The protracted battle over Terry Schiavo was nobody's business except her family's. These situations have occurred for many years. They are gut wrenching for the immediate family who make decisions even in cases where a person attempted to clarify their wishes. The one clear message from this is, everyone needs to decide their preferences, outline them in writing, and discuss them with family. Even then arguments can arise but hopefully can be resolved without involving outsiders. I believe family matters should be settled by family instead of public opinion or government.
Most of us spend too much time following what the president is/is not doing and not near enough time following what's happening in our local city council. I don't think it makes that much difference who's president. Most of the folks who actually get far enough to actually have a chance to be elected will wind up making the same macro decisions when shit hits the fan. In the mean time local issues fly under the radar until we wake up one day and wonder what the hell happened to our sewers, schools, etc. I believe we as individuals need to focus on micro issues more so that macro issues.
I just read Deep Survival (who lives,who dies and why) by Laurence Gonzalez. It deals with the many factors that allow people to either survive or not survive in difficult situations. A very interesting read and there is a website: www.deepsurvival.com. It made me question how I made it to 59 when others didn't
I question whether there is a God or even an after life. It's nice that most people believe there's a spiritual being somewhere who is all loving, all forgiving, and yet willing to create some evil human beings who prey on very good people. I believe in the laws of nature. Some of us survive despite being reckless--others don't--sometimes it's their own fault-- other times it's being in the wrong place at the wrong time. What God would create people who become capable of taking all those lives on 9/11, let alone create all those lives to end so suddenly and through no fault of their own. How come Bob Breedlove, a well respected doctor, family man, a super cyclist always compettitive yet safety concious drifts across the road into a car during RAAM. I think it's because the laws of nature sometimes dictate that "shit happens".
Despite this agnostic view I do have morals and a sense of what's right and wrong. I try to live my life so that I'm considered an asset to the world over the course of my life. I've helped a lot of people and also received help from many people. I've also made my fair share of mistakes--the worst thing I ever did was to be unfaithful to my first wife (Pam). I was totally faithful to my second wife (Nancy) and that sure didn't matter. I believe that if there is an after life I'll be on the heaven side rather than the hell side--if I spend some time in purgatory that's OK, but I think the game ends with our last breath. I believe in nature, biology, physics and chemistry--not sure about the spiritual or the after life.
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Friday, March 11, 2005
Security or Common Sense
This morning in Atlanta a defendant (Brian Nicholls) heading to trail managed to thwart security, get his hands on a gun, kill 3 people, wound another, and assault others as he car jacked vehicles. As I write this he's still on the loose and lots of people are grieving. Officials, media & reporters are investigating what went wrong. Surely life in our court system is about to change.
I've been in many government buildings over the past few years. On a few occasions I've ventured into a court room. About 10 years ago I went to court because I had not attached the registration renewal sticker to my car tag & got a ticket. I had to physically show up with proof that I had renewed my registration. Fair enough. I showed up, and had a 2 inch pocket knife confiscated as I walked into the building. Over 30 years ago I visited the Atlanta Federal prison to play a tennis match. As I went through various doors the security checks were overwhelming and intimidating. Since 9/11 I can't board a plane without a full body screen because of the metal implanted in my left hip. From my perspective security in America seems pretty damn intense. But it's never going to be perfect.
What went wrong in Atlanta today? Ask the person who allowed a 6' 1" 200 lb male who had weapons found on his person (while in custody) the day before to be in the custody of one female deputy sheriff. I do think that defendants have the right to face a jury in street clothes without shackles. If they pull the stunt Brian Nicholls did, they deserve one clean shot in the back of their head. I guess we could keep a SWAT sniper in the background to react after the fact. I would prefer a dose of common sense. More than one deputy sheriff assigned to defendants like Brian Nickolls would cost us a lot less than the grief and the man hunt now going on.
I've been in many government buildings over the past few years. On a few occasions I've ventured into a court room. About 10 years ago I went to court because I had not attached the registration renewal sticker to my car tag & got a ticket. I had to physically show up with proof that I had renewed my registration. Fair enough. I showed up, and had a 2 inch pocket knife confiscated as I walked into the building. Over 30 years ago I visited the Atlanta Federal prison to play a tennis match. As I went through various doors the security checks were overwhelming and intimidating. Since 9/11 I can't board a plane without a full body screen because of the metal implanted in my left hip. From my perspective security in America seems pretty damn intense. But it's never going to be perfect.
What went wrong in Atlanta today? Ask the person who allowed a 6' 1" 200 lb male who had weapons found on his person (while in custody) the day before to be in the custody of one female deputy sheriff. I do think that defendants have the right to face a jury in street clothes without shackles. If they pull the stunt Brian Nicholls did, they deserve one clean shot in the back of their head. I guess we could keep a SWAT sniper in the background to react after the fact. I would prefer a dose of common sense. More than one deputy sheriff assigned to defendants like Brian Nickolls would cost us a lot less than the grief and the man hunt now going on.
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Social Security--Neither Social nor Secure
I've been a card carrying member of this system 45 years. During much of that time I would have been happy to opt out of the program if the government would just let me keep the future taxes paid into the system by me and my employer. Now that I'm in my 60th year that's no longer a wise option. Whether you believe there is a future Social Security crisis or not, just looking at a typical individual's annual benefits statement should be enough to alert you that something's got to change!
My last statement says that if I retire at 66 and collect benefits, the estimated monthly payout should be about $1600, slightly over $19,000 a year. My statement indicates I and my employers have put in slightly over $100,000 so far. I've already collected about $6,000 in survivor benefits after my father died. It certainly helped get me through college. I probably have a life expectancy of living into my 80's so $20,000 a year for say 15 years means I would collect about 3 times the amount of money I put into the system. And yes I know I'm not taking into consideration the time value of money (interest), but let's face it most of the money I put into the systemwas paid to earlier generations a long time ago. Besides once it left my paycheck it was no longer my money. Since I'm on the front end of the "boomer" generation, there are enough folks behind me contributing so that my benefits are secure. But some day the system will have to change.
Social Security has provided a financial cushion for a lot of people over it's 70+ years and it will continue to do so through my lifetime. But now the Republicans, Democrats, and lobby groups like AARP are debating potential changes. Each group seems polarized and willing to fight to the death over this. Every one of them comes to the debate armed with a multitude of facts and figures supporting their position. It's just like the last presidential campaign--lots of bickering and so far no meeting of the minds to compromise on a long term solution. Reminds me of the abortion debate--everyone deeply involved in that issue has already made up their mind and nothing, nothing anyone else can say will cause one single person to change their mind.
Do I have a solution? I think folks who face the potential insecurity of the future system should decide on the future of Social Security. Those of us who are already reasonably certain of the benefits should stay out of the debate. Having said that, if I were just starting my working life over I would vote to opt out of the ststem altogether or create my own private account. That's somewhat selfish because Social Security is a system that is suppose to provide for the general welfare of society--and it has indeed done that over it's 70 year existence. But I believe it's time for the government to turn retirement planning--or at least some portion of it--back to the individual.
So young folks, get involved, help formulate the future because the future Social Security debate is now your baby--not mine!
My last statement says that if I retire at 66 and collect benefits, the estimated monthly payout should be about $1600, slightly over $19,000 a year. My statement indicates I and my employers have put in slightly over $100,000 so far. I've already collected about $6,000 in survivor benefits after my father died. It certainly helped get me through college. I probably have a life expectancy of living into my 80's so $20,000 a year for say 15 years means I would collect about 3 times the amount of money I put into the system. And yes I know I'm not taking into consideration the time value of money (interest), but let's face it most of the money I put into the systemwas paid to earlier generations a long time ago. Besides once it left my paycheck it was no longer my money. Since I'm on the front end of the "boomer" generation, there are enough folks behind me contributing so that my benefits are secure. But some day the system will have to change.
Social Security has provided a financial cushion for a lot of people over it's 70+ years and it will continue to do so through my lifetime. But now the Republicans, Democrats, and lobby groups like AARP are debating potential changes. Each group seems polarized and willing to fight to the death over this. Every one of them comes to the debate armed with a multitude of facts and figures supporting their position. It's just like the last presidential campaign--lots of bickering and so far no meeting of the minds to compromise on a long term solution. Reminds me of the abortion debate--everyone deeply involved in that issue has already made up their mind and nothing, nothing anyone else can say will cause one single person to change their mind.
Do I have a solution? I think folks who face the potential insecurity of the future system should decide on the future of Social Security. Those of us who are already reasonably certain of the benefits should stay out of the debate. Having said that, if I were just starting my working life over I would vote to opt out of the ststem altogether or create my own private account. That's somewhat selfish because Social Security is a system that is suppose to provide for the general welfare of society--and it has indeed done that over it's 70 year existence. But I believe it's time for the government to turn retirement planning--or at least some portion of it--back to the individual.
So young folks, get involved, help formulate the future because the future Social Security debate is now your baby--not mine!
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