Living Simply and the Economy

Add comment May 8th, 2008 01:10pm Jon Murray

Ok, I know I have some nostalgia for the ‘70s and the back to nature and simple living lifestyle, but I’m thinkin’ the current economic crisis has roots in our desire to live way too big and way too fast.  Here’s what’s behind my theory…people are wanting bigger houses, bigger cars, more fast food and just more toys.  Along the way we’ve become a disposable society with little regard for anything used.  Of course to acquire and live bigger and faster it takes more money.  Lots more money!  We have created a never ending cycle of seeking much higher wages resulting in much higher consumer prices.   It’s almost a crazed frenzy of wanting more and more and it’s to the point of spiraling out of control.  I think we need to return to a lifestyle that encompasses more simplicity …recycling, growing our own, buying locally, making our own, shunning bigger cars and bigger houses, renovating old neighborhoods instead of building new subdivisions, fixing our cars and making them last longer, etc.   

Since I’m not an economist this theory may be completely off base, but I have a feeling there is at least some truth in what I’m saying.   You might think I sound like an old hippie, but, in our family we’re going to be seeking more of the simple life.    

 

Jon Murray 

Hurrah for Bangor, Maine!

1 comment May 4th, 2008 11:15am Jon Murray

I was listening to Prairie Home Companion last night (I know, it’s one of those liberal Public Radio shows).  They were broadcasting from Bangor, Maine.   Anyway, I learned that  most flights with servicemen and women returning from the middle east land in Bangor.   Has to do with the length of the runway and it’s location on the east coast.  So, what the city of Bangor does is to ensure that there are at least 200 citizens of the Bangor area to meet each and every flight.  This can be any time of day…24 - 7. They bring cookies, cheers and good wishes to those returning.  This story brought a tear to my eye.  Despite the the fact that this is a ridiculous conflict, I’m glad that the returning servicemen/women  receive a reception that reminiscent of the homecomings of old.

Jon Murray

Jimmy Carter for Secretary of State

3 comments May 4th, 2008 11:04am Jon Murray

Jimmy Carter has accomplished more in a week of negotiating in the middle east than what has happened in the past seven years of double talk and posturing from the Bush administration.  Common sense, honesty, intelligence, a knowledge of history and people skills are the ingredients for successful diplomacy.  Jimmy Carter has been the recipient of a lot of criticism over the the year, but, I sure miss his presidency.

Jon Murray

Democracy in action

Add comment May 2nd, 2008 08:10am Don R. Gugliuzza

Give the voters the option of recalling ineffective or corrupt elected officials in Illinois? What a stupid idea. Who can trust the same people who mistakenly elected those people in the first place, with the power to un-elect them? Apparently, the Illinois Senate is proud of the tradition in Illionois that sends a high percentage of Governor’s to prison. This is the same body of elected officials that allowed themselves a 10% pay increase and will, in all probablility get another pay increase of 11.7%. This is the same group that governs over a state that has a $3 billion shortfall, is slow in paying it’s bills, has a crumbling infrastructure and, in general, is mismanaged to historic proportions. Why in the world would they be afraid to let the electorate in this state be able to cull out the corrupt, self-serving and/or inept elected “representatives?”

Well, here’s a news flash for those Senators who voted against giving us the opportunity to vote on whether we want the ability to recall those that don’t deserve the public trust. We do have recall in this state. It’s called a general election. All we need to do is identify those Senators who voted against the constitutional amendment that would allow recall and vote against them in the next election. We need to bring democracy back to our state and our country. This would be a good start.

Let’s Not Become Gasoline “Victims”

3 comments April 28th, 2008 08:53pm Jon Murray

We cannot allow ourselves to become gasoline price “victims”!  Sure, prices are up,  I don’t like it (I drive 48 miles round trip each day) and it’s easy to complain about.  The fact is, however, we can be in control of our destiny when it comes to travel and fuel use.  We can choose to drive reasonably sized vehicles; we can purchase hybrid vehicles; we can car pool; and for you lucky ones who live close enough to work you can ride your bikes.   I’m not sure that politicians can do anything about the high prices. What we can do, however, is insist that our politicians provide for more incentives for gas conserving vehicles for both the consumer to purchase and the manufacturers to develop.  Furthermore, we can expect our government to encourage and demand for increased research and development for more high tech batteries and hydrogen as fuel sources.  For a country as technologically advanced as the US, it’s pretty hard to accept that we are still years away from reasonable options in alternate fuel technologies. There is no overwhelming reason to drive gas guzzlers.  Do we really want to give the oil producers the kind of control over us that is currently happening?  Let’s take control and use lemons and make lemonade!

Jon Murray 

Yes, we do want change

Add comment April 27th, 2008 10:05pm Don R. Gugliuzza

The Three candidates still in the running for the presidency have correctly identified the fact that the American people are demanding change. Unfortunately for them and our fellow countrymen, they will not address the type of changes we are demanding. Again, we get lip service from those who are only interested in their self-serving interests and those of their financial and special interest backers.

They offer hours and hours of rhetoric and debate over which of them is best suited to effect change without addressing the wishes of our fellow citizens. In point of fact, not one of them is capable or willing to make the necessary changes to advance the best interests of our country and it’s people. Just what is it they want to change? Nothing more than either the face or the political party in control of the White House and the party that controls our Congress. That’s it. Nothing more. Do not for one moment believe that any of the candidates are dedicating their time, efforts and lives out of a brightly burning fervor of patriotism. They are not. Why are they running? There are three very simple and plain reasons. First, they want to massage their own egos. ” I must be a great person if the people of my country have elected me to the highest office in the land.”  Secondly, they have to prove their allegiance to their party. This is necessary because they believe it is the party that effected their rise to power, not the citizens who voted for them.  Lastly, they owe a debt of gratitude to those “friends” who have financed their campaign. The financing is not given out of a desire to put the most qualified person into the White House but rather they are buying the candidate’s ability to provide a return on their investment. What proof is there that such a sentiment exists? One needs to look no further than to determine those who are financing the campaigns. If one looks deeply enough, one will find that the same people and entities are contributing to the campaigns of all the candidates. It’s called, “hedging your bet.” No matter who is best able to dupe the voters into electing them to office, the winner will owe those who have supplied the money and other benefits to the campaign. Unfortunately for the country and the citizens, the needs and desires of the vast majority of our countrymen are not in the mix. No matter who wins, we lose.

What can we do about this untenable position in which we find ourselves? We have to speak up. We have to let all the candidates for all the offices that we will hold them accountable for their actions. We need to tell them what is important to us and therefore, important to them. There can be no political career without our votes. We have to speak loud and clear that they cannot take us for granted. We have to let them know that we are not the uneducated sheep that will blindly follow the dictates of any political party and will not be duped by the false and hollow promises made during a campaign. We cannot and must not change the system of government that has, until now, served us so well. But, we must change the attitudes of those who have been elected to serve us. We cannot and will not be denied the promises of our land, nor will we be ignored by those who we have chosen to represent us. We must insist that our government still be “Of the people, by the people and for the people” and not for the chosen few.

As you read this, let your anger develop toward those who choose not to represent us. Let that anger move  you to the only action acceptable in this country. Contact those who wish to serve in our government know how you feel. Make them understand that the only change you want is for them to represent the will of all the people and not just the few. Do it today. Do it now.

“The Differences”

1 comment April 23rd, 2008 05:40pm Dyanna Chandler

The voting pattern of the populace in the Pennsylvania primary are another indicator of the division in this country.  We must find a way to recognize and accept our differences, unify and move forward to reach solutions to the problems facing our people and the nation.  Can we do it?  I am confident that we can.  There is not a problem that we can not handle with effective leadership and an informed populace.  Let’s get started!

  

Dyanna Chandler

Getting out of the Box -Winter & Spring

Add comment April 22nd, 2008 07:43pm Floretta Leavy

For awhile there winter wanted to hang on to spring as if to say “I need you, let me stay a little while longer, I want make any noise, I’ll ease my out.”  Spring on the other hand wanted winter to go back to doing what it normally does this time of year - go into hibernation until its season arise again.  It’s like breaking the barrier of a comfort zone, winter didn’t like that.  When you have zones, especially if they are comforts they seem to feel right and no matter what is going on around you, you need that zone to feel good, to be content.  Sometimes though you have to let go - step outside the box, but stay interdependent.  That’s what winter didn’t understand.  Although spring knew it could handle its season on its own, it still needed winter. Spring isn’t letting go entirely, it just preparing for all the things in between until winter season comes full circle again.   You see the beauty of winter to spring is that you have all the stuff in the middle thereby, making what winter did is enough to sustain what  spring will.  Now that we see the lighter side of it all we can truly say that spring can manage on its own for a while-its the season, just like everything else- a season of changes.  Winter begone, but stay interdependent.  So, if you’ve watch the difference perhaps you would see that getting out of the box isn’t all that bad, in fact its a medicine.  Hanging on can blind us to the true causes of problems and staying blind can actually make our matters worse.  That’s sort of like self-deception.  Winter was blind for a while and now that its season is over spring can finally step out of the box build on some solutions in and about our town.  So we’re losing three Rockford principles, we’ve got gas prices on the rise, we have the education of our futures at an all time high, we have pharmaceuticals company selling synthetic medicine, we have world trades gone somewhere and yes, we have the great presidential race of all time and I want speak about crime and losses, at least not here.  I just wanted to bring up the fact that there is nothing wrong with getting out of the box to reconstitute and reorganize only to surface (in due season) with a vivid understanding of building teamwork, reducing conflicts, check on learning and the desire to achieve results.  Watch winter in its season in the meantime though let’s get spring results!

 The Arbinger Institute says it this way “In organizations as varied as commercial ventures, neighborhoods, and families, what is needed most is people not just with influence but with influence for good.” 

Pennsylvania Primary, Campaign generally

1 comment April 22nd, 2008 06:47pm Dyanna Chandler

I am very disillusioned with the campaign tactics of the two remaining Democratic candidates.  Why doesn’t anyone focus on the issues.  We have a crisis in the economy and the focus is on Jeremiah Wright, Mrs. McCain plagarising from the Food Network and Hillary’s embellishment of her trip to Bosnia.  Give me a break.  I want a candidate who can formulate a plan to combat the food prices, gasoline dependency, the environment, infrastructure, the billions being spent  in Iraq.

We need a man like Franklin Delano Roosevelt who could assess the situation, act accordingly and effectively.  We, the voting populace, are to blame.  We do not demand more effective leaders and accountability. 

Pennsylvania Primary

Add comment April 22nd, 2008 01:00pm Don R. Gugliuzza

Six weeks of campaigning in a state that normally would have no bearing on a primary campaign. In normal years everything would have been decided by this time. Yet, after 15 months of a primary campaign, nothing is decided. All the plans for this country as espoused by the candidates have been offered. Economic plans, Iraq war plans, plans to deal with free (not fair) trade have been put before us, amnesty and open borders are barely addressed and when they are, they are carbon copies of one another. Actually, all the substantive issues are basically the same between Clinton and Obama. So what’s left? Personal attacks on each other. They’re getting so mean that they’re starting to make McCain look good. I’m sorry, fellow citizens, if this is the best the Democratic Party has to offer, it’s in worse shape than even I could imagine. I would look forward to ending all the campaigning in November except that’s when each of us will have a decision to make. Which of the three candidates is the lesser of two evils? Who knows. Pennsylvania won’t tell us. It won’t even settle who will be the candidate for the Democratic party.