Excerpt from "To Sail Beyond the Sunset" by Robert A. Heinlein. This is Jubal Harshaw explaining the base problem of democracy in our world to Maureen, the heroine of the story.
"the America of my time line is a laboratory example of what can happen to democracies, what has eventually happened to all perfect democracies throughout all histories. A perfect democracy, a "warm body" democracy in which every adult may vote and all votes count equally, has no internal feedback for self-correction. It depends solely on the wisdom and self-restraint of citizens... which is opposed by the folly and-lack of self-restraint of other citizens. What is supposed to happen in a democracy is that each sovereign citizen will always vote in the public interest for the safety and welfare of all. But what does happen is that he votes for his own self-interest as he sees it... which for the majority translates as "Bread and Circuses".
`"Bread and Circuses" is the cancer of democracy, the fatal disease for which there is no cure. Democracy often works beautifully at first. But once a state extends the franchise to every warm body, be he producer or parasite, the day marks the beginning of the end of that state. For when the plebs discover that they can vote themselves bread and circuses without limit and that the productive members of the body politic cannot stop them, they will do so, until the state bleeds to death, or in its weakened condition the state succumbs to an invader - the barbarians enter Rome."
I believe that our system may very well be broken beyond repair and that the only place left for America and it's glorious democratic experiment to go is into the history books. Long gone are the days of hope and optimism, and I don't see them returning anytime soon. As long as the overeducated imbeciles with no common sense, and the idiots with too much common sense and no education have the ability to vote - we may be doomed. To what, only time will tell.
Maybe I am being too cynical. We have some bright minds who are able to come up with solutions, and I would rather think that is the case. I believe in the basic goodness of mankind - and I hope rather than going down in flames, the United States of America can become a more perfect union. I guarantee however, that it will never happen under our current system of government.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
What do you value?
What is most important to you in your life? What are your priorities?
These are just a couple of the things I've been asking myself lately. One of the most important aspects of self improvement is the ability to take an internal picture, pull it out and scatter it all over the table so you can get a detailed view of what it is you want to improve before you work to make those improvements. Another important part of self improvement is the ability to internalize values that are important to you. Without values, the substance of any change will never be a permanent change, something that you want to be able to announce to the world through your everyday actions and interactions. Let me give you an example.
I am currently attending class at Cornerstone University in pursuit of my Bachelor's degree in business management. I discovered last week that my two older boys were having their winter holiday program at their school on Tuesday evening.
My wife and I had discussed the importance of my being in class, especially since it is an accelerated program. I got to my school this past Tuesday evening, and had some time before class, so I called my wife. Instead of hearing her voice, my son picked up the phone, and asked me, "Daddy are you coming to our school program tonight?". I had to tell him, "no bud, I have class tonight, I wish I could be there." At that point he started crying, and it nearly brought me to tears.
I had taken a look at my values recently and one of them highest on my list was spending more time with my boys. Hearing how the fact that I wasn't going to be there affected him in that way changed my mind for me. I told my wife when she got on the phone that I was on my way home, and not to tell the boys just yet, I wanted to surprise them. I got home and the boys were ecstatic to see me. I called my professor to let him know the decision I had made, that I would be late for class but told him why and that I would be there by the first break. He very much appreciated the heads up. Then I proceeded to enjoy the holiday program, seeing the smiles on my childrens faces as both of their parents looked on from the audience. They may not remember that their father made it that evening, but I am sure they would have remembered for the rest of their lives if their father had NOT made it.
I left as soon as the program was over, and got to class, participated in discussions and group interactions and got a full class experience in half the time as well. It was well worth it to me that I had taken my value to heart and sacrificed one commitment for another one that I held more dear. My children may never thank me for it, but I know it's importance....that's all that matters.
These are just a couple of the things I've been asking myself lately. One of the most important aspects of self improvement is the ability to take an internal picture, pull it out and scatter it all over the table so you can get a detailed view of what it is you want to improve before you work to make those improvements. Another important part of self improvement is the ability to internalize values that are important to you. Without values, the substance of any change will never be a permanent change, something that you want to be able to announce to the world through your everyday actions and interactions. Let me give you an example.
I am currently attending class at Cornerstone University in pursuit of my Bachelor's degree in business management. I discovered last week that my two older boys were having their winter holiday program at their school on Tuesday evening.
My wife and I had discussed the importance of my being in class, especially since it is an accelerated program. I got to my school this past Tuesday evening, and had some time before class, so I called my wife. Instead of hearing her voice, my son picked up the phone, and asked me, "Daddy are you coming to our school program tonight?". I had to tell him, "no bud, I have class tonight, I wish I could be there." At that point he started crying, and it nearly brought me to tears.
I had taken a look at my values recently and one of them highest on my list was spending more time with my boys. Hearing how the fact that I wasn't going to be there affected him in that way changed my mind for me. I told my wife when she got on the phone that I was on my way home, and not to tell the boys just yet, I wanted to surprise them. I got home and the boys were ecstatic to see me. I called my professor to let him know the decision I had made, that I would be late for class but told him why and that I would be there by the first break. He very much appreciated the heads up. Then I proceeded to enjoy the holiday program, seeing the smiles on my childrens faces as both of their parents looked on from the audience. They may not remember that their father made it that evening, but I am sure they would have remembered for the rest of their lives if their father had NOT made it.
I left as soon as the program was over, and got to class, participated in discussions and group interactions and got a full class experience in half the time as well. It was well worth it to me that I had taken my value to heart and sacrificed one commitment for another one that I held more dear. My children may never thank me for it, but I know it's importance....that's all that matters.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Stargate Universe Wars
Ok, yes - I can be a geek.
...Actually, yes...I am a geek.
I never could really get into Stargate before, any of the shows on the Syfy channel, but Stargate Universe I love - a great show that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It is an intelligent, witty romp through the galaxy, with enough tension to keep things together.
This link below on the other hand is to a browser based game called Stargate Universe Wars. It really doesn't have much to do with Stargate - but it is a great waste of time, and doesn't require too much of it. Plus if you follow this link and play(for free), I get credit for it. Give it a try!
http://www.sguwars.com/recruit.php?uniqid=il1290530282
...Actually, yes...I am a geek.
I never could really get into Stargate before, any of the shows on the Syfy channel, but Stargate Universe I love - a great show that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It is an intelligent, witty romp through the galaxy, with enough tension to keep things together.
This link below on the other hand is to a browser based game called Stargate Universe Wars. It really doesn't have much to do with Stargate - but it is a great waste of time, and doesn't require too much of it. Plus if you follow this link and play(for free), I get credit for it. Give it a try!
http://www.sguwars.com/recruit.php?uniqid=il1290530282
Monday, October 11, 2010
Toastmasters Speech One
A couple of months ago, I joined Toastmasters. For those of you that don't know what Toastmasters is, it is an educational organization dedicated to creating leaders, and improving public speaking and communication skills. There is a lot of cheese involved in a toastmasters meeting, but for someone such as myself that is more afraid of public speaking than anything else in this world - it is some damn good cheese.
The first speech I need to give, I wrote out a couple of months back as well. I have not yet practiced the speech or seriously gotten the nerve to sign up. However, today I am publishing it here, and plan on giving the speech by the end of November. It is supposed to be an Icebreaker speech, one where I am to communicate some background information about myself including my interests and ambitions.
My Speech:
Don't ever become a pessimist... a pessimist is correct oftener than an optimist, but an optimist has more fun.
Robert A. Heinlein
Many times in my life that I get down about work or school, the one sure thing that has allowed me to rise back up to meet the challenges of life is a sense of optimism - looking at the good side of things while making a cconscious decision not to dwell on the negative.
When I first started here at Foremost, I was married to my wife less than a month from the day I started working here. This makes it easy to remember how long I've been married, I just need to remember how long I've been working here! In the Group home and auto area, I was on the customer service side of things, and took calls speaking directly to insured's about their policies. There was always a fair share of upset customers, especially when it came to billing issues. We got the news that the Group program was going to be backed out, and the floodgates opened when it came to negative calls from upset customers calling because they received their non-renewal notice or upset over billing issues created by an archaic system.
I am the type of person that finds it difficult not to take it personally when someone on the phone is upset - they may be upset at the company, but they're upset in my ear! I remember coming to work and having to force a smile onto my face just to make it through the day sometimes. The Idea being to fake it until I make it. The main thing that helped me through that period was an optimistic outlook, that eventually things would get better. It also let me view each of the calls with an upset customer as an opportunity to turn them around and make them a happy customer. In my mind I saw each of these negative calls as a problem, and an opportunity to solve that problem. It is a great feeling to take that type of call, and by the end having the insured thank you for your time and effort on their behalf.
I am not a skilled socialite by any definition of the term. I oftentimes have trouble holding personal conversation without feeling some discomfort. I haven't been diagnosed with a social anxiety disorder, but I do have my suspicions. The point is that this job was not really something that fit Me as a person. I was in a position where talking to people was my primary responsibility and it just did not fit me.
What I did truly enjoy about the job during that time however, was figuring things out. It was in the solving of peoples problems as best I could that I found the part of the job that I truly loved. I continued to be determined to followup on issues and resolve them satisfactorily.
Just over a year after I started working here at Farmers Specialty, an opportunity presented itself in an open posting for the STAR Help Desk. I interviewed for the position, and soon after was offered a home there. Things did get better, just as I had told myself on those negative phone calls. The calls were completely different from what I had been used to. It is a whole new dynamic when you are speaking with agents as opposed to insureds. I was given an opportunity to use my troubleshooting skills and put my general knack for problem solving to good use. In less than two years after I started there, my enthusiasm, hard work, and determination earned me a promotion to Level 2 Support.
Throughout the years since that promotion, my position has changed names, and pay grades, with more responsibilities a number of times. I have had many opportunities to grow right from within my current position in the last 6 years. It is my belief that there were many times where choosing to be pessimistic would have given me some satisfaction, because frankly, as quoted earlier - I would have been right. With that attitude, I don't think I would have lasted here very long. Me - a shy guy who gets anxious whenever he has to speak on the phone. Keeping an optimistic attitude allowed me to get closer to where I wanted to be.
That is all about how Optimism plays a part in my professional life, but it is just as important in my personal life. I have three growing boys at home, Michael, Gabriel, and Daniel who are 7, 5, and 3 respectively. As many of you probably know this means that just because I get home from work, it does not mean that my work is done! I have always tried to remain as optimistic and positive as possible when it comes to being a father. I feel that being pessimistic and expecting things to go wrong can oftentimes be a self fulfilling prophecy. Take attitude for instance, if I am negative with my kids, they feed off of that and return that negativity. At their young age they are just like computers in that if you put garbage in, you get garbage out. When putting more of my time and energy into creating a positive environment, I do get more positive results, not only from my children, but from my work environment as well.
To conclude, I would like to leave you with one more quote, this one from the great orator and statesman Winston Churchill.
A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.
Thank you
The first speech I need to give, I wrote out a couple of months back as well. I have not yet practiced the speech or seriously gotten the nerve to sign up. However, today I am publishing it here, and plan on giving the speech by the end of November. It is supposed to be an Icebreaker speech, one where I am to communicate some background information about myself including my interests and ambitions.
My Speech:
Don't ever become a pessimist... a pessimist is correct oftener than an optimist, but an optimist has more fun.
Robert A. Heinlein
Many times in my life that I get down about work or school, the one sure thing that has allowed me to rise back up to meet the challenges of life is a sense of optimism - looking at the good side of things while making a cconscious decision not to dwell on the negative.
When I first started here at Foremost, I was married to my wife less than a month from the day I started working here. This makes it easy to remember how long I've been married, I just need to remember how long I've been working here! In the Group home and auto area, I was on the customer service side of things, and took calls speaking directly to insured's about their policies. There was always a fair share of upset customers, especially when it came to billing issues. We got the news that the Group program was going to be backed out, and the floodgates opened when it came to negative calls from upset customers calling because they received their non-renewal notice or upset over billing issues created by an archaic system.
I am the type of person that finds it difficult not to take it personally when someone on the phone is upset - they may be upset at the company, but they're upset in my ear! I remember coming to work and having to force a smile onto my face just to make it through the day sometimes. The Idea being to fake it until I make it. The main thing that helped me through that period was an optimistic outlook, that eventually things would get better. It also let me view each of the calls with an upset customer as an opportunity to turn them around and make them a happy customer. In my mind I saw each of these negative calls as a problem, and an opportunity to solve that problem. It is a great feeling to take that type of call, and by the end having the insured thank you for your time and effort on their behalf.
I am not a skilled socialite by any definition of the term. I oftentimes have trouble holding personal conversation without feeling some discomfort. I haven't been diagnosed with a social anxiety disorder, but I do have my suspicions. The point is that this job was not really something that fit Me as a person. I was in a position where talking to people was my primary responsibility and it just did not fit me.
What I did truly enjoy about the job during that time however, was figuring things out. It was in the solving of peoples problems as best I could that I found the part of the job that I truly loved. I continued to be determined to followup on issues and resolve them satisfactorily.
Just over a year after I started working here at Farmers Specialty, an opportunity presented itself in an open posting for the STAR Help Desk. I interviewed for the position, and soon after was offered a home there. Things did get better, just as I had told myself on those negative phone calls. The calls were completely different from what I had been used to. It is a whole new dynamic when you are speaking with agents as opposed to insureds. I was given an opportunity to use my troubleshooting skills and put my general knack for problem solving to good use. In less than two years after I started there, my enthusiasm, hard work, and determination earned me a promotion to Level 2 Support.
Throughout the years since that promotion, my position has changed names, and pay grades, with more responsibilities a number of times. I have had many opportunities to grow right from within my current position in the last 6 years. It is my belief that there were many times where choosing to be pessimistic would have given me some satisfaction, because frankly, as quoted earlier - I would have been right. With that attitude, I don't think I would have lasted here very long. Me - a shy guy who gets anxious whenever he has to speak on the phone. Keeping an optimistic attitude allowed me to get closer to where I wanted to be.
That is all about how Optimism plays a part in my professional life, but it is just as important in my personal life. I have three growing boys at home, Michael, Gabriel, and Daniel who are 7, 5, and 3 respectively. As many of you probably know this means that just because I get home from work, it does not mean that my work is done! I have always tried to remain as optimistic and positive as possible when it comes to being a father. I feel that being pessimistic and expecting things to go wrong can oftentimes be a self fulfilling prophecy. Take attitude for instance, if I am negative with my kids, they feed off of that and return that negativity. At their young age they are just like computers in that if you put garbage in, you get garbage out. When putting more of my time and energy into creating a positive environment, I do get more positive results, not only from my children, but from my work environment as well.
To conclude, I would like to leave you with one more quote, this one from the great orator and statesman Winston Churchill.
A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.
Thank you
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