20 things everyone needs to know - This Britain, UK - Independent.co.uk
What would you put on a list of 20 things you think one should know?
Friday, February 01, 2008
Thursday, January 31, 2008
FT.com / Comment & analysis / Comment - America’s middle classes are no longer coping
FT.com / Comment & analysis / Comment - America’s middle classes are no longer coping
Very clearly stated.
>> The fact is, middle-class families have exhausted the coping mechanisms they have used for more than three decades to get by on median wages that are barely higher than they were in 1970, adjusted for inflation. Male wages today are in fact lower than they were then: the income of a young man in his 30s is now 12 per cent below that of a man his age three decades ago. Yet for years now, America’s middle class has lived beyond its pay cheque. Middle-class lifestyles have flourished even though median wages have barely budged. That is ending and Americans are beginning to feel the consequences.<<
So. How are you coping?
Very clearly stated.
>> The fact is, middle-class families have exhausted the coping mechanisms they have used for more than three decades to get by on median wages that are barely higher than they were in 1970, adjusted for inflation. Male wages today are in fact lower than they were then: the income of a young man in his 30s is now 12 per cent below that of a man his age three decades ago. Yet for years now, America’s middle class has lived beyond its pay cheque. Middle-class lifestyles have flourished even though median wages have barely budged. That is ending and Americans are beginning to feel the consequences.<<
So. How are you coping?
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Thom Hartmann Interview - Middle Class & Stuff
| As fate would have it, I flicked over to see an interview in progress on the TV, of a speech held here in Ventura at the end of last year, on of all things - The Middle Class, etc. Amazing. Here is a link to it on the internet. Speech by Thom Hartmann, Air America Radio talk show host and author, on the middle class, democracy, free trade, conservatives and liberals. http://www.watch-motivational-videos.com/watch/?vid=75814 |
Positively World View
In a forum recently, the comment was made:
>> "People can be "led" but never totally willingly - the human spirit will always seek the light."
Interesting belief.
I wonder if it is true.
I see many people who are totally willing to be led. Indeed, I see many people who almost demand to be led... and angry when they are not. I see people who will willingly follow the silliest fad or self proclaimed "guru" without hesitation.
"He/She's So Spiritchooalll" Ooooohhhh!
We can be careful to flavour our own "World View" without help from others... I think, only if we are able to know that we have no view that is quarantined from others. Our beliefs, our values, everything we hold an opinion on, or observe in the world, is through the prism of how other people view the world, and have passed those ideas to us , one way or another - either to accept or to reject. Precisely because we don't live in a vacuum.
The way to "being careful", when formulating a world view, may be to acknowledge the influences that we've had, and choose to select and de-select, those that we prefer. The rub, therein, is that we can't lay the blame on others, if we knowingly choose our own path and viewpoint from which to see the world.
What we choose to notice.
What we chose to not notice.
How we 'weight' the evidence, one way or another.
A work in progress, indeed.
>> "People can be "led" but never totally willingly - the human spirit will always seek the light."
Interesting belief.
I wonder if it is true.
I see many people who are totally willing to be led. Indeed, I see many people who almost demand to be led... and angry when they are not. I see people who will willingly follow the silliest fad or self proclaimed "guru" without hesitation.
"He/She's So Spiritchooalll" Ooooohhhh!
We can be careful to flavour our own "World View" without help from others... I think, only if we are able to know that we have no view that is quarantined from others. Our beliefs, our values, everything we hold an opinion on, or observe in the world, is through the prism of how other people view the world, and have passed those ideas to us , one way or another - either to accept or to reject. Precisely because we don't live in a vacuum.
The way to "being careful", when formulating a world view, may be to acknowledge the influences that we've had, and choose to select and de-select, those that we prefer. The rub, therein, is that we can't lay the blame on others, if we knowingly choose our own path and viewpoint from which to see the world.
What we choose to notice.
What we chose to not notice.
How we 'weight' the evidence, one way or another.
A work in progress, indeed.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Attitude - How Do You Prepare Yourself?
Attitude. How do you prepare your attitude on a normal day?
What about when something challenging happens, that will change your life?
What do criminals do to prepare their attitude before they go and commit a crime that may leave them incarcerated for years... or forever?
I was thinking about this kind of mental preparation following watching a video this morning that was sent to me by a friend on Facebook.
What kind of mental preparation has the father in this video taken to get his attitude congruent to face the challenges in his life? I guess the video is meant to showcase the son in this, but for
me the attitude that this man cultivated throughout shines through and just leaves me speechless.
While there is a lot of 'man-bashing' going on in our societies, and talk of 'deadbeat dads' and the like, this is an inspiration to men and women alike.
See what I mean.
What a lucky kid to be born to such a man.
What about when something challenging happens, that will change your life?
What do criminals do to prepare their attitude before they go and commit a crime that may leave them incarcerated for years... or forever?
I was thinking about this kind of mental preparation following watching a video this morning that was sent to me by a friend on Facebook.
What kind of mental preparation has the father in this video taken to get his attitude congruent to face the challenges in his life? I guess the video is meant to showcase the son in this, but for
me the attitude that this man cultivated throughout shines through and just leaves me speechless.
While there is a lot of 'man-bashing' going on in our societies, and talk of 'deadbeat dads' and the like, this is an inspiration to men and women alike.
See what I mean.
What a lucky kid to be born to such a man.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Personal Sovereignty & Duty As A Citizen
In a recent discussion on a group that I am on, the topic was raised, What Is Your Responsibility As A Citizen? In the context of maintaining one's personal sovereignty how does one balance these two concepts?
This seems to be an issue of confusion. Personal Sovereignty may be an attitude, it does not however, bestow rights over and beyond those that other individuals enjoy in fact - even though they may deny themselves what to me may be a privilege of assuming Personal Sovereignty. Some will view such a concept as anathema, and want no part of it. My Personal Sovereignty, if it is to be so, does not bestow on me the right to disregard the rights of others.
My responsibility as a citizen is to live within the legal boundaries set down for the community. My sense of duty to others may take many forms. When I step outside the boundaries dictated by the rules of the community in which I am a member, I may or may not be acting in the interests of the wider community. At this point however, I run the risk of allowing my own hubris to override that good of the community, as is generally agreed and set down in law... in favour of following my own whim. Good intentions aside, I am as problematic to the society to which I claim citizenship, as any with poor intentions, if the action is the same.
Within the context of the society in which we reside, and claim citizenship, there are many ways that we can exert our personal sovereignty. Pretending that this extends to having our own personal set of rules that owe nothing to the context of the society in which we live is not only foolish, it despoils the whole notion of Personal Sovereignty.
Even kings... especially kings... understand the limits of their office.
This seems to be an issue of confusion. Personal Sovereignty may be an attitude, it does not however, bestow rights over and beyond those that other individuals enjoy in fact - even though they may deny themselves what to me may be a privilege of assuming Personal Sovereignty. Some will view such a concept as anathema, and want no part of it. My Personal Sovereignty, if it is to be so, does not bestow on me the right to disregard the rights of others.
My responsibility as a citizen is to live within the legal boundaries set down for the community. My sense of duty to others may take many forms. When I step outside the boundaries dictated by the rules of the community in which I am a member, I may or may not be acting in the interests of the wider community. At this point however, I run the risk of allowing my own hubris to override that good of the community, as is generally agreed and set down in law... in favour of following my own whim. Good intentions aside, I am as problematic to the society to which I claim citizenship, as any with poor intentions, if the action is the same.
Within the context of the society in which we reside, and claim citizenship, there are many ways that we can exert our personal sovereignty. Pretending that this extends to having our own personal set of rules that owe nothing to the context of the society in which we live is not only foolish, it despoils the whole notion of Personal Sovereignty.
Even kings... especially kings... understand the limits of their office.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Facebook - But Which Face?
There are miles of text written each day on the various social networking sites. Large among them, in recent times, is Facebook.
A little more social and a little less 'buttoned-up' than other networks, like LinkedIn, the question arises as to how much of "you" should you reveal in these online situations?
Anyone who has been involved in social networks online for any length of time will probably agree, that to maintain a fictitious character over time is not only going to be hard to do - it is likely to be a waste of time. People bond online, in much the same way that they may do so in a face to face situation. Simply put, the truth, whatever that is, or at least the vibe that we send out into the netosphere, if it is to be consistent over time will give you away, no matter what your intentions.
Spooky, but there you have it.
Trying to second-guess what people might like 'better' than your 'real' self, is a game for mugs.
Get out there. Be who you are when you aren't worried about it, and add something to the social networking fabric. Of course if you have nothing at all to add, you can keep that to yourself too!
A little more social and a little less 'buttoned-up' than other networks, like LinkedIn, the question arises as to how much of "you" should you reveal in these online situations?
Anyone who has been involved in social networks online for any length of time will probably agree, that to maintain a fictitious character over time is not only going to be hard to do - it is likely to be a waste of time. People bond online, in much the same way that they may do so in a face to face situation. Simply put, the truth, whatever that is, or at least the vibe that we send out into the netosphere, if it is to be consistent over time will give you away, no matter what your intentions.
Spooky, but there you have it.
Trying to second-guess what people might like 'better' than your 'real' self, is a game for mugs.
Get out there. Be who you are when you aren't worried about it, and add something to the social networking fabric. Of course if you have nothing at all to add, you can keep that to yourself too!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)