Stay true to the dreams of thy youth

2 comments:

Bruce Kratky said...

When I look at the graphic illustration of what materially is available to Mr. McCain I question my sanity. Why in the world did I marry into the Helms family? Geeez. That being said I don't know that Mr. McCain has ever denied his and his wife's wealth. Also, ones affibility is not a function of wealth but rather personality and content of heart. It is no small measure, in fact. I also know that some of the vehicles are collectables which make them investment properties. We have a friend whose daughter is a childhood friend of Emily's who owns two collectable Corvettes. He could be viewed as having lots of cars as he has the two Vettes, three cars he has for the family, plus one of his daughters now drives a new Mustang. That makes six. Why I technically own four. As for the private jet...I am so jealous. Homes too, for the very wealthy, are investment properties. The graphic certainly is there to stir up populist sentiments. I am reminded in Pasternak's "Doc Shivago" how the Bulsheviks entered a mansion and siad it had room for 100 peasant families. Hey, that outcome was great! Do we ask Mr. Gore what is available to him in light of his newly minted $500,000.00 income. Fair is fair.

When we look at personal wealth what we are jealous of, or better afraid of, is not the things they have, more deeply we are afraid of the POWER this money represents. Who should have the power? That is the question, that is what class envy is all about, that is what politics is all about. Power.

That begs the question; is the phrase "Power to the People" the ultimate expression of righteousness and political achievement? The framers of our constitution certainly did not think so.

At the same time your comment about elite people being president rings attractive to me. It is not a job best suited for "the common man" as he or she would soon be overcome by the challenges of national and international social and economic issues. He our she would also be continutally distracted by football games and episodes of the Jerry Springer Show. That is no a joke by the way. Elitism at some levels allows for better perspective. Elitism is also not the same as intellectualism. Sometimes, I think, some less intellectual people are able to see the elegant solutions which are oft times simple too. The highly intellectual person is burdened by mental complexities which make decission making difficult to impossible. The Einstein biography I read dazzled me as Einstein's discovery was at one level very, very complex, but at another level it was simple. The constant in the Universe (perceived at that time) is not time it is the speed of light. The fabric of time is flexible. In a perfect world the person best suited for the presidency would be both down to earth and brilliant. I have never seen that in my life time and I counsel all to not hold ones breath.

Some Democrats feel that Mr. Clinton was "The One" but I take issue with that. He was certainly smart, but brilliant no. We still await our savior don't we.

7:30 PM  

Bruce Kratky said...

Andrew, I am making some serious headway with my Fisk book "The Great War For Civilization." Regardless of ones cultural and political biases one must listen to this man and his experience. Certainly he has attitude, but it is informed. I don't read him as a zealot. If he has zeal it is for fairness, a value which is so hard to find in such a broken world. My suggestion to all living is that they should read this book before they die for if they die before completing said reading they will have died underinformed.

8:49 PM  

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