This truly is the information age. It seems contradictory that newspaper subscriptions are rapidly declining. This is not because the daily bulletins no longer provide valuable news information, but because the news is already widely known by the time the newspapers are printed and distributed. The availability of the internet, portable computers, cell phones, digital cameras and especially personal digital devices, make the dissemination of news nearly instantaneous. Newspapers are just not current enough.
But that is not my main point. The question I ask is, “how do our leaders make decisions in such an environment?” In the past, decision makers were able to ponder their positions and gauge the potential reaction of the public to unfolding events over a period of time; even attempting to mold this reaction a bit. More recently, astute politicians began to use opinion polls to help manage their philosophies. Nowadays every event is met with millions of personal opinions instantly. Bloggers, u-tubers, and Instant Messengers are flying everywhere. Innumerable fragments of knowledge do not constitute a philosophy for living one’s life, managing a business, or running a country. It’s difficult to determine fact from fiction. Long term considerations give way to emotions and first impressions. To respond to such a flurry of information is impossible, but not to react may be seen as insensitive or uninformed.
Adding to the difficulty in sustaining a long-term decision making perspective is how social programs are been labeled, in contrast with the actions actually necessary to achieve them. Who could oppose “Fair Housing”, “Americans with Disabilities”, “Drug Prevention” or “National Defense” legislation? Yet when the actions required to accomplish the stated goals are revealed, they may be far more onerous than voters are aware. This is not to mention the modifications, amendments and stipulations attached to the original documents.
So are we doomed? Perhaps not. If we can use the power of prayer, our personal intellect, as well as our hearts, we can elect wise leaders based on their character, not the flashiness of their campaign themes. We can then trust them to honestly lead us down the path to long term wellbeing.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Friday, December 12, 2008
The Irony of Current Politics
The Presidential candidate Barack Obama ran on the motto of “change”, yet his cabinet appointments are very familiar faces. And many of his appointments are former adversaries.
The Republican party has always been seen as the pro-business party and Democrats as anti-business.
Now the lame duck Republican president is being criticized by his party for supporting the Automobile industry bailout and the Democrats are fully supporting it. I guess the Democrats see this as entirely consistent; whatever George Bush does is stupid.
The normally adversarial UAW is now supporting the business leaders’ appeals; but, one might ask, is this to help these businesses, or to help themselves? But I really can’s criticize them for that.
Business leaders are declaring that they will try to "hang on" until a more receptive Democratic President is in office.
The most divisive Senator in Washington, Harry Reid, is now calling for bi-partisan support of the newly elected President, saying he was elected as the President of "all the people"; to "give him a chance", and the need to "reach across the aisle". I wonder where this call for unity and support was when our President Bush needed it.
The Republican party has always been seen as the pro-business party and Democrats as anti-business.
Now the lame duck Republican president is being criticized by his party for supporting the Automobile industry bailout and the Democrats are fully supporting it. I guess the Democrats see this as entirely consistent; whatever George Bush does is stupid.
The normally adversarial UAW is now supporting the business leaders’ appeals; but, one might ask, is this to help these businesses, or to help themselves? But I really can’s criticize them for that.
Business leaders are declaring that they will try to "hang on" until a more receptive Democratic President is in office.
The most divisive Senator in Washington, Harry Reid, is now calling for bi-partisan support of the newly elected President, saying he was elected as the President of "all the people"; to "give him a chance", and the need to "reach across the aisle". I wonder where this call for unity and support was when our President Bush needed it.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Seeking the Truth
As Christians, we should be in a constant search for truth. I believe that there is absolute truth. I’m not sure whether we always know what the truth is on every issue of life, but we must continue to seek it.
A friend of mine once told me that Reno, Nevada was farther west than Los Angeles, California. I thought, “That couldn’t be true”. I have been to Reno; and I have been to Los Angeles. In fact, I drove through Reno on my way to Los Angeles. After leaving Reno I had to drive about 200 miles farther west to reach the Pacific Ocean. I then turned south and drove down the coastline to Los Angeles. However, if you look at a globe, the great circle longitude line which goes through Reno, Nevada is over the ocean when it gets down to Los Angeles, California. I was wrong.
Jesus, in response to Pilate said, “Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." Pilate then asked Him the oft-quoted question, “What is truth”. Christ had answered this question earlier in a prayer to His Father (in John 17:17) when he said, “Thy Word is Truth”.
For all of my personal knowledge, and all of my self-confidence, my geography was incorrect. But I could simply go to an accurate source and find the truth. The same is true in religion. We may say to ourselves, “I have believed that way all of my life”; or, “everyone in my family believes that way”, or, “the preacher has taught that many times in his lessons.” That may be, but we still could be wrong. What does the Bible say about the issue?
Paul lived “in all good conscience” that he was doing right. Even to the point of persecuting Christians. He was enthusiastic and convinced that he had the truth. Yet he later found that he too was wrong. Let’s all use Paul as our example, seek out the truth from God’s word, and when we find it pray for the courage to admit our errors and change our behaviors.
Remember John 8:32: “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”.
A friend of mine once told me that Reno, Nevada was farther west than Los Angeles, California. I thought, “That couldn’t be true”. I have been to Reno; and I have been to Los Angeles. In fact, I drove through Reno on my way to Los Angeles. After leaving Reno I had to drive about 200 miles farther west to reach the Pacific Ocean. I then turned south and drove down the coastline to Los Angeles. However, if you look at a globe, the great circle longitude line which goes through Reno, Nevada is over the ocean when it gets down to Los Angeles, California. I was wrong.
Jesus, in response to Pilate said, “Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." Pilate then asked Him the oft-quoted question, “What is truth”. Christ had answered this question earlier in a prayer to His Father (in John 17:17) when he said, “Thy Word is Truth”.
For all of my personal knowledge, and all of my self-confidence, my geography was incorrect. But I could simply go to an accurate source and find the truth. The same is true in religion. We may say to ourselves, “I have believed that way all of my life”; or, “everyone in my family believes that way”, or, “the preacher has taught that many times in his lessons.” That may be, but we still could be wrong. What does the Bible say about the issue?
Paul lived “in all good conscience” that he was doing right. Even to the point of persecuting Christians. He was enthusiastic and convinced that he had the truth. Yet he later found that he too was wrong. Let’s all use Paul as our example, seek out the truth from God’s word, and when we find it pray for the courage to admit our errors and change our behaviors.
Remember John 8:32: “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Election Day thoughts
On the eve of the election 2008, I have a rather solid feeling that Barack Obama will be our next president. Why? Here's my list.
1. The recent economic downturn has changed the focus of the nation away from the war in Iraq, McCain's strongpoint, and toward the economy, which favors democratic promises.
2. Barack Obama's race and his huge support among the black population.
3. Support of Barack Obama by former Hillary Clinton supporters. (They may go to McClain, but I think they are more democratic than feminists.)
4. The extraordinary advantage Obama had with financial fundraising.
5. The Vice-Presidential selection of Sarah Palin by John McCain, viewed by many as not qualified to be V.P.
What to expect now:
1. Increased rise in a "socialized" America.
2. More government entitlements, a larger federal government with more regulations.
3. The loss of a Pro-Life advocacy.
4. More liberal selection of Supreme Court Judges.
5. Increased support in the office of the presidency by the general public.
1. The recent economic downturn has changed the focus of the nation away from the war in Iraq, McCain's strongpoint, and toward the economy, which favors democratic promises.
2. Barack Obama's race and his huge support among the black population.
3. Support of Barack Obama by former Hillary Clinton supporters. (They may go to McClain, but I think they are more democratic than feminists.)
4. The extraordinary advantage Obama had with financial fundraising.
5. The Vice-Presidential selection of Sarah Palin by John McCain, viewed by many as not qualified to be V.P.
What to expect now:
1. Increased rise in a "socialized" America.
2. More government entitlements, a larger federal government with more regulations.
3. The loss of a Pro-Life advocacy.
4. More liberal selection of Supreme Court Judges.
5. Increased support in the office of the presidency by the general public.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
The Seven Tees
The other day I met a pharmacist. As we talked I found out that she often volunteered at the County Poison Center. She shared with me several generic stories about the numerous cases of poisionings she had encountered and how they had occurred. Some were hilarious. In passing she mentioned that she has found that many of the poision incidents are the result of one or more of the seven tees. I asked her about this and she told me that she has observed that most poision incidents involve at least one of the following circumstances:
Testosterone
Tequilla
Tatoos
Trailer parks
Teeth missing
Tee shirts
Tennessee
Testosterone
Tequilla
Tatoos
Trailer parks
Teeth missing
Tee shirts
Tennessee
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Divisions of Society
During the Middle Ages men were considered as belonging to one of three groups; those who pray, those who fight wars, or those who work. Priests, Warriors, or Farmers. They each had their roles in society and it was possible, but rare, to move between groups. I wonder which catagory the aristocricy falls into. I presume the king was considered a warrior.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Thoughts on Time
It is hard to think of a concept more important to mankind, and more universally adhered to, than time. It is of the utmost importance to modern man. It guides nearly every facet of our lives. We assign appointment times to all of our tasks. We schedule events striving to fit as many of these tasks into our days as possible. We even take pride in our ability to multi-task (doing multiple timed tasks at once).
I wonder what it was like before the measurement of time was available? Yes, that once was the case. Sundials are very old, but during medieval times, 500-1500 AD there were no clocks as we know them today; they had not yet been invented. Water clocks were invented in Egypt but were not very accurate. Sundials and sandglasses were not uniform, widely used, or accurate.
It is interesting to note that early Greek scholars believed that time was circular, not linear. Taking their clues from the seasons, the tides, and the movement of celestial bodies, they thought that all events happened over and over again. For everything there was a circle which had no real beginning or end, but returned to its point of origin and renewed itself to begin the next cycle. The lives of men and animals were all part of the earth’s cycles.
Religious observers noted that the life of Jesus Christ was a completely unique event; never to be repeated in the history of man. So the means of measuring time was divided into two distinct periods, before Christ (BC) and after Christ (AD). From this point forward time was measured in linear increments.
In an agricultural world reliance on the seasons, and the associated work tasks, caused measurement of the movements of the sun to be essential. Holy days were established to recognize, and celebrate, these changing natural cycles. During the Medieval Ages summertime was the season for war. Vassals were required to provide military support to the King. No military activity was conducted in winter.
Churches began to measure the day by prayer hours. Lauds (3 a.m.), Martins (6 a.m.), Terse (9 a.m.), Sext (noon), Nones (3 p.m.), Vespers (6 p.m.) and Compline (9 p.m.). Kings and Lords had control of the work lives of men. Workers obeyed time imposed on them by bells, trumpets and horns.
The Greeks divided the year into twelve parts which they called months. Each month was divided into thirty parts called days. Their year only had a total of 360 days, or 12 times 30 (12 x 30 = 360). Since the Earth goes around the Sun in one year, the Greeks decided to divide the earth’s circle into 360 degrees.
The Egyptians and Babylonians considered the day to be from sunrise to sunset. They divided it into twelve parts that are called hours. They also divided the night, the time from sunset to sunrise, into twelve hours. But the day and the night are not the same length, and the length of the day and night also changes through the year. This system of measuring the time was not very accurate because the length of an hour changed depending on the time of year. Somebody finally figured out that by dividing the whole day into 24 hours of equal length (12 hours of the day plus 12 hours of the night), the time could be measured much more accurately. The hour was divided into 60 minutes, and each minute is further divided into 60 seconds. Dividing both the hours and minutes into 60 parts comes from the Sumerian sexagesimal system, which is a base 60 numbering system.
Like everything else, the accurate measurement of time can be both a blessing and a burden. Well, I gotta go now. I have appointments to keep.
I wonder what it was like before the measurement of time was available? Yes, that once was the case. Sundials are very old, but during medieval times, 500-1500 AD there were no clocks as we know them today; they had not yet been invented. Water clocks were invented in Egypt but were not very accurate. Sundials and sandglasses were not uniform, widely used, or accurate.
It is interesting to note that early Greek scholars believed that time was circular, not linear. Taking their clues from the seasons, the tides, and the movement of celestial bodies, they thought that all events happened over and over again. For everything there was a circle which had no real beginning or end, but returned to its point of origin and renewed itself to begin the next cycle. The lives of men and animals were all part of the earth’s cycles.
Religious observers noted that the life of Jesus Christ was a completely unique event; never to be repeated in the history of man. So the means of measuring time was divided into two distinct periods, before Christ (BC) and after Christ (AD). From this point forward time was measured in linear increments.
In an agricultural world reliance on the seasons, and the associated work tasks, caused measurement of the movements of the sun to be essential. Holy days were established to recognize, and celebrate, these changing natural cycles. During the Medieval Ages summertime was the season for war. Vassals were required to provide military support to the King. No military activity was conducted in winter.
Churches began to measure the day by prayer hours. Lauds (3 a.m.), Martins (6 a.m.), Terse (9 a.m.), Sext (noon), Nones (3 p.m.), Vespers (6 p.m.) and Compline (9 p.m.). Kings and Lords had control of the work lives of men. Workers obeyed time imposed on them by bells, trumpets and horns.
The Greeks divided the year into twelve parts which they called months. Each month was divided into thirty parts called days. Their year only had a total of 360 days, or 12 times 30 (12 x 30 = 360). Since the Earth goes around the Sun in one year, the Greeks decided to divide the earth’s circle into 360 degrees.
The Egyptians and Babylonians considered the day to be from sunrise to sunset. They divided it into twelve parts that are called hours. They also divided the night, the time from sunset to sunrise, into twelve hours. But the day and the night are not the same length, and the length of the day and night also changes through the year. This system of measuring the time was not very accurate because the length of an hour changed depending on the time of year. Somebody finally figured out that by dividing the whole day into 24 hours of equal length (12 hours of the day plus 12 hours of the night), the time could be measured much more accurately. The hour was divided into 60 minutes, and each minute is further divided into 60 seconds. Dividing both the hours and minutes into 60 parts comes from the Sumerian sexagesimal system, which is a base 60 numbering system.
Like everything else, the accurate measurement of time can be both a blessing and a burden. Well, I gotta go now. I have appointments to keep.
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