I bet you do not do the courtesy of a reach around!

Over on Blackwatch's blog (linked) we were discussing how California now has homosexual marriage. I was curious how Gov. Arnold stood, and was shocked.

“Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger told a group of gay Republicans on Friday that an attempt to ban same-sex marriage by changing the state Constitution is a "total waste of time" and promised to oppose such an initiative if it qualifies for the state ballot.” LA Times

Gay Republicans!???!!  Sorry, I hit my head when I fainted.

Then it was mentioned that gay marriage is not federally recognized, so I can see it now, here comes the lawsuits. Married openly homosexual people trying to enlist in the service. Married federal employees like postal workers trying to attach his/her spouse to federal benefits. Then states that have banned gay marriage, they will not be able to divorce in non-gay marriage states, more lawsuits.

I do understand how some will be upset because they do not support homosexuality, as is their right, but they will in some fashion be paying for lawsuits.

On the other side they say observe the civil rights progress of non whites, as most people today think racists are loony and disgusting.

As much as I hate the idea of the Feds telling states what to do, this appears it is going to be a reenactment of the 60’s civil rights stuff.  

Of course knowing me you know my stand. You want a "waltons marriage" cool! You want an heretosexual yet nontraditional marriage cool, if you are bi, poly, upsidedown, downsidup, bald, or dress like a squirrel, it is your business. The only people who can define yoru relationship is you. We should all have equal protection of the law. Just dont shove your stuff down others people's throat, and don't play the offended at every turn game either.

Honesty is such a lonely word every one is so untrue, honesty is hardly ever heard and it’s mostly what I need from you…..Billy Joel

I am sure most of us here know that honesty is a two way street.  Not just in the sense of you give it and you get it. I am meaning building an atmosphere where it is just the norm, not big lectures on it, not drama about it, people are just honest because it builds on it’s-self and we have a good thing going.

Supervisors and parents are the start of the atmosphere on honesty. There are two roads one can take. This will show what I mean by honesty being a two-way exchange.

Work scenario, Martha a young junior associate gave the wrong quotes to the Smith firm during the presentation. She caught the mistake as soon as she returns to the office. She approaches you and admits how she underbid horribly by confusing Smith with another account. 

Do you contact Smith has soon as possible explain the situation, and renegotiate the contract with Martha involved to help correct her error?  Do you see it as a one time learning mistake, or do you accept responsibility that maybe you pushed Martha too soon?

Or do you hit the fan, dress down Martha as the stupidest, most incompetent, blonde bitch Barbie doll to ever walk into your office, and offer her a dunce hat, with a flashing light.

Well if you do the latter congratulations, you just lost that person. No she may not walk right then, but her heart is out the door. You will never see her best effort again, she will never ever come to you again with any problem. Good managers have the reputation as someone with everyone else’s problems. Why, because your coworker trust you to solve them, and protect their dignity.  So Martha will be taking her services elsewhere, enjoy seeing her smiling face on the cover of fortune 500, and you did not get any of those commissions.

Now a more important scenario, eight year old Jimmy runs in and tells you he hit a baseball through Mr. Jones window.

So what do you do? Well Jimmy need to learn respect and responsibility. You grab him by the hair, take your belt and beat Jimmy’s ass as long and as hard as you can.  It is tradition, right? You were beaten and you are fine, right? Kids need self-discipline, right?  He will never forget this lesson I bet.

Congratulations, you are damn right!  He will never forget this lesson. You just lost your child, way to go.  Your child is human and does not want to be beaten, but guess what, the odds of not getting beat are much better not being open and honest with you. Why? Simply because telling you the truth guarantees a beating, lying and hiding gives a chance of no beating, any smart kid will choose to try and not get a beating.  So now your child does not trust you enough to tell you about a broken window, your child will defiantly not trust you with anything important, like sex, drugs, guns, and other growing up issues. Congratulation parent of the year, take a bow.  The boy who cried wolf concept works in reverse too. Your child might do things to get a beating to get your attention but that is a separate issue.

No you are not your child’s best buddy that is just as bad. Yes, responsibility must be accepted, the child must correct the situation, and yes you will guide them. Normal life mistakes can be fixed with out abuse or belittling.  You have a prime learning opportunity here. You can review money and how it works, you can review how nice or not nice Mr. Jones was about it and doing the right thing is in spite of others. Apology and thank you letters?

With older kids you can even show how windows attach to houses. You could play CSI with your kid and calculate the air speed velocity the ball came off the bat to fly that far to shatter a window in that pattern.  Your job is to help a kids become an emotionally mature person that can face life, set the example necessary.  Condoms are convenient, children are not.

If you want to be in charge of people the first qualified person must be you.  Collaborative leadership is not weak appeasement. Excellent leaders give a framework that all those around you can follow, they are someone people come to for all types of advice.  If you are so narrow minded as to only lead by the stick, you will find the captains chair too much for you. Your best people will leave you for those who lead by the carrot. To be apart of something special, be someone special.

It is funny how things work very similarly in micro scale and macro scale. I was thinking how this works with appeasement, negotiation, and bullies.  I am saying that appeasement is not negotiation.  It is a horrible strategy actually.

On a micro scale remember the bully to took lunch money? Nearly every school had one. Each day certain kids would just pony up, and go hungry or hide other money.  Then in history when the viking would invade, often kings would pay tribute to not be invaded. I am sure the viking laughed as they hauled off the money.  All the vikings had to do is return anytime and collect more easy money.  They had no reason to do otherwise.

Another appeasement I see alot of, and really annoys me is bratty kids.  Bratty kids are bratty because they learned to get what they want by being brats. The brat in a checkout line crying and screaming to get a candy bar, on and on, and finally the parent just gives them one to shut them up.  No requirement of asking properly, no negotiation of how to earn a candy bar, here you go let me reward your bad behavior. It might just start with a candy bar, but where does it end?  Criminal appeasement? Let's not go there, ski mask or suit, both types of criminals think they are entitled to appeasement.  Then laugh when the "criminal sentence" is a joke.

Romantic relationship bullies look for women (or persons) with low esteem that can be isolated. Nothing a little baby boy mind fears more than to think of relating to a woman as an equal. That is hell on earth to the relationship bully.  If the woman is confident, and has people she can depend on, a stalker will choose an easier target.  When a woman (and some men) think they cannot live with the other, their life becomes a huge appeasement fest. Academically called an enabler.

The only time I would think appeasement is prudent is say a mugger jumps out and points a weapon, and demands your wallet. Especially if I am with family, the money is not worth it. But once the mugger clears out, I am going to the police, I am writing to the paper, I am giving each and every detail I remember.  Might even consider returning to that spot if the criminal works that area, only this time the odds are even. Bullies hate an even match. Or if the vikings or barbarians are going to attack, pay tribute to buy time for form alliances and raise an army.

Appeasement only rewards bad behavior.  I am all for creating a culture of law and order. I appreciate that some folks are disadvantaged, were abused, and even worse. That is a separate issue. If Tommy is walking down the street and a bully knocks his ice cream cone to the ground. Don't demand Tommy "just understand" and do nothing, because the bully is "just that way." Nor should Tommy suddenly go knocking others kids ice cream cones to the ground.  Don't punish Tommy for trying to trip the bully as he runs away after spilling the ice cream. Reward the bully with consequences appropriate to his actions.  Work to pay back the ice cream, a visit to parents (provided they care), a talk with the sheriff, something to guide the bully to better choices. Anything but "put up with it."

Bullies come in all shapes and sizes. Bratty kids, immature romantic partners, terrorists, barbarians, corporate suits, elected suits, even other nations. Obviously these bullies will do some damage and cause inconvenience in the short term, but in the long run we are all safer because they will not be appeased, and will be denied their unlawful demands. 

We know the Star Trek series, and can quote “beam me up Scotty” “Resistance is futile” “make it so” Just for fun and to relax from all the political debate, but yet be who we are and enjoy politics, and the “other camps of thought.” I thought it would be entertaining to look at Star Trek from political perspective of Liberal, Conservative, & Libertarian. My quotes may not be word for word accurate.

Star Trek as a “Liberal” Show.

“Earth is a paradise, we have eliminated hunger, homelessness, & disease”...Sisko

“I love you, I do not care what they think you are”…Rikker (figures huh lol)

“Men of peace usually are brave”.. Spock

“We don’t use money in the 23^rd century”…. Kirk

“Torture is outdated and ineffective, no real civilization uses it”…Picard

“Keep your prejudices in your quarters mister” Kirk

"DO not go beyond warp 5, we are destroying the universe" A Scientist

The technology has reached a point that people no longer need money, everyone can pursue their passion your survival is a given. Arts and culture are alive and well. So well that even Klingons run around quoting Shakespeare.  Society does not judge Black, White, Asian, Blue, Red, Green, Homosexual, Straight, in between.  People are judged by their character not color of skin. Scientist travel and study those strange new worlds, and new life forms.  Medical care is free, as is shelter, and food, just walk to a computer and ask for it. Liberal Paradise!

Star Trek as a “Conservative” show

“You can’t let some machine take our jobs, there are certain things we must do to remain men” Kirk

“Excellence is expected, anything beyond that does you credit” Picard

“You are a coward, and you have no honor, get out of my sight”  Worf

“I don’t wage war with computers, I wage the real thing” Kirk

“The honor is to serve” “Your service honors us” Picard and Serek greeting each other

“As long as you wear that uniform, you word is good” Sisko

“We all ask a father, a brother, a god, why am I here?” Spock

“You will just exist living on the charity of others” Odo

A free lunch did not build an advanced star fleet.  Not every race is happy to see star fleet, and some aliens find it something useful to consume and conquer.  Smiling happy aliens would make for a very boring show, and is not reality.  Star Fleet has a strict code of honor and ethics, those that break them, even with the best intentions are not treated with respect.  Earth might have some fat lazies remaining, but on a ship you can escape all that.  In spite of all the technology and social tolerance, respect is still gotten the old fashioned way, they earn it.  Buzzwords like discipline, service and honor are alive and well in the future as seen by Star Trek. 

Star Trek as a Libertarian show.

“Our culture is based on freedom and self determination” Picard

“No disrespect, but my career choices are my own business” Rikker

“We are here to ascertain my right to choose” Data

“I will work with you, and fight for you, but I don’t like you” Worf

Star Treks prime directive of no interference is a pure Libertarian statement.  Based on the old west, Star trek is a western with space ships, a wagon train to the stars. Often having to improvise as you go to survive, day by day.  Civil rights are often the main topic of the show. Does this race have the right to do this that or the other, does the individual have the right to do or say certain things? Often self-restraint and ethics are the only law for light years.  Star Trek asserts that all discipline is internal, not out side force can truly make you do anything. The other sides right to law and due process stop Star Fleet from blowing the other guys to kingdom come. Nobody really cares about your race, preference, or even quirks, as long as you contribute, and be the best of your chosen path.

So which do you think Star Trek is? If you like the show you might claim it, if not give it to another political belief.

I am certain the show was for all people, since few people fall purely into any one stereotype.  A liberal has honor and can fight fiercely for a just cause. Conservatives enjoy arts and culture, and despise racism. 

Star trek is what our nation (planet) should be about. We all work together to improve the quality of life. We will never agree on how to get there, but if we play/fight fair at least you are honorable at all times.  The odd quirks and point of view of someone from a place you dislike might just save you one day.

We need the opposing points of view to stop any political or social monopoly. That is what brings back oppression and the dark ages. Losing our right to say no, once you cannot say no, you are a slave. No matter how friendly or benign the monopoly force claims to be, the truth of it is you are a slave.  Saying no has cost those brave few alot, but we thank them for it.

Harmless beliefs one does not agree with are trivial so long as no force is used. Becoming advanced beings will mean picking battles wisely knowing that in the end the truth will show beyond all doubt. Truth is something we all need, and can learn from, Liberal, Conservative, or Libertarian.

Off the top of my head here are some headlines I doubt we will ever see.

Psychic Wins lottery!

Clinton was telling the truth from the start

Oil companies admit to price fixing, and lower prices

Government reduces self 50%

Schools return PE programs to an hour a day

Honest and fair tax system initiated

The People hold politicians accountable

People being more courteous

Fewer people on cell phone, and paying attention to driving

Honest person wins political office

Politician Apologises

News show has useful information

Britney Spears shuts up, and goes home to care for family

Straight guy wins home decorating contest

Pro athletes ask for lower salaries, and display good sportsmanship

Family and child friendly shows top TV prime time ratings charts

Businesses opening in inner cities all over USA

Prison population decreasing

American obesity rates plummeting

Corporate CEO resigns before plundering company assets

Foreign companies out sourcing jobs back to USA at fair wages

Women find Mike in Boise the hottest guy in history, and are lining up at the door with money, Wife says it is ok!

I read a news report that jobs that were off shored to India. Well India is off shoring jobs to China?

Geez

Maybe the money being saved will make up for the revenues loss by Americans no longer able to purchase things because their jobs are no longer here.  Maybe I should have planned on getting an MBA so I can flip burgers at McDonald's. Competition will be fierce for burger flippers here soon.

As most people that know me understand that I am not religious. However I also do not smoke, do dope, and rarely drink. I say if what you do do don't do does not bother anyone else what does it matter?

Speaking as a secularist, I was actually upset over the court case and challenging God in the pledge of allegiance.  And for an atheists to challenge it?? It would make more sense of a Buddhist or the like to be upset over "God" rather than an atheists. I do not feel it is shoving God down your throat because God is a personal choice and the relationship people have with God is an individual thing. One can simply replace God with a word they feel fits better. One nation under law or something like that. Those that want God can have, one that don't, don't have to either.

I often look at religion like this. I do celebrate Christmas. When I hang up a picture of Santa Claus do I literally think a fat man in a red suit will actually fly around delivering presents? Well no, but it represents giving, family, happiness, self reflection. Same qualities people seek in their religion and relationship with God.

The taking the Ten Commandments out of the courthouse.  To an atheists would it not be the same as a picture of the Tooth Fairy in the court house?  Besides only about 40% of the commandments apply to court. Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not commit adultery, & thou shalt not bear false witness. If people did not do those things the court would not be very busy anyway, not much need of a court house to begin with.

Here in Boise we have a big light up cross over looking the city.  Some atheist from Chicago filed a suit over it. That really ticked me off.  He did not even live here, and again as an atheist why would it matter.  We all share the city, and a vast majority what the cross there. They look up on a bad day and see the light both literally and figuratively.  I am happy they found their religion. People need peace, joy, and hope, and the others of the city are entitled to it. It is not a Nazi swastika or a bird flipping finger. It far from offends me, and actually the door to door missionaries have bothered me alot More than a light up cross.

Prayer in school and Intelligent Design are separate issues from the PoA.  Others saying God in PoA is not a prayer, but an affirmation of beliefs of principles of our nation. Those who want God in it, say it as such, those that don't, don't. Neither side needs to force or make a huge deal about something simple.  Freedom of religion is freedom from it, but liek free speech, you do nto have a right to be unoffended. The fools who go looking to be offended to be on the news and make dumb drama, a different story fro a different day.

I hope our country goes back to a live and let live philosophy.

Ok this might qualify as a political post, but the whole issue should be a concern to everyone no matter what your issues are.  A violation of rights should be a big red flag for anyone and everyone.

Not many of you might be familiar with Liberty Dollars. They are a private coins and certificates that are backed by precious metals.  They also have E note similar to E-Gold they can be used like PayPal to other members and swap notes. Some merchants will accept them as “money” and you can shop using the Liberty Dollars.  http://www.libertydollar.org

They never claim to be “legal tender,” legal tender is money that represents the U.S. government and the public debt.  Before Thanksgiving the FBI and Secret Service raided the headquarters of Liberty Dollars, and confiscated all the records, customer lists, and worse yet, the government agents took all the gold and other precious metals in their vault. The government claims they were “issuing money” and only legal tender approved by the government can be used for exchange and thus violating the law.  Taking the assets has basically broken the business, they are begging for donations to fight the government for the return of the assets. Everyone who has note in Liberty Dollars lost the value, and now have a pretty piece of paper.

Ok so next question, is Disney going to be raided next because of Disney Dollars are used at Disney parks for ride, food, and gifts? What about hotels and casinos?  Then what about gift cards and preloaded ATM cards?  For that fact what about hand written store credits we are given at times? Finally what about chocolate coins? Playing a game of monopoly? Are kids playing store with play money going to get busted?

I know I am getting carried away with the ridiculousness, but am I? Why would the government be so worried about private exchange?  People barter all the time.  The term dollar is not patented.  The web site does promote it as ‘alternative currency” and explains how Fed Reserve Dollars are fiat money and technically worthless.  Is that the issue that Liberty Dollars were at 20 million, and growing?

This is going to be an interesting court battle. The Constitution does give money authority to the congress, but the Constitution also says money should be backed in gold or precious metals.  The Constitution says nothing of private money, and early America used a lot of private money. Mines used company script, the military used script, so what is the issue?

I find this a horrible violation of rights by the government. The government had a right to audit the books to ensure no fraud was being committed, but to simply confiscate, no way!  What is you wanted me to hold your TV for you while you were away? The receipt I give you is simply proof I am holding it, and when you want it back, present the receipt, and walk out with your property.  Banks are supposed to operate the same way.  But money is public property and drawing a mustache and fangs on George Washington is a federal crime. Drawing all over your private bank note is silly, but not illegal because it represents YOUR PROPERTY.

Side note, I noticed the US Mint has changed the term First Lady to First Spouse. Is this a hint of things yet to come?  Is “you know who” destined to return to the White House?  If it happens is it a hint that the whole election process a sham?

OK enough conspiracy theory.