On a more positive note, I really like this quote from this post: “I can’t fathom our obsession with “raising the bar” when it remains so detached from ‘helping them actually jump higher.’” It’s obvious to me, upon Considering this quote, that politicians, policy people, and profit-grubbing corporate / Foundation leaders are the ones obsessed by raising the bar in education. The educators correctly seek to help with jumping higher wanting the optimum for each student. AND the direction we move depends upon the beliefs of the parents and citizens. Jumping higher will be achieved in spite of the mandates IF the parents and citizens seek / support it.

All in all, I don’t know what to call myself. I don’t believe in taxation to pay for things, but I am realistic enough to know that as a society we’ve fooled ourselves into believing that our responsibility is only to ourselves. We must believe that we aren’t responsible for others. Why else would we buy coffee for the next person in line that one time four years ago and act like we’re a generous sort? Why else would we give money to charities instead of our time? Why else would charities prefer our money to our volunteerism in some cases? Why else would people reject the kindness of strangers or cautiously eye them waiting for the catch? We’ve lost sight of what generosity is and what it means to invest in our communities.

I’m with you on the idea of sharing maps and building skills instead of handouts, but people today are too comfortable with paying someone else (often the government) to hand out the maps or they want control over who is deserving of the map and exactly what is detailed on the map, how it is interpreted, and what is left off the map for the sake of .

All in all, I understand where you are coming from and can relate at least in part to your feelings of conflict. I just can’t even begin to imagine how to shift the tides of self-interest to create a world that resembles what I remember as a child, a world that probably never really existed outside of the isolated pockets of my insulated youth.

My thinking has always aligned quite well with the Libertarian viewpoints – playing an important role in my election choices. So today, I am happily registered independent (no campaign calls or mail) still aligning with the Libertarian thinking. Maybe you’d find this as comforting as I have.

I lost any hope of a President I think could do a good job when Christie dropped out… Frankly, I’d like to see “None of the Above” as a ballot option; four years without a President might be best!!!

What Passes for Conservatism…

“What passes for conservatism at the state level is just wrong these days.”

You said a mouthful there, brother. 

The quote from Ron Paul that I included about not knocking capitalism b/c we haven’t tried it yet is something I genuinely believe. I don’t think the ‘free market’ – even at its most brutal – was ever envisioned as being about government sponsorship of a chosen sliver of winners and corporate sponsorship of an unchangeable power structure.

We’ve lost any appreciation for complexity. High taxes stifle growth, it’s said. Yes, yes they do. The solution, however, is not to eliminate taxation altogether, thus insuring prosperity – it’s a balancing act between the spoils of the successful and the collective obligation to the social contract. 

The left does something similar socially when they argue that scarlet letters and shame-based legislation is ineffective and ethically unpalatable. Yes, yes it is. Their solution, however, seems too often to involve promoting every conceivable violation of decency as if that in and of itself is enlightment perfected. 

See what happens when people agree with me a little, however politely? I spin out of control!

I aren’t politically identical, but I get your journey. Thanks for sharing.