Time to get the message.

Fact of the matter is that we Americans like socialism. Socialized Social Security. And socialized Medicare. And Socialized Medicaid. Seems to me that the opponents of socialism are opposed to the word ‘socialism.’ Because they have been brought up to believe that socialism is bad. Without fully understanding what socialism really is. It’s two of our most coveted social programs. Polls show that a vast majority of Americans are for keeping Social Security and Medicare as government-run programs. Rather than buying into the Republicans’ proposal to privatize both of ‘em. In essence, we Americans are proclaiming, ‘Long Live Socialism.’ Nothing wrong with that. Now it’s time for Republicans to get the message. –Jim Broede

It's immoral, indecent, obscene.

It ain’t the cost of Social Security and Medicare that has caused my country to be in financial trouble. Let’s face reality, my fellow Americans. Instead, it’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and Libya. And add to that our failure to adequately tax the rich. We waged war and gave the rich unwarranted tax breaks. Think about it, folks. We’ve wasted trillions of dollars on wars. And we’ve lowered tax rates for millionaires and billionaires to the tune of trillions of dollars. So how are we gonna solve the problem? Well, if Republicans have their way, we’ll privatize and rob Social Security and rob Medicare to save enough money to pay for wars and tax breaks for the rich. It’s immoral. It’s indecent. It’s obscene. But finally, some of us are waking up. We are finally rising up and telling our mealy-mouthed politicians to get it right for a change. To serve the common good. Rather than the good of the rich and the war-mongers. –Jim Broede

Jesus was for the common good.

When it comes to life, I don’t like an everybody-for-himself mentality. I think we’re all in this thing together. We gotta help each other. That’s why I’m for a bevy of government-run social programs. For so-called entitlements. For the common good. That’s just me. It’s the way I was brought up. Tutored. Brainwashed, I guess. I’m not a Christian. I left organized religion. Long ago. Because I prefer being an independent. A free-thinker. But still, some of the Christian principles stuck. I still keep asking myself, what would Jesus do? I was taken to the guy’s philosophy. His attitude. His Sermon on the Mount. One thing for sure, Jesus wouldn’t be a Republican. Especially a modern-day Republican. He’d especially take issue with the lunatic fringe. The Sarah Palins. The Michele Bachmanns. I suspect that Jesus would be abhorred by the evolution of Christianity. He wouldn’t want his name attached to Christianity. Especially the forms practiced by religious conservatives. Because in practice it’s a repudiation of his core beliefs. His philosophy. His principles. At best, it pays only lip service to what he preached. Because Jesus was for the common good. –Jim Broede

They'd take it all away.

I don’t want to be totally responsible for myself. I want an assist. From government. Social security. To help me survive in retirement. And Medicare. To make health care more affordable. I need these government-run programs. So do most people. Unless they are very rich. I have great faith in government. To make my life easier. Better. More comfortable. More secure. That’s why I don’t want Republicans to toy with Social Security and Medicare. I want these programs guaranteed. No matter the state of the economy. But Republicans would privatize the programs. By giving us vouchers. To go to private insurance companies. To buy insurance equivalent to government-run Medicare. But it won’t be equivalent. And it won’t be guaranteed. It might end up costing us more than we can afford. Because the insurance companies are out to make profits. Huge and obscene profits. And the insurance companies could deny health coverage because of pre-existing conditions. I don’t like that. I want to keep my Social Security and my Medicare. And I suspect, so do most Americans. Maybe with the exception of a few rich and privileged Republicans. They’d take it all away. And leave the rest of us fend for ourselves. I’d rather have a government that caters to the common good. With much-needed social programs. –Jim Broede

I'm exercising on three fronts.

I’ve gotta keep moving. Physically. Mentally. Emotionally. Yes, I have to practice three-pronged exercise. Daily. I don’t want to miss a beat. I think that’s the way one stays alive. It’s all right to do all of this in slow motion. In a relaxed and casual way. The important thing is to do it. I’ve been out riding my bicycle. And walking. And gardening. And shopping. And now I’m writing. And to get revved up, emotionally, I’m tuning in the Cubs baseball game now and then. And I’m getting pissed. Because the Cubs are losing their third straight game to last place Houston. Looks like the Cubs will get swept. And it won’t be long before the Cubs are in last place. Maybe with the worst record in baseball by the end of the season. Thank gawd for the Cubs. They are giving me my emotional exercise for the day. But hey, it ain’t all bad news. I’ll contact my true love in Sardinia later this afternoon. On Skype. An audio/video hook-up. In living color. Another reminder that I’m in love. Yes, I’m exercising on all three fronts. Physical. Mental. Emotional. –Jim Broede

I can see.

I write about life. From my perspective. Maybe that’s better than writing about life from your perspective. Because I can’t get inside you the same way I can get inside me. Maybe that’s narcissistic. I really don’t care what it’s called. All I know is that I’m reasonably comfortable with myself. Seeing life. From inside me. I mull over life daily. Life inside me. Life outside me. I was given this physical body. And a mind. I know it’s me. And I’m always trying to figure out who and what I am. And I’m asking questions. Why am I here? For what purpose? And does there have to be a purpose? Oh, I give life meaning. Or at least I try to. But the meaning can change from day to day. And I don’t ever fully know what to expect. Which makes most days sort of adventurous. In fact, some days wildly adventurous. I take life as it comes. And then deal with it the best way I can. Or for that matter, maybe in something less than the best way. Because I often don’t know what’s best. But that’s all right. I’m entitled to feel my way. As if I were a blind man. But I'm really not blind. I can see. –Jim Broede

Interestingly, I'm very much alive.

I lead an interesting life. At least it’s interesting to me. And that’s exactly what makes life interesting. I see it as interesting. Doesn’t matter if you don’t see it as interesting. I go out of my way. Daily. To make life interesting. For one thing, the fact that I write a daily blog. Hardly ever miss a day. Which means I discipline myself. Imagine that. That’s interesting. And I’ve cultivated a true love. She lives in Sardinia. An island in the Mediterranean Sea. And I spend winters with her. And she spends summers with me. And we travel together. That’s interesting, isn’t it? And here I am. In my 75th year. My gawd. I’ve lasted three-quarters of a century. And I’m not only alive. I’m conscious. What can be more interesting than that? –Jim Broede