Responsibility Problems

We have a responsibility problem in this country.  It is everywhere, from the voters that voted for President Obama because he would pay their mortgage and utility bills for them (I do not recall him refuting this oft-repeated argument, by the way) to the auto bailouts to local and state governments clamoring for federal stimulus money.

I recently read this interesting and insightful statement in an article regarding record deficits and federal borrowing: “The deficits … are driven in large part by the economic crisis inherited by this administration,” budget director Peter Orszag wrote in a blog entry on Monday.

This follows the pattern: no responsibility.  The deficits are driven by government spending, pure and simple.  It may be true that such spending was seen as necessary by some.  However, to blame the economic crisis for irresponsible and reckless government spending is at least irresponsible and sounds nearly reckless.

Yesterday on the radio, I heard a story about how the Postal Service was needing to increase stamp rates (probably annually) to make up for lost revenue (over $1 billion this quarter alone).  At the end of the story, the reporter mentioned how that people who use email and make purchases online are largely to blame for this rate increase, but that such individuals will likely persist in their behavior.  Again, this sounds completely irresponsible.  Blame is shifted from who is truly responsible (the U.S. Postal Service for not providing a service whose costs are covered by individuals who will voluntarily pay) to those who are not (individuals acting freely, economizing to save money in hard times, or increase convenience in good times).

Lest you be concerned that I am pounding on democrats alone, I find that the GOP blame games which we have seen repeatedly over the years show a similar trend: the mainstream associated with both major parties shows major irresponsibility.

Contrast this with us, with you and I.  In a time of frozen credit and economic hardship, none of us can afford to make reckless personal economic decisions.  We can blame whoever we choose, but ultimately, it is our own individual responsibility to make sure that we are economically healthy.  None of us have the political clout and lobbying power to bend Washington to our will, nor should we.  Instead, we are to rely on tried and true principles of budgeting, economizing, and hopefully saving, consistent with provident living.

Prince Caspian Movie Review

I enjoyed reading The Chronicles of Narnia a few years ago.  I found them to be an enjoyable set of fantasy novels.

With C.S. Lewis’ Christian perspective, I found them to be filled with great analogies (and I would venture to say some doctrinal inferences) on Christianity and discipleship.  In short, I found them to bring me closer to Christ, when considered appropriately.

It should come as no surprise, then, that I would be interested in the film versions of the novels.

Prince Caspian is an interesting novel.  It involves a restoration, a renaissance, a rebirth of faith among the key characters, the Pevensie children who have been away from the mystical land of Narnia for several years.  Near the midpoint of the novel, after years of absence from this land of faith, the youngest girl (Lucy) spots Aslan, the god-like lion figure.  Or does she?  She begins to question and doubt.  The others disbelieve.  However, Lucy’s faith wins out, and as they travel, they each begin to see at first the form and shadow and ultimately the entirety of Aslan.  With Aslan involved and faith restored, the battle and central thematic conflict, though ugly, is largely won due to this restoration.

Unfortunately, the film version nearly leaves this key point out of it.  The restoration anticlimactically takes place at the very end, after the battle is over.  Aslan comes to the rescue, but only after an action-oriented horse race to find him.

Grand interpersonal themes of pride and arrogance are hinted at but never fully explored or discussed.

The dancing aspect near the end of the book, an element of pure, communal, triumphal joy, is completely eliminated from the story altogether.

The narrative is all contorted.  Instead of following the novel’s engaging flashback format, the story is told in a more confusing and less compelling linear fashion.

In short, the movie, while entertaining and worthwhile, was a bit of a disappointment.

President Obama on Science

President Obama has recently committed huge amounts of resources to science.  Is it bad to support science and scientific research?  Absolutely not.

However, the problem is that the funding mechanism for this scientific research is unconstitutional and unethical.  President Obama does not say to the American people, “You need to pay more for government-directed scientific research funding, and so we are at work now to determine the best way to take your money for this purpose; we will most likely increase our catastrophic indebtedness.”

He does not say this, and I do not think he means this, either.  President Obama, like most people, does not have a problem with a government of our size and cost.  In fact, he’d prefer it to be bigger.  Nor does he see taxation (including inflation) as inherently coercive and morally problematic, as I do, and as I believe our founding fathers did.

Another problem is that a false argument is constructed: you are either for us (our proposed government program) or opposed to scientific growth.

In reality, one can be opposed to the funding mechanism yet still highly supportive of voluntarily-funded (rather than coercively-funded) scientific research.

It is an unfortunate thing indeed for our allegedly post-partisan president to play such petty games.

Old-School Communication

Let one speak at a time and let all listen unto his sayings, that when all have spoken that all may be edified of all, and that every man may have an equal privilege. – D&C 88:122

I admit it: I’m antisocial.  It used to be a little badge of shame.  Now, I don’t mind it.  It’s part of my identity.  That’s who I am.

When I do talk with people in my imperfect way, there’s a very old-school technique I strive to employ.  I try to use a scriptural word that appears hundreds, if not thousands of times in scripture.  It is this: listen.

I find that people I enjoy talking with also employ this technique and do so effectively.

I have been disappointed to find over and over again that among people of my demographic (mid 20s to mid 30s), there are people who lack the interest in, much less skill of, listening.

Don’t get me wrong.  Some listen very well.  But there are many who do not, and put very little effort in doing so.

Not listening is a significant communication problem.  One related problem is interrupting.  Tuning out to someone’s droning is one thing, but wilfully interrupting a conversation or a sentence is a whole other level of rudeness.  Butting into a conversation when uninvited is similarly rude and could even be considered an invasion of privacy.  Giving unnecessary and unwanted glares is an unspoken method of rude expression, though common in society, especially here in the midwest.

Over the centuries, private discussion between individuals has led to conventions of conversation.  We call these manners.  They have been a safeguard to keep people civil and communication effective and humane.

In general, the state doesn’t care too much for manners.  The IRS doesn’t seem too grateful for our taxes.  Nor do say “Excuse me” when a tax increase comes along, nor ask our permission.  They have monopolistic privileges, so it’s understandable.  (That’s not to say that people who work for the state never have manners, for humane people do and will work in large bureaucratic organizations of all stripes, including governments.)

It is sad to see the rising generation discounting manners.  Respect and reverence in general have declined.  This is evident in the Church, where reverence and grooming, to name two examples, have degraded now compared to a generation ago.  A normal Sunday makes me wonder whether we are running a daycare or a Church.  Occasionally I wonder if we run a zoo.

Why are manners important?  Here’s one line of thinking: consider the damage one ill-spoken word can do.  We have all had experiences with one or two hurtful words.  Then multiply this a thousandfold to get some idea of how damaging and hurtful our communication can be when we refuse to follow the conventions used to protect each other: manners.

We need a return to old-school politeness, manners, reverence, and respect, especially with respect to interpersonal communication.  It’s a simple way of maximizing personal and social benefit, and in these tough times, we need all the help and support we can get.

Old-School Communication

Let one speak at a time and let all listen unto his sayings, that when all have spoken that all may be edified of all, and that every man may have an equal privilege.   – D&C 88:122

I admit it: I’m antisocial.  It used to be a little badge of shame.  Now, I don’t mind it.  It’s part of my identity.  That’s who I am.

When I do talk with people in my imperfect way, there’s a very old-school technique I strive to employ.  I try to use a scriptural word that appears hundreds, if not thousands of times in scripture.  It is this: listen.

I find that people I enjoy talking with also employ this technique and do so effectively.

I have been disappointed to find over and over again that among people of my demographic (mid 20s to mid 30s), there are people who lack the interest in, much less skill of, listening.

Don’t get me wrong.  Some listen very well.  But there are many who do not, and put very little effort in doing so.

Not listening is a significant communication problem.  One related problem is interrupting.  Tuning out to someone’s droning is one thing, but wilfully interrupting a conversation or a sentence is a whole other level of rudeness.  Butting into a conversation when uninvited is similarly rude and could even be considered an invasion of privacy.  Giving unnecessary and unwanted glares is an unspoken way of rudeness, though common in society.

Over the centuries, private discussion between individuals has led to conventions of conversation.  We call these manners.  They have been a safeguard to keep people civil and communication effective and humane.

In general, the state doesn’t care much for manners.  The IRS doesn’t seem too grateful for our taxes.  Nor do say “Excuse me” when a tax increase comes along.  They have monopolistic privileges, so it’s understandable.  (That’s not to say that people who work for the state never have manners, for humane people do and will work in large bureaucratic organizations of all stripes, including governments.)

What’s sad is to see the rising generation discounting manners.  Respect and reverence in general have declined.  This is evident in the Church, where reverence and grooming, to name two examples, have degraded now compared to a generation ago.

Why are manners important?  Here’s one line of thinking: consider the damage one ill-spoken word can do.  Then multiply this a thousandfold to get some idea of how damaging and hurtful our communication can be when we refuse to follow the conventions used to protect each other: manners.

We need a return to old-school politeness, manners, reverence, and respect, especially with respect to interpersonal communication.  It’s a simple way of maximizing personal and social benefit, and in these tough times, we need all the help and support we can get.