Parallel Universe?

I have come to the conclusion that the American Society in 2010 is traveling down a road of self-destruction. Mostly because of a lack of desire to work. That's right, I believe that as a society we are no longer willing to perform physical work. In many cases we're not even willing to engage in mentally challenging work.

What's my evidence you ask? Mostly the 100 employees I've hired, fired and seen walk off the job over the past five years. Added to that the countless employees prior to those five years that I witnessed in many different work environments.

Here's where this gets real scary. For many of these people, the major problems won't be felt immediately. You see, many of them fall back on Mom and Dad or Grandparents. Once they infiltrate the family home they start sucking the finances and life out of the parents who've worked years to attain a certain level of comfort. These parents and/or grandparents are living off of Social Security and possibly some pension or retirement savings. At some point, that money is going to run out, or the parents/grandparents are going to die. At that point, the gravy train ends and these leeches will realize the results of their lazy ways.

So what's the parallel universe issue? If you were raised to be a hard-working productive member of society who helps his fellow man, you have difficulty imagining anyone being so lazy they'd just quit working with no plan and start living off of their family and government handouts. There are people like this who've been raised in "the system" and who now have become experts at living in the system. Somehow they get by and eat, drive cars and watch cable television. They have cell phones. Meanwhile, you're struggling to make sure your bills are paid and you'd take the last penny from your savings to ensure no blemishes on your credit report.

Another example of parallel universe; every state that institutes a lottery sells the idea to the voters of that state (who eventually approve it) on the idea that it'll add millions to the state education funds. Then, years after the lottery is in full swing, state education administrators claim they don't have enough money. We've spent gobs of money on public education, yet everyone still claims we're behind the rest of the world in education.

Need another example of parallel universe? Just a few years ago our government officials were warning Americans that we were living on too much credit, that Americans weren't saving enough money. All the while our government was spending us into oblivion and all that spending was borrowed money. Yep, we lowly serfs were borrowing too much, but it somehow was okay for the federal government to do just that.

Aren't We All Compassionate?

A recent back and forth on Facebook got me to thinking about how ugly political arguments have become. I was just as guilty as the other guy.

The argument typically has one side saying the other doesn't care about the less-fortunate. The accused says the accuser is just sympathetic to a bunch of freeloaders. And the argument goes downhill from there. The truth is both sides care about the less-fortunate.

The error in the argument is that "less-fortunate" is a subjective term and therefore, the definition changes from person to person. Is a person capable of working, but unwilling to take some jobs "less-fortunate?" My opinion of "less-fortunate" was always someone incapable of doing at least as well as me for reasons outside of their control, usually a mental or physical disability or sudden tragedy. Whether or not this is an accurate statement of "less-fortunate" is debatable.

Today many people consider anyone out of work to be "less-fortunate." Part of the reason I don't like that definition is that I don't have much more to offer this world but my labor and love. If I choose not to work and others suddenly consider me "less-fortunate" I may allow myself to fall into a lazy attitude and then all I have to offer the world is love. If I become a burden on society and continue to take without giving back, I fear that my love for the world would soon wane. In such a case, I would no longer have anything to offer this world. How sad that would be.

So, the next time someone wants to get into a political argument, maybe definitions should be clarified before the debate begins. This allows both sides to focus on the issues and eliminate the ugly name-calling.

Thanksgiving 2010

I give thanks for the wonderful family I am blessed to be a part of. I have a wonderful wife who looks for the positive in everything. She is full of the life I can only wish I had. Bryant is a wonderful son who is more man than even he knows. Lena is the precious joy that God has blessed Stacye and me with. She brightens every room she enters. She holds so much promise for this world.

During these holiday times we often reflect and I am no exception. This Thanksgiving I am grateful and thankful for the memories I have of a great childhood spent with the most amazing brothers and sister. A brother I've always looked up to as a Concertmaster, Football Hero, Business Icon, Dreamchaser and keeper of great knowledge (though he thinks he is none of these). Another brother who looked up to me, but taught me much about myself at times he didn't know it. He taught me to look for things that only God can bestow on this world (the Northern Lights) and made me feel awesome by joining me on a Navy ship bound for the North Atlantic. And how about a sister who introduced me to KitKats? To this day I think of my mother taking us to pick her up from her volunteer hospital job (candy striper) and she always gave us KitKats. At the time it was the candy bars I loved, today it is the love that she was showing and sharing that mean so much.

All three are married to wonderful people; a man who introduced me to some of my favorite Eagles music and broadened my musical tastes, a woman who showed me more about life than she'll ever understand and another who was there at the end of my mother's life and the beginning of my brother's.

I am thankful for all that my parents did to make my childhood good and memorable. Mom is waiting for us in Heaven and I cannot wait to relive the good times with her. Dad is out there and I'm eternally grateful for the sacrifices he made for my well-being wherever he may be.

When I lay down my head at night I am grateful that there are two incredible beings looking out for me; God and my Wife. We know the wonders of God and it was Him who delivered Stacye to me (or me to her, I'm not sure which). I am thankful for her perseverance and incredible patience. As someone not worthy of the love Stacye has shown, I am forever grateful that through thick and thin, she remains faithful, loyal and loving.

I am grateful for the friends I have and for which it would take a book to describe.

For all these things I thank God. My wish for you is that you have a life as blessed (if not more) than mine.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!