The insanity defense should be abolished

The thing about criminal behavior is those that who commit crimes, often do not want to be held to account for those crimes – therefore, not too surprisingly and in consideration that lawyers can be quite clever, at some point in jurisprudence, we find that an innovative defense for a crime having been committed, was the insanity defense, best defined as being germane to the case when the perpetrator committing a given crime, lacked the mental capacity to comprehend the nature of the act that they had committed, through an incapacity of their mind to correctly process and perceive reality.

While it is true that not all States permit the insanity defense, it is also true that the vast majority of States do, as well as the fact that on the Federal level, the insanity defense is also valid. Of course, in our jurisprudence, some specific conditions must be met for an insanity defense to be sanctioned, of which, when those conditions are met, then another avenue is created, in which, depending upon circumstances, could amount to the defendant being found not guilty by reason of insanity, or if the defendant is found insane to thereby be not competent to stand trial, as well as other various exceptions.

Look, it has to be said, when it comes to a criminal trial, that trial should be exclusive as to whether or not a crime has been committed, and in regards to the defendant’s state of mind, that should only be addressed when it comes to the sentencing aspect of the case. In other words, a trial should determine the guilt or innocence of the person so accused, and if there appears to be a question as to the mental capacity of the now guilty party, that should be a separate process, which should only determine whether or not the guilty party spends their incarceration in a prison or in a mental facility. What should not ever happen though, as has happened, is those that are deemed insane, and at some future point, but well before what the crime would have called for in regards to incarceration time, are released from that mental facility, for they have now been “cured.”

Indeed, when jurisprudence determines that those who lack mental capacity or are considered to be insane should be treated differently in a court of law, as compared to everybody else, then we do not have equality under the law, but rather some people are treated differently with the attendant outcome being different, which isn’t fair. The point of a criminal trial should be to ascertain guilt through a jury of one’s peers, and after that has been determined, the mental capacity, or the lack thereof, can be debated. As it stands, there are plenty of people that aren’t really right in their head or in their thinking, but when their actions, are criminal and harm the other, then they should fairly face the consequences of that action, and to the degree that our institutions can help alleviate mental illnesses, so much the better, but this should only be in conjunction with the penalty for a criminal action being fairly paid.

“We Repeat What We Don’t Repair”

It has been said that “we repeat what we don’t repair,” which represents thus those words of wisdom that all of us need to take to heart, because that which we don’t correct in the here and now, is surely going to come back and revisit us in an inconvenient and unwelcomed way. So then, the best plan of action when it comes to character faults of all types, that we are consciously aware of, is to get our mind right to resolve to correct what needs to be corrected. No doubt, there are going to be those troubling items that are definitely in need of repair, but when we do not have the wherewithal to actually remedy such because it is so overwhelming for us, we need to understand that in those types of cases, it behooves us to recognize that climbing a steep mountain, requires, not only time, determination, and energy, but also the wise use of those resources, done consistently over an extended period of time to reach the pinnacle. After all, bad habits of long-standing, which being in need of repair, are seldom going to just disappear because we wish them to be gone, but are going to necessitate a valid plan of action, and then the persistence and determination to pull it off, without wavering in our drive to do so.

Then there are those others, who either wittingly or unwittingly, don’t bother to repair what needs to be repaired, because either they are blithely unaware of there being a problem, or they don’t feel the urgency or need to repair it. Indeed, in those situations in which we have no interest in repairing our character faults, because we don’t perceive them as actually being faults that need to be corrected, just keep those faults ever more ingrained within our persona, and therefore when it comes time to repair such, to do so, will require even more effort from us. After all, the best time to take care of a problem is before it becomes even more of a problem, and so our procrastination or unwillingness to do the right thing will end up making us prone to repeating the same types of mistakes, that we should have already learned our lessons from.

In life, there are slow learners, as well as those who will not change what they need to change until they are dropped to their knees, and even then, their resolution may waver, when they seemingly get a reprieve from the suffering that they had been experiencing. To believe somehow, that doing the same sorts of things which bring results that are not beneficial to us, is somehow going to change, when we change nothing in our character, is foolishness. In order then to make progress to get to where we should go, we need to do the very things that will accomplish that task, and therefore to stop circling back to the same sorts of errors, we need to recognize the pathway that our decisions are taking us, and if we aren’t making positive progress, then resolve to do so, for at the end of the day, the destination that we arrive at, is ours to own, and those that don’t repair what has to be repaired, are essentially left well behind.

A $100 bill just isn’t high enough

What a lot of people don’t know is that the United States, used to have denominations of bills higher than $100, for it had $500, $1000, $5000, and even $10000 bills, that were legal tender, which are still legal tender but have not been printed since 1945, as they were all discontinued in 1969. The thing is that inflationtool.com, tells us that the value of $100 back in 1945, would be the equivalency of $1752.83 in 2024, so our eyes do not deceive us, for inflation has taken away the value of $100 considerably in the interim. Quite frankly, it’s fairly common for people to spend over $100 just for groceries, and well over $100 for entertainment, as well as restaurants, and even filling up the gas tank can approach nearly $100. This would presuppose that $100 just isn’t a high enough denomination when it comes to cash, and while in many a case, people are utilizing non-cash instruments such as credit or debit cards more and more, there is many a person that likes to or prefers to spend actual cash, instead.

Further to the point, is that when it comes to larger denomination bills, there is a sort of bragging right that some people can generate by simply having a large amount of cash on their person. In other words, to show somebody one’s checking account with $5000 in it has little or no impressive value to other people, but when one fans out fifty $100 bills, it seems impressive. This would thus signify that to carry in one’s wallet, a $500 or $1000 bill would be quite notable in its own right, especially when nobody else has that on their person.

No doubt, the government printing office isn’t going to issue higher denomination dollar bills anytime soon, and would probably use the dual excuse, that higher denominations in dollars would be aiding and abetting criminal enterprises, along with the fact that cash use, is in steep decline. But what of it? The fact of the matter is that $100 is not a high enough denomination, to take care of certain expenditures, and there is that satisfying feeling that certain people get, from having big denominational bills in their billfolds. Additionally, let’s face it, inflation is not going to go away, so year after year, $100 is going to buy less and less, so that, why not have this government issue $500 and $1000 bills on a limited basis, in the knowledge that not only would these bills be put to good use, but also that certain people wouldn’t spend them at all, but would simply purchase these large denomination bills as a collector’s item, which basically would represent the government printing money for nothing, since to purchase a $500 bill would cost the consumer, $500, but since they aren’t going to spend it, that tradeoff would be beneficial to the government.

So too, it isn’t like this government hasn’t tried different denominations, such as the $2 bill, but that never caught on because it just wasn’t necessary, for it just seems like a weird denomination; whereas, a $500 or $1000 bill printed in a limited edition, would sell out immediately.

The decline of racism

While there are plenty of people who point out obvious things that prove that racism still exists in America, and is arguably systemic and persistent in nature, it has to be noted, that the racism that is experienced today, is far less invasive than it was back in the day. Indeed, the trajectory of racism in this nation, is clear, which is that racism is on the decline and will not ever make a comeback within this country. So then, what should be fit for discussion is the reasons for the reduction of that racism.

The first reason for the reduction of racism in America comes forth from Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, so issued on January 1, 1863, which was subsequently soon followed by the critical Amendments of the 13th through the 15th, which thereby laid the foundation for those that were formerly enslaved to have the same rights as those that white people had, who previously were led to believe through the notorious Supreme Court decision, that blacks “… had no rights which the white man was bound to respect.”

The second reason why racism was reduced in America, is from the Executive Order signed by Harry Truman in 1948, which mandated that all people in the military must be treated equally, which subsequently led to the actual integration of the military. In consideration, that soldiers are considered to be a “band of brothers,” this basically meant that reluctantly or not, whites and blacks, were going to have to learn to trust each other, and to have each other’s back, because in any military affair, those that are joined at the hip as a fighting force are going to be a heck of a lot more effective, than those that are loggerheads with one another.

The third reason for the reduction in racism comes to us via the sporting world, in which the color line was broken by each of the major sports leagues, most notably, with Major League Baseball, and Jackie Robinson in 1947. The thing about sports fans is that they are not only territorial in rooting for the team that they support, but they also have a great desire as fans to see that their team win, and when their team has a black man, they are thus presented with a dilemma, which when answered correctly, reduces racism, because it isn’t consistent to root for your team which has black men on it, but hate them, off the field.

The fourth reason for the reduction in racism is the passage of the Civil Rights Laws in 1968, which in consideration that the Federal government cannot itself be seen as racist, signified that federal jobs would be fully integrated, and thereupon those formerly precluded from private enterprise jobs, because of their race, found that the federal government, was a fair sanctuary for them, providing them with secure jobs and good pay, regardless of their skin color, or religious faith.

So then, what we find is that when the government, of, for, and by the people, secures the rights of all the people, and that those that provide sporting entertainment, employ those that will give their team the best chance to win, racism is reduced, because a more integrated society, makes for a less racist one.

Faith and reason

As might be surmised, faith and reason aren’t the same thing, and certainly we do so find in Western nations, that our educational system of what governance considers to be of import centers almost exclusively around reason, above all.  That is to say, we are meant to look at the world rationally, and thereby to measure and to learn what we need to learn through our rational mind, which thus brings us insights into the nature and being of things, and provides us therefore with the opportunity, to make progress, in the sense of not only ever improving knowledge, but also the modern-day conveniences invented and manufactured that so many of us, pretty much take now for granted.

While it is true that we should be appreciative of all the material benefits that we have accomplished and obtained over the last two centuries, it has to be recognized though, that despite all the growth in our economy, and all the accouterments added to our arsenal, that at the end of the day, people and the societies that are made up of those people, don’t seem to be all that much happier or satisfied than they were before these modern day conveniences came into existence.

So too, we are taught oftentimes to ignore our intuition, and basically all those types of things that cannot be measured by human instruments, and to concentrate instead upon that which can be reasoned upon, and reasoned out, as if this is the most important objective of our lives.  Regrettably, what has been left behind, in many Western nations, is our capacity to appreciate all that is beyond our material knowledge, that if we were to pursue, would be well beyond reason – that then would touch us intuitively and insightfully, if we were inclined to pursue such, which would fairly represent the pursuit of the meaning of life, and therefore of our true purpose and thereby the truth of our existence.

That which is philosophical or religious in nature, is seen by many a person, as that which should ever be shunted completely, or engaged only on religious holidays, or within the confines of a religious institution; for many a person,  perceives religion as nothing much more than a mythology or a delusion, meant to provide us with some general comfort, but because it is outside of reason, should be properly ignored or dismissed.

Indeed, each of us falls short of what we could be and what we should be, when we fail to properly comprehend that mankind is not the measure of all things, never has been, and never will be.  Rather, all of us have been created for a purpose, and that purpose presupposes that we search for the actuator of that purpose, which must, by definition, reside outside of time and space, be immortal, and omnipotent.  Those then, that have the faith to believe that their little world is truly and comprehensively superseded by a power that can provide true enlightenment if only we would seek that Light, are the very same, that walk outside of reason, to embrace what we might call “unreasonableness,” because it is by doing thus, that they find that which is everlasting, true, and revealing.

Teenagers and their pursuit of a driver’s license

We read at wsoctv.com that “In 1995, about 64% of kids aged 16 to 19 got their license to drive; by 2021, that number had dropped to under 40%.”  In consideration, that America is not known for having a very robust public transportation system, and also that in many communities, the ability to get from one place to another, through that public transportation is, with a few exceptions, not structured very well to move people rapidly from one point to another, it seems surprising that one of those seminal marks of freedom, of having the ability to get into an automobile with one’s own driver’s license, and thereby drive to a given destination, has declined significantly – yet, it has.

Look, it has to be said, back in the day, many a teenager, was absolutely obsessed about getting their driver’s license, for the ability to drive, meant that not only could they go where they pretty much desired to go, but also that they would be able to do so, in many a case, without direct parental supervision.  That, for most teenagers, signified freedom on a scale that meant a great deal to them.  However, in today’s world, the majority of 16-19-year-olds, actually don’t have a driver’s license, which is an astonishing change, especially for this nation, that is known for having a very strong love for cars and the independence that cars represent.

That said, the fact that fewer teenagers are driving probably does make the roads safer for other drivers and helps keep teenagers safer, as well.  After all, teenagers are prone to making the type of bad decisions that lead to very bad consequences, when getting behind the wheel of a car, and therefore insurance rates for those teens, reflect that they are a greater risk and therefore are priced as such.  So too, with the cost of cars, seemingly never being higher, it has to be noted, that having a driver’s license but without having access to a car, doesn’t do much of anything for a teen, especially when they know that they really can’t afford a car or the responsibility of such, in the first place.  Further to the point, it must be acknowledged that ridesharing is something, that simply didn’t exist back in the day, and many teens will avail themselves of ridesharing to get around, and in all candor, this might well make financial sense for them, because the expense of a car, insurance, maintenance, and the risk of a bad event happening to them that could result in a suspension of their license or make their insurance rates to go sky-high, will not happen when ridesharing.

Still, at the end of the day, it just seems different, when far fewer teens are driving, but the fact that there are more options available, along with having friends, siblings, or parents, that can take them from one place to another, seems satisfactory for many a teen.  Perhaps, overall, this is a good thing, and if teens aren’t complaining about not having a license, or don’t seem to have the urge or desire to get such, it seems to say that the kids are alright, with or without a driver’s license.

Revenge and suffering

There are plenty of people that have suffered in their life and are still suffering from actions taken against them, that were perceived as being unjustified, unfair, or just plain wrong.  One would think that whenever we suffer, that our best response would be to do our level best not to have others suffer the same way that we have, by therefore doing the right thing to others, of which, by doing so, this will bring us relief from our experiences of having suffered, while also making us feel good for having done right to other people.  While, indeed, there are those types of people who have suffered, that behave in this mature and empathetic manner, we do so find, that there are plenty of other people who having suffered, feel an urge to have others to suffer in the basic same way and manner that they have suffered from.

The proximate reason why so many people who suffer, want to strike back at others, so as to make them suffer, has a lot to do with that “eye for an eye” mentality, but regrettably, while it is one thing to strike back against the very person or entity that has made a particular person suffer, often though, when it comes to striking back, the person that is made to suffer, has a strong tendency though to hurt someone that is basically innocent of any crimes against the person that has suffered.  That is to say, some of those who suffer, seem to make it their point to attack those who are vulnerable or weaker than them, and therefore they make easy targets to attack, which while not taking care of the crux of the problem does seem to give the perpetrator some distinct relief from their suffering, because they feel the pride of having stood up for their own self, by hurting the other – no matter how wrong this is ethically and logically.

Indeed, those who suffer and desire revenge, prefer oftentimes to mull over in their mind, the future satisfaction that they will get when they enact that action that will hurt the other.  In other words, before a particular action is taken, those who are bent on revenge, will picture in their mind, what they are going to do, and dwell upon it, which helps them thereby to enact what they do so enact, with a concentrated fury which best gives them the satisfaction of a dirty deed, done well.

It is unfortunate, that so many suffer from various injustices of all types, of which, it would behoove society, in general, to do what it could to help alleviate or re-direct such suffering into a response that would be more in keeping with forgiveness and a conscience determined to do right, even when it is tempted to do wrong.  Yet, whenever there is a person or an area of society, that suffers as well as also feels hopeless, then the go-to response is going to have a lot more in common, with revenge and hurting the other, than forgiveness, and because of this, those that suffer will be prone to making others suffer, ad nauseam.

The unfair advantages that Uber and Lyft have over taxis

There isn’t any doubt that most riders prefer the advantages that Uber and Lyft rides provide them, and consider them to be not only superior to a taxi ride but also cheaper in cost.  Yet, as good as this might well be for those that utilize these rideshare services, it has to be noted, that anytime there is a business in which some entities of the business are subject to specific rules and regulations that the other companies are not exposed to fully, provides, therefore, those that do not have to adhere to all those rules and regulations a massive advantage over the other.  When it comes to taxi cab drivers, those that are its drivers, have to, in certain cities, purchase a medallion in order to have the privilege to drive for a particular taxi company, and also there is the payment of additional fees to the county and other regulatory agencies so as to conduct business, and finally the price for a ride with a taxi cab driver, is typically regulated by the regulating authority and therefore not at the discretion of the taxi cab company.

In fairness to taxi cabs, there needs to be a meeting somewhere in the middle with rideshare companies, that permits taxi cabs to be the same sort of thing that they have historically been but also provides them with what they need in order to become more competitive, which in the end, is beneficial to the consumer.  So too, the protection for drivers of taxi cabs is far more robust than it is for Uber or Lyft because Uber and Lyft do everything within their power to classify those who drive for them, as independent contractors, which signifies that because they are not employees, they do not have the worker rights that employees would have, and further to the point, because they are typically not unionized, do not have a union to protect the drivers and therefore the stability of the work that they do for Uber or for Lyft.

Look, it has to be said, that the general public, for the most part, wants to take a ride with whoever has the best price and has the most robust app that works for them, and therefore they don’t really care about much of anything else.  This is thereby the nature of the beast when it is the price that determines who does or does not get the business of driving people from one destination to the other.  Therefore, this signifies that for taxis to compete against Uber and Lyft, it is in that pricing mechanism, that they need the rules and regulations that currently handcuff them in the doing of business, that need to be reconfigured so that they can remain competitive in this industry.

No doubt, things change in this modern age, and those who do not embrace that progress, are often left behind and thereby become irrelevant.  That said, when the playing field is uneven, then the end result will favor one side over the other, which isn’t good ultimately for the consumer, for robust competition should be the preference when it comes to rideshare and taxis, in which, rules and regulations, must therefore change with the times.

Western nations and the cause of the refugee crisis

Look, it has to be said that a significant amount of Americans do not desire to have refugees come into their country, legally or illegally.  Yet, hundreds of thousands upon thousands risk their lives and the little money that they have to try to enter this country, of which, because so many cross into the United States, who have not been authorized to do so, it is fair to say that these people, because of their quantity and their persistency, are in a sense, not only invading our country, by our doing so in a way and manner, that we do not know who and what they are.  Still, they will keep coming because the countries that they are emigrating from are nations that are often unstable, with poor economic opportunity, as well as being perceived by these people as providing no sure avenue for a better future, if not only for themselves, but also for future generations, so they feel that they must do what they must do to effect change for their situation by leaving.

It might seem to many people in America that this refugee crisis just needs to be wiped out by putting forth the manpower and infrastructure to do so. While we do have a southern border of hundreds upon hundreds of miles with our southern neighbor, it would not appear to be a daunting task if the powers that be were absolutely intent on eliminating such.  Perhaps this would take care of the issue of illegal immigration, or reduce such considerably, but what it would not correct, is the conditions that create such a high amount of people that desire to immigrate to America to begin with.

The issue that America and other Western nations don’t seem willing to address, is that their imperialistic ambitions and their interference in the affairs of weaker nations are a definite part of the proximate cause of the instability of these nations, and therefore ultimately of the peoples that become refugees.  Whenever any foreign government, must kowtow to American business interests, or suffer from being overrun by armaments and ammunition on behalf of one political side, which is essentially provided or funded by Western nations, this then is going to destabilize whatever form of government is in power.  Further to the point, when America determines to back an unpopular form of governance, because those who run that government are in America’s pocket, the end result for those subsequently disenfranchised native people is not going to be good.

Indeed, no matter how rich or poor a given nation is, most people have the desire to remain in their country of origin, no matter how untenable, until it gets to the point, in which their safety and their children’s safety, along with opportunity, becomes hopeless – then, they will desire to find stability and opportunity in some other land, and in consideration that it is the Western nations that have the monies, the influence, and the power to create a construct in which there is hope for a better life, then people are going to gravitate, no matter the risk, to those Western nations.

We find that at the end of the day, most people are content with just having a decent life, with an acceptable livelihood, and when that does not seem to exist where they are currently, they will therefore do what they perceive they have to do, to obtain such, by becoming refugees.

Inferiority, inadequacy, and lack of self-esteem

How we view ourselves as well as how we are viewed by others, is absolutely relevant to how we turn out as adults, for those who feel inadequate, abandoned, unloved, and marginalized, are not going to be in many a case, good and upstanding citizens, but rather they are going to be the very opposite of such.  Those then, who come from enclaves of poverty and hopelessness, are the most vulnerable people subject to living lives that are unsatisfactory and inclined therefore to join forces with those of the same general ilk to strike back at others and at society, for being placed in a position, in which, they feel nothing but hopelessness, oppression, and the nagging feelings of inadequacy. 

A lot of the problems that society suffers from have an awful lot to do with the construct that people live under, of which, those who live in households that are filled with unconditional love, patience, caring, and attention, are typically going to have quite satisfactory lives, and because of this will also feel good about their own character.  On the other hand, those who lack those very things, such as feeling that they are cared for, that they are valued, and that they mean something of substance to others that they look up to and respect, are going to fill that void with something that is often destructive, and typically not constructive.  This means the type of mindless violence, which seems endemic in many major cities in America, is primarily caused by those who feel that they must strike back at a society that has marginalized them, so that they can have their say, by any means, so perceived as being necessary.

Look, to believe that somehow, the prisons are made up primarily of those who are well educated, and who come from loving and caring families, is belied by the fact that those who are incarcerated are often, in fact, ill-educated, and come from environments which suffer from poverty, hopelessness, food insecurity, and the lack of opportunity.  So too, these areas of poverty often suffer from the policing arm of the state strong-arming them, with or without cause, which only adds to the frustration and anger that has been instilled within the residents of those enclaves.

So then, the violence of this nation has a lot to do with those that commit such violence not feeling that they will ever amount to anything, so they take their frustration out by hurting the other, in order to bring on at least a temporary basis, a feeling of power and adequacy.  This thus signifies that if this nation is serious about correcting the systemic violence demonstrated and displayed in our major cities, it must concentrate first and foremost on doing its best to see that families are supported in a way and manner, that children feel love, safety, and comfort, from those that they are closest to.  Additionally, it is vital that all neighborhoods, no matter the income or lack thereof, have as a basis, a good infrastructure of sound schools, as well as activities that engage the mind and body of children so that these children have thereby a fair chance to develop into good citizens.

Unequal justice

Look, it has to be said, with all the laws that the United States has, and the unequal interpretation and especially unequal application of those same laws, that the end result is that we have laws that are unfairly applied, in which the very people that can least afford to handle the impact of these laws, which are the disenfranchised and unprotected, thus feel the greatest weight and unfairness of those same laws.

For an absolute certainty, whenever somebody is in trouble with the law, they usually desperately want to get out of the effect of that law, because few people desire to sacrifice their freedom for imprisonment.  That is why, then, when it comes to the law, we find that those who are the richest and the most powerful who also make it a habit not to make a spectacle of themselves, can draw upon their connections, their money, and their status not to suffer therefore from the law unduly, for any time that somebody gets into what would appear to be trouble, but end up just essentially being inconvenienced, they are not suffering under the law, while such though swallows up whole, those that are the un-championed.

Indeed, there often isn’t a strong desire from those who are our lawmakers to make fundamental or wholesale changes to our laws upon laws, because these lawmakers know that the most important people and personages aren’t worried about having too many laws, for they have not only their avenues to successfully escape the harshness of such, but also because they know that the law as written is often not going to be applied to those that are the most powerful and influential amongst them.  Rather, the laws so stand as they are, as a way and means, to keep those who have nothing or little in their place and therefore for those who are in positions of authority to assert therefore that authority against those that they do not value.

Indeed, the United States has a great written Constitution and has some of the most well-reasoned judicial decisions that have ever been written, but the enforcement of those decisions, and the enforcement of justice equally applied to all, without respect for that person, is something that the United States deeply fails at -- because American justice either doesn’t take the time to actually analyze what is going on in reality with all the people, or doesn’t really care to discover such, because they, the lawmakers, do not live at that level, and therefore aren’t especially concerned about it.

All those who wonder why there are so many lawbreakers in America are asking the wrong question, for the question that needs to be asked is why is it, that the vast majority of those who do major time behind bars, all seem to be similar, in the sense of their ill-education, their poverty, and the hopelessness displayed by their actions.  That is indeed the question of the hour, and the answer to that question is that those that the American justice system does not wish to see in public must be locked away as if they don’t exist, even though they not only exist, but will continue to exist and persist until this country takes the necessary means to provide all those that are Americans with hope, opportunity, and impartial justice

“Well done, good and faithful servant”

We find the above passage in Matthew 25: 21 and Matthew 25:23.  The point of this passage is to have us know that we are supposed to be good stewards of God’s gifts provided to us in life, and in consideration that each of us has been endowed with talents, it is imperative therefore for us to use those talents faithfully and to be true to that which first created us.  Yet, how many of us, take what good talents that we have, and aren’t considerate in their usage, for we have a strong tendency to use such for our own self-aggrandizement or else to ignore our skillset and to let such lie fallow – thus to eventually fade away due to non-usage of such.

Each of us needs to recognize that life most definitely has a purpose to it, which indicates that we should first find that purpose and then to thus dedicate ourselves to fulfilling that purpose, and all those who do that very thing, will have the most satisfactory of lives.  Instead, far too many of us are headstrong and hellbent on doing whatever seems to serve our selfish desires, not seeming to recognize that gifts freely bestowed upon us, that are misused, misconstrued, or unused, are gifts that we have squandered in the very worse way.

Each of us is accountable not just for what we have accomplished but also for what we have failed to accomplish.  Additionally, we have attendant responsibilities regarding how our behavior has influenced the other, so that, it has to be recognized that it is one thing to ruin our own life, but it’s even worse to take down another with our bad decisions and poor follow-through that were detrimental to the other.

So too, it has to be acknowledged that the pathway of growth, necessitates our obedience to the good Commandments of God, and the more that we are in attune with our Creator, the more responsibility and opportunities will come our way, to make good on having been true to God.  This thus indicates that what we do, definitely matters, and matters not only for our own good but for the good that we pass from ourselves in assistance to others, which helps to strengthen our relationships and places us in the desired position to be seen as being faithful to the talents so bestowed upon us.

Look, the things that we think, say, and do absolutely matter, even when we believe that we aren’t all that important or valued.  Each of us must start somewhere, and every time that we take a step in the right direction, we get not only stronger in our faith, but we become a more complete person, in which the object of the exercise is to get to that promised land, done through our active participation in our valued interactions with others, but also through resolving to do our best to overcome obstacles, and by doing so, to prove our mettle that when put to the test, we did not waver, but were a true and faithful servant to that which is our Supreme Benefactor, above all.

What you are doing to bring about peace?

Society is often aware of the value of peace, but yet, how few people and the cultures that make up those people actually conduct themselves in a way and manner that would bring lasting peace. After all, we can’t expect peace to occur if there isn’t peace in our hearts, our minds, and lived by our actions day by day.  So then, the very first process to effect peace has got to be to have the mindset that peace is what we dearly desire to achieve and then to be true to that desire for peace -- For when we don’t do those things, then the peace that we wish for, will not ever be actualized.

It is true, that there cannot be peace without justice, for where there is no justice, there cannot be lasting peace.  That signifies that whenever there is injustice, we should stand on the side of justice to do what we can to help correct that injustice. Indeed, this duly signifies that peace is not only something that we desire to see actualize but is also going to require that we put forth the effort to see that this occurs, by doing our good part to make this happen.

It is a rather sad state of affairs, in this modern day and age, of how little peace that we have, in which, nation-states time and time again, aren’t interested in coming to a reasonable accommodation with the other, or in diplomacy of real purpose, but believe that somehow peace comes through the strength of their armaments, in which, the upshot of this type of belief, is that through war or the threat of war, there will be peace.  This is not true, for the vanquishing of a given enemy, typically creates the seeds for that enemy to rise again in some way or form, and this thereby continues, ad nauseam.  Rather, we need to understand that peace has an awful lot to do with fairness, consideration, and empathy, in which, when these characteristics are in play the end result will not only be more satisfying but will stand strong in the annals of time.

It must be said, that the peace of mind that we desire so as to be able to better enjoy life, can only come forth by making those decisions that are consistent with the attributes of peace, for our mind will not be at ease when we know that we have done wrong, or have contributed to wrongdoing, which is why our conscience is pinged to do something of merit to correct that which must be corrected.  The way of peace is not ever going to be an easy way, because self-control, restraint, and wisdom, are characteristics that must be nurtured with maturity and experience, as opposed to our knee-jerk reactions which just create even more trouble, than simply doing nothing.  Each of us is made for a purpose, and that purpose to be of real merit, must necessitate that we do our best to be a good neighbor to one another, by reaching out in amity to the other, as opposed to the enmity so often displayed in a self-righteous way, which isn’t going to bring peace, for peace is not its actual intent.  All of us, can do better, and all of us need to do better, for if we want to bring meaningful peace, we need to work together on that very thing, above all.

Progress necessitates effort

We find that there are plenty of people who desire to progress in their careers, in their relationships, and in their overall lives, of which, some of those people understand that to make progress, requires not just good fortune, networking, and the like, but actual concerted personal effort directed towards that progress.  In other words, typically what we get out of life correlates to the effort and groundwork we put forth to achieve that progress.  That is to say, the progress that we as an individual or we as a society desire to see happen, requires not only a good plan but the execution of that plan, done typically through concentrated and coordinated effort.

To believe, somehow, that many a person makes progress in their career, but deserves it not, is reading the tea leaves wrong, for in the skein of time, there is order and fairness so that those that do not put forth the effort to achieve things of merit, though they may occasionally get lucky -- but life, has a way of balancing out, so that those that do not improve upon their talents but prefer to ignore such or to bury such, are not going to go as far as they could go, or that they should go.

Indeed, society's progress, or failure to make progress, has an awful lot to do with the knowledge and discoveries it has made, which have been thereby applied correctly to make positive progress. When that knowledge is instead used for self-aggrandizement, though, or for that which does not benefit society, then society falls back because the effort so needed to advance has not been properly applied or generated.

The mistake that many a person makes is to look around and express dissatisfaction with their life as it is, and to express their dismay that it appears that some people have undeservedly achieved something of merit, without the incumbent effort or background to have accomplished such.  Though this may be true for a season, we need then to lift our heads up and recognize that the long term, is a very long period of time, and the undulations of that time, will invariably have ups and downs, so then to overly concentrate on what appears to be an uptick for one individual, does not provide us with the necessary perspective to understand, that positive progress has a strong correlation to effort and must in the end, be paid for by the sweat, blood, and tears of those so trying to consciously achieve such.

In this world, unfairness and injustice surround us, but recognize this for a certainty, there will be fairness and there will be justice, for the ultimate construct that we exist in, insists upon such, so that to truly achieve what we need to achieve, will require teamwork and individual effort, and when that has been put forth, the results will ultimately match up with that effort and persistence.  Remember this well, what we do and what we become, surely matters, and those who keep their nose to the grindstone, will when they have finished running their race, duly reap the fair progressive reward for their dedicated diligence.

The audience effect

The audience effect can be best described as a given person’s behavior changing when they believe that they are being observed by other people of importance to them and they therefore essentially decide to play to the audience, for reasons, that seem to make sense to the person so being observed.  In other words, how we behave, in a given situation, can be significantly influenced by whether or not our peers are watching us, or whether or not those in authority are watching us, and we often therefore modify our behavior in order to sell whatever story that we believe will be most satisfactory to that audience.

That is to say, it has to be recognized that the audience effect can influence the person being observed, negatively or positively.  For instance, for those who are being watched by their peers, and are at an impressionable age, when therefore they are insulted by someone of their age in a social situation, may necessitate corresponding retaliatory action, because of the audience effect, even when the person so retaliating might in their own mind, not really want to retaliate to begin with.  So too, those that are in an athletic endeavor, but aren’t really into it, or are tired, can though get caught up in the team spirit, and perform much better, when they know that their teammates are counting upon them as well as the audience also being into it, and therefore will do their level best not to be the weakest link, but rather to be strong and determined, instead.

Indeed, in classroom situations, one of the reasons why disruptive students are excused from class, is that by their misbehavior playing to the audience of their fellow students, it becomes difficult for the teacher to not only maintain control over their students but also for the students to learn what they are supposed to learn.  So then, it can be said, that those who know that they have an audience are going to, in certain cases, behave in a way and manner, that they wouldn’t bother to do if there wasn’t an audience to watch and to comment upon their actions.

Additionally, some of the responsibility for actions that those being observed do must also be the responsibility of those who are in the audience.  In other words, when given the choice to simply walk away from somebody who is obviously seeking attention, or to not pay attention to that person, we influence the narrative, because certain behaviors are only going to occur, when people are being watched and in the lack of that audience, their desire to do those behaviors, soon dissipates.

So then, it is important for those who are in the audience to gauge as to whether or not their watching is beneficial for the person that they are observing or in the end, detrimental to that situation, for when it is detrimental, the audience should understand that they too have incurred some responsibility for the action that subsequently occurs.  In truth, because humans are social creatures, their behavior is going to be influenced, to some extent, by being observed by their peers or other personages, and not every behavior so made under those conditions, is going to be good for that person or for society.

There needs to be a cap on credit card interest rates

One of the seminal problems with the United States and its laws is the exceptions to those very same laws, of which, on the books, there are Usury laws that limit how high a given interest rate can legally be, but for whatever reason(s), this does not apply on the Federal level and we find that on a State level, they are often exempt from the Usury law, as well.  This signifies that in consideration that as of the second quarter of 2024, national credit card debt was at a record $1.142 trillion, and that those with credit card debt, are often paying rates of 24% per annum, or even more, this seems quite unfair – whereas such a high interest rate is obviously quite good for those that issue that debt, and terrible for those that have incurred that debt.

Look, it has to be said, those that who issue credit to consumers are entitled to a reasonable profit, but should not be entitled to make an outrageous profit, especially when the typical person who has credit card debt is the very same who doesn’t have a lot of excess money, to begin with.  In other words, those who are in credit card debt, are usually people who are struggling to stay whole and thereby keep their heads above water; therefore, it doesn’t do any good for them, to pay unreasonable credit card interest rates when they really can’t afford to.

In the lending business, there is plenty of profit that can be made, without charging an excess interest rate. In fact, in regards to other important loans, such as mortgage rates we find that they are almost always considerably lower than credit card interest rates, as well as that also being the case with many vehicle loans.  No doubt, there is a difference, between these types of loans, because mortgages come with homes, and vehicle loans come with cars; nevertheless, the difference in interest rate is staggering and needs to be reduced in fairness to consumers.

The crux of the problem with the banking industry is that those consumers who have money, don’t really care, how high interest rates are on credit cards, because they pay off their credit card debt in full, each month, and not only that, they typically receive perks from the usage of their credit card.  Rather, the issue is that those that are most dependent on credit card usage, have little voice on this important issue and are typically not championed all that well by their political representatives.  That is to say, those that have the most debt, are exploited and exploited mainly because they are easy targets and have no lobbyists or important personages on their side.

The least that this governance owes its own people is to reduce the exploitation of those that are its most vulnerable, and the best way to take care of this concerning credit cards is to place a cap on how high the interest rate can go, which should be capped at the Federal Reserve target range, plus 12%, which is high enough that there is still plenty of profit for the banking institution, yet, low enough, that consumers will save some valuable dollars.

Forgiveness is a special form of giving

As it has been said, it is better to give than to receive.  So too, it must be realized that forgiveness is quite obviously a form of giving, which more of us, need to practice in our interactions with others.  In truth, to forgive, especially when we have been deeply hurt or betrayed, is not an easy task, but God, in God’s infinite mercy, has provided us with the time and the consciousness to go about and do that very thing.  Indeed, to forgive someone that we know has our best interests in mind, but has made an error, is something that many of us actually can do, especially when provided with enough time to do so.  A much harder task, though, is to forgive those that we feel don’t deserve our forgiveness, but in the skein of time, it is to our own benefit to be forgiving, for that which we hold onto which is a negative emotion, is not going to be beneficial to us, and further is not becoming of those that believe that each of us, no matter our merits or lack, thereof, is deserving of God’s unconditional love.

Look, it has to be said, that if our God was a God that was easily offended, and therefore easily hurt, we would know for a certainty, that God would thereby have an “attitude” towards our bad behavior because God would feel disappointment in us.  Yet, God does not do this to us, for God is ever willing to accept us in open arms, whether we are good or bad, because no matter our behavior, or our mistakes, God accepts us, unconditionally, and never gives up on any of us, because God knows who and what we really are in essence, and because of that, God will never forsake its own.

When we look at our life, there are probably plenty of times, when we are called to be the bigger person, and therefore to forgive those who have hurt us, and to thus express that viewpoint to them, so that they know that they have been truly forgiven which is a valued gift to give. it is in the understanding, that all of us, are flawed, and have said or done things in a fit of anger or stupidity that have hurt the other, that we need to thereby maintain consistency in our viewpoint – for we typically believe when we have done wrong to the other, that given enough time, we should be provided with a second chance, and therefore forgiven.

There is nobody and no soul, that is forever mired in mud, who cannot eventually be cleansed; rather, inside every one of us is the ability to be a better person, and those then that lend a helping hand to mistake and error-prone people, are helping to make society a better place – for in actuality those that are not ever forgiven are the very same, that will tend to give up on their own self, making for a nasty brew -- for an encouraging and forgiving word will oftentimes do more to right the ship and to therefore bring back normalcy than to be harsh and unforgiving in our outlook towards someone that has hurt us, for we have in our hands the volition to forgive, and in that forgiveness to give goodness over resentment

To know God

There are plenty of people who declare that they deeply desire to know God, but often their thoughts and actions belie that very thing.  Then there are those others that declare that there is no God, as if they, somehow are omniscient, when they surely are not.  Recognize this well, everything that we see and ponder upon comes forth from our omniscient God, and there would be absolutely nothing, in fact, a total void, if not for God – so that, those that have the audacity to declare that God does not exist, are unthinking and non-contemplating fools. 

Yet, just because we are aware of God’s existence, does not correlate necessarily that we truly know

God, for most of us, see dimly, whereas to know God is pure illumination, and therefore the only way to know God at a higher level is to forsake our ego and our earthy desires to contemplate instead upon that which is our Creator, above all.  In other words, a few prayers now and then, or some aside thoughts about God, aren’t going to be good enough to reach the level that we need to be at.  Though, that said, to know what to do, and to do right, is in its own way, a sure and steady way to know God better, and should be part and parcel of our being.

In truth, we look at this world and wonder why so much of this world, and the society that we are an integral member of, lack the very attributes that would make for peace, harmony, goodness, and justice.  The proximate reason why this is so is that humankind believes that it, and it alone, can solve all problems and take care of all things – or another way of looking at it, is that the collective ego of humankind believes that the world and society are a better place for everyone to just go about their personal business in an endless loop of competition, betrayal, desire, lying, and deceit, as if this will progress humankind, at all.

Indeed, the problems that this world presents are the exact same problems that a hard-headed and stubborn child represents, for far too many people want things to be their way, and have a conniption fit when they don’t get their way, never seeming to realize that it is those desires that abut against other people’s desires that make for the disharmony that we experience, day by day.  So too, all those who complain about God never seeming to do much of anything, by ignoring their petitions and prayers, seem to believe that God has no wisdom, and no omniscience, for they are disappointed when their demands and wishes are unmet.  Rather, it would behoove humankind to comprehend, that to know God, is a process that takes time, concentration, and determination – of which, the better effort that we make in understanding God and the attributes of God, the better we will comprehend that God always gets it right, so that therefore the pathway to knowing God is one of righteousness, justice, fairness, patience, contemplation, and loving compassion, above all.

Paid informants are akin to witness tampering

It is a truism, that when it comes to paid informants, or those fairly paid for their regular work, that we find that seldom are people like that willing to bite the hand that feeds them.  In other words, for instance, paid informants, by definition, will behave in a way and manner in conformance to what those who pay them, desire from them.  This thus signifies that paid informants, should they be allowed to testify are not going to tell the truth, and therefore what they have to say, is colored by the fact that they have been paid and thereby coached or trained to say what their operatives desire out of them, not only for the compensation that they have received, but also in many a case, for leniency to their own crimes or misbehavior.

In a court of law, witness tampering is against the law; yet, paid informants, as witnesses, are essentially being coerced or pressured into, or have an implied agreement, to testify a certain way, to please those that are providing a benefit to them, which is essentially witness tampering.  To believe, somehow, that those informants who are in quite vulnerable positions, will in a court of law, testify to the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, is a false construct.  So then, when it comes to paid informants and the quid pro quo deals made with such, these informants shouldn’t be permitted to testify whatsoever in a court of law, nor should their statements be the basis for the arrest of an alleged perpetrator.  Indeed, the fact of the matter is, that paid informants, are a tool that the police use, that will permit them to take an unethical shortcut in bringing charges against an individual for their supposed criminal activity, by that informant saying what needs to be said, in order to help bring a charge or conviction against someone else, when the evidence to do so, is sorely lacking, except for this timely but corruptly paid informant testimony.

In life, you get what you pay for, so that, people who are on the periphery of society, and who have their own problems, are going to be in a rather poor position in which they will therefore be susceptible to being bought because they have their own needs to be fulfilled and care not a whit about truth or justice, for they have decided to sell their soul to get some perceived or necessary benefit.  Indeed, for all those who believe that as long as it is disclosed that the informant received this or that, for their testimony, that they should therefore be permitted to testify as if their word is worth anything of merit, have got it all wrong, for to permit that which has been coerced, rehearsed, or structured in a way that is meant to be the means to convict another, isn’t right, because the reliability of such, is highly suspect.  Rather, paid informants, have no place to play in our justice system, and should be seen as nothing much more than “damaged goods” in a court of law; for a court of law is supposed to be about the search for truth, and paid informants are virtually never true and never will be

The massive federal budget and its expenditures

The United States has elected officials, represented in both houses of Congress and the Executive Office, who are in charge of submitting and approving an annual budget.  The Executive Office has undue influence upon that federal budget because the initial proposed budget comes from the President; after which the Senate and Congress use this template to create their own budget resolution, with the sure knowledge that ultimately it is the President that has the power to sign or to veto it.  So then, whether the people want to consider that the President and Congress jointly create the budget, or consider that the President has a powerful influence upon the budget, isn’t so important, as the fact that the budget, and then the expenditures so spent by the federal Government is a staggering amount of money.  We read at Fiscaldata.treasury.gov that in the fiscal year 2023, “.. the government spent $6.13 trillion.”  This $6.13 trillion spent is a sum so high, it’s hard to fathom it, and further to the point, signifies that those in Congress, as well as the President, are in the catbird seat as to how significant portions of that budget are thus allocated.

It has to be recognized that as large as these mega-corporations are within the United States, the highest-grossing corporation, currently is Walmart, which has annual revenue of just over $600 billion, which is an exceedingly large sum, but is dwarfed by the Federal government’s budget.  This indicates that there are plenty of corporations, large, small, and in between that wish to feed at the Federal government trough, which is one of the seminal reasons why there are so many lobbyists and things of that sort in Washington DC, because the Federal government has plenty of money to dish out, and the Federal government has historically always paid for that which it purchases on time.

Indeed, anytime that we are dealing with a massively large amount of money to be spent, there are going to be those that are gifted at siphoning off some of those millions upon millions to not only their own personal benefit, but also to those things which quite frankly are a waste of the taxpayer’s money, but often hidden from view, except from a very careful and detailed audit.  So too, those that have the power of the purse, have power over corporations and other people, thereby signifying that those who want the money are just about willing to do anything, within reason, to obtain those funds, because for a significant amount of corporations, the Federal government monies are absolutely mandatory for the profitability and sustainability of the company.  Further to the point, those who are overly dependent upon the Federal government will do what they feel that they have to do, to keep getting their needs fulfilled, through hook or by crook.

In short, with all the money that the Federal government has to spend on behalf of its citizens, it has to acknowledge that not only corruption and inefficiencies of all types will occur, but that in consideration of that, comprehensive auditing is important, not only to know where the money is going but whether that money has been properly spent on what it was supposed to provide for the people.