What the middle-class has been offered, instead, are toothless loan-modification programs. Beneath the hype, these programs are nothing but an organized way for the middle-class to beg for charity. Since banks are not charities, it should surprise no one that lenders put applicants for loan modifications through hell and modify few loans. — more —
via Unfairness to homeowners blocks recovery – Outside the Box – MarketWatch.
When our new home was being built, I once stuffed sawdust into the oiling tube on an electric motor. I was ten, maybe eleven. My prankish act caused no damage, but I worried myself into confessing to my dad. He said my act was stupid, but probably that I had not destroyed the carpenter’s table saw. Dad was an engineer and knew everything. In the seventh grade I was sucked into scattering pepper all over the room to work up Mrs. Dutton’s allergies. It worked. She missed several days of work and we were all paddled by the principal. Dad was ashamed for me, but did not add to my punishment. I was mortified — mostly about the skuzz bags I’d joined. Once I attempted to bully my best friend, but I cannot remember why. Maybe we just had a fight. In mid-pummel his dad jerked me off his son and sent me home pronto. The next day I apologized. Vaguely I remember sniggering at some “oddball kids,” but nothing specific comes to mind. Most likely in the sniggering I was a fellow traveler in the mocking. In high school I was a nerd basically, but I don’t recall being bullied. I just wasn’t a jock and that was important in my tiny, rural high school.
Funny, if I can remember these egregious shenanigans on my part back to the seventh grade, I find it hard to believe that big Willard Romney could not remember his bullying incident. I don’t care much, really, except to note that one who likes to fire people, to command others and to be President, might also have been more inclined to bully than to fawn. Do you suppose Admiral Halsey was a bully?
Steadfast and cautious,
David Milliken
“One motivation for Coolidge was his conviction that individual integrity and religious faith were as important to growth as government policy. In the same speech that he uttered the famous line about the chief business of America, he said ‘the chief ideal of America is idealism.’ ”
via Coolidge, Hoover and the Myth of Businessman Presidents: Echoes – Bloomberg.
The important point here is that Coolidge at least saw a necessity for good government policy.
Concerned Americans want less about presidential dogs, less about birth certificates and less about second-home car elevators.
They, and we, want substance.
We want serious discussions about health care, entitlements, defense spending, deficits, jobs, foreign policy and education. More . . .
via The Star’s editorial | Demand a presidential campaign of substance – KansasCity.com.
After I read this editorial this morning, I felt like no one could have said it better and that no more needs to be said, except more on these issues. It’s time to dig deeply into real debate. The editorial is not just good Midwestern horse sense, but sound logical sense for useful framing of 2012 election issues and, most likely crucial issues in our nation for the foreseeable future. I am glad to hear this excellent newspaper calling on President Obama to put the Simpson-Bowles report back on top as a major priority.
In addition I add that this editorial proves why we need and will always need good, old-fashioned, print journalism. I do not believe a great democratic republic can content itself with cable news only or even PBS and network specials — OR iPhones, Droids, et cetera — any thing that chops complexity into more mindless dribs and drabs. Sound bites and the daily palaver about who’s up and who’s down in the polls will not save America. I’m sorry current events, national and global, are not solely entertainment. They should not be followed like sporting events. The electronic Media can fix this.
And I am tired of the endless litany of political parties who refuse to debate honestly what few ideas they have. Truthfully we are all just waiting for the economy to get well on its own. Maybe that is best; well, fine, then let’s have an end to Romney just saying over and over and over again how he can do a better job than Obama. I want to know how and what he would do, except preside over inertia. What does the man believe in? Right now, I only know that Romney wants to be the President. Perhaps he wants to out do dear old dad and that’s it. From Romney I would like to know why he is not just another Herbert Hoover. I want to hear him talk about the revenue side of budgeting. He’s a businessman after all.
Obama wants a second term. And I want President Obama to frame a total vision and tell me about it — better than the hope stuff. I want him to confront the spectre of economic meltdown from debts and deficits. I want Simpson-Bowles to frame the debate. I want candidates who don’t constantly feed the public with more pap. I have seen the statesman in Obama. I want to see more of it.
Do you think it will happen? I am not optimistic because money, buckets of money, will prevent it. A true, democratically-elected republic might call for compromise. Do I expect too much?
Steadfast and cautious,
David Milliken
Someone reached my site with the search: “Should I Lie about My Failure in School?” Most likely Google found The Tortoise because of the posts on failure in Ph.D. School. I assume this is not about high school failure. Even if it is. lying will catch up to one — especially to one with a conscience which you obviously have.
I am not an ethicist or counselor, so all I can do is speak as an individual whose been through part it. First of all, failure in grad school is nothing to be ashamed of unless you spent too much time drinking and partying. Even in that case, what is done is done. If you gave your all to the effort, then no apology to anyone is necessary. There are just too many other factors involved in failure: level of experience and self-understanding at the time, the nature of the experience itself, quality of guidance you had and just the human ability to make bad choices — even self-delusion.
Grow with it. Grad school is an option and a choice. To wash out of Naval flight school, as another example, doesn’t define a person’s ultimate worth, nor does failure to pass the bar exam. To have sought what you believed was a star and not to have found it, is no sin and maybe not even a mistake. You made a choice, took some chances and something happened — end of story. In the end you were trying to get on, right? You tried what many others would not even have attempted.
You may be worried about the resume and interview stuff. Don’t ever use a fraudulent resume. As for the interview, be honest here too. You do not have to beat your breast confessing. Chances are the interviewer won’t understand any field other than her own. No, come to terms with yourself first and be honest. Explain the experience and what you learned from failure. That takes guts. Who knows? Maybe you still want that degree and can go back and try again. Some employer might see an unfulfilled passion there just waiting on more experience and wisdom. Maybe that employer will offer you the chance. Sometimes we try stuff before we are ready for full success. We pop the wine before its time. If you’re seeking an alternative career in which the failed credentialing does not apply, it will not matter.
Finally, you are probably drowning in regrets about what might have been and kicking yourself. Don’t give yourself another bludgeon for self-punishment — like guilt over lying.
Steadfast and cautious,
David Milliken
A competitive mind-set is productive only to a point. It’s important not to lose sight of value defined by other metrics. Peter Thiel’s argument for monopoly may provide an alternative framework. More . . .
April 23, 2012
via David Brooks – The New York Times.
Some skills of a monopolist (one who dominates in a “distinct market, niche and identity”) are “alertness, independence, and the ability to “reclaim forgotten traditions.” Brooks would also have the young re-examine the “status funnel,” a lemming-like obsession to compete for the best colleges, banks and companies.
Brooks does not develop his idea of reclaiming forgotten traditions. However, I would suggest that he hints at discretion being the better part of valor as one of them. If a pitcher has just suffered three home runs in one inning, for example, it might behoove him to take his bat and glove elsewhere. Perhaps he should find a blank space where everyone else isn’t. Take your sophisticated urban skills to a smaller community and make change where you have a chance or might be more appreciated. You might not even need a Stanford MBA.
American tradition honors wealth and success, but not always has America revered the drive for celebrity. Americans are an egotistical lot, but we have not always been narcissistic. There have always been people who wanted their photo and name in the newspaper, but not until the age of television, Internet and the plethora of electronic Media did we drool at the prospect of ten minutes of fame. Time was when a man or woman could feel wholly content and successful having tended well a relatively private garden in life.
Today we measure our own self-esteem against the best, the brightest, the “seen”ones. Often parents regarding the “status funnel” expect and often drive their kids into inappropriate careers and expectations — resulting in nothing but heartbreak. Some teachers belong in public school classrooms. They are called to it. One doesn’t have to be a university professor to be a good teacher and worthwhile human being. Life at the little end of the funnel is not necessarily a happy place. But, as Brooks says, when “the intensity of competition becomes a proxy for value, that’s what happens.” Knowing one’s self is very much a traditional value and that means knowing one’s league and being happy in it.
Steadfast and cautious,
David Milliken
My favorite baseball team and sports team all around is the Kansas City Royals. They have been through many tough years of late, with only one winning season since 1994. I was too young when the Royals won the World Series in 1985, so most of my memories are full of losing. But, I still love them.
I mean really! The Kansas City Star was depressing this morning. Leading the anguish was the KC Royals stunning eleventh loss in a row. That hasn’t happened to a team since 1913, They’re off to Cleveland to run another Tribe gauntlet. Krauthammer lamented the end of Discovery, the space program. It seems we are bequeathing American world leadership to China and Russia.
I read elsewhere that the social security trust fund’s crisis has moved up three years. Also the first French president Americans have been able to like is running second against a socialist. Never fear, I understand the senior partner in Europe, Inc., i.e. Germany, will keep the “conservative” flame burning. Ahh, there will always be a France! Humanity must have a France!
And Mr. Romney inches into just what the Republicans always wanted in the first place. Both the Democrats and Republicans continue to ignore the Simpson-Bowles Report and the tough choices that must be made. This partisan stuff ain’t working. And Americans wait as usual for a crisis big enough, so devastating that there is no choice but action in the nick of time. Are we waiting again for cavalry to arrive?
Steadfast and cautious,
David Milliken
Nin Andrews Blog
The Decline of American Monuments and Memorials – Hillsdale College – Imprimis
via Hillsdale College – Imprimis.
Copyright © 2012 Hillsdale College.
The opinions expressed in Imprimis are not necessarily the views of Hillsdale College. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided the following credit line is used: “Reprinted by permission from Imprimis, a publication of Hillsdale College.”