demonstrations, "Joe's Story" and rationality

The pages of "Joe's Story: The Book of a Lifetime" are filled with rewards and penalties resulting from the decisions I and other people made in our lives. I am personally not fond of penalties but they are as much a part of living as anything else aren't they? Over time I've witnessed my share of demonstrations by those who feel they are being penalized in one way or another and it's not fair. History tells us that sometimes the demonstrators are right, but it also tells us that sometimes they are wrong. Have you ever participated in a public demonstration? Personally, I believe the right to demonstrate is an incredibly efficient way of expressing dissatisfaction with the status quo or those in positions of responsibility. Today we have no difficulty in finding a demonstration of some kind on the local, national or world news do we? Egypt is changing hands due to demonstrating crowds of citizens. Several other countries in the general area including Libya are experiencing the same civil insurrection. All of this will no doubt change the way business is handled in a big way. My questions: Both here in the States and abroad, "Are the demonstrators necessarily right? Will all the results necessarily bring rewards? Or, will they possibly bring major penalties? I think these are important questions to answer before we go sticking our foot in our mouth supporting someone Else's position.

Right here in Michigan people are demonstrating against some of the positions taken by our new governor concerning taxation. Usually the ones demonstrating are going to see a little less take home pay than they do now. Accompanied by some citizens that are being almost completely supported by taxes and will have to take on more responsibility for supporting themselves. In Wisconsin the demonstrators are rallying against paying for some of their own benefits from a tax base provided by tax payers with ever decreasing incomes. In Egypt the demonstrators wanted a different government. In Libya they want a different government. Those are just some of the reasons for recent demonstrations.

Are some people exempt from participating in this recession because they draw their money from the public coffers? Are some people unfairly taxed? Is it our position to stand behind a new government even if we don't have the vaguest idea who will be in charge and what they will do? How quickly should we defend demonstration simply because demonstrating is what we believe to be a fundamental right? there is an annual "naked" demonstration supporting public nudity, anywhere, anytime. Do you support that? Another annual demonstration supports legalization of pedophilia. How about that? In the Middle East several demonstrations support strict religious laws suppressing the rights of almost anyone under the penalty of death or dismemberment. demonstrations in India and Pakistan support the caste system, in South Africa they support genocide.

I support the right of all of us to do proper research, gather information and make rational decisions. Then we will reap our rewards or penalties without blaming it on others. "Joe's Story" is filled with that sort of thing. I'm just asking.........Joe

A positive outlook by turning off TV

Just like most people, occasionally my outlook changes from positive to negative. Sometimes it's the weather, sometimes it's a sore foot or other physical malady, sometimes it's a disagreement with someone, a close friends misfortune, you know what I mean. I'm not talking about depression or anything like that, just a little turn of the lips from a steady smile to a slight downturn instead. It usually doesn't last long at all, for the most part I have a very positive attitude and have a happy life irregardless of problems, I can usually handle anything that comes along. One evening recently, as I was slowly winding down from the days activities, sitting in the old easy chair, finishing up my reading with the TV news on in the background, I felt just a twinge of negativity and I couldn't detect any real reason for it. No arguments, no other than normal business situations, no financial problems, just another day in river city as far as I could tell. Then why the negativity all of a sudden? I put down the paper and sat for a moment to think about it, I didn't like it. At the end of the day I usually feel so good it's hard to settle down and get to sleep, but not for negative reasons, it is because I enjoyed the day so much I hate to see it end, I continue to savor it. Then, as I slowly became more aware of my surroundings it dawned on me, I'd broken a major rule of mine: I had a TV news program on.

A long time ago, in a magazine article of suggestions on how to fall asleep easier, front and center and of major importance was the statement that if you want a good night's sleep stay away from TV news programs for at least 4 hours before going to bed because they were so negative in their reporting. I'd abided by that rule ever since to the best of my ability. Here I sat, subconsciously being pelted with all these negative comments from some (rather pretty I must say) woman reporter, gently bobbing her head and creating facial expressions of sorrow, fear, dread of impending disaster and overwhelming hopelessness. I could feel it, the pull of my greatest fears being brought right into my living room by a group of people with trusting faces. I was being bombarded by all the negative aspects of every story while the positive elements were skipped over or completely overlooked. The world was on the edge of the Apocalypse!

Off went the TV! It took a short time to return to the real world. Problems and difficulties do come up from time to time, they have since the beginning of time. Mankind has survived it all albeit sometimes by the grace of God. We grow smarter and stronger with each generation. people die and people are born, sometimes we win, sometimes we lose. That's life. get over it and move on. That's the positive view. The negative view is that, except for the expensive and comforting trappings of the news room, the rest of the world is best avoided by staying home and watching the news instead of going out and living life to it's fullest. They even provide with the head shaking and facial expressions exactly how we should "feel" about the news. We don't even need to find our own emotions, they are all part of the show, just like a movie. Just like the article said, I don't need that.

I slept well last night. No TV news. It's not all bad but why take a chance. I'll just grab my trusty old newspaper, it doesn't shake or nod unless I'm doing the shaking or nodding. I'm positive about that.............................Joe

History 101

I recieved a history lesson from an old freind the other day. He got to talking and I got to listening and this is what he came up with. I found it thought provoking. Although I have to admit I've never quite seen a provoked thought with my own eyes.

Accept(acceptance)-To receive or approve as adequate, satisfactory or admissible. To submit to without argument.

Tolerate(tolerance)-To put up with, a capacity for allowing or enduring an adverse condition.

Weak(weakness)-Lacking firmness, strength, definition, character, ability, will or conviction.

Collapse-To fall down or inward suddenly. Break down. To suffer a complete loss of power.

Society-A group of human beings distinguished from other groups by shared interests, behavioural characteristics and a common culture.

Almost all great societies in the past were destroyed from within. A major factor appears to be an acceptance or tolerance for deviant behavior that ran counter to the culture which built the society in the first place, weakening the infrastructure to such a degree that there was no common set of standards. They collapsed due in a great degree to a break down of structuring laws and subsequent loss of national integrity. Loose knit groups with no established set of values is destined to failure. Close knit groups or countries that fail to maintain their laws and cultural values will disintegrate from within. History has proven that time and time again. The question is this: Will the society you live in eventually tolerate itself into oblivion too?

Your children and grandchildren will know the answer............................Joe

Good things do happen, reason to smile

Some things to think about. Or not! I found these on the Internet. They seem to be everywhere. Some are composed using significant research. Some not. Most are of a positive nature. Are they true? Who nows? But someone thought so and the majority at least bear a semblense of reality.

89% of American workers are employed.
85% of American home owners paid their mortgage on time
73% of all marriages last until death did they part
99.7% of commuters driving private automobiles made it to their destination without incident
94% of the worlds population have enough food to eat today
99.9% of American households have electricity available to them
99.7% of the worlds population was not abused by a clergyman when they were young
96.9% of the people in America are not here illegally
99.999% of all dogs have not made a mess in your yard
91.6% of teenagers have not defaced property with graffiti
89.4% of convenience stores have not intentionally sold alcohol to underage kids
85% of America's population is not in jail or prison
91.3% of the worlds population tries to be a better person almost every day
99.29% of America's population did not attempt to rob a bank on any given day
94% of the worlds population loves at least one other person besides themselves
99.3% of TV meteorologists are correct some of the time over a 24 hour period
93.6% of the world's population drink water
81% of the world's population wear shoes
84.2% of all people laugh at least once a day
72% of all people hear or tell at least one joke a day
78% of all people don't steal on a regular basis
100% of all cats really don't care
85.9% of adults are in love whether the other person knows it or not
99.94% of all Toyota drivers have never experienced acceleration or braking problems
97.7% of all statistical data is biased and debatable
68.8% of all people are happy today
73% of all written material is gone within 48 hours
98% of all predictions are based upon simply educated guesses
89% of all lipstick would gross you out if you knew the ingredients
100% of attorneys have a heart
69.1% of the people in school are students
87.9% of people you know lie to you to help you in some way
81% of all guys really don't like to hug another guy


Statistics are easy to find on the Internet. Some are a lot of fun. One more statistic I found:
83% of all people take negative statistics with a grain of salt and quickly forget most of them. However, they pay closer attention to and remember longer the positive statistics.
Statistically speaking of course..........................Joe