Thank You

Not too hard to say, after all, is it? Thank you.
Say it when a wait person (PC again - don’t you hate it sometimes?) fills your water glass, or when the arm at McDonalds drive through hands you your bag of goodies. When you get change at a convenience store or when you get your parcel at a store, say “Thank You”. It really doesn’t take much energy or effort to be polite.
Thankfulness comes in many forms and from many directions. During these very trying days of local regional worldwide problems there are many things I am thankful for. Putting aside the angst of the past for a moment, let me just observe this: every day I wake up in my home, next to my wonderful wife, looking forward to the day I am thankful. Not to any particular source, not to any specific power that/who has granted me the day. To the farmers, truckers, sailors, merchants, construction workers, doctors of people and animals, teachers, police, fire fighters, public employees, students, engineers of all stripes, veterans, soldiers, talkers, listeners, readers and the list goes on. Each of us is beholden to these often faceless and nameless people who make our lives a bit better and safer.
I got a hug from a homeless guy in Boston for a small donation. I gave him less than the cost of a pint of good beer, and got a hug. “Thank you man”, he said. I told him “No, thank You for the hug.” As was said in Dances with Wolves, “good trade”.
So for the moment, put aside the angst and worry, and just say “Thank you” to whomever you want. Give somebody a hug. It really feels good, and it goes a long, long way in a world weary of angst.
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No Guts, No Balls

This morning I heard a well presented rational discussion of the origins of the current “debt crisis”. Not surprisingly the conclusions of conservative and liberal analysts were consistent with common sense: The initiation of two wars without any revenue increase to cover the costs, and the massive tax cuts which failed to stimulate the creation of jobs to cover the reduced income to the Federal Government are the direct causes of the ballooning debt. The legacy of these two actions remains with us today. Further, they agreed that if the Bush era tax cuts are not allowed to sunset on schedule, an additional minimum of 2.5 trillion dollars in debt will be piled up in the next ten years. That is IN ADDITION to the already substantial increase projected as a result of the weak economy.
The causes and results are clear, and the action needed to correct the problem is also clear: cut spending where possible, increase taxes from the current low rate to higher rates, and let the tax cuts expire.
The problem is this: congress doesn’t have the will to act. “Why” is a more problematic question. I think the answer lies in the corrupt relationships between members of congress and the very powerful financial interests that fund their reelections in the case of people like the Koch brothers, or threaten to oppose them in the case of Grover Norquist and his ilk. In other words, many in congress have no balls, no guts and no concern for the electorate. Only themselves and their handlers.
What a sad and poor way for a wonderful country to fail.
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