I Think the Democrats Are Finally Getting Through to Me
Warning: you may want to read this first.
Tonight's Twitter Relaxation Challenge was attending a nature photography seminar. Luckily, I was able to catch a bit of the Democratic National Convention afterwards.
The two events combined created some kind of synergistic force in my mind and I realized something: corporate profits are so evil and dirty. Screw my costly education and time wasted studying centuries of economic thought, I think there is a new economics on the horizon, because the world is just so different these days. I mean, so different that proven economic theories that are basically equivalent to our belief in gravity can be disproven just by saying so. What exciting times we live in!
My mind wandered back to the free seminar I had just attended at a local store. I realized they sucked me in! Promised and delivered me a free seminar on photography...it started on time...had a good speaker...and I never felt pressured to buy anything, but they did ask for volunteers for a local community fall river clean-up.
My mind reeled...that was the evil corporate maneuver! Suck you in by making promises and keeping them. How dare they. They even promised to hand out free t-shirts at the clean-up made of some kind of recycled material that wicks sweat to keep you cool and dry while saving the planet. Then they tried to brainwash me with the added benefit of refreshments served free from another dirty dirty corporation they partner with.
Bastards.
I was so coerced by their ingenuity and generosity that I've decided I'll probably buy some of the products from the presentation, products that aren't even offered in their store, but were highlighted because they would make my life better and make taking photographs more enjoyable.
But wait, what about the cost? I just quit my job and shouldn't be buying things like tripods.
Dirty corporations! They tricked me. Now I want a tripod so bad I think I'm going to go crazy if I don't get one. Plus, corporations don't care if I can't afford their products. What's worse is that they can put me in an evil hypnotic trance that makes me purchase the products I want but can't afford. I suppose the only good thing is that I don't ever have to take responsibility for my own detrimental actions! Nice!
Corporations are so unfair. Unlike the government, whose revenue collection mechanism is so much more efficient and equitable. Not only do I get to pay for shit I don't need, but may never see or even benefit from! Big Love for Big Gov! Let's hear it!
I'm starting to take what liberals say to heart. Down with capitalism. All it's ever done is make my life better and give me lots of choices. That shit needs to stop.
My Secret Lives
Ever since I found out the famous late chef Julia Child led a double life working for the CIA, I've enjoyed toying with my friends, "You know...I'm in the CIA." They look at me with the kind of discomfort one feels trying to survive a joke told by a stranger who knows your first name.
They say nothing, hoping to end my charade. I push, "How do you know I'm not?"
I can see a flicker of doubt, a flash of curiosity, "Could she be telling the truth?" I breathe victory, then break the awkwardness with my confession, "Oh, of course I'm kidding..."
High stakes espionage is not the only secret career I've declared. Throughout my life, I've been inspired by lives holding the promise of mystery and prestige.
As a child, I remember when I first heard the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I was taken aback, "You mean, I get to choose?" My mind scanned professions I'd heard of, "Doctor, Ballerina, President...that's it...President of the World!" My platform? Throwing all firearms and McDonald's chains into the ocean.
Shortly thereafter I decided I would like to be a gypsy. I had a liking for wearing shorts and a t-shirt in the dead of winter, and fashioning snow-beds to take naps in. I figured this skill could serve me well trying to survive outdoors, wiling passers-by.
In middle school I loved marine biology, though I showed no particular affinity for aquatic life. Equal parts cerebral and esoteric, it solved many problems. I could claim to pursue something that required intellect, but wasn't in danger of being labeled a nerd. The thought of testing core samples while dodging jellyfish and befriending sea anemones sounded so The Little Mermaid with a PhD.
I flirted with writing poetry, painting, dance as well, but by the time I developed vocal talent and got a taste of stardom as a soloist, I chased the dream of being a singer to the exclusion of everything else.
Once I was accepted to college to study music, I spent the next four and a half years living out every facet of my artistic fantasies. The experience of performing live on stages was incomparable, almost religious. Memorizing lines and stage directions was prayer. The smells of sawdust and sweat, cheap hairspray and old makeup, and ill-fitting costumes musty from attics baked into the skin by the heat of stage lights was a creative blessing. The closing of a show, crossing an empty stage and beginning a solitary walk home lugging a makeup case and roses was a purification ritual.
I'll spare the details, but those days ended after a round of failed graduate school auditions and an interview with an investment firm where I was offered an entry level finance job.
While the career I ultimately ended up with put my dream career on hold, it did not detract from my life, but made it richer. I earned a practical education on the job, and was inspired to enter a masters program where I now study finance and economics.
I think it's important to dream of secret careers, and I still do. But now I don't just dream of stages, but of theses. I have tempered my fantasies with reality, in an effort to create a career that is attainable and enjoyable. I still engage in science, poetry, performance, and perhaps even a bit of espionage where benign Google or Facebook stalking is concerned.
I'm clear on what is important to me, and I no longer stake my future career on the dreams of the past. In fact, I've given up on many dreams. And far from being a failure, I'm glad that I've recognized and begun to accept that there is a time for giving up. Letting go, really. I know what I'm willing to sacrifice and what I'm not. I know what I want and I know how I can get there.
They say nothing, hoping to end my charade. I push, "How do you know I'm not?"
I can see a flicker of doubt, a flash of curiosity, "Could she be telling the truth?" I breathe victory, then break the awkwardness with my confession, "Oh, of course I'm kidding..."
High stakes espionage is not the only secret career I've declared. Throughout my life, I've been inspired by lives holding the promise of mystery and prestige.
As a child, I remember when I first heard the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I was taken aback, "You mean, I get to choose?" My mind scanned professions I'd heard of, "Doctor, Ballerina, President...that's it...President of the World!" My platform? Throwing all firearms and McDonald's chains into the ocean.
Shortly thereafter I decided I would like to be a gypsy. I had a liking for wearing shorts and a t-shirt in the dead of winter, and fashioning snow-beds to take naps in. I figured this skill could serve me well trying to survive outdoors, wiling passers-by.
In middle school I loved marine biology, though I showed no particular affinity for aquatic life. Equal parts cerebral and esoteric, it solved many problems. I could claim to pursue something that required intellect, but wasn't in danger of being labeled a nerd. The thought of testing core samples while dodging jellyfish and befriending sea anemones sounded so The Little Mermaid with a PhD.
I flirted with writing poetry, painting, dance as well, but by the time I developed vocal talent and got a taste of stardom as a soloist, I chased the dream of being a singer to the exclusion of everything else.
Once I was accepted to college to study music, I spent the next four and a half years living out every facet of my artistic fantasies. The experience of performing live on stages was incomparable, almost religious. Memorizing lines and stage directions was prayer. The smells of sawdust and sweat, cheap hairspray and old makeup, and ill-fitting costumes musty from attics baked into the skin by the heat of stage lights was a creative blessing. The closing of a show, crossing an empty stage and beginning a solitary walk home lugging a makeup case and roses was a purification ritual.
I'll spare the details, but those days ended after a round of failed graduate school auditions and an interview with an investment firm where I was offered an entry level finance job.
While the career I ultimately ended up with put my dream career on hold, it did not detract from my life, but made it richer. I earned a practical education on the job, and was inspired to enter a masters program where I now study finance and economics.
I think it's important to dream of secret careers, and I still do. But now I don't just dream of stages, but of theses. I have tempered my fantasies with reality, in an effort to create a career that is attainable and enjoyable. I still engage in science, poetry, performance, and perhaps even a bit of espionage where benign Google or Facebook stalking is concerned.
I'm clear on what is important to me, and I no longer stake my future career on the dreams of the past. In fact, I've given up on many dreams. And far from being a failure, I'm glad that I've recognized and begun to accept that there is a time for giving up. Letting go, really. I know what I'm willing to sacrifice and what I'm not. I know what I want and I know how I can get there.
Non-Scientific Quiz to Determine Your Economic Style
What's Wrong with the World Wednesdays presents...
I don't take any responsibility for flaws in this quiz, but I hope you take it and let me know who you end up with. I welcome input/corrections from anyone who knows more about history of economic theory than I do.
So grab a pen a paper, or take this fully automated and scrambled version here to find out:
What's Your Economic Style?
1. The stock market is:
a. Evil and capitalism only serves to sabotage the order that can be created when processes are managed prudently.
b. Not evil, but nonsense, speculation, and gambling.
c. The best mechanism for exchange we currently know of.
d. What's the stock market for?
2. Individuals choosing in their own self-interest is:
a. Flawed and leads to inequality.
b. Impossible, people don't have enough information to make appropriate decisions.
b. Impossible, people don't have enough information to make appropriate decisions.
c. Guaranteed to allocate resources most efficiently.
d. Not something I care about.
3. Technological advances are:
a. Independent of capital markets. Capital markets take advantage of technology and abuse it.
b. Going to lead inevitably to social degradation if the government doesn't intervene.
c. Informed and created by capitalistic profits; necessary to improve the standard of living.
d. Robots are my friends.
4. Businessmen, CEOs, and entrepreneurs:
a. Resort to subversive, almost warlike tactics to "win" in business.b. Improve the economy only by offering jobs and products at "fair" wages and prices.
c. Are the keystones upon which the world functions, jobs are created, and lives improved.d. Make cool stuff, but get paid too much. Unless, of course, I had their job.
5. Left to decide for themselves, most men:
a. Have a basic instinct for workmanship regardless of pay, and won't mind fluctuations in business cycles.b. Will work as long as the nominal rate of pay stays the same or increases, but won't react to real wage decreases due to taxes or inflation.
c. Will work until a certain threshold of pay is fulfilled in relation to the unavoidable pain of working.d. Would like to have the day off.
6. Economic depressions are caused by:
a. Technological changes causing displacement of workers.
b. Excess savings, abnormally high interest rates that discourage investment.c. Normal business cycles, but should be short-lived.
d. Not enough love in this world.7. Child-rearing is:
a. A conspicuous undertaking of the leisure class, leading to excess consumption, and frivolous sense of import among elite social circles.b. Neither here nor there; I have no particular interest or admonition of children and parenthood.
c. Critical to be undertaken maintaining a high level of education to ensure our future leaders are appropriately prepared.d. A laugh a minute.
8. Friendship is:
a. Transient.b. Necessary.
c. Welcome.d. Non-existent.
9. The best way to improve the economy is:
a. To observe behaviors and human instincts. Psychology and sociology have much to contribute to economic ideas, by learning about human needs and allocating resources to them.b. Using taxes and government spending to guide the economy over the short-term.
c. Gather information and statistics, in which human behavior is already included. Economic decisions should be informed by logic and reason.d. Giving people more money than they need!
10. Today's economy is...
a. On the brink of dramatic change. Technology and education has given us tools to put the economy into the hands of social engineers who can more appropriately direct funds.b. Experiencing a normal cycle in which taxation of certain social segments or increased government spending for the public good should correct it.
c. Being unduly influenced by the government.d. Better than ever!
Answer Key:Mostly A's? You mostly closely match the school of American Institutionalism, founded by Thorstein Veblen. Veblen admonished what he considered "conspicuous consumption" by the leisure class. He also believed that capitalism was evil and inefficient at allocation of resources to their most highly valued use.
Mostly B's? You most closely match the school of Keynesian Economics, founded by John Maynard Keynes. Keynes believed in interventionism, or government use of fiscal and monetary policy to control business cycles, recessions, booms.Mostly C's? You most closely match the school of Neo-Classical Austrian Economics, greatly expanded by Ludwig von Mises (he didn't invent the school of thought, but dramatically clarified and perfected many arguments.) Ludwig von Mises believed strongly in logic and reason to determine economic principles. He believed protection of individual rights, private property, and free markets would lead to greatest overall wealth, standards of living, and best allocation of resources.
Mostly D's? Congratulations, you don't have a school of thought, but you could probably start one, as you can see nothing needs to be consistent to call yourself an economist!
Quiet the Thunder: FAQ
Whether you are new or old to my blog, it's possible you are looking for more info about who I am and where I came from! Or it's possible you hate me. In that case, please read this.
Otherwise, this is my attempt to help you bridge the gaps that might pop up in your mind when reading!
Q: Where does the name "Quiet the Thunder" come from?
I recently shortened it from "Shouting to Quiet the Thunder" which was too long. Someone once told me this was the Chinese transliteration of my first name. If you speak Chinese, I'd like some verification of that.
Q: So, what is your real name? Hey, this blog didn't used to be anonymous!
I won't tell you my name anymore. With a bit of saavy, I bet you can figure it out, you Google stalker, you!
Q: You look pretty friendly, but when I read your posts you sometimes come across as angry, lonely, or annoyed, what's wrong with you?
You are very perceptive. In general, I've been known to suffer mild malaise since I was young. I cannot seem to shake it. Furthermore, my dearest father passed away October 29, 2007. This is fairly recent, but regardless of the passage of time, this has irrevocably marked me and I am, and anticipate, always will be, deeply sorrowful and grieving. This should account for some of the tone of my writing.
Q: I've read a couple of your political posts. You sound like a right-wing nutter who hates humanity, what's wrong with you?
I was afraid of that. I can guarantee you I'm not a nutter, and I do not harbor any resentments toward human-kind. You may consider some of my positions as traditionally right-wing (against socialized programs, free trade above protectionism), but I have to implore you to look a bit further, my beliefs are different in many areas. Some people actually think I'm a left-wing nutter (since I support things like drug and prostitution legalization, gay marriage and adoption, ride a bike as my daily transport, and buy raw organic milk from an Indiana farmer at universalist church every other friday.)
What am I? I'm a libertarian, and as such, I place individual rights and freedom of choice before any other rights and believe in limited government powers. Because of this philosophical premise, many popular political ideas that involve large-scale government intervention I reject completely and wholesale. Most people find this unpalatable and unrealistic, however, I feel that many of the ends of such ideas resonate with my own, but I reject the means whereby it takes to get there. Make sense? If you want to know more about what a libertarian position is, you can visit this overly cheesy site that offers a concise explanation.
Q: You want to be an economist. Why?
Economics makes the world go 'round. I don't have time to explain it. Read the blog!
Q: You are a crappy journalist. I hate you.
A: That's not a question. B: I'm not a journalist!
Do you have more questions? Feel free to email me.
Otherwise, this is my attempt to help you bridge the gaps that might pop up in your mind when reading!
Q: Where does the name "Quiet the Thunder" come from?
I recently shortened it from "Shouting to Quiet the Thunder" which was too long. Someone once told me this was the Chinese transliteration of my first name. If you speak Chinese, I'd like some verification of that.
Q: So, what is your real name? Hey, this blog didn't used to be anonymous!
I won't tell you my name anymore. With a bit of saavy, I bet you can figure it out, you Google stalker, you!
Q: You look pretty friendly, but when I read your posts you sometimes come across as angry, lonely, or annoyed, what's wrong with you?
You are very perceptive. In general, I've been known to suffer mild malaise since I was young. I cannot seem to shake it. Furthermore, my dearest father passed away October 29, 2007. This is fairly recent, but regardless of the passage of time, this has irrevocably marked me and I am, and anticipate, always will be, deeply sorrowful and grieving. This should account for some of the tone of my writing.
Q: I've read a couple of your political posts. You sound like a right-wing nutter who hates humanity, what's wrong with you?
I was afraid of that. I can guarantee you I'm not a nutter, and I do not harbor any resentments toward human-kind. You may consider some of my positions as traditionally right-wing (against socialized programs, free trade above protectionism), but I have to implore you to look a bit further, my beliefs are different in many areas. Some people actually think I'm a left-wing nutter (since I support things like drug and prostitution legalization, gay marriage and adoption, ride a bike as my daily transport, and buy raw organic milk from an Indiana farmer at universalist church every other friday.)
What am I? I'm a libertarian, and as such, I place individual rights and freedom of choice before any other rights and believe in limited government powers. Because of this philosophical premise, many popular political ideas that involve large-scale government intervention I reject completely and wholesale. Most people find this unpalatable and unrealistic, however, I feel that many of the ends of such ideas resonate with my own, but I reject the means whereby it takes to get there. Make sense? If you want to know more about what a libertarian position is, you can visit this overly cheesy site that offers a concise explanation.
Q: You want to be an economist. Why?
Economics makes the world go 'round. I don't have time to explain it. Read the blog!
Q: You are a crappy journalist. I hate you.
A: That's not a question. B: I'm not a journalist!
Do you have more questions? Feel free to email me.
Marriage Is Not Overrated, But Some Opinions Are
Ugh. If I read one more idiotic post about how stupid the institution of marriage is, I'm going to write a mocking and derisive post in response...
Whoops, guess we crossed that threshold.
I'm not going to link to the offending blog, because it would be pointless as this sentiment is so commonly echoed you won't have to look far. Just Google marriage is overrated and I'm sure you'll find plenty of poorly formed theses. I can already anticipate those who will say that religion forces people to stay in abusive marriages (right, because religion is animate), but that discussion is for another blog entirely.
If you are being abused, please call 800-799-SAFE and find help. There are also links at the end of this post.
I'm not going to link to the offending blog, because it would be pointless as this sentiment is so commonly echoed you won't have to look far. Just Google marriage is overrated and I'm sure you'll find plenty of poorly formed theses. I can already anticipate those who will say that religion forces people to stay in abusive marriages (right, because religion is animate), but that discussion is for another blog entirely.
If you are being abused, please call 800-799-SAFE and find help. There are also links at the end of this post.
Otherwise, if you are just another surly twenty-something eager to whine about things of which you know nothing, read on. Here's the reality for anyone who is unfamiliar with marriage, yet feels comfortable decrying its oppressive state.
First of all, if you choose to be single, I don’t think you’ve made a shitty choice or overestimated how happy it makes you. Being single or being married can be considered neutral, really. Despite my personal belief that marriage is wonderful; objectively speaking, one state is not necessarily better or preferable. Therefore, it makes no sense that someone should judge my contentment in marriage as “overrated”.
I find that the biggest misconceptions about marriage lie in the ridiculous fantasies people have about it, and the obvious shortfalls reality provides. If you mistakenly believe your spouse will spend the rest of his or her life catering to your every whim, you are mistaken. Furthermore, marriage is not dating. Marriage is not meant to make you happy or keep you entertained. Marriage is about selflessness and self-control. The benefits of marriage are long-term, not short-term.
Marriage (as it’s intended) takes that constant fear of wondering, "Does he/she really love me?" out of the equation: it is a lifelong commitment to the herculean task of loving each other despite your flaws. You agree, usually in front of people who are supposed to hold you to it, to taking on your spouse’s joys, sorrows, mistakes, families, fears, hobbies, and dreams as your own. And yes, this inherently limits your freedom, but then again, so does being thoughtless and judgmental. However, if you live in a free society, you clearly have a choice in the matter.
Someone who complains that marriage is overrated is like someone who complains that oil painting is overrated when they haven’t taken the time to learn the discipline of painting. They purchase supplies, open the tubes, smear the paint around, and are unsatisfied with the results. Oil painting has not failed them as an art form, they have failed oil painting. Similarly, marriage as a union doesn’t fail people, they fail marriage.
First of all, if you choose to be single, I don’t think you’ve made a shitty choice or overestimated how happy it makes you. Being single or being married can be considered neutral, really. Despite my personal belief that marriage is wonderful; objectively speaking, one state is not necessarily better or preferable. Therefore, it makes no sense that someone should judge my contentment in marriage as “overrated”.
I find that the biggest misconceptions about marriage lie in the ridiculous fantasies people have about it, and the obvious shortfalls reality provides. If you mistakenly believe your spouse will spend the rest of his or her life catering to your every whim, you are mistaken. Furthermore, marriage is not dating. Marriage is not meant to make you happy or keep you entertained. Marriage is about selflessness and self-control. The benefits of marriage are long-term, not short-term.
Marriage (as it’s intended) takes that constant fear of wondering, "Does he/she really love me?" out of the equation: it is a lifelong commitment to the herculean task of loving each other despite your flaws. You agree, usually in front of people who are supposed to hold you to it, to taking on your spouse’s joys, sorrows, mistakes, families, fears, hobbies, and dreams as your own. And yes, this inherently limits your freedom, but then again, so does being thoughtless and judgmental. However, if you live in a free society, you clearly have a choice in the matter.
Someone who complains that marriage is overrated is like someone who complains that oil painting is overrated when they haven’t taken the time to learn the discipline of painting. They purchase supplies, open the tubes, smear the paint around, and are unsatisfied with the results. Oil painting has not failed them as an art form, they have failed oil painting. Similarly, marriage as a union doesn’t fail people, they fail marriage.
Marriage is not for everyone. However, marriage is not overrated.
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Links for Help with Domestic Abuse: If you are being abused, your computer use may be monitored. Make sure you use a computer that is not in danger of being monitored by your abuser. Public libraries will often have internet service for free.
How Do You Combine Your Talents and Interests?
The last two weeks have been eye-opening. As I try to figure out what the hell this stay-at-home stuff is about, it changes daily.
First, I thought I would play the Happy Housewife, tending to our home, planning the meals. I rather enjoyed lip-synching to Fergalicious while dusting, but had an eerie feeling I am supposed to do a bit more with my life.
A new semester began around the same time I quit my job, so I dove into modern economic thought and became the Serious Student. After I scored well on my first exam, I decided I could devote time to other things and figured it was time to up the ante my blog, write about more meaningful topics. What ensued was the role of Angry Activist. I started a series called, “What’s Wrong with the World Wednesdays” which has proved interesting, educational, and traumatic. I’m not down with being berated by strangers and dishing it out as the main focus of my writing.
The bottom line is that that none of these roles works for me completely. But they are all part of me. How do I combine them all together into something that makes sense? I won’t be happy if I’m just one of these people. I never have been. I’ve always had multiple jobs, multiple courses of study at a time, I thrive with variety (which is why when I stayed home all week last week I lost my mind.)
When I don’t know what to do, and have worked myself into a conundrum, the first thing I do is declare, “I suck, and everyone hates me.” Thank God I’m married, because my husband just laughs at me, whereas in my single days I’d take that bullshit to heart. So, he laughs, I turn on my heels and move on to the next question which is, “Now what?” What do I do with my new discoveries? If I can’t blame it on sucking or on being unaccepted by society-at-large, what could it be?
I don’t know. I feel like I’m on the cusp of something. Obviously I’m living a life dramatically different from my past, and I’m a bit disjointed, but I’m by no means floundering. I just need to figure out how to combine my talents into something cohesive that makes sense.
First, I thought I would play the Happy Housewife, tending to our home, planning the meals. I rather enjoyed lip-synching to Fergalicious while dusting, but had an eerie feeling I am supposed to do a bit more with my life.
A new semester began around the same time I quit my job, so I dove into modern economic thought and became the Serious Student. After I scored well on my first exam, I decided I could devote time to other things and figured it was time to up the ante my blog, write about more meaningful topics. What ensued was the role of Angry Activist. I started a series called, “What’s Wrong with the World Wednesdays” which has proved interesting, educational, and traumatic. I’m not down with being berated by strangers and dishing it out as the main focus of my writing.
The bottom line is that that none of these roles works for me completely. But they are all part of me. How do I combine them all together into something that makes sense? I won’t be happy if I’m just one of these people. I never have been. I’ve always had multiple jobs, multiple courses of study at a time, I thrive with variety (which is why when I stayed home all week last week I lost my mind.)
When I don’t know what to do, and have worked myself into a conundrum, the first thing I do is declare, “I suck, and everyone hates me.” Thank God I’m married, because my husband just laughs at me, whereas in my single days I’d take that bullshit to heart. So, he laughs, I turn on my heels and move on to the next question which is, “Now what?” What do I do with my new discoveries? If I can’t blame it on sucking or on being unaccepted by society-at-large, what could it be?
I don’t know. I feel like I’m on the cusp of something. Obviously I’m living a life dramatically different from my past, and I’m a bit disjointed, but I’m by no means floundering. I just need to figure out how to combine my talents into something cohesive that makes sense.
Let's Play a Game: Pretend We Give a Damn
Over the past few days, I've engaged in an online debate regarding veterans' rights to vote. In the comments section a number of us went back and forth, sparring on various reasons why there is a ban on voter registration at VA hospitals. Whether or not we believed the VA had the right (I support their right of refusal), everyone agreed: it makes it more difficult for veterans to vote.
This interchange reminded me of when Senator Ron Paul (my favorite for President) voted against a motion to give iconic figure Rosa Parks a Congressional Gold Medal to honor her service to human rights. Everyone cried racist. What they conveniently omit from retelling this scenario is that Sen. Paul simultaneously reached into his pocket and pulled out his own money, I think $100. He then requested each member of congress to do the same, offer a private donation, whatever they were willing to do, and that between all of them they could quickly and easily gather the funds needed to honor Ms. Parks with a medal.
What happened?
Nothing. People refused to take him seriously, scoffed at him for being too literal a constitutionalist and moved on with the motion, meanwhile, voting to forcibly taking funds from constituents for another pet project. It's not just admittedly worthy initiatives like medals for Rosa Parks they are voting on, but all sorts of things that simply add more and more to senseless spending. There must be consistency, therefore, it is more appropriate for some things to be left to the private sector. Perhaps Sen. Paul is too literal, but at least he literally put his money where his mouth was.
At the end of the comment stream, I got an idea...here's a quote from my comments:
Furthermore, no one is restricting their right to VOTE, but to register at one location...I mean, I want to register to vote at the places I spend most of my time, heck door-to-door registration would be much more convenient, but I had to lug my *ss down to the social security office like most everyone else. I know, I know, I’m young, able-bodied, but let’s tackle that problem too: in fact, let’s turn this into a solutions-oriented project. Let’s give a big F-U to whomever doesn’t wants veterans to register at a VA hospital. Set up a table at a hospital near you (I’m assuming there is a 100 foot rule or something) and figure out a way to do it! Wouldn’t that be a great idea?
Who’s game?
What I'm hoping is that these commenters, and you, will take it upon yourselves to encourage freedom in our country: the right to vote. Find a registration drive near you (Google it and you'll find tons of opps), and see what you can do to help out.
Obviously, these writers care more than most by bothering to bring issues to light, but the tenor of the comments made me wonder, even though we purport to have a passion for our causes, does writing a blog and commenting show we actually give a damn about the veterans, or more about stirring up debate online? Furthermore, it seems a lot of people look to the government to solve all our problems, which I think is one of the biggest problems in and of itself.
If I'm honest with myself, I'd answer that most of the time I relegate to "armchair activism," (which has its place as we need mouthpieces) but we also need able bodies to do something to make a difference.
That said, I have a soft spot in my heart for Vietnam Veterans. My former boss fought as a helicopter pilot, was shot down twice and awarded a purple heart. He is a remarkable man, and one of the most generous people I've ever met. My father-in-law is also a Vietnam Veteran.
Because I was inspired to action by this issue, I had a 9am call scheduled today with the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) national headquarters to find out about helping with voter registration opportunities. I often donate to the VVA, in fact, as an odd coincidence I have a donation pick-up scheduled today with a huge amount of items on my front lawn and a giant VVA sign, along with their phone number on it (in case any of my neighbors would be inspired to follow suit.)
Voting season is upon us, exercise your rights, and help others do the same!
This interchange reminded me of when Senator Ron Paul (my favorite for President) voted against a motion to give iconic figure Rosa Parks a Congressional Gold Medal to honor her service to human rights. Everyone cried racist. What they conveniently omit from retelling this scenario is that Sen. Paul simultaneously reached into his pocket and pulled out his own money, I think $100. He then requested each member of congress to do the same, offer a private donation, whatever they were willing to do, and that between all of them they could quickly and easily gather the funds needed to honor Ms. Parks with a medal.
What happened?
Nothing. People refused to take him seriously, scoffed at him for being too literal a constitutionalist and moved on with the motion, meanwhile, voting to forcibly taking funds from constituents for another pet project. It's not just admittedly worthy initiatives like medals for Rosa Parks they are voting on, but all sorts of things that simply add more and more to senseless spending. There must be consistency, therefore, it is more appropriate for some things to be left to the private sector. Perhaps Sen. Paul is too literal, but at least he literally put his money where his mouth was.
At the end of the comment stream, I got an idea...here's a quote from my comments:
Furthermore, no one is restricting their right to VOTE, but to register at one location...I mean, I want to register to vote at the places I spend most of my time, heck door-to-door registration would be much more convenient, but I had to lug my *ss down to the social security office like most everyone else. I know, I know, I’m young, able-bodied, but let’s tackle that problem too: in fact, let’s turn this into a solutions-oriented project. Let’s give a big F-U to whomever doesn’t wants veterans to register at a VA hospital. Set up a table at a hospital near you (I’m assuming there is a 100 foot rule or something) and figure out a way to do it! Wouldn’t that be a great idea?
Who’s game?
What I'm hoping is that these commenters, and you, will take it upon yourselves to encourage freedom in our country: the right to vote. Find a registration drive near you (Google it and you'll find tons of opps), and see what you can do to help out.
Obviously, these writers care more than most by bothering to bring issues to light, but the tenor of the comments made me wonder, even though we purport to have a passion for our causes, does writing a blog and commenting show we actually give a damn about the veterans, or more about stirring up debate online? Furthermore, it seems a lot of people look to the government to solve all our problems, which I think is one of the biggest problems in and of itself.
If I'm honest with myself, I'd answer that most of the time I relegate to "armchair activism," (which has its place as we need mouthpieces) but we also need able bodies to do something to make a difference.
That said, I have a soft spot in my heart for Vietnam Veterans. My former boss fought as a helicopter pilot, was shot down twice and awarded a purple heart. He is a remarkable man, and one of the most generous people I've ever met. My father-in-law is also a Vietnam Veteran.
Because I was inspired to action by this issue, I had a 9am call scheduled today with the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) national headquarters to find out about helping with voter registration opportunities. I often donate to the VVA, in fact, as an odd coincidence I have a donation pick-up scheduled today with a huge amount of items on my front lawn and a giant VVA sign, along with their phone number on it (in case any of my neighbors would be inspired to follow suit.)
Voting season is upon us, exercise your rights, and help others do the same!
See? Blogging Does Matter!
I've begun my mornings with a new ritual, drinking an acid cup of coffee drowned in cream, accompanied by the Wall Street Journal. I never have enough time to read everything I want, so I skim the pages to find something interesting. Today I didn't have to go far.
As soon as I saw classic pen drawing of Rob Anderson's face, I thought, "He's up to something..."
Reading the title, "San Francisco Ponders: Could Bike Lanes Cause Pollution?" I was hooked. I love a good scandal when it involves supposed hypocrisy of environmentalists. Furthermore, I love bike riding (and know first-hand how controversial a topic it is) and wish my city was more bike-friendly, but could that do more harm than good?
Reading on I learn with glee that Mr. Anderson is a man whose writing career stemmed only from a cooperative effort with his brother to create a witty and acerbic newspaper full of scathing commentary and now, his blog. Ha!
Blogging matters. His plain, blogger template blog was featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal. He has a bad attitude and is out to cause trouble, but he's also got a good point: will excess biking lead to more pollution in a city that will never give up cars? Will the increase in bikes lead to an increase in traffic jams and idling, thereby increasing pollution? Who knows. But Mr. Anderson and his cohort Ms. Mary Miles fought the city to find out conclusively with a detailed study of the effects of more bike-friendly policies. It should take a year to complete, but you better bet I'll be subscribing to Mr. Anderson's blog to watch the parade leading up to then.
Bloggers, does this inspire you or what?
As soon as I saw classic pen drawing of Rob Anderson's face, I thought, "He's up to something..."
Reading the title, "San Francisco Ponders: Could Bike Lanes Cause Pollution?" I was hooked. I love a good scandal when it involves supposed hypocrisy of environmentalists. Furthermore, I love bike riding (and know first-hand how controversial a topic it is) and wish my city was more bike-friendly, but could that do more harm than good?
Reading on I learn with glee that Mr. Anderson is a man whose writing career stemmed only from a cooperative effort with his brother to create a witty and acerbic newspaper full of scathing commentary and now, his blog. Ha!
Blogging matters. His plain, blogger template blog was featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal. He has a bad attitude and is out to cause trouble, but he's also got a good point: will excess biking lead to more pollution in a city that will never give up cars? Will the increase in bikes lead to an increase in traffic jams and idling, thereby increasing pollution? Who knows. But Mr. Anderson and his cohort Ms. Mary Miles fought the city to find out conclusively with a detailed study of the effects of more bike-friendly policies. It should take a year to complete, but you better bet I'll be subscribing to Mr. Anderson's blog to watch the parade leading up to then.
Bloggers, does this inspire you or what?
The Antidote: How to Solve the Healthcare Dilemma
My previous post, Healthcare in America is Broken, How Did it Get that Way? elicited great response! This week week I hope to administer "the antidote" to the health care crisis. **UPDATE** This article in the August 23rd Wall Street Journal provides a clear and heart-breaking example of the horrors caused when the FDA regulates life-saving treatments. Waiting for approval for elective treatments, these women died. Deregulation would cut down on these tragedies.
Warning: This post could cause drowsiness, vomiting, or hallucinations. People who do not comprehend or believe in some generally agreed upon economic principles, such as the laws of supply and demand, value theory, and cannot accept the premises I posed in my last post will have difficulty swallowing.
Warning: This post could cause drowsiness, vomiting, or hallucinations. People who do not comprehend or believe in some generally agreed upon economic principles, such as the laws of supply and demand, value theory, and cannot accept the premises I posed in my last post will have difficulty swallowing.
While we need acknowledge what is broken, we need to acknowledge the good and build up on it, not diminish its effectiveness and scope. Admittedly, the system falls short of providing preventative or urgent coverage at a reasonable cost. However, it is universal; anyone can receive medical care.
The quality and cost of that care is my main concern. The US is a leader in health care (distinct from health coverage or insurance). We should continue to lead the world in innovation to improve well-being worldwide. Despite acclaim for universal health care systems internationally, leaders of other nations look to the US for their needs. Italian former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi had a pacemaker installed in the US, Canadian MP Belinda Stronach also opted for a US procedure when battling breast cancer. Because of technological advancement, the US outpaces the rest of the world in treatment of specific diseases, for example: high-risk infant mortality, successful battles and improved quality of life with cancer, pneumonia, heart disease, AIDS.
Vanessa Mason of Subject to Change correctly noted in The Economic Argument for Universal Health Care, the US system is the most costly worldwide at 16% of GDP. To keep things in perspective, we should remember we are among the wealthiest and freest nations; our choice to spend on health care is a reflection of our values and freedom to choose. However, it is hard to ignore that many other nations provide coverage at a lower cost.
To find a cure, many are eager to boast the socialized successes in countries around the world. However, we would be hard-pressed to find a universal health care system internationally not plagued by rising costs, shrinking choice, and inequality. Reviewing separate systems would prove lengthy, so let's take the best-case scenario, Switzerland, which enjoys the most market-oriented approach, under an artificially managed "market", similar to Massachusetts. Switzerland enjoys the lowest total government spending on health care of any nation, and yet, their out-of-pocket spending is the highest of any nation!
Can anyone guess why? No doubt they want better health care than the government can provide and often elect to spend money on less expensive policies with high deductibles and co-payments to provide a bit of cushion. What they don't anticipate (having put faith in their universal system or their own health) is that many will require care above and beyond what the universal system provides. Therefore they spend almost twice the out-of-pocket expenses than the US.
So, if the best universal health care system is also broken, what is my solution? How can we maintain a high level of innovation, reduce costs, and provide coverage to anyone who wants it?
- Promote and liberalize health savings accounts: reduce incentives for third party payment, increase transparency by allowing consumers to see costs of health care, curbing their consumption, driving down costs; couple with low cost, high-deductible catastrophe insurance; unused funds grow tax-free
- Correct the tax code which incentivizes health care spending for businesses: eliminate third party incentives, release health insurance coverage to the market, where consumers can choose the best option for them
- Promote the use of voluntary contracts to reduce tort law case expenditures, inefficiency, and blackmail for patients and medical professionals: many people don't realize that tort cases contribute immensely to cost of care, our litigious society will not change with universal health care, and hence these costs will remain.
- Deregulate health insurance companies, Federal programs like Medicare/Medicaid, pharmaceutical companies, and medical device manufacturers: the costs of these regulation are not worth their results, another option is to let each state regulate the companies, but open the market so that consumers could choose options by state, so if someone wanted a more heavily regulated industry, they could still choose that.
Many commenters will argue, "But my health is not a commodity!" Implying in a market-based system, doctors and insurance companies will be out to cheat you. Please stop and think about this, as it is not logical. If what they provide is of great value to you and you both agree on the price, what could possible be wrong with that? Furthermore, you would choose the company treats you the way you see fit. Do you not already make these types of informed decisions when you shop for other important things, like private education or cars? The word "commodity" is not evil. It connotes something with tremendous value that people are willing to go to great lengths to obtain, not to destroy, but to ensure longevity.
For example, I teach voice lessons, do you think I'm going to make a profit by swindling my students? You better believe I treat their voices like commodities, to be cared for and nurtured. The vocal folds are extremely delicate, and improper instruction can render the voice damaged and useless. If I taught poorly, no one would come back and I'd never make a profit. I get better results, therefore, more profits: my reward for providing something people want, often desperately (when it comes to singing!) - Allow those who do not want to participate in the government-provided insurance an "opt-out" provided the above conditions have been met: in which case, you probably wouldn't want universal health care anyways...
I could write a thesis about my ideas. I'm aware I've left many rocks unturned, however, I hope I've provided some beginning thoughts on possible solutions to the health care crisis. There were many thoughtful commenters on the last post and I had hoped to respond to their excellent points here, but I had to cut down considerably.
If you didn't get your answer, I apologize, I am but a mere housewife, and dinner could be burning by now. Subscribe to Shouting to Quiet the Thunder, where I'm sure to cook up more diabolical schemes...
Stay tuned for more on this topic: Red Pill vs. Blue Pill: Does McCain or Obama Have the Right Plan for Health Care?
Let's Get Weird: A Step-by-Step Guide to Losing Your Mind
Does the prospect of perpetual stability and security bore you? Are you tired of cubicle life and yearn to be your own boss? Looking for a one-way ticket to madness and hysteria? Have I got news for you!
The sure fire way to achieve this dream is to quit your job and stay home all day. Whether it's to start/raise a family or become an entrepreneur, you will start to see a new and exciting side of yourself you've never known. Here are some tips I've learned first-hand for when you arrive to make your stay in crazy-land comfortable:
1. Don't Let Happiness Get in the Way of Budding Accomplishments. You are happy and it shows. You've achieved a life-long dream of independence. Now what? You may feel guilty about this turn of events. Use it to your advantage. Let the guilt you feel by the great gift you've been given mount until you cannot face yourself in the mirror, unless you happen to be Windexing it at the same time. Vow to keep the bathroom clean, the bills paid, your GPA up!
2. Envision Calamity. When things are going well and you have plenty of time to yourself, take a few moments about every half hour or so to envision every possible scenario that could go wrong in your plans. Think about what could be the greatest hindrance to your freedom. A layoff and foreclosure? A tumble down the stairs? Another FAFSA rejection and request for more info letter? Just let these thoughts soak right in, your heart should start racing any second now.
3. Since You Aren't Gainfully Employed, Consider Volunteer Work. But remember, charity begins at home. What better place to spend every single second of your time? There is a never-ending supply of things to do in a house, it's amazing. To be honest, you could not set foot outside for a full week if you tried! If you are lucky enough to earn some income from home, try to keep it that way, there is no need to do part-time work outside the home.
4. Kiss Your Balance Good-Bye, and Say Hello to Your New Best Friend. When you stay home for a living, no doubt you had some practical goals in mind and you should by all means attempt to accomplish them. You may have had some transient thoughts about achieving balance, but I'm here to tell you that is overrated. Instead of taking breaks between tasks, try to fool yourself into eliminating breaks with fun, timed sessions in which you can effectively pack every moment full of productivity. Going to the bathroom? Should take you 3 minutes. Windex within reach. Doing dishes? 5 minutes, do double-duty by standing on one leg to build up your ankle strength. My favorite ear-piercing timer can be set for each task so that you are constantly pumping yourself with adrenaline for the next one!
5. Avoid Human Contact! Nothing is more distracting than love, friendship, and the companionship of others. Try to categorically eliminate these distractions from your life by putting off socializing or even running errands so that you can avoid people completely. Try to manage most of your life on the internet, almost anything you could ever want can be delivered, with the exception of fresh produce. For an extra bonus, start a blog and by all means, get embroiled in bitter debate with total strangers who want to rip your face off. This will help perfectly condition that flinch and stutter reflex when you do have a chance to venture out in public.
Subscribe to Shouting to Quiet the Thunder, if you aren't laughing by now, you should be crying...
The sure fire way to achieve this dream is to quit your job and stay home all day. Whether it's to start/raise a family or become an entrepreneur, you will start to see a new and exciting side of yourself you've never known. Here are some tips I've learned first-hand for when you arrive to make your stay in crazy-land comfortable:
1. Don't Let Happiness Get in the Way of Budding Accomplishments. You are happy and it shows. You've achieved a life-long dream of independence. Now what? You may feel guilty about this turn of events. Use it to your advantage. Let the guilt you feel by the great gift you've been given mount until you cannot face yourself in the mirror, unless you happen to be Windexing it at the same time. Vow to keep the bathroom clean, the bills paid, your GPA up!
2. Envision Calamity. When things are going well and you have plenty of time to yourself, take a few moments about every half hour or so to envision every possible scenario that could go wrong in your plans. Think about what could be the greatest hindrance to your freedom. A layoff and foreclosure? A tumble down the stairs? Another FAFSA rejection and request for more info letter? Just let these thoughts soak right in, your heart should start racing any second now.
3. Since You Aren't Gainfully Employed, Consider Volunteer Work. But remember, charity begins at home. What better place to spend every single second of your time? There is a never-ending supply of things to do in a house, it's amazing. To be honest, you could not set foot outside for a full week if you tried! If you are lucky enough to earn some income from home, try to keep it that way, there is no need to do part-time work outside the home.
4. Kiss Your Balance Good-Bye, and Say Hello to Your New Best Friend. When you stay home for a living, no doubt you had some practical goals in mind and you should by all means attempt to accomplish them. You may have had some transient thoughts about achieving balance, but I'm here to tell you that is overrated. Instead of taking breaks between tasks, try to fool yourself into eliminating breaks with fun, timed sessions in which you can effectively pack every moment full of productivity. Going to the bathroom? Should take you 3 minutes. Windex within reach. Doing dishes? 5 minutes, do double-duty by standing on one leg to build up your ankle strength. My favorite ear-piercing timer can be set for each task so that you are constantly pumping yourself with adrenaline for the next one!
5. Avoid Human Contact! Nothing is more distracting than love, friendship, and the companionship of others. Try to categorically eliminate these distractions from your life by putting off socializing or even running errands so that you can avoid people completely. Try to manage most of your life on the internet, almost anything you could ever want can be delivered, with the exception of fresh produce. For an extra bonus, start a blog and by all means, get embroiled in bitter debate with total strangers who want to rip your face off. This will help perfectly condition that flinch and stutter reflex when you do have a chance to venture out in public.
Subscribe to Shouting to Quiet the Thunder, if you aren't laughing by now, you should be crying...
What's Wrong with the World Wednesdays: Healthcare in America is Broken, How Did it Get that Way?
Last week’s topic, Abortions for Earth?, sparked some great commentary, thanks to everyone who joined in! Andrea Zak of Schizofrenetic started a lively debate on her site, and my post was carried on BrazenCareerist. The conversation will continue until we all run out of steam I suppose, so feel free to join in.
This week I turn to Universal Health Care, an oft-battled issue at BrazenCareerist. In fact, just yesterday Vanessa Mason of Subject to Change offered a well-written piece on the topic. I've offered plenty of my ideas there so I wanted to delve into a different aspect of the arguement here.
Like a bunch of pedigreed doctors on a House episode, the ideas about how to cure this ailing system fly in the comments section, getting pretty heated at times. "Sarcoidosis!" "No, you're wrong, it's simple dyspepsia!" "No, you're all wrong - it's a tumor."
So, what exactly is wrong with America's health care system? It is indeed broken, but why, and how did it get that way? I think that when we can look at how things went wrong, we are able to correctly administer the medicine that will heal it. There are myriad problems, so I thought I'd highlight one of the most glaring.
It all starts in World War II with changes to the tax code. The federal government allowed tax breaks to businesses providing health care to their employees, which appears magnanimous, right? Always looking to profit, employers figured out they could effectively pay their employees less by offering the same value in dollars by adding health care. For example, if a company got a 35% tax break for offering the benefit, then $0.35 of every dollar of pay corresponding to a health care benefit could be tax-deductible. Yippee! "Big business" wins big time, so more and more businesses took advantage of the tax advantage.
If we fast-forward to today, we realize that roughly 60%* of Americans are now provided employer-based health care. As a result there is a sort of blindness that occurs in the payment and pricing of health care costs and reimbursement. Think about it. If you have the luxury of being covered by your employer's health plan, do you even look at your total bill? If you do, do you flinch when you see it? No, because you probably have a much smaller percentage or co-pay than the total figure meaning you aren't discriminating about costs of services or how necessary they are.
While I'm the sort of person who avoids the doctor as long as possible and only go when needed, I know many people who skip off to the emergency room at the first sign of heartburn. Because a third party foots the bill, they don't care about the cost, using more care than they actually need. (Not to be confused with my thinking they shouldn't have the choice to go to the doctor every other monday if they want, that is not my point.) However, this system is driving up costs for everyone else and leaving those who cannot afford private health care eating their dust.
This "third-party" system is a foolproof way to jack up prices and keep the poor from getting care they need. Similarly, Medicare and Medicaid which covers roughly 27%* of Americans creates the same (normal) human reaction.
In response to increased demand for services, the third parties (the government and employers) respond in kind, by managing supply the way they see fit. That could include reducing the available options to choose from, coding certain procedures as unecessary, or outright refusal of coverage. This means people won't get the care they need.
Why would anyone think universal health care would be any different? Will increasing the role of the third party's decision-making provide additional choice, freedom, and lower costs? Will universal health care really be "free"?
The answer is that universal health care will only result in a deepening of the current problems and a degradation of care. If we think choices and costs are dismal today, they will be worse in the future and anything but free.
Stay tuned for The Antidote: How to Solve the Health Care Dilemma.
Subscribe to Shouting to Quiet the Thunder, where you are sure to have a migraine by the end of each post!
*All figures from The Cato Institute Handbook for Congress.
Nobody is going to like me Today or never
Today's Twitter Relaxation Challenge was to read an old book for fun. This led me to one of my favorite author's autobiographies, Hand to Mouth: A Chronicle of Early Failure, by Paul Auster. Reading the first few lines made me crack the smile that first crossed my lips when I read Auster's City of Glass in college. I thought, "If I could write well, this is what it would sound like."
Thumbing through Hand to Mouth, which highlights Auster's irrational desires to pursue the writer's life despite mounting financial and emotional trauma, I remember: I had wanted to be a writer when I was young. I forgot the credence I gave to writing. I remember the hunt for journals at bookstores: I'd feel the covers, paper weight and texture, trying to decide between lined and unlined, imagining how differently I would write in each. On our home computer I’d stay up all night plucking at the keyboard as if I was composing a beautiful melody. I would obsessively read, review, and hide my writing, waiting for the right moment to reveal it to a friend, a teacher, or boyfriend.
Writing was my main avocation (shortly after I declared I’d be President of the World, and long before I wanted to be an opera singer). My first story was published at age 4 (according to my mother) featuring scribbles in blue highlighter on pink legal pad bound with a frightening display of staples entitled, Nobody is going to like me Today or never.
Nobody chr
onicled my childhood mistakes and revealed misgivings that no one would ever find me acceptable. I considered the offense of my existence so vast that I created a scene where crowds jeered, “Boo Milena!" and cheered the rest of the world on with the vague and heartbreaking anthem, "Yay others!” However, in the end I declare, “If I wasn’t all that I’d be nothing, so love me for who I am.” Heavy stuff for a 4 year old I suppose.
I created a magazine that I published haphazardly called FunPack full of amateur crosswords, fill-in-the-blanks, and connect-the-dots for my older sister to complete. Upon distribution my subscriber struggled through a few of my exercises to placate me, but I didn’t recognize my audience wasn’t receptive to my content until she flat-out refused to accept another issue.
An activist at heart, I created a full-color pamphlet on the dangers of smoking for my parents. I devised a female character with a lit cigarette everywhere she went. While scuba-diving she sported a waterproof extra-long cigarette sticking up like a parascope. On her wedding day instead of a kiss, the happy couple matched end-butts. Smoking was ultimately this character's demise and the final scene displayed a lit cigarette protruding out of her coffin. I thought that if they realized how ridiculous my fictional character was, they'd be convinced to quit via parable.
Eager to share my writing with anyone, in high school my friend was late on an assignment and I convinced her to turn in a short story I had written instead. Much to my chagrin, her teacher wanted to nominate it for an writing competition and she had to turn down the offer. I remember the ache I felt in getting this phantom recognition and rejection, wondering if I could repeat whatever spark the teacher had enjoyed in my work.
I'm finding this relaxation challenge is a lot less about relaxation than simply enjoying myself and settling in to who I am. In my efforts to cultivate the things I enjoy, I keep discovering my past, my hidden dreams and blisses. I'm finding the antidote to my fears and the ways that I used to keep my creativity fresh as a child are strikingly similar to what feeds me creatively as an adult.
Thumbing through Hand to Mouth, which highlights Auster's irrational desires to pursue the writer's life despite mounting financial and emotional trauma, I remember: I had wanted to be a writer when I was young. I forgot the credence I gave to writing. I remember the hunt for journals at bookstores: I'd feel the covers, paper weight and texture, trying to decide between lined and unlined, imagining how differently I would write in each. On our home computer I’d stay up all night plucking at the keyboard as if I was composing a beautiful melody. I would obsessively read, review, and hide my writing, waiting for the right moment to reveal it to a friend, a teacher, or boyfriend.
Writing was my main avocation (shortly after I declared I’d be President of the World, and long before I wanted to be an opera singer). My first story was published at age 4 (according to my mother) featuring scribbles in blue highlighter on pink legal pad bound with a frightening display of staples entitled, Nobody is going to like me Today or never.
Nobody chr
onicled my childhood mistakes and revealed misgivings that no one would ever find me acceptable. I considered the offense of my existence so vast that I created a scene where crowds jeered, “Boo Milena!" and cheered the rest of the world on with the vague and heartbreaking anthem, "Yay others!” However, in the end I declare, “If I wasn’t all that I’d be nothing, so love me for who I am.” Heavy stuff for a 4 year old I suppose.I created a magazine that I published haphazardly called FunPack full of amateur crosswords, fill-in-the-blanks, and connect-the-dots for my older sister to complete. Upon distribution my subscriber struggled through a few of my exercises to placate me, but I didn’t recognize my audience wasn’t receptive to my content until she flat-out refused to accept another issue.
An activist at heart, I created a full-color pamphlet on the dangers of smoking for my parents. I devised a female character with a lit cigarette everywhere she went. While scuba-diving she sported a waterproof extra-long cigarette sticking up like a parascope. On her wedding day instead of a kiss, the happy couple matched end-butts. Smoking was ultimately this character's demise and the final scene displayed a lit cigarette protruding out of her coffin. I thought that if they realized how ridiculous my fictional character was, they'd be convinced to quit via parable.
Eager to share my writing with anyone, in high school my friend was late on an assignment and I convinced her to turn in a short story I had written instead. Much to my chagrin, her teacher wanted to nominate it for an writing competition and she had to turn down the offer. I remember the ache I felt in getting this phantom recognition and rejection, wondering if I could repeat whatever spark the teacher had enjoyed in my work.
I'm finding this relaxation challenge is a lot less about relaxation than simply enjoying myself and settling in to who I am. In my efforts to cultivate the things I enjoy, I keep discovering my past, my hidden dreams and blisses. I'm finding the antidote to my fears and the ways that I used to keep my creativity fresh as a child are strikingly similar to what feeds me creatively as an adult.
Memories
Today's Twitter Relaxation Challenge was to look at old photos. So many times our memories are shoved in boxes or stored on hard drives, never to see the light of day again.Here's a couple I thought I'd share with you.
Above, clearly I'm a blogger-in-training, Rocking the Apple Old-School! (Check out the size of that mouse!!)
To the right, possibly my favorite series of photos, taken by my sister (who always had a great eye as you can tell), she calls these The Twyla Photos because my improvisational dance style was so avante garde.I can remember that day like it was yesterday. It was steamy from the cool rain meeting the hot ground. The wet pavement felt so good on my feet, soaking in the rain on my Grandmother's driveway.
If they take requests in heaven: give me this moment back please...
What's Wrong With the World Wednesdays: Abortions for Earth?
With the great success of my "What Exactly is Wrong with This Country" post (based on how much fun I had writing it and engaging in commentary) I thought I would create a series of themed posts to feature on Wednesdays with whatever quirk of humanity irks me that week. This article has irked me since last November, so this should be fun. I invite readers to chime in, suggest topics, and while disagreements are heartily encouraged (as I expect many of them), I request that we all try to keep things civil.
This week I invite you to ponder: Is a vegan who has an abortion in order to save the planet from its unborn child's "carbon footprint" a hypocrite?
I vote yes, this woman disagrees, but let's see where we're both coming from first.
Abortion is an issue where pure logic fails me. I cannot bring myself to conclude that abortion is anything but ending a life that has clearly begun. The images of that movie we all had to watch in 4th grade about where babies come from are indelible in my mind. I can remember the narrator describing how a sperm finds an egg and a zygote is formed and multiplies, thinking, "That's a baby?!" It is to me. Furthermore, there are myriad private organizations ready and willing to help mothers who feel they cannot raise a child. There are few reasons that make sense to me to abort a pregnancy.
However, I am deeply torn over this issue. My understanding has always been that a woman who drives herself to such a decision has been befallen by tragedy. Either suffering from severe medical complications, detrimental effects of poor decision-making, or horribly, being violated. I've always felt that a woman who chooses abortion has hit a low in her life, led to her choice through complex social and personal beliefs. I don't feel I could do anything but lament for her and hope she gets the help she needs.
I'm hopeful one day science will provide a solution where an "aborted" child can survive outside the womb to full term pregnancy. I thought no one would be in favor of ending life if science provided a solution, until I read this article.
Not only did this woman from the UK, Toni Vernelli, have no problem with having an abortion, she was thrilled, imagining she was performing a benevolent act for Mother Earth! Her boyfriend presented her with a "congratulations" card after her abortion-sterilization procedure. She justified her actions by arguing abortions help save the planet by eliminating the carbon footprint of the unborn child. Wow, I must have fallen asleep at that point in "An Inconvenient Truth." While I can get irritated by people overly-dedicated to the green movement, this is sickening.
I'm baffled how a vegan
committed to treating animals humanely and saving the planet decided to limit her sacrifices to her preferences, not her principles. Toni indicates her lifestyle is nicer because she side-stepped child care costs and is pleased she can afford the price and carbon waste for an annual junket to South Africa due to the net gain from the thwarted life.If someone doesn't want the difficult task of raising a child, I can respect that. However, there is tremendous responsibility that comes when someone swears they don't want children, yet continues to engage in the sexual act that leads to procreation while fertile. Call me crazy, but there's a surefire way not to get pregnant. Oh wait, abstinence is cruel to humans, right??
Instead of abstaining from vaginal sex (there's plenty of other varieties to choose from if she was that desperate) while waiting for the removal of her reproductive organs, she relied on birth control (which has marginal failure rate anyone prescribed it is warned of) and decided to remove her offending body parts only after they became a viable home to budding human life. Seriously? I suppose it made a better PR piece to claim it was "for the planet." I could respect a woman who took a vow of celibacy for the planet's sake while waiting to find a doctor to perform a sterilization procedure; while Toni preferred to gamble with God, recklessly romp, and risk abortion.
Far from taking responsibility for her "mistake" pregnancy, in the article she irrationally blames a handful of doctors she met who wouldn't perform a sterilization procedure. I find her accusations a weak defense given her violent hatred for the waste of human life. There are scores of doctors ready and willing to perform dramatic and risky sex change operations after psychological tests and social behaviors are monitored and addressed. I can't imagine there wouldn't be a doctor willing to accommodate her less-drastic sterilization request. What is more likely is that doctors questioned her motives (standard medical practice), she lost stamina, and took matters into her own hands by ignoring the real possibility that pregnancy, which she called her "worst nightmare," though easily and 100% avoidable, could become reality.
Additionally, I find it hypocritical that in her photos, she is a glaring example of ignoring her own mantras and conservationist maxims. I mean, consumption=consumption. If she was ready to sacrifice her unborn children, you'd think she could have forgone the make-up, hair products, fancy faux-zebra top, and jewelry!
Couldn't she save more energy by living in trees, shaving her hair, using it to help fertilize an organic garden from which she exists solely as a subsistence farmer, fashioning clothing from home-spun hemp strands?? It is possible. But no, I'm being too extreme, abortions are much more reasonable and eco-friendly. WTF??
Furthermore, Toni assumed authority to the spout groundless belief, "Having children is selfish. It's all about maintaining your genetic line at the expense of the planet." I don't know who she polled for this tidbit, but maintaining my genetic line has little to do with my hopes to be a mother one day. In fact, adopting is something I've seriously considered: I'd care for someone else's genetic line and even helping reduce the carbon footprint by forgoing having at least one my own children.
What saddens me is that I wonder: did this woman ever consider she could raise a smart, ethical child who would continue a legacy of proper stewardship of the planet and possible technological innovation? I guess not.
*Updated: This post was carried on BrazenCareerist, and great rebuttal from Andrea Zak at Schizofrenetic. The comments are flying on all three sites, so check them out!
Inspiration Strikes: New Twitter 30 Day Challenge
After yesterday's post lamenting my inability to relax, I got some great comments and ideas on BrazenCareerist. Some people identified with me, some had been where I've been and moved past it, and we even correctly identified the difference between lethargy and relaxation thanks to contributions from Will Wright and Presh Talwalkar.
So, in an effort to change my trajectory from what I consider to be unhealthy to more balanced I'm going to embark on a new 30 day Twitter challenge. I'm excited about the results, because my last personal challenge (Growing a Pair: 30 Days of Courage) helped me get the guts to quit my job and do a whole host of things I'd never have done if I didn't make a promise to strangers on the internet. Holly Hoffman recently wrote about leveraging the power of the internet to be more accountable, and I think she's right.
Since I've determined I'm not the kind of gal who likes sitting still, my new challenge is to post daily about a new relaxing activity I'm taking on. I thrive on action and variety, and what better way to get that variety than to try something new every day for 30 days?
Follow me on Twitter - I'm taking requests and will be happy to have buddies who want to join in...
So, in an effort to change my trajectory from what I consider to be unhealthy to more balanced I'm going to embark on a new 30 day Twitter challenge. I'm excited about the results, because my last personal challenge (Growing a Pair: 30 Days of Courage) helped me get the guts to quit my job and do a whole host of things I'd never have done if I didn't make a promise to strangers on the internet. Holly Hoffman recently wrote about leveraging the power of the internet to be more accountable, and I think she's right.
Since I've determined I'm not the kind of gal who likes sitting still, my new challenge is to post daily about a new relaxing activity I'm taking on. I thrive on action and variety, and what better way to get that variety than to try something new every day for 30 days?
Follow me on Twitter - I'm taking requests and will be happy to have buddies who want to join in...
Fine, I’ll Admit It: I Hate Relaxing
I've been blogging about my new lifestyle lately and how much I love it. In reading over my blog posts I realize that I’ve been promoting an unrealistic aspect of my new life: that I'll be spending more time luxuriating around, tending to my fragile psyche, and taking it easy. However, reviewing my actions reveals my almost violent reaction to relaxtion. Here's how it goes: I notice I'm stressed out. I'll mandate a time out. I'll sit down for ten minutes, but shortly thereafter I lose my mind completely and spring back into action.
Truth be told: I hate relaxing. Unless I’m being massaged or watching a movie, I have to be doing something productive. I'm well aware this is detrimental to a healthy life, but wouldn’t forcing myself to relax yet feeling as if restricted to a straight-jacket while I salivate over all the projects I could be pursuing instead also cause massive amounts of stress?
For example, one of my professors this year was a man I could see myself becoming. He worked full time as head of international finance for a national bank, simultaneously pursuing his PhD, hopping on international business flights weekly, and teaching at a business school in his “free” time. I envied his ability to multi-task and excel.
Then one week he cancelled class due to suffering a massive heart attack, (a few years prior he had successfully battled cancer) yet he led class the following week. Why? Doesn’t that sound crazy? No. His doctor recommended it because he thought his chances of having a second heart attack were greater if he took time off to relax. The doctor knew this man was not the type to sit around recovering and might combust if he couldn’t have his hands in the honey pots of his pet projects.
While I admired all this professor has accomplished, the giant blaring danger signs couldn't be overlooked. Cancer? Hypertension? These were not the accompaniments to the exciting life I imagined.
Quitting my full-time job obviously led to a drastic reduction in committments, but what I didn't anticipate was the craving to fill my calendar right back up with new ones. I'm like a project-junkie. Your problems...mine? I'll try to fix them, just after I'm done with dinner.
Presh Talwalkar, of Mind Your Decisions, wrote a fantastic post recently on his experiences with anger. He indicated that he used to be an angry person, exploding at employees, and even enjoying the power and results that came with it. However, he also said he recognized the detrimental effects his behavior was having on his work relationships, mind, and body. From there he set about to change. He illustrated his tendency towards anger was nothing more than a habit that needed breaking and he was successful in doing so.
I believe we can change. Like Holly Hoffman of WorkLoveLife, who documents her struggles with alcohol and the change she has gone through to quit her dependency. She is a clear example that we get to choose change. Our habits don't have to run our lives. Our habits are things we are used to, they feel right, but that doesn't mean they are right. Just because including time to relax isn't in my habitual mode of operation, doesn’t mean it isn’t necessary for me to be healthy.
Intuitively I know what I need to do. I think that is why so many religious traditions include prayer, meditation, and contemplation as part of their rituals. It makes sense. Someone who is in control of their reactions to their thoughts and emotions and is going to be a better, happier, and healthier person.
Subscribe to Shouting to Quiet the Thunder to see if I end up in a straight-jacket any time soon.
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