Posted by Frankly Francis on March 9, 2012 under Social Issues/Politics | 
In the interest of full disclosure, and as a self diagnostic, I must start by saying that I am a pre-disposed individualist, never much of a joiner, always a rebel of the status quo, never politically correct, and always as true to myself as I can be. And in spite of how my perspective may sound, I do not take myself too seriously. Dear Reader, you would be well advised to not take me too seriously either.
“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it’s time to pause and reflect” – Mark Twain
And I must also say that I enjoy freedom of thought and ideas. I believe that diversity is the thing that makes us the strongest. So while we may disagree in our beliefs, I welcome discussion that is contrary to my own values. I am pretty sure that when we interact that way, we are all the better for it.
I was Once a Young Man
While the Vietnam War was going on, I began to suspect that the American ideal I had been trained to believe in was not being practiced. I took particular interest studying the historical pathway of humanity in learning to live together. I realized just how revolutionary the Declaration of Independence was.
What a lucky break for me to be born when and where I was! But when I looked around at my fellow Americans, very few seemed to get it. And “it” can be best described this way:
“There are those who would say that the liberation of humanity, the freedom of man and mind, is nothing but a dream. They are right. It is the American dream“- Archibald McLeish
Such a powerful and wonderful thought. How few of us that have ever revolved around the sun on this planet have had this opportunity?
Instead, I watched America reverting to a centrally controlled government with aspirations of ruling the world, while subjugating its own citizens.
“Don’t it always seem to go, they paved paradise and put up a parking lot” – Joni Mitchell
In the midst of this, I stumbled upon the Libertarian Party.
My first formal exposure occurred when I made an exploratory phone call to the office of the NYC Libertarian Party. It started off this way:
Frankly Francis: “I’m interested in learning about the Libertarian Party. What can you tell me about it?”
Libertarian Representative: “Basically, we want to do some good before we become corrupt.”
I appreciated the forthright honesty.
Actually, I was Intrigued
I learned that libertarians take the Constitution really seriously. Seriously…really seriously.
“We may be tossed upon the ocean where we can see no land – nor, perhaps, the sun or stars. But there is a chart and a compass for us to study, to consult, and to obey. That chart is the Constitution” – Daniel Webster
The Libertarian Party motto is:
The Party of Principle: Minimum Government, Maximum Freedom
This suited me well. Upon further study…
I Became a Libertarian
I remember back, over 25 years ago, when I spoke with people about my libertarian point of view, those little few who knew about libertarian philosophy laughed at me. Those who didn’t laughed at me when I explained its tenets.
I was a real mirth maker back then, spreading joy to all of those around me.
And there is inherent off-beat humor in being of the libertarian persuasion – the Libertarian Party is an oxymoron. As libertarians are, by their very core beliefs, individualists, I think that one of the biggest challenges libertarians face is being part of an organized group, even their own political party.
Some Libertarian Perspective:
If I were to apply Occam’s razor to libertarianism, I would describe it thusly:
“My right to throw a punch ends at your nose”
First and foremost, my life is mine to do with as I please, provided that my actions do not infringe upon anyone else’s rights. Like most of our Founding Fathers, I believe that everyone is better off when the individual is valued over the group.
Government is a Necessary Evil
Libertarians are not as naïve as some claim – I know that there are no utopian solutions, but when government’s purpose is limited to protecting the rights and property of the individual, I believe that humanity will have made the next great leap forward.
“What’s so funny about peace, love, and understanding?” – Elvis Costello
I confess to being an idealist who would rather be considered a resident of planet Earth than an American. But until such time as that is practical, I believe that our military should be so strong that no one would be stupid enough to attack us on our own soil.
“Let my actions speak so loudly that no one can hear my words” – Marv Levy
I don’t think that we need to evangelize ourselves to the world. If we have a compelling way of life, our example will be enough for others to want to adopt it. I suspect that this is where organized religions get it wrong; they spend too much time selling their product rather than living it.
We just need to be what we say we are.
The American Government is the Best Government…That Money Can Buy
We would be so much better off with a free market economy fairly regulated by government. Don’t be deceived however; America has nothing resembling a free market economy. And don’t be further deceived, the government does not fairly regulate the economy – it plays within it and gets bribed by big business.
I Love Competition
An even playing field of fair competition brings out the best in each of us and for each of us. And as a consumer, I love competition because I get the best value for the least price. It leads to new life improving developments…who isn’t in favor of new life improving developments?
Capitalism is the natural by-product of liberty that allows each of us to be whatever we choose to be.
Live and Let Live
And we need to grow-up a bit. While I do not advocate drugs, prostitution or gambling, none of these are criminal acts. Nor is government the authority over marriage or civil unions. Let’s get over it. Government has never been able to legislate morality, nor should it; we each need to do that for ourselves.
More Government?
In recent times, we have endured the “War on Poverty,” “The War on Drugs,” the government’s intervention into healthcare, the bail-outs of government’s good time business buddies, undeclared wars that clearly violate the Constitution, government openly stealing from us by devaluing the dollar, along with foreign policy actions that breed terrorism, enabling the government to strip us of our essential rights.
“I place economy among the first and most important virtues, and public debt as the greatest of dangers to be feared. To preserve our independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. If we run into such debts, we must be taxed in our meat and drink, in our necessities and in our comforts, in our labor and in our amusements. If we can prevent the government from wasting the labor of the people, under the pretense of caring for them, they will be happy” – Thomas Jefferson
I confess that I am stupefied by the prevailing belief that more government is the solution, based on the actual results of government’s actions.
But We Digress…
Our founding was labeled “The Great American Experiment” and it did, for fact, produce the best standard of living in recorded history…until we somehow decided that the experiment was no longer worthwhile. We chose the intoxication of other ideals.
We let our government take over the spirit and law of our Constitution. That’s what governments do. I am not saying that it is right; government can’t help it. Like all other biological and social organisms, government lives to grow for its own purposes. Its growth has become cancerous.
Using “The New Deal” of the 1930’s as a baseline, it has taken us about 80 years to clearly devolve from the intent of the Declaration of Independence.
If we could even possibly re-boot America, it might take even longer to dial back what has happened.
But I don’t think that is in the cards for America. America has gone empire, and I am pretty sure that there is no coming back from that. No empire ever has before.
Though humanity is becoming more humane, the pathway has not yet been linear. And it has at times been downright ugly. But if we do not socially evolve through America, I do believe that humanity will utilize American principles in some other place, in some other time in a better way.
But We Go Forward…
or
“You can say that I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one” – John Lennon
Unlike decades ago, hardly a day goes by when I don’t run into the word “libertarian” in the media. There are now libertarians hosting national TV and radio talk shows.
Perhaps it’s not too little, too late. In the past, due to the largess of my vanity, I have said that I look forward to saying that I was a libertarian before it was cool to be a libertarian. Maybe I will get the chance. It really doesn’t matter; vanity certainly never does.
So We Close…
But don’t kid yourself, there is a real battle going on right now: Will we be a centralized corporatist state or the land of the free and the brave? Will we continue on our empire course or will we be good neighbors to the rest of the planet? Will the government continue its quest to control every aspect of our lives or will we reclaim our unalienable rights, among these, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?
The Price of Liberty is Eternal Vigilance
Frankly,
Francis
Suggested Reference:
The Declaration of Independence
http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/
The Constitution of the United States of America
http://www.constitution.org/constit_.htm
Be careful of this – if you answer the 10 questions you might find out you are a libertarian too. The World’s Smallest Political Quiz:
http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz
Libertarian Party website:
http://www.lp.org/
Suggested Reading:
Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds – Charles Mackay
The March to Folly – Barbara W. Tuchman
For Good and Evil: The Impact of Taxes on the Course of Civilization – Charles Adams
Free to Choose – Milton & Rose Friedman
How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World – Harry Browne
Libertarianism in One Lesson – David Bergland
Libertarianism: A Primer – David Boaz
The Revolution: A Manifesto – Ron Paul
It is Dangerous to be Right When the Government is Wrong – Judge Andrew P. Napolitano
Why Government Doesn’t Work – Harry Browne
What It Means to Be a Libertarian – Charles Murray
The Libertarian Reader – David Boaz
The Great Libertarian Offer – Harry Browne
Posted by Frankly Francis on December 3, 2011 under Social Issues/Politics |
OK, it’s time for my periodic plea for us to come to our senses when it comes to our never ending “War on Drugs.”
But before I begin, it is essential to state that my beliefs on this topic stem from the knowledge that the right to my life is mine and mine alone. Along with that comes the right to make choices for myself, the consequences of which I also bear full responsibility for.
The Declaration of Independence clearly states that I have inalienable rights, among them the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Most, if not all, of the major religions are based on the concept that people have free will and therefore must make decisions for themselves of eternal consequence, which is a pretty heavy responsibility.
I concur with the words of one of my favorite authors:
Now what I contend is that my body is my own, at least I have always so regarded it. If I do harm through my experimenting with it, it is I who suffers, not the state – Mark Twain
Back in the early 1970’s, I thought it only a matter of time before marijuana was re-legalized. A short matter of time.
A Couple of Serious Facts:
Marijuana has never been proven to be addictive.
There has never been a documented death due to marijuana use.
Could we say the same of widely accepted alcohol use, which is arguably the most dangerous drug of all?
The Social Cost
It has been said that smoking marijuana is a victimless crime.
As I understand criminal acts, there needs to be a perpetrator of the crime and a victim of the crime. This makes sense, right?
So when a person goes to jail for smoking marijuana, then the person is both the perpetrator and the victim. This does not make sense, right?
In fact it makes as much sense as the tabloid headline I once saw in a supermarket checkout line:
Siamese Twins to be Executed for Murder – One Says, “But I Didn’t Do It!”
American jails are filled, and many in them are incarcerated for non-violent drug use or possession.
It’s like sending children to live with pedophiles. They live with and make friends with murderers, rapists, muggers and robbers. They probably forfeited their personal property to the government in the process.
It’s costly to house an inmate in a jail.
And they come out with knowledge and skills they didn’t have when they went in…
As a society we pay a steep price because trading in drugs, due to demand and its illegality, is very profitable. This leads to organized crime syndicates and violence in our communities, along with police and government corruption.
The organization Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) has this to say:
We believe that drug prohibition is the true cause of much of the social and personal damage that has historically been attributed to drug use. It is prohibition that makes marijuana worth more than gold, and heroin worth more than uranium – while giving criminals a monopoly over their supply. Driven by the huge profits from this monopoly, criminal gangs bribe and kill each other, law enforcers, and children. Their trade is unregulated and they are, therefore, beyond our control.
History has shown that drug prohibition reduces neither use nor abuse. After a rapist is arrested, there are fewer rapes. After a drug dealer is arrested, however, neither the supply nor the demand for drugs is seriously changed. The arrest merely creates a job opening for an endless stream of drug entrepreneurs who will take huge risks for the sake of the enormous profits created by prohibition. Prohibition costs taxpayers tens of billions of dollars every year, yet 40 years and some 40 million arrests later, drugs are cheaper, more potent and far more widely used than at the beginning of this futile crusade.
We believe that by eliminating prohibition of all drugs for adults and establishing appropriate regulation and standards for distribution and use, law enforcement could focus more on crimes of violence, such as rape, aggravated assault, child abuse and murder, making our communities much safer. We believe that sending parents to prison for non-violent personal drug use destroys families. We believe that in a regulated and controlled environment, drugs will be safer for adult use and less accessible to our children. And we believe that by placing drug abuse in the hands of medical professionals instead of the criminal justice system, we will reduce rates of addiction and overdose deaths.
This comes from an organization of individuals involved in law enforcement…
I suggest you read it again. And maybe once more.
The Economic Cost
These are tough economic times. Our government has run up debt that our children and grandchildren will not be able to pay back. Some gift to our kids. Cutting expenses and adding income should be of paramount concern. We could achieve significant budget cuts to law enforcement agencies, the courts and the prison system, not to mention increased tax revenues from users and sellers if marijuana were re-legalized.
What About the Trees and Our Environment?
It has been widely speculated that marijuana became illegal at the behest of big business. This is not the result of capitalism; it is the result of corporatism where business connives with government for control of a market segment. I maintain that the American government is the best government…that money can buy.
Jeffrey Blum, an associate professor of law, in response to a request from a federal judge, contends that a significant reason for making marijuana illegal was to protect the interests of the paper and synthetic fiber industries from competition with hemp producers.
It has been calculated that hemp can produce, acre for acre, four times as much paper pulp as trees.
Bye-Bye Trees, Bye-Bye Rain Forests…
Hemp has many uses according to Hemp USA:
Hemp can be used to produce a very large variety of products from clothing to paper to building supplies to cars to fuels to food products to much, much more. Some people have called hemp the plant of 30,000 uses because it combines the utility of the soybean, the cotton plant and the Douglas Fir tree into one green package. Hemp is an environmental, renewable, reusable and recyclable resource.
Notable People Are More Openly in Favor of Re-legalization
While it goes without saying that many in movies, music and the arts, such as Tommy Chong, are publicly calling for the end of pot prohibition, there are a growing number of people, such as television host and activist Bill Maher, former US Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders, mega-businessman Richard Branson, author Stephen King, and congressman Ron Paul, who have joined the ranks.
Eve Conant writes:
Certainly, the Republican Party is a long way from becoming the Pot Party. Although a handful of conservative thinkers like Milton Friedman, George Shultz, and William F. Buckley have argued the merits of legalization over the years (Buckley even mocked those who called marijuana a gateway to addiction, saying it was “on the order of saying that every rapist began by masturbating”), most Republicans still oppose the idea.
These are influential people even if most Republicans still oppose it. And to be fair, how many Democrats are openly calling for re-legalization? Only the growing Libertarian Party openly supports re-legalization.
She continues:
Pundits like Fox News’s Glenn Beck and former judge Andrew Napolitano have also joined in the debate, on the pro-legalization side. “You know what, I think it’s about time we legalize marijuana. Hear me out for a second…” Beck told viewers in April. “We have to make a choice in this country. We have to either put people who are smoking marijuana behind bars, or we legalize it. But this little game we’re playing in the middle is not helping us, is not helping Mexico, and is causing massive violence on our southern border.”
I can’t say I am a fan of Mr. Beck, but he has that right.
In Closing
We each have a right to what we put into our bodies – will you continue to be told what you can and cannot do with your body?
You can bet that the mob and the cartels don’t want to see marijuana re-legalized – will you continue to support them?
Allowing hemp to be grown is much better for the planet than cutting down trees – will you continue to support environmental destruction?
American drug policies defy every sensibility when you look at the big picture. They cause so much harm in so many aspects that I think future generations will be puzzled by our point of view.
Let’s change this. Let’s grow-up. It may not be a great leap forward, but a leap forward nonetheless.
Frankly,
Francis
References and Reading:
http://norml.org/
http://www.leap.cc/
http://franklyfrancis.com/?p=217
www.hempusa.org/hmps/articles/hemp-uses.html
http://www.voteindustrialhemp.com/
http://www.squidoo.com/famous-people-who-support-marijuana-legalization
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2010/10/25/the-conservative-case-for-legalizing-pot.html
http://www.friendsofcannabis.com/directory/
Posted by Frankly Francis on October 23, 2011 under In The News, Social Issues/Politics |
Photo by David Shankbone
“Banks got bailed out, we got sold out!”
What to Do
Here’s my suggested demand, specifically to Occupy Wall Street, but to my fellow Americans as well:
Investigate and Prosecute the Criminals Who Are Responsible For This Financial Mess!
Background
It is my understanding (from a radio broadcast) that there were 1,000 successful felony prosecutions during the Savings & Loans crisis in the 80’s. The speaker then went on to say that in terms of the net worth lost by Americans; the current economic situation is 70 times worse than that…
YIKES!
Remember this, Dear Reader: Americans were massively opposed to the government bailing out its good time business buddies in the first place.
And try as you might, you really cannot rationally blame capitalism or free enterprise for this debacle because America hasn’t seen the true likes of either of those for a very long time.
Wouldn’t it seem logical, in light of all of this, that the prosecutors would be salivating? I mean, where’s the beef? Release the hounds!
Alas, it turns out that “Yes We Can” really means “No We Won’t.”
There has been no investigation or prosecution to speak of.
But why?
The Situation
As the constitution is currently interpreted, the government is responsible to create regulations for the conduct of business, and then to enforce those rules.
The Problem
By way of an analogy to sports, government is the officials, the referees. Business is the players. Without referees, common sense tells us that the players will not play fairly, just as common sense tells us that without rules business won’t play fairly.
Here’s the hitch: government is not satisfied with only being the referee. It wants to, and does, play in the game too. This creates an obvious conflict of interest problem. How can the referee make impartial calls while also playing in the game? How can the referee be a good player while having to officiate the game?
The Possible Outcomes of Investigation
- The government properly enforced its rules, but the financial sector committed fraud – then those responsible should be prosecuted.
- The government did not enforce its rules – then those responsible should be prosecuted.
- Both 1 and 2.
I’m all in with my money on 3. Government and big business are in cahoots with each other at the expense of We, the People. While we’re at it, the Federal Reserve should be thrown into the line-up as well. Quantitative Easing, QE2, and Operation Twist have been elegant smoke screens.
I have truly come to believe that the American government is indeed the best government…that money can buy.
And that is why there has been no investigation or prosecution.
I’m not above being intrigued by conspiracy theories, but this is no conspiracy – it’s all been done in plain sight. We are being fleeced openly on the street. And so far, we’ve done a good job of taking it.
So I urge my friends of the Occupation to at least demand prosecution before you tire of your work.
Fight the Power Brothers & Sisters!
Frankly,
Francis
Here’s some interesting analysis for further reading:
http://money.msn.com/investing/what-wall-street-protesters-have-right-brush.aspx
The OWS website:
http://occupywallst.org/
Posted by Frankly Francis on September 25, 2011 under Personal |
Previously: Our Secret Garden is planted. Gramps is obsessively paranoid about the planting. See http://franklyfrancis.com/?p=871
The plants are doing well and the seeds spout quickly. All is good in Our Secret Garden.
Our Secret Garden is Planted
All is good with Gramps too. There is a certain spirituality in the soil that Gramps has learned to appreciate. And being able to show and experience gardening with 1.1 is priceless!
Gardening is at best a very small part of what 1.1 is experiencing at this stage in her life. Gramps has no clue as to what she’ll remember or even if she will remember, but believes that this is a good thing.
Now that all of the seeds and plants are in the ground, the next step for 1.1 and Gramps is laying down the mulch. Just like compost is black gold for plant nutrition, mulch is an essential ingredient to the Secret Garden. Gramps likes to think of mulch as a blanket for the plants.
And a couple of procedural suggestions for those interested in gardening:
Gramps likes using a “wand” for watering. It concentrates a heavy, but gentle flow of water that gets deeper into the soil than other types of nozzles. Watering should be done at the base of the plant, never on the plant itself or leaves, preferably in the morning or evening.
The Water Wand is Essential
The fence – Just because 1.1 & Gramps have planted “one for yourself, one for the rabbit, and one for the crow,” doesn’t mean that they are going to make it easy for pillagers. Gramps has constructed a light fence that should keep interlopers out of the Secret Garden.
For those gardeners who need to prevent animals from taking the harvest, Gramps is reminded of info that his knowledgeable cousin imparted upon him. She has her husband “pee” around the perimeter of her garden. This keeps critters out, but needs to be repeated after each rainfall. It is necessary that it is performed by the male as it stakes out territory – animals can make this distinction. Gramps has advised his son (in-law) of this…
The Secret Garden begins to grow:
The Secret Garden grows more:
The Secret Garden reaches maturity:
And The Secret Garden starts producing edible food:
1.1 Holding Our First Broccoli
The first Cucumber
Clockwise: Cucumbers, Sugar Snap Peas,Broccoli, Green Pepper, Jalapenos, Green Beans
Now the story of Our Secret Garden is pretty much over, but Gramps is in for one last surprise. It was mentioned earlier that 1.1 loves Lima beans, as does Gramps, but 1.1 reveals that she likes eating Lima beans right out of the pod! Could Gramps be more pleased? Not likely…
Posted by Frankly Francis on July 30, 2011 under Social Issues/Politics |
Where are we going and why am I in this handbasket?
…where indeed.
I have been watching with rapt attention as the economy, domestic and international, does a strange dance. One that I have not seen in my lifetime. It is fascinating to study.
History tells us that cultures rise and then they fall. To our credit, we are putting more of the humane in our human development along the way, but it is apparent that we still haven’t licked the adage of “that which goes up must come down.”
The Glory that was Rome
The course of the Roman Empire is an interesting parallel to our own in America. Most Americans do not think it, and many wouldn’t admit to it even if they knew it was true, but America is certainly more of an Empire than it is not. It is my understanding that there is American military presence in over 100 countries. American soldiers are fighting throughout the world. America possesses the world’s reserve currency. America influences the operations of countless numbers of countries.
Yes, Virginia, America is an empire.
Rome grew and grew, extending its influence to the reaches of the world. Following the time old pattern, it established a bureaucracy and system of taxation that grew and grew. Following the time old pattern, eventually, it grew to the point that it imploded upon itself. That’s how it goes for empires. So far, at least.
I’ve read that it took the Romans 200 years to devalue their currency by 95%.
Get This: America has been able to turn the purchasing power of a dollar into a nickel in less than a 100 years.
No government backed currency has ever stood the test of time before. Never. Ever.
How about some inconvenient truths:
- The U.S. national debt is growing at 4.1 billion dollars per day.
- On a per capita basis, each American is responsible for $ 46,660 of the current national debt.
- Worse yet, on an unfunded liability basis, each American is liable for $ 368,400.
- 48% of Americans earn so little that they do not pay any income tax.
- Neither of the political parties is offering a reasonable and realistic fiscal management plan that addresses the unsustainable debt and programs at all levels of government. And they won’t.
- The European Union is an economic powder keg that could blow at any time. The potential negative impact of this on the American economy should not be understated.
- U.S. states, cities, towns and localities are in growing economic distress, with no solution in sight.
- That’s not to mention rising consumer costs, that 1 in 4 children receive their food from the government, that the housing market is and will continue to be a disaster, and “real” unemployment is sky high.
“You can avoid reality. But you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality” - Ayn Rand
Bleak, yes. Hopeless, no. Perhaps business and technology can get ahead of the government.
Perhaps. But, in my opinion, what is necessary is for government to back down. From my point of view, government has become the threat, not the solution.
Here are a few words from Bill Bonner:
“Bush didn’t tell Americans the truth about the terrorists. They were over here because we were over there, not the other way around. I mean, we’re not over there because they were over here.”
“The obvious and fastest way to balance the federal budget is to renounce the imperial agenda. It costs about $1.2 trillion a year to maintain troops all over the globe, to run Homeland Security, participate in 3 wars…and all the other things that go into being an empire. Congress and the president could simply announce that they no longer believed the empire was a worthwhile project. Presto, the budget would be balanced. Problem solved.”
I like the idea, as a first step, of solving our money problems by returning to our shores and concentrating on our own well being towards continuing the American Experiment.
From the song “These Boots Are Made for Walking,” I close with these prescient and profound words – “You keep samin’ when you oughta be a changin’”
Are you ready boots?
Frankly,
Francis
Posted by Frankly Francis on June 25, 2011 under Social Issues/Politics |
The problem with youth is that it is wasted on the young, to paraphrase George Bernard Shaw.
But does it need to be that way…in today’s age?
I think that most of us who survived our youth have said something like, “If I only knew then what I know now.”
Ah, there’s nothing quite so compelling as 20/20 hindsight.
Perhaps, just perhaps, today’s youth can have a better opportunity to enjoy their youth, if we let them.
In 1910, about 100 years ago, average life expectancy was 49.2 years.
If you were born in 2009, your average life expectancy is 78.7 years.
So, in a century we’ve added about 30 more revolutions around the sun to the average person.
It wasn’t that long ago that it made sense to be married and have a child by age 16, but those days are fortunately behind us.
Luongo - "Young Mother With Child"
We are living longer. We should thoughtfully consider letting our kids grow-up longer.
I think that with the exponential advances in technology, we will soon be able to add another 30 years of life expectancy to newborns. Could well be more. Seriously.
But the exponential rate of technology is not without its cost. There is a lot more to learn now than there used to be.
Yet, it seems that we are trying to push all the new knowledge into the same time frame that older adults were subjected to when they were kids.
That doesn’t make sense to me.
I see parents today vying to get their kids into the best pre-pre-school. I know that they mean well, but it reminds me of the horrible images I have seen of children’s beauty pageants.
As a parent I find this painful
Frankly Francis suggests that we should let kids be kids a little longer than we used to.
With longer life expectancies and more to learn today, let them take the time to absorb it.
And give them the time to enjoy the process. We have it to give. We will all be the better for it.
Frankly,
Francis
Posted by Frankly Francis on June 10, 2011 under Personal |
Previously: Our Secret Garden has been prepared for planting. The toughest work is out of the way. See http://franklyfrancis.com/?p=834#comments
Gramps is pretty certain that he is still not qualified to be a parent, but feels that he may have some potential at this grandparent thing.
When Gramps was a youngster, grandparents were stern fossils that were not around all that much and were a little scary when they were. Things have changed and Gramps has an awareness of that. Seems today that grandparents are much more a part of their grandchildren’s lives. Gramps likes that.
1.1 is more and more comfortable around Gramps. Gramps likes that too.
Many years ago, Gramps’ long suffering wife, who 1.1 named “Gaga,” turned Gramps on to a PBS series called “Square Foot Gardening” by Mel Bartholomew. It is a very practical method for people who want to grow vegetables, but don’t want to be farmers. It has worked very well for Gramps throughout the years. When it comes to gardening, Mr. Bartholomew is Gramps’ hero.
In anticipation of planting, 1.1 & Gramps count the seeds that will be needed to make sure that they have enough. Math is an integral part of this process. Properly dropping the seeds is too.
The soil is a critical element of the garden. It is the source of the nutrients for the plants. The roots use it to anchor and grow the plant. It holds the needed water. It shouldn’t be too hard or too soft.
Gramps reckons that the previous owner of One’s house liked to garden because the soil, while un-attended for perhaps years, is still rich and friable. “One” of Gramps’ son-in-laws (One’s husband) has procured the ingredient for the soil that Gramps likes best – compost. Compost is decaying organic matter that is rich in nutrients. Gardeners refer to it as “Black Gold.”
Gramps has laid out some scrap lumber to use as walkways. Walking on the soil should be minimized so that the ground does not get compressed. Gramps thinks to himself that 1.1 would have a hard time compressing soil at this point in her life. Gramps can compress more soil now than he used to be able to.
From experience, Gramps likes to plant beans, cucumbers, peas and corn from seeds. For tomatoes, broccoli, lettuce and peppers, Gramps purchases plants that are already started.
1.1 & Gramps have decided to plant in quantities using the wise old garden adage, “plant one for yourself, one for the rabbit, and one for the crow.”
The planting goes well for 1.1 & Gramps.
1.1 enjoys the process and does a good job of planting the seeds and transplanting the plants.
1.2 thought that planting looked interesting and gave 1.1 & Gramps some help.
After giving it some more thought and analyzing the composition, 1.2 concluded that the soil had too much clay, so he added some sand.
It’s good to get a little dirt under your fingernails…
Now that all the seeds and plants are in, it’s time to water thoroughly.
Every year, when Gramps plants the seeds in the soil, he obsesses. He becomes more and more certain with each passing day that he planted them too deep or too shallow, that he hasn’t watered them enough or that he has watered them too much. Gramps becomes certain that the seeds will not germinate and sprout. Then they sprout.
Gramps has been through this cycle too many times and really should get over it. He really should.
Now that 1.1 & Gramps have planted the seeds, Gramps is once again, of course, obsessing.
1.1 is waiting.
Our Secret Garden is planted
Gramps has asked a blessing for the garden. 1.1 thought it would also be a good idea if “Tinker Bell” used her magic wand and sprinkled some pixie dust over the garden as well.
Gramps thought that was a great idea!
In Closing
1.1 & Gramps prepared for planting by arranging and counting seeds. The planting grid was followed. Plants were transplanted and seeds were planted.
Next: Our Secret Garden Grows! Or Will It?
Posted by Frankly Francis on May 30, 2011 under Social Issues/Politics |
Please don’t mistake me for an angry man. But don’t mistake me for a zombie either.
I have been blessed by family & friends, circumstances and experiences throughout my life. I’m a lucky guy and I know it. I would like to leave an even better place for my kids and grand kids.
For me, America is first and foremost an ideal, a glorious philosophy… and much secondly a country. It remains revolutionary in its value of individual liberty over centralized control. We have been given a precious gift, but we do not seem to appreciate it, or at a minimum, know what to do with it.
But I am not here to tell you how the world can become a better place. I am not qualified. I am here to simply point out that the rules are being grossly violated. I am wary of the way things are trending. This diminishes the all too short experience that we all could have.
Maybe we should just dose ourselves with Huxley’s Soma and go forth into a Brave New World…
I think not. Instead I write, inspired by the words of Marshall Foch – “My centre is giving way, my right is in retreat, situation excellent. I attack.”
Now for the record, I am absolutely opposed to initiating violence, so my attack is with words. Is the word processor mightier than the sword?
So for one last time, a little simplified, but very real analysis:
If I print money and spend it as I choose, I am a criminal. When the government does it, it’s OK, they know what’s best for the economy.
If I borrow and utilize money that your children and grandchildren will have to pay back, I am a criminal. When the government does it, it’s OK, they are just fulfilling the budget that they created.
If my friends and financial supporters go bust from bad business practices that I encourage, and then I give them your money to continue on with their shenanigans, I am a criminal. When the government does it, it’s OK, they are preventing systemic risk.
If I do things in other neighborhoods that result in attacks on our neighborhood, and then restrict your lifestyle, I am liable. When the government does it, it’s OK, they are protecting us from terrorism.
If I have a contract with you and then reinterpret it over and over in my favor, disregarding key provisions, that is illegal. When the government does it, it’s OK, they are looking out for our interests.
You Don't Want to Know What Will Happen if You Don't Comply!
“The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the chains of the Constitution so the second will not become a legalized version of the first” – Thomas Jefferson
In plain sight, with the acceptance of We, the People, the government is not shackled by Jefferson’s chains of the Constitution and is arguably the biggest organized crime syndicate in recorded history.
We are being legally robbed of our money and liberty.
Will this be changed? Can it be changed? I don’t know.
But let’s face it for what it is and stop teaching our children lies about the way things are. Let’s at least be honest with them and each other.
It is what it is, so let’s call it what it is.
Frankly,
Francis
Posted by Frankly Francis on May 22, 2011 under Personal |
Previously: The Secret Garden has been measured and plotted, and the positioning relative to the sun has been established. See: http://franklyfrancis.com/?p=813#comments
The un-locking stage of the end days of winter has occurred, but the winter has been long. Too long. It does not want to go away. Yet, Spring is knocking. It is in the air! It can be felt! And Gramps thinks, “…About time already.”
1.1, Gramps’ eldest grandchild, is still pretty much taking life one day at a time. She certainly knows and enjoys the events throughout the year, understands the repetition and pattern, but on her own, doesn’t need to look too far ahead.
But Gramps always looks forward to what comes next at this time of the year. And that would be picking out what vegetables to grow, followed by figuring out the layout of the garden. Somewhere behind that is the actual work involved.
What to Grow
Gramps advises 1.1, that by his experience, it is a good idea to plant what you like to eat, and in amounts that you will eat. 1.1 readily agrees, but from the look in her eyes, wonders, “why wouldn’t you do it that way?” 1.1 has never experienced the end of season over-production of tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, and other veggies throughout gardening land…
Gramps & 1.1 discuss what vegetables to grow. Gramps is pleasantly surprised by 1.1’s general knowledge of vegetables, but is absolutely stunned to find out that she loves Lima beans! Lima beans are perhaps Gramps favorite vegetable. It turns out after a little more talk that both 1.1 and Gramps favor grape popsicles too.
1.1 suggests growing broccoli. Gramps asks her if she likes broccoli. She doesn’t think that she does, but is pretty sure her Mom and Dad like it. Gramps is pleased that 1.1 thinks beyond herself.
Resolved: After conversation, consideration, and contemplation, it is mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto to grow the following:
Lima Beans
Green Beans
Cucumbers
Sugar Snap Peas
Tomatoes
Cherry Tomatoes
Broccoli
Green Peppers
Hot Peppers
Corn
Romaine Lettuce
Garden Layout
Measurements indicate that the garden is approximately 10 feet X 10 feet, or 100 square feet.
Gramps is a student of the Square Foot Gardening Method, devised by Mel Bartholomew – a method that maximizes space while minimizing weeding.
Gramps develops a layout and submits it to 1.1 for approval, which is readily accepted. 1.1 & Gramps count each grid all the way up to 100. That’s putting their numbers to the test!
Gramps knows that when one plans a garden, it changes along the way. Gramps knows that weather changes the results. Animals and insects change the results. Circumstances change the results.
That’s like life. The key, Gramps explains to 1.1, is to end up where you intended go, even if you get there on a different path than you initially set.
Gramps, on a roll, further explains the economic principle of “Opportunity Cost” to 1.1. The concept, in its utmost simplicity, is that if you plant one thing, it means you cannot plant a different thing in the same spot.
Gramps asks 1.1, “So, if you are reading Dora’s Rainbow Egg Hunt, what does that mean?” She responds, “Then I can’t be reading Llama Llama Red Pajama.” 1.1 gets it! One, 1.1’s mother, raises an eyebrow. Gramps wonders if the elevation of the eyebrow is directed at him, 1.1 or the both of them. So much for economics being the dismal science…
Preparing the Soil
Gramps, who was once upon a time a young man, has had run-ins with the soil throughout his life.
Gramps’ maternal grandfather came from hardy stock – immigrant farmers mostly, and he certainly did his best to relay the value of that which grows upon the land to Gramps. It was a great generational pass-down for which Gramps is very thankful. Grandfather to grandchild…hmmm. A potential pattern here? hmmm.
New gloves for a new garden!
Gramps asks 1.1 if she knows about the Pilgrims. She does. Gramps suggests to 1.1 that this would be a wonderful time to experience Pilgrim life – life before grocery stores, electricity and power tools.
1.1 falls for it. While 1.1 tills the soil with a hand shovel, Gramps takes a nap.
Does Gramps really expect me to do all this?
Gramps suddenly awakes to 1.1 shouting that she has finished tilling the entire Secret Garden!
1.1: I Did It! Gramps: Yikes!
That didn’t really happen. 1.1 & Gramps thought that it would be funny to trick you!
Actually, Gramps prepared the soil with a Roto-Tiller, a wonderful labor saving device that “Two” of Gramps’ son-in-laws graciously provided for use in preparing the Secret Garden. By the way, it is made by Mantis and it is the best that Gramps has ever used.
In Closing
The vegetables to plant were decided upon, the lay-out of the Secret Garden was established, numeric counting was performed, history and philosophy were discussed, and economic principles were utilized, along with an understanding of hand versus mechanical labor.
Next: Planting begins!
Posted by Frankly Francis on April 29, 2011 under Personal |
Introduction
One, who has a small patch of suburban garden potential, who knows that Gramps loves vegetable gardening, who also knows that Gramps doesn’t have a suitable garden site presently, and most importantly who seems to enjoy her father’s curmudgeonly company, suggested that a garden be established at her house.
Gramps jumped on that hook, line and sinker.
The Plan
It occurred to Gramps that this could be a wonderful opportunity to act his age (although he is still trying to figure out what he wants to be when he grows-up) and share his gardening experience with his granddaughter 1.1, who is at this writing slightly over four years old.
1.1 is the first child of the first child of the family. A role that Gramps himself was unwittingly cast into. The more Gramps thinks about it, the lineage actually goes like this:
1.1 is the first child of One who is the first child of Gramps who is the first child of Marilyn who is the first child of Ethel who is the first child of Max.
Gramps sees a lot of himself as a youngster when he looks at her.
A few years ago at Gramps' 50th B-Day Party with 1.1
1.1 can be very serious and yet, loves to play. She is a pioneer. Even at her young age, she seems to have the presence of mind to know that there is a lot out there to be learned and a lot to be dealt with. She can be sensitive to situations that confuse her, and yet be surprisingly outgoing when at ease.
Maybe Gramps, who has walked that walk before her, can give her the benefit of some of his experience. Maybe.
The only hitch in the affair is that Gramps has never been very comfortable around children – even when he was a child.
But Gramps truly considers himself an adventurer and an explorer – the hazards of the plan are small compared to the potential. And even cynical and jaded Gramps can’t help but feel thrilled to have the opportunity to share time and gardening with 1.1.
But this is to be a “no expectations” operation. Gramps has come to believe that when one has expectations, there is little win in the situation. Either you don’t get your expectation and you’re disappointed or you do get your expectation, but you already expected that so…
…so Gramps is going to guide this project, but will let it take whatever course it will. Gramps looks forward to experiencing this with 1.1.
The Overall Process
Gardening is a pretty encompassing activity. It involves science, art, spirituality, and some labor. It is the practical application of so many things that are learned in school.
1.1 & Gramps surveying the Secret Garden
The First Steps
1.1 & Gramps begin with a survey of the garden area. According to 1.1, it is very important that all of the Princess Barbies be in attendance to view the start of the Secret Garden. Proper ceremony is important to 1.1.
Next, the Secret Garden’s area is measured and recorded with the assistance of Snow White:
After that, the compass is necessary to determine the positioning of the Secret Garden relative to the sun:
Finally, it’s inside with 1.1 & Gramps to plot the measurements on graph paper so that the planting can be planned:
The Name
Oh yeah, the name: The Secret Garden. Every great and wondrous project deserves a name. Gramps came up with that from remembering it as a title of a movie (or perhaps a book?) involving children. Gramps knows no more about it than that. But that was enough to suggest the name to 1.1.
It was enthusiastically received.
1.1 decided that it would be completely secret, but that it could and should be talked about freely. Gramps likes 1.1’s reasoning. So Gramps is able to fully disclose the adventure while simultaneously keeping it a strict secret.
In Closing
To summarize the beginning of the Secret Garden: measurements in feet and inches were taken, the positioning of the sun was determined, and the Secret Garden was plotted on graph paper.
1.1 & Gramps have gotten off to a good start – even the Court of the Princess Barbies agrees!
Next: 1.1 & Gramps decide what vegetables to plant and where to plant them
