0020 - 06JAN2013 - "Survival of the fittest"...

The Fiscal Cliff. There is a pervasively common thought among 53% of us Americans (the other 47% disagree) that is quite disturbing: I believe they are fully convinced that people who are receiving the benefit of welfare aid, or food stamps, or any other social program benefit, are all behaviorally and genetically lazy and have mastered the ways to ‘milk’ the system! (I acknowledge there are many cases of fraud, but I believe them to be the exception and not the rule). But going back to the mainline, these folks truly believe, and without meanness or malice, that those people currently on welfare, when taken that benefit away, would find gainful employment in the blink of an eye; all they have to do is look for a job and they’ll get it; they don’t do it because they have the safety net of the welfare check… In their Christian minds (chuckle!) they are convinced that the easiest and most fair way to deal with the National Debt is to cut social programs; there is no need for social programs. It is their honest belief that societies, like businesses, can and do regulate themselves (another chuckle!). If the situation gets too out of control, then war, famine and/or disease would take out enough subjects (usually the weakest: youngest and oldest) to bring the population back to normal levels (like lemmings do!). They have taken a Darwin postulate “Survival of the most adaptable” (that is part of his yet-to-be-proven Theory of Evolution), have bastardized it as the truism “Survival of the fittest” and made it their creed (but on the other hand, don’t you dare teach Darwinian Theories of Evolution in my schools!) I am rambling… Enough of this!

Football. Well, it is hard to write about it since, I think, the football world is upside down… The Florida Gators decided to take vacations after the last regular season game and only some of them showed up for the game against Louisville… I don’t blame the players (still mere immature adolescents – yes, it is redundant!); I blame the coaching staff starting with the head coach… He should be fired… His only job is to get the team ready to play and he did not do it; he should be fired! On the Pros side, it is almost an out-of-this-world experience watching a playoff game between the Texans and the Bengals, knowing that the Steelers and the Giants are out… Unreal!

Perspectives. Al old and dear friend and his wife, also an old and dear friend, came by to visit this past week; had a great time with them. They retired last year. They own a lot in Hawks Bluff Phase I (bought before we did) and, as part of our conversation, they shared that they will never build here; they are quite disappointed with the way the place looks, how much in a state of disarray it seems to be, how deteriorated the roads are, and so on… I shared that, although I understand their view point, those issues become irrelevant once you are living here; what is important is how is your water well holding up, and how’s your septic tank behaving, and do you have enough fuel for the generator in case of power failure, and so on (more basic and less mundane necessities); the concerns related to appearances and aesthetics, although still present, become a non-issue. He conceded the point (although I could smell high reluctance). The day after, we were visiting again – this time at a cabin they were renting at Fall Creek Falls State Park - and among many things we talked about during the gathering, the issue of health care came up; I expressed my opinion that the system is broken and needs fixing (and proceeded to enumerate reasons and examples of why I said that). Eventually he came around and said: “it is a matter of perspectives. Yesterday, we talked about the HB issues and how they, from where you sit, are irrelevant. Today, I see no issues with our Health Care system: I am insured; if I need services, I get services; Medicare pays what I consider a fair amount; my supplemental pays another fair portion, and I can afford the rest; the system works for me. So, from where I sit, it is not broken”… His argument, as narrow-minded as mine was the day before, was also as valid and so I let him know. I could see he was very satisfied with himself (and relieved) that he had won; he needed that and I was happy to provide the opportunity… But his point confirmed one of my earlier assertions: it continues to be all a matter of perspective and perception; reality is relative, my friends!

2013. I guess I forgot to wish us all a very Happy and Prosperous New year 2013!

Personal. Here are my last baby and her nephew, my first grand-baby...

Quote of the week…
Heard this from, believe or not, a Republican friend:
“If you believe that the government is going to take your guns, you’re an idiot; if you believe that the government is going to take away your God and Bible, you’re an ignorant. if you believe the government is going to take your money and give it to illegal immigrants, you’re a bigot; if you believe that the government is going to take away your guns and your money, give it to the Mexicans so they can come and kill you and your God, you’re Bill O’Reilly!”

So, enjoy the good humor, my friends…