WHAT BANKRUPTED AMERICA

There are two factors which combined represent probably ninety percent of it. The first was seven or eight years of aggressive militarism in Iraq and Afghanistan and everywhere around the world where there is an oilfield or pipeline route or proposed field or route, but I think an even greater source of the bankruptcy was Wall Street. They've been figuring out new and creative ways to suck more money out of the economy just by moving paper around and not really contributing anything in terms of productivity and the Bush-Cheney years represent the pinnacle of that insanity. So we started out in 2000 with a surplus and we wound up in 2008 absolutely bankrupt. There you have it: get rid of the greedy Wall Street parasites and damp the military down to what is truly defensive. It's got nothing to do with the so-called size of government or health, education or social programs, which would all in the long run be beneficial not only to people but to the economy as well.

THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD

THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD IS THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES.


WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS IS CLARITY.  LIES PURPORTING TO BE KNOWN TRUTHS CONFUSE AND BEWILDER PEOPLE AND MAKE THEIR LIVES AND THEIR THOUGHTS LESS CLEAR AND LESS EASILY DELINEATED AND ACTED UPON.  RELIGIONS IN GENERAL, HOWEVER WELL-INTENTIONED, HAVE BEEN PROFESSING IDEAS THAT ARE CLEARLY NOTHING IF NOT HIGHLY SPECULATIVE AS ABSOLUTE TRUTHS FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS. THE PRIESTS OF EVERY SOCIETY HAVE SOUGHT TO EXERT CONTROL OVER THEIR POPULATIONS TO ATTAIN PERSONAL POWER AND INFLUENCE AND YES, WEALTH.  THESE ARE NOT LOFTY GOALS.


IT IS A FINE THING TO TELL STORIES.  THERE ARE SOME WONDERFUL USEFUL CREATIVE IDEAS EMBODIED IN MUCH OF OUR STORYTELLING.  BUT TO FORGET WE MADE THEM UP AND START BELIEVING THEY COME FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE IS AT BEST AN ERROR BOTH IN FACT AND PHILOSOPHY AND AT WORST A WILFUL FRAUD.


EVEN IF ALOT FOR A LAY PERSON HAS TO BE TAKEN ON FAITH, SCIENCE HAS FAR AND AWAY THE MOST INTERESTING STORIES, INCLUSIVE AND SEEKING NEW INPUT, ALWAYS LOOKING TO THE FUTURE, UNLIKE RELIGION THAT IS EXCLUSIVE AND DOESN'T WANT NEW STORIES AND CONSIDERS THEM HERESY AND IS ALWAYS LOOKING TO THE PAST.

WHAT I LIKE

WHAT I LIKE IS A QUIET PEACE THAT ALLOWS A MORE CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE WITHIN ME TO BLOOM. THOUGH I LOVE TO WATCH THEM AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND THEM, THE FACT THAT I AM SURROUNDED BY ANIMALS AND BIRDS AND INSECTS DOES NOT INTRUDE ON WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY A SOLITARY EXISTENCE. I DO LOVE PEOPLE AND FIND MYSELF OFTEN AMONG THEM ALSO BUT UNLIKE THE OTHER ANIMALS HUMANS ENGAGE ME ENERGETICALLY AND DEMAND ATTENTION BE SHIFTED FROM A QUIET INSPECTION OF ALL THERE IS TO THE CREATION OF A RAPPORT WITH THEM. 


WHEN IN THE COURSE OF MY LIFE A BALANCE OF THE TWO STATES CAN BE PRESERVED I FIND MYSELF MOST PRODUCTIVE AND MOST CONTENT. THE TWO STATES EACH MAKE THE OTHER RICHER AND PUNCTUATE MY LIFE IN A WAY THAT SUITS ME.