List of Previous Titles

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Capitalist America with a Social Conscience


Open to New Ideas

It has been ingrained into every American child that the American systems of capitalism and democracy are the only correct systems for the world, and that it is very difficult to think beyond those teachings when your country is as big and powerful as the U.S. However, the world is not a place like that where only one way is true and acceptable. The world is a diverse globe with many systems in which people believe. Others may criticize, and indeed there will always be room for improvements in all systems, but the challenge is to keep an open mind that can lead to a better style of living in each country.

I was one of the people who looked on with amazement over the battle to expand health care reform in the U.S. to ensure that citizens were not dying in the streets due to inaccessible health care. I could not see why there was even an argument at all over the basic philosophy.

America is a country that believes in the value of personal meritocracy. Study hard; work hard; gain the promotions and work your way to the very top and you will be revered and entitled to all the respect and reward that is a part of your position. There is fundamentally not too much that is wrong with that in theory, except that there is very little room at the top. Every society should have a healthy middle class, and even the lower class should be entitled to a respectable standard of living.

The rich take care of themselves, and they are very choosy about whom to invite within their ranks. The meritocracy about which we speak is usually the path forward that is lubricated through who one knows, rather than what knowledge is actually possessed. How a society takes care of its middle and lower class is the standard by which it is judged. The so-called trickle-down system can only work if there is enough to trickle-down. In these very difficult times it is somewhat debateable whether that theory is of any use.

These times call for more flexible thinking, the so-called “out-of-the box” creative thinking, and that means prejudice against other ideas will serve to defeat one even before starting. I’m not putting forward any particular ideas for acceptance by the panel of U.S. scholars who must resolve their country’s problems, but one idea that Spain has used as a form of financial stimulus program for several hundred years is a national lottery, the purpose of which is to put as much money as possible in the hands of as many people as possible.

These lotteries take place around Christmas and the beginning of the year, and winnings are tax-free and paid in one lump sum. The tens of thousands of winners use their new found wealth to pay off debts, buy new houses, cars, and generally to share it into the community.

The point I’m trying to make here is that such a lottery system as socialist as this will probably never get consideration within the U.S. simply because it is socialist. It certainly has far more merit than the one-person wins all type of lottery.

More information on this idea can be found at wikipedia.com/elgordo. In the meantime, keeping an open mind to new ideas can be one of the most positive things one can do.


Copyright © 2011 Eugene Carmichael

Sunday, February 20, 2011

My Once-in-a-Lifetime act of Violence


My Once-in-a-Lifetime act of Violence
The results were at least constructive

In one of my previous blogs I wrote about bullying, and the fact that anyone is a bully if he or she seeks to put another person down in order to "big up" their own self. Having talked to a couple of people it seems that life is constructed of the bullied and the bullies. This is a very serious problem, and a flaw in human nature.

It will come as no surprise that I confess to having at one time played the role of both.

As a young child I found it easier to hang out with the losers. At that time I was not a good student and this greatly troubled one of my teachers, who I will call Mr. Sweeting, because that was his name. I had failed to complete my homework assignment for him, again, and he said that I would have to stay after class to complete the work. I was not a happy chappy.

After the other children had left he told me that he wanted me to stay because he wanted to say that he thought I was throwing away my opportunities. He could tell I could do so much more with my studies, and that by hanging out with a group of boys who obviously would not achieve much in life I was hurting myself.

That message was received by me as him disrespecting my homies. How dare he! I wanted to hear no more and began to leave. I bullied him, and there was a little scuffle, he stepped back and I was gone. I was fuming on the way home when I got an idea. I would tell my father that he had slapped me around without provocation on my part, and my father would go to the school and sort him out.

When my father came home I put on my sad face and told him my story. I said I just didn’t think it was right that an adult should be treating a child in such a manner. My father immediately became genuinely angry, to my complete satisfaction. My father was a big man, and a person who was strictly uncomplicated. Trouble between a teacher and his son! He wasn’t having it. How did he hit you? Was it an open-handed slap, LIKE THIS!!! SLAP!

The slap knocked me off my feet and sent me sailing through the screen door that was left hanging on one hinge. Now my father was really pissed because I had broken the door and he would have to fix it. I lay in the dirt wondering what the hell went wrong when he came out and scooped me up. He said, did he hit you with a closed fist, like this? I will tell you that I screamed a scream unlike you have ever heard:” No! It never happened!” My scream must have been heard halfway around the world.

He said, “ I send you to school to get an education. I don’t care if the teachers have to pound it into your head with a mallet. Don’t you ever bring such nonsensical stories home, and do not make it necessary for a teacher to complain about you. Now, get an education!”

I sat outdoors for hours asking myself what the hell did I just do? Who did I prefer to lock horns with, my father or the gang?

The trouble started right away as soon as the gang sensed a change in my attitude. The bullying was intense as I tried to settle down to study. It all came to a head during one lunch hour when I went to the boy’s toilets. The gang followed me in and harassed me relentlessly, culminating in hanging me head down into the hole in a bench with the latrine below. My terror was so complete that someone went to call a teacher. That teacher was Mr. Sweeting who came to my rescue, just as the bell rang. He was also the teacher who took my next class, which was gardening.

My crying was unstoppable, so he placed me on my own in one corner of the garden and gave me a pitchfork to turn over the ground, and the rest of the boys were allocated the opposite corner. He then briefly left to inform the head teacher of what was going on. In that short space of time the gang leader, and bully-in-chief, came over to me. I didn’t even know he was there until I saw his shoes and heard him say, “so, you love me, huh!”

I don´t know where it came from. I didn´t think about it, I just picked up the pitchfork and slammed it through his shoe and foot until it would not go any further. He was pinned to the ground and his whole frame shook like jelly as he swayed like a giant tree. His blood seemed to spray from his foot like a watering hose.

The entire school went mad, and I was sent home. It was customary for me to walk the seven miles to school, so I set off to walk home. However, I did not go home, instead I waited on the shortcut where I knew the second in command would pass as he was my neighbour, separated by two houses. As he came into view the branch of the tree that I had in my hand crushed his nose like an over-ripe tomato. “Leave me alone!” That was my demand.

A policeman came to our house that evening to inform my parents of what had taken place. That was the first they knew that something had happened. The officer said that I had been under extreme harassment and bullying, and in all good conscious they could not bring charges against me, provided I took no further action.

My father looked at me in complete amazement, and I told him I was trying to get an education. He never moved, and his mouth just hung open.

The incident happened on a Friday, and on Monday morning I arrived at school early and took up a position at the flagpole. The children sensed that something would happen and began to gather around. I was waiting to sort out the leader of the girl gang who had also been a thorn in my side, but when she came up the steps and saw me she dropped her books and ran back the way she had come, and was absent from school for a week.

During that week a group of the boys came up to me to apologise for their behaviour, and because I was the one who took their leader down they wanted to pledge their loyalty to me. What did I want them to do?

My reply was as follows: “You come to school to get an education, so get an education! Secondly, leave me the hell alone!!”

I went on to become a grade-A student, normally graduating each class in first or second place.

Copyright © 2011 Eugene Carmichael

Sunday, February 13, 2011

To Topple a Giant-Hosni Mubarak


To Topple a Giant-Hosni Mubarak


Over an eighteen-day period, starting in late January and ending on February 11th, 2011, the world watched as the Egyptian people wrote the manual on “How to Topple a Dictator.” Their methodology was perfect and efficient. Of course, their inspiration came from Tunisia where the people there were even more ruthless and successful, although their task was not as great as that in Egypt.

It all goes to prove once again that every great change starts with the power of one. On a day in Tunisia the police took away a young man’s food items that he was trying to sell. With that he became so despondent that he decided that he might just as well kill himself, and this he did by setting fire to himself. Those flames translated into the fire of discontent with the government and its leader who had ruled comfortably for 23 years. Within a week he and his family were fleeing for their lives.

Meanwhile, the people in Egypt took note and decided that what they had seen was a very good idea indeed. What the world has witnessed in both situations is nothing less than a sea change in the Arab world, and quite possibly in the Western world as well. People power, when properly harnessed can be awesome.

Egypt, a land of Pharaohs, Mummies, Great Pyramids, and The Sphinx has always been central to the rest of the world. The Egyptians have given so much learning to the world, and much mystery as well. It should not be too surprising that this most populist country of the Arabic world would lead the way in effecting such extraordinary change. Arab dictators and kings are now on notice that life and power can never be taken for granted.

Politics in Egypt has moved slowly and along the path of Dynasties. For Hosni Mubarak, who ruled for 30 years, this would have been an expected length of time to rule. I feel certain that he was intending to rule until the day he died. After all, The Pharaoh Ramesses II ruled for 67 years.

However, one thing is becoming clear in politics, and it is this: The patience of the people will allow for a maximum period of leadership of 12 years. That is three terms of four years each, enough time to implement changes and see them through to fruition. Beyond that the public start to grow restless and they crave change. Savvy politicians even run on a platform that calls for a change of political party to rule the country, simply because it is time.

Whether you are a King or Queen who directly rules your country, or a dictator or political party, you need to take account of the fact that after 12 years your time is up. Should you stay beyond that period of time you will outstay your welcome. We can only try to understand the shock and awe that deposed rulers are trying to cope with today after having been fired by their subjects.

What we have seen in Tunisia and Egypt are only the first steps in their change. What the future will bring for them is unclear. The United States hopes that U.S. style democracy will be the accepted form of life in these countries, but that form of governance has its own drawbacks in that party comes first before country.

We should avoid thinking that these historic events only affect the subject countries. In fact, they have a worldwide impact in ways that we are not able to comprehend at this moment, but your life and mind will be influenced as well.

P.S. The thought crossed my mind that if such an incredible action happened in Egypt, it could surely happen anywhere. I turned on the television the day after the president resigned and found myself watching pictures of people scuffling with police and being arrested. I thought that was all over with and I was very confused, until I discovered I was looking at live pictures from Algeria.

Copyright © 2011 Eugene Carmichael

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Suspending Disbelief




Suspending Disbelief-Hiking in Iran?

Apparently three young American hikers were out for a stroll in Iraq one day when they made a wrong turn and crossed into Iran. Oops! The Iranian authorities picked them up and charged them with being on a spy mission. Now, that government is under pressure to let them all go. They have already released the woman, who became engaged to one of the young men while in detention. (How did that happen?)

The trial has begun in Iran, in which the two men are in custody and the woman has been released back to the United States, but is being charged in absentia.

That is the public story, and the “hikers” have declared that they are simply adventurous and innocent young people. They apologised for trespassing, and the young woman has thanked the rich man who posted bail for her, which is an outright gift because she won’t be going back Now they all want the same thing to happen for the two remaining detainees, and that is supposed to be that.

The last time I looked Iraq was a country engrossed in war and internal strife, so why on earth would three innocent young Americans find themselves going walkabout there as though they were in Kansas? Did they miss the fact that thousands of people were dying while the bombs and IED’s were going off? Are we supposed to believe that they simply walked into a travel agency and asked to be booked to fly into Iraq? How the hell did they get into the country in the first place?

The Iranians think that they were in their country to spy. What would be so interesting in Iran to collect information about? Well, there’s just a little matter of the Iranians developing nuclear weapons that is of paramount interest to the U.S. So, sure, is there a case to answer? I think so, and I also resent being fed the line of bullshit that they want me to accept.

I have no way of knowing who the three people really are, but the one thing is for sure, and that is, I don’t buy their story. Do you?

Copyright © 2011 Eugene Carmichael