The European exploitation and genocide of the Congolese

There was that time when most of Africa was under the control of various European powers, divided up by those European nations into various colonial sections, thereby structured so that those European powers could profit from the abundant mineral wealth and other natural resources of those African countries, through the intense exploitation of those who were native to those countries.  This meant that the people of Africa were subject to not only having their labor being fully exploited, but also being under the control of a European administration, of which failure to adhere to the conditions so set upon those Africans could easily lead to harsh punishment, death, or dismemberment.

 Concerning what is now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo, this territory was, in the late 19th century, under the aegis of the Belgian nation, and specifically, this territory was subsequently under the administration of King Leopold II of Belgium.  The purpose of the exploitation of the Congolese was for the abundant rubber resources that it was known for, so needed for automobile products such as tires, as well as being used in the production of latex.  To extract these resources necessitated a lot of labor, and the native Congolese were ruthlessly exploited to produce the products so needed, and failure to adhere to the rules of the Belgians led them to suffer great punishment, even unto death.

 As might be imagined, it is always easier to treat others harshly when they are viewed as something less than human, of which the Congolese were considered to be uneducated subhumans, not deserving of anything but contempt, who were thereby tortured and killed as the Belgians saw fit.  The reading of history tells us that it is believed that 10 million people in the Congo suffered death during the peak period of this relentless exploitation, which represented the years 1891 through 1911, so perpetuated by the Belgians, all in the pursuit of rubber products and profit.  The Congolese were continually at the mercy of the Belgians, of which, in the business to extract that rubber, they backed up this enterprise with ruthless violence against the native population, and in absence of the Congolese having modern weapons or even an armed force, the Congolese had little or nothing to fight back with, though they could resist through noncompliance and duly did so.

 History is replete with many examples of humankind’s inhumanity to its own, often led by the dominant faction believing that it has the right to exploit the weaker, and done so typically in a way and manner, that cares not a whit about the other, because the exploiters do not equate the other as being on the same high level that they are.  This is the reason why great crimes are committed by humanity and sanctioned by the nation-state, because it is believed that some are meant to be exploited, even unto death, and where there is profit to be made, so much the easier to justify, because for those fixated on profit, power, and exploitation of the other, there is work to be done, because their good life is dependent upon the other being fully exploited and then discarded, as if the other has no value, except what can be extracted by violence perpetrated or threatened upon them.

The East India Company and the American Revolution

Most everyone in America is familiar with the “Boston Tea Party,” which is the name given to the event in which the disguised colonists threw into the water 342 chests of tea, that belonged to the East India Company, and thereby by that revolutionary action placed those American colonists on the distinct pathway to revolution with the British Empire, for they no longer believed that there could be an accommodation between themselves and Great Britain that would fairly resolve their differences.

 It is important to note that the East India Company was a powerful force, backed by the military might of the British Empire, that if not put into check by American colonists, could easily change the dynamics of the export and import trade of those colonists to the detriment of the colonists, by the East India Company becoming the favorite vehicle for trade to be conducted within America.  In other words, the East India Company could legitimately be seen as being deliberately favored by the British Empire at the expense of the colonists, who would lose out through taxation on goods as well as losing out via trade overseas to this favored foreign entity that they had no sovereign control over.

 Indeed, the East India Company had already proved through its trade in the East Indies that they would exert themselves in the East Indies in a way and manner, that the Indian subcontinent would be subservient to the British Empire and in particular, would permit the East India Company to profit through the conditions of trade so conducted within that subcontinent.  That is to say, the East India Company was basically given free license to do whatever that they needed to do to make profit, which was beneficial for the investors in that Company, but also beneficial for the British Empire through their exploitation of those that were the denizens of the India subcontinent, in which, the population of the India subcontinent was substantially higher than Great Britain, but because the India subcontinent did not have the military might or political power to fight back, they thereby became subservient to the East India Company as well as the British Empire.

 The colonists were no fools, and what they did not desire to see happen to them was to be controlled or impacted negatively by the East India Company, through unfair taxation and high tariffs, which would greatly impact their own interests and subvert whatever autonomy the colonists had earned.  This is why the colonists made it their point to take a stand, because they feared that if they did not, that they would thereby cede control of their trade and their interests to Great Britain, in which, because they had no voice in Parliament, this would signify that they were at the mercy of the British Empire, and thereby subject to whatever decisions made by that Parliament and its kingdom, favorable or not.  So then, the colonists fought back, in the sure knowledge that failure meant their ruin, but success meant they would have freedom and liberty throughout the land.

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!"

The above quote comes from the gifted hand of Sir Walter Scott, and those who successfully take in these sage words should know for a certainty that lying and deceit take us away from the straight and narrow, thereby leading us down unfavorable pathways which serve to damage our good character. No doubt, there are times when it can be rather convenient to be deceptive or to lie, because, for instance, we do not desire to face the consequences of where the truth would place us – but to believe that deceit has not its own consequences is to misunderstand that every wrong action taken, in which that action taken lacks integrity and is structured to deceive, has its very own consequences, that will be paid, sooner or later, and often to our lasting regret.

 The thing about the truth is that the truth has but one story, and therefore it is relatively easy to speak to the truth because it is not only what we believe, but to the best of our ability, consists of the truth of the matter.  On the other hand, when we lie or deceive, we thereby have to construct a story, and the offshoots of that story can continue for quite a distance, because once we begin our travel down the pathway of deceit, that deceit, has a habit of taking on a life of its own, which not only makes it difficult for us to keep our story straight, but also makes it difficult to remember that lie completely, because what we said happened, didn’t happen that way, thereby presenting a conflict in our mind, and making it difficult to remember that for this story, we need to keep lying the exact same way or else that inconsistency could itself betray us.

 So too, there are those storytellers, who tell the story one way to one person and a different way to a different person, in which neither story is true, which thereby makes it nearly impossible for them to not only remember it that way, but also places the storyteller in the unenviable position in which if notes by these two different persons are compared then the storyteller will be seen as being deceitful, and the object of the exercise when a given person lies, is for that lie to not be exposed, for when they are found out, their integrity and credibility take a most serious hit. 

 Indeed, when our credibility is damaged, it makes even telling the truth and having it believed by others, much more problematic, because once a person is known as a liar, this signifies that what they have to say or recount is going to be properly discounted, because they have already proven that their word really isn’t worth all that much, which means, those that have bad reputations are going to have to work a heck of a lot harder, to recover their loss integrity, of which, none of this would be in play, if they hadn’t decided to weave their web of deceit in the first place.

Judgment day for corporations

In America, we are so used to corporations that there is a general belief that corporations have been around forever, and further to the point, are beneficial for Americans.  Perhaps corporations are beneficial, but they certainly haven’t been around forever, for corporations are artificial constructs of the state, subject to the laws of the state, and created through the expressed permission of the state, signifying that what the state has so created, they also have the right to uncreate or modify, should a corporation behave in a way and manner that is inimical to society.  Yet, how few corporations, if any, are ever legislated out of existence, as opposed to the capitalist market itself putting some of them into receivership, or the filing of bankruptcy by a given corporation, because it cannot pay what it owes for damages done to the environment or society or for bad business practices.

 Presently, there are a multitude of corporations that have existed for well past the average lifespan of a human being, and each year, there are a significant number of corporations that earn profits that well exceed the earnings of any individual taxpayer, no matter how rich.  So too, while human beings are subject to eventually departing this world, when their body no longer can function, and therefore their estate, is passed on per their wishes to a foundation, or heirs, or charity – we do not find the same criteria affecting a corporation, which continues to ply its trade, year after year, and decade after decade.  Perhaps this is a good thing, but it has to be recognized that for humans, there will inevitably be that day of reckoning, but apparently for many a corporation, this day of judgment can be postponed, seemingly indefinitely, and therein lies the rub.

 To believe that it is good for society, that certain corporations continue to grow and to accumulate massive amounts of wealth, without there ever being an end time, when that corporation will have to face the music, is misguided, for the greater the accumulation of capital into the hands of corporations, the greater is the incentive for that corporation to do what it considers it has to do, to continue to profit, ad nauseam.  In other words, corporations are in the business of making money and of returning thereby to their stockholders and directors as much profit as they can extract through the business enterprise that they are in.  This signifies that what motivates a given corporation isn’t going to necessarily be what’s good for society, but rather it’s going to be what is good for that corporation.

 In a construct in which lots and lots of money is going to equate to power, it has to be admitted that corporations have the most money, and therefore can utilize that money and their position to exert their power, so that what is good for their business, becomes the clarion call of seemingly what a significant percentage of American governance believes is good for the country, even when it is not.  So too, in the sure knowledge that there doesn’t appear to ever be a judgment day for corporations, signifies that, unlike humans, corporations do not have a conscience, which is why they need to be regulated in a far more robust way, or else they will essentially run riot over our democratic institutions.

Frustration harms relationships

Relationships are prone to getting into all sorts of trouble, of which the object of the exercise for both parties, if they are willing to address this, is to deal forthrightly with that which is harmful to their relationship.  In fact, one of the main reasons why relationships go sour, has an awful lot to do with frustration, and often that frustration is built around one party believing that they are not being appreciated enough, and because they feel that they are being effectively ignored when they need to be paid attention to, this will often lead to the types of bad acts that frustration creates, which consists of resentment, and a desire for some sort of emotional payback as a form of punishment to the other.

 Look, it has to be said, that people who are frustrated in their relationship, are going to want to relieve that frustration, and in absence of a mature discussion between the parties, they are probably going to resort to an action which will harm the relationship further by taking away something from the other in the sense of affection, concern, loyalty, or caring.  In other words, frustration really does breed disdain, and those who have contempt don’t care so much about doing something proactive and positive in order to help repair what appears to be in dire need of repair, but rather, they give in to simply being emotionally destructive, in subtle and not-so-subtle ways.

 So too, the best way to take care of a potential problem is to address it before it begins to wreak its havoc, which is why couples need to make it their point to set aside time to talk to one another, without interruption, and in a way and manner in which important and meaningful things are discussed, because miscommunication as well as a lack of communication are not ever going to make for a wholesome and sound relationship. Indeed, good communication is necessary for a healthy relationship, because to believe that we are mind readers or that we know what’s really on our partner’s mind, just isn’t possible, and because we can communicate, we ought to make it a priority to communicate, because the best time to address an issue is well before it turns into something toxic, such as frustration or something much worse.

 That said, some people just aren’t reasonable, especially when they fail to consider that as much as they might desire this or that, it isn’t really something that is practical or achievable, and unrealistic goals or objectives should be tempered with maturity and wisdom. After all, to believe somehow that what we want should always be granted to us, by whomever, isn’t possible and it probably isn’t prudent, because not everything that we desire from the other is fair to the other, which is why we need to understand better that troubled relationships can be somewhat complicated, and not helped by those who aren’t reasonable.  To keep a relationship in a good place necessitates sensibility as well as good communication, which helps in reducing misunderstandings and frustration.

Disappointment often comes from unmet expectations

There are advantages and disadvantages to really looking forward to an event, or a meet up with a good friend, of which, some of the advantages are represented by just the anticipation of all the good things that are going to occur, as well as the anticipated enjoyment that we will get from the event or meet up.  On the other hand, the disadvantage of being overly excited about an event or meet up is that things may not even come close to the great expectations envisioned, and the further away we are from what we were anticipating, the greater will be that disappointment.  This is why we need to be mindful about our expectations, especially when an event or meet up is not wholly in our control, which is often the case, because things happen, and not everything that happens is going to be good, and when that is the case, we typically feel disappointment, and for some people, that disappointment lays heavy upon them.

 That said, it isn’t like it’s wrong to feel disappointment, but it’s wrong when we allow such disappointment to overwhelm us, without understanding, that life has its unexpected and unanticipated challenges, that we are going to need to adjust to, or else, we will find ourselves suffering disappointment more often than expected, because the world does not revolve around us, and further to the point people and the societies have their own expectations to be met, which may not mesh up well with what we have in our own mind.

 Indeed, to believe that the happiest life is the life in which everything goes our way and according to our plans, may seem to make eminent sense, but since that isn’t the way that society works, we need to recognize that as much as we might have high expectations about this or that, we need to temper such with the acknowledgment that the more important thing is that we do our level best with what we have to work with, and that we not get so fixated in our mind and thoughts that we can’t adjust to what needs to be adjusted.  For a certainty, those who truly comprehend that life is a two-way street are going to do better with dealing with the vicissitudes of life, as compared to those who believe that life is always going to be smooth sailing.

 It is good to have goals, and it's good to have expectations about events that have yet to come to fruition and are highly valued.  Whether or not things go as anticipated, or perhaps even go better, is something that is unknown until it becomes known, and may well be subject to the input that we bring, as well.   While it is true that none of us will ever have all of our expectations met, the more important thing is how we deal with adversity and disappointment, in which, those of maturity and vision, will learn from such experiences and become better for it, and those lacking good character and sensibility, will rue the day, seemingly unable to ever let it go.

Race, gender, religion, class, wealth, or age

When we look at the biggest societal issues within America the most obvious issues include those between one race vs. another, or one gender over another, or one religion being favored over others, or that one class in society is favored over all others,  or that the wealth of the nation is concentrated into too few hands.  There is, however, another conflict that doesn’t seem to get nearly as much press, though it ought to, which is the generational conflict now occurring between the older generation as compared to the younger generation.  Indeed, in America, a foundational belief is that each generation achieves more and has more than the previous generation, which certainly seems to not only uphold the American dream and the values of that dream, but is beneficial for those who are its youth, for they would thereby logically have their day.  The crux of the issue, though, is that as things are presently, it would seem that the youth of America are not well positioned to have their day, and therein lies the rub.

 In life, there are going to be all sorts of battles, some expected and some unexpected.  This signifies that most of the conflicts and civil unease in America are all things which are well known, and are being dealt with in their own way, of which, to a large extent, a lot of progress has been made to provide a better construct for race relations, gender equality, and religious tolerance.  The fact that this progress has been made makes for a more inclusive society, which thereby makes for a society more in keeping with what America represents at its best.  That said, there is that worrisome concern that those of the present generation, rightfully feel, which is that even though they are in aggregate more educated than previous generations – that somehow they have lost out on or are losing out on job security, job advancement, and job income, so needed to have an upwardly mobile life.  In fact, most of the youth today would be somewhat puzzled that there was ever a time when a family was supported financially with just one income, and that they were still able to own a house and a car.  This would presuppose that America, for those who are the youngest generation, has somehow lost its mojo.

 Indeed, when we consider that the vast majority of the wealth is held in the hands of the aged, it cannot just be assumed that this will be gifted to the young, for some of that wealth, is earmarked for charities and foundations, of which, in any event, just because somebody is aged, doesn’t mean that they are decrepit or about ready to die.  All of this signifies that the youth of America who are stuck with massive federal deficits that need to be paid back and serviced, as well as conceivably their own large debts to Higher Educational facilities, must feel that all is not okay with this construct, which might well lead them to believe that their burden that they are carrying upon their aching shoulders, isn’t fair, and thereby needs to be reevaluated or else there will be the type of civil unrest directed against the aged, not so much because they are hated, but mainly because the aged have the power, the money, and the clout to thereby live lives of the highest quality; whereas those on the precipice of the prime of their lives, are struggling, with limited horizons, which will surely lead to some serious civil unrest, yet to be fully felt.

What do you worship?

A lot of people believe that by definition, if we worship, it thus follows that what we worship is going to be something spiritual and soulful.  While this may be true in a technical sense, it isn’t true in a whole sense, for even those who are completely agnostic or atheistic worship something, and what people worship has everything to do with what they are most involved with, day by day.  In other words, for example, if it is all about making a good income, and everything else in life is secondary to that, then what that individual is worshipping is money.  If, for instance, someone is quite ambitious for a powerful position within a corporation, politics, or the society that they are a member of, then what they worship is power.  If someone, for example, is determined to do what they can do to help make their community a better place, by volunteering, by organizing, and by helping out where help is needed, then they are worshipping, serving for the greater good.  Each of us worships something, even those who are apathetic, who simply thereby worship lethargy or sloth.

 Indeed, the best way to figure out what we worship is to look upon what we focus our highest attention to, each and every day, and while there are plenty of people that focus their attention on a variety of things, depending upon what is of most importance or concern, it typically isn’t going to be difficult to figure out, what they, in essence, are mainly worshipping, because it is that which they have prioritize the most often in their life, of which, their attention is drawn to that again and again, which is going to represent front and center of what they worship.

 The next question that we need to get an answer to, therefore, is whether or not, we are satisfied with the decision that we have made in what we worship, for perhaps we haven’t ever taken the time to really contemplate and to focus upon such, but simply get done what we get done, and don’t think into the matter, very deeply.  But this is the type of serious question that deserves a serious answer, and if we can’t figure out what the answer is, then we ought to ask others who know us well, in order to have them, weigh in, because we need to know, and in that knowing, this may make a difference in whether we continue upon the path that we are on, or change direction.

 After all, as it has been said, an unexamined life is not worth living, which shouldn’t be taken literally, but instead should be seen as a “wake-up” call that we need to take the time to know ourselves in a way and manner, that it is clearcut to us, as to what we worship, and if what we worship is worthwhile, to continue the course, and if it is not, then to have the strength of character to change what needs to be changed, so that our individual worshipping reflects something of substance, instead.

Dehumanizing the other

We find that in war, as well as in incarceration facilities, that part of the psychological warfare upon the other is to dehumanize them, because by doing so, it is far easier to get those who are supposed to accomplish missions, perform their duties, and to get other tasks done, to accomplish these very things, which includes when called for, such as in war, the killing of the other.  For those who are working at incarceration facilities, it is often considered necessary to have good control of the inmates, believed to be best done by taking away their individual identity, and replacing such with something as simple as seeing them as nothing more than a convict or prisoner of war so identified by a number.

 The crux of the problem though with dehumanizing the other, is that it also dehumanizes us, because the more that we see fellow human beings as something less worthy than we are, as less than we are, so that we see them as being subhuman, the more that we lose touch with who and what we really are, at our essence.  Because it isn’t possible to see the other as subhuman, without at the same time, being less human ourselves, because to be human necessitates characteristics such as compassion, empathy, consideration, and concern, which is one of the salient reasons why so many of those that have fought in oversea battles, return to the States, a changed man, but not the sort of change that makes them a better person, but rather makes them to feel haunted by that which they have participated in.

 So too, to believe that we can treat people with humanity and respect on the one hand, but with the flip of the switch, see them instead as being subhuman, represents a viewpoint that is not only inconsistent with what humanity actually is, but isn’t consistent to what we know – for all humans, no matter their race or creed, are innately created equal.  To believe somehow that some humans are more deserving of love and respect than other humans, as mandated by governance, or believed in by our faith, or told to us by our superiors, is to misconstrue what humanity actually is, and when we get this wrong, all sorts of troubles ensue.

 To take the life of another human is not natural, and because we know that it implicitly is wrong, except under specific circumstances, we find that the powers that be make it their point when it comes to war or the corralling of captives into a prison, that they must take control of the narrative, which is why they do their level best to impress upon the minds of those that have been given the duty to do that killing, that all is right – which is essentially easier to digest, when those that have been targeted to be killed, have been reclassified as something less than human, and thus fairly deserving of their fate for whatever reason.  While this may well be effective in the short run, such a viewpoint as that ultimately takes a very heavy toll, because no matter how it is written up, that which is wrong is never actually going to be right.

It took a lifetime of experience to figure out my parents weren’t so dumb or wrong

While there are plenty of children who get along famously with their parents, there are also a multitude of children who have their differences, of which some of those differences are quite meaningful and significant.  That is to say, when we are growing up, we typically live within a construct in which our sovereignty is not in our control, but rather rests in the hands of those that are superior to us, such as our parents, which therefore means that there are inevitably going to be decisions that are going to be made, that we aren’t going to be in agreement with, of which, some of those disagreements are upsetting, especially when it seems that our voice and our viewpoint has been effectively silenced or ignored.  But be that as it may, that is the way that it is, because parents have that authority, of which, there is many a child, who can’t wait for the day, when not only will they be free of parental pressure to conformance, but also that they will be able to stand up to them, and let them to know, how wrong that they were or currently are.  Yet, in the end, that day may not actually occur, because the thing about time, as well as maturity, is that our perspective is subject to change, and usually that change is for the better.

 While not every child is selfish or completely self-centered, there are plenty of kids who just want what they want and aren’t interested in hearing the word “No.”  This isn’t too surprising, because children are prone to being impulsive, suffering from peer pressure, and also wanting to have what they believe their friends have, in the sense of greater freedom, material objects, or of choices, and when denied these very things, they aren’t going to be happy about it.  Further to the point, children lack the understanding that their parents have their own issues and problems to deal with, so that even if one’s parents desire to be more accommodating, it simply isn’t going to be an available option.  Additionally, while there are parents who are willing to have a discussion, a lot of times, though, they don’t see the point, because there isn’t any chance that their decision will change.

 While it is seemingly true that time heals all wounds, and that the way that we remember the past, can be colored by the present, the fact of the matter is that as we get more experienced, and/or become a parent, ourself, is that we begin to perceive that our parents who seemed so out of touch, back in the day, actually not only knew what they were talking about, but more than that, we probably should have listened to what they had to say, back then, because in actuality, they really did have our best interests in mind.   So then, experience does matter, especially when that experience leads to wisdom, and those who do not pay close attention to those who do know best have done so to their own regret, old or young. 

When your electricity is shut off

In this modern age, having electricity isn’t ever going to be seen as a luxury, but rather it is always going to be seen as absolutely mandatory.  Yet, as important as electricity is for everybody, not everybody has the money so needed to pay their bills always on time, and further to the point, unexpected expenses can absolutely wreak havoc on a family’s budget.  Therefore, there are those people who fall behind on their electricity bill, not because it has not been prioritized, but more to do with not having enough capital to pay all their bills.  Regrettably, for those that fall behind on their bills, the turning off of a family’s electricity is something that utility companies have the right to do, and is, in many places, set at just 45 days from the original due date.  No doubt, the turning off of electricity, thus makes the turning back on of such the highest priority, which in effect, simply means robbing Peter to pay Paul.

 It would seem that since utilities are regulated, that there should be more consideration for folks who have fallen behind on their electricity payments, so that they would not have to have their electricity turned off completely, as opposed to that being the case for those who are past due by a mere 45 days.  While utility companies can fall back on stating that they provided fair notice of what they were going to do, that isn’t the issue.  What the issue is, is that the turning off of electricity seriously changes the living conditions within the residence, and doesn’t take into fair account that people aren’t necessarily irresponsible, but simply don’t have the funds to pay their bill at that time.  This signifies that rather than electricity being turned off completely, there should be a policy that electricity would be reduced to just eight hours a day, for ninety days, until the bill got current, and if that did not occur, then all power would be turned off.

 Look, it has to be said, if the basic attitude is the law is the law, and that’s it;  this doesn’t seem to take into consideration the vital importance of electricity, along with fact, that sooner or later in most cases, the electricity company is going to get whatever monies are owed to it, anyway, because once a given family fails to make good on their electricity bill, and they subsequently apply to get electricity in the future, they won’t be able to do so, because of their previous delinquency.  So too, while there are exceptions made that electricity has to be kept on for very cold winter days or very hot summer days, depending on the rules of a given utility, which does show consideration, it isn’t going to be enough for those who still lack the funds.

 Additionally, every business has a contingency for delinquencies, of which some of those delinquencies are not going to ever be paid, but because these businesses have so many accounts, they can successfully still make a reasonable profit, anyway.  To believe, somehow, that the best policy is to shut off power for those who haven’t paid their bills, within 45 days of their due date, seems to be the type of policy that should be amended, because electricity is fundamentally important.  To not do so would seem to reflect that profit trumps reasonable accommodation.

What to do about dog poop

As they say, dogs are humankind’s best friend, and since they are living and breathing animals, they have a constant need to eat and to subsequently defecate.  At the present time, dog owners seem to be doing a much better job of picking up after their animal, when their dog has pooped, of which, the default for many a person is that they then put that waste matter into a plastic bag and sometime later into a trash can.  Regrettably, while this does remove the dog poop, which typically may contain parasites and bacteria, the bottom line is that we find that at our waste landfill facilities, this disposal of dog poop, is not going to successfully decompose, which seems like the wrong result for people that are being considerate, especially in consideration that they really do desire to do the right thing.

 A better solution, to help take care of dog poop, which would be better for the environment and more sustainable would be to deposit dog poop into a compost bin, of which people might have the space to have one situated in their backyard, or there could be compost bins located at parks along with other areas of interest that people tend to walk their dogs at.  Indeed, using a compost bin thus permits dog waste to break down eventually into organic matter, which can subsequently be used in soil as an additive, and thus makes for a better solution to a problem that needs a sensible solution, as opposed to simply depositing such into trash receptacles.

 As in anything, how much dog owners get into doing this type of thing, firstly comes down to their being educated about the importance of this, along with providing them also with alternative ways to deal better with dog waste, that they may not be currently aware of, or are better suited for the area of the country that they live in.  For a certainty, it was a great leap forward for the cleanliness and thereby the health of society when indoor plumbing came into play, so that it would certainly behoove the powers that be to desire to do the same sort of thing for the millions of dog owners that America has, so that they can contribute better to keeping our environment clean.

 Indeed, the health of people, along with the environment, should be something that everyone buys into, because this is where we live and congregate, so that every action that we take collectively that is sensible and helps to make society better and healthier is something that is well worth our while in doing.  Additionally, many people desire to do the right thing but simply may not have the knowledge to do so, and thereby would appreciate learning more about viable options to help do their part to keep their neighborhood clean.  So too, in order to effect meaningful change, there needs to be not only proper dissemination of pertinent information, but also a buy-in by the general public, that good dog owners compost their dog’s waste, as their obligation to the society that they are a good member of.

Have courage

Aristotle tells us that “Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees the others.”  Indeed, when we think of positive characteristics such as integrity, justice, and honor, it is courage that provides us with that ever present help for us to do that which needs to be done, or to make that stand where a stand needs to be made, because those that know what the right thing is to do, but have not the courage to act upon their belief, have betrayed who and what they should be to give in to their cowardice.

 To be courageous is no easy task, especially when doing so, risks exposing us to possible public shaming, or when we are opposed by forces that could hurt us, but we need to be cognizant that every time that we have a choice to be courageous but fail to do so, we have given in to injustice or a wrong, as a personal convenience, because we do not wish to expose ourselves to the possible negative consequences of being courageous.  While this may well be the case, it isn’t what we were meant to be or to do, for those who believe firmly in the right because it is right, but will not defend that right, when it is being assailed by others, lack both courage and integrity.

 That said, a wise person understands that not every situation calls for courage at that immediate time and place, because we know that there are certain situations in which discretion and prudence will overrule an action which, while courageous in its principle, is unwise given the circumstances presented to us.  In other words, a brave person recognizes that there are going to be those times when we must bite our tongue, because the outcome is not going to be helpful right then and there, and further, they recognize that not every negative action needs an immediate response.

 Additionally, it is courage that we are impressed to demonstrate whenever we are placed in the unenviable position of answering a difficult probing question or are facing taking an action that we know for a certainty is going to make somebody in authority or someone that we respect, upset.  But when we do not dare to do the right thing, because we are worried about how others will respond, then we have sacrificed our sovereignty for the sake of getting along, and in addition, we have strengthened that which deserves no further strength by having failed to challenge such.

 Those who are courageous are the best of human beings, because these are the people who are willing to sacrifice themselves for the greater good, because they recognize that through their sacrifice that they are helping to make society a better place for their courageous actions taken within it -- for all those then that have a voice but will not use it appropriately when called upon, or those that need to take action where action must be taken, but fail to do so, these may be good people, but what they are not, is courageous, and there is a world of difference between the two, for when you have not found something worth fighting for, you haven’t found anything worth living for, either.

All our modern conveniences make us “richer” than Kings were back in the day

There are those types of statements that might seem logical or to make sense, but when examined, just aren’t all that sensible.  For instance, we will have heard of stories of our grandparents or great grandparents that they didn’t have access to indoor plumbing or television or the internet or to cell phones, and the impression that we are given is that they must have therefore been poor and dissatisfied; whereas, the truth of the matter is that it would be more appropriate to judge their position in society by comparing them with the same types of people in that day and age. So too, when we turn the clock back to earlier times, there is a need to recognize that when everyone else also doesn’t have indoor plumbing, or air conditioning, or electricity, then we are, for all intents and purposes, on the same wavelength that they are on, which means we are about the same in regards to our living conditions.  Therefore, to believe somehow because we have modern conveniences that we are therefore in better shape than even Kings were back in medieval times is to read the tea leaves wrong, because power is power, and those that have power, despite their lack of modern conveniences are always going to be in a lot better position to have a quality life, then someone who simply has a cell phone and not much else.

 It is a shame whenever there are articles written, pretty much stating that the poor in America shouldn’t complain so much about their lot in life, because they have ready access to food, shelter, transportation, heat, as well as entertainment at the control of their fingers.  Sure, all these accouterments have their place as well as their value, but when we look at and compare ourselves to others, and see that we are leagues behind what other people have achieved and thereby own, it isn’t going to give those who lack much satisfaction.  Indeed, we live within a construct in which our happiness, to a certain extent, is how we favorably compare to others of the same general background as well as to those that we admire, and when we recognize that we are far, far behind, we aren’t going to feel much satisfaction that we have a smart phone, as compared to grandma simply having had a house phone.

 In every society, there are classes of people, and the division of those people has everything to do with what their class position is in that society, as well as the accouterments that they have accumulated or have exclusive right to.  In today’s world, the poor may well indeed have conveniences that didn’t even exist back then, which makes their life more comfortable than it would have been years and years ago, but how we measure our success or lack thereof in life has everything to do with whether or not our position and achievements in life are that which is respected by our peers, or whether we are seen as having failed to make good, where there is plenty of good to have been made.

Regarding wealth, the bottom half of America is dominated by the top half

For anyone with eyes to see, there is a stark contrast between those who have it all, as compared to those who have nothing at all.  In fact, Visual Capitalist tells us that as of the 3rd Quarter of 2024, that the top 50% of Americans held around $156 trillion in wealth, as contrasted to those in the bottom half, which had a mere $3.9 trillion in wealth.  In other words, when we look at the difference in wealth between the top half and the bottom half, it isn’t something along the lines of a ratio of 10:1, which would be bad enough, but rather it is at a ratio of 40:1 which is a staggering difference, demonstrating that this is literally a world of difference between these two factions, in this the supposed land of opportunity, equality and fairness.

 To the degree that legislative and taxation laws have been passed to help level the playing field in America, the upshot of these laws is that they have not been effective enough, and a strong conclusion could be made, that those that own all the wealth in America, are incredibly adept at doing what they do in order to circumvent paying their fair share, whatsoever.  Further to the point, the great equalizer and the primary purpose of taxation as exercised in the United States, is for the general welfare of the population as well as for a redistribution of that wealth, to help uplift those that are most in need of such assistance; but we can readily see that this is not actually working well to its purpose, which is why fundamental changes need to be made to our laws as exercised, to see that those that have more than enough, are taxed in a way and manner that those with nothing, have an opportunity to get a foothold into the American dream.

 This type of income and wealth inequality bespeaks a general unfairness in America, in which some are simply born into wealth and privilege, and many are not.  In a nation that is supposedly a strong believer in meritocracy, along with the belief that it has a duty to promote the general welfare of this nation, it has to be noted, that this is not being accomplished at even close to the level that it needs to be at, which is why we see so much civil unrest, because those that feel that they have not been provided with a fair chance, are wont to display their disappointment in the unfair cards dealt to them, through ill behavior that represents such frustration.

 To all those though who believe that America is an equal opportunity country, especially in the sense that those who are successful deserve fully the fruits of their labor, they need to comprehend better that such a high wealth disparity isn’t healthy for a nation, because it serves as a distinct division between the citizens of this nation, making for a society that isn’t comfortable with one another, and undercuts democratic institutions because the change that those that lack want to see occur, not only doesn’t ever come to fruition, but it never will come to such.

Can you be anything when you are treated as if you are nothing?

How we treat others and how we are perceived go a long way towards our success or failure in life, for those that are well supported have that important backstop that will help them in times of trouble; whereas, those that are not supported or are actively dismissed as being “garbage” lack that backstop and because they don’t have that emotional support available for them are susceptible to not only falling, but basically they are lacking the support system that they can lean upon to get back up.

 Indeed, how we are treated at a young age helps to build our character, and when that treatment is overwhelmingly negative, it often serves to break our spirit.  In truth, all of us are initially born with the same basic outlook on life, in which, it takes societal members about the same amount of energy to be there for someone as it does to treat someone as if they are irrelevant, of which, the difference in the outcome of these is often quite stark, for those that are supported well, are the type that also will be provided with second chances and empathy – as opposed to those that are ill-supported who don’t get a second chance because they have already been negatively labeled, and are dealt with via indifference or much worse.

 We are told that each of us can be anything that we put our heart and mind to, and while this is never literally true, what makes it a truism, is that because of the openness and opportunity within America at its best,  bespeaks that we are not buttonholed into being only this or that, or limited in our dreams or aspirations, but because this is the land of opportunity, with plenty of prime examples of people that have made good from trying circumstances, we know for a certainty, that we too can have that type of success and acclaim, with the unfortunate exception of those that have been deliberately discarded as trash, and have had the hope sucked out of their persona.

 The greatest sin that society can do to its own is to destroy the dreams that people have, before they ever even get the chance to dream their dreams, based upon their surface characteristics, or from a rush to judgment, or where they come from, and so on.  It has to be said that the greatest obligation that this governance has to its people is to provide them with a fair chance to prove themselves in our public educational facilities, in which, the foundation of those schools must be structured to leave nobody behind, as well as to be a sanctuary for those that come from difficult circumstances.  We are obligated to hold the youthful hands of all those that need to be validated so that they know that they are indeed of value, and to thereupon give them the necessary support so that they know that they are cherished by the society that they are a member of, for when we do not, we have done so to our harm, for to close the door on those that are most vulnerable, demonstrates that we have forsaken our obligation to those that are the most defenseless and in need of a champion.

Exploitation and extermination

As much as people want to believe that everyone has fair access to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, or if not currently having fair access to these things, they are on track to get such -- we find though that history is replete with plenty of cases in which noble governmental words are spoken and written, but in reality when it is all said and done the actual conditions of those societies professing high ideals typically fall far short of achieving what is meant to be achieved, with fairness and justice for all, equally applied.

 Indeed, there are winners and losers in society, of which, those in the most powerful positions of society and governance are the very same that determine the effective rule of law, and to thereby prioritize what will or will not occur or be dealt with per their preference, and whenever there is civil unrest, to utilize effectively the policing arm of the state to keep those that would rebel, in check.

 The upshot of all this is that because so many Western nations are beholden to capitalistic principles, these very principles, in effect, supersede and trump appropriate ethical and fair treatment of all citizens.  Indeed, there is always some enclave of citizens who are going to be exploited, which is why we find that in the United States that there are millions of people who labor and work hard at their job, but are essentially not provided with a living wage in return.  Thereby signifying that in America, which is the wealthiest nation in the world, the exploitation of its own people is the norm, so that those who control the levers of that power can personally benefit from the application of that exploitation.

 For a certainty, in absence of such exploitation, one would think that the field would thereby get ever more level based upon the principles of the Constitution, but in actuality because those in power, are often fixated on increasing their wealth and power, this means that when they are somehow precluded from exploiting others, that they have a distinct tendency to see those that will not personally benefit them as an annoyance and an obstacle, that thereby must be eliminated, signifying that those particular people need to be neutralized or eradicated.

 For example, the reason why our prisons are filled with essentially ill-educated and impoverished people is mainly because those who wish to exploit them find that they are not conducive to that exploitation, because they won’t permit themselves to be underpaid for dead-end work that will not get them ever any semblance of the American dream, so then these citizens are rounded up and incarcerated because they won’t be obedient to the powers that be.  Additionally, the reason why this governance expends a lot of money on gain-of-function research diseases is because those that have vulnerable immune systems or are very aged are the very people that cost the government a lot of money, without providing any utility in return to corporations or the government, signifying that a ruthless decision is thereby made that to eradicate that which cannot be exploited, is good for business, and thereby good for America.  This means that all those who cannot be exploited are often going to be incarcerated, killed, or expelled, through one means or another, which helps the bottom line of businesses and eases the burden on the government.

When the colonists become independent of their parent nation

America famously declared its independence from Great Britain in 1776, and was ultimately successful in asserting that independence, though they had to fight a successful revolutionary war to obtain such.  This thus signified that those that were previously under the rule of a Monarch, namely King George III, as well as under a parliament that they had no direct representation in, were now a separate, independent, and sovereign nation, which meant that the future success of those colonists, and the benefits thereof, were thereby in the full control of what became the United States of America, signifying that the British Empire would no longer be able to impose its will upon America, of which, because a significant percentage of those colonists hailed from the British empire, meant the permanent loss of what had once been colonists loyal to the British Empire, but were loyal no more.

 Indeed, it is one thing to fight a war of aggression against another nation, and to lose that war, but that isn't the same thing as fighting a war against one's own colonists, and losing that war; because in actuality, the war of the British Empire against its own colonists, should be more appropriately described as a civil war, because each of the parties before that war were an integral part of the same empire, and to lose part of an empire, is entirely different thing than a war made for conquest and for the obtainment of booty, thereby signifying the indignity that the British Empire had to swallow of their erstwhile colonists of the British Empire, somehow being able to defeat that British Empire, and further to declare their independence from such, was seen as something intolerable by the British, especially considering all the previous support provided by the British Empire to help make the colonists successful..

 This is why, we find that those that have an empire, typically keep a very tight grip on those that are in positions of authority within any colony of theirs, so that the empire is not undermined by colonists that are not aligned or loyal to the empire, of which that empire has aided and abetted the colonists in their growth and productivity.  For a certainty, the successful independence of those that were the colonists over their parent country, is something that should never have happened, because to agitate for such independence, is traitorous, subject thereby to the penalties of such, which typically would be death, so that those of the colonists that risked their lives and their wealth, gambled in a serious game, in which, they took on the greatest empire of that day and age, and were victorious.

 The lesson therefore of those that desire to be an empire, is pretty clear and obvious, which is that those who are designated outside of their domestic nation to be in high positions of authority and power on behalf of that empire, need to be carefully monitored by the home office, in which, also the colonists thereof, need to be not only observed but also manipulated as needed, because to do anything less, opens the door to revolution, and revolutions are very bad for business as well as the sustainability of empire building.

The “step-up in basis” should be eliminated

As they say, there are only two things certain in life, death and taxes, of which the apparent point of the “step-up in basis” is to circumvent taxes, indefinitely, which is not only very bad tax policy but unfair to the general public in whole.  Basically, what the “step-up in basis” represents is that for those that have material assets such as represented by equities and bonds, that upon the death of this personage, the inheritor of that asset, will be stepped up to the fair market value of those assets at the date of the death of the deceased.  What this means, therefore, is that no matter how much paper profit the dearly departed has accumulated, which could be in the billions of dollars, the recipient of those assets has no accumulated tax liability because their tax basis has been readjusted to the value of these material assets at death.

 Look, there isn't any doubt that the only conceivable champions of this step-up basis, could only be those that believe that dynastic wealth is something that they deeply desire because either they want to receive such themselves, or they want the capability to pass on that wealth to family members without having that accumulated wealth to be fairly taxed.  Indeed, to permit those that are no longer among the living, to pass on their wealth at a stepped-up basis will only increase wealth inequality, and will undercut not only our progressive tax code, but will undercut the belief that this should be a country that champions meritocracy as compared to being a country that is an enabler of dynastic wealth, to its own ultimate undoing.

 While it is true that nobody happily pays taxes, it has to be said that taxes must be paid, or else there will come that reckoning in which the national debt so incurred cannot be properly serviced and thus the fiscal house of cards collapses. This signifies that the stepped-up basis needs to be seriously amended and thereby to become consistent with what those that are alive are obligated to pay, whenever they sell their assets, and hence upon one's death, taxes should be assessed at a rate consistent with what the selling, or the transfer of those assets, would have represented.

 The bottom line is this nation permits those that live here, the opportunity to earn and to make as much money as they are capable of, subject to taxation as authorized by governmental authorities, which they are obligated to pay to that nation which hosts them, and when those that have accumulated massive assets are no longer in this world, then those assets need to be fairly taxed, for whenever they are not, this makes for a nation in which inheritance trumps labor, which is the type of construct that undermines democracy and enhances plutocracy, in its stead, which is not consistent to what this nation was founded upon or its purpose in being; which is why the stepped-up basis should not only be eliminated, but also why the stepped-up basis policy in fundamentally unamerican.

Towards the New Concorde air service

For whatever reason, people have a tendency to believe that history tells us that civilization gets ever more advanced, generation after generation, but the reality is that isn't true at all.  Instead, a more honest and nuanced view of history would show that in some areas of civilization, there is great progress being made, and in other areas, a disappointing regression.  When it comes to air travel, never have so many traveled through the air than at the present time, but the actual airplanes that take these passengers to their destination of choice have not had a quantum leap in their design for quite a while, but rather seem to rely on incremental improvements, or not even that, for in some significant cases, there is an expressed desire to simply pack in as many people as possible on certain airlines in order to increase revenue. So too, when it comes to the speed of aircraft, the normal cruising speed of such, is about 515 mph, which perhaps sounds impressive, but the fact that we had an airline, the Concorde, that began its service in 1976, with a normal cruising speed of 1350 mph, would seem to imply that there is room for major improvement when it comes to airline speed, especially for transnational travel, that seems to have been effectively ignored.  After all, despite whatever bells and whistles a given airplane might now have, most people aren't all that comfortable on an airplane, especially when that flight is of long duration, so it would seem that there would be a ready market for an airline service that was significantly faster than anyone else, but that does not currently exist, presently.

 While there are a lot of reasons why the Concorde airline went out of business, that isn't germane to why something akin to the Concorde could not thereby be rethought and redeveloped, because there would seem to be plenty of business people as well as serious travelers with money on their hands that would desire to get to their destination significantly faster and would be willing to pay a premium for such, but this option doesn't even exist.

 Indeed, as it has been said, “build it and they will come,” but the fact of the matter is that no current airline company appears willing to build such, though they should probably take a serious look at doing so.  After all, to believe that those that engineer airplanes aren't any sharper or aren't able to take advantage of today's computers and materials to build an airplane that is faster, smoother, and at a reasonable cost, seems to say that we are regressing and not progressing, because the bottom line is that when people discuss their vacation or their international business meeting they typically get right to the heart of the matter, which is what they did and accomplished when they were at their point of interest, which signifies that airlines represent a means to an end, which should thereby take into serious account the amount of time spent in that air travel and what these airlines could do to reduce such.