Think, Think, Think...

"I think therefore I am." Descartes' statement could spell trouble for many of us. How long has it been since you've taken the time to sit and contemplate? I know for me it happens much too seldom. Pondering can put life into perspective, open pathways to knowledge and enhance spiritual progress. In our busy lives who has time to sit and think? We all do if we take advantage of some common situations.
 -Turn off the car radio, cause you can't hear yourself think with Rush blaring in the background.
 -Get up a few minutes early and take a walk without the headphones.
 -Do the dishes, no one will bother you then.
-Last but not least, turn off the TV, or better yet, throw it out.
 Thoreau fled the city, taking to the woods so he could truly live his life. He found life there to be splendid because the lack of noise and hurry allowed him to think. We may not be able to actually flee civilization, but with a tweak to our daily habits we can go to the wilderness in our minds and drink from the well of knowledge we will find there.

The Elephant in the Room

The health care industry, pharmaceutical companies, tort lawyers and the government have created a new class system in America. These classes are: those with private or public employee health insurance, those with Medicare or other welfare insurance programs, and the uninsured. As these classes have developed, numerous discussions have been taking place as to how we can get everyone covered by health insurance. Insurance is not the issue. The issue which should be under discussion is why are the costs of health care so exorbitantly high? For example, a half hour helicopter ride to a hospital costs $32,000, when a helicopter can be rented with a pilot, for $900 per hour. A routine knee replacement costs $60,000, or an overnight hospital stay runs $8000. The costs of a long term illness of a month or two will carry a price tag of well over a million dollars. When doctors are asked about this they always point to the high cost of malpractice insurance. Hospitals and pharmaceutical companies shrug off the questions and tort lawyers laugh all the way to the bank. Meanwhile the public is mollified by the distractions of the circus portrayed by the media. The correct questions are never asked so the public is led down the slippery road of Progressivism. Big Brother can be the only solution, so we are told. While this debacle is before us, behind the scenes the oligarchical power of corporate America continues its rapine fleecing of its citizens. Daily, gigantic transfers of wealth are taken into the coffers of these corporations while the uninsured cower in fear of even a minor illness. All a person has worked for, for a lifetime, can easily be lost in a matter of days, if this person or a family member is hospitalized. At the end of a persons’ life, all of his property is routinely transferred to a long term health care provider for a generally short term of care. Now, even the insured are fearful because the costs have risen so far and so fast that good insurance doesn’t cover the costs, so the consumer is left with enormous bills. What are the questions that should be asked? One, should we look at tort reform which would limit the amount which a doctor or hospital could be sued for malpractice? By doing this the cost of malpractice insurance should go down. Two, should regulatory agencies streamline their operations, so new drugs and technologies can come to market at a lower cost? Three, should auditing of hospital financial records be done so as to determine the real cost of treatment? There is a good chance that the hundred dollar screw drivers from the military of the ‘80’s have found their way to our hospitals today. If these reforms aren’t made voluntarily, Uncle Sam will use the excuse of compassion to take over the health care system. Obamacare will put private insurance out of business and the public will be left with two choices, become a ward of the government or become an outlaw. While driving through many small towns in America, one can see the enormous new hospital on the hill overlooking their berg. With a little imagination, one can envision a feudal castle of the 14th century with all the serfs and resources of the surrounding village serving the gargantuan appetite of their Lord. Let’s not let this happen in America.

I Pledge Allegiance

I read in the news this week about a former sports star, Ryan Leaf, who has been brought up on drug charges, again. You may remember him from his college days at Washington State, he was a fantastic quarterback there and was drafted into the NFL. Things didn't work out so well for him there and he only lasted a couple of years. I asked myself how a person, who was seemingly on top of the world, make such a slide downhill?

I believe it has to do with where their allegiance lies. Anyone remember what allegiance is? I looked it up and, according to Websters, it is the tie which binds the subject to his Sovereign. Which brings up the question, what is a sovereign? Websters again defines this as a supreme lord or ruler.

We all have a sovereign in our lives to whom we are fiercely loyal, and to which sovereign we pledge our loyalty will make all the difference as to where we end up in life. There are four basic sovereigns to which we can pledge our allegiance. These are self, others, evil and good.

If one is loyal to oneself and puts his heart and soul into that loyalty, he will be rewarded and sometimes greatly. But when he attains the reward he will wonder why it isn't enough. With loyalty to self, fulfillment can never be reached.

Loyalty to others plays out like this. You work hard, doing what others say will make you great and you still can never quite seem to measure up. The ones you were trying to impress don't really care and aren't all that impressed.

If ones allegiance is to evil you will get what you want but it will be in a way in which you don't want it, and you lose your soul in the process.

The last and best allegiance is to good or God. If your allegiance lies here, as has every truly great persons', you will be able to do great, even unexpected things. You will have huge impact in the world, changing it for the better, and you will be truly happy and fulfilled.

I have known several people, some good friends even, whose allegiance wasn't in the right place. There have been times in my life when my allegiance wasn't right and it is amazing how empty life seemed. So take a minute and evaluate where you are and compare with where you should be, it will make all the difference.