Bit O’ Sanity

Those who know me know that I place a lot of value on:

• buying and using American-made goods and products
• buying and consuming local produce and groceries
• eating at local restaurants and businesses
• buying fair trade goods and frequenting businesses who use them

I’m a person who really does look at every tag on every product I buy and take where it is made into consideration. It’s not to say I have no products made in China, or Mexico, or India. I have plenty. But, I do make purchasing decisions based on what those tags say. I love when someone compliments my clothing and I can say, “Thank you and it’s made in the U.S.”

My Chevrolet Camaro’s license plate says MDINDET. Not Dr. in debt, but Made in Detroit – the car and the driver.

I recently had the opportunity to meet Senator Byron Dorgan and listen to him speak. Part of that event included receiving an autographed copy of his book, Take This Job and Ship It. I’ve not finished reading it, but am enjoying his perspective. He said this in relation to some of the dangers facing our economy:

“Corporations are too busy counting their profits, politicians are too busy collecting their campaign contributions from those same corporations, and consumers are too distracted rushing to Wal-Mart and Target to buy their imported products…We Americans drive a Korean car to the store to pick up our Mexican vegetables, Australian beef, and a six-pack of Heineken. And then we wonder what happened to all of the good jobs here at home.”

Simply stated, but poignant. Our economy is not simple, but you don’t need an economics degree to understand that our jobs and wages are are significantly impacted by our voracious appetite for cheap junk and corporate greed for record profits.

I was listening to the radio this morning, and heard someone say that Michele Bachmann’s Christian Conservatism makes her popular with Tea Party and Republican constituents and a strong contender for the 2012 presidential candidate.

I have no problem with Bachmann or her conservative christian followers. In fact, I respect their right to live their life and make decisions based on those values. I respect those rights because our Constitution grants them, and I’ve been raised to value the freedom we have in this country.

What I do have a problem with is that same group of people thinking that they should use those same values to create laws and regulations that govern our country. That is exactly what we are fighting against in the middle east – laws and regulations based on strict religious doctrine in place to control the people and restrict their freedom.

Blind faith is not specific to a particular religious doctrine or higher power.

It doesn’t matter which religion your values are based on. If you use those values to force your way of life on fellow citizens, you are violating their civil liberties as defined by our Constitution.

I beg my fellow Americans to stop for just a second and reflect on what has allowed our nation to be a leader on so many economic and social issues. It is not your religious beliefs, nor mine, nor any political figure’s.

In fact, it is exactly the opposite. We’re a leader in this world, because we respect religious freedom and we maintain secular governing bodies.

In the wake of so much protest in every corner of the world, I can’t help but notice that the art of compromise seems to be absent. It’s all or nothing from all sides.

• In Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker has rejected offers of compromise from workers. In fact, he has refused to even sit and talk with his constituents.
• In Libya, the government is using violence to quiet protestors, rather than invite dialog.
• In our federal government, “all or nothing” has been the theme for over a decade now, and recently refusal to compromise has stalled many important initiatives.

I could go on-and-on with examples, but you get the picture and I have no doubt that you’ve seen plenty of news coverage on these stories.

In my personal and professional life, I’m faced with decisions every day that require me to give a little. I don’t always like it, in fact sometimes, I vehemently oppose it, but compromise gets things done.

How have we gotten to a place where meaningful discussion and debate are no longer valued? Human beings are supposed to be sophisticated – why are we resorting to animal behavior when it comes to making important life decisions?

Everyone comes to the table with a different perspective and experience. The U.S. was founded on these principals.

I challenge you to look at your life, look at your business, your government, everything and see where you can encourage discussion and compromise. Test it out  on some small battles with your partner, your kids, your boss, your employees and see how much gets done and how satisfied everyone is when you come to a true compromise.

Give a little and take a little and the rewards will be overwhelming.

If you haven’t been yet, I highly recommend a visit: http://www.calacademy.org/

We spent over four hours. It was fantastic.

I often listen to the BBC throughout the day. If nothing more than to hear some world news reports and avoid the sensational crime and celebrity reports that pollute most U.S.-based news outfits. Sure I spend some time with C-Span and NPR, but the BBC offers a fresh broadcast.

Honestly, what sparked this blog was an experience I had with my husband while driving the long 6 to 7 hours from Milwaukee to Detroit. Our rule is that the driver gets to choose the radio station. In my case, more often than not, this means news or talk radio. On one of those recent trips, I was listening to the BBC and he questioned me on it – “why do you listen to this? It’s annoying.”

The material provides me a view of the international stories that I like to hear, and I enjoy the passion with which the English conduct governmental business. However, I have to tell you…I think the real reason that I listen is because it sounds more intelligent, and I don’t mean the accent.

Sure, the accent is proper, and therefore may sound a little “uppity”, but I mean the vocabulary. The words actually spoken. How diverse is your vocabulary or that of people you know? Do you often learn new words? Do you look up words when you hear them and don’t know the meaning?

I often find myself looking for a simpler term when I think a word is what we often call word-nerdy. At the risk of sounding uppity, I sometimes like to use the best word for the situation even if it is unfamiliar to your “average joe.”

Let me start by saying that I grew up in Detroit, so my view may be (is likely) skewed by the Big 3 and union influence. I find it is only fair to be upfront and present my potential bias before you read on.

No, I am not going to argue the value of unions or American manufacturing jobs. On the contrary, I am going to pass judgment on the next generation or two. There is no doubt that a majority of the generation of unions and manufacturing are tough, hardworking individuals who understand the value of a good job and a dollar earned.

But, did they do a disservice to the younger generations by providing endless support and comfort? Have the days of “everyone wins” and “no one fails” created a nation of wimps?

Sure not everyone grows up this way, and not everyone feels entitled, but the “I need to be valued” club is growing at alarming rates.

Since when did our college educations and our jobs become the place for fulfillment? I often hear the entitlement crowd crowing about how they need to feel that they are making a difference. They want to leave their mark on this world, blah, blah. Of course you do, don’t we all?

But, why do some expect it from their job? Why not volunteer, work with your church or community organization, contribute to a political or social cause that you value, or travel to spread good will to the less fortunate? Why should you be paid to be a good citizen or neighbor? Seriously.

Stop looking to get paid for what you should be living, and accept payment for doing a job. Stop wasting your time majoring in subjects like social welfare, generic marketing, and music, and start learning math and science.

It’s fine to have passions and hobbies. But as we continue to major in the feel-good subjects and seek fulfillment from our jobs, we continue to lose our status in the the world and we become less competitive in technology and the things that rule the world economy.

It takes money to live the lifestyles we are accustomed to, and as our commitment to research and technology declines so does our ability to be charitable. In other words, the ability to do fulfilling work will be stifled by the inability to compete in the world market.

So, to all those in the “fulfillment” generation/club, get a job, work hard, be grateful for it, and spend the money you earn on those activities that fill your emotional needs. You’ll be amazed at how much of a difference you can make in society when you have a good job albeit just a job.

Sometimes the most important part of the answer is the question you ask.

Really?! Come on! That was my response when my friend told me about California’s newest common-sense law. Apparently, you can no longer drink on the PUBLIC beaches, and remember they are all public in CA.

Picture this: I’m standing behind his boat, up to my waist in the water, holding a can of beer and chatting away. He says “You know, you are illegal right now, BECAUSE your feet are touching the sand.” All I had to do to be “legal” was sit on the back of the boat. No feet on the ground.

Then, he took me for a tour of Tube-a-palooza. Thousands (about 3000 from estimates) of people sitting on floatation devices of all sorts drinking themselves into oblivion to avoid the feet-touching-sand law.

Somehow it’s less of a disturbance if they are in the water? Nevermind the hazard it creates having thousands of drunk people floating around. At least they aren’t disturbing the people sitting on the beach…really?!

Check it out sometime. It’s become some sort of phenomenom now in the San Diego bay. This new law has succeeded in increasing the numbers of drinkers at the beach tenfold. It has manifested into a cult of sorts, and no one wants to miss out.

Instead of enforcing the laws already on the books that apply – like disturbing the peace or drunk driving or drunk in public for those who get rowdy ON the beach – we now have a law that encourages drinking in the water with thousands of your closest friends. Brilliant.

I love California – lived there for 10 years. Always excited to go back. And, every place has its pros and cons. But, California is supposed to be progressive, liberal, tolerant, whatever you want to call it. However, besides stupid laws like this one and no talking on your phone while driving, California’s three strikes law has proven to be the biggest blunder in the history of criminal punishment.

I know I am veering off-topic from boozing at the beach, but it saddens me to know that this great state has such an ugly side. A progressive state should not have the highest incarceration rate, one of the poorest educational systems, and the highest tax rates. One cannot reconcile these facts.

In closing, I encourage my friends in San Diego to keep partying, but be safe. It is not worth it to have senseless injuries or deaths to prove a point to those who pass dumb senseless laws. Instead, get off your tubes and take action to change the law.

Do you ever wake up and just think, “I want something.” ? I’m not hugely materialistic, probably moderate to low on the scale of American consumerism. Sure, I like nice clothes and have an obsession with shoes of all sorts. But, I don’t have debt from over-shopping. I don’t collect anything. We live lean. I could pack up my house and move in 2 days, but I still get the urge to just get something new.

Maybe it’s our overexposure to advertising and product branding everywhere we look. Americans are notorious for buying junk to feed the “need something” hunger or fill some void in our lives. Hence, the success of junk pushers like WalMart and Target. Don’t get me started on that rant.

I have found a few ways to curb those urges without buying something and sometimes, they are even more satisfying. Next time you get the “need” bug, try one of these:

- go through all your clothes, shoes, collections and find something you haven’t seen in a long time. You’ll be amazed at how new it feels.

- Gather things you no longer want/need and donate to a local shelter or charity. It reminds you of how much you really have.

- Look through the Sunday sales of your newspaper, and take note of all the stuff you don’t need. It really works.

- Make a wish list. Often times writing down the things you want makes you realize how insignificant they really are. And, when someone asks you for gift ideas for a holiday, you might actually have some ideas.

- If you really want something, designate a savings cup and begin putting “extra”  money in it towards your prize.

Such a simple saying with a powerful meaning. Doesn’t that meaning change depending on the experience to which you apply it?

Sure, I often say that if I am terminally ill, I’d be better off not knowing until the end. All the suffering and pain that we put people through to prolong the inevitable. All the worrying and fretting about something over which I have no control. I’ll take that ignorance…maybe…

But, what about the ills of society – poverty, illness, abuse, starvation. All of this happens in our own back yards every day, but millions go on as if it is not there.  Is it easier to go about my day without thinking about the cold and lonely homeless man, or to eat my fabulous dinner without thinking of the children going to bed hungry tonight? Sure. it’s easier, but is it really bliss?

How many people do you know that have been homeless, hungry, struggled with mental illness or addicition, lost their job. Life deals some pretty nasty blows when we least expect them.

I pose this question: When life deals you one of those nasty blows, do you want to be the person who always turned the other cheek and embraced the ignorance is bliss mentality? Or, do you want to be the person who reached out to others in their time of need and tried to make a difference?