.
.
Later or early, made little difference to me. I took my shower, had a fresh towel to dry with, had clean clothes to don, and so into town I went. I chose which place to stop, only two choices really available but they are on the opposite sides of town. I took the shortest path into town, which is usually the longest way time-wise due to heavy traffic, but not at 3:30. All of it was thought out in half a second as I got back into the X after having pulled her out of the garage then shut the garage door. Blink. Done. And the trip went as planned. I ended up buying a bit more than I had anticipated. Extra cat food, while I was at it. The dry lasts forever but the cans are used up in a heartbeat, as my life goes. I saw Kleenex on sale, and prefer that brand. Six boxes for less than half of what the other brands charge, oddly, and more in each box. Along with what I have in stores and in use, that should last me the winter. And more soda, this time most of it went down to storage. I should keep some on hand down there, rotating it every few months. I would love to do a fresh rotation of that every time but it just isn't in me. I would like to get a supply for several months alone, but with coffee to supplement I would have enough caffeine for four to six months just as is. And, what I went to town for? I found a whole roll of my favored tobacco. A rare thing. So, I did pick the right store, no need to store hop. Then again, I am going to try to stay awake long enough to go back into town later today. I am going to see if my friend is available, and wants to go shooting, shopping, or just out for a meal. No promises, it is just hoped that I can push through today.
It is wonderful to be dressed. And a shower two days in a row has been splendiferous. I still have that beastly headache back in there, and so I won't be doing anything too strenuous. Shooting seems difficult, but the ear cuffs cut that way down. I don't even shoot .22 shorts without them, if I would compare the sound of .22 shorts to a pellet gun. I have finally trained my friend NOT to shoot before making sure I have earphones on. It rattles my nerves. Oh, sure, if called too I could, and would, shoot my pistol, shotgun, or whatever without ear protection, even in close quarters like a home, but I would suffer for it. I don't choose to suffer. Hmm, I have even gotten him to wear them, most of the time. While he can no longer hear the part that is painful, I have asked if he really wants to lose the rest of his hearing? I think... that got his attention. Well, and maybe being an example. Oh, he is contrarian and a bit of a rebel, just like the rest of us. But... when you don't tell him, but more explain why, and show that their are real consequences... He can come around... iffin he is of a mind to do so. Heh... I'm almost sure he thinks the same thing about me from time to time. Bah!
I have been lazy about caffeine. Soda truly is easier, but it isn't quite as good. Then again, it is cold to start with. This has been a mean summer. Coffee sort of loses out because by the time it cools I may have forgotten about it. There are ways to make or buy ice cubes, but those are the product of at least one more process in a system of failed processes. In the fall, winter, and spring, coffee is splendid, now that I am back to it and have a system worked out for it mostly. But... summer?
Some people remind me a whole lot of my eldest brother. [Uhrm, when I say brother, remember, that could be foster, step, adopted, half (on birth mother's or father's side), or... even a few other things. I don't even bother to explain which is which, just... brother for now.] He was a typical hard core "liberal". Went to college, married a woman (how liberals end up married I am not sure, perhaps it was social imprinting left to them, somewhat beyond their control). They had several children. Unfortunately his wife died in her 30's, and I dearly loved her (loved her just for her, innocently). He married again and went on with life. He worked in social services, and went on to be the head of that in one county (men usually rise quickly despite all the feminism). In any case, he finally decided he was no longer liberal. Now, he maintained his atheism throughout. I tried to help him understand that he was merely, now, a disgruntled liberal. You can't really be conservative unless you accept how things really were, in the beginning. That is what conservative means. It doesn't really mean back to the 1950's, back to the 20's, back to some fictionally more "conservative" time in American, or even world, history. The world hasn't been conservative since Adam and Eve were given the boot. That is what a conservative seeks, and knows he will not find here. It is a wish to go back to the future. Yes, yes, silly indeed. But any learned Christian knows we cannot have heaven on this earth, they know we will not know perfection in this life, and we know this place at least in part because of us is an imperfect, deeply flawed, a sometimes dark and deceitful place. No, he is just a liberal who wasn't able to pacify his intellect with his heart, he is not a conservative. Conserving money, a fiscal conservative you ask? If that is all he is, then he is just as easily a crony capitalist as an outright socialist. Socialists, in practice, are actually quite often exactly like that. They only promise otherwise to sway the foolish who have been incorrectly allowed to vote for that very reason.
Never mind. Besides, being fiscally conservative or liberal means little, if you look at it in a religious light. The love of money is the root of all evil. So, whether you want to protect it for this group or give it to that group matters little, if it is because of a love of money, for yourself or others, it comes down to why you are what you are. And while I am a fiscal conservative, it isn't on the principle of money, giving or saving, but on property, the ill effects giving money away has yielded, and other topics of a very Christian nature. As well, one of the most important aspects of Christianity... free will. Men can not be forced to tithe in this time. They tithe of their own volition. Just as they may not be forced to believe. Charity is fine, just not at the end of a barrel. That is what redistribution is, forced reallocation of other people's money.
Blather, blab, blah, and so on... Yeah, I get tired of my own stuff too. It just... came up while I was thinking about something or other last night. I know D.C., to a lesser extent mind you, sort of brings up notions of my brother. I don't know if he was that liberal and changed, or if he has always been a 'third path' guy, or what. But I know he dabbles in the liberal pool rather deeply. He says he is just... doing it for this or that reason, but I sense some of his heart is there. Mother? Siblings? Wife? Is someone he holds dear deep in that pool? Just... thinking is all. Please, take no offense D.C. Just late night ramblings, ponderings.
Good day. Wish me luck on getting back to town? Hopefully not good night this time! Later.
Pf.
ReplyDeleteI don't comport with your particular notions of conservatism, so I therefore must be a liberal?
ReplyDeleteIt is to laugh.
Really now, why do so many conservatives confuse liberal with libertarian or minarchism with anarchism?
For the record, I've never been a liberal nor were any of my immediate family members. My parents were quite apolitical for years until Ross Perot fired up my Dad. I explained to him thereafter that what he was really after was a form of "Leave me the hell alone" libertarianism, and the light went on for him.
My own trajectory went from "moderate" for lack of knowledge to enthusiastic conservative in the Reagan era, to social conservative throughout the '90's, trending conservative libertarian through the 00's, and finally a dawning realization that the whole political scene is a huge game of Hegelian Foxtrot. Now I suppose I'd fit most people's notion of a tinfoil hat conspiracy theorist crockpot. So be it.
It reminds me of a comment on WND after Vox's "Romney is Worse" column, wherein said commenter accused World Net Daily of having gone over to the liberal side.
ReplyDelete*facepalm*
Hmm, I only suggested you... reminded me of him at times. No, of course you aren't a liberal in the modern sense, classical sense yes to a degree, as am I... to a degree. Just... some of your sensibilities tend rather liberal based. Oh? Well, even some of MINE are. That... doesn't mean I am liberal. If I do use conservative or Christian cover, sometimes it doesn't quite fit. There are areas where I have to admit emotion overtakes reason, thus I am liberal... even on some of my conservative or "conservative" notions. I was just... thinking.
ReplyDeleteYou... wear that heart proudly on your sleeve. And... protesteth quite vociferously... If I recall, there is said to be meaning there, if too... not all smoke leads one to fire. *laughing most industriously*
Well, those who would actually vote for Obama to save us from Romney are at least as insane as those who believe voting for Romney will change much. I will grant, I think Romney will "do stuff". Problem is, I don't really know what he will do, he hasn't really said. But what I do see him doing I don't like already, changing how candidates and such are picked, to exclude grassroots efforts, like the Tea Party and libertarians. What I WOULD like to see is choosing party candidates closed to the party involved. That would be fine by me, and is needed at this time of severe differences between the parties. But that won't happen because both parties like the... gray area that type of thing creates.
ReplyDeleteI "protesteth vociferously" if for only because we've been hashing at this for some time. I am quite aware of how gardens and chickens and solar panels and wind catchers are perceived by many. But that my efforts and motivations are "liberal based" is where I must draw the line and why I scoff. Because you know better.
ReplyDeleteI am certainly not the only one that has noticed the overlap--James Wesley, Rawles for one has noted the similar means, radically different motivations.
I love you man, but sometimes you make me nuts.
Here is my bottom line philosophy as of late -- All temporal aggregations of power are subject to corruption by the Enemy. All of them. (Yes, even that one!) None should therefore be trusted in by the Christian who fully understands that he has cast his lot in with the one who found no place to lay His head. Both liberals and "conservatives" delight in the aggregation of power to advance their own causes. A pox on both their houses, and may the Lord come soon into His kingdom!
See, no. You are missing the major contention. Which, is my fault. I haven't been clear. Putting up solar panels, more specifically where you live but in any case. What you learn while doing it, having back up power on tap, all good. You aren't pretending the cost is an advantage or that you are doing it "for the world". You aren't. No, this has nothing to do with any of your projects... save maybe a high reliance on "organic" items. Then again, even I have had to use that, simply because the other items didn't have the real shelf life needed. But...
ReplyDeleteNo, the real problem is your constant berating of conservatives, our notions, and such, pretty much the good and the bad, and some belief that there might be something good to some liberals (Democrats). I posit the only party that has a chance to set things up for a better fall, landing, recovery, is the Republican party. Dems seem intent on making sure when the fall happens that we won't have people who can and will fix it. Reps just don't believe so aren't really doing much, save trying to bring back the type of people who can make a difference in such times but more thinking that will revitalize a dead economy. Still, that will be useful when it falls, having doers in place and ready to rumble.
Once a population has had the risk-takers, inventors, and hard workers squeezed out of it's system, they aren't replaced until after the fires of socialism have burned all the way out and the people (might) have a chance of rebuilding from ashes. That IS the Democrat way. There is NO GOOD there. Republicans, you are right, have been and always will be a part of the problem. But they offer more solution than problem, as things will most likely turn out and even should that not happen.
We don't have friends in politics. And, to some degree, that is good. Just like we weren't always supposed to like our parents, our religious leaders, or even God at times. But just harping on the one group that might do some good... that's what's been eating me.
I don't believe in taking a fair and balanced approach, watch the "news" to see how that turned out. If you even let some notions get in your head as a possibility, you are done. Abortion, for example. Hell, the pill itself! Both are given the front and center and pushed, both are as evil as men can get. No, I don't believe in fair and balanced, nor does God. Not as men see things. But, yeah, that's what's been gumming up my comments.
Careful you're not projecting Vox onto me. I only agree with a portion of what he espouses. I particularly don't recall having praised any Democrats lately.
ReplyDeleteI wish you luck, if the R jerseys win. There are, however, many within the party who see a Republican win at this time more damaging to the party due to the $hit that is about to hit, than a second Obama term, wherein the $hit can be firmly laid at the feet of socialistic notions. The $hit is coming, hard and soon, no matter who wins. It will be toxic for whomever handles it at the time.
I have to keep coming back to the Bush the Younger years, when "your party" was "my party" and we controlled both branches of the legislature plus the presidency plus a working majority on the SC, and STILL nothing was done about conservative pet causes! Abortion especially, but all the socon agenda saw losses throughout those years. As did the limited government fiscal conservative agenda.
Worse, we saw some major expansions of the Federal government during the Bush years (Medicare drug benefit? That excreable farm bill giveaway?)
And worst yet, the conditions, the abuses and fraud in the financial sector leading up to the present difficulties were cultivated during those years. The bubble popped quite firmly while Bush was still in office, recall.
"Have another tall glass of blue kool aid, Desert Cat! Promise it will be so much better this time."
You go on ahead without me to the party. I'm done. My principles are no longer reflected in the modern Republican Party (if they ever were in my lifetime).
I would rather be among those left behind by the party as they tag along behind the Democrats, sharply critical of what they have become and what they have lost/left behind in terms of real conservative principles. If no one is nipping at their heels from the right, who is left to keep them from hurrying along leftward at an even faster pace?
No, you definitely have real bones of contention. We actually share them. Seriously. For me though, it seems that you come across so strongly, almost too strongly. At some point objection becomes defection. As well... I might be scolding you for me... in a way. You are easier to see... if you think about how we see the world.
ReplyDeleteAs for Vox? He doesn't have his head in a cloud, he has it in three clouds. While each might be justifiable, arguable, debatable, all three can't work all at once. While I do believe in pie in the sky and ice cream on the side, nudism at the Church social and whiskey for the kiddies is out. Not that he has actually called for those, but... why not on some things. He is interesting, just... cuts things too clean and misses the big picture or vice versa, like the rest of us. I think, in the main, on certain topics, he is spot on. On politics though? No, he has less clue than I, due to extreme prejudices all his own? Grudges? I'm not sure.
And, actually, I am no longer even a Republican. I don't know when you quit, but I quit shortly after Bush the second's Second term. I had been quite dubious through his nomination and first term as was, and actually trusted his father less... wasn't sad to see him go either. At least Clinton could be openly fought.
But as I said, we really have three choices, Republican, Democrat, or no one essentially. Of those three, none will save us from what is most likely about to happen. Keeping Obama in is absolutely toxicly insane, no matter if Reps take both the senate and keeps the house (which I doubt).
I am queasy about Romney, but there are things that in spite of his problems he might help develop. I am not sure he is actually a friend to small business, which would make him a crony capitalist. But even that offers some venues for the types of businesses wanted. There is a chance he might even throttle back some government spending and change who are cronies to a small positive, especially with a fairly large and growing class of real smaller government governors, senators, and on down the list even to the local levels. Conservatives and Republicans scored huge last election, this one might be as large.
As well, there are limits to what a president even can do. Much of it is up to us, and we have not done our part. How many of us are indebted up to our eyeballs, or worse, over our heads? A trick I am told, we were tricked. No were weren't. We thought we were seeing, getting, spending, money for nothing and fooled ourselves. I did, if I have pretty much worked out of it for the most part.
It's a mess. Just that Republicans, especially with the huge success last time, and if that continues, might actually be in a spot to do some things. Abortion? Forget about it. Beyond being a huge money industry, it may be too entrenched socially. I pray for it's end, but... I am not holding me breath. Even getting a smaller government will be a beastly affair. First we will have to have the people in place, bean counters and the policies by which they operate, that actually counts growth as growth. As is, an increase is most often regarded as a cut. Lots has to change before change can even be rightly demonstrated, seen clearly, plainly.
Ugh. So, that was my deal.
Robert A. Taft for President
ReplyDelete