tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2476350314005150282024-03-13T12:30:34.870-07:00Burnt OfferingsTim Pattersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10008980022707204239noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247635031400515028.post-14176260731274602252013-11-06T15:38:00.002-08:002013-11-17T12:53:33.818-08:00Power Corrupts (an excerpt from Burnt Offerings, 2010)<div class="MsoNormal">
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">However, since power corrupts when
reasonable restraints are not present, our political corruption is the result
of a lack of constraints. (We must)
elect honest people who are not easily
influenced. (Then) organize short clear
legislation based on what the public wants.
If that does not happen, then perhaps the American public should be put
in charge of politicians salaries and enact a law that makes receiving money or
gifts from any special interests illegal.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700458498804301670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247635031400515028.post-37749467449911255152013-03-22T09:27:00.002-07:002013-04-09T09:15:39.742-07:00Gay/Lesbian Marriage<br />
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<b>The current Gay and Lesbian
marriage issue appears to be riding the crest of the current irrational mass
hysteria that is sweeping over most of Western civilization. In America, there
is considerable pressure for Christians to quickly confirm that same sex
marriages be included as part of traditional marriage. Those Christians who
disagree are dismissed with the vague inference that they are bigots. Nowhere is there any reasoned and detailed
effort to analyze this collective rush to a solution. Only two extreme points of view are offered:
one to dissolve the boundaries of traditional marriage, the other to brand the
opposition as bigots. Such an approach is a prescription for regression to
paganism. </b></div>
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<b> As a Christian Psychologist in private
practice I have counseled over the years with gays and found most of them to be
thoughtful and responsible people. One
of my fellow psychologists was also gay.
I think they should have all the rights of an American citizen. However, I have another view when it comes to
combining same sex marriage with traditional marriage; and I have good
reasons. </b></div>
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<b>My best and first reason is that
Genesis 2 defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman. In addition, in Matthew 19 it is stated that
man-women marriage is as much a part of the gospel as heaven or hell. Those reasons are probably enough for any
bible-reading Christian. However,
Christian ideas, as described in the bible, have had a tendency to become a
part of the laws and beliefs of Christian cultures such as the United States
(Burnt Offerings, 2010). Those cultural
laws and beliefs that have Christian origins are also fair and relevant
arguments against altering traditional marriage.</b></div>
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<b>It seems as if the traditional
marriage between a man and a woman was set up as an ideal in order to protect
and provide a stable environment in which couples could reproduce and lead
healthy lives. It also was devised in
order to provide that same healthy environment for their children. For decades that guarantee has been
diminishing as our divorce rate has increased.
America has had for a long time, the highest divorce rate of any country
in the world (Burnt Offerings, 2010).
Further, families now are having fewer children than ever. These lower birth rates are recent data that
probably reflect the widespread use of birth control</b></div>
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<b>devices and the slow deterioration
of the family. There is also scientific
research that suggests that countries that have included same sex marriage as
part of traditional marriage have fewer couples that bother to get married at
all. If this modern trend continues, the
ideal of traditional marriage will be diminished even further. To diminish the
status of one man and one woman in marriage is to add to the deterioration of
the family and eventually to the destruction of our American society. </b></div>
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<b>There is also other more indirect
evidence of unhealthy lifestyles within the family. Many years ago the statement was made that America
prescribed more drugs in a year than the rest of the world combined. Today, that figure surely is much
higher. In addition, there is data
that suggests a very high rate of mental illness and low success rates in
treatment (Burnt Offerings, 2010). I
would say that ours is an overly drugged world that engages in bad judgment too
easily. This all suggests to me that the family and the individuals within it
are in trouble. It is clear to me, as a
Psychologist and a Christian, that there is plenty of reason for not altering
traditional marriage further.</b></div>
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<b>Of course the real culprit in this
side show is “the race card.” Suppose, in a debate, an argument for group
equality is presented. Then, the
opposition is accused of bigotry or at least stupidity before they can
respond. In this debate, group equality
has won before the debate has even begun.
Somehow this sounds like a scam instead of a debate. It sounds hypocritical that the equality
group must resort to the most unequal of manipulations in order to achieve
equality through intimidation.</b></div>
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<b>We are in a rush to nowhere in a
high risk critical situation. Without
reasoned responses, this will be a prescription for disaster, sooner if not
later. Those in favor of equal rights
have struggled for years to obtain equal rights for gays and Lesbians. Many Christians agree compassionately in
their equality but others do not. This
struggle has become a tempest and emotions run high. Instead of a reasoned debate, the issue has
turned. Ordinary citizens are now taking
sides and seeking blame. That blame is a
thinly veiled revenge that is indeed non-Christian. Christians everywhere need to take another
look at themselves before they act to legalize same sex marriage in its present
form.</b></div>
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<b>There is another option that has
not been discussed much. It is an equal
but separate proposal. It is proposed
that we leave our traditional marriage the way it has always been in our
churches. At the same time same sex
marriage can be carried out in a civil service ceremony with a certificate of
same sex marriage that is equal to traditional marriage. I think it is each Christian’s responsibility
to consider any and all valid reasons for maintaining our centuries old
traditions. </b></div>
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<b>The present rush to judgment is an
irrational denial and escape from engaging in rational planned changes that are
designed to enhance each individual’s pursuit of happiness and freedom. The freedom of one group should not also
involve the veiled destruction of the values that contribute to our success.</b></div>
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<b><i>Floyd Sours is a Christian
Psychologist/author who has written two books, the most recent being </i></b><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Burnt
Offerings. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">His website
is http;//burntofferingsbook.com.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><i>His books can be purchased at
Amazon, Barns & Noble or his website.
<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700458498804301670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247635031400515028.post-43639195090563174672013-01-05T15:14:00.000-08:002013-01-05T15:14:07.064-08:00My New book quote<b><span style="font-size: large;">The following quote is from my new book, Burnt Offerings Part two. I would like comments on it; it helps me decide how to write as well as what to write about. </span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>"In <i>Animal Spirits </i>the government’s role is one of not being too strict
or too permissive.<i> </i>Like the advice
given by psychologists in the parenting advice books, we are warned not to be
too controlling or too permissive. Government and parents can produce immature
and rebellious adults by being too dominant, or they can be too permissive and
produce impulsive and immoral citizens who are without discipline or a sense of
good and evil. The proper approach in a
lenient culture is for the government to set limits that allow people the
discipline to control themselves as they learn and become creative." </b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700458498804301670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247635031400515028.post-51745748170080510662013-01-01T12:36:00.004-08:002013-01-04T10:57:34.966-08:00Bush's Tax Cuts<b><i>It has been clear that our congress is frozen in time. The issue now seems to be about curbing spending and increasing taxes on the rich. The following quote is from Shiller and Akerlof's book </i><span style="font-size: large;">Animal Spirits </span><i>regarding Bush's Tax Cuts. These are the very cuts that were dropped in part. </i></b><br />
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<b>“The Bush Administration used the
downturn to argue for massive permanent tax cuts. The first and largest of these was signed into
law in June, 2001. The Fed also came
into the act. The discount rate…was
brought down to only 0.75% by November 2002.
<span style="font-size: large;">There is every reason to believe that both of these measures were
effective.”</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Comments are welcome!</span></b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700458498804301670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247635031400515028.post-89709070927990593232012-12-21T14:27:00.000-08:002013-01-04T11:00:38.445-08:00Keynes on politiciansThe following is a quote of John Maynard Keynes, the economist who provided the theory that our politicians artfully follow to this day.<br />
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<b><i> "We have involved ourselves in a colossal muddle, having blundered in the control of a delicate machine, the working of which we do not understand."</i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Comments are welcome!</span></i></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700458498804301670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247635031400515028.post-58968653233397869622012-12-21T14:07:00.000-08:002013-01-04T11:02:51.172-08:00Notre Dame Post Mortem<br />
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Post-Mortem</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />Laura Hollis, Nov 08,
2012<br /><br />Laura Hollis is:<br />Current: Associate Professional Specialist and
Concurrent Associate<br />Professor of Law at University of Notre Dame.<br />Past:
Director at Gigot Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, Associate<br />Director and
Clinical Professor at University of Illinois
at<br />Urbana-Champaign.<br />Education: University of Notre Dame Law School,
University of Notre Dame.<br />Summary: She has 20+ years' experience in
curriculum and other program<br />development and delivery.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><img alt="Laura Hirschfeld Hollis" height="73" id="ecxyiv502249312_x0000_i1025" src="cid:005f01cddf3f$ed02cd90$4001a8c0@vineyardc97881" width="73" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /><br />I am
already reading so many pundits and other talking heads analyzing the disaster
that was this year's elections. I am adding my own ten cents. Here
goes:<br /><br />1. We are outnumbered. We accurately foresaw the enthusiasm, the
passion, the commitment, the determination, and the turnout. Married women, men,
independents, Catholics, evangelicals - they all went for Romney in percentages
as high or higher than the groups which voted for McCain in 2008. It wasn't
enough. What we saw in the election on Tuesday was a tipping point: we are now
at a place where there are legitimately fewer Americans who desire a free
republic with a free<br />people than there are those who think the government
should give them stuff. There are fewer of us who believe in the value of free
exchange and free enterprise. There are fewer of us who do not wish to demonize
successful people in order to justify taking from them. We are outnumbered. For
the moment. It's just that simple.<br /><br />2. It wasn't the candidate(s). Some
are already saying, "Romney was the wrong guy"; "He should have picked Marco
Rubio to get Florida/Rob Portman to get Ohio/Chris Christie to get [someplace
else]." With all due respect, these assessments are incorrect. Romney ran a
strategic and well-organized campaign. Yes, he could have hit harder on
Benghazi. But for those who would have loved that, there are those who would
have found it distasteful. No matter what tactic you could point to that Romney
could have done better, it would have been spun in a way that was detrimental to
his chances. Romney would have been an excellent president, and Ryan was an
inspired choice. No matter who we ran this year, they would have lost. See #1,
above.<br /><br />3. It's the culture, stupid. We have been trying to fight this
battle every four years at the voting booth. It is long past time we admit that
is not where the battle really is. We abdicated control of the culture -
starting back in the 1960s. And now our largest primary social institutions -
education, the media, Hollywood (entertainment) have become really nothing more
than an assembly line for cranking out reliable little Leftists. Furthermore, we
have allowed the government to undermine the<br />institutions that instill good
character - marriage, the family, communities, schools, our churches. So, here
we are, at least two full generations later - we are reaping what we have sown.
It took nearly fifty years to get here; it will take another fifty years to get
back. But it starts with the determination to reclaim education, the media, and
the entertainment business. If we fail to do that, we can kiss every election
goodbye from here on out. And much more.<br /><br />4. America has become a nation
of adolescents The real loser in this election was adulthood: Maturity.
Responsibility. The understanding that liberty must be accompanied by
self-restraint. Obama is a spoiled child, and the behavior and language of his
followers and their advertisements throughout the campaign makes it clear how
many of them are, as well. Romney is a grown-up. Romney should have won. Those
of us who expected him to win assumed that voters would act like grownups.
Because if we were a nation of grownups, he would have won.<br /><br />But what did
win? Sex. Drugs. Bad language. Bad manners. Vulgarity. Lies. Cheating.
Name-calling. Finger-pointing. Blaming. And irresponsible spending. This does
not bode well. People grow up one of two ways: either they choose to, or
circumstances force them to. The warnings are all there, whether it is the
looming economic disaster, or the inability of the government to respond to
crises like Hurricane Sandy, or the growing strength and brazenness of our
enemies. American<br />voters stick their fingers in their ears and say,
"Lalalalalala, I can't hear you." It is unpleasant to think about the
circumstances it will take to force Americans to grow up. It is even more
unpleasant to think about Obama at the helm when those circumstances
arrive.<br /><br />5. Yes, there is apparently a Vagina Vote. It's the subject
matter of another column in its entirety to point out, one by one, all of the
inconsistencies and hypocrisies of the Democrats this year. Suffice it to say
that the only "war on women" was the one waged by the Obama campaign, which
sexualized and objectified women, featuring them dressed up like vulvas at the
Democrat National Convention, appealing to their "lady parts," comparing voting
to losing your virginity with Obama, trumpeting the thrills of destroying our
children in the womb (and using our daughters in commercials to do so), and
making Catholics pay for their birth control. For a significant number of women,
this was appealing. It might call into question the wisdom of the Nineteenth
Amendment, but for the fact that large numbers of women (largely married) used
their "lady smarts" instead. Either way, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady
Stanton are rolling over in their graves.<br /><br />6. It's not about giving up on
"social issues" No Republican candidate should participate in a debate or go out
on the stump without thorough debate prep and a complete set of talking points
that they stick to. This should start with a good grounding in biology and a
reluctance to purport to know the will of God. (Thank you, Todd and
Richard.)<br /><br />That said, we do not hold the values we do because they garner
votes. We hold the values we do because we believe that they are time-tested
principles without which a civilized, free and prosperous society is not
possible.<br /><br />We defend the unborn because we understand that a society which
views some lives as expendable is capable of viewing all lives as
expendable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />We
defend family - mothers, fathers, marriage, children - because history makes it
quite clear that societies without intact families quickly descend into anarchy
and barbarism, and we have plenty of proof of that in our inner cities where
marriage is infrequent and unwed motherhood approaches 80 percent. When Roe v.
Wade was decided in 1973, many thought that the abortion cause was lost. Forty
years later, ultrasound technology has demonstrated the inevitable connection
between science and morality. More Americans than ever define themselves as
"pro-life." What is tragic is that tens of millions of children have lost their
lives while Americans figure out what should have been obvious before. There is
no "giving up" on social issues. There is only the realization that we have to
fight the battle on other fronts. The truth will win out in the end.<br /><br />7.
Obama does not have a mandate. And he does not need one. I have to laugh -
bitterly - when I read conservative pundits trying to assure us that Obama "has
to know" that he does not have a mandate, and so he will have to govern from the
middle. I don't know what they're smoking. Obama does not care that he does not
have a mandate. He does not view himself as being elected (much less re-elected)
to represent individuals. He views himself as having been re-elected to complete
the "fundamental transformation" of America, the basic structure of which he
despises. Expect much more of the same - largely the complete disregard of the
will of half the American public, his willingness to rule by executive order,
and the utter inability of another divided Congress to rein him in. Stanley
Kurtz has it all laid out here.<br /><br />8. The Corrupt Media - is the enemy too
strong? I don't think so. I have been watching the media try to throw elections
since at least the early 1990s. In 2008 and again this year, we saw the media
cravenly cover up for the incompetence and deceit of this President, while
demonizing a good, honorable and decent man with lies and smears. This is on top
of the daily barrage of insults that conservatives (and by that I mean the
electorate, not the politicians) must endure at the hands of this arrogant bunch
of elitist snobs. Bias is one thing. What we observed with Benghazi was
professional malpractice and fraud. They need to go. Republicans, Libertarians
and other conservatives need to be prepared to play hardball with the Pravda
press from here on out. And while we are at it, to defend those journalists of
whatever political stripe (Jake Tapper, Sharyl Atkisson, Eli Lake) who actually
do their jobs. As well as Fox News and talk radio. Because you can fully expect
a re-elected Obama to try to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine in term
2.<br /><br />9. Small business and entrepreneurs will be hurt the worst For all the
blather about "Wall Street versus Main Street," Obama's statist agenda will
unquestionably benefit the biggest corporations which - as with the public
sector unions - are in the best position to make campaign donations, hire
lobbyists, and get special exemptions carved out from Obama's health care laws,
his environmental regulations, his labor laws. It will be the small business,
the entrepreneur, and the first-time innovators who will be crushed by their
inability to compete on a level playing field.<br /><br />10. America is more
polarized than ever; and this time it's personal. I've been following politics
for a long time, and it feels different this time. Not just for me. I've
received messages from other conservatives who are saying the same thing: there
is little to no tolerance left out there for those who are bringing this country
to its knees - even when they have been our friends. It isn't just about "my
guy" versus "your guy." It is my view of America versus your view of America - a
crippled, hemorrhaging, debt-laden, weakened and dependent America that I want
no part of and resent being foisted on me. I no longer have any patience for
stupidity, blindness, or vulgarity, so with each dumb "tweet" or FB post by one
of my happily lefty comrades, another one bites the dust, for me. Delete. What
does this portend for a divided Congress? I expect that Republicans will be
demoralized and chastened for a short time. But I see them in a bad position.
Americans in general want Congress to work together. But many do not want
Obama's policies, and so Republicans who support them will be toast. Good luck,
guys.<br /><br />11. It's possible that America just has to hit rock bottom. I truly
believe that most Americans who voted for Obama have no idea what they are in
for. Most simply believe him when he says that all he really wants is for the
rich to pay "a little bit more." So reasonable! Who could argue with that except
a greedy racist? America is on a horrific bender. Has been for some time now.
The warning signs of our fiscal profligacy and culture of lack of personal
responsibility are everywhere - too many to mention. We need only look at other
countries which have gone the route we are walking now to see what is in
store.<br /><br />For the past four years - but certainly within the past campaign
season - we have tried to warn Americans. Too many refuse to listen, even when
all of the events that have transpired during Obama's presidency - unemployment,
economic stagnation, skyrocketing prices, the depression of the dollar, the
collapse of foreign policy, Benghazi, hopelessly inept responses to natural
disasters - can be tied directly to Obama's statist philosophies, and his
decisions.<br /><br />What that means, I fear, is that they will not see what is
coming until the whole thing collapses. That is what makes me so sad today. I
see the country I love headed toward its own "rock bottom," and I cannot seem to
reach those who are taking it there.<br /><br />Laura
Hollis</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Comments on this letter are welcome!</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700458498804301670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247635031400515028.post-56936354642669955822012-12-17T06:15:00.001-08:002013-01-05T08:08:18.594-08:00Obama's Sandwich<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rEM4NKXK-iA?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700458498804301670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247635031400515028.post-67891940961414065212012-12-04T07:30:00.001-08:002012-12-04T07:30:23.701-08:00Alinsky quotes<b>the following are several quotes. Feel free to comment. </b><br />
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"those who are most moral are farthest from the problem."<br />
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"Last guys don't finish nice."<br />
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"he who fears corruption fears life."<br />
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"the first radical known to man..rebelled so effectively that he won his own kingdom:<b> Lucifer</b>."<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700458498804301670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247635031400515028.post-91691166903121995592012-12-03T10:38:00.001-08:002012-12-03T10:38:36.269-08:00Jefferson on democracy"Democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give it to those who will not." Quote by Thomas JeffersonAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700458498804301670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247635031400515028.post-56742706980858756832012-12-03T09:41:00.005-08:002012-12-03T09:41:57.538-08:00On constraintsQuote from Burnt Offerings..."a lack of constraints is the reason power corrupts."Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700458498804301670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247635031400515028.post-18958437845845275792012-11-19T12:23:00.000-08:002012-11-19T12:23:40.712-08:00Deficit Spending and WWII<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In my most recent blog, I briefly described our four year
recession as a copy of FDR’s twelve year New Deal that was misdesigned to fix
the great depression. After twelve years
it resulted in World War II: a development associated with the void and chaos of
a depressed Europe and America. This
blog is an extension of that article. It
attempts to further explain those developments in the mid-twentieth century
from a social-psychological perspective rather than an economic one. It is my belief that if Americans have not
learned from history we are destined to repeat it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The point is this; it was not deficit spending and the new
deal that got us out of the great depression.
It was the forced implementation of the war years that provided the
structure and the obsessive qualities that were necessary to end that cultural
depression. These economic bubbles that
you hear so much about from economists are the symptoms of an underlying manic
quality that allows people to think risk taking under questionable conditions
is acceptable. The economic bubble is
part of an underlying cultural manic state.
The problem is psychological stupid: not economic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">If I am right, then the economic path we are pursuing is
likely to result in a real and on-going fiscal crisis or a war. The reason is that we have not learned our
lesson yet from the past. This cultural
problem is much bigger than just the field of economics. This topic, Obama’s New Deal, is a major
topic of the new book that I am writing.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700458498804301670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247635031400515028.post-3722418315491302542012-11-16T17:43:00.001-08:002012-11-16T17:43:36.119-08:00Obama's New Deal<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The last year and the recent presidential election
scare the hell out of me. I am a
clinical psychologist/author who thinks something really crazy is occurring in America. It is something akin to a cultural delusion. It appears that a majority of Americans are
attempting to escape the unpleasantness of reality by ignoring the obvious
problem at hand. That problem is the
steadily growing lack of fiscal and moral responsibility that is exemplified by
our current president and those who are on his side. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Many people I know are avoiding the obvious by arguing
that the current president and his administration have done a partially good
job and will complete what has been started in his next administration. Some Americans accept this point of view
without question. Most refuse to look at
all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In order to understand what has happened, people need to understand
that in the first two years of President Obama’s presidency, he and his
congress tried to copy FDR’s New Deal that was supposed to fix the great
depression. Obama and his cohorts did a
very poor job of it with their greedy stimulus package and lack of transparency. They were obviously dishonest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Obama took the same course as the New Deal of the 1930’s that lasted
for about twelve years. The reasons it
lasted so long are clearly described in two books: one called <i>The Forgotten Man </i>and another called<i> FDR’s Folly. </i>History has been kind to
Roosevelt in the thirties and only now, many years later, has it become known
that the great depression was extended for many years because of FDR’s policies
of bigger government, political favoritism coupled with a patronage system and
outright dishonesty. There was even
another depression of almost the same intensity in the late thirties that was
not covered by the media. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The Obama administration has pursued those same new deal policies and
the result has been a recession that has lasted 4 years to date. Most recessions/depressions end much quicker
than that. Only FDR’s New Deal lasted longer and it resulted in war. If Obama is re-elected he will pursue those
same failed policies. The result clearly will be an extended
recession/depression with the real possibility of another crash. Obama and his cohorts have not learned from
history. Remember it was John Maynard
Keynes who said, <i>“madmen in authority
distil their frenzy from some academic scribbler of a few years back.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700458498804301670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247635031400515028.post-19110767970411721932012-11-16T11:14:00.001-08:002012-11-16T11:14:22.179-08:00The Valley of the Blind"In the valley of the Blind the sighted are cripples" From Burnt OfferingsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700458498804301670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247635031400515028.post-70821234548154594072012-11-09T07:47:00.000-08:002012-11-10T07:24:49.045-08:00America in CrisisIt has finally happened! Our dedication to the average person has finally failed us. In my book, <i>Burnt Offerings (2008),</i> it was clear that our country was headed into chaos and would be vulnerable to authoritarianism. I have thought for years that all this permissiveness and tearing apart of anything traditional must come to an end. Western civilization itself is in crisis as dependency takes precedence over more anxiousness. The idea of independence, and hence freedom, have been given up as we chose dependence in the form of corrupt government. Statistical data bear this out when we see that about 59 % of our population is now mentally ill. <br />
<br />
According to my book, <i>Burnt Offerings</i>, the National Institute of Mental Health (2007) estimates that there are about 95 million untreated users of mental health services annually. This figure combined with the ninety million annually who do receive treatment suggests that a large segment of our population is in need of treatment. That is about 59% of our population. It is my thought that mentally ill people would be much more likely to vote for dependence than for the independence that comes with earning what you have. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700458498804301670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247635031400515028.post-12475320537811437672012-11-08T13:41:00.003-08:002012-11-08T13:41:51.125-08:00government decline"Life is on the decline because government has become incapable of dealing with modern social problems." From the book Burnt Offerings.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700458498804301670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247635031400515028.post-12185683521384816912012-10-30T12:01:00.002-07:002012-10-30T12:01:49.629-07:00On Liberty"Those who sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither." Ben FranklinAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700458498804301670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247635031400515028.post-70349782098538262582012-10-21T20:01:00.000-07:002012-10-21T20:01:14.055-07:00Eric Hoffer..The True Believer"The True Believer is a guilt ridden fanatic who is the mortal enemy of things as they are." Eric HofferAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700458498804301670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247635031400515028.post-63842703168155574452012-09-28T04:55:00.003-07:002012-09-28T04:55:45.001-07:00Be Careful What You Wish For...<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is quite clear to me that most Americans are attempting to escape the</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">unpleasantness of reality by ignoring the obvious problem at hand. That</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">problem is the steadily growing lack of fiscal and moral responsibility that is</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">exemplified by our current president and those who are on his side. Many</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">people I know are avoiding the obvious by arguing that the current president</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and his administration have done a partially good job and will complete what</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">has been started in his next administration. That argument also includes snide</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">swipes at Mitt Romney, saying he is a rich uncaring rich guy. Some Americans</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">accept this point of view without question. Most refuse to look at the real</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">problem. That kind of escapist thinking could bring our republic down.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In order to understand what has happened people need to understand that in</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the first two years of President Obama’s presidency, he and the congress tried to</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">copy FDR’s New Deal that was supposed to fix the great depression. Obama and</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">his cohorts did a very poor job of it with their greedy stimulus package and lack</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">of transparency. Obama took the same course as the New Deal of the 1930’s</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">that lasted for about twelve years. The reasons it lasted so long are clearly</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">described in two books: one called The Forgotten Man and another called FDR’s</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Folly. History has been kind to Roosevelt in the thirties and only now, many years</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">later, has it become known that the great depression was extended for many</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">years because of FDR’s policies of bigger government and political favoritism.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was even another depression of almost the same intensity in the late</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">thirties that was not covered by the media.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Obama administration has pursued those same new deal policies and the</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">result has been a recession that has lasted 4 years to date. Most recessions/</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">depressions end much quicker than that. Only FDR’s New Deal lasted longer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and it resulted in war. If Obama is re-elected he will pursue those same failed</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">policies. The result clearly will be an extended recession/depression with the</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">real possibility of another crash. Obama and his cohorts have not learned from</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">history. Be careful what you wish for, you may get it.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">_________________</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Floyd Sours is a clinical psychologist who was a small business owner in the</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Columbus area for many years. He is now partially retired and lives in Zanesville,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ohio with his wife. He can be contacted through his <a href="http://www.burntofferingsbook.com/">Burnt Offerings website</a> or at</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">facebook or twitter.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700458498804301670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247635031400515028.post-31949460767278970882012-09-21T18:14:00.003-07:002012-09-21T18:15:28.021-07:00Welcome to the Burnt Offerings Book BlogWelcome to the Burnt Offerings blog! <b>Burnt Offerings: The Art of Politics and the Consequences of Freedom</b> is written by Floyd Sours. The central theme of the book lies in the relationship between inequality and equality. Aside from the obvious benefits of freedom and equality, what are the consequences? Speculation about where America may be headed politically is also included.<br />
<br />
You can learn more about the book and the author <a href="http://burntofferingsbook.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.Tim Pattersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10008980022707204239noreply@blogger.com2