High tech outsources our jobs, parks their profits offshore to avoid taxes, fosters divisions among us, controls politicians with money for re-election, abuses workers and the environment overseas and yet we worship them like gods.  Look at what is happening to our values; where does all this lead?

There is no magic line to cross where a group of cells becomes human life.  There is no magic point in time where an old person becomes senile or dead.  It is a continuum, sometimes extended as in birth, or in some forms of death, where a series of small changes over time transforms life into being or death into reality.   Where the arbitrary line is placed costs lives, there is no way around it.  We have to be wise and see the nuances of our choices to cause the least amount of harm. 

The Mystery of Being Where You Are Loved

Sometimes she asks me

As we share a bottle of wine

Or after making love

Are you thinking of her?

I nod, never anything more.

She asks,

How do you feel?

Sad, I often answer.

And then I say

But it’s not fair

And ask her

How do you feel?

It doesn’t alter my life’s story, she said tonight

Later as she sleeps beside me

I wonder

How’s the one in this bed with us

Sleeping tonight?

Does she know she is here

With one of us sleeping

And one of us here thinking

About the mystery of being where you are loved.

Roe

Jan 2022

American Sanctions in Cuba and Venezuela are resulting in people dying.  Our actions are killing people, i.e., we are killing people.  Is that okay?  Are we more righteous than Russia or China because we don't use guns directly?

Wikipedia has about 400 racial/ethnic slurs against many races including white people.  I take this as evidence that racism exists in America against white people which is not just my imagination.  In today's climate, I am sure if more than 10 people read this at least half of them will tell me I don't have the right to mention such things, much less discuss them.   However, I am old-fashioned and think all things should be discussed so that we can learn from all points of view.   Further, I am still a believer in freedom of speech even if it makes you the reader, uncomfortable to unhappy.   

Sometimes doing what is right requires doing the illegal.  A network to distribute the "pill" is a lot easier than getting women to clinics.  Getting women to clinics should be used for those the pill is not an option, but the pill could do the heavy lifting just like it did in Mexico.

When you stub your toe on the bedpost, you can get mad about the resulting pain.  But, pain as we know is a way for nature to say "don't do that, it is bad for you."

Inflation is a result of many things we have done over the last decade:

Thomas Piketty’s plan for reducing wealth inequality is discussed.  It would work if only the elite would hand over the keys of the kingdom to the common man.  But, that is not likely.  Or perhaps, the poor will vote for the rich to give all their money to the poor.  Of course, we do not have the will to pass such legislation from either side ... the elites are just fine with how things are.

Per capita gun deaths in California are 70% lower than the U.S. average.   How did they accomplish this?  Should it change your opinion on gun control?   Are you one of the few open-minded humans that the results in California will change how you think about gun control? If not, don't waste your time on this podcast.

What is the elephant in the room when we talk about America being great?