Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Fitness progress
I feel good tonight. I was able to complete 2 very difficult hills in one walk, when I have always had trouble finishing either one before. It was pretty exciting for me to beat the first one tonight, and still be feeling good. As I continued my walk, I wanted to see how far I could get. The next thing I knew, I was walking down hill #2 ( the tougher one) with a slight bit of trepidation, knowing I was going to have to push harder for this one. I think my new fitness attitude has helped quite a bit. I just said, "Let's see how far I get." I was a little surprised when the top of the hill came before I had to stop, and very happy. A very motivational moment for me, all in all.
Conservative Simplism
It seems that many current conservative ideals rely more or less on simplism. I think this has less to do with the idea that the issues are too complex for your average citizen to follow, and much more to do with the fact that many conservative policies, in fact, are not in the interests of the majority of the American citizenry. By reducing the issues to the bare bones, it is easier to ignore the outcomes dictated by their ideal policies.
Conservatives would have us believe that they actually believe "trickle-down economics" is a rational idea. I look at the level of education of many of that theory's proponents, and find it ridiculous. If we look at the evidence, the result of years of economic policies that reduced taxes on the wealthiest Americans, we see that they are, indeed, better off. Now I don't have a problem with that one point, by itself. However, every other part of the American economy has grown less wealthy.
These policies have proved that they are decidedly against the interests of even many above average workers. If these measures were to result in better conditions for the majority of Americans, I , for one, say it is time to throw in the towel, and declare failure.
I am going to make this more a "thread" than a one time post. Lots to cover here, including the ongoing burial of real journalism. Just one aspect of that is the way many advertisements are now positioned on "news feeds" as news stories. It is called "native advertising". I had, apparently falsely, assumed that the internet would lead to better journalism. It seems not to be the case. As in the case of music piracy, it has led to a decline in the ability of true practitioners to support themselves. Print journalism was already reeling from the massive influence of television before cable news, much less the pathetically substandard internet "journalism".
Conservatives would have us believe that they actually believe "trickle-down economics" is a rational idea. I look at the level of education of many of that theory's proponents, and find it ridiculous. If we look at the evidence, the result of years of economic policies that reduced taxes on the wealthiest Americans, we see that they are, indeed, better off. Now I don't have a problem with that one point, by itself. However, every other part of the American economy has grown less wealthy.
These policies have proved that they are decidedly against the interests of even many above average workers. If these measures were to result in better conditions for the majority of Americans, I , for one, say it is time to throw in the towel, and declare failure.
I am going to make this more a "thread" than a one time post. Lots to cover here, including the ongoing burial of real journalism. Just one aspect of that is the way many advertisements are now positioned on "news feeds" as news stories. It is called "native advertising". I had, apparently falsely, assumed that the internet would lead to better journalism. It seems not to be the case. As in the case of music piracy, it has led to a decline in the ability of true practitioners to support themselves. Print journalism was already reeling from the massive influence of television before cable news, much less the pathetically substandard internet "journalism".
Labels: conservative simplism, economic inequality, economic justice, obfuscation, trickle down
