Lies

Everyone abhors lies and liars right?  Everyone lies?  Even if they set out to be totally honest in their interactions with others, at some point individuals will inadvertently tell a lie, either through carelessness, misunderstanding or by the convenient omission of the truth.

In my own personal life I strive to always tell the truth because I really never want to be found to be incorrect when spouting off my opinion or facts that I have somehow ascertained.  I expect people I deal with in business and my personal life to be equally honest and truthful.    I especially hope that our elected official and candidates for office will be truthful and honest and display the highest level in integrity in their communications with their constituents.  I know some of them have proven to be more than humanly fallible and failed the American people miserably (i.e. Richard Nixon, John Edwards, Bill Clinton, Sarah Palin, etc.,). 

So, I have a question for you.  How can it be that one of the leading candidates currently campaigning to lead our country is found and proved to be lying every single day of the campaign?  I recently read a great article sent to me by my friend Holly, written by Michael Cohen who writes on guardian.co.uk.  He meticulously spells out the pattern of lies that Mitt repeats daily, despite being disproved or disavowed by credible authorities.  It hasn’t stopped Mitt one little bit.  To read the entire (rather lengthy ) article go to http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jun/21/mendacious-mitt-romney-bid-liar-in-chief?INTCMP=SRCH

Also see Rachel Maddow’s blog community page and compare the data compiled by Steve Benen, a blogger and producer. http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/01/12010806-chronicling-mitts-mendacity-vol-xx?lite

When asked how he gets away with it, Benen replies, "Romney gets away with it because he and his team realize contemporary political journalism isn't equipped to deal with a candidate who lies this much, about so many topics, so often."

Romney is charting new and untraveled waters in American politics. In the process, he is cynically eroding the fragile sense of trust that exists between voters and politicians. It's almost enough to make one pine for the days when Sarah Palin lied about "the Bridge to Nowhere".

How long will the media give Romney a pass?  How long will he go against the very standards of his own church that purportedly values honesty?  Is the church expendable as long as he gets the presidency that he feels so entitled to?   How long will his nose actually get?

Too Much!!!!

When is too much too much?  When is it way over the top?   Where did the respect go?  Respect for our fellow citizens, for each other, for elected officials, for the Office of the President of the United States?

It starts at the top when someone in authority or aspiring to power pretends not to hear a derogatory comment or they choose to interpret it as harmless and inconsequential.  When the so called leader refuses to refute or even repudiate a slur or accusation that is basically an out and out lie, they are in essence giving credence to the lie.  The enormous amount of race-baiting and racist inuendo in our country's politics is alarming.  "The president is a Muslim"; Black people want to just lounge on the safety net built by hard working White Citizens".  "Black youth are all strong and dangerous to White people in particular - you had better buy a gun to protect yourself when they inevitably will come to car-jack your vehicle.  You can always through the gun away later and claim self-defense."  These last words come from the writings of a current presidential candidate (Ron Paul).  "I don't want to take money away from hardworking white people and give it to Black people"- Rick Santorum.  When Chuck Grassley of Iowa calls the president stupid in Social media,  or Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina yells out 'You Lie' during the State of the Union speech in January 2009.

The loss of decency in our  civil discourse does indeed trickle down.  If people at the top don't need to refrain from derogatory comments about our leaders, then why do we as individual citizens need to do likewise?  It's open season on name-calling, lying through our teeth, and casting aspersions on the 'other side'.  The blatant disrespect shown by Joe Wilson was so enamored by gun lovers that the line has been commemorated on a line of AR-15 assault rifles by being etched on the metal plate.


As a former teacher, I recall all too clearly how name calling and bullying almost invariably lead to fisticuffs if not out and out violence on the playground.  Quite often it spilled out into the community following the dismissal of school.   My perspective today is that the harsh, vitriolic language being used at the higher echelons of our political rapport is rubbing off and spilling out on all of us as American,  and we have no one to hold us accountable because the leaders are so engrossed themselves in one-ups-manship in an effort to make the other guy or other side look bad, they can't restrain themselves long enough to caution us on the dangers of deriding and denigrating each other.  What is to really be won when in effect you will end up with a populace incapable of being governed peacefully or bi-partisanly?  Is our future to be based totally on who can call out the worst and loudest names or challenges.  Have the most derogatory commercials.  Tell the most lies.  On who can tarnish the reputation and character of the other guy the most?  


Have we totally forgotten how that diverse group of founding fathers worked together, sometimes against their own interests, to bring together a nation founded on ideals that would benefit all of it's citizens, not just the privileged or wealthy?  We haven't reached the pinnacle of that dream yet, and we never will if we can only look forward to name-calling and destructive dialogue, rather than holding our elected leaders accountable for being the best they can be, as well as doing what is best for all of their constituents.  

Decisions and Actions

Part 1

This is an exciting time in my life.  It gives me pause to reconsider many of the decision and actions I have taken over the course of 65-plus years.  I have so many regrettable decisions, but I also have a million good ones that I consider with awe. 

When you are eighteen and just leaving high school, you literally have the world ahead of you.  It's a big, unknown, scary world that you are going to be asked to navigate by yourself.  Forge the way for your future without the wise leadership of your wise parents (funny, how they didn’t always seem so wise in the not too distant past) and family?

So many questions…

·      What kind of job?

·      Should I still continue to go to school?

·      Should I get married soon, while I am still young?

·      Will I still stay in this community that has nurtured me?

·      Will my friends remain a part of my life?

·      Literally, where do I go from here?

·      Should I get married or not?

One thing seems obvious – you’re lucky enough to be in Southern California, Sooooo, let’s go to the beach!!!!  No problem.

Today, I approach decisions and actions from a totally new perspective.  Unfortunately, it still involves fear.  It is scary to contemplate the waning years of your life knowing that resources (mainly money) will be more and more limited, and that energy and enthusiasm can be sapped by the day-to-day problems of a senior citizen.  While individuals and agencies that provide for health care and social needs are still available, that too is had at an alarmingly increasing cost. 

The government and agencies that we used to trust and count on for their integrity and good will toward all American citizens no longer really exists nor represents the best interests of the citizenry as a whole; but only their own few vested interests.  Representatives only want to court corporations and entities that will fill their pockets and help them get re-elected.  Our courts are tainted by political affiliations and a lack of concern for true, balanced and fair decisions that will assure justice for years to come.

I never really anticipated feeling helpless or hopeless in my life and so far I still don’t.  I can see however, how some individuals who don’t have the modest financial security or familial support that I do, might feel an overwhelming sense of powerlessness.  I feel bad that you are considered a blight on society if you are old and are in need of assistance of some kind.   It is also true if you are in need because of bad decisions that you have made at some point in your life and are now suffering (living in the) consequences.  

I feel overwhelmed by the challenges that face us as individuals and as a country.  No one is given a pass as we make decisions that will impact our children and grandchildren’s future.  We should be afraid – very afraid that our way of life will soon disappear and we will become an Oligarchy where only the very rich and powerful have control and are able to live a good life.  The American Dream in severe jeopardy….  Oh dear, what more can I do?  What more can I say?  One thing seems obvious – although I’m not still living in Southern California, I still say, let’s go to the beach!!!!  However, please understand there will be problems and consequences if that is all we do.