A rather confident fella.

I'm confident. Why not? Confidence is a necessary part of life. Helps me take risks. But I see so many people lacking confidence. So unsure of themselves. I'm unsure, too. Never know if I'm gonna succeed. But I'll never know unless I try. Sometimes I fail. Other times I succeed. And that really bolsters my confidence. And I'm not afraid to fail. I'm used to it. Gives me the opportunity to learn. And to try again. I like to take chances. And to be different. To not fit in. That's just fine with me. In other words. I just want to be me. A rather confident fella. --Jim Broede

An unending search for god.

I don't know if I have a philosophy of life. Or if I do, maybe it changes from day to day. That would seem to give me some flexibility. I'm still feeling my way around. Discovering. Maybe that's the essence of life. Endless discovery. Learning that I'm wrong. Then thinking that finally I've found the truth. Only to discover that I'm wrong again. Could be frustrating. But I don't let it be. I guess my attitude is that there's so much to learn. That one never learns it all. And if one did, maybe that would be on the same level as god. Maybe that's what we are supposed to do. Keep trying to elevate ourselves. So that we can be equal to god. Perfect. All-knowing. I suspect that if I were god, I'd create creatures with the desire and the innate pleasure of making an unending search. Yes, for god almighty himself. --Jim Broede

I'm enamored with life.

Generally, I like to do things my way. I almost insist on it in matters that matter. Such as writing. My blog, in particular. I do as I damn well please. Early in life, we're told what to do, it seems to me. Maybe because we don't know any better. We've been brought into a strange world. And we're just beginning to feel our way around. Then it began to dawn on me that I can choose just as well as the next guy. Even better than my parents and my teachers and my acquaintances. If I have any regrets, it's that I've listened to idiots too much. Suppose that's because I am an idiot. But the point is that I want to be my own kind of idiot. I don't want to be like the rest of 'em. When I was a teen-ager, I actually fancied being a Republican. My gawd. I was living in the gutter. I had no sense of decency. I was scum. But as I got older, I began to see the light. And now I've elevated myself to a superior level idiot. I even write a blog called broodings. Where I fancy myself to be a romantic idealist, a free-thinker, a liberal and a lover. I advocate a revolution. The overthrow of the capitalist system of American government. Oh, I don't want a violent overthrow. I'll settle for a peaceful one. But I'm also smart enough to know that I can't always have my way. That I'm not god. That I can't just snap my fingers and make things happen. But by golly, I think I've come a long way in 74 years. Give me a few more years, and there's no telling where I may end up. So far, I love it. I'm enamored with life. --Jim Broede

If you ain't got the moola...

America is a great country. You can get virtually anything you want. If you can pay for it. That includes health care. Including some amazing medical procedures. The catch, of course, is that it's pretty expensive. And a big number of Americans can't even afford the basics. The insurance costs too much. Well, as an American citizen, I want universal health care. Yes, basic service for everyone. Regardless of income. I think that Barack Obama and the Democrats, particularly the liberals, are headed in that direction. It's been a tough fight. But it's looking more and more like a winning one. Despite vehement opposition from Republicans. The GOP moreorless represents the rich. And they can afford just about anything. And they really don't seem to care all that much about the rest of us. Their advice for the poor and middle classes is get rich. Take advantage of the capitalist society. Afterall, we're a nation founded on the principle of survival of the fit -- er, I mean richest. If you ain't got the moola, get to the back of the line. Come to the front when you can buy your way. --Jim Broede

Spiritual vs. monetary riches.

For me, a church isn't a church. It's a man-made edifice. A real church is the great outdoors. Surrounded by nature. By natural beauty. Created by the creator. By god himself. That's the grandest cathedral of all. I think the money spent on building churches could have been better spent. Maybe on helping the poor, the downtrodden. Yes, people in dire need. Think of all the riches of the church. Take the Vatican, for instance. I'd sell it all. And operate out of shacks. And the outdoors. No need for the artificial splendor. I'll bet that if Jesus returned for a few moments and saw how religions spend money on artifacts, he'd weep. And call it an utter waste. I thought he said something about it being very difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yet, the church has accumulated boundless monetary riches. A fortune that could be converted into housing for the homeless and destitute. --Jim Broede

I'm for all of us pitching in.

I want big government to take care of the basic necessities of my life. So that I can spend my time on other things. Such as becoming a poet and philosopher and lover. If I have to focus on the basics -- well, I won't have time for the pursuit of happiness. In other words, I want government to give me a decent public education. And health care. And social security to help me in my retirement years. I don't wanna have to struggle through life. And hey, it's all right for government to take a goodly chunk of my income to provide the basics. I'm willing to pay taxes. As long as others pay their fair share, too. Especially the rich. I'm willing to help support people poorer than me. And in turn, those richer than me probably will end up supporting me to a degree. By paying more taxes than me. That's fair, isn't it? I'm not for a free ride. I'm for all of us pitching in. To serve the common good. --Jim Broede

Maybe I missed my calling.

I could easily have become a professional baseball player. That is, if I had the talent. Instead, I became a writer. A lover of words. And dreams. I can still imagine being a baseball player. Earning a living by playing a game. Hitting and throwing and fielding a baseball. With uncanny skill. I'd be a retired player by now. Maybe though I would have lingered on. As manager of the Chicago Cubs. Too bad I wasn't. Because I would have solved all of the Cubs problems. They'd be the best team in baseball. Because I would see to it. --Jim Broede

In my humble opinion.

I've learned to be romantic. Wasn't always that way. I wasn't born romantic. So I wonder how it came about. Must have been through life experience. I'm not sure if I can pinpoint a specific date. All I know is that I've considered myself romantic since I fell in love with Jeanne. That was in the late 1960s. And I've been cultivating a romantic personna ever since. To the point that I call myself a romantic idealist. I'm always in love. With someone or something. I can't imagine being anything else. That's my nature. My essence. I probably was born with a blank essence. It was up to me to create one. From scratch. I've done a good job of it. In my humble opinion. --Jim Broede

I'm really quite insignificant.

I lose track of time. Time seems to zip by. So fast. Here it's Friday already. And last Friday only seems like yesterday. When I was a youngster, time seemed to crawl. Pass so slowly. I'd like to live outside of time. Maybe that happens when we die. Maybe in the spirit world there is no time. I'm under the impression that god lives outside of time. Anyway, what is time? I'm not sure I know. Guess it's some form of measurement. Helps me put things in perspective. Helps me store memories. Based on a sequential arrangement. I'm under the impression that I've been around since 1935. Seems like long ago. But not that long when compared to all of recorded history. Hardly any time at all. Anyway, there isn't all that much of recorded history. Most of history is unrecorded. Stuff that happened. But we don't know about. Some rather remarkable things, I'm sure. I suspect that I'll become a part of unrecorded history. Nobody will know that I ever existed. Not even god. Because I'm really quite insignificant. --Jim Broede

Everything will balance out.

I've noticed lately that I'm getting along with more people. More than usual, that is. I'm not alienating as many folks as is my custom. And so I'm wondering if I'm being too nice. Afterall, I want to be balanced. One can be too nice. Or too bad. I like to divide it up rather evenly. But I do go through periods, I suppose. When I'm overly nice. Or overly bad. So I'll just give it time. And trust that everything will balance out. --Jim Broede

Maybe I don't worry enough.

Oh, I suppose I worry about things. But I keep telling people to not worry. Because most of the stuff we worry about never happens. And so there was no reason to really worry. It was an utter waste of time. We'd have been better off not worrying in the first place. But I think I know people that like to worry. Makes their day. Gives them something to do. And they tell me that it's a relief when the thing they worried about didn't happen. And that they would not have felt the pleasure of relief it they had not spent time worrying. Of course, that leaves me puzzled. And so I'm worrying over the possibility that I don't worry enough. That I'm missing something. --Jim Broede

I ain't gonna put things off.

I don't like getting ahead of myself. Such as thinking about what I'm gonna do next week or next month or next year. Because then I'm living too much in the future. A time to come. And I lose track of today. Making the most of the moment. Maybe it's just that I'm getting older. And if I think too far ahead, I start to imagine not being around any more. Hey, in 20 years I'm gonna be 94. If I live that long. Of course, that's highly unlikely. Maybe such a thought is an advantage. It prompts me to make the most of today. Because I might not be here tomorrow. Anyway, maybe that's why god blessed us with knowledge of death. That we are gonna die. Sooner or later. So live while one still has the opportunity to live. Yes, savor life. If life lasted forever, maybe we'd be inclined to put off everything until tomorrow. I ain't gonna put things off. --Jim Broede

Is health care a right or privilege?

Yes, there's a big philosophical difference between Republicans and Democrats on the issue of health care. Democrats want government oversight. To make sure that health care insurance is affordable to every American. Republicans, on the other hand, think of health care as a privilege, not a human right. And if you can't afford it, that's tough. In other words, not everyone should be guaranteed health care. Well, if that's so, I'd tend to favor a law that denies health care to Republicans, but gives it to everybody else. I could live with that. Of course, I would prefer universal health care. So that everybody gets it. That seems fairest to me. --Jim Broede

America wins. And I'm smiling.

I think the Democrats are wising up. They're gonna find a way to adopt significant health care reform without a single Republican vote. Two different bills have been adopted. One by the Senate. The other by the House of Reresentatives. Normally, the two different bills are reconciled in committee. With give and take on both sides. But the Senate now has one additional Republican and one less Democrat since the bills passed. And so Republicans could block a revised bill with a filibuster. But the strategy by House Democrats will be to approve the Senate bill in its entirety. So there's no need to work out a deal. The bill will then automatically go to Obama, to sign, and it becomes law. Of course, that bill will still be short of what liberal Democrats in the House want. But Democrats can pass separate bills under a process known as budget reconciliation, which require only a simple majority to pass, instead of the super majority under Senate rules. So when push comes to shove, the Democrats will get rather sweeping legislation on health care. To the chagrin of Republicans who once thought they could be obstinate and block everything with a filibuster. Yes, it's looking more and more like the Democrats have outmaneuvered the obstructionist Republicans. Yes, there are many twists and turns in the game of politics. We won't know the results of this one for sure for a few days yet. But I'm inclined to believe that the Democrats are winning and the Republicans are losing. That means America wins. And I'm smiling. --Jim Broede

Click here to read more about the truth:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/26/opinion/26krugman.html?ref=opinion

And the revolution begins.

Pardon me if I become more cynical all the time. But I think the economic and political aspects of life are run by manipulators. By powerbrokers. Out to reap profits. Money. Money. Money. Money is power. And power is money. Imagine the power I'd have if I had a billion dollars. I could buy political favors right and left. I'd have immense influence. Certainly far more power than 100,000 poor and middle class peons. Yes, more proof that we live in a plutocracy. Not a democracy. The vote of a billionaire counts far more than the cumulative votes of all the poor people in the land. Money talks louder than the voices of the downtrodden. But hey, in my more optimistic moments, I begin to believe that it doesn't have to be that way. I dream of the day of the great revolution. When the bottom classes of society yell, 'Enough!!!' And the revolution begins. --Jim Broede

Welcome to world of capitalism.

I'm not sure that I understand the intricacies of banking and financing. Actually, I don't. But I'm reading sources I trust. And they tell me that bankers are hastening the economic collapse of Greece. And wishing for it. Because some financiers will have the opportunity to make money from it. Through some intricate manipulations. Yes, another example of the evils of capitalism. Anything for a profit. No scruples. No rules. Anything goes as long as it makes money for someone. Yes, little wonder that Wall Street and other big bankers want absolutely no regulations. So they can do as they damn well please. Make immense profits. Even at the expense of an entire nation. Ah, citizens of Greece. Welcome to the world of capitalism. --Jim Broede

What's the hurry?

I like to go the distance. Slow. Rather than fast. Speed is not my thing. When I go for a walk, I settle for a 15-minute mile. And to stick with it for two, three, maybe even occasionally 10 miles. And I want to live a long time. Maybe into my 80s and 90s. Slowly. One day at a time. No hurry. I'd rather plod than sprint. Even when I read a book. I like to make it last. For days. Even weeks. Easier to savor that way. Absorb slowly. I used to hurry through life. As if it was important to accumulate numerous experiences. To aim for big numbers. Speedily. I still get things done. But I keep asking myself, 'What's the hurry?' --Jim Broede

How's that for an ice-breaker?

I could get up on stage. And do a monologue. Without any preparation. Just talk and talk and talk. And be rather entertaining. Quite possibly, by making a fool of myself. I think that would be highly entertaining. Funny. I'd come off as strange. Quirky. In my younger days, I would have suffered from stage fright. Because I didn't want to be a fool. Fearing I was unprepared. But now I'm prepared for almost anything. I can handle it. I can have fun. With myself. And with others. I'm really a loner. Preferring to be by myself. Or with one other. But I can be very sociable, too. Because I'm curious. I like to know other people. Engage them in conversation. To learn what makes 'em tick. Often, they don't know. Because they haven't thought about it. So I might ask 'em pointblank: What makes you tick? How's that for an ice-breaker?--Jim

We keep searching & never find it.

I suspect that almost any form of government can be good. If it's run right. Run by good and well-intentioned people. A monarchy, for instance, can be good. If the monarch happens to benevolent and kind and fair. The same goes for communism and for capitalism. But what all too often happens is the corruption of the political and economic system. It's run shoddily. And so virtually every system of government gets a bad name. Prompting a clamor for no or very little government. Of course, that can be a disaster, too. Just giving free rein to everyone. Eventually the corrupt take over. And fashion a government that favors the elite few over the masses. Yes, the common good be damned. Unfortunately, throughout history, that has been the nature of things. We keep searching. For an ideal government. And we never find it. --Jim Broede

Little trace of love.

I think I live two lives. A rather soft life. And a harsh one. Yes, I guess I've discovered a need to be on both sides of the spectrum. My favorite aspect of life is the loving. Oh, so easy to love. To fall in love. With one other. I find that a necessity. That's where I get my sustenance. My solace. From a loving relationship. But at the same time, there's a lot of unloving in the world. I see it every day. In my surroundings. People mad at each other. Especially in the political, social and economic realms. Maybe it's the nature of the system. Look at what's happening in the political arena. Right here in the USA. But around the world, too. Politicians practice hate. Yes, the opposite of love. They are out to knife each other. To despise. To pull dirty tricks. To pray for each other's failure. Even for an opponent's death. Makes me wonder where all the love has gone. I know love is still there. Because I experience it in the privacy of my cocoon. My own little world. Away from the harping politicians. But I don't find it in the halls of Congress. There I find mostly hate and gigantic egos. Little trace of love. --Jim Broede

The ability to savor love.

I don't have bad days because I always seem to find a way to end the day well. Because I retreat to my cocoon. My own little world. A safe haven. And I focus on what's going right in my life. Such as a loving relationship. And then I reflect on being an alive and conscious being. Capable of giving love. And receiving love. And I always try to write a love letter before I go to bed. Even when I'm living with my love. It's a good practice. And I think I've become very adept at writing love letters. There's something nice and pleasant about putting loving thoughts in writing. Spoken words tend to vaporize. Sort of disappear into the night. But a written word has a lasting quality. It can live on and on. I've seen written words penned centuries ago. And they still live. They still remain vibrant. I keep trying to master the craft of being a romantic idealist. I want to be one of the best romantics and one of the best idealists in the world. Because that is what motivates me. Deep down. I love to be romantic. Maybe that's the essence of love. Romance. The ability to savor love. To make it last. --Jim Broede

Is it the beginning of the end?

I have something in common with the lunatic fringe of the Republican Party. We're both extremists. The lunatics off the deep end of conservatism. I'm way over the edge on liberalism. The lunatics are -- well, loonie. On the other hand, I'm a genius. Way ahead of my times. I'm advocating a form of government that will be in vogue in 200 years. Then world government will be acceptable. Yes, the global economy will need regulation and close monitoring. So that the common good is served. Exploitation of the masses will be frowned upon. We'll accept the notion that we have to be fair to everyone. By narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor. Trying to guarantee everyone the basic necessities of life. Such as an education and health care and a pension in our waning years. We'll look back on American-style capitalism as immoral. Just as immoral as slavery and the subjugation of people based on racial and ethnic background. People will still be allowed to get rich. But not so much in monetary ways. But rather in intellectual and cultural ways. Poets and philosophers will be revered. For their thoughts. And we'll have a new style of politic. Geared to promote the common good. And historians will shudder when they write about the old days when lunatic Republicans prevailed. They'll be equated with the feudal lords of the middle ages. The 21st century will be known as the Age of Unenlightenment. The beginning of the end for the Republican loonies. --Jim Broede

Allows one to be anything.

I like to think about life. Have you noticed? To become cognizant. Of my surroundings. My environment. I suspect that many of us don't think. Don't stop to reflect. Over the fact that we are alive. And most likely here for a purpose. Instead, we merely go through the motions of living. We don't consciously consider that we can alter our lives. Significantly. Yes, make a change. Turn left instead of right. And that makes the outcome different. Of course, we may be directed by a guiding hand. If so, maybe we have no choice in the matter. And we are under remote control. Manipulated. Even though we think we have free choice. Imagine that. It's all an illusion. Or better yet. I am god. And I am dreaming. All of this. Goes to show that the imagination is a wonderful thing. Allows one to be anything. --Jim Broede

For which I am grateful.

I think Obama and the Democrats are wising up. And finding a way to get health care reform passed. Bypassing the filibuster. And it'll piss off the Republicans. But there's nobody I'd rather see pissed off than the Republicans. Obama is gonna hold a televised summit meeting with Republicans Thursday night. I suspect, to show the public that the Republicans really don't want to pass anything. And that will open the door to an intricate process of adopting the reform with a simple majority instead of the super majority needed under a filibuster. I hope this works. It'll be a big boost for my morale. Of course, I have no power to control the outcome. But maybe the divine spirits in Paradise do. But if they don't, I won't complain. After all, they've been good to me over the years. Sending me love. For which I am eternally grateful. --Jim Broede

A testing of my soul.

I wonder how a soul is affected if it's transplanted from one mind into another. In other words, to what extent is a soul shaped by the mind? I'm assuming the soul is a separate entity. Not the same as the mind or the physical brain. Quite possibly, the soul has no physical composition. If so, it can survive the destruction or death of the physical being. I wonder, too, if the soul is unconscious. And needs to reside in a mind in order to attain cognitive power. Awareness. The soul, I assume, reacts to the environment and experience of the being in which it resides. Maybe the soul is an element of god. Our connection to the divine. To the holy. To the spirit world. The soul boosts the mind. Gives it an extraordinary dimension. Elevates the mind to a level far above a souless mind. I don't know. This is speculation. Maybe a testing of my soul. --Jim Broede

It's for the benefit of the few.

It's a theory. One that I think is being practiced. By Republicans. Keep pushing through popular tax cuts. So there's less and less money to finance government programs. Yes, run up the nation's debt. So the federal government becomes insolvent. Goes bankrupt. A neat way to sabotage government. And to get exactly what the selfish conservative Republicans desire. Activist Grover Norqust claims conservatives want to get government "down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub." Economist Paul Krugman discusses this theory in a column in the New York Times. Krugman is on to something, it seems to me. Click below. Read the column. Really, it helps explain why Republicans are obstructionists. They don't want to fix government. Instead , they want to wreck government. To annihilate it. So that greedy private sector capitalists can seize total control. And manipulate us all. Without government interference or regulation. In order to make money. Obscene profits. The idea is to allow corrupt individuals to become super rich. At the expense of others. To widen the gap between the rich and the poor. To exploit the many for the benefit of the few. --Jim Broede

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/22/opinion/22krugman.html?hp

I like this Scotsman.

I like this guy. He's a stand-up comic. Follows David Letterman. Nightly. He's a Scotsman. Craig Ferguson. He's really good at what he does. Comedy. But he also can be quite serious. In such a nice way. Click below. You'll have an opportunity to see him. I think at his best. --Jim Broede

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bbaRyDLMvA

If I were an historian.

I wouldn't mind being an historian. Trying to figure out why things happened. Or didn't happen. And how history could have been changed. By the benefits of hindsight. For instance, could World War II have been prevented? Could the U.S. and other nations have intervened in a way to save the lives of the Jews killled in the Holocaust? And how would the world be different if these interventions had happened? Or what if Germany and Japan had won World War II? What if America's founders had really believed that all men/women were created equal? And if everyone would have been given equal rights from the beginning? What if John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy hadn't been assasinated? How would it have affected the long-term course of American history? Yes, if I were an historian, I'd delve into what ifs... --Jim Broede

Just to satisfy my curiosity.

Had my mother lived instead of dying at 88, she would have turned 96 yesterday. And my father would have become 100 later this year. Causes me to reflect on how my life might have changed. If they were still alive today. With my mother, for instance, I would have visited numerous times. And so my movements out and about would have changed. I would have been in different places at different times. And I may have been killed in a traffic accident. For having been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or something favorable might have happened. Just a slight shift in sequence of events could well make a difference in all of our lives. I find such speculation fascinating. Back in 1965, when I accepted a job in Minnesota, I also had an opportunity to take other employment in other parts of the country. What if I had? My whole life would have been altered. With a different cast of characters. With an entirely different outcome. I would not have met dear Jeanne and had a happy marriage. When I was in the army and stationed in Germany, I had already received orders to sail back to the USA for discharge. But my uncle in Chicago died, and instead I caught a flight back to the states for the funeral. That changed the whole timing of my life decisions. I was discharged a few weeks earlier than I would have otherwise. And then I might not have lined up the job I did. Everything would have been different because of different timing. It would be interesting to know how that would have altered my life. Only god knows. But I'd like god to tell me some day. Just to satisfy my curiosity. --Jim Broede

The nature of an adventure.

I suspect that Barack Obama looks at the presidency as an adventure. Which makes the job fun. He's amazed that he got elected in the first place. Like it's an achievement of an impossible dream. And he does't exactly know what to do about it. Whether to just lean back and enjoy the ride. Or to really achieve something astoundingly significant. That has long-lasting impact on the nation and the world. I'll bet that Obama tells himself to take his life in the White House one day at a time. And that may be a problem. Because lots of people see that as having no grand scheme. And leaders are supposed to have it all figured out. An answer for everything. Of course, that's ridiculous. Because most leaders don't know where they are going. That's the nature of an adventure. --Jim Broede

On being quirky.

I've been called quirky. I think that's a fair description of me. Really, it's probably applicable to most people. We all have quirks in our personalities. Things that make us a bit unusual. With me, it's obvious. I let my quirks hang out. I don't hide 'em. I put my quirks on display right here in this blog. I like to be quirky. I consider it a compliment to be called quirky. I've never had any overwhelming desire to be like other people. I'd rather be different. I'd rather not fit in. I like going against the grain. To be considered an outsider. Or a lone wolf. I could live on a desert island for an extended period. And find happiness there. But still, I'm flexible. I can fit in. And often enough do. Yes, I can be very sociable. Aloof, too. Unpredictable. Quirky. --Jim Broede

A nation with a defeatist attitude.

Seems we Americans don't fully know we're in big trouble. As a nation. We're bogged down in record deficits. Many of us are out of work. We can't make ends meet. We're losing our homes. Nearly 50 million of us have no health insurance. We have a congress that looks like a club of idiots. With no idea about how to solve our problems. And we just sit on our hands and apparently tolerate this mess. As if it's hopeless. Of course, it ain't. We could fix it. If only we became willing to pull together. To make sacrifices. To work for the common good. Maybe it'll take a big dose of socialism. And tax increases. And a new kind of patriotism. A national herculean effort even bigger than the one that won World War II. We have the potential to get it done. But we're stuck on our fat asses. Fighting each other. Obstructing. Really makes me sad to be an American. A country with a defeatist attitude. Full of loonies. Populating the entire political spectrum. --Jim Broede

The pursuit of happiness.

I think I adapt rather easily to change. For instance, I retired on June 11, 1998. After a career writing for newspapers. The past 29 years of it at the daily newspaper in St. Paul. I thought for a while that I would never retire. That I'd stay gainfully employed in the news business until the day I died. But Jeanne got Alzheimer's. And needed care. And I was becoming disenchanted with newspapering. It wasn't like it used to be. So I retired. And in the almost 12 years since I walked out of the newsroom, I've returned only once. I've adapted to retirement. I love it. And I'm busier than ever. Writing more than ever. But writing what I want to write. Like my blog, for instance. And a loving relationship. Plenty of exercise. Thoughtful ponderings. Travel. Yes, it's called the pursuit of happiness. --Jim Broede

Hell would be a welcome relief.

Call me an optimist. Because I haven't given up on significant health care reform legislation. On Democrats shoving something through. Maybe in the dead of night. In a clandestine way. To the surprise of obstructionist Republicans. When it comes to scheming and dirty and negative politics, Republicans excel. But I keep holding out hope that Democrats can work a pact with the devil. Which is all right. Because the devil is a better and nicer guy than a Republican. Yes, I'd vote for the devil before I'd vote for a Republican. I'd rather live in hell than in a Republican-dominated world. Hell would be a welcome relief. --Jim Broede

As a means of saving America.

Politics can be strange. And unpredictable. Because many of the players are crazy. And they play games. With each other. Anyway, to prove my point, look at how the political scene has changed in a year or so. The Democrats had just won solid majorities in Congress. And seemed to have lots of political capital. But hey, Republicans have come on strong. By playing politics. By being obstructionists. By being negative. By putting the blame for everything on Democrats. Even though it was a Republican administration that got us into economic trouble in the first place. Doesn't matter, I guess. Because the memory of the electorate is shorter than that of an Alzheimer patient. Another thing. We like overnight solutions. And our nation's problems are so deep and complex, that it may take a generation to fix 'em. And most of us don't have the patience to wait it out. So we'll likely shift back and forth. Give the Democrats a year or two. And then the Republicans a year or two. And we'll get nothing meaningful done. Maybe we'll become a second-rate world power. Which is fine with me. That may be our solution. Then we might tend to our own business. And instead of spending big dough on wars and other foolishness, we might channel it into beneficial domestic programs. That's it. Maybe I'll consider running for public office. And campaign on the theme of making America a second-rate power. As a means of saving us. --Jim Broede

Sounds a little bit like the Mafia.

Seems to me that to get the USA out of its financial mess, I have to put my faith in either big business or big government. And I think our salvation is in government. Run properly, of course. With the common good foremost in mind. Maybe it's gonna be futile to put my trust in anything. But I'll side with government for now. Because government isn't supposed to be in business to make a profit. Government is supposed to be in business to serve the people. And it's supposed to be run by the people. Big private corporations, on the other hand, are mostly self-serving. Out to reap big profits. Even obscene profits. Many corporations rip us off. Such as health care insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies. So do Wall Street bankers. I don't trust 'em any more than I'd trust a thieving crook. Doesn't surprise me that Republicans and big business interests keep telling us to oppose big government because it's inefficient. The real reason, however, is that private corporations don't want regulation. Or competition. They want a free rein. To do as they please. To run the world without government interference. Sounds a little bit like the Mafia to me. --Jim Broede

I couldn't have made this up.

I'm living a fantastic life. No doubt about it. Just the fact that I'm alive and conscious. Amazing. Remarkable. Just to be able to think. To be aware of my surroundings. My environment. And other people. And creatures of all kinds. To see and smell flowers. To board a plane and fly to Europe. In 7 hours. To have a girlfriend. To touch her. To talk. To communicate. To listen to music. How can all this be? It's phenomenal. Yes, fantastic. Maybe it's all a figment of my imagination. Or a dream. Really, doesn't matter. Because I feel alive. Therefore, I am. I believe it. Beyond a shadow of doubt. I couldn't have made this up. --Jim Broede

Ample reason to have big heads.

Baseball is very much a head game. And that's why my Chicago Cubs need a head doctor. A psychiatrist. I don't know why baseball teams don't hire shrinks. Players need to believe in themselves. They need confidence. Not too much or too little of it. Just the right dose. They need to take to the field with a bit of swagger. I think that last year the Cubs started doubting themselves early on. In baseball, that can lead to disaster. And too many lost games. I'd have a psychiatrist in the dugout for every game. Starting with the exhibitions. And I'd want the psychiatrist to be a baseball fan. Preferably a Cubs fan. Someone who believes in the team. And lets it be known. Maybe then the players will learn to believe in themselves. And for the first time in 102 years, the mighty Cubs will win the World Series. Yes, ample reason to have big heads. --Jim Broede

Hear ye! Obama has it right.

I'll tell you why we need a public health insurance option. Because if we are left to the whims of the private insurers, we'll get screwed. Health insurance will become more unaffordable for most of us. Because the insurance companies will continue to raise the rates. Astronomically. So they can make billions of dollars in profits and pay their executives multi-million dollar salaries. And they'll get away with it. Unless we have reform that includes a public option. Yes, competition for the private insurers. We Americans still have an opportunity to make it known that we'll settle for nothing less than a public option. We can either listen to the obstructionist Republicans or to Barack Obama. --Jim Broede

Click here for more details:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61H2M620100219

I have a non-violent, loving cat.

Hard to remember when I last lived in a catless household. Probably more than 40 years ago. Must have become acquainted with about 20 cats. As many as five at a time. Down to two now. I've learned that every cat has his/her own personality. Never two the same. And only once did I have a cat that didn't find a way to fit in with the rest of the tribe. Had to find her another home in a single cat family. Sad. But it was for her own good. At the moment, I have the most loving cat in all of creation. I've named him appropriately. Loverboy. He wants loving. And he gives loving. Thinks he's human. Or maybe it's that I'm a cat. He follows me around. Virtually all the time. Now he's on a cushion atop my desk. Watching me perform. If I go into the bathroom, he'll follow. Never gives me privacy. When I take a shower, he even steps in, too. Sheltered by the shower curtain. He drinks the water from the bottom of the shower stall. And he doesn't mind getting a little bit wet. He grooms me often. And he sleeps with me. I brought Loverboy home about 3 or 4 years ago. From the local animal shelter. I thought my black female cat, Chenuska, needed company. A companion. So I announced that I needed a 3-year-old male cat, already neutered and declawed. "You got somebody like that, and I'll take him," I said. Sure enough, Loverboy was the only cat that fit my description. Guess we were fated to be buddies. Believe me, we are. Loverboy also may be the smartest cat in the world. He talks to me. And he understands English. Italian, too. And if he sees a squirrel out the sliding glass door of my studio, he'll follow his every movement. And when the squirrel scampers out of sight, Loverboy knows how to take a circuitous route into the living room, to fetch another look. Chenuska is too dumb to follow. Or maybe she's just lazy. Loverboy also is kind-hearted. He'll catch an intruding mouse. But he refuses to kill. He makes a friend and playmate of the mouse. Yes, I have a non-violent, loving cat. --Jim Broede

Sounds rather stupid to me.

We Americans must be among the most stupid people on Earth. We have problems. Serious problems. With health care, for instance. But we're too dumb to solve the problems. So we're learning to live with the status quo. We do nothing to change the system. To make it work. Instead, we spend more on a crappy health care system than any nation. And we keep getting less and less. Sounds rather stupid to me. --Jim Broede

For more about American stupidity, click on this article by New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristoff.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/18/opinion/18kristof.html

It's all so wonderful.

I think of my blog as a journey. Through life. Not always knowing where I'm going. That's a nice part of life. The adventure. Of not always knowing what's next. Life can be full of surprises. And new routes. New turns. New twists. Every day I'm faced with choices. I find more and more that there's no wasted time. Because I can make something of almost anything. I'm able to savor the littlest things. And make the experience big. And meaningful. I don't know what will be my next thought. I just let it come. Makes me feel as if I'm in constant motion. Moving through the cosmos. Through life. It's all so wonderful. --Jim Broede

Maybe they'll choke to death.

I'm hearing rumblings in the Democratic Party. That it's time for Democrats to seize control. To send the Republicans reeling. By forcing a public option in health care reform. Bypassing a threatened Republican filibuster. And passing the reform under a process known as reconciliation. Which requires a simple majority, instead of the super majority under current senate rules. That would be marvelous. Because there are at least 51 Democrat senators likely to support a public option. Some Democrats had backed away from the public option, thinking that would help get a bipartisan bill. But Republicans seem unwilling to support anything proposed by Democrats. So why compromise? Won't do any good anyway. So some Democrats are thinking they might as well shove legislation down obstructionist Republican throats. And maybe they'll choke to death. The rest of us should be so lucky. --Jim Broede

White supremacy is still alive.

News commentator Keith Olbermann has it right. He's noticed that the fledgling right-wing tea-party, consists almost exclusively of white people. Very white people. At their rallies, you don't find a black face. No Hispanics either. In fact, a complete absence of minorities. No reason to be surprised about that. Because they want the USA to return to the good old days. When America's power structure consisted entirely of lily white people. When blacks and minorities were subjugated. Little wonder that their venom is aimed at Barack Obama. Now it's time for more than Olbermann to notice the true nature and white complexion of the tea-party crowd. Sad to say. The white supremacy movement is still alive, isn't it? --Jim Broede

Doing what comes naturally.

I'm amazed. At actors. Especially Shakespearean actors. And how they master an entire script. I'd never be able to do it. Even if my life depended on it. I'd never be able to learn my lines. Let alone, act 'em out. Maybe that's the problem. I'd be unable to fully feel the part. Isn't that what an actor must do? Really live the part. Then it would be easier to get on stage and become lost in the role. And maybe not even be aware of the audience. Albeit, life is acting, in a sense. And I find that easy. Because I'm playing myself. And I write the script as I go along. Doing what comes naturally. I suppose I could pretend to be someone else. But that would be difficult. I'd have to fake it. Unless, of course, I had the genius of an actor. Anyway, guess I'd just prefer being myself. --Jim Broede

Click on this to get a sense of doing what comes naturally:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDrQz4RVLi4

Cruel but usual punishment.

We Americans have a cruel society. We like to treat people badly. Especially people we consider to be bad. As if there's no such thing as redemption. I stumbled across an amazing statistic the other day. Prison sentences in the USA are eight times longer than those handed out in Europe. Really, that doesn't surprise me. We Americans believe in punishment. In not letting anyone off easy. In a recent talk, Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy mentioned that California has 185,000 people in prison at a cost of $32,500 each per year. He urged voters and elected officials to compare spending on prisons with spending on elementary education. Well, I'm sure of one thing. We don't spend $32,500 per year on a school kid. Not even close. Gives one pause. About our nation's priorities. Anyway, California has been ordered to bring down its prison population. Because the prisons are badly overcrowded. And little wonder. California has a three-strikes law. Which means that on a third offense, even a minor one, you go to prison for a long, long time. Gary Ewing was sentenced to 25 years to life for shoplifting three golf clubs. I rest my case. That's cruel but usual punishment in America. --Jim Broede

A girl friend, the Bard & Macbeth.

Believe me. It's nice to have a girl friend. Especially one that teaches English literature. She's become my personal tutor. On Shakespeare. I had long ignored Shakespeare. But not any more. I went to a live performance of Macbeth tonight. At the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. And I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was fantastic. Remarkable. With many creative touches. That really spiced up the production. Oh, my gawd, I've missed so much in my life. But I keep discovering. More and more. A girl friend. Shakespeare. Macbeth. --Jim Broede

Click here to read a Macbeth review:
http://blogs.mspmag.com/themorningafter/2010/02/review-macbeth-the-guthrie-the.html

Doesn't make sense, does it?

I was reading tonight about the weak job market in the U.S. Especially for men. Ages 25 to 54. One out of 5 of 'em are unemployed. And now, for the first time, there are more women than men in the work force. I'm so thankful that I don't have to work. Albeit, if I had to, I'd find a way. I really enjoy not having to work. But if you had told me 20 years ago that I'd be enjoying it, I wouldn't have believed it. Anyway, I wish we had a society in which there was a job for everyone that really wanted to work. Even if it was a mundane job. A way to earn a living. Doing something. I started working when I was 12. And I was never without a job for more than a few weeks. Until I retired in 1998. My gawd, it's been that long. Going on 12 years. I don't know how I'd have handled it if I had lost my job, let's say, when I was 50. And couldn't find work. It'd be awful. But I never had to worry about being without a job. I always had job opportunities. I had choices. But so many, many people have not even a single choice. They're jobless. And they can't find work. Must be a rather depressing feeling. Really, though, government could create jobs. Jobs that serve the common good. Public works projects. And if everybody had a job, it'd boost the economy. Because they'd have money to spend. If there was a national will, it could be done. But the will isn't there. That's sad. But meanwhile, there are plenty of people thriving. Getting rich. Rich far beyond what they need. While others are homeless and jobless. Doesn't make sense, does it? --Jim Broede

On becoming a butterfly.

Exercise. I need it daily. Generally, lots of it. Yes, I'm addicted. To physical motion. To moving about. Even when I'm sick. I don't wanna stay in bed. I need my fix. Exercise. Physical. But mental, too. I was given a body and a mind. For a reason. To use. I also have a spirit. Something inside me. I hope the spirit survives after my physical being dies. And that the spirit is able to move. To exercise. To explore the cosmos and other dimensions. I suspect that my physical being contains my spirit. Keeps it from wandering away from my body. Maybe my body was made to be a cocoon. Where my spirit can nurture. And feel safe. Before it's finally released. And becomes a butterfly. --Jim Broede

Making the best of life.

My time is best spent in my cocoon. Moreorless hiding out from the real world. I let in a handful of trusted friends. And two cats. And I worship the spirits. Mostly outdoors. Where nature abounds. Often, absent of people. All this allows me to thrive. Doesn't even matter who's president of the United States. Because I don't have to pay attention. I'm free to read books. And to write. Pretty much what I want to write. Oh, I travel, too. And I cultivate a love interest. I wish I had the power to change the world. For the better. But for the most part I don't. Because I can't. I don't have that much power or influence. So I accept what I detest. Such as a war in Afghanistan. Bothers me that 12 innocent civilians were killed two days ago. And five more today. And there'll be more to come. Yes, the collateral damage of war. If I were god, I'd put a stop to it. But I'm just me. A mortal in the pursuit of happiness. Trying to make the best of life. --Jim Broede

Let's start from scratch.

I gotta admire U.S. Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana. He's decided not to run for reelection. In large part, because he's sick and tired of the political bickering in Washington. Apparently Bayh has recognized that it's an utter waste of time to put up with gridlock. Politicians unable to get anything meaningful done. Bayh is well-intentioned. Just like Barack Obama and a few others in the nation's capitol. But they're caught up in a system that refuses to change. A system that's corrupt and run by the big money interests. It's shameful. And we ordinary citizens don't do anything about it. Because we feel helpless. Just like Bayh. That's why he decided to get out. The system is bigger than him. Sad. Sad. Sad. American government is crap. We need an overhaul. But better yet, let's scrap the whole mess. And start from scratch. Let's design a new kind of government. One that works.--Jim Broede

The inmates are seizing control.

Democrats are inept. In that they don't know how to reach stupid people. They should take lessons from Republicans, the masters of luring idiots to their cause. Idiots happen to be the biggest bloc in the American political realm. They'll believe almost anything if you tell 'em it often enough. Just put it on a bumper sticker. All it takes is a simple word or two. And they fall for the populist lingo. Little wonder that the polls show the Republicans coming on strong in the 2010 elections. Don't be surprised if the GOP even regains control of both houses of Congress. In the USA, nothing should come as a surprise after our idiot element elected George Bush to two terms. Believe me, idiots are even capable of electing Sarah Palin. They made her governor in Alaska. And John McCain even picked her as his vice president. Yes, McCain knows how to milk his idiot constituency. Republicans are very, very good at it. Especially because Democrats are so inept. Democrats don't know how to wield power once they accidentally obtain it. They just let their agenda fritter away. They can't even take advantage of their 59-41 majority in the U.S. Senate. They allow the idiot minority to rule. To essentially gridlock the government. And to put the blame on the Democrats. Here I've been calling for a revolution. And sadly, we have it. The wrong kind. The inmates are seizing control of the asylum called America. --Jim Broede

My cat is smarter than me.

My cat Loverboy is smarter than his mate Chenuska. He's got great cognitive powers. For instance, when he sees a squirrel on the deck outside my studio, he watches carefully. And when the squirrel moves north and out of his range of vision, Loverboy will scamper out of the studio and into the living room. He knows how to keep the squirrel in sight. Chenuska is too dumb to move on. Loverboy also has a language. He speaks to me. He tries to tell me things. And if I wasn't so dumb, I'd pick it up. I hate to admit it, but I think Loverboy is smarter than me. --Jim Broede

Read it. And weep.

I don't discount the preposterous. And the tragic. Yes, Sarah Palin could become president of the USA some day. Because Americans will buy anything. Just drum beat a message into their heads. Over and over and over again. Read Frank Rich's column. And weep. --Jim Broede

Frank Rich: Palin’s Cunning Sleight of Hand

Reason to live to age 200.

My Chicago Cubs won't be favorites in the National League Central division this season. And I sort of like that. Some sportswriters pick them to finish as low as third or fourth. Last year, the Cubs were favorites to win it all. And they disappointed. Now the expectations are lower. And I think that's more incentive. And less pressure. I think that last season many of the Cubs players assumed they were so good that they only had to go through the motions. After all, they had won 97 games the season before. Turns out they won only 83 games, and finished 9 games behind St. Louis. The Cubs haven't won a World Series since 1908. I want to live long enough for them to do it again. Might mean I have to live to the ripe age of 200. --Jim Broede

Maybe I conveniently forget.

I've forgotten far more of my life than I remember. Which makes me wonder if I've really lived most of my life. Perhaps I just existed. Went through the motions. Because much of it wasn't memorable. Quite forgettable. Oh, I can remember a few days in kindergarten. I'm sure I was there. I even have a picture of my kindergarten class. And there I am. In the first row. At the far right end. A handsome little fella, if I may say so. And I can call to mind some days at every level of elementary school. But not all that many. I was still trying to master the art of consciousness. Still am. In my 74th year. But golly gee, I've missed so much. It's been erased from my memory. If it was ever there. I'm trying to live fully. One day at a time. But still, it's hard for me to remember exactly what I did last week or last month or last year. I know I'm enjoying life. Having fun. But I don't capture everything. I think I know what I am. A romantic idealist. A free-thinker. A liberal. And a lover. I've pretty much got that down. And I can give plenty of examples to make my case. But if I was to write an autobiography, I'd miss a whole lot. And I'd probably romanticize. And make myself look good. Maybe it's the stuff that ain't so good. That I've conveniently forgotten. --Jim Broede

Never take prisoners.

Gotta give Senate majority leader Harry Reid credit. He's pared down a bipartisan jobs bill from $85 billion, to a mere $15 billion. The main reason for his action, apparently, is because Republicans loaded the bigger bill with tax cuts for the rich. Also, Reid recognized that many Americans are opposed to more government spending. And to pork-laden legislation. But Reid also is toying with Republicans. Figuring that if they vote against his smaller jobs bill, they'll suffer politically. For opposing creation of more jobs. Normally, I might take Reid to task. For playing politics. But not this time. I want to see him screw the Republicans. Because the Republicans won't ever hesitate screwing Reid and the Democrats. So, it's time to go to war in Congress. Democrats have to learn the hard lesson. Never take prisoners. --Jim Broede

It probably hurts just the same.

Yesterday, 12 civilians were killed in the USA's renewed offensive in Afghanistan. A rocket went awry. Off target by 300 yards. Hit a home. And I guess wiped out a family. But I noticed that 25 insurgents were killed in the offensive, too. So we are killing insurgents at a rate of 2 to 1 over civilians. But that's the peril of war, I guess. When we kill civilians, it's by accident. When terrorists kill 'em, it's by design. I suppose that makes it easier for Afghans to take. Their loved ones were killed accidentally. Not intentionally. But I suppose it hurts just the same. --Jim Broede

You never know.

It's, oh, so easy to carry a firearm in the USA. After all, it's argued that the constitution allows us to bear arms. You never know when you might need to protect yourself. Maybe even from Amy Bishop. She's the gal that killed three professors at a faculty meeting the other day at the University of Alabama. She was miffed because she was denied tenure on the faculty. Turns out that 24 years ago Amy also shot and killed her brother. Click below for details. It was deemed an accident. But now authorities are wondering. And I'm wondering, too. Why do we allow just about anyone to carry loaded weapons anywhere? Even in Minnesota, I could easily obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon. I walked into a church the other day. On the door was a big sign. No weapons allowed. My gawd. I'm sure there'll be a protest. From congregants miffed over being denied a god-given right to bring a loaded AK-47 to church. After all, you never know when you'll have to protect yourself from the devil. Or a terrorist. Or Amy Bishop. --Jim Broede

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/02/statement_from_32.html

I'd love to wake in Paradise.

When I die, I'd love to wake in another dimension. But not hell. Something a little closer to Paradise. --Jim Broede

We've become born losers.

It's time to recognize that the USA (America) was born rotten at the core. And that has plagued us throughout our history. To this very day. The rot is still there. Some of it has been gouged out. But much remains. Yet, some of us pride ourselves in thinking that America was god's gift to humanity. Of course, that's pure crap. Our founding fathers were racists. They established our nation on a slave economy. And it persisted for a long, long time. Even after the slaves were theoretically freed after the civil war. But even today, the blacks aren't completely free. And for so very many years they lived under Jim Crow segregation. Denied basic human rights. Our founders favored the rich. Gave property owners the right to vote. Not many more. Women didn't even gain suffrage until 1918. Sure, we've corrected many of the wrongs. But wrongs still persist. Evidenced by the ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor. The most powerful are the people and the corporations with the most money. We don't have a democracy. We have a plutocracy. And we have elected government officials that can be easily bought. Bribed. Don't believe me? Well, then you're blind. You've been brainwashed. By the big-money interests. They own our congressmen and senators. And the rest of us sit meekly on the sidelines. We take what they give us. Because we have accepted the rot at our core. Yes, it's the attitude that you can't fight city hall. Let alone our federal government. We Americans have allowed ourselves to become born losers. Only now and then do I hear a voice of protest. But it's drowned out. By the loud babble in Washington. --Jim Broede

Doing essentially nothing.

The polls are showing that we Americans are losing faith in our government. In Republicans. In Democrats. Maybe even in independents. That no matter whom we send to Washington, it's ultimately going to be an utter waste. Because politicians are politicians. Another way of saying they are stupid. Ignorant. Or to put it more bluntly, assholes. Likely to get nothing meaningful accomplished. They just berate each other. Go into gridlock. And get nothing done. But they'll still collect their salaries. And benefits, including one of the best health care plans in the world. The kind that every American should have. But doesn't. Meanwhile, the fact that we have a 10 percent unemployment rate won't particularly bother our officeholders. After all, why should it? They still have their well-paying jobs. Doing essentially nothing. --Jim Broede

Hey Democrats, wield your power.

Keep plodding away, dear Democrats. Pass your agenda. Bit by bit by bit. In little increments, if you have to. Don't let the obstructionist Republicans stop you. Or discourage you. You've got big majorities in Congress. You may lose some seats in the House and Senate in November. But that still leaves the rest of this year to get things done. Use every trick in the books. Yes, play politics. If you don't, the Republicans will. They are ruthless. You Democrats must learn to be just as ruthless. You hold the balance of power now. Take full advantage of it. Pass health care reform. Pass a big jobs bill. Let the Bush tax cuts for the rich expire. Narrow the gap between the rich and poor. Serve the common good. And first and foremost, tell the Republicans to go to hell. --Jim Broede

You'll find it fascinating.

I suspect there's an immense amount of stuff going on around us that we don't see. Because we aren't equipped to see. We don't have a sixth, seventh or eighth sense. In other words, we are equivalent to tiny ants. Imagine an ant trying to comprehend what lies beyond its immediate visible environment. An ant cannot comprehend our human existence. Despite the fact that we are traipsing around. Even occasionally stepping on ants. I suppose our Earth, for an ant, would be the equivalent of our endless and boundless universe. But I assume there's a form of intelligent life that's far superior to us. And capable of circumnavigating our cosmos, and going beyond it. Maybe that superior life is what we imagine to be god, the creator. A form of conscious life far beyond human comprehension. These are thoughts that come to mind after reading an article in the Huffington Post. Click on it. You'll find it fascinating. --Jim Broede

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-lanza/anything-beyond-the-unive_b_455260.html

On the reflections of love.

Last night. I attended a reflections on love program at a local seminary. In honor of upcoming Valentine's day. It was well-planned. Choreographed. With music. And poetry. And some personal testaments. Written. Planned ahead of time. Which made it less than spontaneous. If I had taken charge, I would have tried to accomplish something totally unplanned. I would have solicited members of the audience to reflect on love. Some aspect of love. Pertinent to their own lives. It's as if they had to get up. In front of us all. Unexpectedly. And talk about love. Spontaneously. For a minute or two or three. Maybe even 5. Of course, not everyone would have volunteered. Actually, it would have scared the hell out of some. But others would have dared. Taken the risk. And I would have liked to see the outcome. The total spontanaiety of it all. I sort of wish I had thought of this last night. And got up. At the end. And suggested this. Just to see what would happen. Would they all be aghast? Or would some warm to the idea. It would have been an interesting experiment. On the reflections of love. --Jim Broede

Giacomo & Vaclav. Sounds good.

I've talked about it before. But I'll talk about it again. Because I'm intrigued by the subject. Of changing my name when I travel to Italy and the Czech Republic. Oh, I'll keep my surname. Broede. But I'll change my first name to the equivalent of James or Jim. In Italy, that'll make me Giacomo Broede. And in Prague, I'll be Vaclav Broede. It'll help me feel like a native. I really don't like the English name James. That's why I go by Jim. But if I had to trade Jim for Giacomo or Vaclav -- well, that's acceptable. I like the sound of it. --Jim Broede

The most likely to alienate.

I gotta admit I know how to alienate or rile people. I'm good at it. I've spent much of my life doing it. I've practiced. And why do it? Because to some degree, I like to. It gives me satisfaction. Maybe that makes me crazy. Or weird. But come to think of it. It probably makes me similar to many people. Especially politicians. They alienate. If nothing else, they alienate each other. Look at the U.S. Congress. They fume at each other. Call each other derogatory names. Even liars. The president can't complete an address before Congress without someone shouting, 'You lie.' So I might as well join in. And see if I can act like a politician. And lo and behold, I can. It's easy making an ass of myself. Nothing comes easier. I'm a natural. If I ever ran for Congress, I'd brag during the campaign about being able to alienate folks better than anyone. That I'm damn good at it. Just ask my associates over the 74 years of my life. Even my fellow pupils in kindergarten will attest to that. At the age of 5, I was the class alienator. My senior class in high school didn't elect me the most likely to succeed. But rather the most likely to alienate. --Jim Broede

Are we condescending?

Well, how's this for a stupid point of view? --Jim Broede

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/04/AR2010020403698.html?sid=ST2010020403858

An explosive thought.

I gotta give terrorists credit. They're imaginative. In ways they try to blow themselves up. On planes. We had the guy with a bomb hidden in the heel of his shoe. I guess he was gonna stomp or maybe even dance the flamenco in hopes of setting off the bomb. Didn't work. Now he's spending the rest of his life in a maximum security prison. Where, maybe, he's dancing in his cell. Trying to come up with an explosive dance step. Well, the latest bomb attempt was by a fellow with potentially explosive underwear. He set it all afire. And burned his ass rather severely. But the big bang never occurred. Meanwhile, I'm wondering what will be the next innovative way for a terrorist to attempt an explosive act. I have a suggestion. Maybe he could swallow a time bomb and hope it goes off before he has a bowel movement. --Jim Broede

We are our own worst enemy.

I want the world to see the best of the American justice system. The presumption of innocence until one is proven guilty. The right to a fair hearing. And a fair trial. And to be read one's Miranda rights. Doesn't even matter if one is a suspected terrorist. And suspected of heinous crimes. One must still be treated fairly. And with respect. And to be provided with legal counsel if one can't afford an attorney. Of course, some Americans prefer a different set of standards for suspected terrorists. They'd lock 'em up and throw away the key and resort to torture and maybe even execution -- without a trial. But if we do that, we'll have abandoned our principles. The very beliefs and practices of fairness that have made America great. A shining example for others to follow. Unfortunately, we aren't living in the best of times. We are a nation on the decline. We seem willing to sell the American soul. Because we are living in fear. Scared. We want security. At almost any price. And some of us are willing to compromise our long-standing principles for the sake of defeating the so-called enemy. But if we do that, we will have become our own worst enemy. --Jim Broede

I have absolutely everything.

I believe in Nirvana. In god. In Utopia. In romance. In love. Yes, I believe all things are possible. Merely because I have life. No doubt about it. And I have living proof that I have an imagination. And anything I can imagine is possible. That's why I was given an imagination. So that I can create. Anything. It is my imagination that brings me closest to god. All the way to the reality called life. I am. Because I can imagine that I am. I can feel me. Touch me. And you exist, too. Because you are alive. Recognized. In me. I bring you to life. In that sense, I am a creator. Equivalent to god himself. I know that god exists. Because I can imagine him. I can create an actual conversation with god. And love exists, too. Because I've fallen in love. Love is real. It has even gone a step beyond my imagination. This is no pretend stuff. It's as real as real can be. I am in love at this very moment. With someone. Someone wonderful. She has a name. An identity. I've touched her. She has touched me. She has a physical being. A presence. A place in the universe. She talks. She moves. She has a living history. Yes, it's all beyond extraordinary. I have life. I have absolutely everything. --Jim Broede

The GOP serves a useful purpose.

Don't get me wrong. I don't mean to say that Republicans are all bad. They do serve a useful purpose. They help determine whether Americans that go to the polls are mostly stupid, or not. If Republicans carry the day, we know that a majority of us are stupid. If Republicans lose -- well, then there's hope for America. Because we aren't so dumb, afterall. --Jim Broede

With full, unequivocal trust.

Now and then, I come across a fellow human being that I completely trust. Twice. I've fallen in love both times. And I suspect those are the biggest achievements (blessings) of my life. Nothing else comes close. Indeed, it's nice to connect in a manner so intimate. Yes, makes life worth living. And believe me, I'm not falling in love with my clone. They've been very different and independent women. But they brought balance and love into my life. They made me better. And happy. Mostly because they brought me love. And helped me cultivate true love. From within. There was no way that they could disappoint me. Because I accepted them. Totally. Completely. Unconditionally. Yes, with full, unequivocal trust. --Jim Broede

Chickens are chicken.

Here's an engraved invitation for the Republicans to enter the lion's den. But chickens are no match for a lion. Even all the chickens in the world would be no match for a courageous lion. Chickens are not only stupid. They are cowards. --Jim Broede

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wirestory?id=9783385&page=1

The pursuit of happiness.

When it comes to social, political and economic issues, many of us don't become informed. And I suspect the reason is lack of time. We're too busy just surviving. Getting by in life. Going to work daily. Raising a family. And trying to cram in leisure time. In order to keep one's sanity. Too many things to do. So we have to set priorities. And let some things slide. So we skim over issues. We form opinions based on limited information. Often, on mere sound bites. Or on negative political ads. Sad, isn't it? I'm as guilty as anyone. I don't pay attention any more to the local city council and school board. Don't even bother to vote. Because I'm not informed on the issues and the candidates. And I'm retired. So I probably have more time than employed people. But still, I have more important things on my agenda. Such as pursuing a loving relationship. Guess that's what life is really all about. The pursuit of happiness. --Jim Broede

Obama would win the debate.

I like it when Barack Obama lays a trap for Republicans. Like inviting them to a summit on health care reform. To debate one-on-one with Obama. On national TV. Sounds like the Republicans are coming up with all sorts of excuses. To not show up. Republicans are stupid. But I give 'em credit. For being smart enough to know they are overmatched. Obama would win the debate. Decisively. --Jim Broede

The relentless march of history.

I can't stop the relentless march of history. It's just gonna roll on and on. No matter what I do. I can't change it. For instance, if I had lived in Germany in the 1930s, there's nothing I could have done to stop Hitler from coming to power. It was fated. The times were ripe for Hitler. And there was no way that I could have stopped George Bush from becoming a two-term president. It was fated. Of course, I worry that after Barack Obama serves one term, maybe he'll be succeeded by Sarah Palin. That's a horrible thought. But if it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen. Because it's fated. And I can't do anything about it. I have no control over the big picture of history. So it really makes no sense for me to worry about it. I have to learn to accept it. Maybe grudgingly. But nevertheless, I accept the relentless march of history. --Jim Broede

Let's strive for a better society.

I want a society in which making lots of money isn't necessarily the primary object of life. In other words, an environment where the basic necessities are deemed sufficient. A job. A decent education. A place to live. Health care. A pension. And leisure time. One doesn't need blind ambition. Oh, it's all right to become monetarily rich. If that's what makes you happy. But it shouldn't become a necessity of life. I'd like to see a society in which everyone is moreorless guaranteed the basics. Nobody should be destitute. Nobody should starve to death. Or to be denied basic health care. And everyone should have the opportunity to learn to read and write. And to be treated fairly. And with respect. In my kind of society, everyone would be encouraged to pursue happiness. But I'd also want all of us to be cognizant of our responsibility for serving the common good. Which means helping each other. To achieve a society that comes reasonably close to benefiting all. Not an easy task. Because we won't all agree on what's the common good. But at least it's worth an on-going debate. Too often, we don't even think about the common good. Anyway, I know that we won't ever have an ideal society. But that shouldn't stop us from striving for it. --Jim Broede

Trouble's a-brewin'.

Let me give you fair warning, folks. Trouble's a-brewin'. Some of the natives are getting restless. They're drinking tea. With a bit of cognac in it. And getting looped. They want to take over America. And run us liberals and socialist sympathizers into the ocean. The conservative rabble should not be taken lightly. Sometimes, crazed idiots come to power. Take Hitler, for instance. The super patriot of Germany. We have our share of super patriots, too. A columnist for Great Britain's Guardian newspaper has a good grasp of the mood in the USA. Click below. Read him. See if you agree. I do. --Jim Broede

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/feb/07/democrats-tea-party-coffee-claque

Sarah sneaked in the backdoor.

The thing about Sarah Palin is that she has the stage. The celebrity. And she continues to command the stage. Doesn't matter that she's shallow. And dumb. In America, all it takes is name recognition. We're attracted to freaks. Unusual people. Palin is unusual. If not a freak. She has an image of being feisty. She has a collection of one-liners. Some of 'em even draw standing ovations. Yes, she's a populist. Comes off as one of us. That is, when she's in her crowd. In her assembly. A folksy little gal. And a barracuda on the basketball court. A tough broad, too. Capable of shooting a moose or a wolf. From a helicopter, of course. And she could field dress that moose. She's an evangelical, too. A hands-on practitioner of the faith. An enemy of Lucifer. Ready to take on the devil incarnate. Yes, that ungodly socialist. Barack Obama. Imagine Sarah Palin. The female savior of the nation. And everybody thought it would be Hillary Clinton. Instead, there stands Sarah the Sassy. She sneaked in the backdoor. --Jim Broede

Maybe for a staging of Macbeth.

I wouldn't underestimate Sarah Palin. I think she's shallow. And dumb. But dangerous. In that she appeals to shallow and dumb people. And we have plenty of 'em in the USA. Also, we have a media that's shallow and dumb. Such as Fox News. Which attracts hordes of shallow and dumb viewers. Add it all up, and we have the makings of a disaster. Maybe even equivalent to a Nazi Germany. Yes, strange things happen. Even in countries that pride themselves in sensibility and learning. Sometimes, economic and social conditions drive the best of nations over the edge. Hitler was a phenomenon. So could be Sarah Palin. Oh, I'm not saying that Sarah would take the same course as a Hitler. But rather another insane path. There were plenty of sheep that followed Hitler. And already I see vast numbers of sheep following Palin. Enough to make it scary. And it could be scarier by the time the 2012 presidential election rolls around. It's even possible that the Democrats could lose their majority in Congress yet this year. The stage is being set. Maybe for a staging of Macbeth. --Jim Broede

Let's put everyone to work.

I think that every employable American that wants to work should be guaranteed a job. If that means creating more public sector jobs, so be it. There's work to be done. Our nation's infrastucture is deteriorating. We need to clean up our environment. Hospitals and nursing homes are understaffed. On and on the list goes. Lets put everyone to work. No reason to have 9.7 percent unemployment. Let's bring it down to zero percent. It'll help the economy. And it'll boost the morale of the nation. And we'd be helping the so-called lower and middle classes. Yes, think of it. America setting an example for the rest of the world. The first society ever to put all of its people to gainful work. --Jim Broede

Capturing reality and the truth.

I turn to the New York Times almost daily. To read news reports and opinion columns that make sense. And give me a reasonably accurate account of what's happening in the world. For the most part, I don't trust the American media. It's far too biased. But I think the Times comes close to capturing reality and the truth. Occasionally I post in my blog a column from a Times columnist. Such as this one, by Paul Krugman, a professor of economics at Princeton University. --Jim Broede

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/05/opinion/05krugman.html?em

A lesson to be learned.

Life is fragile. Oh, so fragile. Disaster is around the corner. Take the earthquake in Haiti. Overnight. From peace and calm. To maybe 200,000 dead. One never knows. A few weeks ago a 104-year-old man was walking the streets in Brooklyn, like he always did daily, to stay in good health. But then he was hit by a mini-van. In the wrong place at the wrong time. All his life he seemed to be in the right place at the right time. Except once. And that's all it takes. Maybe there's a lesson to be learned. Savor life. While one still has it. --Jim Broede

Even dumber than idiots.

Maybe the Democrats are swayed too much by intellectuals. And idiots automatically reject intellectuals. Instinctively. Because intellectuals are too smart for their own good. Intellectuals don't know how to speak the language of idiots. And in that sense, intellectuals are quite stupid. Even dumber than idiot Republicans. --Jim Broede

Something worse than Bush.

I'm wondering if the Democrats and liberals are capable of governing. Consider the fact that Democrats have a 59-41 majority in the U.S. Senate. Yet, they have been unable to pass meaningful health care reform. And it's been because they have been blocked by the minority party. And hey, I think of Republicans as idiots. Yet, they keep outsmarting the Democrats. So I have to grudgingly admit that Democrats may have IQs even lower than that of idiots. Believe me, that puts them in a subterranean level. Into an abyss. But also, I suspect the Republicans have an advantage because they are boundlessly ruthless. They have no scruples. No principles. In a sense, Democrats outsmart themselves. They are too kind. Too accommodating. In the world of politics, those can be fatal flaws. Disastrous. It could even lead to Republican take-over of Congress in November. Think of it. If Democrats thought George Bush was bad, start thinking about the likes of Sarah Palin. --Jim Broede

They know no better.

Far too many Americans have been bamboozled by Republicans. Because Republicans tell idiots what they want to hear. That capitalism is good. That big corporations are good. That government is bad. That war is good. That only Republicans are true patriots. That without Republicans around to defend us from our enemies, America would be in dire peril. That Democrats are bad. That Barack Obama is a socialist. The list of crap coming from Republicans is endless. And idiots buy into it. Precisely because they are idiots. They know no better. --Jim Broede

Out of sight.

I like history. Because it tells me so much about the past. I don't believe everything I read in history books. But much of it I accept. Especially the parts that I like. I pick and choose. And accept what seems most credible. I'm fascinated by characters that lived long, long ago. I want them to come alive again. And in some ways, I do retrieve their spirits. And I have imaginary conversations with them. The sad part is that many who have lived, haven't made it into history books. They have vanished completely. Not a trace. Kind of interesting. The things historians consider eventful. Wars, for instance. They are chronicled in detail. But I'd rather read about those who withdrew to their distant retreats and practiced love. They're hidden away. Out of sight. Rarely seen in a history book. --Jim Broede

The ultimate goal.

I think life is fantastic. Incredible. The greatest invention ever. Yes, he's my hero. The creator. Oh, life can be painful and disappointing. But if one can hang on long enough, there's so much to savor. One has to feel his way. And discover. Because there are so many ways to live. One even has the opportunity to turn bad into good. And the negative into the positive. Some of us, of course, don't find life so fascinating. And commit suicide. Yes, it's possible not to love life. Maybe when one is bogged down in misery. In painful throes. But if one learns to survive, one also learns to love. That's the ultimate goal. To love. Life itself. --Jim Broede

The meaning of life.

I want to postpone death. I wonder why? Is it because I'm afraid of death? Or is it because I want to live? But maybe death is living. In another way. In another dimension. But still. I'm afraid. To some degree. Because of the possibillity that death is nothingness. A total loss of consciousness. But then, maybe it's a new kind of consciousness. Far superior to human consciousness. Hardly conceivable in our three-dimensional world. A new form of life. Maybe we learn there is no such thing as death. It's merely a figment of our imaginations. Life is not static. I've been changing. I'm not the same being I was at 40. But there was no reason for me to fear what I'd become at 74. It would have been sad if I had been denied the opportunity. To thrive. To begin to better understand the meaning of life. --Jim Broede

Why I like Obama.

We Americans are uncivil to each other. Especially when it comes to politics. Yes, politics brings out the worst in us. We have a good and decent president. In Barack Obama. Maybe the best we've had in a long, long time. But still, the so-called loyal opposition is downright nasty. Questions his faith. His motives. Even questions whether he's a native born citizen of the USA. Republicans are united in opposition to virtually any legislation favored by Obama. I think they literally hate him. And the saddest thing of all, I suspect some of 'em hate him because he's black. They'll never admit it. But that's the nature of the worst kind of racist. Hiding behind a facade. Anyway, here's what Obama had to say about incivility at a prayer breakfast this morning. Click on it. Gives us something to think about. That's why I like Obama. --Jim Broede

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/04/AR2010020401728.html

Our biggest enemy. Ourselves.

So we ain't going back to the moon in the near future. Too costly. But I don't want the savings spent on more wars. The point being that if we had channeled our war-mongering budget of recent years on moon shots, we'd probably be colonizing the lunar surface by now. Our social programs would be in good shape, too. And the same goes for our nation's sagging infrastructure. But we gotta have a defense. Against our enemies. But we don't have a defense yet against our biggest enemy. Ourselves. --Jim Broede

Living in the land of sissies.

New Yorkers are being shown for what they really are. Sissies. Afraid to put suspected terrorists on trial in their city. For fear that might make their beloved city a target for a terrorist attack. My gawd. What have we come to? New Yorkers have allowed terrorists to intimidate them. Even the city's mayor has called for moving the trials out of New York. And across the nation, scaredy cat Americans are objecting to housing convicted terrorists in U.S. prisons. I guess there's a fear that they may escape and terrorize the hell out of America. You'd think that every terrorist is some sort of bogeyman. Too dangerous to keep anywhere on American soil. Even in our maximum security prisons. And many of our conservative politicians don't even want terrorist on trial in American civil courts. Preferring, instead, military tribunals. I guess the fear is that an American jury might exonerate a terrorist and set him free on American streets. Well, I'll tell you. We Americans have certainly been terrorized. Maybe we'd better check under our beds every night. To make sure a terrorist isn't hiding there. --Jim Broede

More patriotic than Georgie Boy.

I think that many of us don't define ourselves. Instead, we allow others to define us. Maybe because we really don't know whom or what we are. We are merely drifting through life. Willy-nilly. Without purpose. We don't stop to think. Instead, we allow others to do our thinking for us. Which makes us robots. Many 'patriotic' Americans are that way. They think all they have to do is mouth platitudes. And maybe pledge allegiance to the flag. And defend capitalism and the free enterprise system. And denounce socialism. And deny the fact that there's an ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor. And to call immoral wars moral wars. Yes, patriotic wars. As for those of us that don't tout this crap, we're generally defined as unpatriotic. When really, we are the true patriots. Yes, that's the way I'm defining myself today. As a true patriot. Even more patriotic than George Washington. --Jim Broede

In other words, we don't think.

No doubt about it. Republicans are idiots.

Consider this:

• 39% of Republicans want President Obama to be impeached.
• 63% think Obama is a socialist.
• Only 42% believe Obama was born in the United States.

These are the results of a new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll, conducted among 2,000 self-identified Republican respondents nationwide.

Yes, Republicans believe whatever they want to believe. Doesn't even need the slightest connection to reality. Little wonder that America is in a mess after 8 years of a Republican administration. And yet, it's looking more and more like the Republicans will make big gains in 2010. Maybe it's because most of us think like Republicans. In other words, we don't think. --Jim Broede

He's correcting his big mistake.

Sounds like Barack Obama is following my advice. Getting out to meet the people. At town hall meetings. The less time he spends in the White House and Washington, the better. The guy has charisma. And a brain. That's a winning formula. And quite a contrast to Republicans. Doesn't surprise me that Obama's poll ratings have started going up in the past few days. Little wonder. Yes, Obama has to get out and sell his ideas and programs. Without let up. His big mistake in the first year as president was in staying too hidden away. And allowing himself to be defined by his conniving opponents. --Jim Broede

Single moments. Forever.

I had a dream tonight. That life is a single moment of consciousness. That's all it is. A single moment of consciousness. A lot is packed into the moment. Actually, one's lifetime. A single moment. Seems like it's a moment crammed full. But it's no more and no less than a moment of consciousness. And then it all goes into a huge pool. A calderon. And maybe my particuar moment spews out. A wisp. And becomes conscious once again. And makes me wonder. When that moment comes again, will everything be the same? Or will my moment be quite different? Will I be allowed to make different decisions? I suspect all this is my eternity. Single moments. Forever. --Jim Broede

Idiots. And crybabies, to boot.

We Americans are crybabies. So much so that we should make the crying towel our national flag. We don't want to make sacrifices. We've got a tea-party organizing to get government out of our lives. Because we don't want higher taxes, don't want to make personal sacrifices, to get our nation out of financial crisis. That's why we are in deep trouble. Because we're unpatriotic. We don't wanna pay anything to be an American. We want a free ride. A free lunch. Free everything. We've been conducting two simultaneous immoral wars most of the 21st century. And instead of paying for the wars as we go, we've put it all on credit cards. The Republicans alone have saddled the Obama administration with a debt of $8 trillion. Yes, that's no typo. We're not talking mere billions any more, but trillions. And then we have the audacity to blame Obama for it all. Forgetting that when George Bush took office in 2001, he inherited a government with a $200 billion budget surplus. But now the tea-party idiots are blaming it all on Obama and the Democrats. Give me a break. I know how to get us out of this mess. By everyone of us making a serious personal sacrifice. To pay higher taxes. But you tea-party patriots scoff at such a notion. You call for tax cuts. Even on the richest of the rich. Yes, you want our problems cured without any personal sacrifices. Instead, you want to return the Republicans to power. The very Republicans that got us into this mess in the first place. That's the height of audacity and idiocy. But that's what most Americans may well be. Idiots. And crybabies, to boot. --Jim Broede

They'll elect almost anyone.

Only once did I hold public office. A long time ago. From 1971 to 1974. A three-year term on the school board. I don't know if I did a good job of it. Or a bad job. Or something inbetween. But I'd probably do it differently today. Because I learned a lot. On hindsight. I'd try to cooperate more with my fellow board members. Oh, I'd continue to dissent. To be a minority of one occasionally. To stand up for principle. And I'd continue to be pro-labor. Especially pro-teacher. I'd want them paid more. Appreciated more. I found it interesting that school board members that come from the ranks of labor often switch sides. They begin to fancy themselves big-time managers. Out to cut costs. And in essence, they adopt anti-labor stances. They forget their roots. In labor. I never did that. I don't know if that would have cost me had I wanted a second term. I didn't run again. Because I had better things to do. I had my taste of local politics. And once was enough. I wasn't born to be a politician. Maybe because I wouldn't covet a second term. I'd just plow ahead. And burn my bridges, so to speak. I'd not necessarily take positions framed to get me re-elected. To make me popular. I'd try to do the right thing. And work for the common good. I may not take the popular course. And I'm sure I'd offend my share of constituents. All this makes me wonder. How did I ever get elected in the first place? Maybe it's living proof that people are pretty stupid. They'll elect almost anyone. Even me. --Jim Broede

It would change my life.

I like to be an extremist. Just for the heck of it. That doesn't necessarily make me an extremist in practice. I merely take an extreme position. To put it to a test. Theoretically. For instance, occasionally I think about being able to walk on water. To perform the seemingly impossible. I think it's possible. Because I choose, even with the absence of proof, to believe that anything is possible. Yes, merely because I want to believe it. But I don't go ahead and actually perform the rare feat. Because I really don't want to. And if I did, nobody would believe me anyway. Another thing. If I did, and people watched me do it, and became believers -- well, I'd get lots of publicity. And I'd become famous. And I don't want celebrity. Because it would rob me of privacy. It would dramatically change my life. For the worse. --Jim Broede