Break Time

Most of my posts on this humble blog have been sort of large scope, philosophical themed ones. They have addressed my general feelings toward general political subjects. It's been helpful to have some feedback and kick around ideas about ideals.

Lately, however, I have been feeling a need to get more "down and dirty" - to talk about specifics and make suggestions for tangible results. Results, after all, are what it's all about.

Sticking to specifics and tangibles requires thoughtful research and serious time spent on analysis. These things, unfortunately, don't usually make for entertaining blogging. Never the less, this is the direction I would like to concentrate my efforts. I would like to transition from "talking" to "doing", but I need to first know what it is I really want to accomplish.

I am saying basically that I am going to stop updating this blog. Probably not forever, but most likely for quite some time. I am going to develop specific plans for improving specific areas that I feel need improvement in our world. When I have enough ideas to run past you, I'll return and post them for scrutiny and debate.

Until then, thank you for reading.

Peace

Wal Mart, The Anti Christ?

There's been a lot of talk about retail behemoth Wal Mart lately. Honestly, I'm not sure what to think about the whole thing. I would like to ask philosophical question about it...

In the United States if an employer is over a certain size it must offer its full time employees certain benefits. Wal Mart is notorious for using two part time workers in situations where one full timer could get the job done nicely (this is but a small window into Wal Mart's controversies, and it is the only one I'll focus on for now). The difference, of course, is that it is cheaper to pay two workers $6.50 an hour @ 20 hours a week each ($6.50 * 20 * 2 = $260)than it is to pay one full time worker and have to give him/her benefits ($6.50 * 40 = $260 + cost of benefits). Wal Mart gets A LOT of "bang for their buck" because the "part timers" usually don't work only 20 hours, they work 39 or 24 or whatever the maximum the state allows to still be called part time is.

Now this is not illegal and I'm not necessarily saying it should be, but it does pose an interesting quandary. As we all know, $6.50 an hour isn't enough to live in general, and because the employee only works 39 hours they are without health insurance. Wal Mart actually suggests to its employees that they get on welfare. So these costs that Wal Mart has skirted by one hour per employee are now handed directly to the taxpayer. This is one definition of "corporate welfare". The public picks up the slack for a private enterprise.

What is the alternative? Do we use government's power to force Wal Mart to down size? If there are 30,000 part time employees willing to do full time work, then perhaps the company can sustain 15,000 full time employees with benefits?

I know when I see a giant corporation take advantage of the system like that it angers me, but what can be done? Seriously. I welcome all suggestions.

The Score Card

So the Patriots have made it into the post season again. After a slow start they have rebounded to win 6 of their last 8 games. They struggled through adversity that would have destroyed most other teams and emerged at the top of their division (albeit a weak one), earning home field advantage for the first round. It is this ability to stay focused and stay true to their nature as a pro football team that makes the Patriots such an inspiration. They are a perfect unit without ego that embodies the concept of "team". Their goal is ALWAYS the same, regardless of what week it is: win the next game. It could be week 1 or the super bowl, they play with the same level of heart and passion every time. They are champions regardless of the season's outcome.

The goals of a professional sports team are obviously more cut and dried than those of a nation. While the Patriots season will either end in a playoff defeat or a super bowl victory (victory!), our country's goal will never be attained. First off, it's hard to judge how we're doing as a country. What metrics do we use? Are we more wealthy than we were 100 years ago? Check. Is our infrastructure humming, providing distance-spanning networks for businesses and consumers? Check. Is their less poverty at large? Check. Are our citizens healthier? Check. Are our citizens better informed? Check...

So, as a society, we have improved in a number of ways. These improvements are proof that we've done some things right but, as I said, our ultimate goal will never be attained. There is no super bowl to win. Our country, like ourselves, requires constant improvement. If we set our sites on the impossible task of perfection but take pride in each victory along the way, if we strive for excellence in all things, we will be assured, despite any adversity, that we are headed down the right path.

Of course when it comes to the every day grind we have to speak in specifics. We have to scrutinize each and every crossroad and make sure the direction we proceed is consistent with our pursuit of excellence. Where have we gone lately, United States of America? Have we kept our lofty ambitions in mind? Unfortunately, there are several areas where we have failed; where our leadership has failed in its duty to represent us. Did we strive for peace instead of war? No. Did we focus on fiscal solvency instead of a mortgage state? No. Did we reduce the undemocratic powers of government, as opposed to moving toward fascism? No. Did we assure our children that our Earth will be healthier tomorrow than it is today? No. Are we safer?? Although debatable, most signs and most polls point to no.

So let's compare the two men at the helm of our Patriots and our country. Belichick has not produced a perfect record. No one expects him to, but his team is clearly headed down the right path. Bush has been far from perfect, but are we headed in the right direction? Have we been striving for excellence at every opportunity? I'm sure my opinion is evident. What is yours, fellow American? Can we be proud of how we handled the last six years or, if we could do it over again, would we do more things differently than we would do the same? That is the true test of leadership.