Parenting Counts

This morning I was reading about the phenomenal success of the Washington Redskins rookie quarterback, Robert Griffin III. For a 22 year old, it read, he shows a surprising maturity that enhances an enormous talent.  Indeed.

It occurred to me if we as a people would get back to the basics, the country may yet rebound. The basics being parenting. Mr. Griffin was an army brat, if you will, hailing from a two parent family.  Both were Army sergeants and his upbringing was a reflection of their Army discipline.  I don't mean in the way of punishment, but in the pursuit of excellence.

Young Mr. Griffin went on to attend Baylor University graduating with a BA in political science with a 3.67 grade point before embarking on a Master's program in communications.  That he won the Heisman Trophy and went on to NFL success is in many ways beside the point.  I believe he would succeed at anything.

That brings me to the story of a group of young men from the San Diego area known as the Burrito Boys.  They are 13 and 14 year old friends who have made quite a name for themselves for delivering burritos to the homeless every Sunday morning for the past couple of years.

It isn't an idea the boys came up with themselves, but the result of an over the top Christmas wish list that included iPods, the latest in cell phones and so forth.  Nothing unusual for youngsters of that age this day and age.

The parents said whoa!  It's time for a life lesson here. Greed isn't good! So the parents whipped up a batch of breakfast burritos, gathered the boys and headed for the homeless. The venture has evolved from two to seven boys along with the support of their parents, business people and a full fledged non-profit.  The bounty for the homeless has grown from burritos to include everything from books to clothing to tarps and even treats for the dogs. One 14 year old vows they will continue the effort for as long as they are able.

Both are feel good stories.  Both showcase the exceptionalism that can exist among our youth.  Both are because the parents took their responsibilities seriously.  They parented.

The stories may belong to the boys but the credit belongs to the parents.  May there be multitudes of them among us.

Why Bother?

I've really been dogging it lately when it comes to posting.  Not that there hasn't been a lot to comment about.  I'm just wondering why bother. Especially when it comes to our government and the political scene in general.  It's what I write about mostly and nothing is going to change.

Consider, this fiscal cliff deal.  After the people have complained for years that we're tired of the acrimony in Congress, has it changed any?  No. Two days are left before they may or may not throw together one more shoddy plan kicking the problem down the road one more time in any event.  Another "we'll have to pass it to see what's in it" deal no doubt.

For this they, along with all federal workers, are going to get a raise by Presidential decree.  We have all missed our calling if our goal was great pay, Cadillac benefits and darn little work. This is apparently the President's idea of redistribution.  Take it from us and give it to them.

They are so prone to over reactions and just plain wrong reactions yet we're actually beginning to buy into them.  The fiscal cliff isn't going to kill us.  It won't happen over night, number one and protracting something out over 10 years isn't ever likely to happen anyway.  Taxes are going up.  Period.  Obamacare for one. Spending will not go down in any significant manner as long as Obama is President.  The debt ceiling will continue to rise.

Then there is the current flurry of anxiety over gun laws.  I'm no huge fan of guns but I'm not against them either. But having to be seen doing something they're ignoring the health issue and the culture of violence, as in video games; talking tough on guns is so much easier.

Let's face it.  If they can't get their act together to undo a 1949 statute that now puts the price of milk into a precarious position, why should we expect them to do anything else in a timely manner?  They won't.

I listen to the talking heads interviewing politicians on their programs.  Often asked is why they aren't doing their jobs.  The usual answer is it's the other guys fault.  Everything operates in crisis mode if at all.

So I've come to the conclusion that there is nothing I nor anyone else can say or do that will change how government works.  Besides, we're so substantive that our petitions on the White House site seem to care more about whether or not David Gregory is arrested for having an empty gun magazine on his show or deporting Piers Morgan because we don't like his view on our gun laws.  On such depends the future of our country.

I'm feeling every bit as old as Father Time these days and I have no faith in the Baby New Year.  My heros are fast disappearing - the Norman Schwartzkoffs and Robert Borks of the world. I have no desire to go along to get along when I know I can be the best. We've lost that personal pride somewhere along the way.   Sure it exists in individuals here and there, but it doesn't exist in our nation as a whole .

We've settled for mediocrity as a standard and the mediocre as our standard bearers.  But of course it's not my fault.  It's yours.

Tooth Fairy

Let's set the stage here.  You're an attractive woman.  You're married and have kids.  You've been at the same job for ten years - with the same boss.  You were considered an excellent employee. You're fired.

Not because you're a woman mind you, but you've suddenly become a danger to said bosses marriage because he finds your "tight" clothing provocative and he might be inclined to try to start an affair.  Inclined to try?

And it's all perfectly legal, at least in Iowa.  The court rules it's about family values, not gender.  It's about preserving a marriage.  Never mind that the wife who also works in the office found the two were texting one another and demanded the woman be fired.  Never mind too that the texts were inconsequential things about kids and such.  In this day and age, for heavens sake don't text a good looking employee!  If she had been ordinary would it have mattered?

A couple of thoughts come to mind.  I go to the dentist regularly and I've yet to see beyond lab coats, eye shields and masks enough of anyone to lure me into an affair.

I will concede that office personnel do see one another out of 'uniform' upon coming and going and maybe lunch breaks so physical attributes may be more apparent.  However,  if someone was incredibly attractive I can't imagine it would take ten years for lust to bubble to the surface.  If she was dressing inappropriately, I'm sure the wife wouldn't have taken ten years to notice either.

The whole scenario seems ludicrous to me.  The dentist is a bit slow on the uptake here and so is his wife.

Even more ludicrous is the idea that a seven man panel of judges would side unanimously with the dentist, terming it "irresistible attraction".  Especially when no inappropriate behavior was ever displayed by the employee. Talk about arrested development on the part of the judicial! Spare me from patriarchal societies.  The Mideast is bad enough.  We don't need them here.

As for the horny dentist it might be time to grow up and curb his appetites.  Hanky panky in the work place is nothing new.  One usually has to engage in it, however, before being fired.  General Petraeus may be able to explain it better than I can.

For it to be legal to terminate someone for an unacted upon prurient dream is beyond my comprehension.  This in Iowa, a stronghold for Christian Conservatives yet a place where gay marriage is legal.  It's obviously also a place where "family values" can be shaped just about any way you want.

Except if your a good looking woman with a man child for a boss.

They Really Don't Get It!

I had mixed feelings when the Republicans balked at passing "Plan B".  On one hand, it was as close to hard ball as the Republicans have come by giving the President a tax increase even though it wasn't anywhere near what he wanted.

On the other hand I can't help but admire them for balking because they were to get nothing in the way of spending cuts in return.  Empty promises don't count.

So many are quick to blame the Republicans for all our financial woes, but it simply isn't true. When it comes to spending, both parties can't help but to go hog wild ~ with pork and bureaucracy.

Take the $60 billion aid bill promised by the President for victims of Hurricane Sandy.  Bear in mind, many are still without shelter.  Many are living in unheated and unsanitary shells of what used to be their homes.  FEMA funds for hotels are running out and people are being turned out.  Some are living in their cars while FEMA trailers remain undelivered.  It's winter.  It's cold and it's wet.

So where is that $60 million?  Apparently some is being held up until after Christmas so they can determine what spending is appropriate.  It's winter.  It's cold and it's wet. This, by the way, is the Republicans.

Then there is the pork.  Eight million has been tagged to buy cars for homeland security and justice department personnel.  While Sandy victims sleep in what's left of theirs.

Thirteen billion is slated for tree plantings and such in preparation for future storms.  While trees still remain protruding from crushed roofs.

One hundred fifty million has been slotted for NOAA to dole out to Alaskan fisheries. Let them eat fish?  Don't they wish! Untold millions are going to other government entities for sprucing up - like a new roof for the Smithsonian and spiffying up National Cemeteries.

Not that these projects don't have some merit, but they should be voted up or down on their own merit and not attached to an aid bill for people who can do little more than scratch their heads and wonder where their President's promised help is.

People are helping one another as best they can.  We have a friend who is a volunteer fireman whose home is in an involved community.  The firemen take turns taking one of their trucks to keep watch in communities which no longer have their own.  This is what we as Americans do.  We help each other, our neighbors, people in far reaches of the country from our own.

But what does our government do?  They posture.  They promise.  They preach.  Then they disappear.  Americans remind me of my Big Dog sweatshirt that reads "Lead, follow or get out of the way."

The government reminds me of another that reads, "If you aren't the lead dog, the view never changes."  No matter who is in charge, no matter who holds the houses of congress, the view never changes.  I'd wonder how they can live with themselves if I thought they were even aware, but I don't think they are.  They lose their sight and  their vision in the smog of deceit while the rest of us stand outside looking in.  And you wonder why Ron Paul and his Libertarians have such a foothold.