WHen Nothing Else Will Do . . . "Its The Word of God"

When Nothing Else Will Do . . .  “Its The Word of God”.

The opinions that are held with passion are always those for which no good ground exists; indeed the passion is the measure of the holder’s lack of rational conviction. Opinions in politics and religion are almost always held passionately. Bertrand Russell

The quote from Bertrand Russell sets the stage for what I am thinking. Today we see all manner of conservative evangelical pronouncements as to the “correct way to live”. When challenged the usual and to be expected response is “It’s the Word of God”.

This is such a defenseless position. It precludes any discussion and it presumes to be the final answer. Neither are possible.

Those who continue to dwell in the land of Biblical Literalism are living in a world that simply does not exist.  The “God” that they insist speaks on such matters is simply a creation of their own. It is a cosmic security blanket which they throw over themselves when the way they believe the world to be is challenged.

The insistence to assert that some anthropomorphic entity exists somewhere out in the cosmos and that this entity is some how mysteriously connected to only the cosmically sensitive few that can filter or interpret the noise they understand as “God Speech”, is patently absurd and completely middle ages.

The current arguments against a woman’s right to chose and the rampant homophobia and arguments against equal rights is ludicrous, at best and bigoted in intent.

The argument always boils down to a statement contending that all of these issues are addressed in the Bible. One can not entertain a discussion with a conservative evangelical without being aware that they have nothing to fall back on except – It’s the Word of God.

I want to suggest that neither issue is a matter of faith. These are Civil Rights issues. This is a nation founded on the Principle of Freedom and Liberty for every citizen. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. pointed out when we deny freedom to one of us we deny freedom to all of us.

In spite of what Tony Perkins and others of his ilk want to assert – it is not a “Christian” value to deny women their right to decide about their personal health issues. It is not a “Christian” value to deny Gays and Lesbians the right to join together in meaningful relationship that are life affirming and there by deny them complete participation in the system of social support that heterosexual couples enjoy.

For the bigoted and biased position that is currently being presented as “Christian” to go unchallenged is shameful. The Carpenter named Jesus spent his life, short as it was, challenging the “religious” zealots of his day. The conservative position is always, in lieu of having a reasonable and rational foundation, to fall back on some external code of behavior which they are comfortable with and find security in. The Jesus event was and is a life affirming, life compelling, life encouraging experience. What these bigots offer is none of that. They offer judgmental, self righteous bigotry. “The kind of man who always thinks that he is right, that his opinions, his pronouncements, are the final word, when once exposed shows nothing there. But a wise man has much to learn without a loss of dignity.” Sophocles made that statement and its wisdom rings pure today.

Another great and wise individual, Thomas Jefferson said “I never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever, in religion, in philosophy, in politics, or in anything else, where I was capable of thinking for myself. Such an addiction is the last degradation of a free and moral agent. If I could not go to heaven but with a party, I would not go there at all. Jefferson understood the mindless, confining nature of dogmatic belief.

It may be that those who must have a cosmic security blanket under which to hide from the realities of life will continue to live among us that, however, does not mean they have the right to determine the quality of life for others. Let them believe what they will and dwindle away as the tide of history and civilization moves on.

A modern man of great talent and business acumen said “Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice.” Whether you were a fan of Steve Jobs or not really does not take away from that insight.

Those who believe that life is more than trying to fulfill some ancient doctrine or a desire to be told how to be a whole and productive human being, must not allow negativism to stand in the way of being those who can and are willing to think for themselves and act in humane and compassionate ways toward one another - - yes even to those who will deny that we have a place in “their” society.

This is not a matter of “God Speak” or any other so-called “religious” imperative. It is a matter of human compassion, justice and mercy, which one might argue are the real essence of the Jesus Event.

Franklin Graham is in no way comparable to his father. Billy Graham rode the wave of revivalism that swept the nation in the 1950 -1960s. It was driven by the fear mongering of certain politicians of the Joe McCarthy type. That world is in the past. Granted we have our own issues and concerns. The point is, the issues of security and survival have moved beyond the need for some sort of cosmic super hero that will save the day and then dictate the conditions for continued protection.

To restate a previous point: When we deny a freedom to anyone, any group or any gender, we have denied that freedom to everyone. Dr. King said it best when he said “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” and again “History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.”   - Don Nelson

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Heresy of Evangelical Religion

THE HERESY of EVANGELICAL RELIGION

Heresy refers to the corruption of specific religious doctrines. It matters little what specific religious tradition one studies or considers – heresy is evident when basic foundational moral beliefs are corrupted or redefined to fit contemporary ‘socio-political’ purposes. When the religious principles are redefined so as to support a specific ideology – there is the beginning of Heresy.

Heresy exists when that which is moral, ethical and life affirming becomes tainted with bias and hatred. Heresy exists when a, so called, religious demographic becomes politicized and moves from compassionate caring to judgmental pronouncements. Heresy exists when any organized body calling itself ‘The Church’ adopts positions that denigrate any group of human beings and subjects those human beings to discriminatory treatment. Heresy exists any time the principle of “Love” is narrowly defined, as if to imply any single human mind can know and understand the all encompassing, unconditional love which the Jesus Experience is supposed to make known to all people.

Heresy exists when any organized demographic claiming membership in the “Body of Christ” defines for the remainder of the church universal what it means to “Truly” belong to that august body. Heresy exists when there is intent to restrict the life experience of an individual in favor of enhancing that of another.

Heresy exists when a person – clergy or other leader – uses the public instrument of speech to insight a congregation or group to hatred of others because of ethnicity or religious belief. Heresy exists when anyone makes proclamations implying violence or hatred or suppression or oppression in the name of “God” and advocates disrespect, denigration or total rejection of others based on ethnicity, belief, nationality or sexual preference.

Heresy exists when any one particular, specific set of dogmatic beliefs or doctrine takes precedent over the very simple and straight forward admonitions of the Jewish Carpenter that taught those who listened that it is Love for one another that paves the way to a better life. By loving one another and caring about the struggles each member of the human race deals with every day and doing what we can, even in the smallest of ways, to assist and support each other in the daily life journey, we show the world the nature of what real community can be. As we live it we teach it. As we teach it we cultivate the Spirit that brings humanness to its fullest experience.

Heresy exists when anyone stands before the world and says love is not universal, love is not unconditional, love is selective and meant only for those who believe it is so.

The Evangelical Church has drifted from its position of showing the love of God to the world into a position of codified rules and by-laws which must be adhered to and honored. The Evangelical Church has become something other than what it was when first it became a witness to the love of God for all people. The Evangelical Church has turned inward upon itself. It is sick. The corruption which infects it is killing the message of hope and promise. Whatever it is, it is no longer the redemptive, restorative, reconciling member of the “Christian” movement that it once was.

The admonition to “Beware of false Prophets” has been ignored and the very people who are in need of the life affirming, life giving, and freeing word of Love are no longer hearers of that word nor do they believe in it. Rather the doctrine of ethnic mistrust, restrictive morality, unfettered nationalistic demagoguery and everything but the essence of a loving God is the message that they are presented with as ‘what’s good for them.’ When the message of ‘God’s Love’ is heard – it is qualified and selective. Restricted to only those who believe correctly and blindly follow as they are lead.

Heresy exists when the elemental basis of a Faith construct is corrupted. How can one say that it has happened? Listen! Observe! When there are words of hate not love, when ethnicity is presented in denigrating terms rather than as a human experience, when Nationalism takes precedence over Humanitarian concerns, when other’s faith traditions are denigrated and scorned, when the humanness of anyone is deemed less acceptable, regardless of the reason – there you have and can see what heresy is all about.

It is most readily apparent with groups that publicly demonstrate hate; somewhat less apparent are those instances when leaders teach hate and bigotry from inside their church.

Any word that feeds the fear and distrust of another human being, any word that advocates acts of violence such as organizing and armed militia in the name of some ‘god’ – certainly can’t be in the name of the God of Jesus. Any word that advocates gun ownership as a god given right. Heresy is not hard to define nor to see.

The Word of God is that we are to Love one another as first we were loved. We know about that love through the love we experience within community, within caring for one another, within compassion and forgiveness.

Heresy is when that Word becomes corrupt. Heresy is what a False Prophet teaches. Heresy is a cancer within the heart of the Evangelical Church.

Is it fair to make a blanket statement such as I have made. My response is that for those who feel it is not fair; live in such away that those who know you and see you will understand that the Word you allow to inform your life is not a Heresy.

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Time to Stop and Evaluate

Time to Stop and Evaluate the Progress Toward Fascism

  I am using the 14 points of Fascism developed by Milton Mayer as he examined the rise of Fascism in Germany during the 1933 – 45 time span. The extrapolations or interpretations are my own.

  It needs to be noted that there is no particular developmental ordering represented here. The points are simply listed because they exist and portend the development of a mindset that accepts governance that takes away personal freedoms and seeks to control both the individual and the state – for its own good.

  The first on the list, though it could appear anywhere, is A Powerful and continuing expression of nationalism. In the previous administration, the Bush years, this was much more obvious than it has been recently. It still continues, however, in the form of fear of things foreign that border on xenophobia. The often over the top expressions of patriotic fervor as in those expressed toward Iran, Palestine and Syria are cautionary indicators of how easy it is to fall victim to nationalism.

  The second, and for our current situation, the more obvious sign is disdain for the importance of human rights. Currently the attitude of the ruling elite is that Human Rights are of little value and a hindrance to realizing the objectives of control. Through the use of advertising and media the population is being shown that these various human rights violations are unimportant. The targets of the violation, woman and minorities are being marginalized and, in certain cases, demonized.

  Another, and very common point or marker on the road to Fascism, is the identification of ‘enemies/scapegoats’ as a unifying rallying point. Today those so identified are many. Take your pick: women, unemployed, homeless, minorities ( Latinos, Blacks, Asian, Native American), organized labor, liberals or conservatives, evangelical Christians or secularist, homosexuals and ‘terrorists’ (usually anyone actively opposing a specific regime is labeled a terrorist), the methodology is the same. Identify a specific demographic and the problem it is responsible for and then create negative public opinion. Organize attacks on those demographics and seek to neutralize or marginalize or ostracize them. This is perhaps one of the most obvious indicators and perhaps the singularly most telling for our future.

  Akin to the extreme emphasis on nationalism, perhaps going hand in hand with it is avid militarism. Perhaps not as urgent today as in prior years, but none the less when military budgets and funding take precedence over other national needs and are driven by a fear of foreign threat this is a cautionary sign.

  Perhaps the most alarming indicator for many in this nation today is a rise of rampant sexism. The unprecedented increase in Republican governed states attempting to legislate issues of women’s rights must raise warning flags across the land. Beyond the fact that those in the ruling elite are mainly males, there is a developing trend to relegate women to a second class citizen position. The fact that males dominate the rule making for women’s health and the support of ‘religious’ entities for such ruling is used to cover those in governing positions with a cloak of righteous acceptance. This is a consistent and pervasive characteristic in the historical development of Fascist regimes.

  Of course today mass media and its manipulation of information is classic to the development of public disinformation and devolution of intellectual content. In other words the ‘dumbing down’ of the general population. In most Fascist controlled regimes the leaders – corporate owners – of the mass media were often compatible with the power elite or one in the same.

  Another sign that might be grouped with the emphasis on nationalism and militarism is the obsession with national security. No one is suggesting that the nation ought to assume a complacent attitude regarding security. This ‘obsession with national security’ is something very different. It becomes an irrational, fear driven excuse to oppress the citizenry. It is justified under the rubric of protecting the ‘national security,’ and to question it is interpreted as unpatriotic or even treasonous earning the label ‘terrorist’ for those protesting.

  Another common and ever growing trend is the connection between religion and those in positions of power or influence. The propaganda surrounding this issue is that the ruling elite are defenders of the faith and those who oppose or disagree are ‘godless’ or secularists. The eventual goal is to create the appearance that the ruling elite are above reproach and anyone attacking or questioning the governance by them is attacking the convictions of their faith and religion itself. Sound frightfully familiar.

  Perhaps one of the most egregious and cautionary signs is the protection of the power of corporations. At this point in our nations development it has become a matter of Constitutional Law. Corporations are people and have the ultimate source of protection. Although the life of women are under direct attack and attempts to control them, corporations are able to operate in relative freedom with little to compromise them. We see today what has been observed in past Fascist regimes where the corporate elite are pampered by the politically elite to ensure that mutuality beneficial interests are continued, especially the repression of “have-not” citizens.

  Akin to the protection of corporations is the suppression of organized labor. Organized labor is seen today, much as it has been seen by Fascist regimes of the past, as the one power center that can challenge the Political hegemony of the ruling elite and its corporate allies. The goal of any developing Fascist movement is the crushing and exterminating of Organized Labor.

  A somewhat more subtle but none the less apparent sign on the devolving of society into a fascist state is the disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts. This is apparent as the attacks on funding for Public Broadcasting are pushed through. It is apparent in the attitudes of conservative media and political pundits. It is seen within the attacks on Public Education. Any time the Arts or Educational Media is attacked we ought to be alarmed.

  The current trend toward privatization of prisons and the corporations running them calling for 100% occupancy needs to alarm us. It is the Obsession with crime and punishment that clearly points to a trend that threatens society. Fascist regimes lump together ‘normal’ and political crime and make no distinction. Fear and hatred for anyone so labeled is promoted among the populace as an excuse for more police power.

  Today we call the next sign ‘lobbying’ or ‘special interest influence’ or just plane old bribery. Rampant cronyism and corruption where members of the powerful elite receive financial gifts and property from the economic elite, who in turn gain benefit of government favoritism.

  And finally, the problem that the Republicans want us to believe is prevalent in the nation – fraudulent elections. It is at the ballot box that Fascist regimes control and exact the desired result. It may be by denying certain demographics the right to vote or it might be through actual control of the election machinery. Attempts at disenfranchising and intimidating those who would otherwise cast opposing votes and as a final resort turning to a judiciary beholden to the political power elite.

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What's It All About

What’s it all about, Alfie?

The movie by that name was an interesting look into the life and troubles of a ‘playboy’.

What we are about today is way more serious than some Hollywood fantasy – it is about real people and real issues.

We are at a cross roads. One road makes a U-Turn and heads toward the past in an attempt to resurrect and breathe life into the failed policies long since shown to have failed. The other road stretches out before us; headed toward what can only be called uncertain times but allowing forward movement. It is a path that must be carefully charted and persistently developed.

The struggles of our time go beyond partisan ideological posturing. The road must not be littered with the corpses of disagreement and petty bickering. This is a fight of the people, for the people, by the people. It comes down to the contrarian position that we are the ones who have lost our voice. It is not for the Corporatists to have the voice in Governance. It is rather we the people that must take back what has been stolen from us under the guise of Corporate Personhood.

Class warfare is only as real as the People make it. Coalescing as a single voice we have the power to divest the Corporatists of the Ill gained position they currently hold. This is not a Patriarchy or a Monarchy – rather it is WE the People governing for the People and it happens by the People.

Today we experience the power of wealth. Oklahoma is not a state governed by a representative government. Today Oklahoma is ruled by a majority of one party. It is what has been called A Tyranny of the Majority. Alexis de Tocqueville observed American society and government and wrote:

 “  In America the majority raises formidable barriers around the liberty of opinion; within these barriers an author may write what he pleases, but woe to him if he goes beyond them….;. Before making public his opinions he thought he had sympathizers; now it seems to him that he has none any more since he has revealed himself to everyone; then those who blame him criticize loudly and those who think as he does keep quiet and move away without courage. He yields at length, overcome by the daily effort which he has to make, and subsides into silence, as if he felt remorse for having spoken the truth.”

Tocqueville correctly described the Democratic process and the ‘rule of the majority’ but he also correctly identified the demon within that process. By nature a segment of those governed are set aside while the majority has their way. That is, in another parlance, a no win or win/lose situation.

If, however, the constituency of the entire State or Nation were to gather together and collectively exercise the real power that has made this Nation great – the power of the Citizen – We the People – Made in the US of A commitment to once again having a voice and role in our Governance – the Tyranny of the Majority can be deposed and the throne of wealth destroyed.

The place where we the people need to move toward is where wealth, once again contributes to society. Where the very wealthiest among us take responsibility for and acknowledge that it is because they live and function within a free society; that they are bound ethically and morally to look for ways to contribute and assist in building up the Nation. The People should not expect less than fair and just sharing in the process of governance. The People must not passively or tacitly accept the status quo, any longer.

One of the gifts of the Occupy movement is that it is not pushing any particular idea other than that we are all, each and every one of us members of the 99%. It matters not what political persuasion you like, it matters not what ethnic demographic you belong to, it matters not what gender you happen to be or what gender preference you find meaning in. What matters is that you, me, and every other person who is now employed, working at the task of bettering ones life, or unemployed wanting to be in the position of being able to better themselves, or retired from spend years working in the employment of someone else and now trying to make ends meet within the Social Assistance programs that are available, home owner or homeless, able bodied or disabled, religious or non-religious, what matters is that we recognize the necessity to reclaim our personal dignity and voice.

Stop and think when was the last time you genuinely felt anyone in Government – Local, State or National cared whether you took another breath? When was the last time anyone took the time to sit with you and listen to your concerns? When was it? Yesterday? Last week? Perhaps, last month? Maybe during the last election cycle? When? I suspect that unless you are among the wealthiest or are in Corporation or have direct connection through special interest privilege – you have not been in the past nor can you expect to be in the future asked what you think or what you need.

What’s it all about – John, Mary, Sam, Suzzie?

It is about We The People gathering and voicing our concerns and desires. It isn’t about partisan politics – that is what has separated us, the people for whom government exists, and taken away out power.

It is about moving as a concerted force into the place where Governance abides and taking back the control and the voice that has been cleverly stolen away from us.  

If partisanship must exist – let it exist with the voice coming from the people not from only 1% of the people.

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WHAT COLOR ARE WORDS

WHAT COLOR ARE WORDS?         

It has been interesting to watch the Republican candidates go at each other using the native tongue of the South to inflict injury. The manner of speaking that does not come straight out and use explicitly racially charged words but rather uses hidden meaning terms. Terms like “food Stamps” “Nanny State” “Put him in His Place” and the list can go on.

What intrigues and saddens me is that often the regular Joe or Jane on the street has not a clue as to where the terms come from. We hear words being used on a daily basis and never pause to wonder. A term that I have used is a single word “Boy” as in “Hey Boy come here” or “Boy, what are you thinking?” It wasn’t until a black man stopped me mid sentence and said ‘I ain’t your boy’ that I realized some commonly used words carry way more hurt and injury than I had taken note of. He was right, he was not my ‘boy’, and I did not intend to convey that meaning – never the less that was what he heard. In that specific instance an apology was extended.

I hear the term ‘Nanny State’ used to refer to our current system of social welfare and governance. Some that I’ve asked about the term say it means something like Baby Sitter or refers to a position held by someone paid to care for a families children. That is part of the answer. There is, however, another part. Nanny, as a term, can be traced back to the Southern practice of having a servant (slave) look after and care for the family’s brood.

It was also applicable to the wealthy of both north and south who would ‘hire’ a ‘nurse’ to care for their children. The title ‘nurse’ carried with it greater kindness and prestige than Nanny and many wealthy families chose the title, to appear less involved with having a servant.

Language can also say much about the user. “Well, I didn’t mean it to be racist but I will not be told what I can or can not say” Not a problem with this exception. To be calloused as to the sensitivities of members of the human race, deserving or not, is to paint a not so complimentary portrait of oneself.

“Well, I certainly put him in his place” What place would that be? In its original meaning that place would be several levels in societal acceptance below you. It was a way of saying “I handled that uppity nigger.”  It is used today as it has always been, as a way of approving the denigration of another human being. “He got his comeuppance” falls into the same style of speaking.

You might, fairly, ask “what is the point of this? My point is that we too carelessly throw words about – sometimes knowing full well the injury they can cause and with that intent. Other times we mindlessly and thoughtlessly say what spills into our mouths with not a moments pause – because we’ve become accustomed to it.

Modern terms intended to denigrate are things like “Food Stamp President” or obvious references to ethnic characteristic. We are not quite a week past Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations and the shadow of racism remains with us. To deny it is to admit it.

Up to this point I’ve assumed the innocence of the individuals who use words that hurt. What is more distressing are those who both know and intend their words to be injurious. This is not about being politically correct; it is about being civil and reasonable in our discourse. There was a time when great orators painted word pictures that could expand the imaginations of their listeners. A time when the oratory was thoughtful and structured. Today we have devolved to a point when all it takes to create a sensation is for a mouth to open and some foul smelling, vitriolic, purification to spill out. The gift of the orator has long sense ceased to be the rule. There is one political person that still has the gift, he is an exception.

The ability to speak, clearly, meaningfully and understandably is challenging. But it can be learned. To continue to pander to the folksy and common is to allow our standards to diminish. As character goes so goes education. The greatness of this nation did not come about by accident. It was built through sacrifice and struggle, informed by the education of the people. My Mother used to chastise me when ever I spoke using ‘slang’. It was, she thought, the language of the lazy and less educated. She was a grand lady, born into a working class family that instilled in each child a desire to better themselves.

As we bemoan the shrinking of the working class, let us not forget that education has always been the path to understanding and creativity. What color are words – well they can be just about any color you chose. You can paint encouragement with them. You can paint hope with them. You can, also, paint hateful, dark images with them. It is a choice we make. We have the ability to create a better world or to utterly destroy it. What comes from the mouth can not return. Let what you say be positive for it does make a difference.

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Wealth and Everyone Else

The gap is as large as it has ever been – haves vs have nots "That the seat and tedious labor of the farmer, early and late, cold and hot, wet and dry, should be converted into the pleasure of a small number of men-that continued severity be laid on 19 parts of the land to feed the inordinate lusts and delicate appetites of the 20th, is so far from the will of the great Governor of the world, [it] is wretched and blasphemous." - William Penn, 1669 It would seem that the fate of the civilized world has always been in the hands of the most wealthy. Today we find that the gap between those with wealth and those with out has grown larger than it has ever been. In a recent pole the greatest majority of Americans indicated that it was one of the most concerning issues for them. When asked how they thought the wealthiest among us achieved that status the result were about evenly split between those that believed it was a matter of birth. Having been born with the proverbial ‘silver spoon in their mouth.’ The other half opined that the wealthiest had earned their status by hard work and good business decisions. That got me to thinking. What difference does it make how the wealth was come by? The issue is not who when or how – the issue is “Okay, now they are among the wealthiest in the Land and perhaps on the face of the earth. What have they done to support the land and its people that made possible their wealth? A narrative came to mind. It is about three farmers. One of these farmers was born into a family that had been, for years, a successful farming family. As the years went by the elder farmer, in the family, had grown their wealth. He had acquired additional acres and been self consciously responsible with his planting and caring for the land. When he died the totality of his effort passed on to his only son – the subject of this part of the tail. His son had learned well from his Father and had continued to grow the family farm and wealth. During a period, following WWII his yield was exceptional. So much so, he had to pile it in long rows on the ground. Wheat was not selling locally for a price he felt he good afford to sell at. Besides the availability of covered storage was in short supply. Despair was setting in. The wealthy farmer seemed on the cusp of having to forfeit the excellent harvest to an under priced market. One morning as he scanned his news paper he saw a headline that promised a solution. Wheat was being exported to Russia. It was bringing close to $5.00 a bushel. That was twice over what he could make locally. He had his solution and way more money than he anticipated. Thus he began a practice familiar to every capitalist – making money. All he made was turned back into the farm and all he produced was exported to other lands. As far as he was concerned – it was his right to make as much wealth as he could. He had no stated obligation to provide his product to citizens of his own Nation. Our second wealthy farmer came by his wealth the “old fashioned” way. He earned it. Starting as a small time family farm he learned to take advantage of what opportunities the Government afforded. He, too, was a wise businessman. With the help of his wife and four children – three sons and one daughter – his efforts began to pay dividends. Each year, that his profits allowed, he purchased a few more acres of land. He carefully planned his crop rotation and always seemed to have just what the market desired. He worked very hard. He, too, experienced a down turn in the price of wheat. His storage silos began to fill up. He started putting the grain on the ground in long rows. He feared it would ruin if the rains came and he could not protect it. He, too, read the headline in his paper – Wheat selling at $5.00 and more per bushel. It was enough to cause rejoicing in the household. The harvest would not ruin and would not be sold at a price barely enough to break even – no the wheat would sell and they would grow the farm. This Farmer also saw the Golden Egg in exporting his product. It seemed to make no sense trying to deal with the local markets when “foreign interests” would pay quite well for his efforts. Therefore he grew his wealth and his family prospered. Yet not one grain or bushel went into the local economy. The third farmer – or so he was called – in the story was neither wealthy nor successful when judged by a standard set by the two wealthy, successful farm owners. No, he was what many called a ‘dirt farmer.’ He worked from before sun up until well after sun down. He managed to harvest and sell locally, but never enough to do much more than buy enough seed to reuse what acres he owned. He, too, read the news papers but really had no hope of reaping the rewards the wheat export business afforded. In fact, he felt an obligation to supply what his farm could produce to his local market. He was a respected individual. People saw that he worked very hard. His family could be seen in the fields with him on a daily basis. They all gave that farm everything they had to give. One day a local representative of a wheat growers association paid him a visit. The visit was an enquiry as to whether the farmer could increase his production, seeing that more wheat would feed more people. Times were tough and people needed whatever they could afford. To increase his production would require more acres. “No problem” the visitor gleefully offered. “I can arrange for you to purchase an additional 120 acres with nothing more than the existing property as collateral.” At the end of the day – it was done. The ‘dirt farmer’ now had almost double the land he had previous to signing away the entirety of his livelihood, should he fail to produce. What had he gained? He knew the community would be grateful for his additional produce. He knew that it was for the good of the people that he toiled. He knew that if he did not succeed, all of the past labors would be swept away by the banker that he signed the papers for. Was it worth it? Did he make the smartest decision? Should he have refused the offer and the challenge that was laid at his doorstep? But, he really was in no position to worry about those questions. He had to work – work harder now than ever before. His family would have to carry a bigger share of the load – and they would help feed this great land – the great land that had made it possible for him to have a farm and work it. The great land that needed his out put so that others might feed their families. The great land, which made it possible for him to lose everything at the stroke of a pen. Yes, he had to work very, very hard – until that hard work killed him.

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Half Truths - Big Lies

Say it, repeat it often enough and people will accept and believe.

That has been the way politicians have, since political rhetoric began, created public opinion. As Sir Winston Churchill once remarked – repeating a falsehood over and over does not change its character and make it the truth. On the other hand – despotic political

Personalities have effectively utilized this method of making true that which is not necessarily true. Half truths are also half lies. Half truths often become big lies as they are perpetuated by those desirous of power and influence.

In the current socio-political climate we find the claim that increasing the taxation percentage paid by those earning more than One Million dollars a year – something that 68% of those in that category are in favor of and about the same percent of those making less, agree with – [a move that would increase the revenue coming into the Government] will end up costing the tax payers more because it will reduce job creation. The counter argument to this is that if the rate of taxation is lowered for everyone – [reduce the revenue coming in for Government programs] - more jobs will be created.

This is the constant and oft repeated mantra of the Republican – T- Party – Norquist right wing segment of what now passes for our Government. It is the outgrowth of Norquist’s closed minded approach to economic policy and principle. This is the polarizing effect that an extreme – [right or left of center] – ideology creates when it is promoted and institutionalized. We in this country are quick on the trigger when it comes to a young person being schooled and radicalized in a Madrasa, and subsequently participating in activities that such schooling promotes, yet when it is public knowledge that someone with political influence has been ‘schooled’ or ‘trained’ in an institution that covets to promote its own system of extremism that members of this society agree with – we say “Oh, well that is how the political game is played” or “That’s politics”.

Norquist has taken advantage of the Conservative Right of the political spectrum and radicalized it to a point where it will concede nothing and would rather see our governance destroyed than work for constructive solutions. Not every student in a Madrasa is radicalized, not every young Muslim wants to kill Americans – but today it seems that every Republican with T-Party sentiments wants to wreak havoc with, not just the economic system, but with the very frame work of our Constitutional Democracy.

Tell the lie often enough, convincingly enough and the majority will believe it and follow. Along with that theory goes an assumption that the majorities of people will not and in some cases willingly refuse to think. It is through gesticulating and simple expression that populations are led. Posters and slogans containing half truth and out of context references gain support among the masses. When anti intellectual sentiment becomes the expression of political campaigning and when the populace prefer a simple minded, cliché oriented candidate it does not bode well for society.

I make no claim to intellectual superiority or even to being the smartest person in my household. I simply read and study and seek to understand what is happening to this Nation that has provided me and my family a standard of living that would not be possible if I were starting over today. The fact that college education was made possible and jobs were attainable is evidence that something was working correctly. I shudder to consider what the out come would be, for my family, if we were just beginning.

Alexis de Tocqueville opined that there is a very real tendency for Democracy to trend toward, what he called, a Tyranny of the Majority. Aristotle has been quoted as saying that Republics decline into democracies and democracies degenerate into despotisms.

What I am inclined toward is an opinion that we are being subjected to both interpretations of political authoritarianism. We do not now nor have we had a real Democratic System for several decades. Ours is an Oligarchy of Military-Industrial power. The obit of a governance Of the People-By the People-For the People has yet to be written. But it is coming – if the patient is allowed to continue in the malaise of the moment.

I have been encouraged by the Occupy Movement for one primary reason. It has opened a door for those that have been frustrated and denied a voice to speak to their frustrations.

I find it an unfortunate fact of history that it is often through the ideological enthusiasm of youth that social change is begun. That enthusiasm and idealism is not always thought out or even reasonable. Yet it is the catalyst that set change in motion. My generation did not see a need to change anything until Martin Luther King came on the stage. His call to Civil Rights and Civil Disobedience enlivened a generation. The Viet Nam War had a similar effect. It was through the various youthful movements – some constructively intentioned and some not so much – that changes came about. To those that discount what is currently taking place as a bunch of malcontents and anti social, anti American misfits – I’ve heard that all before. I’ve heard the claims of violent behavior when I knew full well that it was not factually accounted. I’ve heard claims of sexual attacks when it was not factually accounted; I’ve heard claims of subversive intent when no factual accounting can be shown. It has all happened before. It is the desperate lashing out of a frightened segment of society. Grasping for any claim that can discredit, marginalize and build public sentiment to oppose. It happened when Joe ‘the kommy killer’ McCarthy

Arrived on stage, it happened when the John Birch Society attacked the character and patriotism of Dr. Kind and it is happening today with the paltry attempts of Fox News and conservative reactionaries make unsubstantiated claims that all manner of filthy, criminal and anti social behaviors are involved in the Occupy Movement. It is how the fearful and closed minded respond to change.

Back to my starting point. We are bombarded with the half truths and the falsehoods of those that want to deny freedom of speech. We are bombarded by the lies of Norquist and the minions of his ideological perversion. Sir Winston Churchill described a fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject. In my opinion that is a fit description of Norquist and his followers.

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. Sir Winston Churchill.

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