Getting to … The ONE

…. Difficult as it is for republican supporters to watch in 2012, this is the way our political process is supposed to work. With even a shred of intellectual honesty , the Democrat party and the media would have to admit that had the current effort taken place in 2008, it is more likely that Hillary would be running for reelection and not Barack. For a number of reasons, candidate Obama was never truly vetted across the wide spectrum of salient topics to the degree that he needed to be. 2012 looks to be different as the Republican primary has been brutal for party members to watch.

Education Pedigrees

A recent dinner with old college friends led to an interesting conversation about education and academic pedigree ….  I said very little.

….My conclusion: an educational pedigree is best served at Happy Hour where most lies are told and curricula vitae are swapped. But when people head for the door are they secretly wondering if you’re really as good as your diploma says you are?

 

JoePa: The King is Dead, Long Live the King

… In essence, the institution and profession that Paterno has loved and been loyal to for close to half a century has issued him something akin to a death sentence. Something inside me believes that Coach Paterno has been dying a slow death since he received his first inkling that Jerry Sandusky had a problem. Quite assuredly now the coach realizes he should have acted more like the coach that annually cut his Division 1 roster to 105 players than the head coach that didn’t blow the whistle on an assistant. He will live with that lapse in judgment for the rest of his life.

Occupy Reality

Having given the civil dissidents of the ‘Occupation’ a few weeks coverage under the watchful eye of the new media, it seems like a good time to weigh in. I’ve taken the time to read media accounts from all perspectives, listened to participant interviews, and routinely visited (and actually joined) the Occupy Wall Street website. Having tried to discern their specific demands, a sense of ideological structure, a vision of how they intend to legally pursue whatever their desires may be; I have come to a very simple and basic(man) conclusion.

A Beautiful Sight

I saw a beautiful thing last night. As the airplane lifted off the runway at JFK just after sunset I could see above the buildings of Brooklyn all the way to Manhattan. There in the distance was a tower of light in what has been for the last 10 years – a dark hole.

It was such a wonderful sight that I took the opportunity to bring it to the attention of my 220 passengers aboard the evening flight to Rome.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking. All is well and I don’t mean to startle you with an announcement at such a low altitude however I want to share with you a beautiful sight. Looking out of the right side of the airplane in the distance, you’ll notice a large tower of light. That is the first, clearly visible sign of the new Freedom Tower under construction at Ground Zero. For 10 years we’ve missed our old landmark and tonight’s sighting is inspiring. We’ve all been through a lot and I hope it will inspire you as well. Enjoy the flight, get some sleep, and I’ll talk to you before landing in Italy tomorrow morning. Thank you for your attention”.

Good News for American Politics, Seriously …

Our bitter political partisanship actually has a silver lining as the 2012 presidential campaign approaches. If one can overcome the hyperbole and spin associated with either parties’ ideology as reported by the opposition and dismiss how the talking heads analyze every piece of polling data – the 2012 race will provide the most disparate choice of political philosophies as there has been in decades.

Unlike the 2008 campaign when the nation labored under Bush fatigue (to a certain degree, me included) and needed a fresh face, ideas and personality, the 2012 race will be a referendum on issues and challenges and not personas and images. In this instance there will be a stark difference between the parties, their candidate(s), and the way they will attack the problems we face.

Mr. Buffett, Enough Already

Is anyone besides me getting a little weary of the unsolicited tax advice coming from Warren Buffett? What a relief to read that some of his contemporaries are. Harvey Golub, former CEO of American Express airs it out in his Wall Street Journal piece as he breaks down the fact and fiction of Buffett’s assertions. One has to wonder if we would have to endure this current ad hominem if the entire tax code were rewritten to broaden the tax base (read: require the lower 45% to “invest” in running this country) reworked the current deduction loopholes that Messrs. Buffet, Soros, Damon, et al enjoy, and truly reformed how Congress appropriates tax revenues. I somehow doubt The Oracle of Omaha would be such a progressive tax shill for The Obama of DC.

What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

One would assume that nobody likes the toxic atmosphere our civil discourse has taken, except for media talking heads that make their money throwing fuel on social fires. So, I propose a hypothetical exercise. Since outspoken and important folks from the VP on down have taken to categorizing a certain American political group (read: Tea Party) as terrorists and hostage takers, and since nobody thinks a terrorist is a good thing whether it wears an explosive vest or a Congressional lapel pin, let’s take the liberal side of things and promote all the good stuff they would like to see in America if they just didn’t have to fight the “terrorists”.

Moving Parts: Another Airline Story

It’s 94 degrees outside, the ship is full of hot people, the air conditioning cannot keep up, thunderstorms are moving in and we’re #43 in line for take-off. It’s rush hour at JFK and I’m the Captain taking 172 people non-stop to San Francisco. We have 5 ½ hours of real estate in front of us – after we wait in the runway queue. The folks onboard probably think the toughest part for them is over; TSA security check-points, time constraints and long lines top their lists. Tonight, they are wrong.

We’ve been put in special penalty box until the bad weather has passed along our route of flight. The ATC system is already at capacity and in addition to those 42 airplanes in front of us there are four of them on a similar routing. We each need 20 minutes of spacing between us. Have you done the math yet?

Frustrated and Fed Up

“Good Morning, Doctor”

… that’s where I am right now – frustrated, upset, and fed up … I’m mad … I’m irked … I’m outraged … I’m over … I’m affronted … I’m sick of …

Writing when you’re mad doesn’t usually convey much of anything positive and it surely doesn’t inspire anyone who reads to be anything but, well … mad. Good grief, I feel like Oprah when she figured out a few years back that she had turned into Sally Jesse and Jerry.

Save Your Watch

save your watch

When the B.S. gets deep, adopt the universal signal to express your recognition of pap and nonsense. Raise your hand above your head and mutter, “save your watch”. Resort to this behavior whenever you detect a politician is sprinting toward a camera and a microphone. Last week’s $850bn bailout provided just such an opportunity….

An Answer for Everything

So there’s Lehman Bros. CEO Dick Fuld explaining his Wall Street Waterloo to congressional camera hogs that issue meaningless scoldings, while we watch the drama. BasicMan can only shake his head.

Save it Dick, we’ve heard it all before. Crocodile tears.

Air Travel: Five Steps To Becoming a More Informed Complainer

“You made me late”, “you made me miss my connection”, “your service is terrible”, you’re not as good as you used to be”, you, you, you!Welcome to my world. I am an airline pilot for one of the last international US carriers still standing. You can recognize me as the one with four stripes on my shoulders and a target on my back. After the first thousand wise cracks, uninformed complaints, and inane accusations hurled in my direction I don’t feign compassion very well any more.

Whatever Happened to Civics?

…”What was discouraging was that none of the young people had any desire or intention to vote for any presidential candidate because they felt totally betrayed by the entire political ‘system’. These weren’t a group of disenfranchised youth but educated and talented young people.

Is There More To Sarah Palin?

Deep down inside I was praying for a Margaret Thatcher mind to come out of the Palin body. Who knows, maybe its still there looking for a way to get out but I doubt we’ll ever get a chance to hear it. The media has succeeded in destroying her national political future by dumbing her down to the level of a small town hick. This process has been nothing short of repugnant, sadistic, and patently unfair not only to her, but to democracy in general.

An Antidote for a Corporate Cancer

Greed and Pride. Eliminate these two malignancies and your wildest imagination couldn’t begin to take you to

Poster Boy

where we could be in this world. The antidote for these two deadly sins is a persistent dose of relentless accountability. Unfortunately, those infected with greed tend to resist the accountability antidote because of their own pride. In the advanced stage of this cancer they continue to infect themselves and often tend to spread it to those around them.

The Unknown Unknowns Become Known

Those eloquent campaign speeches of hope and change that evoked such great outpourings of emotion from Obama’s followers will gradually evolve into admonitions of patience and encouragement as he finds the reality of working within the bounds of the previously unknown unknowns. This is simply a fact of life that his followers will have to deal with when a vote is tied to the heart instead of the mind. 

 

Is eHarmony Playing Out of Tune?

The BasicMan is having trouble with this one. NOT because of the litigants involved but because of the nature of the suit. and what it says about our legal system in a hyperactive politically correct environment where the term civil rights has taken on a life of it’s own. This wasn’t jurisprudence, this was extortion.

 

An Undeniable Legacy

del.icio.us Tags: legacy,President Bush,Mumbai,national security

Don’t confuse this piece as an effort to be a Bush apologist. I flunked that course years ago when I realized I was more conservative than I was compassionate. He lost me with his domestic policies on education, prescription drug entitlements, illegal immigration, and a total reticence to veto anything. Ironically, his biggest achilles heal, foreign policy, will become his most positive legacy. 

Labor Needs New Tools

The recent automaker dog and pony show on Capital Hill shed some light on just how far the organized labor movement has outmaneuvered the auto manufacturing sector of the corporate world. Unfortunately they stayed in the  passing lane too long and ran head-on into a foreign built juggernaut. With their hat in their hands, Messrs. Nardelli, Wagoner, and Mulally approached a self-sanctimonious group of free spending politicians asking for billions to simply survive until sometime this spring. That was entertainment in itself.

Different Take On A Tough Situation

When you find yourself in a hole the important factor is not the hole’s depth but the size of the ladder you have to climb out. After 7 years of an expensive, dual fronted war with a cunning enemy, a devastating economic predicament where the genius’ that caused the problems have the upper hand in fixing them, and a populace that hangs  on sheer hope because they have so little confidence in those holding the reins of political power, we Yanks find ourselves in a pretty substantial hole. 

Think Big Thoughts

Faster than a Cessna

Recently I was enjoying a diverse, entertaining, and enlightening conversation with a group of twenty something’s. I became aware however of an interesting trend that I couldn’t quite wrap my mind around. None of them had a good grasp of what they wanted to do with their lives, let alone how to get there. What was even more unsettling was my impression that they really hadn’t given a whole lot of serious thought into their world of options. Oh, to be 25 years old and open to a huge world of career options.

Barack’s Annoying Domestic Problem

Forget the War on Terror, the festering economic quagmire with a collapsed housing market and auto industry, or even mounting tensions in the Middle East. President Obama has an annoyingly persistent problem much closer to home; namely the man he chose to be his #2, Joe Biden. Presumably he was picked to be the V.P. for the dignity and experience he would bring to the job. Certainly this was a key contrast made between him and Gov. Sarah Palin. After 36 years on the job in DC one thought he would have brought a better handle on world events and a more disciplined tongue to the administration. It would appear that, in spite of Tina Fay’s dullard portrayal of Mrs. Palin on SNL, she is the one that has displayed a better grasp of issues and personal control of the thoroughfare between the brain and the mouth. 

The Root of All Evil; Taxes and Lobbyists

Change We Can Believe In

….Herein lies the root of the problem. Did these people read all 7500 pages of rules and intentionally cheat or is the entire code a ridiculous mess that has the potential to take even Billy Graham down. A good rule of thumb is to always stick with Billy Graham. If Barack would devote as much energy to rewriting the tax code as he is to bailing out irresponsible home buyers and incompetent business’, life would be far better for all Americans and we would make the joke a reality and find a spot for him at Mt. Rushmore.

Who Invited Them?

They are here. Some were invited, many were not. They make a mockery of the customs, ridicule the lifestyles, violate rules, and try to get others to be

Misguided Father Receives Guidance

 their ‘friends’. As they move about in their new circles they do so without regard to an established protocol and order. The natives become purveyors of persistent indoctrination that requires involvement with a group of people that routinely embarrasses themselves without regard and generally, just don’t seem to get it.

3 AM

More often than not, the worst decisions most of us make in life are the ones

do you hear something?

 we’ve ignored when the wake up call comes. You may hate it when it happens but the voice that wants to be heard at 3AM may be the one you need to be listening most closely to.

Who Are You Calling A Coward?

conversation starter

…. Maybe this “nation of cowards” aren’t cowardly at all. Maybe Americans are simply courteous, compassionate, correct (politically, that is) or simply fed up with the entire discussion to begin with.

 

Dear Mr. President

Save the banks, save Detroit, save the housing market, save the whales. Mr. President, you can’t do it all no matter what your lieutenants tell you or

The Fixer?

how much you gouge the wealthiest 5%. Pick a project or two or three and hang your hat on it. FDR built stuff, JFK went to the moon, Nixon opened China,  Reagan ended the Cold War, Clinton reformed welfare, and ‘W’ overhauled the national intelligence community.

Yeah….. What He Said!

My feelings exactly after viewing British MEP for Southeastern England,

.... as well as uncompromising

Daniel Hannan delivering a 3 minute speech to the European Parliament. Directed toward British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, it is a blistering touch of economic logic that seems to be conspicuously absent in today’s American dialogue. If one were to take the words ‘Prime Minister’ and ‘British’ every time Mr. Hannan utters them and replace them with  President and American, the shoe would fit equally well.

6 Ways To Make The Pain Stop

For those of you that think all is well right now with our culture, please

"hey you, I need a break"

 return to your People Magazine, The View, and MSNBC. For the rest of you, its okay. You’re not alone watching the lunatics take over the asylum. Here are a few options that can give life, as we used to know it, a little room to breathe and the energy to pitch back into the fight after recovering some energy (totally self indulgent fighter pilot lingo).

Eid in April

The UK political gathering and the European road show that followed were

"shall we let him back in the club?"

shams for anyone thoughtful enough to get past world leader photo ops, incessant media fawning of the new kid on the block, and endless gushing at Michelle’s every move. On the other hand it was a wild rave for the fraternity of global street thugs that got their periodic G20 fix of mayhem. For the cavemen it was pure comedy and manna from Allah. An unexpected Eid.

Blame Me: I’m Used To It

Engine fire after take-off, no hydraulics, no electricity, and the nose gear won’t  extend for an emergency landing. Did you read about this? Buried on the bottom of pg. 4 in the 8 April, 2009 Wall Street Journal was a story about an American Airlines MD-82 compound emergency in 2007 that ended well. By ‘ending well’ I mean there were no fatalities and the plane was returned to service. One would think the Captain and First Officer did a pretty nice job of getting the aircraft back on the ground.

The Cream Still Rises

Too often I have seen the wrong people ascend to the top of an organization. By wrong, I mean charismatic but inept, valuing results over integrity,

VAdm Bill Gortney, 'Shortney'

favored by seniors but held in contempt by peers, and all too often administratively fluent but operationally bankrupt.

The past week has put two names on the front pages that are truly deserving of their ascendancy to leadership in a large organization. I am lucky enough to count them both primarily as friends and secondly as former colleagues.

No Resume, No Problem

"You're hired"

So if we were to begin keeping score at some point: rich folks, semi rich folks,

SUV drivers, bankers, insurance providers, intelligence gatherers, health care providers, car makers, loan writers, Wall Street, CEO’s of virtually every industry, servicemen returning from overseas, and a plumber named Joe have been put in their place by a guy and his posse operating without a resume.

Failure Is …. An Option

When the ‘experts’ speak in clichés about being “too big to fail” or “we simply had to step in” they attack the whole idea behind the American entrepreneurial spirit, free markets, and the essence of a capitalist system. Let me say it another way; discounting or ignoring the survival spirit of the small business entrepreneurs in a capitalist, free enterprise economy disregards the very foundation on which it is built.

George Gets It … Kind Of

George McGovern that is.  

McGovern; Economic Renaissance Man

…. at age 66, after purchasing The Stratford Inn in Connecticut, George McGovern joined the real world of profit and loss business where his own money was at risk. In short order he found out that government regulation and intrusion were a small business owner’s worst enemy.

Freedom and Populism: Strange Bedfellows

Contra-positions on abortion, global warming, terrorism, energy, tax policy, bailouts, entitlements, race, national security, constitutional authority, God, governmental boundaries, immigration, healthcare, and lifestyle preferences yield uncomfortable positions for those who wind up in a gunfight armed only with a knife.

Anatomy of the “F” Word

…… This is 2009, Americans live in “civilized” society where the only time the “F” word is  used is to pejoratively describe someone who goes against mainstream philosophy, watches FOX news, or invokes Rush Limbaugh’s name…..  I became interested in that nasty “F” word. No, not George Carlin’s third word on his list of 7 Words You Can’t Say on TV or the word that Progressives have distain for… Freedom. The word I needed to know more about was ……

Just Shut Up

That does it. I have officially had it with the professional talking heads, the ‘smarter than thou’ theoreticians, and the equally insipid intellectual ‘haters’ that have concocted every inane reason for the rise and fall of Sarah Palin. It reached critical mass this morning as Levi Johnston came forward, at his own press conference no less, to expound on his insider info.

 

Obama’s Katrina

Imagine a city devastated by a natural disaster where unemployment and poverty reach such levels as to witness lines over a mile long to get meals from community soup kitchens. No imagination needed as it’s happening right now in the US and not  just in one city but throughout a large region of one of our most resourced states; California. Years of drought in the Central Valley of the Golden State has produced just such a scenario. Known for its agricultural base it presents an incredible irony in that the silent people standing in these food lines are the same ones that in the recent past grew and harvested over 12% of the nations food and represented our country’s most prolific milk producers. But that was before the government and parochial environmentalists shut their irrigation water off. This is a story of good people versus do-gooders. 

Every Tattoo Has a Story

There’s a story behind every tattoo; even those questionable bicep barbed wires and the Asian symbols of unknown translation. Some stories are pretty as lame, usually involving adult beverages, a late night out  with the boys/girls, and close proximity to Tito’s 24 Hour Tattoo Parlor. My dad always said nothing good ever happens after 11:00 and this may be what he was talking about. But some tales are pretty amusing and others are surprisingly deep.

Townhalls, Tea Parties, and Tolerance

The tea parties and town hall meetings are a sign of a soft revolution in this country.   We are not a coup d’etat population or a banana republic that organizes guerilla warfare squads for insurrection. Truly, we are better than that, more civilized than that. What we are is educated and civilized enough to engage the political class in all three branches of government that have become increasingly more arrogant and condescending toward the non-political class.

The Redemption of Michael Vick

It seems I take an unpopular stand in the controversy over ex-con Michael Vick’s return to the National Football League. You’ve heard of Mr. Vick, that incredibly gifted athlete and equally stupid and misguided human being that went to prison for his leading role in a dog fighting enterprise.  

 

The Dialects of Religion

Recently during an airport stopover I witnessed a fascinating scene. A group of teenage Orthodox Jewish boys were waiting to board an airplane when the oldest (or at least the tallest) young man called the group together. After a few words to his charges, he led an impromptu time of prayer and quiet Torah recitation. I was captivated by their discipline and lack of inhibition.

Simultaneously, an event occurring twenty feet to their left made this more interesting. A middle aged Muslim man had laid out a small rug and was privately engaged in his daily prayers.

American Politics Needs Tough Love

….. How many times have you muttered to yourself on election day, …” is this the best we can come up with out of all the eligible people out there?” You stand there realizing  that each of the candidates on the ballot are pitiful choices. Casting your vote ends up being an act of settling for as opposed to avidly supporting a particular candidate. Or maybe lately you’ve found yourself questioning everything any politician says as you wonder whether they’re telling you something simply to get your vote or because its true and they believe in it. How did we get in this position?

The sad reality is that in our broken political system it is seldom the politician with the best ideas, greatest degree of integrity and life experience that gets elected. The one that wins is the one who was best at raising the most money. Fixing healthcare access is actually a very doable proposition when compared to the task of fixing party politics……

Simple

Away from home on business, I was having dinner at a small, family owned restaurant. Sitting across from me were two couples and their grown children; obviously lifelong friends or possibly family. The men sat across from each other engaged in effortless conversation; one dressed in khaki trousers and a starched shirt, the other in shorts, teeshirt and flip flops.  Their 60+ year old wives were in their own world of chit-chat while the thirty-something kids in the middle acted as food passers and conversation interlopers when the  opportunity arose. The food, wine, and chatter was seamless for over two hours as I arrived after the first bottles of wine and antipasti had been served and left before their dessert and espresso arrived. Several times during the meal other friends came to the table to exchange greetings and conversation. Food, wine, old friends. Simple.

Another Snowe Job

Imagine that you are left to decide if it would be a good thing to gift wrap a grenade, place a nice bow around the pin and place it on the activities table in a kindergarten class; just to see what the children will do with it. Pretty easy decision to make for any prudent, sane person with a vision for the bigger picture and the consequences that loom. Basically that is what Republican Senator Olympia Snowe was faced with when she cast her Finance Committee vote on Healthcare Reform with the 13 democrats that thought this was a good (enough) idea? Hyperbole? Not at all, considering that the Baucus bill, with Ms. Snowe’s approval is now on its way for a showdown on the Senate floor where anything goes amongst a group of adult children not known for their fiscal foresight or concern with long range (outside of their next election cycle) real life ramifications. Even after handwringing, negotiations, and White House prodding the bill is still a pig, albeit a pig with lipstick and a nice bow.

Whatever Happened To Truth?

Mark Twain once remarked, “if you tell the truth you don’t have to remember anything”. In these days of 24/7 news coverage, LexisNexis research tools, and the ubiquitous microphone, one might ask why anyone wouldn’t take Twain’s advice as untruths can be so easily exposed. Apparently politicians didn’t get that memo as they continue to speak as though no one will know, remember, or think to do some research.

The Corner of Bradley and Eisenhower Avenues

There were too many black limos and hearses. There were too many parents, young wives, and kids dressed in their best clothes at Arlington that day. It was too busy.  …… But then I remembered we are a nation at war, two wars to be exact.

Could Helen Reddy Have Been Right?

I Am Woman, hear me roar….. in numbers too big to ignore ….

….. Hillary isn’t about  to get tackled on the 10 yard line again by her own team …… and if you scan the line-up of usual suspects of potential 2012 Republicans it’s interesting to note that there isn’t a single male figure able to man-up enough to match the females in the party. The most powerful, cogent, and appealing voices motivating the conservative movement are coming from women.

 

A Letter To My Kids

“…. In short, I have reached my tipping point as it relates to change. I have lost my ability to trust anyone in political power along with any faith that my voice is being heard.  The ruling class independent of party affiliation, is less concerned about the wellbeing of our Constitution and our country than it is with manipulating their own political self interest. My protest is specifically directed toward the Progressive ideology espoused by those with whom you have given your loyalty. ……”

“In my eyes, the changes in Washington these days are an unveiled power grab by the government away from the private sector. Healthcare, climate change, financial woes, and corporate malfeasance are simply canards that easily disguise and distract those from the utter audacity of their behavior…..”

The Dark Side of Tiger Woods

Everything you saw of Tiger, except for what he was able to do with a golf ball, has been a mirage. That hidden dark side has been fueled by his own bullet proof ego that gets it’s energy from us, the adoring public. Facilitating that ego has been an inner circle of associates that has had neither the stones or the wherewithal to keep it in check. And so goes Tiger Woods, Michael Vick, Eliot Spitzer, Bernie Madoff, Mark Sanford, and  >insert any number of business executives, athlete, politician, and actors name here<. It’s not the sex, or the money; or the power; it’s the ego.

The Passenger Bill of Rights: Feckless

This new regulation now compels me to make a decision that is possibly not in

No Way Out

the best interest of my passengers when I approach the newly imposed time limit; continue toward the runway or return to the gate. Remember, Secretary LaHood now has a $5.9 million gun pointing at my company’s wallet and I decide if he gets paid. Under those terms you can guarantee that I will elect to return to the gate. Then we’ll see what those 216 passengers originally bound for Europe really think about their new Passenger Bill of Rights.

The Patriotic Jew; Unequivocal and Fearless

My friends know that I could possibly be the world’s worst conversationalist when it comes to  chit chat. At a recent dinner setting with a table full of business associates the conversation happened to devolve into shop talk and gossip; too much about people and not enough about ideas. I went silent. Typically when this happens, in an act of social self preservation, I seek an opportunity to conjoin the group,

Fearless

 redirect the dialogue and ask each person one of my favorite questions for exposing more to the group about the person talking than would any amount of small talk. What are the 3 things you secretly would love to do in life without regard to skill or opportunity? (Yankees shortstop, rock and roll drummer, Key West bait shop owner have been responses in he past) – or -  Where are the 3 places in the world where you would love to live? (most people choose where they currently hang their hat). That evening I asked a question I had never asked before. With whom would you most like to share a bottle of wine and a conversation? The answers were intriguing.

I Guess We’re All Racists

The post partisan presidency of Barack Obama has proven to be anything but. One can thank his inner circle and Obama’s own aggressive push for a Progressive ideology. Unfortunately, because of the overbearing emphasis during his 2008  campaign assigning historical significance to him becoming the first African-American president, every action he takes carries with it something no other president has had to contend with; the distinction of his skin color. As Obama’s poll numbers continue to sink one should expect that any criticism of his work will surely face not only partisan rebuttals but claims of racism as well. Liberal groups and the usual roster of professional race baiters will see to it. The candidate that ran on a pledge of being ‘post partisan’ and ‘post racial’ will end up being neither. 

Six Predictions That Buck Conventional Wisdom

The average ‘basic-man’ looks around these days and sees everything is upside down. He wonders what could possibly happen next. We know by now that the military will do everything it is asked to do and yield incredible results that most people will underestimate or fail to acknowledge. We know that Washington DC is a cesspool where the denizens that wear those fancy, prized lapel pins (tax payer purchased) have totally lost their sense of smell. But there are also a few good things ahead; day light savings time, the opening of spring training camp, and most importantly, a midterm election. Here are a few predictions on why it’s still ok to get up in the morning. Enjoy!

The Salient Psycho-babble of Learning

Walking along the beach in Tel Aviv during the early morning I came upon a group of about 10 preteens marching out into the surf with their surfing instructor.  As a reformed surfer I watched for about 30 minutes as their teenage mentor demonstrated the basics of this new adventure. I can remember thinking this was a unique way for wealthy Israelis to get there kids out of the house for a couple hours during the summer; no way would they actually learn this difficult, and often humiliating sport.

Tiger’s Mulligan

What has made Tiger’s problems most problematic is the squeaky clean persona crafted by his handlers and  sponsors which elevated him to a status mere mortals like you and I could never achieve. Unfortunately it turned out that this role model for millions of kids just happened to be human and is subject to all the failings common to the common man.. Now Tiger has to deal with being another celebrity poster child for humiliation, contrition, forgiveness, and redemption.  This may not be a bad thing because there are a lot of big boys and girls in our society that could use an example of success in this area.

Why Sarah Palin Can’t Win in 2012

I generally like anyone with the ability to bring The View ladies, David Letterman, Keith  Olberman, and others of their socio-political perspective to an apoplectic froth. Reading this will likely be a tough pill to swallow for those who see Gov. Palin as a Ronald Reaganesque figure in US politics. It was tough for me to put the thoughts into words. Don’t get me wrong though, I am a Palin fan.While I find great appeal in her views on limited government, a return to Constitutional authority, disciplined federal spending, a strong military to fight a 21st century war, etc. I just don’t think she is now or ever will be presidential material. Here’s why ….

The End Does Not Justify the Means

They display their audacity by thumbing their political noses at not only the Constitution and the legislative process, but their constituents as well. As President Obama stated in a recently televised interview he …“ doesn’t spend a lot of time worrying about what the procedural rules are in the House or Senate” The problem is Mr. President, the American people are spending a lot of time thinking about the procedural rules because that process is our protection, our check and balance, against a government that becomes blinded by its ideology.

Our Spirit Under Attack

Remember when we used to have a little swagger – when it was okay to wear a little brashness and bravado for being American; products of a country that created an environment to learn, grow, and contribute to its greatness. Something has changed. When did we go from Ronald Reagan’s “shining city on a hill” where achieving professional success or living the life of a rugged, independent cowboy were compliments of the same magnitude – to where we are cast today as just another homogenous people governed by an untouchable ruling class that highlights our faults on every front, cowers from our rightful position in civilized society and those with their hand out are elevated above those with their hands at work.

The Nerds Are Stealing Our Souls

Visiting with clients reading via the Kindle, Sony Reader, or the new iPad I have yet to find anyone that isn’t in love with their particular gadget. I listen to their gushing and watch them display it’s wizardry ad nauseum and then ask a simple question; “What about your bookcase back home”? This elicits one of two responses; total silence or … “well…” also followed by total silence punctuated with raised eyebrows and a “how dare you ask me such a question” sneer. That’s when I know Sony, Amazon, or Steve Jobs has taken over their brain.

Life’s Three Most Powerful Words

Ask my grown kids what those three words are; they will tell you. Whether or not they   know just how powerful and liberating they can be is known only to them. If more people knew what they are, knew how and when to use them, and lived as a result of their power …. let’s just say life would be a lot easier.                 

I love you?… Close, but no.

I am sorry? … No.

Please forgive me? … No, again.

We Live Among Greatness: Part 1

Ever wonder who among us will become titans in tomorrows history books? Who are the ones currently plying their trade so deftly that they will be remembered as ‘great’: Americans like Thomas Edison, Jesse Owens, Arthur Rubenstein, Gregory Peck, George Patton became larger than life after their lives were over. I contend they are out there and we observe them in action on a daily basis but their value is often not recognized while they’re alive because headlines are monopolized by the bad actors in our society.

Normally one would expect to find a president or politician in such a list. Not on this one. Unfortunately we seem to have left the age where anyone devoting their life to public service strives to emulate the ideals and character of a true statesman, above any sense of partisan politics or social indiscretions that seem to bring down too many of those that embark on that path. Entertainment, business, military, and religion deliver BasicMan’s first installment of the greatest among us.

Arizona: A Sad State of Affairs

Life is good if you’re an illegal alien and have made it across the border. “Olly Olly Home Free”!. Your job outlook is much improved, there are some wonderful entitlements that await, emergency room professionals are standing by to deliver that precious “anchor baby”, and you have the open arms of a federal political system with it’s uber- compassionate minions to castigate anyone or any state that would try to stop you. 

Even Liars Have Double Standards

“The American people are tired of liars and people who pretend to be something they’re not”. (Hillary Clinton)

"You stupid rubes"

 The Attorney General of Connecticut, Richard Blumenthal was recently caught in a lie. It was a whopper by any standard as it involved something so transparent, public, and dishonorable that even his friend, former Connecticut Rep. Chris Shays admitted to the NY Times that he found it increasingly problematic for the prospective Senatorial candidate should he continue to give it life. Which brings me to yet another quote that provides a label for those ‘friends’ that gave him cover for his lies.

 

“He who does not bellow the truth when he knows the truth makes himself the accomplice of liars and forgers”. 19th century French philosopher, Charles Peguy summed it up pretty well. Mr. Shays and others on Blumenthal’s defense team may need to rethink their part in this charade of ‘stolen valor’.

Adjusting Your Threshold for “NO”

Just Say "No"

Suppose you and your colleagues are at a business dinner with the boss. Everyone has done well to stay within their budgets by not ordering the most expensive items on the menu. On the other hand, the boss has had an aperitif, escargot, Caesar salad, Lobster Thermidor, chocolate torte, cappuccino, and Courvoisier when the bill arrives. Grabbing the check he suggests authoritatively, “why don’t we just split this evenly”.  …. ‘I don’t think so’.

Sports; The Homeopathic Anti-Depressant

                                                                                                                                                                                    

"Using a sick day"

Yesterday my wife jokingly (I think) asked if I had upped my anti-depressant dosage to industrial strength. Remarking that I had been in an unusually good mood of late, I responded that I hadn’t watched the news or read the paper since 7:30 a.m. on June 12th. Lest you live in a cave you will recognize this as kick-off time across South Africa for the 2010 World Cup. And on top of that we’re neck deep in a fantastic Laker-Celtic NBA Finals. Ah sports, the salve for the beleaguered soul.

My Own … “Head Full of Doubt”

The Avett Brothers, who rank alongside Ben Folds, Jim Croce, and Harry Chapin with their ability to tell a story, wrote a song titled Head Full of Doubt, Road Full of Promise. It describes many of my thoughts as I look across the landscape of our culture and recognize a certain darkness as opposing forces see life through very different lens’. It’s as close to a thoughtful protest ballad, ala 60’s Dylan, that I’ve heard in quite a while.

“…There’s a darkness upon me that’s flooded in light
In the fine print they tell me what’s wrong and what’s right
And it comes in black and it comes in white
And I’m frightened by those that don’t see it …”

What We Haven’t Heard About the McChrystal Fiasco

 

body language

 

…..all we’ve heard thus far in terms of the McChrystal fiasco is second and third hand background noise. There is an essential element of this mess still missing; General McChrystal’s own account of what he actually said, did, and thought; and in what context. … It seems as though Hastings wrote about an interview with the general that never took place.

Chicago Style Friendship

…… Barack Obama’s biggest political disappointment is that Justice David Souter didn’t retire from the Supreme Court a little sooner so that he could have taken credit for elevating Mrs. Clinton to Justice Clinton and therefore out his political hair – forever.

“Keep your friends close; keep your enemies closer”. Chinese general and philosopher Sun Tzu said it 2500 years ago and frankly, it’s pretty good advice. It’s a cousin of the Arabic proverb of “The enemy of my enemy is my friend”. In politics, these are like the words Moses heard from the burning bush. If you train your eye you can see this exercised at the highest level of our government.  Reading the stitches on the Obama administration’s fastballs isn’t really that tough due in large part because they’ve thrown so many curveballs.

WikiCowards

By now you’ve read the news about the 91,000 leaked confidential documents pertaining to our war efforts in Afghanistan by an organization called Wikileaks. For some, this news will seem unimportant and indistinguishable apart from the normal din of the 24 hour news cycle. In other words, it will be forgotten in about a week.

It shouldn’t.

What has happened is a travesty of colossal proportion and no matter how the Obama administration tries to dismiss it as ‘old news’ and Letterman uses it for his ‘Top 10’ fodder, the root issue will not go away.

Requiem for Heroes

Civilized society should be mournful, outraged and screaming at the top of our lungs;  but we’re not. We sit, read the paper, and numbly

Dr. Tom Little - hero

 digest the vilest evil our world has to offer.  “Hey honey, pass the orange juice”.

The recent murders of 10 medical relief workers in Afghanistan by the Taliban has me in a tailspin in terms of where society’s threshold for tolerance and politically correct silence has taken us. As I finish each online article I scan the readers comments and have my question answered; we haven’t reached bottom yet.

The Arena of Ideas

Have you ever listened to a conversation between an atheist and a Christian? Or how about a liberal and a libertarian, a businessman and an environmentalist? Pretty interesting stuff because it has the potential for either a total meltdown of personal attacks – or – become a great example of the lost art of debate. Either way you’ll learn something about the people involved, the depth to which cultural discourse has sunk, or the height where sharing concepts and ideas can soar. Unfortunately …..

When is an Amateur Better than a Professional?

Imagine if your doctor, pilot, house builder, or car mechanic introduced him/herself and announced they were new to the profession and in terms of skill only a rank amateur. You’d walk out the door. But there is one profession where rookies are replacing professionals at an alarming rate and we not only seem to be okay with it, we actively support them. Enter the Tea Party.

Getting closer to the November 2010 midterm elections, the Tea Party movement is firing salvo after salvo at incumbent professionals, gaining status as a political force to be reckoned with, and solidifying their street credentials with the quantity of their populist candidates if not the quality of their methods. But who cares if they’re amateurs?

Why BasicMan?

… Over the last ten years of seeing their work, I’m not so impressed with the products churned out of the Ivy League lecture halls. Their pedigrees and diplomas can generate a false sense of credibility however what comes out of their mouth isn’t necessarily tied to common sense. Regrettably, the polish and presentation often makes their inane ideas not only palatable, but convincing.

Who raises the B.S. flag on these occasions? Who cuts through the talking head noise of issues to break it down into what ‘it’ really means for the 300+ million people who still understand the concept and importance of ‘basics’? … 

Policies, Character, Resume: Do Your Own Homework

….. Why do we get a steady diet each election cycle of the same Ken and Barbie   candidates? Culture has (d)evolved to where, in most cases, ugly folks need not apply. Certainly, if you are of average eloquence, never attended or finished college, have lived a blue collar life, had family issues, or are a ‘recovering’ anything – your path to public office is rocky.

The national political party apparatchiks seem all too ready to assign special status to a specific educational pedigree, good looks, and the ability to say anything (or nothing) without hurting anyone’s touchy feelings in the process. In an age when our country could use a lot of bare knuckled tough love the national political powers are more interested in polished shoes and sensitivity.

The Final Days of Delta Air Lines

No, Delta Air Lines, Inc. isn’t going under. However, as of November 3, 2010 Delta’s staid employee culture will have forever changed. On that day 20,000 flight attendants will find out if they will become unionized or remain as they have for 86 years, non-union.

This is one commentary I would love to reread a few years down the road and admit that I had been overly pessimistic. Unfortunately this event is destined to be a lose-lose proposition for the company because of the parties involved, the emotion and contention surrounding the issue, and the relative impotence company leadership has to orchestrate a desirable outcome; no matter who ends up being the winner.

A Little Pride Isn’t So Bad

Passing through Johannesburg enroute to Cape Town for vacation, we stopped for a quick breakfast where my wife was given a grammar lesson by a 19 year old South African waiter. “It’s not ‘cream’ we put in tea, it’s ‘milk’. Cream comes from a can and is what ‘we’ put on top of hot chocolate. And that napkin you asked for, it’s a servette; I’m too embarrassed to tell you what a napkin is”. “Just simple English for your stay here in South Africa”, as Benjamin said with a big, infectious smile.

This exchange led to a longer one about South Africa in general where he was more than willing banter and crow about his homeland. How refreshing; a young man so proud of his country that he would sell it to anyone that would listen. Upon finding out that we had arrived from New York City, he smiled and announced, “Ah, Obama-land, aren’t you proud”? Yeah, right, I guess so > schooled again by the teenager.

Don’t Do It, Sarah

Gov. Palin’s prominence is not an indictment of tea party philosophy of smaller, less intrusive government, lower taxes and Constitutional discipline. It is simply that she is not the person that will garner wide enough appeal of that philosophy to take it to the presidential level. As long as she is the face of the Tea Party movement it will struggle to elevate itself past being a political sect or a rogue offshoot of the GOP.

The person who takes the baton from her will be the center of the biggest political story of the next 18 months.

What Are They Teaching Our Kids?

Recently, my adult kids, nephews and nieces have engaged me in separate conversations about how their country works, or rather why their country isn’t working the way they thought it would, or should. The sad part of these dialogues is that I have become painfully aware of what they have and have not been taught. It seems that a large section of our educational curriculum has failed an entire generation that will soon take on positions of leadership. Granted, any conversation with an adult family member that starts with “Why ….”  – or – “How come ….” is so much more enjoyable than one that starts with “Can you, please ….” but lest I digress.

Hey Dad, Are we going to be okay?

…. The truth is we’ve been here before, more than once. We know the way out. The question is: Do we, as Americans, still have the guts to make the tough choices and execute the plan knowing that the healing process will be more painful than our current condition, or will we kick the can down the road and leave it for our kids to take care of. Time is of the essence as we have levied some pretty high financial stakes this time around. Recorded history reveals what  prominent figures had to say about the crisis’ that surrounded them. 

No One Laughs at God

Let’s get the fine print disclaimer out of the way early so I don’t get blamed for proselytizing later on. I‘m one of those nut cases that actually believes there is a God (capital G) and all the baggage that relationship brings with it. With me, it’s personal, not complicated, and based on life experiences of failure and success that have led me to believe that some power, much larger than me, has had my back from the start and seems to know that I have the ability to be a persistent screw-up but worthy of second chances.

No one laughs at God
When the doctor calls after some routine tests
No one’s laughing at God
When it’s gotten real late and their kid’s not back from the party yet

Repealing DADT

In the eyes of the military Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is not a gay issue, a witch hunt, a civil rights or equality issue. Instead, it’s a social issue with far reaching organizational implications. Truth be told, the armed forces don’t care any more about a service member’s sexual orientation than they do about what religion they practice or the color of their skin. As in every other enterprise with critical responsibilities and deep investment in personnel, the focus is on the quality and maturity of the individual, how they do their job, and what their value is to the mission. Period.

Six ‘Shovel Ready Projects’ for Obama’s 2012 Chances

Six ways for Barack Obama to get reelected in 2012 and the sole reason he won’t use any of them.

Dealing effectively with any one of these six areas will play well with American voters that are truly paying attention. An effort to turn things around by turning ones’ self around (ideologically and methodologically) will have a major impact toward securing another four years for the Obama family at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Its that whole redemption concept that Americans love to see played out.

But none of them will ever happen because he is ……

Middle East Freedom; An American Teaching Moment

Events over the last month in Tunisia, Southern Sudan, and Egypt should cast a bright light on things we tend to take for granted while going about our daily lives in America. It’s certain the citizens of those African countries and millions of others residing elsewhere under repressive rule don’t take freedom and liberty for granted.

The populations of the aforementioned African nations have experienced firsthand a lifetime filled with repression, corruption, and fear where individual freedom is a privilege only granted through the graciousness of government and society.

Stepping On Some Toes

Some people are about to get their toes stepped on …. We’ve been too nice for too long to too many people over too many issues. The Mediterranean and a large portion of the Middle East are awash with countries whose populations have grown tired of playing nice with tyrannical leaders who in return serve up nothing more than repression. Over in Europe, leaders once heralded as socially enlightened have publicly proclaimed that the multicultural social experiment has been a miserable failure in spite of their industrious efforts to make the melting pots work. At home, our political leaders face their own comeuppance as citizens have rediscovered the Constitution and demand that it be adhered to. Organized labor groups are finding out that there is only so much money to go around and their collective bargaining windfalls have ‘contracted’ them into a corner. Even President Obama, once immune from second guessers finds himself and his signature domestic policies under intense fiscal scrutiny.

A Belated Defense

My liberal friends will likely write me off totally and put me in the category of being a complete moron – the same one in which they put the subject of this piece. Frankly, my conservative friends may do the same thing. So be it; call me the village idiot. 

But I come to defend 43, President George W Bush, the most reviled man in partisan circles next to Dick Cheney when it comes to the White House.

Wanted: International Leadership, Bring References

Just like a school yard bully, Moammar Gadhaffi tried to call a time-out recognizing that his fortunes were changing as Europeans and the Arab League prompted stabilizing initiatives in response to his terroristic behavior. Alas, it was too late as it began raining Tomahawks over his forces in Libya.

He still owes Japan a huge debt of gratitude for temporarily distracting a media already known for their short attention span while he caused his own tsunami of death and destruction half a world away. Cable and network news journalists using experts du jour on speed dial evoked Three Mile Island and Chernobyl and picked apart heretofore hidden design flaws of Fukushima Daiichi while a madman hired mercenaries to complement his military in openly murdering his own people.

Restrepo Awakens Old Emotions

I’m somber today. Actually it’s a blend of introspection, feelings of compassion, and gratitude, with a little confusion mixed in. I watched the movie, Restrepo last night.  It did little to guide me through the complexity and purpose of Afghanistan but it opened up memories of the isolation, solitude, and drudgery that befalls anyone who has served the country in a foreign place, thousands of miles from home where the locals don’t much care for you.

Fat, Dumb, and Happy

A fat, dumb, and happy man plunks down $8 for a bacon double cheeseburger, large fries and a chocolate milkshake at Five Guys Burgers (best burgers east of In ‘N Out territory). The diligent grill crew quickly puts together his 1800 calorie snack but in their haste, four or five french fries fall from the bag. The crew deliberates at length over whether to put them back in the sack. They argue over fairness, company policy, and consumer rights when someone pipes up, “let’s make a deal and put all but one french fry back in the bag so it will be a healthy meal”. This is a metaphor for how Congress is dealing with the problems that make our debt the runaway  train that it is and how the media reports on it.

Dozing in the Control Tower: The Rest of the Story

Somebody fell asleep in the control tower and a plane full of women and children were in peril. “Oh, the humanity”. Relax folks, you were never in danger of losing your life – if the pilots in the cockpit are napping when it’s time to land – then it’s time to worry. Trust me on this one; they won’t be.

The recurring questions I’ve been asked lately surround the spate of incidents where an air traffic controller has been caught dozing on the job. Having been a commercial airline pilot for the last 28 years, my take on issue at hand is a little less impassioned and lot more matter of fact. It goes something like this; yes, they dozed off much the same as you have at some point in your life – while on the job, behind the wheel of your car, or listening to your spouse. Like you, they’re human and at times succumb to the frailties of humanity.

A Bittersweet Victory

My oldest son who assures me weekly that Barack Obama hung the moon owes me a cold beer for these words. Its been a bittersweet week having been put in the unusual position of sincerely congratulating the work of President Obama. That work of course, is the leadership he displayed in not only green lighting the mission to take Osama bin Laden but the way in which it was to be accomplished. Big risk, big reward. To be entirely honest this episode spoke more to the work of CIA Director Leon Panetta, the Pentagon apparatus, the quiet professionals of our Special Forces teams and most ironically, those ‘inhumane’ Guantanamo interrogators who extracted such actionable information. One would hope through this experience that President Obama would understand from here out that when one embraces the notion of American exceptionalism and allows it the freedom to operate ….. good things inevitably happen.

They Call Him BiBi

In case you missed it, a speech was delivered yesterday by a world leader that will join a list of oratories that define leadership. It will be added to Churchill’s – “We shall fight them on the beach …”, Thatcher’s – “autumn of understanding … winter of common sense”, Kennedy’s – “Ask not…”, and Reagan’s – “Tear down this wall …” offerings. It came from a battled hardened statesman and was presented to a grateful audience. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin (BiBi) Netanyahu delivered a primer on the icy truths of freedom, democracy, and love of country to the US Congress at a time when those sitting in the leather bound chairs could desperately use some remedial training on such subjects.

When Kids Grow Up

The seniors just graduated and received all sorts of congratulations for their (in some cases) hard earned victories. But parents, don’t expect too much from them; you’ve been the ones spoon feeding life to them up to this point (once again, in some cases). They remain immature, raw, and inexperienced on one hand and full of bravado and book knowledge on the other.

Life has yet to smack them on the side of the head. It will happen, it will hurt, and life seldom apologizes without needed course correction. 

Being Honorable in the 21st Century

…..Weiner, Spitzer, Woods, Schwarzenegger, and some French guy named Strauss-Kahn … imagine the problems we would be wading through now if John Edwards would have found his way to the White House in 2008 … Alas, they all have a common denominator. They are human beings, not only capable of failure but prone to it.

Knowledge, Understanding, Wisdom (in that order)

…. In a few hours it will be light and we’ll be able to see the damage. There will be damage. The weather forecaster nailed it with his forecast. He told us just four hours ago everything we needed to know to prepare; time, track, intensity and duration. We did. In a coastal New England fishing village like ours the frequency and accuracy of these forecasts is an essential part of our sense of security and planning considerations. We’re the geeks that listen to the weather band on portable radios.

This is a metaphor for the perfect storm coming our way in financial terms.

______________________________________________________________________________

It’s 3:32 a.m. I can once again hear the clock in the hallway ticking after waking to thunder, lightning and torrential rain at 3:04 a.m. The storm has passed as I can hear it rumble in the distance to the east. In a few hours it will be light and we’ll be able to see the damage. There will be damage.

The weather forecaster nailed it with his forecast He told us just four hours ago everything we needed to know to prepare; time, track, intensity and duration. We did. In a coastal New England fishing village like ours the frequency and accuracy of these forecasts is an essential part of our sense of security and planning considerations. We’re the geeks to whom Radio Shack sells those weather band radios.

This is a metaphor for the mounting storm coming our way in financial terms. At this point it is unavoidable. We’ve seen what happens throughout Europe. We now see it in our country as individual states attempt to come to terms with the financially irresponsible nature of our behavior of the past. Either we heed the warnings and take steps to prepare or simply wait until it’s over to survey the damage. For years we have been warned that the fiscal practices our leaders have exploited for their own political benefit are unsustainable in the long term and there will be a price to pay. The frequently updated forecast that Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and a host of other tax financed entitlements are, or soon will be insolvent – has become old news. Instead of battening down the hatches we look for other windows and doors to open as the storm approaches. It makes no sense whatsoever.

Who can’t understand the forecast or recognize the signs? Who looks for reasons to blame the storm on something or somebody else? Who looks into their own empty wallet and the proceeds to order a Big Mac. Fries, and a milk shake?

Who entertains this sort of idiocy?

Regrettably, it’s the ones who have been called the smartest guys in the room. In this category we’ll put many of today’s bickering political wonks, a certain ilk of enlightened Ivy League intellect, the social justice crowd and anyone with their hand out. Is there anybody still out there with the slightest bit of confidence anymore in the medicine that Chairman Bernanke or Secretary Geithner are prescribing?

Add to this group a large portion of our population that couldn’t be bothered, is without access to information, or truly does not understand the totality of the financial mess we’ve gotten ourselves into. Into this group we can glom together debt ridden college age kids, senior citizens hopping from doctor to doctor on Medicare’s tab who still revere the days of FDR, or those standing in line at 8:59 a.m. enjoying a cigarette outside the downtown welfare office. Observe those in the Wal-Mart checkout line, singing hymns at the Sunday morning service, sitting next to you in traffic, or waiting to walk through airport TSA screening. How many of those folks comprehend, let alone have given serious thought to the serious financial situation in which we have ensnared ourselves? Most of them think a “bump in the road” like $4 per gallon at the pump is an imposition. Is this an informed electorate?

Much talk is being made about cobbling together a federal budget that will exceed $15 trillion or about raising the debt ceiling. For the average adult on the street what does this even mean? Imagine the response from American Express if you demanded more credit to pay off the interest on your Master Card when your credit score hovers near the Mendoza Line? Do you suppose there is a bona fide understanding of how much a trillion dollars really is (if a billion is the new million, what does that make a trillion?) or how much of what the government takes from those who actually pay taxes goes into the things that are bankrupting us? And finally, how much of what is in our federal budget can we actually pay for – just on tax revenue alone? These are pretty basic questions but it brings us back to the weather forecast metaphor.

We’re broke. Just the interest payments alone are enough to sink our ship if one looks just 10-15 years into the future. For many states it won’t be that long. Our debt won’t magically go away as it does when we routinely forgive other nations for the money they owe us. China isn’t as nice and won’t be forgiving as we are. The accumulated interest won’t get any smaller because we’re a good nation. The snowball just gets bigger.

We are a great nation but we have an attention deficit problem. The things that have the real potential to hurt us have a difficult time keeping our attention; you know, stuff like terrorists, national security, porous borders, and … debt.

What should we be doing?

“With all thy getting, get understanding”

This is the banner under which Forbes editorials have been published since the first issue of the magazine. It’s a translation from Proverbs 4:7. Knowledge leads to understanding which leads to wisdom. There are too many Americans that need an introduction to step one. Having an up to date working knowledge of the financial debate that is currently raging in Washington is essential to sifting through the political canards and hubris. Understanding the conversation, the opposing sides, and the overall implications are essential to joining the debate.

Secondly, put two and two together while watching the news. That legislative ruckus in Wisconsin over the winter, the economic news coming from individual states like California, New York, Illinois, aggressive budget reform measures undertaken by governors, and gaining knowledge of how the federal government tightens the financial noose on states with each unfunded federal mandate can give a pretty good picture of what we’re up against. Next, observe the repercussions of the disastrous European Union financial model and witness how the populations are dealing (not so civilly) with their new reality.

Finally, realize there is no silver bullet to this mess. For some the solution will be more painful than for others. Many won’t understand what is happening because they haven’t done their homework.

They will likely be the most astonished and vocal ones when they survey the damage in the morning.