So that I can savor it all.

I know many people who love life. In their own ways. Many of 'em like to burn both ends of the candle, so to speak. To cram a lot into their lives. They do lots of extra things. Maybe some of it out of a sense of obligation. Or responsibility. For which I admire them. But I wonder if some of us try to do too much. If we push ourselves too hard. Too far. I think I used to do that myself. Took on more projects, more responsibility than I could adequately handle. And so maybe I ended up doing some things in a half-assed manner. In other words, when I felt rested and relaxed, I began to ask myself, "Am I doing enough? Am I taking it too easy? Am I becoming lazy?' Anyway, I decided I had to set priorities. That I couldn't accomplish everything I wanted to accomplish. And that I couldn't be all things to all people. So I began to treat myself better. In the process, I treated other people better. I truly learned how to love people. And life. And myself. I've slowed down. Mellowed. So that I can savor it all. --Jim Broede

No good at saving the environs.

Let’s bring rape charges against executives of British Petroleum. For raping the environment. The Gulf of Mexico. And the wetlands along the shores. Maybe the biggest environmental rape of all time. This could be a rape that lasts and lasts. For decades. Maybe even for a century. And to think, BP executives thought they could get away with it. That they could make a few quick bucks. By drilling for oil a mile beneath the sea surface. Sure, it was risky. But what the heck? It was worth a try. Nobody was committing murder. It was merely rape. But hey, wait a second. Some 11 workers on the rig were killed. So maybe it was murder. Of course, all kinds of wildlife will be lost, too. I guess that doesn’t count. Animals. Fish. They ain’t human. Our lives are more important. We’re intelligent. Civilized. We know how to run things. We have the technological know how. To even send spacecraft to Mars. Problem is we’re no good at saving the environment. –Jim Broede

We need more regulation & taxes.

I want a federal government that regulates and taxes the hell out of business. Especially big business. Such as banks and oil companies and insurance companies and health care providers. No sense in letting business run rampant. And make ungawdly profits. It's time that business and government served the common good. Not the good of shareholders and company executives. For too long we've nurtured a society that allows greedy individuals to rake in enormous profits at public expense. That's why we have an ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor. We've assumed that everyone has the opportunity to get monetarily rich. The fact of the matter is that many decent people would settle for far less. But they don't want to be exploited by the rich and powerful. They just want a better distribution of the wealth to benefit the whole of society. Not just the few. And that'll be achieved as soon as we start regulating and taxing the hell out of big business. --Jim Broede

We elect mostly angry idiots.

The other day, I called for Barack Obama to get angry. To lose his cool. But on reflection, I was wrong. I was stupid. I wanted Obama to be someone other than himself. It's not his thing to anger or lose his cool. Maybe he should act angry on occasion. For effect. But a truly angry man may make some really bad decisions. Out of anger. I'd rather have our president act presidential. Not like an angry idiot. We have an ample supply of those kinds of people. In Congress. In all walks of life. We really need a calm, cool and collected Obama to help get us to the right place. A real leader. Only thing is, so many of us are too angry to recognize a good leader when we see one. We tend to elect mostly angy idiots. --Jim Broede

If we met, hate would dissipate.

I'd love to sit down with people who despise me. And talk. Because I'd find it fascinating. I know of people who literally hate me. I turn them livid. In a way, that boosts my ego. Knowing that I have such power. That I affect people in that way. I'm not particularly proud of it. It's more a fascination thing. Because many, if not all, of these people I've never met face to face. It's really hard for me to hate anyone. At the moment, I can't say that I hate anyone. Certainly, not anyone that I personally know. They're all relatively decent people. So am I. Or so I think. That's why it's hard to fathom being hated. But I've received letters from people who say they hate and despise me. Accuse me of being some form of low life. Hard for me to take it seriously. But I suppose I should. All I know is that if we ever met, the hate would dissipate. --Jim Broede

I want enemies to become friends.

I just can't understand why the Israelis and Palestinians can't make peace. But then, what do I know? Here in America, it's difficult if not impossible for Republicans and Democrats to make peace. And they're all Americans. It's hard to overcome longtime hostilities. Heck, I live next door to Republicans. And we still find ways to be civil to each other. My daughter and son-on-law are Republicans. But I don't hold that against 'em. Much of my criticism of Republicans is done humorously, and good-naturedly. No reason for us to kill each other. If I was secretary of state, I'd even sit down with alleged terrorists. Secretly. And privately. To discuss our differences. And to see if we could come to some accord. Some understanding. Maybe some give and take could bring us together. We could set an example for the rest of the world. Even for the Israelis and Palestinians. I'd like to see a two-state solution. Traditional enemies learning to become friends. I'd stupid enough and idealistic enough to think it's possible. --Jim Broede

I choose to live my dreams.

I've set my mind to it. There's no stopping me. I'm gonna spend time this summer living in a castle. In Germany. With my true love. I must do it. Because I am a romantic idealist. And a lover. I have to live my dreams. Some of us can just settle for dreaming our dreams. But I have to live mine. Or at least, some of 'em. Many dreams are achievable. Maybe a few are impossible. But I choose to live 'em. One by one by one. --Jim Broede