Across State Lines

I normally do not like it when Memphis tries to run things down here. So I normally try to keep my nose out of their affairs. I mean, if they want to turn the criminals lose to run free on their streets, it’s really none of my business, other than when they start coming down over the state line.

Ages ago, when they were trying to put casinos here in Desoto County, there was a lot of money spent by those up in Memphis to tell us how great it would be to have the casinos. The only money we had to fight back was from a few churches and a few private citizens. Really. What business do those businesses up in Memphis have to tell us what is good for us.

I don’t like political moneys crossing state lines. I know. It’s legal. It just isn’t right for someone from NY, NY trying to tell us how to run our states. On the other hand we have no right trying to tell them how to run theirs. It just is that they have more money and they are more willing to release it to make sure they get the representatives here that they prefer. As I said, just not right

To be sure, I openly ridicule those of other states when they do or say things that affect me. For instance, when they cry out for help from us because of their poor planning. As I said, they are the ones with the money. Why should they come after the money from the other states, especially those who have much less than they do.

Now, Memphis stands on the precipice of another election. Guess what. It looks to me that they are about to make another mistake. It appears they are going to chose a mayor that is in favor of the status quo and pass on a man who will put the criminals behind bars. That means the crime will only get worse and it will overflow into our neighborhoods down south of the state line.

My guess, it’s not just me who is not minding my business. My guess is that there is a lot of money coming south from democrat states to insure that law and order remains nothing more than a TV show. Of course I can’t prove it, nor would I want to try. It’s something that looks pretty obvious to me once you look at the campaigns. I just can’t imagine a person who wants to continue to let criminals roam the streets, has the true good interest of Memphis at heart. My guess is that “across state line” finances are involved. A whole lot of it.

Spoiled Kids. Spoiled Adults

It is an old assumption by some. However, it is one of the most disproved one. I am not even going to try to disprove it. It has reached a point that it is a given. We have the spoiled rich kids of the millionaires repeated over and over. Even those who have less money will still try to buy the love of a child by giving him or her too much.

Then, one day they look around and wonder why their children don’t like them. Indeed, the parent frequently tells the child, haven’t I given you all you wanted?

The fact is, sometimes real love says no to the request, even when the child begs, pleads and threatens. I have seen that, with the outcome both ways.

Recently, however, I have come to the conclusion that kids are not the only ones who become spoiled. A full grown adult that should know better will beg plead and threaten. They will beg their government to take care of them. They will plead for the money, the healthcare, the homes, the phones and even housing. Then, when and if the government turns them down, they threaten to cast their vote for someone else.

It is of course, one of the greatest weaknesses of a government that must answer to the voters. It all started out well but over time, our nation has become continuously more socialist. You might find this strange, but at one time, the federal government did not provide aid for for disasters. It was handled totally by the state. I have no idea when that changed.

Eisenhower, when he wanted to build the great interstate system we have, had to figure a way to justify it. Up to that point, the federal government was not much into the highway building business. So, he justified it by saying it was for national defense. To do this, the interstates had to meet certain national defense standards that would allow them to be used for airfields should another war brake out. Also, something that made more sense, transportation for war supplies.

It was a horrible thing that happened to those trade towers, but some people really made out on it financially. Some people were given millions of dollars for their losses. I saw what was happening and I shook my head. If I got a million dollars, I’d be happy to let someone come and burn my house down. Well, to be sure, I would want to be well clear of it first.

However, some of those people in NY, NY became instant millionaires as a result of 9/11. Then, just a short time later, they had their hands out again because of hurricane. Me and people like me were working hard for our paychecks while those folks up there simply held their hands out and said gimme, gimme, gimme. And of course, if one dollar was withheld, the clamoring would start, “See if I vote for you next time!”

Nowadays, people build next to oceans, sometimes on cliffs. They spend millions on the property and millions on the house. Then, when a storm comes along, we hear, “Well, I couldn’t afford insurance you know. It was so expensive.” Do you suppose that the insurance is expensive for a reason. Maybe the lesson these folks need to learn is to build a little farther from the ocean or lake instead of counting on Uncle Sam to bail them out.

People are required to have insurance to drive cars. Maybe they should be required to have insurance to build houses on cliffs overlooking the ocean. The alternative is simple. You built there. You took the risk. You live with the results, no matter. We will come to the rescue for personal safety, but not to help you rebuild. I suspect there would be one big advantage to it. Many of the miles of coast that are now private would be turned back over to the public.

That which happened recently in Hawaii is a different matter entirely. They do need some help rebuilding, though we need to avoid overdoing it. The people there were hit by something that was completely unpredictable. One might even say that the government aggravated it. Certainly, if the government did have a part in the disaster, they should have a real part in the recovery.

However, people who live next to big bodies of water where flood damage can be reasonably expected, we should not pass out any more than what is needed to survive. There is no reason why the paycheck of some truck driver should have to be used to rebuild some millionaire’s beach home.

The particular bad part is that the federal government is very bad at dealing with disasters. Invariably, they pay 3 dollars to provide 1 dollar of relief. The rest. Some of it goes to the operation of the federal agencies. Mostly, a lot of it gets wasted. The trailers are brought in where tents would work. Tents aren’t that bad short term. I have lived in tents. It’s better than sleeping in the rain. Moreover, they can be moved in more quickly and they are reusable. The trailers will likely be scrapped. At the very least, reusable buildings should be used that can be quickly assembled and disassembled. I have no idea why this we don’t already do this. Just ask the builders of the steel buildings what it would take. Bet they would have good solutions. Oh! Wait a minute! I just figured it out why they keep doing it this way. We are the ones paying for it, not them.

And so it is, that we keep spoiling those hit by disasters. And so it is, that they are more and more dissatisfied. It is the one problem where governments answer to the voters.

As an aside, the interstate system was and is one of the best projects of the federal government. However, I still wonder how much money is never getting into the concrete and bridges. Nowadays, the engineers who plan the highways have a problem they didn’t even think about when the highways were started, the people going green. Getting rights of way are far more difficult today than in President Eisenhower’s day.

Car Thievery

Yesterday, I was looking around the web concerning crime. I found something that I thought I would pass along. Of over 80 cars stolen in Southaven, MS this year, nearly half were taken from hospital parking lots. I had to think that over for two reasons. I guess it makes since. After all, many people spend hours days or even weeks in the hospital without returning to their cars. It would seem the thief need not in a hurry.

Secondly, just what could be done to decrease the thievery, both collectively and individually. I have been giving it more than casual thought.

I know that Baptist Desoto has security personnel patrolling the lots. One might think it would discourage the thieves. However, they do drive well marked cars with flashing lights. I suppose a person could wait until the flashing lights are on the other side of the lot.

I guess as an individual, we can make sure to lock all doors and maybe leave that 250 pound friend you have and pay him a dollar or two to stand watch over the Mercedes you have. On the other hand, you should leave the Mercedes behind and take the old 49 Chevy. Wait a minute. 49 Chevys might be just the sort of thing an antique dealer might be looking for.

Hay! Here’s an idea! When we catch the thief, let’s make sure he stays in prison for a while, like 20 years. He might be causing problems in prison, but he won’t be stealing cars for a couple of decades. Who knows? If we keep that up for a while, we just might not have to lock our cars up anymore.

Best at Something

Ch 24 news reports that Memphis has the best hotel bar in the country.

Had to think that one over. Is that something to brag about? Don’t think so, especially if it’s about the only thing for which to brag.

Now, let’s see. I don’t hear any bragging over the schools.

Socialism is Older Than the U.S.A.

Though many will not believe me, it is true. When the Mayflower landed, they tried socialism, though it isn’t what it was called. If you believe me not Google “Pilgrim socialism.” As far as I know, the Pilgrims were the first to try socialism and they almost died because of it. They likely would have if they hadn’t changed their ways.

Over the years, many others tried it. There was even anther attempt at it in the US before autos came along. It failed too. There was a lot of hoopla as they started setting things up. Then, as usual, people found out they could get food without working for it. Others found out they were carrying the load while others remained idle. Those who worked left, which left nothing but the freeloaders that socialism encourages. It didn’t last but a few years.

It is something of an advantage of our country. Individual groups, cities and even states can try things. If it fails, the nation remains. If such a bad plan is attempted nationwide, it could mean the fall of the nation.

I guess it is what we can say today about NY, NY and California. They have tried socialism and it is failing horribly. And so it is that people are leaving and going elsewhere as fast as they can pack up and find a U-Haul. Those that remain are ether not able to leave, or they are the freeloaders. The first time since California became a state, it has lost population in the census. That is something, considering they have the best weather in the country, as well as the biggest trees and some right sizable mountains. By the way, the state also has a sizable shoreline too. And, naturally, who would want to leave Disneyland behind.

Actually, it was tried in Russia too. Guess what, they went bankrupt. It was only because of aid from the US that they didn’t just almost starve to death before it all got started. Also, without our help, Germany just might have incorporated them into the German nation. Remember your history, Hitler’s army was withing miles of Moscow.

Hitler didn’t like the communists in case you didn’t know that. Even before he consolidated power within Germany, he had his skirmishes with them. As for why he didn’t like them? My best guess was that they were competition for control of the country… and for the world. I doubt that politics really figured into it, but it made something of a story to sell to his countrymen.

Actually, both communism and Nazism are very similar. They are both a form of socialism. They just had different names and different leaders. None-the-less, Hitler drove the communists from Germany and established his rule. Then, he went about trying to expand it. Actually, it was the same thing that Lenin and Stalin did a few years earlier in Russia.

In both cases, the socialism was not the goal but rather it was for control, the dictatorship. There never was a real socialism and there would have never been one. IF he tried to set a true socialism up, Hitler would have failed before he began.

However, throughout the world, there were the idealists. Many of them were from Russia; many from Germany. Before the Second World War, there were Russian and German sympathizers in the US. Some were trying to get us to help Russia. The others were trying to get us to help Germany. I don’t guess too many realize that right up until Peal Harbor, we were selling things to Germany.

Why in the world would a good country like the US do something like that? Well, as I said, there were those sympathizers. However, mostly it wasn’t so idealistic. The big corporations loved the money. By the way, we were also doing a whole lot of business with Japan too. (Sound familiar. We are doing an awful lot of business with China today, to my dismay.)

When war broke out, many of the German sympathizers were rounded up by the FBI. Others remained but were afraid to do much public sympathizing. However, the communists remained to operate clandestinely.

So, while we fought one socialist dictatorship, we helped another dictatorship. We had Soviet agents within the US waiting for their chance. At the end of the war, they took advantage of that chance. Many today look down on Sen. Joseph McCarthy, but he really did do this nation a lot of good. Sometimes he did go a little to the extreme, but we just might have become another one of those nations that tried communism under the rule of the USSR had he not done what he did.

In truth he did find many agents. He did help to clear our armed forces and defense contractors of foreign agents. To be sure, he awakened us to what was going on. Afterword, the word communism left a bad taste in the mouths of most Americans. This was enhanced with the USSR setting off their first atom bomb. The Soviets became a nation to fear. Then they started their new expansions into China and eastern Europe. Without hesitation, they killed with no reason anywhere they could. It was the vicious side of the “Reds” as they got to be know. Then, to cap it all off, Khrushchev stood in the UN and said, “We will bury you,” speaking of the US. He meant it. The plans were in place before WWII. He said that he would take us over without firing a shot. Folks, he meant every word of it. Today, many don’t remember. Many were not around to see it.

We fought two wars to stop it, Korea and Vietnam. Many of our men died, not so many of theirs. Mostly, it was their sergeants who gave their blood for the cause of the Soviets.

Again, they had no real interest in communism, nor did they have any interest in politics in general. They had but one goal, to spread the Soviet Union to include the entire world. And of course, they would be the leaders of the world. They would have all the power, and likely they would fight among themselves.

World rule is older than socialism. It began back before Egypt and Babylon. Soon Jesus will return for His church. After the rapture, there will not be so much as one Christian left on earth. Just think of what kind of world that will be.

Those Christians today who the world treats so badly and whom they scoff are helping to keep this world bearable. One day soon, they’ll be gone. Do you really want to see a world like that? Do you really want to see a world where the ungodly are allowed to rule and run free without restraint.

In the meantime, let’s try to restrain those who like socialism, globalism and total control by those who are power hungry, by those who kill without hesitation. If they preach socialism, remember this, what they really want is total power.

A Question for the Local Media

I heard a remark on a local network. What I heard from the anchor woman was that the parents of The Covenant School wanted gun legislation. I have a question. Was there a pole taken, or did they just ask the ones that showed up to demonstrate. I guess I do have another question. Is she the official spokes person for those parents. Does she really know what she said is true or is it an assumption based on the few parents that did complain.

Actually, I guess it is possible that the so-called parents aren’t even parents at the school. Has anyone even asked. Has anyone checked. They could be simply professional demonstrators. Being as the news woman is likely a democrat, she surely knows that this is probable. She very likely saw it before.

I don’t like so-called reporters making reports without actually checking to see if it’s true. It’s exactly how Russia, Russia started. It is the way lies are told and rumors are spread.

I also have a small question for the parents of the school. If you are reading this, could you please leave a short reply in the remarks. It is just possible you don’t like the woman misrepresenting you. Then, by all means, if you do agree with reporter, I’d really like to know that too. Unlike some, I do not like to make assumptions or spread lies.

My Motive to Write

Daily writing prompt
What do you enjoy most about writing?

I found this prompt intriguing.  When I was a kid, I hated writing.  Now I have several full sized books.  Some people actually enjoy reading them.  However, it has gotten to the point I would write if no one read any of it.  Needless to say, hardly anyone does.

I originally started writing posts in hopes of bringing some to my author’s page.  Then, of course, the idea was that I would start selling books by the millions.  Unfortunately for me, it didn’t happen that way, although I have had some success in getting a few more to read my books.

My first book, “The Secret of the Ring,” I began in the mid eighties in hopes that I might discourage people from abusing drugs.  The hope that someone might enjoy it was somewhat secondary.

Some people liked the book and encouraged a sequel.  Now I have about 35 and I am working on two more.  Unfortunately, I don’t have the money for a good professional editor.  I have problems with words like there, their, and they’re.  I know which ones to use but if I am not really careful, I’ll use the wrong one.

Then I see this question, “What do you enjoy about writing.”  I’ll tell you.  I don’t know.  I simply did not realize till now I had not thought about it.  I guess, to some degree, it is in hopes of doing some good, but it’s more.  I just sit down at a keyboard and, next thing I know, words start appearing on the screen.

The hitch is that they are not always the right words.  Worse, sometimes I leave words out or I use too many of them.  I have a tendency to use 12 words when 8 are better.  There have been a few times, while proof reading, I can’t figure out what I was trying to say.  I end up having to rewrite a page or two.  No one, not even I will know what my original thought was.

Then there are times it simply does not turn out the way I want it.  I restarted “The Other Mission” many times, throwing away 50 or 60 pages at a time.  One time I have it starting out one country.  The next time, I started out in another country.  I’m still not really happy with it, but, if you like a story twist, you will like this one.  As I wrote, even I didn’t believe it.  Yet it all worked out perfectly.  I wish I could say it was as I intended.

I guess, in a way that is one reason I write.  I rarely use outlines.  As I write, the story unfolds before my eyes somewhat as if I were reading the story.

Also, strange as it may seem, I try to take on the characterization of each character.  It means, at times, I must think as a villain.  It sort of scares me to realize how much I enjoy it.

When I started the posts, I explained from the beginning that I had no intention of writing on any one thing.  Sometimes, it’s politics.  Other times, it’s Christianity.  I have hoped to do some good on both subjects.

Then, of course, there are the advertising and advertisers.  Sometimes they can be really dumb.  I guess one of my latest subjects I’ve been hammering on is the advertising of marijuana products on TV and radio.  Some would consider that progress.  Many of the same people like the idea of letting dangerous criminals out without bail.  It is sort of a pattern with them.  The never want to take a good look at the consequences.

It has likely done little good for me to get on my soapbox and write.  However, it doesn’t stop me from trying.  If somehow, maybe by accident, I do some good, I’ll settle for that.

I know I didn’t really answer the question.  Then again, when I don’t understand it myself, how can I.

Oh, just before posting this, I thought one reason to write.  Legit complaints.  I hope, some of those CEOs will read what I wrote.  Then maybe, just maybe they will stop packaging things so we need a butcher knife to open them.  (That is dangerous you know)

I found this prompt intriguing.  When I was a kid, I hated writing.  Now I have several full sized books.  Some people actually enjoy reading them.  However, it has gotten to the point I would write if no one read any of it.  Needless to say, hardly anyone does.I originally started writing posts in hopes of bringing some to my author’s page.  Then, of course, the idea was that I would start selling books by the millions.  Unfortunately for me, it didn’t happen that way, although I have had some success in getting a few more to read my books.My first book, “The Secret of the Ring,” I began in the mid eighties in hopes that I might discourage people from abusing drugs.  The hope that someone might enjoy it was somewhat secondary.Some people liked the book and encouraged a sequel.  Now I have about 35 and I am working on two more.  Unfortunately, I don’t have the money for a good professional editor.  I have problems with words like there, their, and they’re.  I know which ones to use but if I am not really careful, I’ll use the wrong one.Then I see this question, “What do you enjoy about writing.”  I’ll tell you.  I don’t know.  I simply did not realize till now I had not thought about it.  I guess, to some degree, it is in hopes of doing some good, but it’s more.  I just sit down at a keyboard and, next thing I know, words start appearing on the screen.The hitch is that they are not always the right words.  Worse, sometimes I leave words out or I use too many of them.  I have a tendency to use 12 words when 8 are better.  There have been a few times, while proof reading, I can’t figure out what I was trying to say.  I end up having to rewrite a page or two.  No one, not even I will know what my original thought was.Then there are times it simply does not turn out the way I want it.  I restarted “The Other Mission” many times, throwing away 50 or 60 pages at a time.  One time I have it starting out one country.  The next time, I started out in another country.  I’m still not really happy with it, but, if you like a story twist, you will like this one.  As I wrote, even I didn’t believe it.  Yet it all worked out perfectly.  I wish I could say it was as I intended.I guess, in a way that is one reason I write.  I rarely use outlines.  As I write, the story unfolds before my eyes somewhat as if I were reading the story.Also, strange as it may seem, I try to take on the characterization of each character.  It means, at times, I must think as a villain.  It sort of scares me to realize how much I enjoy it.When I started the posts, I explained from the beginning that I had no intention of writing on any one thing.  Sometimes, it’s politics.  Other times, it’s Christianity.  I have hoped to do some good on both subjects.Then, of course, there are the advertising and advertisers.  Sometimes they can be really dumb.  I guess one of my latest subjects I’ve been hammering on is the advertising of marijuana products on TV and radio.  Some would consider that progress.  Many of the same people like the idea of letting dangerous criminals out without bail.  It is sort of a pattern with them.  The never want to take a good look at the consequences.It has likely done little good for me to get on my soapbox and write.  However, it doesn’t stop me from trying.  If somehow, maybe by accident, I do some good, I’ll settle for that.I know I didn’t really answer the question.  Then again, when I don’t understand it myself, how can I.Oh, just before posting this, I thought one reason to write.  Legit complaints.  I hope, some of those CEOs will read what I wrote.  Then maybe, just maybe they will stop packaging things so they can’t be opened without t butcher knife.  (That is dangerous you know)

I Wonder: Ignorance or Stupidity. Maybe Bias

This evening I heard a report over the local CBS station. The report was concerning an increase in shootings on the road, mostly interstates. Now, don’t get me wrong. Although it angers me when someone cuts in front of me, I never consider pulling out a gun and shooting at them. Moreover, I would never think of such a thing should someone use their horn on me. Frequently, I deserve it.

I just really don’t get the idea behind the woman’s statement, “….the shootings are increasing because of the easier availability of guns.”

Okay. I might not have gotten the quote perfect, but that is certainly the gist of it. I have news for the woman. Over the last hundred years or so, gun laws have been passed left and right, mostly by the left. If she actually went through the process of getting a permit to carry, or a gun, she would not have considered making such an inaccurate statement.

The fact is, about 20 or 25 years ago, if a person wanted a gun, he or she could just go buy one. Not so anymore. The process of legally carrying a weapon has become increasingly difficult since the day I was born in 1947.

To be sure, guns can be purchased illegally. However, you can pass laws all day long and you won’t stop that, try as you may. If people can’t buy them, they will build them. Same as in the bootlegging days. They couldn’t get the stuff legally so the made it. Today, there are people who can make guns in any well equipped machine shop. Perhaps there are people who do. I think they are called gunsmiths.

At any rate, the woman was flat wrong. It is no easier to get a weapon today than any time in the history of the country, though the left still likes spread the falsehood.

However, there is a real difference between yesteryear and now in morals. Back 40 years ago, people had real respect for life. They drove with more respect for the rules of the road and the other drivers. Finally, frankly, they drove more responsibly. If people wouldn’t drive so obnoxiously, horns would not be used so quickly. If people were just a little less anxious to blast their horn, there would be less shooting. However, most of all, LET’S LEARN TO HAVE MORE RESPECT ON THE ROAD, as well as off the road.

Generally, we don’t shoot someone we respect unless it is in self-defense. I just simply cannot imagine a gun being shot on the interstate in self-defense…more likely out of anger.

Oh, yes. By the way. If those criminals were in prison, instead of on the highways, the shootings would be in the decline. Only a criminals shoot at people without valid reason. Only people who are without conscience arbitrarily kill people. In this day and age, we have a bunch of folks running around without a conscience, it seems more every day. They kill without remorse. Our society has taught our citizens that life is just an accident. We are now reaping the effects of that concept.

Just thought of something else. How could I forget abuse of drugs. I wonder, just how many murders take place because of drugs? I don’t see any efforts by the dems to rid the would of them. On the contrary. The seem to encourage their shipments from China and across the border.

What is it, 70,000 killed by drugs last year. Far more than killed by guns. Far, far more than guns on highways.

The Odds

I’m not a big fan of math. It just is that when a person plans to go into a career as electronics, it is essential. I mean ohm’s law, the calculations of impedance and such all uses math. It even gets into calculus a little when dealing with vectors and such.

However, math is used in a wide range of other things. Certainly, it is used in physics and chemistry. When packing the aircraft during the Berlin air lift, they even came up with a new math, to make sure all aircraft were loaded to the max both weight and space.

One branch of math that is not talked about too much are the laws of probability. Some of this stuff can make an insane man normal. For instance, you toss a penny 100 times and the laws of probability tells us that it will likely land on tails and heads equally, or at least nearly equally. Of course, the more times you toss the penny, the more apt that the heads and tails will be equal.

Yet, those who specialize in studying odds tell us that, even should we end with tails 80 out of a hundred times, the chances of it coming up heads is still 50%. (either that or there’s something wrong with the penny)

Then there is a special branch of odds within math. These mathematicians try to know the odds are that you will live to a certain age. I’m not sure, but I think most of them work for the insurance company.

Just so you don’t get the wrong idea, I am not an expert in this field. However, I do have a broad idea about it all. For instance, the odds of me living past 72 are pretty small. Some die earlier. Some manage to beat the odds and live past a hundred.

Oddly, so far I have beat those odds. I spent one year in a war zone. I rode a motorcycle for over two years. Believe it or not, for a large part of my life, no one wore seat belts. The first couple of cars I owned didn’t even have them. Then, for quite a while after, we still didn’t wear them.

I don’t know how I made it through those years, but I did. On the other side of the coin, something could happen and I’d be gone tomorrow. When I was in the Marines, I saw a twenty year old marine die as he was walking along. The doc said he was dead before he hit the ground. Now, you talk about being against the odds. That shouldn’t have happened. I really wished it hadn’t

At any rate, things like that have a tendency to tip the mortality tables a little. On the other hand, something else that will tip the mortality tables is playing with guns. I saw that too. The guy was playing quick draw with a .38. For those unaware, it is a worse practice than going without seat belts.

I bought the new all electric car. All the mortality charts likely say I won’t live the seven years to pay the car off. If I do, I’ll be eighty and I might not be able to drive it. As a financially responsible, person, I need to make sure the car will be paid for should I die. I’m sort of in that boat now. On the other hand, maybe I ought to go back to work.

Actually, I would enjoy working three days a work. Unfortunately, I might not be able to. I don’t know if anyone will hire an old man to flip hamburgers or mop floors. It would be better if people would help me out by buying my books. (hint, hint)

This side of seventy, I’ve sort of been doing some thinking, as dangerous as that may sound. Those people who study the mortality really have their hands full. When a person is born, they calculate just what his chances are of reaching my age. Not only that, they try to determine the cause of death. Will it be disease, accident, murder, or maybe peanuts. No way of knowing but they still guess. Every year they release figures that tell you what what your chances are of dying of a shark attack. Then, of course we stop eating red meat or drinking things with artificial sweeteners. We stay of the ocean and we make sure to fasten the seat belts. Then of course, people start dying from obesity and lack of protein. We start going blind and losing limbs because of diabetes.

Fact is that we, none of us, can avoid death. We can avoid too much meat, we can avoid artificial sweeteners we can avoid smoking and smokers with extreme care. Moreover, some might wear helmets in their cars, or maybe not ride in cars at all. In order to avoid the cars we will use the safer plane, even if we just need to go ten miles.

Naturally, each form of death can be further broken down. For instance, illness takes in cancer, heart disease, neurological problems, and on and on. Then cancer can be broken down further into I have no idea how many. Two of my four brothers died of brain cancer. Every doctor I ever talked to has said that is very rare. I’ll just have to take their word for it as I don’t know. I did see them just before they died and I saw it was a horrible way to die.

Then, of course there are the overdoses of drugs. I just can’t figure that one out. Unlike cancer, it is totally preventable. I hear a few politicians say a few things here and there. The only one I saw that really did something was President Trump. Then of course, the dems did something about that. Now the problem is worse than before. I wonder what those people that study odds and mortality have to say about that. The government spent untold fortunes curing AIDS. Who is trying to solve the problem of drug abuse?

Then there are the murders. Most murders don’t have anything to do with guns. The dems are trying to get rid of the guns and they are letting the other murderers out on in the streets minutes after the murder. I don’t understand that. I wonder if those that study odds have something to say about it.

I’m still trying to figure out how the dems can cry out against the guns when they themselves are the authors of millions of deaths, in Ukraine, Afghanistan and Iraq. Then too, what about the disaster we call the pandemic. Could have been totally avoided if China was not financed by the dems and specifically Fauci. How many deaths were caused in this country by guns? Look it up. How many have died from the China virus. I suspect that far more were killed by Fauci and his dem friends than all the guns.

It seems, Everybody’s Jumping

I’m sure that most of you, as with me, heard the expression, “If everyone jumps off a cliff, would you do it too.” It is a simple admonition to keep us from following the mistakes of others. Perhaps it was used a little too much as it did somewhat lose its effectiveness on many. Nonetheless, there is something to it. Just because others do things, that doesn’t make it the smart thing to do. Sometimes, the rush by others can be downright dumb.

Not to make a jump to another subject, but I frequently go up and down I-55 between Southaven and Hernando. As I do, I see this big sign on the side of a building. It made me wonder, just who are they? Just what do they do? Finally, I looked them up on the web. Mostly, it wasn’t that surprising. However, I’m going to leave their name out and what they do in this post. I see no point in disparaging them here.

The thing is that just as I was about to leave their web site, I saw their ESG (Environmental, Social and Governmental) statement. It is one of those things that is not required by law, but it would seem everyone is doing it. Everyone seems to be jumping off that cliff, despite all the admonition of their parents.

The Budweiser corporation jumped off that cliff and it almost drove them into bankruptcy. The Disney Corporation decided to make the jump and their stockholders are still smarting. I noticed some outfits are trying to straddle the fence, that is, they are making it look as if they are jumping without actually jumping. When I went into Firestone the other day to have my HHR worked on, they had a small, almost unnoticeable little statement on one of their advertising boards. It made me wonder what they would say if I asked them about it.

Why the sudden change? What happened that companies risk losing significant income just so they can suffer the income loss as with everyone else? Moreover, even worse, purposely, intentionally they are giving up market share. People are still drinking beer, just someone else’s. People are still buying clothes, just not from Target.

People have buying habits. When they change people they do business with, it tends to be permanent. If those people who used to drink Bud, decide some other brand is better, they just might not return. In other words, this stupidity might have long-term damage.

Well, it used to be, that is to say in times past, it was the duty and the purpose of corporate boards to make money for the owners of the company, that is to say, the shareholders. It seems Old Joe did not like that concept. He could not change the law but he did make the suggestion that it would be a good idea that all companies have a different policy. He wants the corporate boards to make decisions made on the effect to environment, to social biases and governmental issues. The last, just so you know, means, how it effects the dems.

As I say, it is not required. It is not law. However he is pushing it just as far as he can with the power he has. And, as you can see, it is having its affect. For some reason, corporations seem to think it will help them to join the crowd and make the leap, knowing that it will be disastrous to their bottom line, and, of course their stockholders.

It does make me wonder, what the stockholders of Target are thinking right now, as they saw their stocks plummet. I think we know what the Budweiser stock holders are thinking… damage control. I have seen a few of the commercials since their leap into ESG and it looked an awful lot like they were trying to do some serious backing up, all the while, trying to make if look as if they aren’t retreating. They’ve trotted out their Clydesdales and given to the veterans. I wonder just what is next. Well. I know what would be best. A simple statement of admission to the mistake and an apology. However, if you’re waiting for that to happen, you can forget it. That alphabet soup group will not let that happen.