Despite all the achievements and glory during the Olympics it's probably going to be remembered as the fake robbery story Olympics. Maybe not but everything else seemed to follow script mostly so I'm not sure where there is a story that will be remembered more.
We live in an age of self indulgence. We only care about the things that are immediate to our experience and everything else competes for attention. What was once famously described as fifteen minutes of fame is now probably down to a minute.
We certainly have the ability to focus on things, just look at the Pokemon GO people, but we selectively focus and things that aren't part of that focus circle need to compete for our attention.
Once again this isn't new, and it is probably related to the amount of free time we have divided by the number of things competing for that time. The limitation there is of course the amount of time we have available.
We also suffer from a situation where our news has become in many cases biased. Sometimes the bias is actually the attempt to not seem biased, other times its more blatant. Famously, many Americans used to let the evening news or the evening newspaper provide them with facts and opinions. Now we have a million sources, many of which are simply irresponsible, that compete for that role.
The easiest target is normally the Government and so it is attacked the most. Now I keep seeing polls that show the American people don't trust the Government. This seems to be true at all levels of Government. Of course despite that mistrust we still use the services to pay our taxes, get social security benefits, get passports, collect economic data, etc. etc
The Government that isn't trusted is the Government portrayed in our information sources. There is clearly issues with Government, there are issues with everything really, but the general belief that the Government is either corrupt, evil or influenced by specific groups is not really supported by the day to day operations. It may be true to a larger extent of our elected officials, but of course we have no one to blame but ourselves for that.
Despite recent claims that the system is rigged, it isn't. If you know the rules and help set them you can do better than someone who doesn't. So like everything else, put in the time and effort if you want to succeed. If you expect to get the reward without the work you probably will be disappointed.
Friday, August 19, 2016
Thursday, August 18, 2016
More Random Stuff
Sometimes people make up stories to explain things that don't need to be explained until the lie comes out. This thing in Rio should have been nothing, now its something.
We all tend to think the universe revolves around us, it doesn't.
People who repeat lies are really just as guilty as the original liar.
Everybody is posting on their expensive cell phones over social media from their expensive coffee shops just how bad things are.
Most unemployed people today don't have the skills they need. Solution, go get some skills,
The idea that some people deserve our help and others don't is both elitist and non-christian. Think it also violates every other religion but not an expert.
Our founders talked about the rights of the people not the rights of the citizen. Lets not misquote them.
Statistics don't lie, the people who interpret them might.
Some things are simply not crimes, even if we don't like them.
No one is right all the time, so if you blindly support a side you are wrong some times.
I would recommend walking a mile is the other person's shoes, except most of us never walk a mile.
Americans have more in common with other Americans than we do with any other nationality.
There are people who would kill people for disrespecting the flag. Really?
If you carry a gun and shoot someone, understand there will be consequences. You can't punch someone in the face either.
We all tend to think the universe revolves around us, it doesn't.
People who repeat lies are really just as guilty as the original liar.
Everybody is posting on their expensive cell phones over social media from their expensive coffee shops just how bad things are.
Most unemployed people today don't have the skills they need. Solution, go get some skills,
The idea that some people deserve our help and others don't is both elitist and non-christian. Think it also violates every other religion but not an expert.
Our founders talked about the rights of the people not the rights of the citizen. Lets not misquote them.
Statistics don't lie, the people who interpret them might.
Some things are simply not crimes, even if we don't like them.
No one is right all the time, so if you blindly support a side you are wrong some times.
I would recommend walking a mile is the other person's shoes, except most of us never walk a mile.
Americans have more in common with other Americans than we do with any other nationality.
There are people who would kill people for disrespecting the flag. Really?
If you carry a gun and shoot someone, understand there will be consequences. You can't punch someone in the face either.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
More Random Thoughts
It seems like we have a lot more gullible people in our society than ever before although I don't know if we have any official gullibility statistics available.
There is an obvious bias in a fact checking group since if they say everything is correct no one will read them.
I think this is the first political campaign where one of the candidates is more concerned about ratings than winning. I envision his group checking the overnights every morning.
I actually can't figure out what the Republicans are for anymore. They like to say what they are against and maybe they are in favor of smaller Government, but whatever in is the party platform is not being well communicated. I guess I could read it but why should I have to?
I don't understand why so many people seem convinced that we have prominent people trying to destroy our country. I suspect Fox News is behind it but those people are clearly like the Onion News group, not to be taken seriously.
The tactic that is at least a little clever is to be totally obstructionist, avoid getting anything accomplished and then say both sides are equally at fault.
It is clear that our primary system is broken, mainly because it allows a small fringe group more influence than they should have. How do you get more participation is the issue so the views actually reflect the party in question.
Why are independents allowed to vote in any party primaries? Sort of dilutes the point of political parties.
Money has too much influence in elections, but the spending is good for the economy so not the worst thing.
Owning guns is protected by the second amendment but misusing them isn't.
People who ask me to share a post to support {fill in the blank} should explain to me how that does anything at all.
There are a bunch of ads now that claim to be short but which take forever to get past the intro (usually a hand drawing stuff). I just don't have the patience for them and can't believe they actually work.
There is an obvious bias in a fact checking group since if they say everything is correct no one will read them.
I think this is the first political campaign where one of the candidates is more concerned about ratings than winning. I envision his group checking the overnights every morning.
I actually can't figure out what the Republicans are for anymore. They like to say what they are against and maybe they are in favor of smaller Government, but whatever in is the party platform is not being well communicated. I guess I could read it but why should I have to?
I don't understand why so many people seem convinced that we have prominent people trying to destroy our country. I suspect Fox News is behind it but those people are clearly like the Onion News group, not to be taken seriously.
The tactic that is at least a little clever is to be totally obstructionist, avoid getting anything accomplished and then say both sides are equally at fault.
It is clear that our primary system is broken, mainly because it allows a small fringe group more influence than they should have. How do you get more participation is the issue so the views actually reflect the party in question.
Why are independents allowed to vote in any party primaries? Sort of dilutes the point of political parties.
Money has too much influence in elections, but the spending is good for the economy so not the worst thing.
Owning guns is protected by the second amendment but misusing them isn't.
People who ask me to share a post to support {fill in the blank} should explain to me how that does anything at all.
There are a bunch of ads now that claim to be short but which take forever to get past the intro (usually a hand drawing stuff). I just don't have the patience for them and can't believe they actually work.
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Economic Reality
By any objective measure most Americans are doing pretty well in today's economy. They could of course be doing better, but considering how everything almost collapsed during the financial crisis we should be at least a little thankful.
Now while this is going on we are in the midst of a number of social economic changes that impact certain people more than others. The country has been moving to a service economy for quite a few years now. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but any change like that has winners and losers.
If you are in the group that doesn't have the right skills to succeed in the new reality, you may get bitter. You want to blame somebody. Its no comfort to be told that you are an unfortunate victim of a global phenomenon that ultimately benefits the great majority with more efficient economies.
Losing a high paying manufacturing job and having to work in a lower paying service job is clearly not a good experience and might make you feel that the economy has collapsed. Well your economy has collapsed because of two factors. Globalization and training.
If you have the right skills for the current economy you can do very well. If you don't you won't. Of course this is no different than manufacturing with the biggest difference being that those displaced form good paying manufacturing jobs are not ready to take entry level service jobs.
Well the jobs are not coming back and if you expect the Government to fix this you are clearly looking for a handout. Its not the Governments fault or the Governments responsibility to fix it, anymore than it ever was.
The jobs left because the business owners determined it was more profitable to automate and use the cheaper labor available in foreign countries. Purely an economic decision and an outgrowth of our capitalistic system. Yes, trade agreements facilitated some of this but the trade agreements were not the cause. The price differential is normally so great that the jobs were going anyway. Further these products are sold globally so having import duties increases the cost to us and makes our products and services harder to sell.
Its not nice being the victim is an economic or social transformation, but the forces at work are not going to go away or reverse themselves.
Now while this is going on we are in the midst of a number of social economic changes that impact certain people more than others. The country has been moving to a service economy for quite a few years now. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but any change like that has winners and losers.
If you are in the group that doesn't have the right skills to succeed in the new reality, you may get bitter. You want to blame somebody. Its no comfort to be told that you are an unfortunate victim of a global phenomenon that ultimately benefits the great majority with more efficient economies.
Losing a high paying manufacturing job and having to work in a lower paying service job is clearly not a good experience and might make you feel that the economy has collapsed. Well your economy has collapsed because of two factors. Globalization and training.
If you have the right skills for the current economy you can do very well. If you don't you won't. Of course this is no different than manufacturing with the biggest difference being that those displaced form good paying manufacturing jobs are not ready to take entry level service jobs.
Well the jobs are not coming back and if you expect the Government to fix this you are clearly looking for a handout. Its not the Governments fault or the Governments responsibility to fix it, anymore than it ever was.
The jobs left because the business owners determined it was more profitable to automate and use the cheaper labor available in foreign countries. Purely an economic decision and an outgrowth of our capitalistic system. Yes, trade agreements facilitated some of this but the trade agreements were not the cause. The price differential is normally so great that the jobs were going anyway. Further these products are sold globally so having import duties increases the cost to us and makes our products and services harder to sell.
Its not nice being the victim is an economic or social transformation, but the forces at work are not going to go away or reverse themselves.
Monday, August 15, 2016
More Thoughts
Its been very hot in much of the country and we have terrible floods in Louisiana. I note that people who like to proclaim cold weather disproves Global Warming don't react to these sort of things. Of course what is happening is just weather and doesn't by itself show anything, just like the cold didn't, but seems like they are inconsistent.
Based on news reports we are going to hear from the Republican candidate today that we should work with anyone who is fighting a common enemy and stop "Nation Building". Of course I still believe we are a beacon to the rest of the world supporting American values and should oppose oppression where ever it exists. This type of policy simply is immoral.
You have to feel a little sorry for the vice presidential candidate who actually comes across as sane. However considering his oppressive and bigoted policies I can't really feel that way.
Americans who try to tell others how they should live their lives because it doesn't meet their own sense of what is right should look at why so many colonists came here. The good news is that this type of thinking is almost non existent in our young people. Freedom is not subjective.
History shows us that nations can give up their liberty and freedom in return for promised safety. Its always ended up being a hollow promise because once the freedom is gone, you are no longer safe from Government oppression.
Some people feel the election is just about over. If you feel that you don't need to vote, whatever side you support, you are wrong. Participation is the most important aspect of a Democracy.
For those people who think the economy is terrible and things have gotten worse, you need to stop watching fox news and get some actual data.
People accuse the Democratic candidate of so many things and then again nothing. Of course we have self fulfilling hatred since failure to prove her wrongdoings only proves how sneaky she really is. Shes been in the public eye and hated so long its time to realize their in nothing actually there.
With all the sources of information we have available now, why we have so many people accept obvious falsehoods is hard to understand. Do a little research folks.
Based on news reports we are going to hear from the Republican candidate today that we should work with anyone who is fighting a common enemy and stop "Nation Building". Of course I still believe we are a beacon to the rest of the world supporting American values and should oppose oppression where ever it exists. This type of policy simply is immoral.
You have to feel a little sorry for the vice presidential candidate who actually comes across as sane. However considering his oppressive and bigoted policies I can't really feel that way.
Americans who try to tell others how they should live their lives because it doesn't meet their own sense of what is right should look at why so many colonists came here. The good news is that this type of thinking is almost non existent in our young people. Freedom is not subjective.
History shows us that nations can give up their liberty and freedom in return for promised safety. Its always ended up being a hollow promise because once the freedom is gone, you are no longer safe from Government oppression.
Some people feel the election is just about over. If you feel that you don't need to vote, whatever side you support, you are wrong. Participation is the most important aspect of a Democracy.
For those people who think the economy is terrible and things have gotten worse, you need to stop watching fox news and get some actual data.
People accuse the Democratic candidate of so many things and then again nothing. Of course we have self fulfilling hatred since failure to prove her wrongdoings only proves how sneaky she really is. Shes been in the public eye and hated so long its time to realize their in nothing actually there.
With all the sources of information we have available now, why we have so many people accept obvious falsehoods is hard to understand. Do a little research folks.
Sunday, August 14, 2016
American Value - Fairness
Generally most people I know have a certain sense of what they think is fair. This is a value that is taught us to us at an early age. We like to think that we treat others fairly and would want to be treated fairly by others.
The point is that fairness is something that doesn't actually exist in the natural world. Animals hunting for food don't care about being fair.
There is also no fairness on the battlefield. Ultimately when people are trying to kill each other neither one is willing to die for fairness. The best tactic is to apply overwhelming force using the element of surprise.
This carries forward to the business world. Here of course some fairness is imposed by outside forces, but remove that and we would see true ruthlessness.
Fairness only exists where it is imposed by an authority, parents, referees and umpires, and Government agencies. Even then it is only at best unequally imposed. From the day of our birth some are fortunate, living in comfortable homes, going to good schools and having a support network while others are raised in substandard conditions, eating irregularly and going to sub par schools.
A recent study showed that the best indicator of what are adult status would be is the status of our parents. Yes some overcome their humble beginnings and some descend the social ladder, but these are by no means the norms and require some extraordinary motivation or talent.
We pretend opportunity exists for all and point to the few success stories as examples, but statistically the number that overcome there beginnings is not the norm, it is the rare exception.
This is such an ingrained issue in our society that I'm not sure it is solvable in the conventional sense, but I do know that ignoring it is not the answer.
The point is that fairness is something that doesn't actually exist in the natural world. Animals hunting for food don't care about being fair.
There is also no fairness on the battlefield. Ultimately when people are trying to kill each other neither one is willing to die for fairness. The best tactic is to apply overwhelming force using the element of surprise.
This carries forward to the business world. Here of course some fairness is imposed by outside forces, but remove that and we would see true ruthlessness.
Fairness only exists where it is imposed by an authority, parents, referees and umpires, and Government agencies. Even then it is only at best unequally imposed. From the day of our birth some are fortunate, living in comfortable homes, going to good schools and having a support network while others are raised in substandard conditions, eating irregularly and going to sub par schools.
A recent study showed that the best indicator of what are adult status would be is the status of our parents. Yes some overcome their humble beginnings and some descend the social ladder, but these are by no means the norms and require some extraordinary motivation or talent.
We pretend opportunity exists for all and point to the few success stories as examples, but statistically the number that overcome there beginnings is not the norm, it is the rare exception.
This is such an ingrained issue in our society that I'm not sure it is solvable in the conventional sense, but I do know that ignoring it is not the answer.
Saturday, August 13, 2016
American Values 2
The Bill of Rights guarantees us Freedom of Speech. This is not absolute since we still have laws against slander and libel, but everyone has the right to express their opinion.
Of course it should be pointed out that the Bill of Rights only limits the Government, not other people so if you express an unpopular opinion you may very well suffer social consequences.
In the not so distant past, getting your opinions heard outside of your soapbox range was sometimes difficult and required press coverage or possibly widespread word of mouth. Now of course we have social media and there a chance that something will "go viral" and spread like, well a virus.
This is both good and bad. In the past we had some filters on what we were exposed to. Possibly the filters were bad but in general the media followed certain rules related to integrity. There has always been some media that didn't follow those rules and regularly reported space alien abductions, but we knew what those publications were and while some were faithful and believing readers it was pretty clearly a fringe group.
However we now have so much bad information available that the only real filter is self imposed. I'm not the first to say this but not everything posted on the internet is true. Just finding some story that alleges some outrageous accusation doesn't mean the person actually did anything.
There are ways to check, fact checking and urban legend web sites help, but I see so much misinformation repeated without any "filter" that I don't think the sites are used as much as they should be.
Every freedom has a corresponding responsibility that requires us to use our freedom wisely. In the rise of many dictators going back to ancient Rome and probably before, it was the strong leader who promised to restore public morals and greatness that ended up taking freedoms away from everybody.
Our freedoms are precious and we need to respect them, not abuse them.
Of course it should be pointed out that the Bill of Rights only limits the Government, not other people so if you express an unpopular opinion you may very well suffer social consequences.
In the not so distant past, getting your opinions heard outside of your soapbox range was sometimes difficult and required press coverage or possibly widespread word of mouth. Now of course we have social media and there a chance that something will "go viral" and spread like, well a virus.
This is both good and bad. In the past we had some filters on what we were exposed to. Possibly the filters were bad but in general the media followed certain rules related to integrity. There has always been some media that didn't follow those rules and regularly reported space alien abductions, but we knew what those publications were and while some were faithful and believing readers it was pretty clearly a fringe group.
However we now have so much bad information available that the only real filter is self imposed. I'm not the first to say this but not everything posted on the internet is true. Just finding some story that alleges some outrageous accusation doesn't mean the person actually did anything.
There are ways to check, fact checking and urban legend web sites help, but I see so much misinformation repeated without any "filter" that I don't think the sites are used as much as they should be.
Every freedom has a corresponding responsibility that requires us to use our freedom wisely. In the rise of many dictators going back to ancient Rome and probably before, it was the strong leader who promised to restore public morals and greatness that ended up taking freedoms away from everybody.
Our freedoms are precious and we need to respect them, not abuse them.
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