Littlestuff Weekender-12-17-2011

In my view the Thursday night debate on Fox was one of the better ones. There appeared to be no major gaffes, and Michele Bachmann took no prisoners. Each of the candidates seemed to have ample time for presenting their cases to the people, and the Fox panel did a good job by avoiding typical liberal gotcha questions. Up until this point most of the candidates were nearly indistinguishable from one another on domestic policy. The Thursday night contest created some space and differences among them. There are probably two main reasons for their more definitive roles: a better quality of questioning and more debate maturity as candidates.

In case you missed it, the College Football Bowl season starts today (Sat.) with three “can’t miss” games. Temple plays Wyoming in the all-powerful New Mexico Bowl, Ohio University tackles Utah State in the ever-popular Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, and Louisiana-Lafayette battles San Diego State in the New Orleans Bowl. Only 32 more bowls to go and many of them are just as memorable as these stellar representatives. For example…mark your calendar for the Tuesday night contest at the Beef “O” Brady’s Bowl featuring gridiron powerhouses Florida International and Marshall. Yawn…….

If you need a warm-up for the Wednesday night Poinsettia Bowl between Louisiana Tech and TCU (Texas Christian), join me on 1370 WSPD at 6:00pm to 7:00pm ( www.wspd.com). I’ll have an exclusive interview with Santa Claus that I assure you will not be replicated anywhere. Although the discussion will not be profane or obscene, it is suggested that tiny tots not listen because their respect and love for the jolly elf could be severely unraveled. I can see the Thursday National Enquirer headline in my mind, “Santa tells all to Toledo radio host.” It could be ugly. It may even be humorous….hopefully.

Our holiday season officially begins today (Sat.) as my Mother is hosting my wing of the family. Looking forward to seeing my little Sis and little Bro’ and their respective spouses and children….and grandchildren. Food will be abundant and a lot of “catch-up’ talk will occur. Next week except for a lunch meeting on Wednesday and the radio show that evening is still somewhat of an undetermined blur. I guess I’ll do what I usually do….wait on Pat and the kids to tell me what’s going on. Dad or Grandpa is always the last to know. Over the years I have learned to stop complaining (usually), shrug my shoulders and go along with the plans of the others. There’s less friction and angst that way, but I believe they know that if I object…..they’ll allow me to do it my way (cue Frank Sinatra). Of course I’m dreaming.

http://youtu.be/nZ6yQgBvuoI

Once again the headlines predict the fiscal collapse of Europe ( and us because of our massive entanglements). Once again they have TEMPORARILY postponed the inevitable. My question is probably rhetorical: Don’t they understand that by prolonging the resolution of the problem, they are making it worse? Of course they do, but they’re trying to hold off the collapse until they can clearly identify someone or something to blame. The only aspect of this mess that is worse than their incessant can kicking is their rabid lust for blame shifting. Politicians….socialists, Republicans, Democrats, communists, despots and tyrants …. are all alike….grab power, assume control, screw up and blame someone else. It’s a putrid perverse pattern of predictable political perfidy. And it “pees” me off.

This must be Groundhog Day (Fri.). I just heard on the radio that Congress has passed another short-term trillion dollar package so the government will remain open. This government will NEVER CLOSE. We can’t get rid of the darn overgrown over-controlling mess. It just keeps getting larger and more costly. And our representatives at the D.C. Clown College were afraid it would “shut down.” Hell, we should be so lucky. Government is more enduring than zucchini and less reliable than wind. Three years since the last budget… which means there is no plan in place for them to violate and ignore. Just wait ‘til they have your health and well-being in their slick oily hands.

Tonight I will complete Throw Them All Out by Peter Schweizer. It’s a detailed analysis of how OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES become wealthy through using insider knowledge that is perfectly legal for them and prison time for us. Double standards abound in Washington and our other capitols. The greatest problem is that double standards are the only standards for our unethical elitist political class. They have no standards….no principles….no integrity…no shame. They believe they are entitled. Their actions make our 47% non-contributors look like pikers. They are giving “sleaze” a bad name. The title of the book says it. Now we must do it.

Have a special weekend. Save your Walgreen and CVS coupons so you can go wild with gift shopping. Sit for a moment, enjoy a cup of whatever and thank Him for your blessings. Do it fast before the government outlaws blessings.

Comment: cearlwriting@hotmail.com

www.littlestuff-minoosha.blogspot.com

Wed. night, 6-7:00pm, 1370 WSPD, Toledo  www.wspd.com

Written Whizdom

Writing is tough. I am not a professional although I have made a few bucks writing for companies and candidates. I have not relied on writing for my livelihood and do not consider myself a pro. Writing lacks the full-throated context of speech wherein one can through inflection, volume and tone convey additional meaning to the stark words. It is difficult to share irony or satire with the written word when one lacks the talent for doing so. I am also a cynic and a skeptic which compounds the task of clear communication….a cynically satirical piece can create confusion among the readers. All I want for Christmas is to be a Word Wizard….in total command of the nuance and shading of every word in the Universe….in all languages for all time.

In the simplest models communication is a four-part process involving the source, message, the channel and the receiver. Those would be you, your idea, your voice or your keyboard, and your listener or reader. Generally communication is not that simple and precise communication is even more complicated. There are numerous intervening variables that impact a communication attempt. The state of mind of the listener or reader can have a huge impact on any communication effort. For example have you ever uttered some innocuous comment only to have a listener (intended or eavesdropping) take offense? That may have happened because the listener had a preconceived notion that your message seemed to confirm or reject. Or it could be something as perplexing that they are having a bad day and are immersed in paranoia and defensiveness so any statement from you is viewed as potentially offensive.

Given all the clinkers that invade the communication process, I am amazed that our species continues to exist. We take offense when none was intended or we inadvertently offend because we use the wrong word, phrase, reference or timing. Dogs have it so much easier. A well-placed sniff identifies the invading critter as “friend or foe” and measures are taken accordingly. If we went around butt sniffing one another, I might have a more hopeful expectation for the future of the human race. But I digress….there are so many factors that inhibit perfect communication and understanding, that I am amazed that we do not have even more interpersonal and international conflicts than we have now.

If you or someone you love has been married for a significant length of time, you’re aware of the potential for misunderstanding and conflict. A marriage is a simple one-to-one (usually….well, generally) communication context wherein the sender/receiver relationship alternates between parties and is expected to have a high degree of familiarity and cohesion. Yet….conflict occurs…..sometimes for serious reasons and other times for head-scratching ones. So…extend this picture to the writer/audience relationship. It seems obvious that there will be misunderstanding and friction. They are inevitable and likely. Given that in most cases the writer and the reader have never met, have no personal knowledge of one another (unless the writer shares that information) and are operating in different environments. It is truly amazing that disagreements are not more frequent or more fierce.

Sometimes a writer has a difficult time expanding a concept. She or he has a vague sense of what must be said or written to clearly present the idea but the exact words to project the precise meanings will not be found. This is a form of the devastating nightmare called writer’s block. It is painful……………………………………………………………………………………………..

Comment: cearlwriting@hotmail.com

www.littlestuff-minoosha.blogspot.com

       

A Victim's Lament

Barack H. Obama is a lying hypocritical Marxist ideologue.

Willard Mitt Romney is a spineless Establishment statist.

Newt Gingrich is a fickle undisciplined unreliable statist.

Ron Paul is a looney old man.

Rick Santorum supported Arlen Specter and wants Christian Sharia law.

Herman Cain is gone.

John Huntsman is…..who?

Rick Perry suffers from massive bouts of brain freeze.

Michele Bachmann is too short.

Chris Christy is too fat.

Marco Rubio is too young.

Mitch Daniels is too reluctant.

The Donald is too vain.

John McCain is too….everything.

I am a V.I.C.T.I.M…..a very incensed citizen trapped in misery. My country is falling apart in a number of ways and my choices for a leader are all flawed and inadequate. Rather than waiting for a knight or lady on a white horse I must settle for someone freeloading on a donkey cart. We have more than 310 million people in the United States, but most of our choices are career politicians who helped create the problems. They now want us to believe that they can … or will solve them. I understand that a successful career in the private sector does not necessarily qualify one to be President of the United States. In addition to the duties associated with being a high-level CEO, one must stay abreast of multiple national and international issues. In other words…one must not only be competent but aware as well. On the other hand ignorance could be a blessing because the candidate would not be hamstrung by the traditional approaches that seem to pervade the Washington mentality. Given all this….we need a president who is intelligent, informed, has integrity and can adequately present her or his ideas to the American people. Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln were not gifted speakers although their speeches were notable, but in today’s multi-media environment, a candidate must have the tools to deliver a speech in addition to some discretionary substance.

Present day candidates should know everything, say little and say it extremely well. Instead we have politicians who think they know it all, talk incessantly and can’t sell a concept to a third grader without using repetitive speaking points. The speaking point issues arise because they believe they must stay on message so that they don’t make any serious verbal gaffes. Also, I suspect, they stay on message because they believe the people are too dense to handle complicated and subtle issues. I have noticed that many career national politicians are woefully unaware of much of what goes on outside Washington. They are also deficient in knowledge about elements of government outside their committee assignments which is proof positive that the federal government has grown too large……when the entire Congress is composed of clusters of specialists.

Observing Congress is similar to watching a room full of PhD’s. Everyone knows a lot about a narrow field, and very few know anything else. The specialization leads to legislators who have no sense of the big picture and how their areas of expertise interact with other areas and with the people. Their efforts are constructed within a vacuum of the committee room, molded and shaped by staff members who are also specialists, taken to the floor and passed because of recommendations by the “specialists.” At no point in the process is the proposed legislation measured against reality or vetted for harmful unintended consequences. There are too many agencies, departments and bureaus engaged in too many unconstitutional activities passing too many laws that interact with other acts that suppress, repress or confuse the citizens. We are victims. We suffer from legislative and bureaucratic overload. Our backs are being broken by the heavy weight of big government and burdensome lawmaking. We are hurt by laws and rules that limit our freedom and crush our spirits.

In matters of defense and foreign policy our government has often used sanctions against a nation with whom they disagree. The sanctions have been intended to severely restrict the commerce and the activities of the targeted country. Frequently the sanction activity has ultimately led to armed conflict. It’s time to turn the tables on our overzealous lawmakers and their elf-like bureaucratic minions. Let’s sanction them. Let’s create nationwide petitions that insist that the politicians stop passing or promulgating restrictive laws and rules. Let’s commit to ignoring laws and rules that are implemented during a prearranged moratorium period through civil non-compliance. Let’s overwhelm their phone lines and email boxes with organized consistent and continual contact. Let’s dare them to defy us. The only character trait they possess that is greater than their self interest……is cowardice. They (especially the politicians) will probably back down. If they do not, then bring it on. The people must win before the career politicians and the massive bureaucracy empties our tool chest. The people must win. We don’t need any more stinking victims at the hands of Big Government.

Comment:  cearlwriting@hotmail.com

www.littlestuff-minoosha.blogspot.com

On the air tonight (Wed.) 6-7:00pm, 1370 WSPD, Toledo

www.wspd.com

  

Street Sense

Citizen discontent appears to be a global phenomenon. All over the earth people are marching in the streets and protesting against their respective governments. At first glance one might think that there is an international cabal stirring the natives and making them restless, but if you pay close attention to complaints of the protestors, you will note that each nation has its own unique catalog of abuses or inequities.

Some are rising up against torture and oppression. Other venues find small pockets of women protesting restrictive and unequal legal systems. In some countries the demonstrations are prompted by austere fiscal policies that limit government benefits. A few nations are experiencing ethnic turmoil as some minorities protest their second-class status while other countries find majority citizens objecting to their resident minorities, their cultures and their practices. A few nations are dealing with unsatisfied citizens who challenge the corruption and power of their ruling elites. It seems as if the common thread is discontent only…..the sources and types of their disgruntlements are varied. More than Arab Spring …. greater than European Fall …. It must be the Winter of Discontent. All over the globe people are sensing that there are major cataclysmic shifts ahead.

Here in the United States there are two distinct types of protest movements. The liberty and Tea Party groups and their affiliate partners are vigorously attempting to restore some semblance of small-government constitutionalism while the Marxist-inspired “Occupy Movement” appears to desire an acceleration of big government policies. These two highly visible efforts emphatically illustrate that the economy and the political system of the USA are balanced on a fulcrum of indecision. The teetering future of the Republic can be determined at any time if either of the polar opposite’s point of view captures the imagination of the large portion of citizens who are relatively uninvolved. We could have a massive movement toward restoring our original principles that promote personal liberty and prosperity, or we might slide into chaos.

Each of the two competing visions is undergoing some changes as we approach the critical year of 2012. Cold weather and police actions have caused many of the “occupy” locations to relocate or close down. The Tea Party Alliance appears to be somewhat in hibernation mode except for those states that are in the thick of the GOP Primary contest. The next 11 months, in my view, will determine the glide path for our nation. The funny-money machinations of the Fed and Wall Street will continue as the central bankers seek to stay ahead of the avalanche. The Street and the commodity traders will frantically try to anticipate major and minor shifts thus resulting in continued high tension volatility. These actions along with continued lowering of property values and the release of another 8 million or so foreclosed properties (the commercial bubble is rather quietly losing air) will provide some impetus in the spring for a resumption of “occupation forces.” It will be fascinating to observe what impact this will have on the Obama reelection campaign since he is a eager fellow-traveler with the organizers.  

The Tea Party patriots and like minded groups are more difficult to assess. Clearly the GOP contest for president is taking a lot of oxygen from the room as individuals within the movement are supporting various candidates. If their favorites do not secure the nomination, will they continue to be as passionate and involved as they were for the 2010 mid-term elections? If the Republican Establishment is successful in their efforts to secure the nomination for Romney, will the reformers and small government advocates take a pass, support a third party or stay somewhat engaged but in a lukewarm fashion?  

Revolutions are generally messy. So far the competing ideologies for the heart and soul of the nation have remained civil….for the most part. If the 2012 election process appears to be wrested from the hands of the active citizenry, it is possible that a portion of them may seek other means for achieving their goals. In Ohio for example we are facing a cluster of initiatives and referenda as the opposing sides attempt to take their messages directly to the electorate. The political system is fragile as disgruntled citizens from competing ideologies grope for the means to achieve their objectives. Will the vast indifferent population awaken and join those who wish to use the system to repair and restore its brokenness? Or will the people allow the surly anarchic destroyers to assume control of the national dialogue? We are at the tipping point….economically, politically and spiritually. Will freedom emerge as the victor or will the unrelenting movement toward tyranny continue unabated? The choice is ours. The task is immense. Liberty is the prize.

Comment:  cearlwriting@hotmail.com

www.littlestuff-minoosha.blogspot.com

Tue. & Wed., 6-7:00pm, 1370 WSPD, Toledo   www.wspd.com