| PQ Press |
Welcome to PQ Press, a writing platform established by International
Author and Journalist, Blues Guitarist; Mike Dollins, and publisher of
the underground Blues Guitar News with 50,000 readers worldwide.
Keep the faith, as justice somehow always prevails, and the voice of the
people will be heard. Let freedom ring.
Mike was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2003
Author and Journalist, Blues Guitarist; Mike Dollins, and publisher of
the underground Blues Guitar News with 50,000 readers worldwide.
Keep the faith, as justice somehow always prevails, and the voice of the
people will be heard. Let freedom ring.
Mike was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2003
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High Tech Gone Wild
December 14, 2010
I just finished a newspaper article on books asking the
question; if printed matter would become an antiquated form
that would vanish out of use in modern society? With the
advent of contemporary electronic wizardry; communication
is instantaneous, numerous and archived with the press of a couple buttons on a hand held gadget. The
writer referred to Ray Bradbury’s movie Fahrenheit 451, where books were outlawed, confiscated and
then burned. Upon take over, Hitler burned books. The Spanish priests burned down Mayan libraries,
and a mysterious fire destroyed the great library at Alexandria. Are we there yet too?
In the beginning, before books, humans felt the need to leave recorded messages about life’s events on
the side of cave walls using charcoal drawings. The human experience developed a new powerful urge
beyond the three basic success traits for survival of the species that we share with all the animal
kingdom; sustenance, shelter and propagation. This newly evolved force to communicate beyond animal
instincts of grunts, groans and gestures may have been bragging rights of a successful hunt, or possibly
an early seminar on hunting. Who knows? The early charcoal cave drawings could have been the first
stages of PowerPoint? Regardless, over time humans have developed this massive inescapability to
depict life through graphic record preserving thought and expression to share with others indefinitely.
Pictures became symbols. Then symbols became letters, and finally words. Early printing formats were
on bark, bone, ivory and rocks. Then technology advanced where words were inscribed on stone and
clay tablets. A technological giant leap forward was the use of papyrus reeds. As technology evolved
printed words wound up on parchment lambskin scrolls and finally to dried, and rolled-out tree pulp. The
word “paper” comes from the word “Papyrus.”
Like many advanced technologies of our ancient past, the Chinese invented paper as we know it around
105 AD, and by 750 AD, spread to Baghdad, where the Arab Muslims perfected paper making into an art
form, and eventually into what we would recognize as a book. From there, European’s caught on around
the time of the first Crusades in the 11th century, where Italy and Germany became the hub for paper
mills and binderies. Through tracing the history of written recorded and graphic archiving, it is
considered that ancient Egypt owns the copyrights, as far back as 3700 BC. What does all this mean?
Humans have been practicing their penchant to leave written record for at least six thousand years.
There was a powerful force to communicate beyond verbalization. Museums are filled with ancient forms
and relics of written messages left for the eons in all the aforementioned formats.
Just as I am sure the clay tablet scribes took on condescending smug attitudes toward the fancy new
fangled papyrus paper, advanced technology is often not readily accepted in use or practice by those
anchored in tradition regardless of potential advancements. You know, the new stuff is flimsy, easily
destroyed or misplaced, whereas clay tablets will last forever. Plus all the training skills and tools
required switching over is a human stress. - Kind of like going from 8-Track Cartridges to Cassettes, or
Cassettes to MP3 Players.
As I was developing this article on 21st Century communications, the New York Times came up with an
interactive NYT’s web site. You can get all the news updated as events unfold. Finally, it took a
publication like the NYT to come up with a format to head off the death spiral that newsprint is engulfed
in. Printing words has been around with us for six thousand years. Academia, business, law, art,
medicine, engineering and science are just a few disciplines that are locked into printed volumes of
books, journals and newsprint. Selling printed matter, and archiving such is a billion dollar business.
The New York Times, and their brain trusts could see the handwriting on the wall, and beat their
competition to the punch. I have seen the President of the USA, and major news celebrates admonish
America’s youth to put down their electronic gizmos, get off computers and crack the books to become
better students, and thus be a smart person to enter the job market.
Let me think on the thought that kids are being scolded by those in powerful influential positions to put
down technology, in favor of traditional venues for learning. As I thought, I imagined King
Nebuchadnezzar II, in ancient Babylon telling the Tigris - Euphrates elementary class, “Put down your
modern Papyrus Reed Scrolls, and get back to Clay Tablets, which is better to learn on.” Due to the lack
of anyone over the age of 30, really understanding modern electronic apparatus, there seems to be a
prejudice toward the advancements in technology by older folks, whereas youth embraces each new
electronic thingamabob whole hearted. Senior mindsets seem to view technology we’ve had for
thousands of years had greater value, and was the tried and true method to accomplish education,
communications and archiving. The standing joke in the 70’s for adults was, “I’ll wait until my clever
grandson comes over so he can program my VCR for me.” Was this fear of the new apparatus, or fear
of seeming dim-witted to new complicated concepts.
Blinded by no acceptance to break the bonds of traditional methodology seems to be a trait of midlife, to
elder year folks. My mother told me about my Great, Grandfather in the 20’s, as an old man had never
ridden in a new fangled automobile. His mode of transportation was a team of mules, which had worked
fine for him since the 1800’s. As a teenager my uncle in his 1923 Model “T” talked Great Gramps, into
going on an easy slow ride around the farm. I was told, Grandpa was so frightened he clung to the door
handle ready to jump out as soon as he could. Top speed was around 10 MPH. Great, Grandpa went to
his grave a couple years later after his ride around the farm, never riding in a car again. The new
technology terrified him, as it did many people from his generation. By the way, gramps was a big strong
Alpha Male, and a county constable noted for fiercely tracking down brutal outlaws and criminals single-
handed. He feared no man, but was scared to death of a noisy, popping, smoking mechanical
contrivance like a car.
There are a couple of reasons for not accepting technology, which is on a rapid fast track in the 21st
Century - Besides apprehension of new technologies, economics is a main driving factor. Buggy Coach
and Whip manufactures tried without success to put down, and halt the dangerous new contraption, the
automobile at the turn of the 20the Century. Although claiming public nuisance and safety, their real
reason was simpler. They knew the competition was a threat to their antiquated business. I still know
people that will not have a cellular phone today, and don’t believe in them. Resistance to change is a
human nature emotion, and each individual reacts differently to technological advancements. Fear,
ignorance and economics are strong driving forces.
Since childhood, electricity and what it can be used for has always intrigued me. I was one of those
Mister Wizard kids that couldn’t get enough of electronic gadgets. My amazement with electricity
attracted me to my three loves as a kid growing up in the 50’s; Electric Trains, Electric Guitars and
Electronic Projects. I built my first crystal radio set from a kit, headphones and all when I was ten years
old in 1955. Beyond electric buzzers, and radio kits I was deeply amazed with TV’s, radios, record
players and guitar amps. I really caught heck from my mom one time, when she found me sitting in the
hall, with the family “Bell” telephone taken apart in pieces. I wanted to know why and how it worked. I
managed to get it back together, and was on down time until I could sweet-talk my mom into letting me be
free again. Electronic devices all seemed so magical to me. As I grew into adulthood, I was always
reading the latest magazines on technological predictions. Looking forward to consumer levels of
technology, I was forever anticipating new gadgets and apparatus. My love for electricity led me to a 35
years career in the electric utility business - A rapid changing industry, where acceptance of the new and
innovative was a way of life.
I was at a birthday party for a young third cousin, and a second teenage cousin came up and introduced
his best friend to me. He was Cambodian decent, and a second generation American Citizen. He was a
very polite, nice young man. I observed the teen, and I could see he was overwhelmed with our massive
family gathering, where he was meeting a multitude of strangers. I noticed he had his hand held phone
apparatus, or whatever wizard gadget with him. He was being as social as possible in a strange new
environment, and his vanguard electronic device was his safe zone. I knew the lad was smart, as my
cousin was an honor student in college prep classes with a scholarship, and I figured his friend was of
similar inclination. I watched him, as his mind moved as fast as a dual core processor. He could
maneuver around on his hand held gizmo with lightening speed, taking in thousands of bits of information
at a rapid rate. I wondered how many thousands expanses of thought and information he journeyed
through in his brief evening at our family celebration. He was thriving on technology at a tremendously
accelerated rate. I was witnessing maximum exerted stimulated brainpower enticement for sure.
When personal computers became the rage in accessible consumer electronics, I couldn’t wait to buy
one, and get busy learning the computer language of “Basic.” Somewhere in the late 70’s my new
electronic device was sitting on my home desk. Each evening, I would work on a new chapter learning
how to input the basic language to eventually program a “Pong” game. I was so proud to be on chapter
five. I came home one night, and the instruction book was turned to chapter 11. I could tell someone had
been messing with my stuff. I always had a house full of kids, and yelled out, “Who’s been screwing with
my computer.” Kids being what they are instantly tattled on my cousin Bennie, who was living with us, to
avoid being falsely accused of any misdeeds their self. All my kids were smarter than me, and my oldest
daughter would cry if she had a failure by getting a sub par grade of B+. When I questioned Bennie, he
confessed to messing with my computer. I was not upset, but proud he had advanced to chapter 11,
which would take me 6 more evenings to accomplish. I did, however, comment that he should ask first.
He agreed, and we shared learning on the computer together.
I knew Bennie was smart, and I was amazed he took to learning the computer on his own volition and
initiative. The computer incident drove home the fact that Bennie resisted school, but had a craving for
higher technological learning. I had many counseling sessions with Bennie’s teachers at school over his
lack of motivation to walk the narrow path of formal education. On the other hand, a decade before
computers became a taught subject in K-12 grade levels; Bennie had the desire and drive to pursue his
interest in the computing processes. Bennie didn’t finish school, and eventually achieved his GED
equivalent as an adult. He then went on to manage a multi-million dollar construction company erecting
high-rise buildings, Interstate freeways and bridges. A computer driven business where engineering,
design, statistics, analysis and budgetary process including flow charts and work progress were day-to-
day essentials for profitable success in a highly competitive field. Superintendent Bennie has done well
for his self and family, and I am very proud of him. Thing being, he desired to learn computers before
academia had implemented the new concept. He was a decade ahead of formal education adoption to
new technology, and had to learn computers out of the box on his own to become proficient, successful
and productive in cyber space. By the way, he goes by Ben now, and has a highly profitable eBay side
business too. Imagine that?
The conclusion that I will eventually get to “High Tech Gone Wild,” is that with many changes, and
innovations, there always seems to be resistance. Humans in general do not like change, for change
sake. We live by, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” With this attitude, the “Empowerment” thrust of American
business during the 90’s, corporations had to send the work force back to class to teach them to
embrace change. Business brain trusts figured out that workers drudged away by rote, and had to be
taught to “Think on their feet and out of the box.” Whatever, it was a business tactic in the 90’s to
reduce the work force, and get more done by fewer folks that could react to moments of decision
thresholds. To instill the power to make assessments without going through multiple levels of supervision
approvals was the motivational thought behind empowerment. Often change has to be forced on a
society, or organizations due to overall resentment toward adaptation of changing technology or
principles.
Humans have developed a need for written communication, with archaeological evidence as far back as
the Solutrean Period in France some 21,000 thousand years ago. Development of written word and
medium to convey such has been a long, and arduous road. The problem with all forms of “One Way”
communication is the actual complete transfer of information and knowledge only accomplishes sending-
receiving, and lacks in acknowledgement and reciprocation. Traditionally all forms of visual, audio and
written communications are one-way human interchanges. The originator has all the power to articulate,
and the receiving party lacks the tools or ability to respond.
Humans love two-way communication. Unless you are a narcissistic orator like Adolph Hitler who thrived
on mouth shut, mind shut audiences to scheme his methamphetamine-induced rages, rousing his very
wicked being, most folks do not do well with one sided, and one way verbal dictatorial speech
expressions. Hitler had horrified captive audiences, where severe punishment would fall down on you, if
you contested his mind controlling dogma. There was a very popular book by Dr. Thomas Harris, in the
70’s called, “I’m Okay, You’re Okay.” The whole social interchange philosophy in the book had a lot of
wordiness and Hippie verbiage, but the main concept was; for good communication humans need an
adult-to-adult interchange. The give and take interaction of thoughts, expression and abstract concepts
by two humans on the same level probably dates back to our ancient budding languages somewhere
around the time of Lucy or Homos Erectus. Who knows for sure? Even animals with limited vocabularies
accomplish successful two-way communications.
Traditionally visual and even modern audio communication was, and is still a one-way proposition.
Besides documented academia studies in books, or technical manuals, the greater portion of
communication devices are in the form of entertainment; Radio, television, newspapers, movies, books,
videos, audio and digital domain etc. Humans progressed from written symbols and eventually words on
brick, clay and stone, to papyrus and finally paper. As the written word evolved, it was first documented
on scrolls then bound books, which have been with us for 1,500 years at least. In the 18th century Ben’s
brother James Franklin is credited as one of the first newspapermen in the United States. Newsprint was
the mainstream media trend for 100 years. Then in the 19th century electronic communications begin
first with the telegraph, and then with the wire service. At the cusp of the 20th century; telephone, radio,
phonograph and movies dominated communication. Eventually, in the early 50’s televisions started
turning up in American homes, and a true modern era of national mass media began. As we neared the
end of the 20th century, home computers were the advent for business and entertainment multi-tasking,
including connection to the World Wide Web.
For 21,000 years, we have lived with one-way communication in the various formats created by
technology, all except for the telephone. Unprecedented the telephone rapidly grew into a network of
poles and wires to connect the United States to instant two-way communication on a national level.
Telegraph was a two-way communication system, but a lot was lost in the human interaction with a third
party performing the physical transmissions and interpretation of the Morse Codes. The telephone,
provided for personal, private one-on-one instant communications totally invoking the complete human
experience of verbal communication. Unlike all the communications of past history, a breakthrough in
the turn of the 20th century finally allowed humans to interchange freely and at will.
I purposely left out the US Mail Service up until now. For a few hundred years in the United States, two-
way communication between family, friends and business associates, was conducted through the mail
service. It was economical and rapidly grew with faster and faster delivery time as the industrial revolution
improved transportation modes. Up until the World Wide Web became the craze in the late 80’s with
email transmissions, “Snail Mail” was as commonplace Americana as Disneyland, Baseball and Apple
Pie. I can remember hearing my mom reading letters from friends and family to us, and it was extremely
entertaining hearing from loved ones so far on the other side of the United States. Humans love two-way
communication. Sitting in a coffee shop, over your favorite brew and sugary pastry with a friend is very
therapeutic and extremely entertaining. When the caffeine and sugar kick in, lost worlds of Atlantis can
be freely explored in a freewheeling motor-mouth exchange.
The money moguls taking full advantage of one-way communication have had us as a captive audience
for a very long time. In all forms of modern electronic and printed media communications, we as the
audience were the empty headed dolts that placed emphasis in the media presentation as
entertainment. We were muddled by the subliminal suggestions of class envy to go out and buy what is
peddled in between the normal programming and main feature. Alfred Hitchcock, in his infinite witty
humor, chided the commercialization of television. As a test, I flipped through the complete program
listings on my satellite television reception, and found that you have a better than 50% chance to find the
selected channel on a commercial break. The only resolve we have to avoid commercials, is to take a
pee and snack break, turn the channel, or pre-record and fast forward through the mind beatings of
products that will save your life, make you a better human and the neighborhood envy.
I love the word “Spam” in the email domain, as the word really sums up what advertising is, a sham to get
your money on stuff you really don’t need or want before you saw the ad. A billion dollar industry,
advertising comes in the form of television commercials, telemarketing, ads in print media, computer
spam and pop-ups and there are even ads at the movies before the show starts. We are inundated with
commercial ads all day and night in most of the forms of media we choose to entertain our self. That is
why, the new-age hand held wizard devices are the real life equivalent of the Communicator as carried by
Captain Kurk in the show Star Trek. In author Gene Roddenberry’s television creation of the 60’s, the
Communicator was a fictional device of the far distant future. Baby, we’ve arrived in the future during the
21st century. In my hand held doohickey, I have instant access to the World Wide Web, graphics, audio
and video transmissions, emails, instant texting and of course two-way verbal communication the old
fashion way verbally interchanging using the cellular phone aspect. As I was writing this piece, the word
“texting” came up as a misspelled word. A common word used by millions of humans everyday, is yet to
be recognized in the formal English language. Again, academia is behind the cart, and who knows when
those institutions will fully grab hold of modern technology, as the rate of progress far out distances the
capabilities in the catching up process.
Private industry has developed a new mysterious realm of intrigue found in science fiction novels prior to
the 21st century. Only Jules Vern could have imagined the technological advancements we take for
granted. In my hand, small as a pack of cigarettes, is a transmitting and receiving device running on
lithium batteries that can do; Two way verbal and written communications. Provide me the latest news,
weather, sports, games and endless entertainment in a flash. I have instant access to the World Wide
Web and all my email accounts. I can record and archive video, audio and still photographs of live
events, and transmit such to one person, a distribution list or post on the Internet. I can stay in touch with
hundreds of friends and family in several social networks, and instantaneously communicate with
multitudes, or one individual. I can run statistics, convert currency, weights and measures, calculate math
and tell worldwide times and dates. I have an alarm clock, and a calendar that reminds me of upcoming
events. I have a Global Positioning System, with access to points of interest, hotel, food and fuel
locations all over the world. I can shop, buy and sell items in an instant, and see television and sports
events. I have a small item I can slip in my pocket and transport anywhere I go. The latest hand held
dingus (In Spanish, that would be Chingus) is a billion dollar profitable product for the manufactures, with
built-in millions of dollars worth of technology at our fingertips. All related to human communication in
format, and all without any commercial advertising fogging any process we want to endeavor. How
magnificent is this modern magic.
Dick Tracy has nothing on us, as his “Two-way Wrist Radio,” is extremely passé compared to what we
have now. One fact remains; detective Tracy used two-way communications. The wrist radio was a
novel item in the 1946, to communicate on the fly with another human. Today we have millions of bits of
communication and information with a flip of a wrist. In the last hundred years, we have had books,
magazines, newspapers, radio, movies and television all one-way communication. All these
entertainment medias are doctorial by nature and concept for a pat audience with no input or response
from the recipients. I can remember in the late fifties my dad yelling at the television in his dad language
that resembled PG rated profanity when he disagreed with something on the evening news. Gosh, if
those high and mighty yelping mouths could only hear what my dad thought of them, they would be
humiliated. As with all forms of one-way communication, the listener-viewer is in a sit down, and shut up
mode the way Hitler liked it.
With the initiation of home and travel computers and hand held wizard gadgets, humans no longer have
to sit still, and not participate. Why are the social networks on the Internet such a highly profitable, and
viable setting for humans? Heck fire, I can talk to all my family and friends with a few keystrokes list my
latest music creation madness and post my band videos for the world to see and hear. I am totally
enveloped into a complete user activity whereas I am completely interfacing and creating endlessly. I can
build my own blogs, newsletter pages, and communicate with thousands of other humans on a global
scale around the clock, every day of the year. I do not have to wait for programming, delivery or
transmission. Instant and complete access to the world is available through my electronic wizard
devices.
US Mail, television and print media were the first to feel the sting of this new competition that is leaving
them in the dust. I’ve read a lot of articles, and watched a lot of documentaries on how modern
technology of instant two-way, total interfacing and participating formats is truly the 21st century
modernization of information, entertainment and communication. That is why when I hear newsprint and
traditional electronic medias panhandling the public for survival, I would like to tell them, “Get a clue,” but
how can you do that with a one-way unwavering and often egotistical institution? Like the buggy carriage
makers facing the automobile industry, traditional one-way medias do seem to be meeting their doom as
sales and subscriptions diminish.
IBM in the eighties held a high and mighty arrogant attitude about their brainchild the home computer.
The price of the new ugly gray desktop was phenomenally inflated to recoup their engineering
investments. Just when IBM was lavishing in success from their new creation, the Asian-Rim clone
computer market busted free, and cut the massive corporation down to its knees. IBM, not being a wimp
company, shifted gears, abandoned consumer desktops, and captured mainstream corporate business
by using their name brand recognition as clout. Like IBM embracing change for continued success, and
as we first stated, the New York Times being a traditional icon newsprint in the United States, took a
quantum leap forward going on the Internet with a complete interactive news and information dispensing
media. The NYT news organization recognized the my main point of this article; Humans LOVE to
interface, contribute and be actively engaged in two-way communications. They love to make decisions
to suit their personal preferences, and exchange concepts and ideals freely. Unlike writing a “Letter to
the Editor,” our sending a talking head a never answered email to info@info.com,” humans need
instantaneous on the spot gratification. I’m sorry; we are in a “me” civil society. That is the way it is.
Narcissistic tendencies run deep and wide in the world these days. It is human nature, as we live in an
extreme leisure mode compared to what physical activities humans endured for existence just 100 years
ago. If business in the 21st century cannot figure out the aspect of human nature that commands, “What’
s in it for me,” they are condemned to eventually fail.
Hypothetical speaking, in the last 24 hours there were probably a few hundred newspapers printed and
distributed. In the same period, there were probably as many television news programs broadcast. Let
us say the two entities represent 500 attempts to distribute traditional one-way news on a local and
national level. In that same period of time, I contacted a few hundred family members and friends by
email and a social networks. Sent out a message to hundreds of readers of my on line Pique Press.
Read several on line news sites. Searched several web sites for information, and used my cell phone at
least ten times. I received a couple dozen replies and phone calls back to me. Conservatively I was
exposed to thousands of bits of information and communication with just a few keystrokes. Much of what
I sent out in the last period of time, has yet to be returned to me, and will unfold during the next couple
days. Now multiply this scenario by a few million people using modern technology to communicate, and
now you will grasp a sense of the massive amount of information that is traveling through cyber space
around the clock as the populous accesses the true two-way information highway at will.
What totally amazes me about traditional one-way communications, is the insulation and comfort zones
that were built up over the development of such institutions over the years. Writers and broadcast
personalities circulate in an inner circle of celebrity status, and often feel elevated above and beyond
unprofessional lay folks. As a musician in the shark invested music business for over five decades, I
have a different eye for viewing individuals that have elevated their gig to star status. To bring this
example down to earth, look at the AM Radio Disc Jockey’s of the fifties. Many of the music DJ’s of the
bygone era received star status, had agents and vied for recognition as they manipulated to be
employed on wider and bigger broadcast formats. AM music and the American automobile was a prefect
match. We all cruised Route 66, and listened to the top forty popular tunes, with our favorite DJ’s
yapping away with nonsense and commercial advertising. The music DJ gig was a hot item up until the
advent of FM “stereo” Radio of the seventies, and eventually pre-recorded tapes. Today there aren’t
too many fan clubs for AM Radio DJ’s.
I was told by a wise old man once, as I climbed the corporate ladder, “Be careful of the heads you step on
climbing the ladder of success, as they may be attached to the ass you have to kiss on the way down.” I
was on tour in California with a band during the sixties. Half starving, tired, homeless and broke, I made
my way back home. I landed a real job, got married and became part of the business world
establishment. I made my daily bread, kept my kids fed and a roof over their heads from my day gig at a
fortune 300 corporation. Not to give up my right brain dominance in my soul, I kept a local band together,
and of course spent a lot of time writing. I even wrote technical manuals for the corporation I was working
at, and acclaimed status in the fields I wrote about traveling on red eye flights to give seminars and
lectures. Real boring crap, but the gig kept me out of the unemployment line. In my inner circle business
world I became an expert, and maintained a notable stature among competitors and peers. Many of the
folks I rubbed shoulders with were business owners, and relatively wealthy from their private sector
businesses. I was even offered VP jobs at competing companies, but held to the “bird in hand” theory of
comfort as a mid-level manager with a steady paycheck. None of the owners and presidents of these
companies were unapproachable. Why was that? Interfacing with real humans was good for business.
Socializing and one on one networking was how knowledge and wealth was passed around. In the
business world, when someone gave you a business card, they expected you to call them back.
Unlike the media and music world I dabbled in with my avocations, where business cards were just status
symbols, and if you did call the person back, rarely did you get through. I led three lives; Family man,
corporate business manager and chasing my artistic creativity. Trying to apply business practices to the
artsy-crafty world was impossible. In the business world, millions were budgeted for communications, and
a full staff of “office girls” were required to receive calls, take messages, type up letters and proposals,
and general communication with office devices. Business reached out to humans on all levels, as
without people, there would be no business to conduct. In the sixties artistic control had a West Coast
Hippie flare to it. I had very little trouble getting my “off beat” writing style published, and of course I’ve
always kept my bands booked with gigs. I however did discover that the media and music endeavors
were filled with individuals that were pandering and promoting their own talents. There was an expression
in the music field that, everyone in music, was in music. Meaning that if you talked to a record producer,
he was also in a band, and soliciting his talent too. Everyone was in the business of trying to find instant
success and fame with his or her musical talents. Massive egos, drugs and jealousy created a
hodgepodge of insane madness in California music during the sixties and seventies. As age started
creeping up on me, my delusions of music grandeur faded away with all my other childhood fantasies.
Just keeping the band booked at local VFW halls, and high school reunions was a steady gig and good
paycheck for the guys in the band that depended on the income.
Writing seemed to be the simplest, easy artistic expression for me without all the inconvenience, egos
and side trips associated with music. Just me, my typewriter and paper. Stuff it in an envelope, and send
it off to an editor. I was successful most of the time submitting articles to music magazines and
newsprints. I ventured further out submitting pieces to newspapers on a wide variety of subjects like
sports, music, travel, politics and religion. Again, I had a very high rate of getting published. In my “red
eye” flights around the country, I always gathered local publications from each city I visited, and made
sure I had a wide selection of newsprints in my hotel room to read over during dinner. Reading, and
writing became a passion. In the late eighties I created a small publication called, “Strictly Nothing But
The Blues,” and also became a staff writer for Jazz Link magazine. I found so much success with my
writing about my favorite loves, jazz and blues, that the process became a full time side job. Eventually,
with great relief, the World Wide Web became a useful tool, and I converted all my hard copy writing over
to a web site, and renamed the on line ezine Blues Guitar News. Fast, easy and with a few keystroke
clicks, I could publish monthly to thousands on a worldwide scale. To date, there are 50,000 readers of
the blues web site according to the site checker - Visits per day average around 50 to 250, depending on
advertising attempts. Goes without saying, I get a ton of email daily. I try to respond, and answer all the
legitimate inquiries I receive. Tedious sometimes, but is all part of keeping in human contact with the
readers of my publications.
Although there are limitations with static web sites, I tried to offer interactive communication to the
readers. The trend with mainstream media web sites is to transpose their traditional one-way
communication mindsets, over to the Internet. Trying to contact most media entities on their websites is
a major joke. Many use the “Email Form,” to send feedback to them. Others prefer not to list email
addresses, and if they do list a contact, the email address is a catchall spam bucket never to be
answered. Just like the use of 800 phone numbers saving the cost of switchboard operators, and
sending you off locked into voice mail hell forever never talking to a real human, media organizations are
not going to pay time for someone to answer emails either. I also get the feeling; they really don’t care
what you have to say, or what you have to contribute anyway. Just like the music business, they are all
busy pandering their own media talent trying to squeeze fame and fortune out what they can grab. I just
watched a very interesting show on Link TV, and enjoyed the speaker they presented. I found her web
site, and wouldn’t you know it. Here this abstract free thinking individual does not have a contact access
at all. Many are not getting the clue, or really ponder why interchanging social networks are booming at a
billion dollar profit margin. Why is that? The creators of Internet video and social sharing networks have
hit the nail on the head, and offer complete fulfillment of the human emotion of, “What’s in it for me.”
Trying to stay with the flow of modern technology, I use the social networks to gain a worldwide friend
base, and redirect them back to my static web sites. It is working enormously well, as the social network
allows for free will communication, while posting links to my sites. The interaction is remarkable, and the
feedback from real humans that like what they see on the sites is tremendous. As a lifetime electronic
wizardry enthusiast, my needs to express through music and writing are totally fulfilled, and gratified in
cyber space. On my PQ Press site, a venting loose cannon blog, I will list meaningful or interesting links
for my readers. I’ve tried peddling my writing to mainstream media outlets, but like shoveling against the
proverbial tide, the world is filled with writers all vying for attention and recognition. Editors and
publishers are inundated with mounds and reams of publishing proposals. The only way I could get
recognition for my publishing endeavors is to sky dive naked into the stadium at the next Super Bowl
intermission with my web site link tattooed on my butt. Of course, I’d be answering fan mail from behind
bars too.
High Tech Gone Wild, and our politicians and news medias are not up to snuff yet. We’ve come a long
way baby, from clay tablets and papyrus reed scrolls. Millions of us carry hand held contraptions the
size of a fudgesicle that connects us to an unlimited expansive cyber universe only limited by creative
intelligence and imagination. Complete, and uncontrolled freedom of speech, press and expression is at
our fingertips. This is synthesized intelligence only science fiction writers could perhaps imagined prior to
the 21st century, as we are provided avenues to genius abstract endless hypothesis that is freely
transportable, and only hampered by battery life span, and recharging time access. Our founding
creators of the United States, and drafters-signers of the US Constitution assured us freedom of speech
and press. It was their insight that this fourth, undefined and designated entity to the United States was a
stand alone checks and balance system keeping the three main designated branches of government on
their toes, and their feet out of their mouths. Our freedoms have been challenged, debated and
considered for alteration over time, but we the people seem to prevail somehow. Now we all have the
freedom of transmission of information on a two-way basis at a moments notice, anywhere on the earth -
Uncensored, and in completeness as crafted. I see many political leaders and mainstream media star
status folks that are completely miffed, why before they step down from their podiums of one-way dialog
venues, that rebuttal, analysis and comment has been transmitted around the world instantaneously.
Makes it damn tough to control spin, when the ball has bounced out of the arena huh? Damage control
is next to impossible. Well folks, that’s it. I’ve got to get off this piece, as I am limited to what I can do
pecking away dumping my mind out on a blank sheet. I need to get back into electronic space now, the
new frontier where no man (or woman) has gone before. Dang, I wonder what Ben Franklin could have
done with the World Wide Web? Beam me up Scotty.
God Bless, and for my atheist friends; Have a Nice Day.
Mike press@mikedollins.biz
Speaking in the voice of street level, free thinking, free spirited folks that cherish their liberties and the
pursuit of happiness without hindrance from our over officious government.
December 14, 2010
I just finished a newspaper article on books asking the
question; if printed matter would become an antiquated form
that would vanish out of use in modern society? With the
advent of contemporary electronic wizardry; communication
is instantaneous, numerous and archived with the press of a couple buttons on a hand held gadget. The
writer referred to Ray Bradbury’s movie Fahrenheit 451, where books were outlawed, confiscated and
then burned. Upon take over, Hitler burned books. The Spanish priests burned down Mayan libraries,
and a mysterious fire destroyed the great library at Alexandria. Are we there yet too?
In the beginning, before books, humans felt the need to leave recorded messages about life’s events on
the side of cave walls using charcoal drawings. The human experience developed a new powerful urge
beyond the three basic success traits for survival of the species that we share with all the animal
kingdom; sustenance, shelter and propagation. This newly evolved force to communicate beyond animal
instincts of grunts, groans and gestures may have been bragging rights of a successful hunt, or possibly
an early seminar on hunting. Who knows? The early charcoal cave drawings could have been the first
stages of PowerPoint? Regardless, over time humans have developed this massive inescapability to
depict life through graphic record preserving thought and expression to share with others indefinitely.
Pictures became symbols. Then symbols became letters, and finally words. Early printing formats were
on bark, bone, ivory and rocks. Then technology advanced where words were inscribed on stone and
clay tablets. A technological giant leap forward was the use of papyrus reeds. As technology evolved
printed words wound up on parchment lambskin scrolls and finally to dried, and rolled-out tree pulp. The
word “paper” comes from the word “Papyrus.”
Like many advanced technologies of our ancient past, the Chinese invented paper as we know it around
105 AD, and by 750 AD, spread to Baghdad, where the Arab Muslims perfected paper making into an art
form, and eventually into what we would recognize as a book. From there, European’s caught on around
the time of the first Crusades in the 11th century, where Italy and Germany became the hub for paper
mills and binderies. Through tracing the history of written recorded and graphic archiving, it is
considered that ancient Egypt owns the copyrights, as far back as 3700 BC. What does all this mean?
Humans have been practicing their penchant to leave written record for at least six thousand years.
There was a powerful force to communicate beyond verbalization. Museums are filled with ancient forms
and relics of written messages left for the eons in all the aforementioned formats.
Just as I am sure the clay tablet scribes took on condescending smug attitudes toward the fancy new
fangled papyrus paper, advanced technology is often not readily accepted in use or practice by those
anchored in tradition regardless of potential advancements. You know, the new stuff is flimsy, easily
destroyed or misplaced, whereas clay tablets will last forever. Plus all the training skills and tools
required switching over is a human stress. - Kind of like going from 8-Track Cartridges to Cassettes, or
Cassettes to MP3 Players.
As I was developing this article on 21st Century communications, the New York Times came up with an
interactive NYT’s web site. You can get all the news updated as events unfold. Finally, it took a
publication like the NYT to come up with a format to head off the death spiral that newsprint is engulfed
in. Printing words has been around with us for six thousand years. Academia, business, law, art,
medicine, engineering and science are just a few disciplines that are locked into printed volumes of
books, journals and newsprint. Selling printed matter, and archiving such is a billion dollar business.
The New York Times, and their brain trusts could see the handwriting on the wall, and beat their
competition to the punch. I have seen the President of the USA, and major news celebrates admonish
America’s youth to put down their electronic gizmos, get off computers and crack the books to become
better students, and thus be a smart person to enter the job market.
Let me think on the thought that kids are being scolded by those in powerful influential positions to put
down technology, in favor of traditional venues for learning. As I thought, I imagined King
Nebuchadnezzar II, in ancient Babylon telling the Tigris - Euphrates elementary class, “Put down your
modern Papyrus Reed Scrolls, and get back to Clay Tablets, which is better to learn on.” Due to the lack
of anyone over the age of 30, really understanding modern electronic apparatus, there seems to be a
prejudice toward the advancements in technology by older folks, whereas youth embraces each new
electronic thingamabob whole hearted. Senior mindsets seem to view technology we’ve had for
thousands of years had greater value, and was the tried and true method to accomplish education,
communications and archiving. The standing joke in the 70’s for adults was, “I’ll wait until my clever
grandson comes over so he can program my VCR for me.” Was this fear of the new apparatus, or fear
of seeming dim-witted to new complicated concepts.
Blinded by no acceptance to break the bonds of traditional methodology seems to be a trait of midlife, to
elder year folks. My mother told me about my Great, Grandfather in the 20’s, as an old man had never
ridden in a new fangled automobile. His mode of transportation was a team of mules, which had worked
fine for him since the 1800’s. As a teenager my uncle in his 1923 Model “T” talked Great Gramps, into
going on an easy slow ride around the farm. I was told, Grandpa was so frightened he clung to the door
handle ready to jump out as soon as he could. Top speed was around 10 MPH. Great, Grandpa went to
his grave a couple years later after his ride around the farm, never riding in a car again. The new
technology terrified him, as it did many people from his generation. By the way, gramps was a big strong
Alpha Male, and a county constable noted for fiercely tracking down brutal outlaws and criminals single-
handed. He feared no man, but was scared to death of a noisy, popping, smoking mechanical
contrivance like a car.
There are a couple of reasons for not accepting technology, which is on a rapid fast track in the 21st
Century - Besides apprehension of new technologies, economics is a main driving factor. Buggy Coach
and Whip manufactures tried without success to put down, and halt the dangerous new contraption, the
automobile at the turn of the 20the Century. Although claiming public nuisance and safety, their real
reason was simpler. They knew the competition was a threat to their antiquated business. I still know
people that will not have a cellular phone today, and don’t believe in them. Resistance to change is a
human nature emotion, and each individual reacts differently to technological advancements. Fear,
ignorance and economics are strong driving forces.
Since childhood, electricity and what it can be used for has always intrigued me. I was one of those
Mister Wizard kids that couldn’t get enough of electronic gadgets. My amazement with electricity
attracted me to my three loves as a kid growing up in the 50’s; Electric Trains, Electric Guitars and
Electronic Projects. I built my first crystal radio set from a kit, headphones and all when I was ten years
old in 1955. Beyond electric buzzers, and radio kits I was deeply amazed with TV’s, radios, record
players and guitar amps. I really caught heck from my mom one time, when she found me sitting in the
hall, with the family “Bell” telephone taken apart in pieces. I wanted to know why and how it worked. I
managed to get it back together, and was on down time until I could sweet-talk my mom into letting me be
free again. Electronic devices all seemed so magical to me. As I grew into adulthood, I was always
reading the latest magazines on technological predictions. Looking forward to consumer levels of
technology, I was forever anticipating new gadgets and apparatus. My love for electricity led me to a 35
years career in the electric utility business - A rapid changing industry, where acceptance of the new and
innovative was a way of life.
I was at a birthday party for a young third cousin, and a second teenage cousin came up and introduced
his best friend to me. He was Cambodian decent, and a second generation American Citizen. He was a
very polite, nice young man. I observed the teen, and I could see he was overwhelmed with our massive
family gathering, where he was meeting a multitude of strangers. I noticed he had his hand held phone
apparatus, or whatever wizard gadget with him. He was being as social as possible in a strange new
environment, and his vanguard electronic device was his safe zone. I knew the lad was smart, as my
cousin was an honor student in college prep classes with a scholarship, and I figured his friend was of
similar inclination. I watched him, as his mind moved as fast as a dual core processor. He could
maneuver around on his hand held gizmo with lightening speed, taking in thousands of bits of information
at a rapid rate. I wondered how many thousands expanses of thought and information he journeyed
through in his brief evening at our family celebration. He was thriving on technology at a tremendously
accelerated rate. I was witnessing maximum exerted stimulated brainpower enticement for sure.
When personal computers became the rage in accessible consumer electronics, I couldn’t wait to buy
one, and get busy learning the computer language of “Basic.” Somewhere in the late 70’s my new
electronic device was sitting on my home desk. Each evening, I would work on a new chapter learning
how to input the basic language to eventually program a “Pong” game. I was so proud to be on chapter
five. I came home one night, and the instruction book was turned to chapter 11. I could tell someone had
been messing with my stuff. I always had a house full of kids, and yelled out, “Who’s been screwing with
my computer.” Kids being what they are instantly tattled on my cousin Bennie, who was living with us, to
avoid being falsely accused of any misdeeds their self. All my kids were smarter than me, and my oldest
daughter would cry if she had a failure by getting a sub par grade of B+. When I questioned Bennie, he
confessed to messing with my computer. I was not upset, but proud he had advanced to chapter 11,
which would take me 6 more evenings to accomplish. I did, however, comment that he should ask first.
He agreed, and we shared learning on the computer together.
I knew Bennie was smart, and I was amazed he took to learning the computer on his own volition and
initiative. The computer incident drove home the fact that Bennie resisted school, but had a craving for
higher technological learning. I had many counseling sessions with Bennie’s teachers at school over his
lack of motivation to walk the narrow path of formal education. On the other hand, a decade before
computers became a taught subject in K-12 grade levels; Bennie had the desire and drive to pursue his
interest in the computing processes. Bennie didn’t finish school, and eventually achieved his GED
equivalent as an adult. He then went on to manage a multi-million dollar construction company erecting
high-rise buildings, Interstate freeways and bridges. A computer driven business where engineering,
design, statistics, analysis and budgetary process including flow charts and work progress were day-to-
day essentials for profitable success in a highly competitive field. Superintendent Bennie has done well
for his self and family, and I am very proud of him. Thing being, he desired to learn computers before
academia had implemented the new concept. He was a decade ahead of formal education adoption to
new technology, and had to learn computers out of the box on his own to become proficient, successful
and productive in cyber space. By the way, he goes by Ben now, and has a highly profitable eBay side
business too. Imagine that?
The conclusion that I will eventually get to “High Tech Gone Wild,” is that with many changes, and
innovations, there always seems to be resistance. Humans in general do not like change, for change
sake. We live by, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” With this attitude, the “Empowerment” thrust of American
business during the 90’s, corporations had to send the work force back to class to teach them to
embrace change. Business brain trusts figured out that workers drudged away by rote, and had to be
taught to “Think on their feet and out of the box.” Whatever, it was a business tactic in the 90’s to
reduce the work force, and get more done by fewer folks that could react to moments of decision
thresholds. To instill the power to make assessments without going through multiple levels of supervision
approvals was the motivational thought behind empowerment. Often change has to be forced on a
society, or organizations due to overall resentment toward adaptation of changing technology or
principles.
Humans have developed a need for written communication, with archaeological evidence as far back as
the Solutrean Period in France some 21,000 thousand years ago. Development of written word and
medium to convey such has been a long, and arduous road. The problem with all forms of “One Way”
communication is the actual complete transfer of information and knowledge only accomplishes sending-
receiving, and lacks in acknowledgement and reciprocation. Traditionally all forms of visual, audio and
written communications are one-way human interchanges. The originator has all the power to articulate,
and the receiving party lacks the tools or ability to respond.
Humans love two-way communication. Unless you are a narcissistic orator like Adolph Hitler who thrived
on mouth shut, mind shut audiences to scheme his methamphetamine-induced rages, rousing his very
wicked being, most folks do not do well with one sided, and one way verbal dictatorial speech
expressions. Hitler had horrified captive audiences, where severe punishment would fall down on you, if
you contested his mind controlling dogma. There was a very popular book by Dr. Thomas Harris, in the
70’s called, “I’m Okay, You’re Okay.” The whole social interchange philosophy in the book had a lot of
wordiness and Hippie verbiage, but the main concept was; for good communication humans need an
adult-to-adult interchange. The give and take interaction of thoughts, expression and abstract concepts
by two humans on the same level probably dates back to our ancient budding languages somewhere
around the time of Lucy or Homos Erectus. Who knows for sure? Even animals with limited vocabularies
accomplish successful two-way communications.
Traditionally visual and even modern audio communication was, and is still a one-way proposition.
Besides documented academia studies in books, or technical manuals, the greater portion of
communication devices are in the form of entertainment; Radio, television, newspapers, movies, books,
videos, audio and digital domain etc. Humans progressed from written symbols and eventually words on
brick, clay and stone, to papyrus and finally paper. As the written word evolved, it was first documented
on scrolls then bound books, which have been with us for 1,500 years at least. In the 18th century Ben’s
brother James Franklin is credited as one of the first newspapermen in the United States. Newsprint was
the mainstream media trend for 100 years. Then in the 19th century electronic communications begin
first with the telegraph, and then with the wire service. At the cusp of the 20th century; telephone, radio,
phonograph and movies dominated communication. Eventually, in the early 50’s televisions started
turning up in American homes, and a true modern era of national mass media began. As we neared the
end of the 20th century, home computers were the advent for business and entertainment multi-tasking,
including connection to the World Wide Web.
For 21,000 years, we have lived with one-way communication in the various formats created by
technology, all except for the telephone. Unprecedented the telephone rapidly grew into a network of
poles and wires to connect the United States to instant two-way communication on a national level.
Telegraph was a two-way communication system, but a lot was lost in the human interaction with a third
party performing the physical transmissions and interpretation of the Morse Codes. The telephone,
provided for personal, private one-on-one instant communications totally invoking the complete human
experience of verbal communication. Unlike all the communications of past history, a breakthrough in
the turn of the 20th century finally allowed humans to interchange freely and at will.
I purposely left out the US Mail Service up until now. For a few hundred years in the United States, two-
way communication between family, friends and business associates, was conducted through the mail
service. It was economical and rapidly grew with faster and faster delivery time as the industrial revolution
improved transportation modes. Up until the World Wide Web became the craze in the late 80’s with
email transmissions, “Snail Mail” was as commonplace Americana as Disneyland, Baseball and Apple
Pie. I can remember hearing my mom reading letters from friends and family to us, and it was extremely
entertaining hearing from loved ones so far on the other side of the United States. Humans love two-way
communication. Sitting in a coffee shop, over your favorite brew and sugary pastry with a friend is very
therapeutic and extremely entertaining. When the caffeine and sugar kick in, lost worlds of Atlantis can
be freely explored in a freewheeling motor-mouth exchange.
The money moguls taking full advantage of one-way communication have had us as a captive audience
for a very long time. In all forms of modern electronic and printed media communications, we as the
audience were the empty headed dolts that placed emphasis in the media presentation as
entertainment. We were muddled by the subliminal suggestions of class envy to go out and buy what is
peddled in between the normal programming and main feature. Alfred Hitchcock, in his infinite witty
humor, chided the commercialization of television. As a test, I flipped through the complete program
listings on my satellite television reception, and found that you have a better than 50% chance to find the
selected channel on a commercial break. The only resolve we have to avoid commercials, is to take a
pee and snack break, turn the channel, or pre-record and fast forward through the mind beatings of
products that will save your life, make you a better human and the neighborhood envy.
I love the word “Spam” in the email domain, as the word really sums up what advertising is, a sham to get
your money on stuff you really don’t need or want before you saw the ad. A billion dollar industry,
advertising comes in the form of television commercials, telemarketing, ads in print media, computer
spam and pop-ups and there are even ads at the movies before the show starts. We are inundated with
commercial ads all day and night in most of the forms of media we choose to entertain our self. That is
why, the new-age hand held wizard devices are the real life equivalent of the Communicator as carried by
Captain Kurk in the show Star Trek. In author Gene Roddenberry’s television creation of the 60’s, the
Communicator was a fictional device of the far distant future. Baby, we’ve arrived in the future during the
21st century. In my hand held doohickey, I have instant access to the World Wide Web, graphics, audio
and video transmissions, emails, instant texting and of course two-way verbal communication the old
fashion way verbally interchanging using the cellular phone aspect. As I was writing this piece, the word
“texting” came up as a misspelled word. A common word used by millions of humans everyday, is yet to
be recognized in the formal English language. Again, academia is behind the cart, and who knows when
those institutions will fully grab hold of modern technology, as the rate of progress far out distances the
capabilities in the catching up process.
Private industry has developed a new mysterious realm of intrigue found in science fiction novels prior to
the 21st century. Only Jules Vern could have imagined the technological advancements we take for
granted. In my hand, small as a pack of cigarettes, is a transmitting and receiving device running on
lithium batteries that can do; Two way verbal and written communications. Provide me the latest news,
weather, sports, games and endless entertainment in a flash. I have instant access to the World Wide
Web and all my email accounts. I can record and archive video, audio and still photographs of live
events, and transmit such to one person, a distribution list or post on the Internet. I can stay in touch with
hundreds of friends and family in several social networks, and instantaneously communicate with
multitudes, or one individual. I can run statistics, convert currency, weights and measures, calculate math
and tell worldwide times and dates. I have an alarm clock, and a calendar that reminds me of upcoming
events. I have a Global Positioning System, with access to points of interest, hotel, food and fuel
locations all over the world. I can shop, buy and sell items in an instant, and see television and sports
events. I have a small item I can slip in my pocket and transport anywhere I go. The latest hand held
dingus (In Spanish, that would be Chingus) is a billion dollar profitable product for the manufactures, with
built-in millions of dollars worth of technology at our fingertips. All related to human communication in
format, and all without any commercial advertising fogging any process we want to endeavor. How
magnificent is this modern magic.
Dick Tracy has nothing on us, as his “Two-way Wrist Radio,” is extremely passé compared to what we
have now. One fact remains; detective Tracy used two-way communications. The wrist radio was a
novel item in the 1946, to communicate on the fly with another human. Today we have millions of bits of
communication and information with a flip of a wrist. In the last hundred years, we have had books,
magazines, newspapers, radio, movies and television all one-way communication. All these
entertainment medias are doctorial by nature and concept for a pat audience with no input or response
from the recipients. I can remember in the late fifties my dad yelling at the television in his dad language
that resembled PG rated profanity when he disagreed with something on the evening news. Gosh, if
those high and mighty yelping mouths could only hear what my dad thought of them, they would be
humiliated. As with all forms of one-way communication, the listener-viewer is in a sit down, and shut up
mode the way Hitler liked it.
With the initiation of home and travel computers and hand held wizard gadgets, humans no longer have
to sit still, and not participate. Why are the social networks on the Internet such a highly profitable, and
viable setting for humans? Heck fire, I can talk to all my family and friends with a few keystrokes list my
latest music creation madness and post my band videos for the world to see and hear. I am totally
enveloped into a complete user activity whereas I am completely interfacing and creating endlessly. I can
build my own blogs, newsletter pages, and communicate with thousands of other humans on a global
scale around the clock, every day of the year. I do not have to wait for programming, delivery or
transmission. Instant and complete access to the world is available through my electronic wizard
devices.
US Mail, television and print media were the first to feel the sting of this new competition that is leaving
them in the dust. I’ve read a lot of articles, and watched a lot of documentaries on how modern
technology of instant two-way, total interfacing and participating formats is truly the 21st century
modernization of information, entertainment and communication. That is why when I hear newsprint and
traditional electronic medias panhandling the public for survival, I would like to tell them, “Get a clue,” but
how can you do that with a one-way unwavering and often egotistical institution? Like the buggy carriage
makers facing the automobile industry, traditional one-way medias do seem to be meeting their doom as
sales and subscriptions diminish.
IBM in the eighties held a high and mighty arrogant attitude about their brainchild the home computer.
The price of the new ugly gray desktop was phenomenally inflated to recoup their engineering
investments. Just when IBM was lavishing in success from their new creation, the Asian-Rim clone
computer market busted free, and cut the massive corporation down to its knees. IBM, not being a wimp
company, shifted gears, abandoned consumer desktops, and captured mainstream corporate business
by using their name brand recognition as clout. Like IBM embracing change for continued success, and
as we first stated, the New York Times being a traditional icon newsprint in the United States, took a
quantum leap forward going on the Internet with a complete interactive news and information dispensing
media. The NYT news organization recognized the my main point of this article; Humans LOVE to
interface, contribute and be actively engaged in two-way communications. They love to make decisions
to suit their personal preferences, and exchange concepts and ideals freely. Unlike writing a “Letter to
the Editor,” our sending a talking head a never answered email to info@info.com,” humans need
instantaneous on the spot gratification. I’m sorry; we are in a “me” civil society. That is the way it is.
Narcissistic tendencies run deep and wide in the world these days. It is human nature, as we live in an
extreme leisure mode compared to what physical activities humans endured for existence just 100 years
ago. If business in the 21st century cannot figure out the aspect of human nature that commands, “What’
s in it for me,” they are condemned to eventually fail.
Hypothetical speaking, in the last 24 hours there were probably a few hundred newspapers printed and
distributed. In the same period, there were probably as many television news programs broadcast. Let
us say the two entities represent 500 attempts to distribute traditional one-way news on a local and
national level. In that same period of time, I contacted a few hundred family members and friends by
email and a social networks. Sent out a message to hundreds of readers of my on line Pique Press.
Read several on line news sites. Searched several web sites for information, and used my cell phone at
least ten times. I received a couple dozen replies and phone calls back to me. Conservatively I was
exposed to thousands of bits of information and communication with just a few keystrokes. Much of what
I sent out in the last period of time, has yet to be returned to me, and will unfold during the next couple
days. Now multiply this scenario by a few million people using modern technology to communicate, and
now you will grasp a sense of the massive amount of information that is traveling through cyber space
around the clock as the populous accesses the true two-way information highway at will.
What totally amazes me about traditional one-way communications, is the insulation and comfort zones
that were built up over the development of such institutions over the years. Writers and broadcast
personalities circulate in an inner circle of celebrity status, and often feel elevated above and beyond
unprofessional lay folks. As a musician in the shark invested music business for over five decades, I
have a different eye for viewing individuals that have elevated their gig to star status. To bring this
example down to earth, look at the AM Radio Disc Jockey’s of the fifties. Many of the music DJ’s of the
bygone era received star status, had agents and vied for recognition as they manipulated to be
employed on wider and bigger broadcast formats. AM music and the American automobile was a prefect
match. We all cruised Route 66, and listened to the top forty popular tunes, with our favorite DJ’s
yapping away with nonsense and commercial advertising. The music DJ gig was a hot item up until the
advent of FM “stereo” Radio of the seventies, and eventually pre-recorded tapes. Today there aren’t
too many fan clubs for AM Radio DJ’s.
I was told by a wise old man once, as I climbed the corporate ladder, “Be careful of the heads you step on
climbing the ladder of success, as they may be attached to the ass you have to kiss on the way down.” I
was on tour in California with a band during the sixties. Half starving, tired, homeless and broke, I made
my way back home. I landed a real job, got married and became part of the business world
establishment. I made my daily bread, kept my kids fed and a roof over their heads from my day gig at a
fortune 300 corporation. Not to give up my right brain dominance in my soul, I kept a local band together,
and of course spent a lot of time writing. I even wrote technical manuals for the corporation I was working
at, and acclaimed status in the fields I wrote about traveling on red eye flights to give seminars and
lectures. Real boring crap, but the gig kept me out of the unemployment line. In my inner circle business
world I became an expert, and maintained a notable stature among competitors and peers. Many of the
folks I rubbed shoulders with were business owners, and relatively wealthy from their private sector
businesses. I was even offered VP jobs at competing companies, but held to the “bird in hand” theory of
comfort as a mid-level manager with a steady paycheck. None of the owners and presidents of these
companies were unapproachable. Why was that? Interfacing with real humans was good for business.
Socializing and one on one networking was how knowledge and wealth was passed around. In the
business world, when someone gave you a business card, they expected you to call them back.
Unlike the media and music world I dabbled in with my avocations, where business cards were just status
symbols, and if you did call the person back, rarely did you get through. I led three lives; Family man,
corporate business manager and chasing my artistic creativity. Trying to apply business practices to the
artsy-crafty world was impossible. In the business world, millions were budgeted for communications, and
a full staff of “office girls” were required to receive calls, take messages, type up letters and proposals,
and general communication with office devices. Business reached out to humans on all levels, as
without people, there would be no business to conduct. In the sixties artistic control had a West Coast
Hippie flare to it. I had very little trouble getting my “off beat” writing style published, and of course I’ve
always kept my bands booked with gigs. I however did discover that the media and music endeavors
were filled with individuals that were pandering and promoting their own talents. There was an expression
in the music field that, everyone in music, was in music. Meaning that if you talked to a record producer,
he was also in a band, and soliciting his talent too. Everyone was in the business of trying to find instant
success and fame with his or her musical talents. Massive egos, drugs and jealousy created a
hodgepodge of insane madness in California music during the sixties and seventies. As age started
creeping up on me, my delusions of music grandeur faded away with all my other childhood fantasies.
Just keeping the band booked at local VFW halls, and high school reunions was a steady gig and good
paycheck for the guys in the band that depended on the income.
Writing seemed to be the simplest, easy artistic expression for me without all the inconvenience, egos
and side trips associated with music. Just me, my typewriter and paper. Stuff it in an envelope, and send
it off to an editor. I was successful most of the time submitting articles to music magazines and
newsprints. I ventured further out submitting pieces to newspapers on a wide variety of subjects like
sports, music, travel, politics and religion. Again, I had a very high rate of getting published. In my “red
eye” flights around the country, I always gathered local publications from each city I visited, and made
sure I had a wide selection of newsprints in my hotel room to read over during dinner. Reading, and
writing became a passion. In the late eighties I created a small publication called, “Strictly Nothing But
The Blues,” and also became a staff writer for Jazz Link magazine. I found so much success with my
writing about my favorite loves, jazz and blues, that the process became a full time side job. Eventually,
with great relief, the World Wide Web became a useful tool, and I converted all my hard copy writing over
to a web site, and renamed the on line ezine Blues Guitar News. Fast, easy and with a few keystroke
clicks, I could publish monthly to thousands on a worldwide scale. To date, there are 50,000 readers of
the blues web site according to the site checker - Visits per day average around 50 to 250, depending on
advertising attempts. Goes without saying, I get a ton of email daily. I try to respond, and answer all the
legitimate inquiries I receive. Tedious sometimes, but is all part of keeping in human contact with the
readers of my publications.
Although there are limitations with static web sites, I tried to offer interactive communication to the
readers. The trend with mainstream media web sites is to transpose their traditional one-way
communication mindsets, over to the Internet. Trying to contact most media entities on their websites is
a major joke. Many use the “Email Form,” to send feedback to them. Others prefer not to list email
addresses, and if they do list a contact, the email address is a catchall spam bucket never to be
answered. Just like the use of 800 phone numbers saving the cost of switchboard operators, and
sending you off locked into voice mail hell forever never talking to a real human, media organizations are
not going to pay time for someone to answer emails either. I also get the feeling; they really don’t care
what you have to say, or what you have to contribute anyway. Just like the music business, they are all
busy pandering their own media talent trying to squeeze fame and fortune out what they can grab. I just
watched a very interesting show on Link TV, and enjoyed the speaker they presented. I found her web
site, and wouldn’t you know it. Here this abstract free thinking individual does not have a contact access
at all. Many are not getting the clue, or really ponder why interchanging social networks are booming at a
billion dollar profit margin. Why is that? The creators of Internet video and social sharing networks have
hit the nail on the head, and offer complete fulfillment of the human emotion of, “What’s in it for me.”
Trying to stay with the flow of modern technology, I use the social networks to gain a worldwide friend
base, and redirect them back to my static web sites. It is working enormously well, as the social network
allows for free will communication, while posting links to my sites. The interaction is remarkable, and the
feedback from real humans that like what they see on the sites is tremendous. As a lifetime electronic
wizardry enthusiast, my needs to express through music and writing are totally fulfilled, and gratified in
cyber space. On my PQ Press site, a venting loose cannon blog, I will list meaningful or interesting links
for my readers. I’ve tried peddling my writing to mainstream media outlets, but like shoveling against the
proverbial tide, the world is filled with writers all vying for attention and recognition. Editors and
publishers are inundated with mounds and reams of publishing proposals. The only way I could get
recognition for my publishing endeavors is to sky dive naked into the stadium at the next Super Bowl
intermission with my web site link tattooed on my butt. Of course, I’d be answering fan mail from behind
bars too.
High Tech Gone Wild, and our politicians and news medias are not up to snuff yet. We’ve come a long
way baby, from clay tablets and papyrus reed scrolls. Millions of us carry hand held contraptions the
size of a fudgesicle that connects us to an unlimited expansive cyber universe only limited by creative
intelligence and imagination. Complete, and uncontrolled freedom of speech, press and expression is at
our fingertips. This is synthesized intelligence only science fiction writers could perhaps imagined prior to
the 21st century, as we are provided avenues to genius abstract endless hypothesis that is freely
transportable, and only hampered by battery life span, and recharging time access. Our founding
creators of the United States, and drafters-signers of the US Constitution assured us freedom of speech
and press. It was their insight that this fourth, undefined and designated entity to the United States was a
stand alone checks and balance system keeping the three main designated branches of government on
their toes, and their feet out of their mouths. Our freedoms have been challenged, debated and
considered for alteration over time, but we the people seem to prevail somehow. Now we all have the
freedom of transmission of information on a two-way basis at a moments notice, anywhere on the earth -
Uncensored, and in completeness as crafted. I see many political leaders and mainstream media star
status folks that are completely miffed, why before they step down from their podiums of one-way dialog
venues, that rebuttal, analysis and comment has been transmitted around the world instantaneously.
Makes it damn tough to control spin, when the ball has bounced out of the arena huh? Damage control
is next to impossible. Well folks, that’s it. I’ve got to get off this piece, as I am limited to what I can do
pecking away dumping my mind out on a blank sheet. I need to get back into electronic space now, the
new frontier where no man (or woman) has gone before. Dang, I wonder what Ben Franklin could have
done with the World Wide Web? Beam me up Scotty.
God Bless, and for my atheist friends; Have a Nice Day.
Mike press@mikedollins.biz
Speaking in the voice of street level, free thinking, free spirited folks that cherish their liberties and the
pursuit of happiness without hindrance from our over officious government.
When I list a link, I am not necessarily endorsing that site. I read a lot, from multiple sources. Getting a
broad perspective of provocative thought from others is stimulating, but just that; Thought and words.
Most of what you read and hear is often unsubstantiated information very difficult to prove. That's why
writers write, to try and prove their points by wordy references. However, they all are very interesting,
entertaining and it sure beats watching the same worn out shtick sit-comes on television.
broad perspective of provocative thought from others is stimulating, but just that; Thought and words.
Most of what you read and hear is often unsubstantiated information very difficult to prove. That's why
writers write, to try and prove their points by wordy references. However, they all are very interesting,
entertaining and it sure beats watching the same worn out shtick sit-comes on television.
| New Arrivals - Hodgepodge of good friends and attitudes. |
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contribute to PQ Press, as you feel free to do. Thank you.
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| PAGE TWO |
| Click Here |
AP - The Republican agenda for the new Congress that convenes
Wednesday may have a greater impact on the 2012 elections than
on the lives of Americans in the next two years. www.APNews.com
Wednesday may have a greater impact on the 2012 elections than
on the lives of Americans in the next two years. www.APNews.com
Yep folks, please read my article on page two about
what they say and what they do titled "Walk The Talk."
For many of us, it is the same old same old, and when
nothing changes nothing changes. It is all about the game,
and not the outcome for the working poor.
All the GOP and Tea Party folks were celebrating with their Earl Grey back
on November 2nd, 2010, and now we are watching them fall apart at the
seams. The "rookie" Tea Party folks, like a Pop Warner Team, are playing
in the deep end of the pool with professional politicians. Just like Pop
Warner and NFL, same game, with a drastic difference in speed and
violence.
As many suspicioned back in the fall of 2010, that the pro-level politicians
were just giving lip service to the Tea Party folks, to do whatever it took to
get in office. It worked, as the plunge into the upset victory for the GOP
unfolded in front of our TV screens. Now that the elections are over, read
article "Memory Loss," on page two, the GOP's real intentions are being
seen vividly. Reconquering the white house in 2012, is what both parties
are chasing like the holy grail, and the fall out from the wake of the mad
dash, is the taxing paying, working families.
Let me recalculate this? We had four years of Clinton, that was okay, and
a few things got done. Then eight years of W 43, that produced war
profiteers, and broke the backs of the working poor that lost everything.
Then two years of Obama, that can't get the car out of the ditch, as he
keeps complaining that W 43, got it stuck. In the meantime, millions of
working poor families have crashed and burned. Many ripped apart, and
lost forever. That is ten years of "Do Nothing" for the working poor.
You can talk about foreclosures, lost pensions and 401k accounts, lost
jobs, high rates of suicide, collapsed banking and manufacturing, but that
has a four year history at least. Our country is in debt to foreign investors
and we have two raging wars on the opposite side of the earth. We send
billions of dollars all over the world, and treat our own people like sheep,
leading them to slaughter called higher cost of goods, services and taxes.
What is significantly and immediately required is some drastic results
oriented action for the working poor in our land. Paychecks that are ripped
apart by withholding taxes, are dwindling in net wages as many folks are
not making ends meet for their families. If the smug, newly elected public
servants fail to hear, they will find a drastic surprise in November of 2012.
The people in the streets are starting to become highly concerned, and
believe me grass roots in an underground setting works. Read your 1700
history of our country, and that is just exactly how our freedom started.
A shock would be for congress to STOP, and take some serious,
quantifiable and meaningful action to assist every working, tax paying
citizen in some form of breaks, dividends, or tax free status. The cost of
goods and services should take Wal Marts example, and roll back prices.
Continued gouging of the working poor keeps dropping producers and tax
payers off the edge of the cliff. It is a means of killing the goose that laid
the golden egg eventually. Crash and burn us all into economic oblivion,
and who will be left to support the system?
Congress, drop your pompous snob ways and means, and walk down the
street to hear what the people are saying. Of course, you can't do that in
Washington DC, as they have the highest crime rate in the United States.
Something has got to give, as it can not, must not go on any longer in the
status quo process that has lead us to what will be an eventual road to
complete destruction.
But, if the GOP recaptures the white house, then in their mindsets, they've
accomplished the mission. Whereas, if they do get there how many more
millions of American families will suffer more losses and devastations at the
hand of the wicked evil money driven greedy empire we have become.
Congress turns a blind eye to the monkey business, then supports the very
entities that caused the economic collapse with their scams and
Shenanigans to fleece the folks, and then run off to Dubai with free bail out
money.
what they say and what they do titled "Walk The Talk."
For many of us, it is the same old same old, and when
nothing changes nothing changes. It is all about the game,
and not the outcome for the working poor.
All the GOP and Tea Party folks were celebrating with their Earl Grey back
on November 2nd, 2010, and now we are watching them fall apart at the
seams. The "rookie" Tea Party folks, like a Pop Warner Team, are playing
in the deep end of the pool with professional politicians. Just like Pop
Warner and NFL, same game, with a drastic difference in speed and
violence.
As many suspicioned back in the fall of 2010, that the pro-level politicians
were just giving lip service to the Tea Party folks, to do whatever it took to
get in office. It worked, as the plunge into the upset victory for the GOP
unfolded in front of our TV screens. Now that the elections are over, read
article "Memory Loss," on page two, the GOP's real intentions are being
seen vividly. Reconquering the white house in 2012, is what both parties
are chasing like the holy grail, and the fall out from the wake of the mad
dash, is the taxing paying, working families.
Let me recalculate this? We had four years of Clinton, that was okay, and
a few things got done. Then eight years of W 43, that produced war
profiteers, and broke the backs of the working poor that lost everything.
Then two years of Obama, that can't get the car out of the ditch, as he
keeps complaining that W 43, got it stuck. In the meantime, millions of
working poor families have crashed and burned. Many ripped apart, and
lost forever. That is ten years of "Do Nothing" for the working poor.
You can talk about foreclosures, lost pensions and 401k accounts, lost
jobs, high rates of suicide, collapsed banking and manufacturing, but that
has a four year history at least. Our country is in debt to foreign investors
and we have two raging wars on the opposite side of the earth. We send
billions of dollars all over the world, and treat our own people like sheep,
leading them to slaughter called higher cost of goods, services and taxes.
What is significantly and immediately required is some drastic results
oriented action for the working poor in our land. Paychecks that are ripped
apart by withholding taxes, are dwindling in net wages as many folks are
not making ends meet for their families. If the smug, newly elected public
servants fail to hear, they will find a drastic surprise in November of 2012.
The people in the streets are starting to become highly concerned, and
believe me grass roots in an underground setting works. Read your 1700
history of our country, and that is just exactly how our freedom started.
A shock would be for congress to STOP, and take some serious,
quantifiable and meaningful action to assist every working, tax paying
citizen in some form of breaks, dividends, or tax free status. The cost of
goods and services should take Wal Marts example, and roll back prices.
Continued gouging of the working poor keeps dropping producers and tax
payers off the edge of the cliff. It is a means of killing the goose that laid
the golden egg eventually. Crash and burn us all into economic oblivion,
and who will be left to support the system?
Congress, drop your pompous snob ways and means, and walk down the
street to hear what the people are saying. Of course, you can't do that in
Washington DC, as they have the highest crime rate in the United States.
Something has got to give, as it can not, must not go on any longer in the
status quo process that has lead us to what will be an eventual road to
complete destruction.
But, if the GOP recaptures the white house, then in their mindsets, they've
accomplished the mission. Whereas, if they do get there how many more
millions of American families will suffer more losses and devastations at the
hand of the wicked evil money driven greedy empire we have become.
Congress turns a blind eye to the monkey business, then supports the very
entities that caused the economic collapse with their scams and
Shenanigans to fleece the folks, and then run off to Dubai with free bail out
money.
Congress Gets Serious
in Return to Traditional Values
In an attempt to wine and dine the Tea
Party folks, the House has implemented a new
rule that will make it essential to address the
Constitutional Congressional Power of proposed
legislation. All new proposed laws will require
the elected elites to identify chapter and verse of
the US Constitution that gives them power to
enact and push forward any new legislation.
Let me get this correct? As Congress writes new bills that will turn into laws,
they must attach the verbiage from our Constitution condoning what they are
attempting to accomplish. I actually thought congressmen swore an oath to
uphold the Constitution as their first priority and mission in life. Is this an
attempt to redefine what on earth they are supposed to be doing, or an
attempt to convince "We The People," that they truly are focused on core
values that our founding leaders set in motion on how to run a free society?
This is like the police department with sticky notes on their guns, that they are
supposed to stop the bad guys from hurting innocent bystanders. Or Firemen
having reminders on their iPhones that their core business is to put out fires,
and save lives.
Yes, it all sounds silly since Congress has been passing laws for a couple of
centuries without the need of a mission statement. Their defined role in our
free society is clearly outlined and delineated in our US Constitution and Bill of
Rights. Do we have so many first-term congressmen elected to the new
House of Representatives, that they need definition and guidance on what life
in the beltway is about? Their purpose?
What they really need is the fear
of God, and accountability to their decisions
and actions as keepers of our freedoms.
Too many of them have their heads in the
sand so far, they do not have any
sense of what the commoner working
poor in the factories and fields has been
struggling with for the last ten years.
You hear the lip service out of their mouths, but they are incapable of
walking the talk. All we hear is the same old buzz words that have fuzzy soft
corners, but it is all talk and no immediate or significant action. The American
people are a patient bunch, but there is an attention span to our forbearance.
This was evident in the mid-term elections of 2010.
The general American public loves a hero. We loved Seabiscuit, that
overcame adversity to be a winner. We love underdog football teams that
beat the powerhouses. We love hero dogs that save families. We love
Rambo, John Wayne and Audie Murphy type individuals, as they all stand for
what we believe in. We were a fledgling united band of gypsies that defied the
largest monarchy of the 18th century. Using squirrel guns and home based
militia we conquered, and set up a new nation. We were
founded by underdogs, and our roots and sentiments still
run deep for grass roots heroes. Heck, we still applaud
at the movies when the good guy makes a come back,
and defeats the bud guys. It thrills our soul to hear a
great hero story. The vivid image of a smoked filled
fireman rescuing a baby in his arms, as he fights
his way with disregard for his own body to bring the
baby to safety still makes a chill run up my spine, as it
should with all red blooded Americans.
We love heroes. The sadist part of our hero image,
is they are all gone. We do not have a true to life hero
in our society today. A strong, morally correct and
guided person that stands for old fashion values of
what we are all about. We need a hero. I don't care
what color, nationality, racial origin, ethnic background
or what their persuasion is in life. All I care about,
is if they have the intestinal fortified to stand up against corrupt business, and
back room double dealing politicians.
Follow the money, is the mode of operation in the real world, or so they say.
There are many theories on how our Federal Reserve system is all an illusion
played with board game paper money. A system where rank and file are
graded and calculated by FICA scores, and the foxes watching the hen house
make the rules of game up along the way in an "Anything Goes," freewheeling
crap shoot.
I have said it before, and I will shout it out again. If you want to be a
politician to go down in the archives of history, then be the hero the American
public is waiting for. Like the Israelites waiting for the Messiah, two thousand
years ago, we as a nation hold our breath, and wait for a real deal person that
will do the right things. We wait for someone to turn our country around where
"We The People," really are what it is all about, and where politicians are our
support staff minding the shop. Money does funny things to people. An
addiction that is far greater then any illegal or pharmasuital drug in our times.
Since the inception of policemen, as far back as the centurions in Rome, the
root cause of crimes was and still is, "Love or Money." Jealousy and greed
are spoken about in the Old and New Testaments frequently, as they are in
most world religions. Jealousy and greed create madness in humans, and
like lions feasting on a downed prey, will fight each other for a mouthful.
That is okay Congress. Your new "rule" to include what part of the US
Constitution provides sanction to put into print new proposed legislation is
probably a grand start. Since we have drifted so far away from what was set
up as a nation of "We The People, By The People and For The People,"
anything in an attempt to refocus I guess is better than a mosquito bite on your
eyelid. All I know, is I feel a ground swell of Americans in Sports Bars,
Churches, Social Clubs and Family Functions murmuring about the "real"
state of our Union. A collective conscientiousness
of uniformed thought by US Citizens is developing.
A soon to be Tsunami of biblical proportion,
or at least Cecil B. Demille in size and grandeur,
that will be self evident in November of 2012.
As US Citizens, all we really wanted
was a little peace, and the right to live free,
raise our kids, have a future, take our spouses to
the movies, watch football, take the kids the beach, work at a job providing a
decent living, have a few vacations, go fishing, send our moms red roses on
Mother's Day and buy a new big screen TV for the family room. We don't want
that much, as our family, and their safe contentment in life is our primary
concern and desire. Oh, sure cheaper or no taxes is a nice pipe dream.
Getting out of the wars we are in, and world peace would be nice too. What
we really want more than anything else is for our political leaders to get out of
the pants pockets of big money business. We know you folks in the halls of
our national capital are heavily invested in the with money changers, and you
don't want to mess in your own nest. That is why most of our elected officials
voted to open the back doors, and shovel out billions of unaccountable dollars
to the very big businesses that have been fleecing the American public for
decades.
A metaphorical messianic hero we await. Like the Messiah of the New
Testament, we need a modern day champion - a liberator to walk up the steps
of Congress, and turn over the money changer
tables and chase them out with a cat of nine tails.
That is how severe many Americans feel at this time
in space. We can not keep draining the working
poor, as if they were aphids to milk dry. US Citizens
should keep the lion's share of what they earn by the
sweat of their brow, and government needs to learn to
stay out of their pockets. Between Federal, State and
Local taxes, medical fees, insurance premiums on autos, homes and
healthcare, the costs of inflated goods and services, with our deflated currency
exchange rate, the working class American can not get ahead. There is a
national study on how Americans are not saving enough for the eventual
retirement that will surely arrive someday. How can they, when every penny
they earn goes to housing, fuel, taxes, food and services. Most families living
on average wages live from paycheck to paycheck, and their monthly stress is
meeting their debt in monthly installments.
Yes, do not look for a shining star over Washington DC soon. I see no one
on the horizon in our near future that has the moxie to stand up to the status
quo, and shout out, "Let My People Go." We are held in bondage by big
business, that is grafted to the hips of our politicians. If you don't believe this
is true, why have the events of the last ten years taken place. Between war
profiteers and Wall Street, Banking and Real Estate moguls, they have
absconded billions with a Mister Scrooge outlook on common working folks.
You can almost read their Ebenezer Scrooge's brain waves of, “Let those
poor go to the prisons and the Union workhouses,” “And if they would rather
die, they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.”
Like I said, do not hold your breath for a real deal American Hero to deliver
our people out of indentured servitude any time soon. It just is not going to
happen in a narcissistic driven society, where our leaders appear to be in the
typical self centered mode of, "What's in it for me?" We The People, the real
power of the Nation, can take control. Your voice was heard November 2,
2010 Your next chance is November 2012. I'm sorry, that is the only fact we
have to live with. I've tried writing and contacting politicians and news media
hot shots. Don't waste your time. If you really have something to say, you will
not be heard, and completely ignored.
You don't matter to them individually. As a unified
group, held together by a believe that we do matter,
and vote accordingly, we can make our statement.
I don't care what political party they want to append
to, as what flavor they are does not matter. They
have all duped the public, and do not stand to lift
one finger to help the overly exploited and
downtrodden working poor who are loosing homes,
jobs, retirements, savings and are two steps away from homelessness.
Sad truths are tough to take, but my friend that is the society we've become.
If you feel insulated from any of the pitfalls many US Citizens have already
suffered from by imposed obstacles to create failure, just wait. You know the
old adage and attitude, "When they came for my neighbor, it did not concern
me," is a part of history that should not be repeated. We are all in this
together. Many of us have lost our lifeboat, and are stuck floating on life
preservers adrift in the endless sea to nowhere. If you feel safe and
comfortable in your little lifeboat, remember that at a moments notice a storm
could arrive dumping you in the water too. "They" tell us not to worry,
everything is fine and going to get better. Realists are starting to predict
another depression that will be the mother of all depressions, if certain issues
are not faced, and the death spiral we are in is somehow miraculously
adverted. If scientists strongly predicted a major Tsunami would hit New York,
do you not think that the United States would brace up for the disaster?
Likewise, we need to brace up for the economist predicted major economic
disaster if things do not change.
Will the "real" American Hero stand up - please. We need you now, not
later when it will be too late. Millions have crashed and burned, and more will
follow if we do not see you appear before us American Hero, and soon. Your
name will go down in halls of infamy, if you lead our people to the "real"
promised land of safety, prosperity and the pursuit of happiness for all alike.
Finally, please don't hold your breath. Amen.
" . . . Freedoms, Liberties and Private Property are at great risk, when
Congress is in session . . ." Mark Twain
Webster Definition: Hero
Myth. Legend a man of great strength and courage, favored by the gods and
in part descended from them, often regarded as a half-god and worshiped
after his death. Any person, esp. a man, admired for courage, nobility, or
exploits, esp. in war. Any person, esp. a man, admired for virtues or
achievements and regarded as an ideal role model. The central figure in
any important event or period, honored for outstanding leadership and
qualities . . . .
No one I know comes to mind meeting the above criteria.
How about you? Can you think of anyone?
A Reminder To Congress, an excerpt from our US Constitution, and a
root focus for their supposed mission statement:
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more
perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for
the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the
Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and
establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
In essence, our founding framers of our Constitution and Government solely
designated that "WE" were the boss. WE are the granters and authority to
what our society should and will be. What will it take for our Congress to get
the drift, and open the mental prisons of bondage, and give the will of the
people back to them?
in Return to Traditional Values
In an attempt to wine and dine the Tea
Party folks, the House has implemented a new
rule that will make it essential to address the
Constitutional Congressional Power of proposed
legislation. All new proposed laws will require
the elected elites to identify chapter and verse of
the US Constitution that gives them power to
enact and push forward any new legislation.
Let me get this correct? As Congress writes new bills that will turn into laws,
they must attach the verbiage from our Constitution condoning what they are
attempting to accomplish. I actually thought congressmen swore an oath to
uphold the Constitution as their first priority and mission in life. Is this an
attempt to redefine what on earth they are supposed to be doing, or an
attempt to convince "We The People," that they truly are focused on core
values that our founding leaders set in motion on how to run a free society?
This is like the police department with sticky notes on their guns, that they are
supposed to stop the bad guys from hurting innocent bystanders. Or Firemen
having reminders on their iPhones that their core business is to put out fires,
and save lives.
Yes, it all sounds silly since Congress has been passing laws for a couple of
centuries without the need of a mission statement. Their defined role in our
free society is clearly outlined and delineated in our US Constitution and Bill of
Rights. Do we have so many first-term congressmen elected to the new
House of Representatives, that they need definition and guidance on what life
in the beltway is about? Their purpose?
What they really need is the fear
of God, and accountability to their decisions
and actions as keepers of our freedoms.
Too many of them have their heads in the
sand so far, they do not have any
sense of what the commoner working
poor in the factories and fields has been
struggling with for the last ten years.
You hear the lip service out of their mouths, but they are incapable of
walking the talk. All we hear is the same old buzz words that have fuzzy soft
corners, but it is all talk and no immediate or significant action. The American
people are a patient bunch, but there is an attention span to our forbearance.
This was evident in the mid-term elections of 2010.
The general American public loves a hero. We loved Seabiscuit, that
overcame adversity to be a winner. We love underdog football teams that
beat the powerhouses. We love hero dogs that save families. We love
Rambo, John Wayne and Audie Murphy type individuals, as they all stand for
what we believe in. We were a fledgling united band of gypsies that defied the
largest monarchy of the 18th century. Using squirrel guns and home based
militia we conquered, and set up a new nation. We were
founded by underdogs, and our roots and sentiments still
run deep for grass roots heroes. Heck, we still applaud
at the movies when the good guy makes a come back,
and defeats the bud guys. It thrills our soul to hear a
great hero story. The vivid image of a smoked filled
fireman rescuing a baby in his arms, as he fights
his way with disregard for his own body to bring the
baby to safety still makes a chill run up my spine, as it
should with all red blooded Americans.
We love heroes. The sadist part of our hero image,
is they are all gone. We do not have a true to life hero
in our society today. A strong, morally correct and
guided person that stands for old fashion values of
what we are all about. We need a hero. I don't care
what color, nationality, racial origin, ethnic background
or what their persuasion is in life. All I care about,
is if they have the intestinal fortified to stand up against corrupt business, and
back room double dealing politicians.
Follow the money, is the mode of operation in the real world, or so they say.
There are many theories on how our Federal Reserve system is all an illusion
played with board game paper money. A system where rank and file are
graded and calculated by FICA scores, and the foxes watching the hen house
make the rules of game up along the way in an "Anything Goes," freewheeling
crap shoot.
I have said it before, and I will shout it out again. If you want to be a
politician to go down in the archives of history, then be the hero the American
public is waiting for. Like the Israelites waiting for the Messiah, two thousand
years ago, we as a nation hold our breath, and wait for a real deal person that
will do the right things. We wait for someone to turn our country around where
"We The People," really are what it is all about, and where politicians are our
support staff minding the shop. Money does funny things to people. An
addiction that is far greater then any illegal or pharmasuital drug in our times.
Since the inception of policemen, as far back as the centurions in Rome, the
root cause of crimes was and still is, "Love or Money." Jealousy and greed
are spoken about in the Old and New Testaments frequently, as they are in
most world religions. Jealousy and greed create madness in humans, and
like lions feasting on a downed prey, will fight each other for a mouthful.
That is okay Congress. Your new "rule" to include what part of the US
Constitution provides sanction to put into print new proposed legislation is
probably a grand start. Since we have drifted so far away from what was set
up as a nation of "We The People, By The People and For The People,"
anything in an attempt to refocus I guess is better than a mosquito bite on your
eyelid. All I know, is I feel a ground swell of Americans in Sports Bars,
Churches, Social Clubs and Family Functions murmuring about the "real"
state of our Union. A collective conscientiousness
of uniformed thought by US Citizens is developing.
A soon to be Tsunami of biblical proportion,
or at least Cecil B. Demille in size and grandeur,
that will be self evident in November of 2012.
As US Citizens, all we really wanted
was a little peace, and the right to live free,
raise our kids, have a future, take our spouses to
the movies, watch football, take the kids the beach, work at a job providing a
decent living, have a few vacations, go fishing, send our moms red roses on
Mother's Day and buy a new big screen TV for the family room. We don't want
that much, as our family, and their safe contentment in life is our primary
concern and desire. Oh, sure cheaper or no taxes is a nice pipe dream.
Getting out of the wars we are in, and world peace would be nice too. What
we really want more than anything else is for our political leaders to get out of
the pants pockets of big money business. We know you folks in the halls of
our national capital are heavily invested in the with money changers, and you
don't want to mess in your own nest. That is why most of our elected officials
voted to open the back doors, and shovel out billions of unaccountable dollars
to the very big businesses that have been fleecing the American public for
decades.
A metaphorical messianic hero we await. Like the Messiah of the New
Testament, we need a modern day champion - a liberator to walk up the steps
of Congress, and turn over the money changer
tables and chase them out with a cat of nine tails.
That is how severe many Americans feel at this time
in space. We can not keep draining the working
poor, as if they were aphids to milk dry. US Citizens
should keep the lion's share of what they earn by the
sweat of their brow, and government needs to learn to
stay out of their pockets. Between Federal, State and
Local taxes, medical fees, insurance premiums on autos, homes and
healthcare, the costs of inflated goods and services, with our deflated currency
exchange rate, the working class American can not get ahead. There is a
national study on how Americans are not saving enough for the eventual
retirement that will surely arrive someday. How can they, when every penny
they earn goes to housing, fuel, taxes, food and services. Most families living
on average wages live from paycheck to paycheck, and their monthly stress is
meeting their debt in monthly installments.
Yes, do not look for a shining star over Washington DC soon. I see no one
on the horizon in our near future that has the moxie to stand up to the status
quo, and shout out, "Let My People Go." We are held in bondage by big
business, that is grafted to the hips of our politicians. If you don't believe this
is true, why have the events of the last ten years taken place. Between war
profiteers and Wall Street, Banking and Real Estate moguls, they have
absconded billions with a Mister Scrooge outlook on common working folks.
You can almost read their Ebenezer Scrooge's brain waves of, “Let those
poor go to the prisons and the Union workhouses,” “And if they would rather
die, they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.”
Like I said, do not hold your breath for a real deal American Hero to deliver
our people out of indentured servitude any time soon. It just is not going to
happen in a narcissistic driven society, where our leaders appear to be in the
typical self centered mode of, "What's in it for me?" We The People, the real
power of the Nation, can take control. Your voice was heard November 2,
2010 Your next chance is November 2012. I'm sorry, that is the only fact we
have to live with. I've tried writing and contacting politicians and news media
hot shots. Don't waste your time. If you really have something to say, you will
not be heard, and completely ignored.
You don't matter to them individually. As a unified
group, held together by a believe that we do matter,
and vote accordingly, we can make our statement.
I don't care what political party they want to append
to, as what flavor they are does not matter. They
have all duped the public, and do not stand to lift
one finger to help the overly exploited and
downtrodden working poor who are loosing homes,
jobs, retirements, savings and are two steps away from homelessness.
Sad truths are tough to take, but my friend that is the society we've become.
If you feel insulated from any of the pitfalls many US Citizens have already
suffered from by imposed obstacles to create failure, just wait. You know the
old adage and attitude, "When they came for my neighbor, it did not concern
me," is a part of history that should not be repeated. We are all in this
together. Many of us have lost our lifeboat, and are stuck floating on life
preservers adrift in the endless sea to nowhere. If you feel safe and
comfortable in your little lifeboat, remember that at a moments notice a storm
could arrive dumping you in the water too. "They" tell us not to worry,
everything is fine and going to get better. Realists are starting to predict
another depression that will be the mother of all depressions, if certain issues
are not faced, and the death spiral we are in is somehow miraculously
adverted. If scientists strongly predicted a major Tsunami would hit New York,
do you not think that the United States would brace up for the disaster?
Likewise, we need to brace up for the economist predicted major economic
disaster if things do not change.
Will the "real" American Hero stand up - please. We need you now, not
later when it will be too late. Millions have crashed and burned, and more will
follow if we do not see you appear before us American Hero, and soon. Your
name will go down in halls of infamy, if you lead our people to the "real"
promised land of safety, prosperity and the pursuit of happiness for all alike.
Finally, please don't hold your breath. Amen.
" . . . Freedoms, Liberties and Private Property are at great risk, when
Congress is in session . . ." Mark Twain
Webster Definition: Hero
Myth. Legend a man of great strength and courage, favored by the gods and
in part descended from them, often regarded as a half-god and worshiped
after his death. Any person, esp. a man, admired for courage, nobility, or
exploits, esp. in war. Any person, esp. a man, admired for virtues or
achievements and regarded as an ideal role model. The central figure in
any important event or period, honored for outstanding leadership and
qualities . . . .
No one I know comes to mind meeting the above criteria.
How about you? Can you think of anyone?
A Reminder To Congress, an excerpt from our US Constitution, and a
root focus for their supposed mission statement:
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more
perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for
the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the
Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and
establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
In essence, our founding framers of our Constitution and Government solely
designated that "WE" were the boss. WE are the granters and authority to
what our society should and will be. What will it take for our Congress to get
the drift, and open the mental prisons of bondage, and give the will of the
people back to them?
| Jan 2011 |
What Does It Take?
A Message to The 112th Congress - Jan 2011
Like the HG Wells story, “War of the Worlds,” our nation has been taken over by indefensible
alien creatures hell-bent on total annihilation of our country, as we once knew it. In the Wells
story made into a movie, and as a last chance defense, a Northrop Flying Wing dropped an
atomic bomb on the invading alien crafts from outer space. To no avail, the hideous creatures
operating the craft were unscathed by the nuclear explosion, and continued invading to take
complete control of planet earth. In November of 2010, the voting American public dropped
their own bomb on our US Congress. For a couple days the halls of our legislative empire
shook and trembled. After the dust settled everyone went home for Christmas and New Years
break. Vacation was soon over, and the new Congress started arriving back in Washington DC.
Just like the space monsters, our legislators are back at business as usual because nothing seems to scathe them
either.
Today we have the new 112th Congress, and they are back to bipartisan rhetoric as usual. Somehow it always seems like the
game they play is the most important part of legislative business, and not the results of such benefiting We The People.
The reason for the HG Wells parable is to set the stage for what has been going on in the United States since the Jekyll Island
bunch penned the law that gave birth to the Federal Reserve Banking System in 1913. In so doing, filthy lucre was established
as the holy grail of the United States. (Ref: 1st Tim. 3:3) Defying history lessons, a few internationally wealthy families set in
motion a contemporary money system that is based on illusion, and not backed by gold, silver or precious metals and gems.
Historically as far back in ancient times as you wish to research, an empire's power base, might and value were judged for their
overall holdings of gold, silver and precious metals and gems. With the Jekyll Island theorem, if you want more money, just
print it.
The 1913 act established the Federal Reserve, which is not a government agency, but a privately held central bank. From
1913, you can trace the roots to the outbreak of World War I. After the first war, then came the Great Depression in 1929
affecting the whole world economically, and crashed many banking businesses. From the disparity of down and out Americans
in the 1930’s; out of the ashes came World War II. The war machine was up and running in the forties, and with the blood of
millions spilled, the Great Depression was over. All these events had contributing factors, or links back to the manipulation by
the Federal Reserve central bank. There are miles of books and papers written on this volatile paragraph tracing the ins and
outs, and the ups and downs of the banking system. Arguments by the greatest minds ever still debate the facts during the
period from 1913 to 1945. I am old school dude, down to earth human nature
student. Where there is smoke there is fire. If your name is attached to something ill favored,
in the real world the burden of proof is on you to exonerate yourself through substantiating
positive evidence. We will know all about the infinite details of those missing 32 years of
the 20th century in reality as soon as they find Jimmy Hoffa, play Nixon’s missing 18 minutes,
tell us who shot JFK, know if Hitler escaped and if Area 51 really has spacemen buried there.
What I just said is, “Don’t hold your breath.”
The politicians and the top-pop news medias pander so much to an inner circle and sphere
of influence; they totally lack the aptitude to fully understand what most of the good people of
the United States really care about, and what concerns them. For the mover and shakers in DC, and on NY cable news
networks, bless their hearts. They learn the latest buzzwords, are astute to the latest hot topics and are in constant battle over
who’s on first. To tell you the truth, the real driving factor for news medias is to sell their product brand for whatever reason
imaginable. They really don’t care what garbage comes out of their broadcasts, as long as they have a lion’s share of the
ratings to show to the corporations that spend billions advertising with them. The same holds true for our politicians. Do you
think they got elected to office from standing on a tree stump in Illinois shouting out to future constituents on how great they
are? That went out of style with Abe Lincoln, as today a politician’s power is calculated on how much money they can squeeze
out of the wealthy and affluent upper crust. Political power base is gauged on how much money a candidate can raise. No
dough, no go is the name of the game. Once in office, politicians are consistently reminded who bought and paid for their
tuition to enter the university of legislators.
Where does this leave working, taxing paying families that are being tagged as the “Working Poor,” from the decades of
plundering and exploitation by big business predatory pricing, and big government over burdensome tax structures? When the
economy was up and running after World War II, Americans went back to work, bought homes, went to JC night school on the
VA bill, got married and had families. The American dream was to get your kids raised, keep a roof over their heads and food
on the table. Oh yeah, bikes for the kids at Christmas, and a trip to Disneyland during summer break were cool things to do for
the family. Taking mama out for a nice dinner for anniversaries, birthdays and Valentines Day was greatly expected too. All
was well, as life went on with masses enjoying the fruits of our bounty in the land of the free and the home of the brave. We
worked, tithed, paid our taxes, went to PTA meetings and coached Little League. This was American, as American can get.
As a leader among the pack of first wave “Baby Boomers,” I am here to shout out that like sheep to the slaughterhouses, we
the rank and file of the American working class have been led around with a ring in our nose to be the fodder for slaughter by
the powerful elitists, and then expected to be the producers to provide for the indigent poor. Ironically funny to the point of
pain, most Americans are willing to do what it takes for continued success of our country, as founded and established in the
1700’s regardless of the challenges we meet. The American silent majority is a willing body humans bonded together in the
hundreds of millions that learn and grow to ever expand toleration of all those we live among, in the hopes of harmonious
neighborly existence for all. We’ve come a long way baby, and if left to our own accord, will always prevail to the better.
Government intervention is not what it seems on the surface – but merely pretence of goodwill
toward all, which is really not in the best self interest of government officials in powerful positions.
Like all ruling classes since mankind bound together in villages for food pools, safety and protection
in mass, the boss in charge enjoyed his comfort zone. He ate the best, lived in the best hut and had
others at his beckoning call for chores he did not care to perform. Kind of like the alpha male lion
in a pride. When those in power lavish in their splendor, they become intoxicated with their
self-appointed importance and position. Their stature in life is exhilarating, and the benefits of
wealth and prominence are by nature addicting affecting their insight at what chores are really at
hand. Giving way to our current status, many celebrities and elected leaders chided and ridicule the “Tea Party,” actually
calling them the tea baggers and racists. Although, I did not jump in the Tea Party fray, I watched from the sidelines. All I saw
was an average slice of pie from all walks of life in the Untied States. It was like they loaded a bus up at Wal Mart, on Saturday
morning, and took the shoppers to a tea party rally. When our hot shots laughed and scorned at the common folks that looked
like a tour bus to bingo night in Vegas, the adage, “Ye who laughs last, laughs hardest,” was in play as the bingo night bunch
in their Wal Mart Faded Glory shirts and pants, finally got their just respect, as many hot shots felt the sting from the Gadsden
snake flag’s bite.
I’ve written over, and over again on what should, and must go on to bring our country back to a normality of focus. One topic is
for all of us, each and everyone needing to understand that in the beginning of state statement of our freedoms, penned by
the crafters of the US Constitution, when they said “We the People,” they literally meant “We.” That includes you, me, them
and us. If you are a naturalized citizen, or born here, and are without convicted felony offenses constraining your liberties,
“We” are the power and head of our government. Our way of life to govern as a unified body was established for the people,
and by the people. What all of that means, is that we the people allow to be what is. In other words, those in control forget,
that ALL of what our society and government is all about, and from the very beginning was for the people - meaning the
citizenry inhabitants.
Thomas Jefferson was fearful of what he felt could become of our government, and would say, “I told you
so,” if he knew what we put up with in our country in the 21st century. He knew the nature of humans, and
how when one gains money, authority and position, the control freak side of their brain takes over. Since
the beginning power struggles were the largest shares of documentation in our US government’s history.
Shortly after some of our founding leaders were dead and gone, money and power took the total lead in
dictating which direction our country would go. The difference between the 19th & 20th century, is that we
now have instantaneous worldwide communications at our fingertips with photos, videos and sound bites.
Nothing is inescapable in our high state of global technology. We as a nation of people are more educated,
whereas just 70 years ago, there was a greater per capita level of illiterate folks, and were viewed as
dim witted and naive. There seemed to be an attitude by our elected leaders to pull the wool over the eyes of the public
anyway they cared to go. Politicians and capitalistic greed possessed barons and moguls drove our country in the ground,
until laws were passed to control exploitation of our resources and commodities. See the Sherman act of 1890 and the
Clayton act of 1914. Did you know in Rome, you could be put to death if caught controlling a commodities and goods market
according to an edict to the Diocletian around 301 AD? There is nothing new under the sun, as human nature is a common
thread that dates back tens of thousands of years.
Like I said, and many echo my words, “Follow the Money.” Until we get the legislators we deserve, that really honor the oath
they take, and uphold the US Constitution, whereas “We The People,” is all they really need to know. What is the overall good
for the people should be their only course of action? We the People, is what it is all about, and the three branches of
government are basically public servants fulfilling a role to function as overseers that the will of the People, is satisfied in all
regards. - That all should not be denied the pursuit of happiness. Our government has a century of catching up to do, as the
elitists in power have done nothing genuine or tangible for the common person on the streets. Their continued genuflecting to
money brokers, paying back supporters and rolling over for special interest lobbyists has got to end. The joke “Tax Break,” is
the biggest insult to the commoner, as the checks issued by the Fed’s, bought some groceries, paid off a couple bills and filled
the family car up with gas. In my neighborhood, that was called “Chump Change.”
The tax break checks did absolutely nothing to advert economic catastrophe, or inversely build a safety net for folks falling into
the abyss of economic disintegration. Compared to what Americans have lost in wages, homes, retirement plans, ripped off
insurance scams, higher taxes, fuel, food and most commodities, we are talking billions of dollars washed down the toilet that
are not recoverable. The tax rebate was a cork to stop the Hoover Dam from blowing up letting the Colorado River wash out
into the Sea of Cortez. Then our government slaps the working public in the face, and kicks their behind
when the money marauders that swindled America blindly got bail out money for their evil
deeds. I’ve heard the so-called experts lambaste the “folks” that were so stupid to get into
a sub-prime loan. You know, that was the peddling sales point for millions desiring to own
a home. It was the mansion on the hill, American dream. The public was told up front that
the sub-prime loan was a lousy deal, but just take money to get the house, and refinance
in a couple years as everyone was doing it. Where are the sales brokers now that twisted
the arms, and convinced good hard working people it was an okay thing to do? With the
crumble of the housing market, the empire that was built on quick sand collapsed.
My friend, it is not over yet. All the junk you hear on major news is not reality, and the
talking heads spin off into hypothetical “How Come” and “What For” to nowhere. It is all just
pandering to business and government to fool the good folks of America. When something
so devastating occurs, it takes at least a decade to turn upright and sail straight again.
The losses by all were tremendous, and many are just starting to feel the complete and final impact of the most major
economic failure since 1929. It has taken over two years for many families to lose their home, and file bankruptcy. Many are
just in the early stages of recovery, and struggling to work their situations out to get back to some descent aspect of a normal
life.
What does it take? To get Congress to stand up, and yell, “Let My People Go.” We need a real live Moses, to defy the
Pharaoh class of supremacist, and lead us out of misery, and into a promise land were,
“We the People,” do mean something again. Until you see corrections to the injustice
that has abounded in the last ten years, Congress is in business as usual, as it always
has been. Immediate and significant action is required post haste, today, to return
America to the people with common folks results oriented success in stopping poverty,
home loss, retirement recovery, home recovery, job recovery and cease the unjust over
taxation of the working poor that has suffered too many decades of exploitation and
predatory pricing creating the working poor. The atomic bomb didn’t stop the aliens
from taking over the world in HG Wells story, but the common cold and flu virus ended
their invasion as the creatures died off from a grass roots, earthy level. That is were
we the people are headed as a nation. I see grass roots symposiums and forums
popping up all over the place, and the networking between entities with a like cause
is thriving. The sharing of information in an underground movement is prolific.
Amazingly, many of us do think we see a light at the end of the tunnel.
Don’t stop until we get it up, the flag of “We The People.
. . . . . . "Amen."
A Message to The 112th Congress - Jan 2011
Like the HG Wells story, “War of the Worlds,” our nation has been taken over by indefensible
alien creatures hell-bent on total annihilation of our country, as we once knew it. In the Wells
story made into a movie, and as a last chance defense, a Northrop Flying Wing dropped an
atomic bomb on the invading alien crafts from outer space. To no avail, the hideous creatures
operating the craft were unscathed by the nuclear explosion, and continued invading to take
complete control of planet earth. In November of 2010, the voting American public dropped
their own bomb on our US Congress. For a couple days the halls of our legislative empire
shook and trembled. After the dust settled everyone went home for Christmas and New Years
break. Vacation was soon over, and the new Congress started arriving back in Washington DC.
Just like the space monsters, our legislators are back at business as usual because nothing seems to scathe them
either.
Today we have the new 112th Congress, and they are back to bipartisan rhetoric as usual. Somehow it always seems like the
game they play is the most important part of legislative business, and not the results of such benefiting We The People.
The reason for the HG Wells parable is to set the stage for what has been going on in the United States since the Jekyll Island
bunch penned the law that gave birth to the Federal Reserve Banking System in 1913. In so doing, filthy lucre was established
as the holy grail of the United States. (Ref: 1st Tim. 3:3) Defying history lessons, a few internationally wealthy families set in
motion a contemporary money system that is based on illusion, and not backed by gold, silver or precious metals and gems.
Historically as far back in ancient times as you wish to research, an empire's power base, might and value were judged for their
overall holdings of gold, silver and precious metals and gems. With the Jekyll Island theorem, if you want more money, just
print it.
The 1913 act established the Federal Reserve, which is not a government agency, but a privately held central bank. From
1913, you can trace the roots to the outbreak of World War I. After the first war, then came the Great Depression in 1929
affecting the whole world economically, and crashed many banking businesses. From the disparity of down and out Americans
in the 1930’s; out of the ashes came World War II. The war machine was up and running in the forties, and with the blood of
millions spilled, the Great Depression was over. All these events had contributing factors, or links back to the manipulation by
the Federal Reserve central bank. There are miles of books and papers written on this volatile paragraph tracing the ins and
outs, and the ups and downs of the banking system. Arguments by the greatest minds ever still debate the facts during the
period from 1913 to 1945. I am old school dude, down to earth human nature
student. Where there is smoke there is fire. If your name is attached to something ill favored,
in the real world the burden of proof is on you to exonerate yourself through substantiating
positive evidence. We will know all about the infinite details of those missing 32 years of
the 20th century in reality as soon as they find Jimmy Hoffa, play Nixon’s missing 18 minutes,
tell us who shot JFK, know if Hitler escaped and if Area 51 really has spacemen buried there.
What I just said is, “Don’t hold your breath.”
The politicians and the top-pop news medias pander so much to an inner circle and sphere
of influence; they totally lack the aptitude to fully understand what most of the good people of
the United States really care about, and what concerns them. For the mover and shakers in DC, and on NY cable news
networks, bless their hearts. They learn the latest buzzwords, are astute to the latest hot topics and are in constant battle over
who’s on first. To tell you the truth, the real driving factor for news medias is to sell their product brand for whatever reason
imaginable. They really don’t care what garbage comes out of their broadcasts, as long as they have a lion’s share of the
ratings to show to the corporations that spend billions advertising with them. The same holds true for our politicians. Do you
think they got elected to office from standing on a tree stump in Illinois shouting out to future constituents on how great they
are? That went out of style with Abe Lincoln, as today a politician’s power is calculated on how much money they can squeeze
out of the wealthy and affluent upper crust. Political power base is gauged on how much money a candidate can raise. No
dough, no go is the name of the game. Once in office, politicians are consistently reminded who bought and paid for their
tuition to enter the university of legislators.
Where does this leave working, taxing paying families that are being tagged as the “Working Poor,” from the decades of
plundering and exploitation by big business predatory pricing, and big government over burdensome tax structures? When the
economy was up and running after World War II, Americans went back to work, bought homes, went to JC night school on the
VA bill, got married and had families. The American dream was to get your kids raised, keep a roof over their heads and food
on the table. Oh yeah, bikes for the kids at Christmas, and a trip to Disneyland during summer break were cool things to do for
the family. Taking mama out for a nice dinner for anniversaries, birthdays and Valentines Day was greatly expected too. All
was well, as life went on with masses enjoying the fruits of our bounty in the land of the free and the home of the brave. We
worked, tithed, paid our taxes, went to PTA meetings and coached Little League. This was American, as American can get.
As a leader among the pack of first wave “Baby Boomers,” I am here to shout out that like sheep to the slaughterhouses, we
the rank and file of the American working class have been led around with a ring in our nose to be the fodder for slaughter by
the powerful elitists, and then expected to be the producers to provide for the indigent poor. Ironically funny to the point of
pain, most Americans are willing to do what it takes for continued success of our country, as founded and established in the
1700’s regardless of the challenges we meet. The American silent majority is a willing body humans bonded together in the
hundreds of millions that learn and grow to ever expand toleration of all those we live among, in the hopes of harmonious
neighborly existence for all. We’ve come a long way baby, and if left to our own accord, will always prevail to the better.
Government intervention is not what it seems on the surface – but merely pretence of goodwill
toward all, which is really not in the best self interest of government officials in powerful positions.
Like all ruling classes since mankind bound together in villages for food pools, safety and protection
in mass, the boss in charge enjoyed his comfort zone. He ate the best, lived in the best hut and had
others at his beckoning call for chores he did not care to perform. Kind of like the alpha male lion
in a pride. When those in power lavish in their splendor, they become intoxicated with their
self-appointed importance and position. Their stature in life is exhilarating, and the benefits of
wealth and prominence are by nature addicting affecting their insight at what chores are really at
hand. Giving way to our current status, many celebrities and elected leaders chided and ridicule the “Tea Party,” actually
calling them the tea baggers and racists. Although, I did not jump in the Tea Party fray, I watched from the sidelines. All I saw
was an average slice of pie from all walks of life in the Untied States. It was like they loaded a bus up at Wal Mart, on Saturday
morning, and took the shoppers to a tea party rally. When our hot shots laughed and scorned at the common folks that looked
like a tour bus to bingo night in Vegas, the adage, “Ye who laughs last, laughs hardest,” was in play as the bingo night bunch
in their Wal Mart Faded Glory shirts and pants, finally got their just respect, as many hot shots felt the sting from the Gadsden
snake flag’s bite.
I’ve written over, and over again on what should, and must go on to bring our country back to a normality of focus. One topic is
for all of us, each and everyone needing to understand that in the beginning of state statement of our freedoms, penned by
the crafters of the US Constitution, when they said “We the People,” they literally meant “We.” That includes you, me, them
and us. If you are a naturalized citizen, or born here, and are without convicted felony offenses constraining your liberties,
“We” are the power and head of our government. Our way of life to govern as a unified body was established for the people,
and by the people. What all of that means, is that we the people allow to be what is. In other words, those in control forget,
that ALL of what our society and government is all about, and from the very beginning was for the people - meaning the
citizenry inhabitants.
Thomas Jefferson was fearful of what he felt could become of our government, and would say, “I told you
so,” if he knew what we put up with in our country in the 21st century. He knew the nature of humans, and
how when one gains money, authority and position, the control freak side of their brain takes over. Since
the beginning power struggles were the largest shares of documentation in our US government’s history.
Shortly after some of our founding leaders were dead and gone, money and power took the total lead in
dictating which direction our country would go. The difference between the 19th & 20th century, is that we
now have instantaneous worldwide communications at our fingertips with photos, videos and sound bites.
Nothing is inescapable in our high state of global technology. We as a nation of people are more educated,
whereas just 70 years ago, there was a greater per capita level of illiterate folks, and were viewed as
dim witted and naive. There seemed to be an attitude by our elected leaders to pull the wool over the eyes of the public
anyway they cared to go. Politicians and capitalistic greed possessed barons and moguls drove our country in the ground,
until laws were passed to control exploitation of our resources and commodities. See the Sherman act of 1890 and the
Clayton act of 1914. Did you know in Rome, you could be put to death if caught controlling a commodities and goods market
according to an edict to the Diocletian around 301 AD? There is nothing new under the sun, as human nature is a common
thread that dates back tens of thousands of years.
Like I said, and many echo my words, “Follow the Money.” Until we get the legislators we deserve, that really honor the oath
they take, and uphold the US Constitution, whereas “We The People,” is all they really need to know. What is the overall good
for the people should be their only course of action? We the People, is what it is all about, and the three branches of
government are basically public servants fulfilling a role to function as overseers that the will of the People, is satisfied in all
regards. - That all should not be denied the pursuit of happiness. Our government has a century of catching up to do, as the
elitists in power have done nothing genuine or tangible for the common person on the streets. Their continued genuflecting to
money brokers, paying back supporters and rolling over for special interest lobbyists has got to end. The joke “Tax Break,” is
the biggest insult to the commoner, as the checks issued by the Fed’s, bought some groceries, paid off a couple bills and filled
the family car up with gas. In my neighborhood, that was called “Chump Change.”
The tax break checks did absolutely nothing to advert economic catastrophe, or inversely build a safety net for folks falling into
the abyss of economic disintegration. Compared to what Americans have lost in wages, homes, retirement plans, ripped off
insurance scams, higher taxes, fuel, food and most commodities, we are talking billions of dollars washed down the toilet that
are not recoverable. The tax rebate was a cork to stop the Hoover Dam from blowing up letting the Colorado River wash out
into the Sea of Cortez. Then our government slaps the working public in the face, and kicks their behind
when the money marauders that swindled America blindly got bail out money for their evil
deeds. I’ve heard the so-called experts lambaste the “folks” that were so stupid to get into
a sub-prime loan. You know, that was the peddling sales point for millions desiring to own
a home. It was the mansion on the hill, American dream. The public was told up front that
the sub-prime loan was a lousy deal, but just take money to get the house, and refinance
in a couple years as everyone was doing it. Where are the sales brokers now that twisted
the arms, and convinced good hard working people it was an okay thing to do? With the
crumble of the housing market, the empire that was built on quick sand collapsed.
My friend, it is not over yet. All the junk you hear on major news is not reality, and the
talking heads spin off into hypothetical “How Come” and “What For” to nowhere. It is all just
pandering to business and government to fool the good folks of America. When something
so devastating occurs, it takes at least a decade to turn upright and sail straight again.
The losses by all were tremendous, and many are just starting to feel the complete and final impact of the most major
economic failure since 1929. It has taken over two years for many families to lose their home, and file bankruptcy. Many are
just in the early stages of recovery, and struggling to work their situations out to get back to some descent aspect of a normal
life.
What does it take? To get Congress to stand up, and yell, “Let My People Go.” We need a real live Moses, to defy the
Pharaoh class of supremacist, and lead us out of misery, and into a promise land were,
“We the People,” do mean something again. Until you see corrections to the injustice
that has abounded in the last ten years, Congress is in business as usual, as it always
has been. Immediate and significant action is required post haste, today, to return
America to the people with common folks results oriented success in stopping poverty,
home loss, retirement recovery, home recovery, job recovery and cease the unjust over
taxation of the working poor that has suffered too many decades of exploitation and
predatory pricing creating the working poor. The atomic bomb didn’t stop the aliens
from taking over the world in HG Wells story, but the common cold and flu virus ended
their invasion as the creatures died off from a grass roots, earthy level. That is were
we the people are headed as a nation. I see grass roots symposiums and forums
popping up all over the place, and the networking between entities with a like cause
is thriving. The sharing of information in an underground movement is prolific.
Amazingly, many of us do think we see a light at the end of the tunnel.
Don’t stop until we get it up, the flag of “We The People.
. . . . . . "Amen."
Question; "How can you tell when a
politician is lying?
Answer: "When their mouth is moving!"
politician is lying?
Answer: "When their mouth is moving!"
Entitlement's
Sounds Like A Handout?
Entitlement is the latest buzzword out of Capitol Hill, and from the chatter box
talking heads on cable and network yak-yak programming. Who ever came up
with this slogan, to describe Social Security and Medicare, needs a good old fashion
butt kicking, with emphasis on how contemptible they are for dreaming up such a
condescending phrase. I’m trembling to refrain from using every use curse word
I picked up in eight-grade gym class, to fully describe my inner feelings on the word
Entitlement's, and the culprit behind the coinage.
Why am I so peeved you ask? Brother, you are talking to a US Veteran, and a heavily taxed retired working person that
has spent half a century planning for my green pasture years. I didn’t live this long to be insulted, and slammed down by
mealy mouthed economists and self proclaimed experts in our society. Let us start with why entitlement sounds so
demeaning. First off, you bet your sweet behind that I, and a few hundred thousand other good folks in the United States
are entitled to the social programs that were dictated we join. We were not asked to volunteer to be in the programs, but
mandated by law to be in the programs. It was like trying to avoid Nazism in pre WWII Germany. You could not get out of
it. No exemptions were made for the working class.
As usual, the good kind folks at the street level have no choice in the matter when government rules with an iron fist.
Secondly, as a young man working ten hours a day, trying to raise a family, keep a roof over their heads and food on the
table, those FICA, and Medicare withholdings out my paychecks along with State and Federal withholding taxes felt like
highway robbery. Every payday I was distressed as if someone had picked my pockets clean for my weekly sweat and
toil. The harsh extracts of money out of my weekly pay were tough to choke down, but in the back of my mind I felt there
was a future justified reward someday for fleecing money out of me in my youthful years when a ridged, and grueling
work schedule was the way of life. Am I entitled to the entitlement programs? Without a doubt. I paid, and paid dearly in
my decades of working for a living.
In essence, the Social Security Act of 1935, was the law of the land as signed on
FDR’s desk, enacting a mandatory insurance retirement policy for Americans.
The payroll withholdings collected for Social Security are of course taxes,
but they can also be described as contributions to the social insurance system
that is Social Security. Hence the name "Federal Insurance Contributions Act."
This was a socialized, government run insurance program for all practical purposes.
The intents, constitutionality and justifications were argued in great length, before
the system became law in the thirties. Ten years before I was born, the system
was in full force as a tax revenue resource. The money was dumped into the general tax fund, and spent anywhere
Congress chose to toss it.
Here we’ve come full circle, and in our current trend of political leaders freaking out on budgets, deficits and reducing
outlay, the first area of attack is always go after the “Entitlement Programs.” How dare they even think about digging
into my forced retirement savings I slaved away a lifetime to earn. If the FICA was a true insurance system in the Private
Sector, hoodwinking the public for fifty years of excessive premium payments would be considered a capitol crime of
extortion. Since our Congress has no moral compass of right and wrong for working class, American taxpayers, cutting
back on paid for and earned benefits is no big deal in their pea brain mind set way of thinking. All through my working
career, I’ve kept up with the different administrations, and their tussle over the potential future bankruptcy of Social
Security. Nothing new, it has been going on since Eisenhower’s term in the fifties. What is so dang discomforting is
they never figure out a way to fund, and finance the SSI system always sniffling they are going broke, but as soon as a
war breaks out, billions of dollars are available for the Chief’s of Staffs to go kill people around the globe. Of course,
and as usual war profiteers pocket the escalated money out-flow, and those in control are all happy eating crab and
lobster in five star restaurants.
Did you know that billions of dollars were packaged, shrink wrapped, placed
on pallets and shipped to Iraq, never to be discovered who got the money or
where it went? You don’t have to believe me on that one, just Google it up,
and see for yourself. In 2008, when untrustworthy, unscrupulous sleaze
bag big businesses swindled investors in the Stock Market, Housing and
Banking institutions, Congress found a trillion dollars to keep them in business.
In human nature, money always panders to money. Do you think that our
Congress would lift one finger to assist those in need that lost jobs, homes,
investments, retirements and life savings? Heck no, why help the workers
on the ranch, when the bank is foreclosing on the whole spread. Buttering
up, and bowing down to those that hold the gold will always be the focus of
Congresses affection, not the good folks working everyday toiling for their keep.
A few thousand years ago King Solomon wrote down in verse, “Nothing New Under the Sun,” (Ecclesiastes 1:9),
portraying the decree of human nature. No matter how sophisticated we think we have become, primal human nature
always seems to triumph. Greed and misjudgments are so irresistibly tangible when access to public tax contributed
funds are so freely available in such unaccountable vast quantities. The status quo in the mode of operation for our
government was evolved, and established a century ago whereas today, unethical directions are viewed as normal and
warranted for the good of the total outcome. Of course this is not a static concept, as with each new administration, and
change of shift in Congress, philosophy and ideology dictates courses of action – but never for the good of the working
middle class.
Regardless, trying to fully understand the mind trusts of Congress, and the results of their calloused decisions effecting
the American public is mind boggling, whereas they were sworn into office to protect, guide and provide “goodwill” for
us. The process is so contradictory, since the results we witness, go against the American publics grain like a deep
wood splinter under your big toe, and for some reason the elected elites can not hear our groan of agony. Why is that?
There is a deaf ear by our elected leaders, and our will is not heard much less understood. Their will is imposed on us,
regardless of our desire of direction we consider the nation should responsibly procure.
Attacking the working class is like open season anytime the gavel hits the podium in Congress. Like Mark Twain said,
“Liberty, freedoms and private property are at great risk when congress is in session,” and that was well over a century
ago. It is well understood that workers wages have been a source of free revenue for Congress since Abraham Lincoln’s
time. Congresses attitude seems to be, what is yours is theirs. This way of thinking is totally against our Constitution,
and goes against the very laws of human society as learned by tens of thousands of years of governed, socialized
economies. Even in mythology, the ancient giant Sumerian’s 500,000 years ago experienced a revolt by the lower
echelon Anunnaki workers in the gold mines from conditions and causes thus DNA experiments were conducted to invent
humans, a better worker for the gold mines - A mysterious ancient legend tracing the creation of mankind in the Persian
Gulf eons ago, and thought by scholars as the inspiration for the Garden of Eden creation in Genesis. As myth and real
life history has recorded, the rank and file will eventually get to the end of their terms of endearment and benevolent
servitude, and protest before malevolently tossing down their shovels and picks. Human nature is a driving force to be
reckoned with.
I do not like the feeling that my government, in my retirement years, thinks they can freely swindle my earned retirement
and benefits from me at a stroke of a pen. Americans paid dearly out our pockets at exuberantly inflated rates for the
trickle down retirement that Social Security affords us in old age. If one were to place as much money over fifty years into
a private retirement account, the results would have been better served. It was Congress that decided to use the funds
contributed by workers into the FICA system for whatever reason or cause that passed between their ears. Nothing was
set-aside for the future, and nothing was anticipated for the baby
boomer bubble that everyone on earth knew would eventually arrive, like it has
now. Corporations are held to high standards of retirement systems for
employees, but the very government that regulates business in their retirement
affairs, has no constraint, forethought or consideration for the federal retirement
system. There was always a, “Tomorrow is another day,” attitude that Congress
would always take care of it, and fix it someday further on down the road. Now
that we are down that road, the first option that comes to their misguided minds
is screw the workers that spent half a century paying, and earning the rights for
the paid income retirement.
With all this built up frustration that I know hundreds of thousands, if not millions of tax paying citizens agree with my
thoughts on the subject, I now have a built up anger. Every time I hear a politician or talking head use the word
“entitlement,” I want to jump through the television set, and slap the crap out of them. Entitlement sounds like it has a
presumption that there was a gracious charitable gift allowed and forwarded to humble peasant recipients. How about
calling what is owed to us, and paid in full; “Remuneration.” That has a stronger, solid feeling that what was worked for,
paid for and heavily taxed is a COD, invoice or requital of monies owed. This goes back to the sentiments of so many
Americans these days is that Congress views what you own, as theirs to do as they please. Eminent domain seems to
extend from real property and possessions, to tangible assets and wages. This is the absurdity of where we have come
as a nation wherein our Congress was established by law, to support and work for the goodwill of “We The People,” but
for some alienable reason, the course of action was inversed whereas modern government views the American public as
the indentured servant working to support the government. Crazy, huh? When Congress can dole out unaccounted
billions to corrupt businesses, and evil empires around the world that despise us; why when the number crunch time
comes around, they attack their own betraying their constituents they were sworn to uphold and protect at all cost?
Anymore, all we expect to receive from Congress is a Judas Kiss, as you have to think long and hard to come up with
one, significant and meaningful rule of law that actually supported and assisted Americans in their everyday living. This
is not unearned welfare folks, and yes, I am entitled to the remuneration that was promised to me, in good faith as a loyal
taxpayer hauling the freight, and paying my way for half a century of toil.
Sounds Like A Handout?
Entitlement is the latest buzzword out of Capitol Hill, and from the chatter box
talking heads on cable and network yak-yak programming. Who ever came up
with this slogan, to describe Social Security and Medicare, needs a good old fashion
butt kicking, with emphasis on how contemptible they are for dreaming up such a
condescending phrase. I’m trembling to refrain from using every use curse word
I picked up in eight-grade gym class, to fully describe my inner feelings on the word
Entitlement's, and the culprit behind the coinage.
Why am I so peeved you ask? Brother, you are talking to a US Veteran, and a heavily taxed retired working person that
has spent half a century planning for my green pasture years. I didn’t live this long to be insulted, and slammed down by
mealy mouthed economists and self proclaimed experts in our society. Let us start with why entitlement sounds so
demeaning. First off, you bet your sweet behind that I, and a few hundred thousand other good folks in the United States
are entitled to the social programs that were dictated we join. We were not asked to volunteer to be in the programs, but
mandated by law to be in the programs. It was like trying to avoid Nazism in pre WWII Germany. You could not get out of
it. No exemptions were made for the working class.
As usual, the good kind folks at the street level have no choice in the matter when government rules with an iron fist.
Secondly, as a young man working ten hours a day, trying to raise a family, keep a roof over their heads and food on the
table, those FICA, and Medicare withholdings out my paychecks along with State and Federal withholding taxes felt like
highway robbery. Every payday I was distressed as if someone had picked my pockets clean for my weekly sweat and
toil. The harsh extracts of money out of my weekly pay were tough to choke down, but in the back of my mind I felt there
was a future justified reward someday for fleecing money out of me in my youthful years when a ridged, and grueling
work schedule was the way of life. Am I entitled to the entitlement programs? Without a doubt. I paid, and paid dearly in
my decades of working for a living.
In essence, the Social Security Act of 1935, was the law of the land as signed on
FDR’s desk, enacting a mandatory insurance retirement policy for Americans.
The payroll withholdings collected for Social Security are of course taxes,
but they can also be described as contributions to the social insurance system
that is Social Security. Hence the name "Federal Insurance Contributions Act."
This was a socialized, government run insurance program for all practical purposes.
The intents, constitutionality and justifications were argued in great length, before
the system became law in the thirties. Ten years before I was born, the system
was in full force as a tax revenue resource. The money was dumped into the general tax fund, and spent anywhere
Congress chose to toss it.
Here we’ve come full circle, and in our current trend of political leaders freaking out on budgets, deficits and reducing
outlay, the first area of attack is always go after the “Entitlement Programs.” How dare they even think about digging
into my forced retirement savings I slaved away a lifetime to earn. If the FICA was a true insurance system in the Private
Sector, hoodwinking the public for fifty years of excessive premium payments would be considered a capitol crime of
extortion. Since our Congress has no moral compass of right and wrong for working class, American taxpayers, cutting
back on paid for and earned benefits is no big deal in their pea brain mind set way of thinking. All through my working
career, I’ve kept up with the different administrations, and their tussle over the potential future bankruptcy of Social
Security. Nothing new, it has been going on since Eisenhower’s term in the fifties. What is so dang discomforting is
they never figure out a way to fund, and finance the SSI system always sniffling they are going broke, but as soon as a
war breaks out, billions of dollars are available for the Chief’s of Staffs to go kill people around the globe. Of course,
and as usual war profiteers pocket the escalated money out-flow, and those in control are all happy eating crab and
lobster in five star restaurants.
Did you know that billions of dollars were packaged, shrink wrapped, placed
on pallets and shipped to Iraq, never to be discovered who got the money or
where it went? You don’t have to believe me on that one, just Google it up,
and see for yourself. In 2008, when untrustworthy, unscrupulous sleaze
bag big businesses swindled investors in the Stock Market, Housing and
Banking institutions, Congress found a trillion dollars to keep them in business.
In human nature, money always panders to money. Do you think that our
Congress would lift one finger to assist those in need that lost jobs, homes,
investments, retirements and life savings? Heck no, why help the workers
on the ranch, when the bank is foreclosing on the whole spread. Buttering
up, and bowing down to those that hold the gold will always be the focus of
Congresses affection, not the good folks working everyday toiling for their keep.
A few thousand years ago King Solomon wrote down in verse, “Nothing New Under the Sun,” (Ecclesiastes 1:9),
portraying the decree of human nature. No matter how sophisticated we think we have become, primal human nature
always seems to triumph. Greed and misjudgments are so irresistibly tangible when access to public tax contributed
funds are so freely available in such unaccountable vast quantities. The status quo in the mode of operation for our
government was evolved, and established a century ago whereas today, unethical directions are viewed as normal and
warranted for the good of the total outcome. Of course this is not a static concept, as with each new administration, and
change of shift in Congress, philosophy and ideology dictates courses of action – but never for the good of the working
middle class.
Regardless, trying to fully understand the mind trusts of Congress, and the results of their calloused decisions effecting
the American public is mind boggling, whereas they were sworn into office to protect, guide and provide “goodwill” for
us. The process is so contradictory, since the results we witness, go against the American publics grain like a deep
wood splinter under your big toe, and for some reason the elected elites can not hear our groan of agony. Why is that?
There is a deaf ear by our elected leaders, and our will is not heard much less understood. Their will is imposed on us,
regardless of our desire of direction we consider the nation should responsibly procure.
Attacking the working class is like open season anytime the gavel hits the podium in Congress. Like Mark Twain said,
“Liberty, freedoms and private property are at great risk when congress is in session,” and that was well over a century
ago. It is well understood that workers wages have been a source of free revenue for Congress since Abraham Lincoln’s
time. Congresses attitude seems to be, what is yours is theirs. This way of thinking is totally against our Constitution,
and goes against the very laws of human society as learned by tens of thousands of years of governed, socialized
economies. Even in mythology, the ancient giant Sumerian’s 500,000 years ago experienced a revolt by the lower
echelon Anunnaki workers in the gold mines from conditions and causes thus DNA experiments were conducted to invent
humans, a better worker for the gold mines - A mysterious ancient legend tracing the creation of mankind in the Persian
Gulf eons ago, and thought by scholars as the inspiration for the Garden of Eden creation in Genesis. As myth and real
life history has recorded, the rank and file will eventually get to the end of their terms of endearment and benevolent
servitude, and protest before malevolently tossing down their shovels and picks. Human nature is a driving force to be
reckoned with.
I do not like the feeling that my government, in my retirement years, thinks they can freely swindle my earned retirement
and benefits from me at a stroke of a pen. Americans paid dearly out our pockets at exuberantly inflated rates for the
trickle down retirement that Social Security affords us in old age. If one were to place as much money over fifty years into
a private retirement account, the results would have been better served. It was Congress that decided to use the funds
contributed by workers into the FICA system for whatever reason or cause that passed between their ears. Nothing was
set-aside for the future, and nothing was anticipated for the baby
boomer bubble that everyone on earth knew would eventually arrive, like it has
now. Corporations are held to high standards of retirement systems for
employees, but the very government that regulates business in their retirement
affairs, has no constraint, forethought or consideration for the federal retirement
system. There was always a, “Tomorrow is another day,” attitude that Congress
would always take care of it, and fix it someday further on down the road. Now
that we are down that road, the first option that comes to their misguided minds
is screw the workers that spent half a century paying, and earning the rights for
the paid income retirement.
With all this built up frustration that I know hundreds of thousands, if not millions of tax paying citizens agree with my
thoughts on the subject, I now have a built up anger. Every time I hear a politician or talking head use the word
“entitlement,” I want to jump through the television set, and slap the crap out of them. Entitlement sounds like it has a
presumption that there was a gracious charitable gift allowed and forwarded to humble peasant recipients. How about
calling what is owed to us, and paid in full; “Remuneration.” That has a stronger, solid feeling that what was worked for,
paid for and heavily taxed is a COD, invoice or requital of monies owed. This goes back to the sentiments of so many
Americans these days is that Congress views what you own, as theirs to do as they please. Eminent domain seems to
extend from real property and possessions, to tangible assets and wages. This is the absurdity of where we have come
as a nation wherein our Congress was established by law, to support and work for the goodwill of “We The People,” but
for some alienable reason, the course of action was inversed whereas modern government views the American public as
the indentured servant working to support the government. Crazy, huh? When Congress can dole out unaccounted
billions to corrupt businesses, and evil empires around the world that despise us; why when the number crunch time
comes around, they attack their own betraying their constituents they were sworn to uphold and protect at all cost?
Anymore, all we expect to receive from Congress is a Judas Kiss, as you have to think long and hard to come up with
one, significant and meaningful rule of law that actually supported and assisted Americans in their everyday living. This
is not unearned welfare folks, and yes, I am entitled to the remuneration that was promised to me, in good faith as a loyal
taxpayer hauling the freight, and paying my way for half a century of toil.
Join us on Twitter
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"We have nothing to fear, except congress its self." PQPress
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