No Longer Slaves

Working for “the man” is changing in the coming few years. How? Well, consider how closely special interests and corporations have been working with the federal government over the past decade or two. Lobbying is a true art, and those doing the lobbying on behalf of a company or industry have often also once worked in government. The art of the “steal” has been working against employees and small businesses yet benefiting corporate America. Congress has known this and now Congress can take meaningful steps to turn this cronyism around.

Who better to initiate this change than the great deal maker himself, DJT. Our next president is poised to help working men and women in a way that a government program never could. To route out federal regulations that over burden businesses the next president must himself have a strong staff and reliable Congress committed to excellence and hard work. Lowering our tax burden and inflation won’t be easy because the taxation machine has been growing for far too long. Negotiated deals with Congress will have to emphasize the positive impact their votes will have on the constituents, WE THE PEOPLE.

For too long WE THE PEOPLE have been slaves to a governmental system that pits us against each other in order to remove our focus on their power. Why should WE THE PEOPLE be angry and frightened of our political differences? We don’t need to be, you see, because it’s only one of the “whips” that the system uses to maintain power. And, like an overseer who controls the slave, the Congress has allowed a bureaucracy to control the taxpayer by forcing continuing resolutions as another “whip”.

“A really efficient totalitarian state would be one in which the all-powerful executive of political bosses and their army of managers control a population of slaves who do not have to be coerced, because they love their servitude.”

– Aldous Huxley, in the Foreword to Brave NewWorld

What is a continuing resolution (CR)? A continuing resolution continues the pre-existing appropriations at the same levels as the previous fiscal year. CR’s typically provide funding at a rate or formula based on the previous year’s funding, always growing and never slowing. This will generally happen when Congress and the President fail to agree on and pass one or more of the regular appropriations bills, and this is the problem. Congress MUST get back into the habit of annually questioning the spending of each department which then adequately provides them a cost/benefit analysis…This process should not be partisan yet it has become such. Working together with the best interests of their constituents, not the interests of federal departments or lobbying corporations MUST be Congress’ goal.

But what about all the profits that the business sector makes? They should be paying their “fair share” in taxes to the programs people need! Spoiler alert…They already do. Businesses exist because of consumer demand. A business grows because of the demand. More employees and better equipment must be acquired in order to meet this demand which is where much of the profit comes from, but profits must also be sheltered in order to meet hard times when they happen. No one can really anticipate the impact of a natural disaster or a pandemic on business activity. Insurance and/or FEMA never act quickly enough, but a business’s profits in a bank account can be accessed easily. Federal safety net programs (like FEMA, HHS, SSI) don’t make money, they only spend your tax money.

But what about greed? Corporations are too greedy and can’t be trusted to pay their employees well enough to live in these inflationary times. This is only partially true. The biggest reason why workers can’t afford inflation is because the federal government (which doesn’t actually make money from their services) has to print their money thereby creating inflation…One more “whip” that keeps us in check!The Shrew believes that the next two years will show us how greedy the federal government has been and how letting you keep more of your money actually makes you more free and less dependent on them.

Free to create more value, free to spend on your needs and free to help those you know who need your blessed contributions. We all shall be slaves no more!

Retiring Woke

How about that! The majority of voters want some common sense brought back to our federal government. This common sense has nothing to do with sexism, racism, homophobia or whatever other “ism” one can “imagine” that covers the whole woke spectrum.

People are tired of the nastiness being played amongst us. So much has been done by the political establishment to create a country of “us vs them” and it didn’t work. It will never work because we actually love each other as a beautiful and complicated family of Americans.

This bride will go on the create another loving American family.

As I retire from a career that has been both a blessing and a curse to manage through the good times and bad, I see that ultimately my experience was a joy because the people who needed my services relied on my expertise and they appreciated it. My work had value. Their dreams of looking their absolute best for the “big day” were fulfilled. Each individual I helped had their own story. I played a part, but yet their story remained their own.

As a country moving on to a new administration, let us all retire the nastiness of the past. No matter how much each of us played in the electoral drama, we must remember our American story remains the same…To pursue life, liberty and happiness as individuals and not as groups. An administration doesn’t give these things, our Creator does. Your God given ambition makes it possible. What career of value can you create that others will appreciate?

Apple Pie

Isn’t it interesting that the harvest aligns with our campaign season? What fruits will the next federal election bear? Only God knows at this point.

I see the current administration using a lot of tactics to control the dynamics of this election. Maybe you haven’t. But my point is simple, you reap what you sow.

Don’t get me wrong. This current administration includes a whole slew of Republicans, Democrats and Independents who are legitimizing a system of governance similar to the pit of despair that Harry Harlow contrived. This was not the experiment of self governance that our founders intended, yet it is a result that the founders foresaw because we have moved away from the creation story and God’s plan.

Not to worry! Our American experiment may be suffering a little too much from the influence of socialism right now, but it will most certainly self correct. All we need is an adjustment to the governance recipe. As with our own traditional apple pie recipe which came to America with European settlers and improved over time with various spices and crusts, our self governing system improved with time because of our willingness to try new methods of integration. This is very apparent when we understand how our political parties have evolved over time.

At the start of our two party system we had the Constitution inspired Federalist party and the anti-central government anti-Federalist party (also known as the Democratic-Republican party). By 1828 the term Democrat referred to the Federalist party and Republican referred to the opposition party that later became the Whig party. Democrats supported the supremacy of the Presidency while the Whigs supported the supremacy of Congress over the Presidency. During the time when slavery came into question, the Whig party splintered into two factions and later became simply the Republican party which opposed slavery. After the defeat of the Confederacy, the Republicans consisted of businessmen, shop owners, skilled craftsmen, clerks, and the newly enfranchised African Americans. Democrats were agrarian oriented and repressive to the newly enfranchised African Americans.

After the Progressive era and New Deal initiatives, Democrats became the party of big government and Republicans became Constitutionally conservative. The Republican lead Congress pushed for and achieved African American civil rights legislation. Democrats courted the black vote with big government promises.

Today, both parties are in much disarray. Congress has given up their power to a bureaucratic mess of unbridled control over the people, and the Presidency has become a lever of political poison. Our American apple pie is now bureaucratic apple sauce. How can we adjust this recipe back to good old We The People apple pie? Hold onto your pie crust because I think we are about to find out!

The Cloak of Love and Joy

Imagine, if you will, that you live in a city or town with individuals of diverse family situations, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and religious philosophies. Trying to imagine this in the United States of America isn’t very hard to do, especially if you live in an urban setting. The hustle and bustle of public transportation among densely populated neighborhoods and a variety of commercial buildings is second nature to those who live in these environments. Many times even the suburbs located not too far from these urban areas are bustling just as much. However, there is a great deal of difference when towns are located far from this hustle and bustle.

Small rural towns are more homogeneous, that is, the people in them share a sameness of culture born around a common industry such as agriculture, mining or manufacturing. There is still a diversity of incomes and thought, but race, ethnicity and religious beliefs are typically less different. Our rural identity is just as important to the fabric of our country as our urban identity. Both knit together a unique sense of pride which we call patriotism.

What we build together as communities of hardworking and intelligent citizens is more important than what we take individually. We cannot have one without the other however…My commitment to myself as an asset to my community ensures a lasting civilization. Self awareness is key to prosperity no matter who you are on the spectrum of cultural diversity because it can help you make better decisions, build healthier relationships, lead with authenticity, take better care of yourself, and live a more fulfilling life. Self awareness is your personal cloak of love and joy.

Think of this cloak as your own hero cape! You are a Superhero to all those around you when this cloak has been fully formed by other self aware people in your life. It is like the Biblical narrative of the coat of many colors that Joseph’s father gave to him. In this story Joseph’s brothers did not get one and so were jealous of him. The importance here is that the father only recognized Joseph as most worthy of this gift because Joseph had obtained true self awareness. Of all his future suffering, Joseph would still go on to achieve and share much prosperity while maintaining his humility with God, his family and all those around him…An inspiration for all.

Who will give you your hero cloak and are you deserving of it? Is your character up to the challenge? Can you knit your own with the help of God’s presence in your life? The answer is a resounding YES! No matter who you are or where you’re from it is possible. Our western civilization truly depends on our Superheroes.

As with most anything, there is a balance to achieve when being self aware. The jealousy of others will be present and your perception to this will help to direct your path in life…Trust in divine providence.

Midsummer Joy

August, the eighth month of the Gregorian calendar symbolizing new beginnings. What a hectic pace it has been from January through July! Thank you, oh God, for this eighth month of rejuvenation and reflection.

Although I must force myself into this restful state, I welcome it with open arms. My mind and body need a reset as I go past the midpoint of a typically busy bridal season. Sewing one more seam at this time is just not happening. I am on literal pins and needles while I unwind from my work. Please, oh God, lift the tension from my head and hands.

Family, friends and special places are here for me to rejoice with. Simple distractions create room for love and laughter. Music warms my heart. Every meal has a taste of gratitude. I marvel, oh God, at the bounty of your blessings.

The August warmth, rain, winds and sunsets have an impressive effect on my mood. I feel a change coming. The harvest of glad tidings nears. I trust, oh God, in your miraculous ways.

Amen.

Shrewd on The Grim Reaper

It’s definitely general election season! The political hate mongering is here, and thanks to social media it can spread like a wildfire.

The baseline for the hate is the same as ever…One “side” must lose. Unfortunately the narrative of hate from the left “side” has created a must die situation. How on earth did we get here?

Is it only the left side? Certainly not. Let’s get real about the situation. The right has just as much complicity.

The old expression ‘You reap what you sow’ comes to mind. Our web connected devices have become portals to soulless content created by careless individuals who spread the seeds of accusations and gossip to reap clicks and shares. The Shrew finds it interesting that so many people are entertained by these weeds that become entangled in our culture. Aren’t we smarter than this? Apparently not. So many people have allowed the weeds of destruction to grow.

How grim are the times that we are living in today? Is it reversible? The optimist in me believes that yes, we can scythe out the hatred. All it takes is transparency and an enlightened mindset. What is truly interesting to me is how an individual can take information without having direct experience of a given situation to arrive at an assumption and then call it a fact. This activity is neither transparent nor enlightening. Instead, it is pure ignorance.

Our new culture of ignorance is what we must lose. This is not a political “left” side or “right” side issue. It is a human issue. Civility in our society can only be restored when we all recognize the problem. Only then will we reap real sustenance.

The Shrew View on Dependence

As we celebrate Independence Day 2024, the Shrew believes it is time for our nation to reflect on what it truly means to be independent. In the United States each state is governed independently, each town or city within each state is governed independently, and each citizen 18 years of age and older governs their own lives independently. No single person or group within our nation can demand allegiance. Instead, we each pledge allegiance to the republic. A pledge is a solemn promise and in this respect we each promise to be loyal to the founding principles dedicated to the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness of each individual.

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands…”

Consequently we use the democratic process to elect representatives who further swear an oath to a constitution that limits their power. Independence in this way conforms somewhat with dependence. It has to do this because we naturally understand that no man or woman is an island. People must choose to bond in right relationship, and therefore it’s important to remember that all relationships require some dependency.

But sometimes dependency can be unhealthy. Are we now growing more dependent on a federal government that is making our lives, liberty and happiness unhealthy? Absolutely!!

The federal government is now printing money for increased spending in health insurance coverage, college loan forgiveness, migrant resettlement programs, green new deal initiatives, and forever wars. All of this spending is a huge tax burden on the poor and middle classes who make up the majority of our citizens. What is the policy goal of the federal government based upon the aforementioned practices? Reality shows that causing great discomfort to the majority can and will result in a cry for help. A reliance on help from government sources leads to dependence on the government. This is not the American way to life, liberty and happiness…Instead the goal is a Marxist way to authoritarianism.

Unfortunately we now have a tug of war going on at the highest levels of our government. This war does not end with maximum liberty for American citizens. Social issues and economic issues are always divisive and therefore are better solved by people at the most local level. Congress will never solve abortion, transgender therapy, race relations or financial inequality unless an authoritarian ruler is in charge. Understand that legislation is not the American way to life, liberty and happiness, yet social unrest is the Marxist way to authoritarianism.

We now see that a divided government is the best government. Why? Because it shows us that we can only really solve our problems on our own. This brings the focus back to individual life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Freedom of expression is unique to each of us and dependent on no one. Pledge allegiance to our nation’s flag…Not to a political party and not to a special interest group.

Always remember that your Creator who is the Great Liberator has your soul in His hands. He cares about your pursuit of happiness in this life and beyond as long as you love kindness and treat yourself and your neighbors with compassion. He depends upon this commitment from human kind. Now that’s a dependency that works!!

Stop the Insanity

An addiction of hate has been allowed to permeate this country. I cannot believe the media attention of the past twenty years given to “unjust” causes. Are these causes really unmerited, undeserved, biased, prejudiced, unfair, inequitable or are they a symptom of something else?

I consider myself to be a very happy and positive person. Mine was a typical middle class (in the 60’s/70’s) home with parents who each struggled through the Depression Era yet were ultimately able to journey together through an improving economy ever mindful of their values. My generation benefited greatly from the experience of the previous generation. The ten year gap between me and my older siblings brought an even greater understanding to my cultural awareness…They were participants in Woodstock and Vietnam, me and my younger sister were participants in neighborhood “white flight” and school busing. I believe my happiness and positivity is grounded in both family and religious values for which I am eternally grateful.

Values are important for discerning the good and bad of this world. I have witnessed the substance abuse of a loved one come on slowly and seemingly innocently. A grueling schedule and hard work lead to a dependence on time off with copious amounts of alcohol. This behavior was the easy part of addiction for me to see and call out. However, it was the secrecy of drug use that mattered most. I could tell something just wasn’t right, but my ignorance around the issue of drug abuse limited my ability to confront it competently. Secrets allowed the substance abuser to control the values of the relationship. No matter how much I tried to talk with him about what didn’t seem right with our situation, it was plain to see that I was on my own. His secrets kept us in separate worlds. Our immediate family and close friends were only helpful once the secret was in the open.

This experience for me has revealed something very troubling about our society today. There is a definite manipulation by the media and government elites to create two different worlds in our country. Their secrets are abusive to our relationship with each other and our shared values of transparency, kindness and independent thought. Their addiction to power has allowed a division between them and us. Do we the people have the insight to recognize their abuse of our necessary relationship to them?

My experience with addiction taught me that anger was the root cause of his substance abuse. Anger? Yes. This emotion can be easily suppressed and then ultimately expressed through addictive behaviors. I am witnessing this now in the context of our politics.

Think about the cycle of anger enveloping some people. What are the political implications? Whether it is about race, gender, a woman’s right to choose, inflation or climate change, we the people are being pushed to the brink! But it’s worse than this because the media and political elites are fueling the anger with their secretive collusion of incomplete or false narratives along with leadership that doesn’t seem to create a real solution. Put simply, clueless angry people will become addicts in need of the next “fix”. It is plain to me that each “fix” is another government handout or a manic act of resistance. STOP THE INSANITY!! Well, this is exactly what the elites want in order to control our existence.

Do not give in to the anger. Let go and let God. Practice the mindfulness that will lead you back to what matters most: transparency, kindness and independent thought regarding yourself and your neighbor. You see the man made manipulation and you must not ignore it or enable it. Take a deep breath in and exhale the anger while saying, “I will follow the will of God and value His blessings above all else.” True moral behavior is grounded in acknowledgement of a Higher Power, not human power.

Transparency, kindness and independent thought are easiest to practice with a clear mind and open heart. May it be so.

A Teachable Moment

We must get back to basics. The Shrew understands that this country has lost its way as the bastion of liberty. Notice that I did not say bastion of democracy. There is a very important difference.

Justice is being manipulated to push the United States from a focus on individual liberty toward the mob rule of democracy. The efforts to control the actions and thoughts of all citizens need to be identified and revealed. This revelation is happening now!

Pure democracies are controlled by the majority. This is a very simple concept because “majorities” only reflect the loud and aggrieved elite in a country. However, to ensure maximum liberty a balance of actions and thoughts relative to each individual in a country is necessary. This is why our federal government and any organization in partnership with the government must obey the first amendment in our Constitution.

The First Amendment provides that Congress make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting its free exercise. It protects freedom of speech, the press, assembly, and the right to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Notice the limits given to government. Can a government with such limits ever wind up controlling its citizens?

This government control is playing out now. For example, what happens when the government decides to underwrite the loans that students get for the tuition to attend a private university? Please understand how the politics work in this situation! University administrators can become beholden to government because the university is dependent on the cycle of loan to student then check to university. But then universities raise tuition annually which burdens the student and obviously not the banks. The university still gets their money and the bank gets the benefit of the interest payments from the graduate. But wait! Now the government can come along and pay off the student loan which in turn burdens the taxpayer because of the inflation caused by the government borrowing money to pay these loans. In this example the government has no limits, is influencing the policies of universities and banks, and effectively controls the resources of its citizens.

We see now that universities believe they are in a prime position to influence the government about social concerns. After all, the students who “pay tuition” are aggrieved and must “educate” the educators. Who can say NO to this oppressed generation? This is why the leadership at the universities and the federal government won’t take control of the student uprising…It’s all meant to dismantle the country and systems intended to secure liberty for all.

The moment has come. The universities who collude with the elite progressives have taught the anarchists well. And those of us who have ignored the warnings have been complicit in the plot. The politics are the same whether it involves the climate, health care, the justice system, etc. Progressive leaders use activist tactics to impose fascism so that the government can control everything.

The table has been set. We must not accept the invitation.

Godly Principle vs Humanism

WHY do humans exist? Humans exist precisely because they can ask THE WHY. The universe is vast and the questions in it are infinite. This realm of infinity is anxiety provoking to most humans which is WHY humans should desire a sincere connection to their Creator.

Jesus preached that we all have the ability to connect directly to God (our Creator). We simply need to practice consistent humility with our words and deeds before Him and to acknowledge that our fellow man should be treated with the same humility (do unto others as you would have them do unto you). Moses received the blueprint for living a humble life by conveying God’s Ten Commandments, and Jesus lived this honest relationship while further relaying the Word of God. Neither man had to fight a war to give the lessons, yet both men suffered greatly to pass the lessons forward. Honoring their suffering is WHY WE EXIST, because without their example our earthly mistakes would be even more tragic. These men used Godly principles to teach effective self governance.

Think about it…No kings of man would personally suffer to that extent. Instead the king would send enforcers to implement the king’s rules and dictates. In the United States this method of governing is no different from a bureaucratic system enforcing dictates that are not specifically voted on by Congress. Who or what gives these bureaucrats their authority? Probably a law set in place by Congress who represent us. However, Congress’s power of oversight has been diminished by an ever expanding bureaucracy. Representation and the unalienable right to the self governance of WE THE PEOPLE is therefore diluted. This diluted representation allows the ideology of humanism to take control.

From Merriam-Webster.com : humanism – a doctrine, attitude, or way of life centered on human interests or values. especially : a philosophy that usually rejects supernaturalism and stresses an individual’s dignity and worth and capacity for self-realization through reason : secular humanism. humanist.

As you can see from the definition above, an individual’s ability to use reason to actualize self-realization (of one’s worth, dignity and character) is the preferred ideology for a humanist rather than using their inherent belief in God (supernaturalism) and His natural law. The rejection of His natural law, however, makes it difficult to comprehend any unanswerable WHY.

No one can know everything. No one can know themselves completely let alone another person. An understanding of God’s natural law along with God’s commandments and Jesus’ teachings help to provide an anchor for effective self governance and morality. A successful constitutional republic demands that we have this knowledge. Without it, the governed become susceptible to tyranny and oppression because humanists always attempt to impose their created versions of “moral” values.

Our standards for scientific research, education, governance and economic development are anchored in God’s natural law. To dismiss these standards as antiquated is absurd. We must resist the postmodern humanism that relies too heavily on social activism to force its unreliable and shifting standards.

God help us to see THE WHY and THE WAY.