Francis Sinatra sang that song with such conviction. I always wondered though what the horse was - love pulling the marriage along or marriage being drug along behind love. Speaking of drug, how about that love drug ecstasy? Wait, can't go there right now. Suffice to say a future rant may involve a discussion of this marvelous chemical that is showing great promise in relationship counseling as well as the rehabilitation of PTSD patients and other neurological disorders.
But back to marriage. Today's paper proclaimed that a minority of households in the USA are headed up by married people. That's right, the latest census shows 48% of households with married folk, down from 52% in the last census. Of course, this trend has been in place since us Boomers started turning on, dropping out and shacking up. Still, most people I know are now or have been married. Many are divorced and on a second or third go at it, with the resulting hodge-podge of step-this and half-that siblings, uncles, aunts, etc. But ultimately, I would have to say that the happiest people I know are married, and here's why.
Statistically speaking, married people live longer, and who doesn't want to live longer? It's also more financially prudent to be and stay married, and who doesn't want to be richer? It's also statistically better to have children when the mother is younger. Just look at the huge increase in cesarean sections, premature births and birth disorders from 40+ year old women having their first child. And the costs to our broken healthcare system are enormous. All of these things point to an inescapable fact - if you're going to get married, find Mr/Miss Right, get 'er done and don't wait too long for the kids, if that's in the offing. Unfortunately, our modern day social/economic model is not too marriage friendly. While us Boomers thumped our noses at marriage out of contempt for the institution our parents embraced, today's youth seem to see it as one of many lifestyle options available to them, and a scary one at that. Gay and lesbian couples are somehow not "holy" enough, and the shitty economy and the awful example set by so many of their parents (yeah, us Boomers) scares the bejesus out of them, and rightly so.
I say, allow couples of any stripe - man/woman, man/man, woman/woman to marry and enjoy the benefits mentioned above. Society has no right to take away this choice of people to live longer and more financially secure. And financial security, I believe, would allow women who want children to do it earlier in their lives. Marriage isn't for everyone, but a declining percentage is ultimately not the right direction for a society like ours. The numbers don't lie!
So, I've concluded the horse is neither love nor marriage, but just a horse pulling a carriage carrying a happily married couple down the road of life who will hopefully be able to avoid the horseshit that's bound to be there.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
The Most Exceptional USA, Except For.......
The definition of arrogance: "offensive exhibition of assumed or real superiority". Now the exhibition of assumed superiority is most definitely offensive. However, is exhibiting real superiority offensive if done in a way that is not offensive? A Texan once told me that is possible. Sure, whatever you say partner.
The word superior means something else is inferior. Humans are superior to monkeys, but the monkeys don't give a shit if they're inferior - that's why they're inferior. Or are they? The people of the USA, including it's members of the government, have always been told they live in the greatest country in the world by fellow members of the country. Superiority of and by the people! Sure, people from many other countries all over the world risk their lives every day to get here. So, hot-damn we must be superior and they're not! But what if we're the monkey, ignorant of our inferiority not because we are less intelligent, but because we MUST be superior and therefore don't give a shit if any one else thinks we're inferior to them. Think about it. Would you rather be ignorantly inferior, or offensively superior? How about neither. How about we shut the fuck up about our superiority, or exceptionalism. How about we chew on these USA facts for a minute:
-third highest income inequality in the world (Hong Kong and Singapore are higher)
-highest prison population per-capita in the world
-highest "food insecurity" of developed countries. That's right, starving people
-middle of the road life expectancy despite spending the highest amount of money on healthcare
-fourth lowest math scores of developed countries
-eight highest unemployment rate of developed countries (presently)
The list goes on. We are exceptional for making a relative handful of people extraordinarily rich. We are exceptional in the number of our citizens that go hungry. We are truly exceptional in incarcerating people. And what about our debt! I believe that is exceptionally high.
All countries have their problems. But most don't live with the arrogance of believing they're better than everyone else. This monkey brain attitude actually limits our ability to consider ideas from others that would likely work for us. In Germany, a law that's been in place for some time requires all new homes to install solar panels sized slightly larger than what the home needs so the excess can be sold back to the utility, which uses the money to pay back the loan for the system. With a 10 year amortization, the equipment is paid off and then produces income for the homeowner, who also doesn't have a power bill! It's fucking brilliant. Oh, but that sounds like socialism - an inferior form of government.
We must lose this arrogance and realize we're no better or worse than others. Any other approach to our world is just exceptionally inferior.
The word superior means something else is inferior. Humans are superior to monkeys, but the monkeys don't give a shit if they're inferior - that's why they're inferior. Or are they? The people of the USA, including it's members of the government, have always been told they live in the greatest country in the world by fellow members of the country. Superiority of and by the people! Sure, people from many other countries all over the world risk their lives every day to get here. So, hot-damn we must be superior and they're not! But what if we're the monkey, ignorant of our inferiority not because we are less intelligent, but because we MUST be superior and therefore don't give a shit if any one else thinks we're inferior to them. Think about it. Would you rather be ignorantly inferior, or offensively superior? How about neither. How about we shut the fuck up about our superiority, or exceptionalism. How about we chew on these USA facts for a minute:
-third highest income inequality in the world (Hong Kong and Singapore are higher)
-highest prison population per-capita in the world
-highest "food insecurity" of developed countries. That's right, starving people
-middle of the road life expectancy despite spending the highest amount of money on healthcare
-fourth lowest math scores of developed countries
-eight highest unemployment rate of developed countries (presently)
The list goes on. We are exceptional for making a relative handful of people extraordinarily rich. We are exceptional in the number of our citizens that go hungry. We are truly exceptional in incarcerating people. And what about our debt! I believe that is exceptionally high.
All countries have their problems. But most don't live with the arrogance of believing they're better than everyone else. This monkey brain attitude actually limits our ability to consider ideas from others that would likely work for us. In Germany, a law that's been in place for some time requires all new homes to install solar panels sized slightly larger than what the home needs so the excess can be sold back to the utility, which uses the money to pay back the loan for the system. With a 10 year amortization, the equipment is paid off and then produces income for the homeowner, who also doesn't have a power bill! It's fucking brilliant. Oh, but that sounds like socialism - an inferior form of government.
We must lose this arrogance and realize we're no better or worse than others. Any other approach to our world is just exceptionally inferior.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Welcome, Mr Prez, To A Second Term
Geeezzz Barack. Roasted the Donald with class, nailed Bin Laden and actually showed some spine in your recent speech on immigration. Well done! Won over a single-wide load of gun-toting rednecks with the Navy seal raid and watched your approval rating soar to 60%. Won over this amphibian as well by actually showing leadership, something that's been sorely missing in your never ending quest to seek compromise and not be too, you know, uppity.
Republicans have nothing but a bunch of classless, clueless, has-beens with no idea of how they can win over the tea-baggers while maintaining some sense of intelligence in addressing this country's multitude of problems. Actually, this can't be done by anyone. Their ONLY chance is Jon Huntsman, Obama's ex-Chinese Ambassador and the ex-Gov of Utah. He has looks, smarts and money - lots of money. He's also a moderate and has a letter floating around where he praises Obama. Wow, the tea-baggers are in for a collective cardiac arrest if Huntsman runs as he will quickly rise above the other clowns by picking up right-leaning Independents and any other voter with a brain. But, it sounds like he will likely wait for 2016.
Repubes have also showed how heartless they truly are with their current proposed budget. A limited voucher for Medicare?? Slashed funding for school meal programs. Zero funding for NPR?? Is Paul Ryan and the rest of the house leadership really that dumb?? It's not that complicated - cut defense in half, slowly raise the max income subject to FICA (only affects those making over 100K), change the tax laws so everyone pays income tax and not capital gains on their primary earnings (Warren Buffet's secretary pays a higher tax rate than her boss) and change the stupid-ass law that prevents decisions made by medicare paid doctors from being made public. It's called accountability. Medicare's MO is to pay first and ask questions later. God it's so fucking obvious how to fix this shit!!
Back to Obama. Mr. President, I have one word for you - plastics! No, actually it's this word - decider. You, sir, are the decider. Quit pussy-footin' around and start deciding. Bush was an idiot, but he pushed hard for what he believed in and basically said screw the rest of you. It's not too late. You sat out the healthcare debate ("that's the job of Congress") and ended up with the whole mess being called Obamacare. If you're gonna own it, you might as well earn it. You're rolling now, don't get all conciliatory again. A whole lot of people are not going to agree with everything you say or do (including me), but fuck them and fuck me! We'll get over it.
Republicans have nothing but a bunch of classless, clueless, has-beens with no idea of how they can win over the tea-baggers while maintaining some sense of intelligence in addressing this country's multitude of problems. Actually, this can't be done by anyone. Their ONLY chance is Jon Huntsman, Obama's ex-Chinese Ambassador and the ex-Gov of Utah. He has looks, smarts and money - lots of money. He's also a moderate and has a letter floating around where he praises Obama. Wow, the tea-baggers are in for a collective cardiac arrest if Huntsman runs as he will quickly rise above the other clowns by picking up right-leaning Independents and any other voter with a brain. But, it sounds like he will likely wait for 2016.
Repubes have also showed how heartless they truly are with their current proposed budget. A limited voucher for Medicare?? Slashed funding for school meal programs. Zero funding for NPR?? Is Paul Ryan and the rest of the house leadership really that dumb?? It's not that complicated - cut defense in half, slowly raise the max income subject to FICA (only affects those making over 100K), change the tax laws so everyone pays income tax and not capital gains on their primary earnings (Warren Buffet's secretary pays a higher tax rate than her boss) and change the stupid-ass law that prevents decisions made by medicare paid doctors from being made public. It's called accountability. Medicare's MO is to pay first and ask questions later. God it's so fucking obvious how to fix this shit!!
Back to Obama. Mr. President, I have one word for you - plastics! No, actually it's this word - decider. You, sir, are the decider. Quit pussy-footin' around and start deciding. Bush was an idiot, but he pushed hard for what he believed in and basically said screw the rest of you. It's not too late. You sat out the healthcare debate ("that's the job of Congress") and ended up with the whole mess being called Obamacare. If you're gonna own it, you might as well earn it. You're rolling now, don't get all conciliatory again. A whole lot of people are not going to agree with everything you say or do (including me), but fuck them and fuck me! We'll get over it.
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