Jefferson Glassie's blog

Mr. President:

I want to demonstrate my support for the United States Government and I believe the popular opposition to taxes is selfish. We have to support one another, because we're all in this together.

So, even though my wife Julie and I already paid over $100,000 in federal and state taxes for 2009 - and Julie is currently unemployed and starting up a new business, and my firm is paying less these days - I want to contribute an additional amount to the United States Government above what we owe in taxes.

I wake up Sundays and read the paper with coffee on the front porch. Two cups. Then, I go for a bike ride. The traffic is not frenetic; people actually wave when I go by. They let the other guy go first.

Saturday is about the same. We go for a run on the Canal. I stare up at the trees and the sky and think how unbelievable it is to even be alive. I’m amazed that there’s an earth, sun, and moon. I’m amazed there are birds, dogs, bees, flowers, or anything I see.

There is a peace about Sundays, and the weekend. Everyone is just doing. Everyone is nice (mostly).

I know that our country suffered a serious and hateful attack on 9/11/01. It was awful. I am sorry for the loss of life. I’m also sorry for the loss of life in the Middle East, Somalia, and wherever people are killing other people. It makes no sense. It is insane what humans do to one another. Completely insane. When one considers that this may be our only chance at life, and what a gorgeous planet earth we have, suicide bombers, murderers, and all those who kill for whatever reason keep us from peace.

But wallowing in self-pity is not helpful.

Did any of you see this at HuffPo: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/26/ceos-anti-obama_n_695405.html#s131475 At the Aspen Institute, big corporate CEO’s were slamming the President and variously comparing him and the Government to Hitler, Mussolini, Marxism, socialism, etc. So, I’m thinking, how would you describe what they’re doing in simple terms?

Basically, here are the captains of industry and leaders of the free world economy (who make literally millions each year personally) griping, moaning, and complaining about the Government’s failure to create jobs.

I heard a news story the other day about the mosque issue (should one be built in New York, Tennessee, etc.) and a guy was saying something like “Christianity is all about love and turning the other cheek, and Islam calls on Muslims to kill the infidels.” Well, the latter part of what he’s saying is true. I have not read the Koran, but in his book The End of Faith, Sam Harris says there’s no choice ultimately for Muslims if they actually want to live by the Koran; they must believe that everyone who’s not a believer in the Islamic god Allah should be killed or damned forever.

In previous posts, I noted the fact that big companies have a ton of cash right now. So, when people complain about not having jobs, rather than blaming it on the government, shouldn't they be looking to the companies with the money? Don't know what that's not occurring to people.

So, consider that it's our free market system that's not creating jobs, even when there's plenty of money, when the financial and many other sectors have already recovered. Wouldn't we want our capitalistic economy to deliver jobs when we need them?

It’s important to try and understand what’s really driving the acerbic attitude in our country. I explained in the last blog that the reason companies are sitting on piles of cash and not hiring is that they are essentially afraid. A lack of certainty and confidence both are fear. So, we know the upper crust has fear or they would be spending money. “Scared to spend” is what USAToday called it in an article on July 28, 2010.

The captains of industry have been cost cutting to increase revenues and profits, demanding increased productivity, but refusing to hire.

We’ve just heard that businesses in the United States have a ton of cash, but they don’t want to spend it.

It’s time to change our minds. Collectively, we really need a paradigm shift. The current mindset of humans, at least what we read and hear about all the time and in the media, is in desperate straights and needs a makeover.

Consider this; watched the HBO show Pacific. The Americans and Japanese killed each other with reckless abandon. We dropped the bomb on them. Now they’re our friends.

Used to fight the Germans and Italians, before that the British. Now, they’re our friends. Why all this fickle fighting and killing?

Now we fight the al-qaeda guys.

We’ve seen some rancorous discourse around the recent debate on efforts to reform health care in the country. I am personally in favor of universal heath care; I believe we should take care of our fellow citizens. That’s my political position. But there are serious philosophical underpinnings to the debate along liberal and conservative lines.

Conservatives want to conserve what works for them. They believe the purpose of government is mainly to defend us against foreign enemies. So, they are supportive of the army, navy, air force, and marines.