A Fortune to Give Away

According to Steve Jordan, writing in the December 29th edition of Omaha.com, Warren Buffet is not a success at everything. It seems there’s one thing he’s struggling with.

Here’s what Mr. Jordan has to say,

“Warren Buffett failed to make headway this year in his quest to turn his fortune over to charity. The 30 percent increase in Berkshire’s stock price this year is the culprit.
Despite his July donation of a record $2.6 billion worth of shares in Berkshire Hathaway Inc., the Omaha-based conglomerate he heads, the paper value of Buffett’s holdings increased during 2013 from $47 billion to $59.3 billion.”

How does one fail in a quest to turn one’s fortune over to charity? Did he accidentally misplace the decimal point on the check? Hello, Mr. Buffet, I think I know how to get rid of that fortune.

There are a lot of people out there that are worth a lot of money, and a great many of them give a great deal of it away to charities. Unlike Mr. Buffet though, a lot of people choose not to pass that information on.

The cynic in me is reminded of the rich man who, when Christ told him to give everything away, ended up walking away.

I don’t know Warren Buffet, so I can’t speak to the motives of his heart. Perhaps he wants to be an inspiration so that others will do the same. Personally, I think we're better off when we don't let the left hand know what the right hand is doing.

Leaving Substance for Image leaves little room for true political understanding

Chuck Raasch, writing for realclearpolitics.com, recently published an article titled, "The Death of Writing, and Its Impact on Our Politics."
The author says that since the civil war,

"...we have evolved from word to image creatures, devaluing the power of the written word and turning ourselves into a species of short gazers, focused on the emotions of the moment rather than the contemplative thoughts about consequences and meaning of our actions."

Focusing on the emotions of the moment is the zeitgeist of the 21st century. It is the bedrock that supports Facebook, texting, and tweeting. A picture no longer need be worth a thousand words. It simply has to convey an emotional appeal. Image reigns supreme in today's society. Singers are judged as much on their looks and performance as they are their talent, as are actors and to some extent authors.

Raasch says we are content with sound bites. Even the 30 second sound bite is archaic.
The worst impact of all this is on our politics. We ignore substance and exult imagery. Ask yourself: Who was the last fat President? Who was the last bearded one? Candidates are hyped with flashy advertisements designed not to enhance the understanding of his or her positions on issues, rather the candidate's charisma and style, the ability to toss out a quick barb or derisive comment.

I don't know what to think of Governor Christie of New Jersey, because I am uncertain of his stand on many political issues, but I know a lot of people see him as no more than a buffoon. Why? The comedians and other politicians constantly deride him because of his weight. If they spent as much time studying the issues as they do making jokes, we wouldn't have such a dysfunctional government.

Innocent Fun

As a public affairs host, I get tons of offers to cover topics ranging from dog whisperers to Pastors that can make you a millionaire overnight.

You can call me naive, but here's one I never would have imagined. 

Cheating websites.

And I'm not talking card games. Here was a chance to interview the woman behind one of the most successful marital cheating sites. The idea was repugnant enough for me to delete the email straightaway.

But shortly, another similar offer came.  So I did a search to find out if it was a joke or not.

It was no joke. A customer of the site wrote an article based upon her experiences for a Toronto magazine. She described how a "friend" told her about the site, and how exciting it was. It didn't appear to take long for her to begin fantasizing about discreet relationships with men other than her husband, whom she described at the beginning as faithful, loving, supportive of her career, and a wonderful father.

She catalogued her many attempts to find a man who would excite her sexually, and her frustration with the time it was taking. But she persevered.

Eventually she found a man who met her preliminary criteria. But it turned out, much to her dismay, that he was a flop in bed.

And as pitiful as the idea was to begin with, her reaction was worse. She became disenchanted with the site, because she couldn't find anyone that she wanted to hook up with. After several failed attempts at extramarital sex, she gave up and, as she put it, settled for her devoted and supportive husband because at least he was good in bed.

It takes two to tango, and these sites are rife with both men and women of this ilk. 

Thankfully, all the replies to the articles were unified in their condemnation of her actions and those of the men she wanted to cheat with.

I feel sorry for her. She understands what she is trying to do would destroy her family, but does it anyway.

I feel sorry for her husband. He's being cuckolded and blissfully thinks his wife is pure.

Mostly I feel sorry for their children. That she is who she is, and what influence she might have on them.

Unfortunate Truths

Perhaps the biggest missing piece in the government funding debate is the fact that revenues generated by taxation exceed the amount necessary to cover the interest on the national debt. This important fact has been ignored or glossed over by both left and right. Why?

Political gain and expediency.

For the Democrats, this is an unfortunate truth that belies the notion that the United States must reach a funding accord or the nation will default on its loans. The truth is we need simply to pay the interest on said debt to prevent defaulting.

For the Republicans, this is an unfortunate truth that removes the hammer they wield in the argument over funding the Affordable Care Act.

Another unfortunate truth is that both sides would rather risk the future solvency of the nation than risk losing their jobs. Both parties run to the cookie jar when constituents clamor for more of anything, fearful of the backlash of unhappy voters. Meanwhile the debt grows.

The Republican answer to the debt is to reduce spending. But what spending should be cut? Every dollar spent by the Federal Government is precious to someone who benefits by it. The idea that raising taxes diminishes job growth has helped to underpinned their argument, but not as much as they hoped.

The Democrat answer is to increase taxes. But which taxes? Rich, poor, and everyone in between wants to keep as much of their income as possible. With so much uncertainty in the world, there is a great desire to keep what's been earned for that impending "rainy day." The class warfare angle has helped, but not as much as they hoped.

The answer will come from "We the People." And I'm afraid we won't like the result.

Another unfortunate truth. Without a change in the hearts of citizens, chaos will inevitably ensue. We see it already. The rule of law is becoming an anachronism. From the smallest things, like ignoring red lights and stop signs because they are inconvenient or the rationale that no one will get hurt if I simply don't stop, to students willing to cheat en masse through cell phones rather than study, to elected officials openly admitting they will not obey the laws of their state and nation.

Jeremiah 17:9 says

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it"

The influence of Judeo-Christian values once mitigated much of the damage done in society, but that influence is eroding quickly. The backlash against such influence is fueled in large part out of a desire to fulfill the needs of self over the needs of the many. Truth that inhibits an individual's personal choices is not only inconvenient, it is seen as unfair. Tolerance is the byword, but like the rule of law it is disbursed judiciously, and only when it doesn't conflict with self gratification.

Law breeds contempt. Contempt breeds chaos. Chaos breeds anarchy. Anarchy breeds Destruction.

Jeremiah 17:10 says

I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds."

A Little More Salt, Please

We are not salt in the community, and all too many churches have become love clubs. They preach the love of Christ minus commitment to His teachings. In a well intentioned desire to reach as many as possible they have abandoned truth in favor of full pews.

But regarding Salt in society and the consequences of the lack thereof. I have been struggling with that. Under a king or dictator, choice is simple. Obey or face the penalty for disobedience. But in a Democracy, we ARE the government.

Our best choice I believe is to preach the Gospel in its entirety, to all who will listen. Then in peace and love affect change through voting rights. BUT, man's laws are not at the heart of the problem. It's the heart. When the laws are contrary to the Word, like abortion and euthanasia laws, we are commanded to oppose, but in truth and love. We wrestle not against flesh and blood. And the very freedoms we cherish in this country are the ones that allow society to sink to the lowest common denominator.

Walking Humbly

How are we to respond to social evils and immorality? This is a huge question. Unfortunately, too many of us aren't even aware of it. We see society accepting things that are clearly contrary to the Word of God and we scream at the top of our lungs, No! Acceptance of homosexuality and homosexual marriage, abortion, euthanasia, pornography, child abuse, human trafficking…The list is endless.

The trouble we have is that while we see sin for what it is, we spend too much time focusing on the sinner,and in the wrong way.

Yes, these things are wrong and they should not be sanctioned. But attacking the sinner is like throwing the baby  out with the bathwater. 

As emissaries of the One True King, ought we not behave that way? 

Micah 6:8 says 

He has shown you, o man, what is good
and what the Lord requires of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?

Its a question. What does the Lord require of you? The world loves the darkness. We are to be the light. But in truth and love.

We don't have to compromise our beliefs, but we don't have to compromise our love for the lost either.

What would Dr. King say?

In a recent press release, Dr. Alveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, said the following,

Why can't we have health care that provides healthy bodies for our families without the death and destruction offered by harmful contraceptives and abortions? I'm a mother and a grandmother. My girls do not need free contraceptives and abortions. My sons and grandsons don't need free condoms and easy access to abortions for the females in their relationships. They all need good education, healthy meals, decent homes and healthy morals and values.

The breakdown of morality in this country has emboldened liberal politicians to push contraceptive and abortion funding to the point where they will not negotiate on either point. The Department of Health and Human Services is charged with protecting the safety and well being of our citizens, but this is done selectively. To mandate that all health plans provide free contraceptives and abortion pills is to omit the safety of boys and girls at their most vulnerable age, and to encourage men to ignore their responsibilities in creating life and women in carrying life.

In a 1967 Christmas sermon, Martin Luther King said "The next thing we must be concerned about if we are to have peace on earth and good will toward men is the nonviolent affirmation of the sacredness of all human life. ...Man is a child of God, made in His image, and therefore must be respected as such."

In the eyes of the architects of the HHS mandate, human life is not sacred, is not made in the image of God, and does not deserve respect.

 http://www.theconservativepundit.net/?page_id=1155

Shutdown Over Failure

I am so tired of the partisan politics in my country. But I am even more tired of the relentless obfuscation of the truth by the press.

Shortly after the midnight deadline passed, and the Federal Government shut down, BBC News ran with this lead,

The US government has begun a partial shutdown after the Republican-led House of Representatives refused to approve a budget for next year.

The House actually has passed numerous budget bills, several this week in fact. They just weren't anything the Senate like enough to sign onto. Whether or not you agree with their stance on the issues or their decision making, you should still portray the facts accurately.

This is also from the BBC article,

Shortly after midnight, President Obama tweeted: "They actually did it. A group of Republicans in the House just forced a government shutdown over Obamacare instead of passing a real budget."

 It may be true that the President tweeted those remarks, but his argument is disingenuous. He knows full well that both parties are to blame. The Republicans may not be willing to make concessions, but neither are the Democrats.


CNN's coverage began innocently and accurately enough,

"The two sides bickered and blamed each other for more than a week over Obamacare, the president's signature health care law. House Republicans insisted the spending bill include anti-Obamacare amendments. Senate Democrats were just as insistent that it didn't."

But soon drifted.

"Democratic Rep. Chris Van Hollen said the reason there wasn't a budget deal is because Republicans refused to negotiate months ago.

 "They want to go to conference with 45 minutes left," Van Hollen said late Monday night. "That is a recipe for a government shutdown."

Again, the budget process didn't begin the night of the shutdown. Publishing falsehoods and misrepresentations muddies the waters and leaves one wondering if this wasn't one of the purposes for such reporting in the first place.

The comment on CNN, that "The two sides bickered and blamed each other for more than a week over Obamacare, the president's signature health care law," doesn't tell the whole story either. The truth is the gauntlet was thrown down when the Affordable Care Act was voted upon and signed into law before more than a few had a chance to read it, and before anyone had the the time to digest it.It was pushed fast and furiously by the administration, as though to get it into law before anyone could dissect it.

The Republicans lost when enough of them helped make it law. They will lose this round as well, because the Democratic Party has claimed, with great support from the 5th Estate, the moral high ground.

Holding Shares

A lot is made of large conglomerates and their impact on humanity. Whether its a multinational banking and investment firm, a big box retailer, pharmaceutical manufacturer, or a firm like Monsanto that has made it big in the genetic engineering of agricultural products, there's just something about businesses so big that we cannot grasp their enormity, nor can we find it in ourselves to accept them.

I think we have a basic class envy when it comes to successful companies. Like the proletariate of ancient Rome, we lack the where-with -all to be as prosperous and we see them as the enemy.

I'm not saying these companies are lily white in their dealings. The truth is any company that is beholden to its shareholders will behave in a dispassionate manner when dealing with the public and the planet. The bottom line takes precedent.

But why? Because unless they have no competition they must guard tooth and nail against falling behind and that means making decisions that do not benefit anyone but those stockholders.

Is Monsanto creating a cabal bent on controlling the world? Is Walmart bent on eliminating all mom and pop shops? I doubt either of these is true, but their business practices make such ends inevitable.

Ultimately, its stockholders that are letting this happen. And will until the money stops.

Incubating Hostility

Yes, its been a long time between postings.

The 2012 elections are only a memory. Obamacare is wriggling its way into our lives, both corporately and privately. The Fiscal Cliff has been sidestepped for the moment. The debt ceiling is proving to be as nimble as the Cheshire Cat.

And yet we survive.

The question is for how long? While special interests jockey for position in the buffet line that is the Federal teat, liberals and conservatives argue over increases in spending, cuts in spending, spending for the sake of spending.

And they kick the can a little farther down the road.

Sooner or later, someone's going to have to pay for all of this. Or, can we really get away with simply printing more and more money? Did it work for the Weimar Republic? Will Greece, Italy, and Spain ever prosper again without the EU printing more and more Euros?

In a perfect world, everyone would have plentiful health care, food, and shelter. Everyone would be in agreement and everyone would be happy to give to those who have not. But this is not the world we are developing.

Big government is an incubator.

Taking from those with more to give to those in need instills a sense of unfairness among those who are being taken from. This doesn't mean they are stingy, miserly, or mean spirited. It means they resent someone else deciding who should benefit from their hard work.

The intent is noble to be sure. And in some instances it takes a governmental institution to get something accomplished. But like everything else in our society we have let the pendulum swing too far.

Rather than encouraging hard working folks to reach into their pockets and give a helping hand to those in need, big government takes what it believes is its fair share and does the redistributing itself. This does nothing to engender philanthropy and everything to develop a bunker mentality when it comes to taxes of any kind.

Giving what it takes from others instills in those receiving a sense of resentment that they must accept handouts, presumably taken from those who are wealthy enough to have more than they need and who are forced through taxation to share. It creates animosity and class welfare. It creates anger in those who receive when they feel threatened at the thought of losing any of the handouts that they need.

Even the nomenclature instills animosity. Entitlements - This is not just needed, it is deserved. Rich- If you own more than I do you are rich and if you are rich you must have gotten that way on the backs of the poor.

Steadily, we are driving a wedge between these two groups.

For the last fifty years, the government has made itself the final arbiter in matters of conscience. We have driven God from the public arena. He cannot be mentioned in schools, courts, or other public venues. We are told this makes our schools, courts, etc, safer for all. We need not worry about someone trying to force their morality on us any longer.

But morality, like space, abhors a vacuum. The religious morality that sought to instill things like a sense of fair play, sharing with your neighbor, kindness to strangers, respect for others, has been replaced with the teaching of the good of the state. The state will tell you what fair is, who your neighbor is, what kindness is, who deserves respect.

We are the government. We have met the enemy, at it is us.