In my usual escape from reality around this time the thought passes through my mind to jump into the race for president. No fooling around with local, state or legislature positions for me. No siree bob! Get right to the heart of the matter by becoming president right off the bat. Why, my ideas would set this country on end and get the citizens back in line. Virtually eliminating unemployment by doing away with unemployment payments. Instead, when a person gets laid off or fired my administration would give them one check for a million dollars. That would be all the benefits they would ever receive from government tax money, forever. If they can't make that work then they would have to move into a government complex where the government would feed, clothe and house them in a government complex of eight by eight rooms. Sorry, no TV, booze, hunting, fishing, sports, personal property or pornography. Just government authorized books and a community exercise area. Continuous psychological evaluation and behavior modification would be mandatory. The idea being that if they can't act responsibly and survive in a free republic/democratic society they would be better served by a socialist/communistic over sear.
Taxes, of course would be paid by everyone claiming to be a U.S. citizen. Anyone found not to be a citizen or legal resident would have all personal belongings confiscated to help defray the costs of deportation and any excess given to health care for the poor. Taxes also would be a set rate and automatically collected. Thereby eliminating the IRS. The rate would be determined by the least possible costs of running all government services and payment of the federal deficit within one generation/15 years. All local, state of federal spending would be forbidden by law to exceed tax revenue.
Law makers and virtually any government employee connected with the law making process would be required to work every day until any critical legislation was properly discussed and passed. Government shutdowns jeopardizing services or the welfare of our citizens would be against the law and punishable by imprisonment and loss of job. Strict but obviously necessary for the protection of our citizens.
Absolutely no one without proper identification would be allowed to vote. Of course every possible method would be made available free to accommodate any legal citizen to obtain identification. Voting legally should be as easy as walking across the street.
Not one citizen of this country should go hungry, period. However, should anyone receive government assistance to feed their children and that is not being done they shall be held responsible for their neglect. Adequate health care should be available to every citizen also through a series of clinics and government hospitals regardless of ability to pay. That program could be paid for by adopting a policy of selling some of our natural resources which rightfully belong to all of our citizens anyway.
No, as much fun as it sounds I just can't see myself running for any public office. It takes a special person to do that. No, the policies I've mentioned could never possibly be enacted. There are far too many personal issues that they would trample on. About an hour after this posting they will be forgotten and relegated to oblivion. But, during an election year we all think we have an idea or two that would make this a better world and I thought I'd just put these out there. Once something is put on the Internet, it never goes away does it? Who knows where it will go from here. Just like driving, if everyone did what I said to do we'd all get along wouldn't we?
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
State of The Union Address
Our President spoke to the nation last night regarding the issues we face going into this still new year. Unemployment, taxes, poverty and the plight of the middle class were top on the list. Fairness was a war cry for political cooperation between the parties. Much of what he said is important to all of us. I appreciate the hurdles he faces to getting things done his way. I respect his office. I have an opinion on some of the "work that has to be done."
I heard the word, "fair." a lot during his speech. Everyone is entitled to their fair share. I'm not sure about that. I was raised to believe that life is not fair, I am not entitled to much of anything I don't work for or contribute to in some way. If everyone got their fair share without working for it the shares for all of us would soon dry up. It's simple economics. Our annual budget is spending way more than is taken in on entitlements. We are operating on a deficit. How long can we do it with less and less people working and paying taxes instead of paying their "fair" share?
I also was raised with the idea that we behave responsibly. I just don't think our young people are being educated in exactly what that means. I love children! Third world countries are constantly wrestling with irresponsible runaway childbirth and can't provide food, clothing, housing or adequate health care to all those kids, let alone their mothers. In this country, with all it's resources no one should be turned away from basic, life sustaining health care for any reason, right? We probably agree. However, if people continue to bear multiple children they are completely unable to care for, our bountiful resources will soon be gone. Just like third world countries. A huge percentage of children being born in this country are born into poverty. Is it "fair" to do that? Where does the money for their care come from if the parents can't provide it?
The rich can't pay for everything! If a person works hard and earns a huge amount of money and it gets taken away to give to people that don't work is that "fair?" Will they still have an incentive to do what it takes to build a business that makes a lot of money when it just gets taken away anyway? Probably not. Why would they? Someone that hasn't done the building a business thing could not possibly understand what it takes. If a person has lived off the state all their lives how could they know the idea of business? Everything has always been provided to them because it's "fair." If a person has never held a job and only collected money from the government, like a lifelong politician, how would they know what "fair" means?
I agree something has to be done with the tax structure. But I don't exactly understand why the president always says his political party values are American values but those of the other political party are not. Who is he to say exactly what is American and what isn't? I'm just asking.
I felt a few words about the responsibility we bear as citizens would have been in order. Remember John F. Kennedy? "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." Same political party. Different approach. Way different!
I heard the word, "fair." a lot during his speech. Everyone is entitled to their fair share. I'm not sure about that. I was raised to believe that life is not fair, I am not entitled to much of anything I don't work for or contribute to in some way. If everyone got their fair share without working for it the shares for all of us would soon dry up. It's simple economics. Our annual budget is spending way more than is taken in on entitlements. We are operating on a deficit. How long can we do it with less and less people working and paying taxes instead of paying their "fair" share?
I also was raised with the idea that we behave responsibly. I just don't think our young people are being educated in exactly what that means. I love children! Third world countries are constantly wrestling with irresponsible runaway childbirth and can't provide food, clothing, housing or adequate health care to all those kids, let alone their mothers. In this country, with all it's resources no one should be turned away from basic, life sustaining health care for any reason, right? We probably agree. However, if people continue to bear multiple children they are completely unable to care for, our bountiful resources will soon be gone. Just like third world countries. A huge percentage of children being born in this country are born into poverty. Is it "fair" to do that? Where does the money for their care come from if the parents can't provide it?
The rich can't pay for everything! If a person works hard and earns a huge amount of money and it gets taken away to give to people that don't work is that "fair?" Will they still have an incentive to do what it takes to build a business that makes a lot of money when it just gets taken away anyway? Probably not. Why would they? Someone that hasn't done the building a business thing could not possibly understand what it takes. If a person has lived off the state all their lives how could they know the idea of business? Everything has always been provided to them because it's "fair." If a person has never held a job and only collected money from the government, like a lifelong politician, how would they know what "fair" means?
I agree something has to be done with the tax structure. But I don't exactly understand why the president always says his political party values are American values but those of the other political party are not. Who is he to say exactly what is American and what isn't? I'm just asking.
I felt a few words about the responsibility we bear as citizens would have been in order. Remember John F. Kennedy? "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." Same political party. Different approach. Way different!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Kristin Chenoweth and the National Anthem
Born and raised in the United States has been a great experience for me. Politics notwithstanding. Freedom and liberty seem to abound for the most part although those two issues appear to be up for grabs lately in the hands of bigger and bigger government. But, that's the way it is and I'll live by it. Each generation has it's own experiences and perspectives doesn't it? Just like automobiles, before it was carburetors, now it is fuel injection. To some it's progress, to others it's a shame. All of that being said, I am grateful to live in a country where I can still have an opinion and express it openly. Today it's football and the National Anthem.
Yesterday there were two well known singers expressing their individual renditions of our National Anthem before the playoff games. Over the years there have been some truly memorable, respectful, beautiful renditions and also some downright awful ones too. I believe yesterday, both singers, Kristin Chenoweth and Steven Tylor performed in what they believed to be a respectful way. However, the one that pulled it off in a most spectacular, unforgettable way was hands down, Kristin Chenoweth. She belted that anthem out wholeheartedly and with so much power the crowd was standing and applauding after the first two lines were sung. She, in turn turned up the voice and gave them even more. I was impressed! Being a sports fan I've witnessed what I believe to be the best and the worst in the past few decades. Kristin Chenoweth was superb! I thank her for showing so much respect towards the country of my birth. Some people still do have high standards and integrity. You go girl! You just got another fan.
No winner yet in the treasure hunt. The medallion is still out there.
Yesterday there were two well known singers expressing their individual renditions of our National Anthem before the playoff games. Over the years there have been some truly memorable, respectful, beautiful renditions and also some downright awful ones too. I believe yesterday, both singers, Kristin Chenoweth and Steven Tylor performed in what they believed to be a respectful way. However, the one that pulled it off in a most spectacular, unforgettable way was hands down, Kristin Chenoweth. She belted that anthem out wholeheartedly and with so much power the crowd was standing and applauding after the first two lines were sung. She, in turn turned up the voice and gave them even more. I was impressed! Being a sports fan I've witnessed what I believe to be the best and the worst in the past few decades. Kristin Chenoweth was superb! I thank her for showing so much respect towards the country of my birth. Some people still do have high standards and integrity. You go girl! You just got another fan.
No winner yet in the treasure hunt. The medallion is still out there.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Games and perspective
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In a game like this treasure hunt the solution lies in the ability to decipher what went through the designer's mind. If you followed behind me, in my exact tire tracks, only moments after, you would have seen something different. It still would have required you to do some thinking to figure out what it is that I saw. Perspective! Several years back the medallion was on a telephone pole located on the corner of two streets. The pole was sunk in the edge of the wedge where the two sidewalks intersected. The medallion was on the inside of the intersection, facing the house on the corner, away from the street. It was attached to the pole by a Phillips screw and sunk about an inch into the ground, clearly visible if one looked. A fellow that played the game every day also walked his dog every morning about 9:00am before going to work. He often carried the riddle and clues with him to look over while the dog dallied as dogs do some times. As he explained to me later, there was a fire hydrant next to that telephone pole that his male dog found to be of great interest. He would lean on the telephone pole, reading and thinking about the riddle and clues while his dog followed his instincts regarding that fire hydrant. Almost every day of the four months the game took to be solved. There were a couple occasions the dog found interest in the telephone pole too, all around it in fact. While this guy diligently tried to decipher the riddle and clues. Someone else found it just after he went on one of his dog walks. Perspective!
That's what games are all about. Last night Michigan had the perspective, Michigan State didn't. They were left at the doorstep. Both excellent teams with loads of talent. Such is the way of games. Two more seconds and perhaps a different outcome. Don't get caught leaning on the pole while someone else does the looking.
In a game like this treasure hunt the solution lies in the ability to decipher what went through the designer's mind. If you followed behind me, in my exact tire tracks, only moments after, you would have seen something different. It still would have required you to do some thinking to figure out what it is that I saw. Perspective! Several years back the medallion was on a telephone pole located on the corner of two streets. The pole was sunk in the edge of the wedge where the two sidewalks intersected. The medallion was on the inside of the intersection, facing the house on the corner, away from the street. It was attached to the pole by a Phillips screw and sunk about an inch into the ground, clearly visible if one looked. A fellow that played the game every day also walked his dog every morning about 9:00am before going to work. He often carried the riddle and clues with him to look over while the dog dallied as dogs do some times. As he explained to me later, there was a fire hydrant next to that telephone pole that his male dog found to be of great interest. He would lean on the telephone pole, reading and thinking about the riddle and clues while his dog followed his instincts regarding that fire hydrant. Almost every day of the four months the game took to be solved. There were a couple occasions the dog found interest in the telephone pole too, all around it in fact. While this guy diligently tried to decipher the riddle and clues. Someone else found it just after he went on one of his dog walks. Perspective!
That's what games are all about. Last night Michigan had the perspective, Michigan State didn't. They were left at the doorstep. Both excellent teams with loads of talent. Such is the way of games. Two more seconds and perhaps a different outcome. Don't get caught leaning on the pole while someone else does the looking.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Riddle help Clue #1
Ah, the anticipation and expectation of more food for thought has more quickly born fruit this year. The first two weeks are behind us without a winner so it is time for clue #1 to help you solve the January 3rd treasure riddle. This ought to be of great help to you and perhaps bring a smile to your face to boot. Here tis:
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"For help you could kind of look for the arch and jelly. You figure out the why or not."
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There you go! If no winner there will be another clue in two weeks on January 31st.
Good luck! More info available in today's Grand Rapids Press or Advance newspapers, www.Mlive.com or Greg's site at www.wyomingriddler.com I just may let you in on what the treasure consists of sometime in the near future. Watch for it...................Joe
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"For help you could kind of look for the arch and jelly. You figure out the why or not."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There you go! If no winner there will be another clue in two weeks on January 31st.
Good luck! More info available in today's Grand Rapids Press or Advance newspapers, www.Mlive.com or Greg's site at www.wyomingriddler.com I just may let you in on what the treasure consists of sometime in the near future. Watch for it...................Joe
Monday, January 16, 2012
Treasure Hunt Riddle news
Hundreds more people are in the search for the medallion right out of the chute this year because of the January start and anticipation of a faster pace due to the more frequent clue announcements. In spite of the increased activity there is still no winner so the next clue will be revealed tomorrow January 17th 2012. I was virtually mobbed yesterday morning at church and then again at the grocery store by folks hoping for some added information. All in good fun of course because I do not give out secrets as everyone already knows. That's some of the fun of this game: Conversation and ideas, using the old noggin, anticipation, hope! I see nothing at all wrong with any of that, do you?
I had a fantastic experience last Friday by having the honor of being interviewed by Josh Leng on 1340am radio in Grand Rapids. The interivew lasted almost 25 minutes but seemed to go by in a flash. They spoke about the riddle and even read a quote from "Joe's Story: The Book of a Lifetime. Those guys know their business all right and I received a huge response from people I know and others I don't know too saying they enjoyed it. Anything that points out the danger of Carbon Monoxide poisoning is a definite plus as far as I'm concerned. Thanks guys!
The new clue will be in the Grand Rapids Press and Advance Newspapers tomorrow and also on Mlive.com and Greg will follow on his website www.wyomingriddler.com too. We're right in the thick of it right now and for those that pursue it on a daily basis the weather is quite cooperative too. Last year it was over a foot deep and the guy that won just kept digging and digging through it until he found the medallion. Will it be you this year? We'll find out won't we? Til tomorrow then.
I had a fantastic experience last Friday by having the honor of being interviewed by Josh Leng on 1340am radio in Grand Rapids. The interivew lasted almost 25 minutes but seemed to go by in a flash. They spoke about the riddle and even read a quote from "Joe's Story: The Book of a Lifetime. Those guys know their business all right and I received a huge response from people I know and others I don't know too saying they enjoyed it. Anything that points out the danger of Carbon Monoxide poisoning is a definite plus as far as I'm concerned. Thanks guys!
The new clue will be in the Grand Rapids Press and Advance Newspapers tomorrow and also on Mlive.com and Greg will follow on his website www.wyomingriddler.com too. We're right in the thick of it right now and for those that pursue it on a daily basis the weather is quite cooperative too. Last year it was over a foot deep and the guy that won just kept digging and digging through it until he found the medallion. Will it be you this year? We'll find out won't we? Til tomorrow then.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Radio interview
If you have time on friday morning 01/13/2012 please tune into the Grand Rapids radio station 1340 WJRW with Josh Leng at 9:30am. He has asked me to bew on the show for a short interview. It should be a lot of fun. He'll be asking me questions about the riddle, the treasure hunt and other things that are going on. Their web site ahs ways you can stream the show on your computer or other electronic device. http://www.wjrwam.com/
No winner yet for the treasure hunt. Keep looking. New clue on tuesday already............Joe
No winner yet for the treasure hunt. Keep looking. New clue on tuesday already............Joe
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