Are there any adults left in this country?

I'm about to get real tedious, so if you're not in the mood for that, better move on.

I would never claim any unique wisdom when it comes to American politics, but I have picked up a few nuggets here and there that I believe apply to most of mankind's enterprises, including politics.

1.) Most things just aren't that complicated.

I know this opens me up to criticism of my intelligence, but I am beyond caring what shallow people think. My point is not that everything is easy, but that that complexity lies in HOW to accomplish what we know we should do. Most of the time, we know WHAT to do. It's finding the courage and political will to follow through with what we know needs to be done that is our downfall.

We know we should close Guantanamo, stop off-shore drilling for the forseeable future, stop DADT and prosecute Bush and Cheney---but none of that is happening.

Why? Because we are spoiled children who are determined to do anything that is unpleasant or difficult. Doing those things would upset some people and they would---sniff, sniff---CRITICIZE us! We don't want any medicine, no matter how necessary or effective it may be, unless it tastes good.

2.) The easiest way to kill any project and insure total stagnation is to insist that we have a detailed plan with all the necessary personnel and all of the necessary funds in place before we begin. This has the advantage of allowing us to say we are "really in favor of" doing such-and-such, if only we can line up the manpower and money to "do it right". And, we can say this year after year after year.

We'll implement a public option health plan and transition to a green economy some day soon---we just have to get a few more details ironed out first. But, we'll do those things---soon.

3.) No one---NO ONE---is perfect. We all have our strengths and weaknesses; our good days and our bad ones. The noblest of us is, on occasion, weak, selfish and cruel. The worst of us is sometimes kind, generous and pleasant.

We should all cut each other a little more slack. Damn few of us are truly bad people and not one of us couldn't use a little forgiveness now and again.

4.) We need so much less than we insist we must have. Materialism is killing our children's future, our own sense of joy and our planet.

Hank Thoreau urged us to "Simplify! Simplify!" We continue to ignore him at our peril. Wars over dwindling resources for an exploding population will "solve our problem" for us if we do not actively seek another way.

5.) To love and be loved is the greatest possible accomplishment any of us can hope to manage in our few years of life. Most of the rest is irrelevant bullshit.

Good night. I'm going to drink wine on the porch with my wife on this beautiful evening.

Great post!!! - K & R !!!

:applause:

:toast:

:hi:

I agree with a lot of what you say here...

"4.) We need so much less than we insist we must have. Materialism is killing our children's future, our own sense of joy and our planet."

Especially this.

until you are the one who actually has to do them.

I hate to disagree with you, but all of what you mention is terribly complicated. You can't just wake up one morning and make them happen before cocktail time. There are too many parties involved and when you move one piece, something pops up over there.

And let's not even talk about unintended consequences. (Remember how the Texans wrote a very simple law to ban gay marriage -- and ended up banning all marriage because their approach was too simple.)

And, I am glad to know you through your writing.

Be well, and keep it coming. Many accolades for the good efforts and honest opinions.

:thumbsup: :hi:

to "stop off-shore drilling for the forseeable future?"

Cut off a major source of energy in our already delicate economy? That's so not "complicated?" A lot of us live kind of close to the edge. Some of us have two or three jobs, so we never have the TIME to go "drink wine on the porch with my wife" --

And what do you mean by "porch"? Clearly, you're a homeonwer -- good for you -- many of us will never get there -- and is that "porch" some fancy deck you had some builder put up for you a couple of years ago? And wine? Wine?? Really?

Oh yeah, it's so not "complicated" for you wine-drinkers. Maybe if we strangle energy, you'll feel it in the wallet too -- you'll have to cut back from Tuscan to Chilean reds!

If DU gave weekly prizes for the Most Outstanding Demonstration of Clueless Privilege, you'd be a frontrunner for this week's award! Kudos!



:applause: :applause: :applause:

:shrug:

I built the deck, I planted the trees next to it and we made the wine from blackberries we picked.

You have a good one. I'm pulling the cork on another bottle of "privilege".

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

:evilgrin:

I do believe that some things need to be carefully planned and funded before they're begun. I wish BP had done that. Otherwise, I think you deserve that wine. Enjoy.

longer answer, just regarding oil... we need to get to it... but sadly the kind of policy decisions (and no that does not mean to stop drilling RIGHT NOW) cannot be done since the children, aka us... cannot accept the kind of lifestyle choices needed, such as... see your wine... not importing it due to the oil, aka energy costs involved.

:hi:

you include some imported cheese with it too?

Just a shame to have a sanctimonious slam of another poster ruined. No? :hi:

Aka: If someone says "It's complicated," it's because they are attempting to sell you something you don't really need.

War: "It's complicated"
Oil: "It's complicated"
Nukes/Nuclear power: "It's complicated"
The Economy: "It's complicated"

...Not from where I'm standing. It's all very simple. Those things are killing us and making several people very rich.

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