewpoints...right?

From Drop Box

Rather than either advocating cage-match style tweeting or throwing the baby out with the bath water, I propose a compromise ala Rodney King.  To wit, I have developed a set of rules, nay, a code of coduct that, if followed, will ensure a healthy dose of expression without the crude aftertaste.

Be thoughtful

Normally I am not one to advocate tempering of words.  My ramblings do come with a disclosure, and I have been known to offend my fair share.  Thinking about how your message will be received and whether it achieves the desired effect will help win friends and influence people.

Be positive

You have an opinion.  We get it.  Expressing it in a positive way encourages others to consider its merits, while also keeping you looking classy.

Bring something to the table

If all you can post is a trite one-liner affirming your adherance to or abhorance of a particular issue, maybe you (and others) would be better served by not posting at all.  Instead try posting a link to an article discussing a particular nuance of the issue that you think others might find interesting.

Listen to your mother

You know she is always right (except for her views on stem-cell research.  I mean how backward can she be?)  When a friend posts something that you think is patently absurd, follow her advice.  If you don't have anything nice to say it is almost always better to say nothing at all.

It’s not what you do

Everyone needs to feel valued.  Everyone needs to feel like their contributions to the world are important.

I started thinking about some people who made great contributions to the world.  People like Abraham Lincoln, Albert Einstein, Gaudi, Socrates, etc.  Many people are remembered through history as those that changed the world.  These are the people we want to emulate.

Is it really what they did that is so important?

If Lincoln had never existed does anyone think that slavery would exist today?  If not for Einstein would we still not understand the principles of a relative universe?

These guys were on the cutting edge of a new paradigm, but would the paradigm shift have taken place without them?

I think it would have.

Sure some other leading physicist would have discovered relativity without Einstein, but would he have the hair?  Would he inspire generations with his thoughtful analysis of the ramifications of his discoveries?  Would he exude the childlike wonder for the universe?

I think that’s the real contribution that we make.  Not our achievements.  Not our conquests.  Our real value lies in how we go about our journey.

It’s not what you do.  It’s how you do it.

All Aboard

This weekend was my first time traveling by train. This has been a goal of mine for many years now, so I hopped aboard an Amtrak for a nice little jaunt from Seattle to Vancouver, British Columbia.

There is something very nostalgic about traveling by rail. The laxidasical pace is part of it I guess. You are probably not in a hurry if you are going very far. I found it extremely relaxing watching the hills roll by, while sipping a coffee and listening to the grating of metal on metal wafting from below. Every so often, an air horn reminds you of your present circumstances in case you drift too far away.

You notice the relaxed state of your fellow passengers as well. This stands in stark contrast to the hectic nature of air travel, where everyone is stressed and packed as tightly as possible into a tin can. The fact that you can stand up without bumping your head even if you have the audacity to stand taller than five-five certainly helps as well.

Maybe it is because of the carefree mood, but it’s possible to carry on an enjoyable conversation with your neighbors on a train. And, if you find yourself bored silly, you can always excuse yourself to the dining car to find a more enjoyable colloquy.

Listening can be fun too.

Little English girl to her brother, “Yes, we are going to Seattle. That is where they make all of the coffee.”

So as I publish this blog over the free wi-fi network courtesy of Amtrak (and freely check my voice mail and text messages on my phone) I can’t help but dread my upcoming flight home. For the next few hours, though, I will just sit back and enjoy the scenery.

Moore of the Same

I rarely get really pissed off about politics. I generally find the fascination with how everything works overcomes any anger at their incompetentcy.

I can’t do it this time.

I graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1997. While working I attended the graduate business program and earned a masters degree in business.

During my pursuit for an MBA, Darla Moore contributed $25 million to the business school. Are you kidding me? $25 Million? What did she want? She wanted the business school to be a top school in the world. She saw the potential. It was her alma mater as well, so I understand where she was coming from.

She was appointed to the board of trustees and the business school was subsequently named the Moore School of Business.

It’s not like Ms. Moore was the first woman ever to be featured on the cover of Fortune magazine. Oh yeah...she was. She has plenty of credentials. In 2004 she pledged another $45 million to the school. She also gave $10 million to Clemson University (the bitter rival of her alma mater) in her husband’s name.

Someone as accomplished and well respected who has contributed both her money and her time to the University....how can you repay her?

Throw her off the board and put one of your buddies there.

That is apparently the opinion of Nikki Haley, governor of the state.

South Carolina State Rep. Boyd Brown - (D) Fairfield - issued a statement on Moore's ouster late Tuesday night.

"Like many South Carolinians and USC graduates, I am certainly disappointed in Governor Haley's decision to remove Darla Moore from the USC Board of Trustees, and to replace her with a campaign contributor," Brown said. "Moore has given her finances, time and energy to improve not only her alma mater, but the State of South Carolina. Not only is Governor Haley's action dumb and immature, but it certainly calls her ethics into question.”

I won’t call Nikki’s ethics into question, but her intelligence is definitely lacking. South Carolinians, you deserve better.

Beginnings

I learned from my good friend, Gae, that you can never have a new beginning without loss.

This week I move into my new home. I have rented for five years following my divorce, so this is a pretty exciting time for me. Still, I am aware of the loss of what I currently have.

For one, my rental property affords me the pleasure of hearing the ocean as I write this. My budget does not allow me to purchase such a place (although I can still hear a faint rumbling from several blocks away.)

It made me think of all of the things I will lose by leaving. It doesn’t mean I don’t want to leave. It just means I acknowledge what I have lost. I lost a place that was the first place that I consciously and deliberately chose to move into after my marriage. I lost a place where I got to know my niece while she lived with me for a short time, and a place I got to know a sweetheart for a shorter time. I lost a place where my daughter told me she wanted to move in with me.

All of those things I grieve. I mourn for the things I have lost. As I mourn I look forward to the new adventures that await me.

This makes me happy.

Orange Moon Rising

I watched an orange moon rise on the ocean. I was enveloped in thunderclouds without a drop of rain.

I lost a friend once again, only to discover he was merely briefly (in the grand scheme of things) misplaced.

New friends were met. Old friends were greeted. I was kissed by the ocean and woke with sand in my sheets.

That, my friends, is a good weekend.

Father Knows Best

It is time once again to celebrate the Fathers among us. Yes, those tall people from our childhood who contributed so much to our growth and development. Fathers have a specialized skill set that may seem strange and disturbing to some. Here is a tribute to some of the things Dad does best!

Telling Tall Tales (aka scaring the bejesus out of your kids)

Whether it's the ghost that lives in between the walls, the wookalar that lives in the woods, or convincing your kids they have to parachute out of the commercial jet on which they are traveling. The emotional scars inflicted by your creative genius will last a lifetime.

Teaching the importance of the butterfly bandage

That gash in your knee may appear to need a dozen stitches to your mother, but Dad knows that a little iodine and a butterfly bandage will work wonders. Don't forget that those scars will be a conversation starter one day.

Instilling a sense of sportsmanship

Yes he does a little victory dance when he wins at board games. He performs an impromptu "Who's your daddy" rap when he takes you out on the XBox. He may pout and refuse to acknowledge your existence the first time you manage to one-up him in any competitive endeavor. All this he does for your own edification.

Helping you grow up

"Life's not fair", "Want me to call the wahmbulance?" and "Never trust a women/man who..." may sound harsh at first, but these idioms are classic dad tools designed to assist in your transition to adulthood.

Here's to all of the Fathers out there. Keep up the good work!

My dream for the day after health care reform

So the health care reform bill is now law. I dream of a transformational result.



The dream isn't about health care. It's not about helping those in need. It's not about some political result.

I dream we can stop the fear mongering.

I had hoped we could get beyond it after Obama was elected. We heard for so long about how the world would end if this Muslim president was elected. I thought when he was elected and the sun kept rising in the morning that people would begin to realize they are being manipulated.

There are those that have a big interest in these types of events. They stand to win or lose a lot of money or power as a result of them. The people are different depending on the issue, but they have all been doing the same thing to us.

They have been trying to scare us into doing what is in their best interest.

Now health care reform has passed. I think it will do some good. What I know it won't do is end the world as we know it.

My dream is that the next time we have an issue that needs to be addressed that we won't listen to the fear mongers when they come at us. I dream that we can discuss our differences of opinion without believing that the other side is evil or stupid and will irreparably harm us if our side loses.

A guy can dream.

The Truth About Socialized Medicine

Big government is here, and they are coming for your health care this time. The time-honored principles upon which this country was founded are under assault. Let's look at what this so-called "Health Care Reform" bill would actually do.

Insurers would be required to provide coverage for non-dependent children up to age 26.

Insurance companies are people, too. That's what the Supreme Court ruled. The government has no right to put these kinds of mandates on people. Recent college graduates need to either pony up for their own policy or do without. If they happen to develop a serious illness while uninsured it serves them right. Health care is a privilege not a right.

Total out-of-pocket expenses would be limited, and insurance companies would be prevented from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions. Insurers would be barred from canceling coverage for sick people, as well as charging higher premiums based on a person's gender or medical history.

Insurance companies should be able to deny coverage to whomever they wish. If they can't then just any sick person is going to be able to have coverage regardless of their financial status. This is blatantly anti-American.

We can't just treat everyone. Priority should be given to those of wealth and status. After all, our founding fathers didn't give equal rights to slaves. Why should we treat sick poor people the same as we treat sick wealthy people? These wealthy people have earned the right to be treated. If poor people want the same level of care they need to get off of their lazy asses and get a job.

A 40 percent tax would be imposed on insurance companies providing "Cadillac" health plans valued at more than $10,200 for individuals and $27,500 for families. The tax would kick in starting in 2018.

This is perhaps the most troubling aspect of this "reform". People with high income levels are going to be restricted from having "Cadillac" plans. What does this really mean?

What it means is doctors and hospitals are going to be forced to treat patients based on the severity of their condition and not based on their wealth. I don't know if I can live in a country like that.

We all know that the life and health of a crack baby is not nearly as valuable as that of a wealthy business executive. We are now going to make the wealthy business person with joint pain wait in line behind the welfare mother with a heart condition. This is simply not right.

There are many other aspects of the bill that I can't cover here due to the massive size of the legislation. They are all equally troubling and follow the same pattern. Insurance companies are literally not going to be able to dump people when they get sick, and they are not going to be able to deny them coverage if they are a risky bet.

The tea party activists have it right. Just like our founding fathers protested against taxation without representation they are protesting against medical treatment without consideration of class, age, wealth, health, or status.

What a noble cause.