Accountability II

The idea of personal accountability is something that needs to become an issue of public debate because it is the foundation of all that our government does.  Tony Blair spoke of welfare as becoming a "hand up and not a hand-out" an idea originally ascribed to FDR and the New Deal.  At the root of this statement is a firm belief that it is the individual's responsibility to make their own way in life.  It is the idea that one's success or failure is an individual responsibility and that the government's role is to offer a second chance and a level playing field.  It is the idea that it is not the government's responsibility to ensure everyone's success.

This is the major divide between the left and the right at this point.  When Tea Party members talk about "big government" they are really talking about the belief that the government's job is to protect all from any danger through regulation and legislation.  The belief that it is government's responsibility to make sure that everyone can afford to eat three meals a day and live in suitable housing without even having to work if they can't find a job that they like.  The belief that those who are more successful should share their financial success with those who are less successful by paying higher taxes, regardless of the effort put forth by those who are less successful.

Is this what we really believe?  Is it true that people are no longer responsible for their own actions?  Is everything controlled by our environment and everything bad that happens the result of actions beyond our control?  Is that a reason for the government to control all aspects of our lives in order to "keep us safe"?

Thoughts anyone?

Accountability

I was involved in an interesting conversation about accountability yesterday.  A group of people were discussing the shooter from Tucson and how the media is looking for someone to blame for his shooting all those innocent people.  The press is asking why the police officer let him go after stopping him for running a red light.  Some Democrats are blaming Sarah Palin and other right-wing extremists for their "hate campaigns" against Democrats. (I would refer you to my previous post Intolerance of the Obama supporter).  Other articles asked why his parents didn't intervene.  Everyone is looking for a reason, someone to blame.

While I understand that we all want to understand why and how a human being could do this to people he didn't even know.  It is human nature to want to believe that there is some outside force that would make people suddenly do bad things.  If 9/11 and the ensuing terroristic acts taught us anything, it should have taught us about the ability of humans to just not care about others.  In this case, as in many others, there is no one to blame but the actor.  The shooter did what he wanted and in retrospect, there was little indication that should have led people to stop him.  He is and should be held fully accountable for his own actions.  Punishment should be dealt accordingly.

Thoughts anyone?

Remember Tucson

It's hard for those of us who don't live in Tucson to understand the deep trauma that the residents of that city are experiencing right now.  Having lived through 9-11 and being able to see the towers belching smoke like two chimneys as I responded to Fort Lee, I can understand that no one feels the tragedy like those who live there.  I watched in horror as the events in Oklahoma City unfolded, but then went on about my day after turning the tv off.

The people of Tucson have been violated.  "One of their own" turned on them and killed 6 people including a 9 year-old child in front of a store that many of them shopped without thinking twice.  They are now made to wonder, where will it happen again.  They'll feel vulnerable and suspicious everywhere they go.  Although many will say they don't think twice, they to will look around at the car backfiring or check out the strange looking person on the corner like they hadn't before.

All I can tell you is, we do feel for you but can never feel the way you do.  I can also tell you, people of Tucson, it does get better.  The cautious feeling doesn't go away, but the constant fear does.  Be strong and ask for help when you need it.

Thoughts anyone?

The Rapture vs Milk

So there is a group traveling the country trying to make us all aware that the biblical Rapture is going to start on May 21st of this year.  Whether you believe that or not (which can be the subject of another post) it brings up an interesting idea.  What would you do if you knew the world were going to end in just three months?  Would you work to make amends with others?  Would you enjoy time with family and friends?  Would you quit your job and travel?  Would you spend all your money?  What would you do?

One would hope that if you could verify that the Rapture really were coming on a specific date, one would work to make themselves right with God and each other.  After sitting out in front of the supermarket the other day, the day of a predicted 3-6 inch snowfall (hardly the end of the earth) I became disheartened about the state of humanity.  I watched a people entered and exited the supermarket with an attitude that can best be described as controlled looting.  There was an air of frenzy as people "stocked up" before the storm.  It wasn't limited to a few people either as the parking lot had no extra spaces and, in fact, had cars waiting for others to pull out so they could zoom into the empty spot before someone else did.  Is that really our reaction to upcoming hardship?

If that's how we react to an upcoming minor snowstorm, how would we react to end of the world?  Thoughts anyone?

Being a good villager

It is important to be part of a village, but in order to do that, you must be part of a village.  A village doesn't have to be a geographical place of residence.  It is anywhere you "belong".  It can be your house of worship, your book club, your service organization, or your neighborhood.  It is a group of people who watch out for each other and protect each other's interests.  It is your circle of close friends.

What do you need to do to be a good villager?  You need to notice.  You need to be aware of when your fellow book club member is unusually hostile when discussing this month's comedy.  You need to notice the balloons out in front of the neighbor's house.  You need to make a note when you haven't seen someone in church for the past two weeks.  You need to notice.

Once you've noticed, you need to approach.  After book club, you approach the unusually hostile member and ask them if everything is ok.  You stop by the neighbor's house and ask what special event they're celebrating with the balloons.  You call your fellow worshipper and let them know that you've missed them.  You need to approach.

Lastly, you need to care.  You listen to the book club member with true empathy and a desire to help where you can.  Maybe it's just by listening or maybe it's something more, but you need to want to help.   You need to want to be happy for your neighbor.  You need to be happy for your neighbor and be willing to celebrate with them.  You need to be truly concerned that the fellow congregant is missing worship.  You need to want to help solve the issue that's preventing them from joining you.  You need to care.

It's important to be part of a village, but in order to do that, you need to be a good villager.  Thoughts anyone?

Are you part of a village?

Hilary Clinton told us years ago that it takes a village to raise a child.  I would expand that and say that it takes a village to be a human being.  Having just gone through the Christmas season where we were inundated with the stories of the modern day Scrooges and Grinches and that tried to ruin Christmas for everyone around them only to find out it was only because they were lonely, it is fresh on my mind exactly how important it is to be part of a "village".

We used to own our own small business and while there are many things that I don't miss about being a small business owner, the one thing I do miss is the feeling of being a member of my community.  I was able to walk into other businesses and there was an immediate feeling of kinship.  I would go around town and run into people who would say, "Hey, it's the video store guy" and we'd have a quick conversation about this and that.  It made me feel connected.

I now have a different job, in the same town, but not as exposed to the public and I don't have that same connection to others in town.  It really brings home the fact that we need to belong to some "village".  We need to be recognized by others, we need to recognize others, we need to be connected.  There needs to be a "Cheers" in our lives where we walk in and everyone yells, "NORM".  It is my New Years' wish that you find your village.

Thoughts anyone?

The Hybrid Water Heater

Recently we received an e-mail from GE touting a new "hybrid" water heater.  After reading the specifications, checking the online reviews, and emptying the bucket under my leaking gas-fed water heater, I decided to make the purchase.  It cost $1500 (including tax) and that's with me picking it up and installing it.  At this point, it seems that I'll get 30% back on my taxes and possibly at $250 rebate from the state of New Jersey.  That brought the cost down to comparable to a regular gas-fed water heater and it uses less energy.

It's estimated to save me up to $30 per month in energy bills (which I think will turn out to be a little high but we'll see) which would make it pay for itself in 2 years and it comes with an expected life of 10-15 years.  In addition, if we are able to put solar panels on the house, it'll save even more because we'll be using electric instead of natural gas.

Just another way to use new technology to "go green" and reduce both your carbon footprint and your energy costs.  Thoughts anyone?

Exciting things in the world of green building

It's been a while since we've discussed green products.  Given the current state of home building and renovation, there hasn't been a lot of call for articles on green building.  Nonetheless, there has been improvement in both products and distribution.  A quick check of our favorite green distributor, Green Depot, shows a widening selection of products available.

We have personally used some of the products sold by Green Depot including the recycled content drywall, recovered denim insulation, and low VOC paint.  We found them all easy to use and equal or better than conventional products.  The one disappointment is the VOC paint.  We've found that the Home Depot's low VOC brand covers a little better than the SafeCoat brand.  Otherwise, we highly recommend "going green" during home renovation.

A new product that we're currently excited about trying out is Viribright's new LED light bulbs.  Retailing at about $10 a bulb with the potential of a 17 year life span and the use of only 11W to product the equivalent of 60W incandescent bulbs makes this bulb interesting.  In addition, the promotional material states that it's instant on (unlike CFLs) and is recyclable (also unlike CFLs).  It should be mentioned here that the Home Depot does have a recycling program for CFL bulbs.  They should not be discarded in the garbage.

More info as it becomes available.  Thoughts anyone?

Welcome to a new decade

So now we begin 2011 and the start of the second decade of the 21st century.  It's amazing the things that have and haven't come to pass as we've grown up.  According to what we read in the '70's, by now we were either going to be flying around in hovercars that were automatically driven by computers, or sitting in mud huts shivering in the cold, barely able to breathe the air because we'd used up all our resources and were swimming in our own filth.

It is indeed fortunate that the latter didn't happen and somewhat disappointing that we aren't flying (although they are working very hard on cars with auto-pilot).  No one predicted that we would be carrying the internet in our pockets through cell phones, the PC wasn't even a concept then.   CD's and MP3's weren't conceptualized yet.  Terrorism was something that happened only in the Middle East.  The Soviet Union was our biggest fear and catching syphilis was the danger presented by unprotected sex.

How things have changed.  I'm asking you, blog readers, to submit what you think our next few years look like.  Will Republicans shrink our government?  Is it the end of the age of the US as a world power?  Will we run out of energy?  Will the icecaps disappear?   Use your imagination and psychic powers and let us know what you think.

Thoughts anyone?