Christmas 2010

I really was never "into" Christmas. My childhood memories were horrible since each Christmas resulted in the same scenario of my father's leaving the house to get horribly drunk! It was a horrendous situation each year without fail! Nothing in the forms of presents could counter the conclusion of the day.

Then as I became involved in the process of becoming a priest and, later, being a priest, I was always aware that the "Christmas" that most people celebrated seemed to quite different from the religious or spiritual event that I was focused on. I was not terribly involved in the "human" aspects of the celebration until later when I started to become aware that the "human" dimensions could also be "spiritual".

When I became a parent, Christmas took on the perspective of seeing Christmas from the eyes of my children. Admittedly, they and, surely my wife who has always been big into Christmas, helped transition me into the positive aspects of the "holiday".

During the years, the actual religious dimensions of Christmas transitioned from the childhood beliefs of the Christmas story as literally true through all sorts of migrations based on the biblical research that was available.

And, then, the whole religious support system was buried by the inescapable conclusion that Christianity itself was no more that any religious structure designed to provide a support system to those trying to cope with the mysteries of life, especially death.

Now, Christmas has become a human event, period, which may provide some "spiritual" insights into our better selves, e.g., it is great to be with family, to experience the bonds developed by our history, to share the stories that have come to make us who we are.

From my perspective, I experience this human event endlessly throughout the year. When I am with any of the children and family, I am totally aware of the wonder of the experience that I could belong to such beautiful people. When I see my children as dedicated to their spouses and children, I am experiencing the beauty of love being shared, as is often referenced by Christians who see in Jesus the love that God has for mankind. And when I see my grandchildren experience life with such enthusiasm, I can only be awestruck that our history will continue to develop more stories of love, dedication, and hope.

Should I Prepare some Humble Pie?

I don't want to rush into a meal of "humble pie", but I am impressed with the apparent "success" of the President to negotiate as many pieces of legislation through Congress since the election. Many commentators are singing his praises. I would like to join them, but I will get the ingredients for humble pie ready per chance it will be necessary for me to admit that he is truly successful.

The major point of my hesitation to eat the pie is that I want him to defend the vision that made so many of us vote for him. I want him to transform our nation into 21st century that will be embody the best of our ideals of fairness and justice.

I admit that the repeal of DADT and the approval of the START treaty were major successes.

Some say that he needed to get the tax bill through Congress before any of the remaining pieces of legislation would be considered. The point is well made.

I will eat the humble pie with gusto if we can see our nation transformed into a better society.

Banks Too Big to Fail

I have often focused on the size of banks as a special concern. Thanks to Simon Johnson, I am convinced that banks "too big to fail" are too big!

Howard Schneider has written a column that points out the same in a rather alarming way. He demonstrates rather convincingly that there are many banks in Europe that are literally bigger than the nations. While that is not yet exactly true in our country, it is not very encouraging to know that banks have assets equal to our nation's.

The banks have powerful lobbyists that are working their skills to ensure that Congress does not interfere with their "success".

I can only hope that we don't learn how wrong they have been.

Dealing with the Deficit could be a Joke!

The recent tax bill indicates that there is no serious attention to the deficit. Meeting all of the Republican demands was clearly going to raise the deficit big time (I suppose it is hard to describe a deficit as being raised "big time" when it is already extraordinarily huge, but ...) show how hypocritical the Republican party is.

I may be most unhappy with the Democrats for caving in to the Republican demands, but at least they tried to stop the tax cut for the wealthy. And, it is not the tax cut per se (I could "compromise" if I knew that there was an agreement to end these cuts when the economy improved, as measured by some agreed upon indices). It is the fact that I believe that there is no intention to increase taxes, period!

Simon Johnson addresses this issue in usual forthright fashion. While he notes that any stimulus will be offset by the rise in interest rates, his major concern is that the prognosis for addressing the deficit is poor and, in turn, investors will demand increases in the interest of our bonds. Our nation will be losing its status as an economic haven for safe money!

Mission in Afghanistan

Let's start at the bottom line. I don't see how it is possible that our current involvement in Afghanistan will result in any significant and permanent good. I see no way in which any "gains" will be maintained. The problems are with the Taliban and the features of a tribal society. The Taliban is elastic in its ability to constantly recreate bodies to continue their "mission". A centralized government exists only in name. It has no relevancy to most of the nation. There is no system of justice apart from the Taliban. It is a colossal mistake! Fred Kaplan's column is so depressing because the Military Review states quite clearly that there is a need for Pakistan to secure its tribal areas and, in fact, that is not happening and, according to the article, will not.

Obama's justification for the "surge" delivered at West Point and yesterday's review of the status of the current mission do not address the viability of the mission. The mumbo-jumbo does nothing for me. In particular, Obama's focus on getting rid of al Qaeda is ludicrous. There is no evidence that we are doing much damage to al Qaeda members. We are spending our time beating down the Taliban which continue to emerge stronger than ever whenever we reduce our presence in any specific area.

Stephen Carter's overview covers the confusion associated with the Obama position. Surely, it makes no sense to me. It is all so depressing!

Opposing Views of Reality!

My entry on 4 Dec focused on the history of liberalism in this country. In my entry, I noted that there has been a major difference in viewing reality as either focusing on individual liberty and freedom or the individual within a social order with supports.

In today's NYT, David Leonhardt addresses the same issue within the context of health care. The ultimate point that differentiates this bipolar viewpoint is that one can see how the differences are easily bridged.

Universal health care (hopefully one day, with one public card etc.) affords everyone the security that their health care needs will be addressed. At the same time, it provides the freedom to pursue work independently of concerns of the implications for health care coverage. As it is, employer- based coverage reduces risk-taking for entrepreneurs. If you knew that your liberty would be enhanced by the security of your health care coverage, you could unlock potential growth as well as reducing business costs (no small overhead item in the budget).

Special Moment!

The experience of being a parent varies between the sublime and the ridiculous. There are moments that can be painful and others, filled with pleasure and joy.

Such was the experience of listening to my son's appearance in the 5th US Court of Appeals to defend the government's case that he argued in District Court. The defendant was trying to overturn the verdict and the sentence.

To listen to my son's use of various citations as well as the measured verbal presentation without the benefit of any notes was most impressive.

It was a very, very special moment.

http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/OralArgRecordings/09/09-30705_12-8-2010.wma

Too Big to Fail!

I have referenced my appreciation of Simon Johnson's opinions regarding the need to control the size of banks. As he often states, the matter is worse now than ever since there are only three banks that control such a high amount of total assets.

One of Fed Governors, Thomas Hoenig has zoned in on this issue several times. Now, in another op-ed column in which there is a link to Hoenig's recent column, William Black provides his insights for supporting the same claim.

As big as the three banks are now, they intend to get bigger! A recent NY Times Magazine, Jamie Dimon states that the objective of a bigger banks is good for our economy! In spite of all the recent history, he is convinced that severe problems will never reemerge.

I wanted that Financial Reform legislation to require limits on the size of the assets any one bank could hold as well as separate commercial and investment banking. It appears that we need another crisis to see the wisdom of so many who advocate for limiting the size of banks.

My Education

Recently, I have been most interested in the attention focused on Brockton High School, the one I enjoyed. "60 Minutes" lauded the recent achievements in the urban school that is very large and diverse. Students from multiple ethnic backgrounds and languages have languished in an academic environment that has been despicable. The recent turn-around has been a result of a successful approach by all teachers to require writing in each class. While sounding rather rudimentary, the results have been notable.

When I first learned about this change in the fortune of my high school (the actual building no longer exists), I thought back with a favorable opinion of my education. I saw the trend in education in Brockton as similar to the entire city, i.e., dramatically downward.

However, I recently visited a former classmate who has a serious medical disorder. We were talking about the good press that Brockton received recently. When I commented favorably about our own high school education, she shared her experience in college when she discovered that she had never done a term paper. And, she was a real good student who studied, in contrast to my focus on sports!

But, I then recalled my early experience in the seminary. I was disturbed to find out how ignorant I was compared to those students who graduated from Boston Latin and BC High. While I then attributed my ignorance to my lack of academic discipline, my classmate's story suggests that maybe I was not provided as good an education as I thought. Maybe, my ignorance was only partially explained by my interest in sports (an interest that actually saved me psychologically from all the disturbances at home). A greater part of the story is that I came from a relatively poor educational system.

With the current discussions on how education can be improved, I am aware that I came from a culture without an interest in education. My mother was denied an education in Ireland and my father was not a high school graduate. No one talked about "issues", far less set goals or expectations about my future. No one listened to news on the radio.

My personal experience of finding out how "ignorant" I was compared to some of my contemporaries ignited a life-long push to insure that I would continually overcome any ignorance, including ignorance resulting from bias and poor information. I recall telling a bishop who was chastising me about the content of my sermons that my initial seminary education virtually caused me to commit intellectual suicide (by teaching what proved to be horrendous distortions of theology) and I would ensure that I would share only the best of what was available to parishioners. In order to get the best of what was available, it was clear to me that I had to keep learning because everything was subject to revision based on new knowledge.

Given the meager introduction to knowledge, I am at least ending my life feeling that I did my best to remedy by my younger years.

Fixing the Budget per Joseph Stiglitz

At times, there are economists who seem to make reality very clear, so clear that one wonders how anyone could disagree with their perspective. Somehow or other, Joseph Stiglitz seems to have the ability of zoning in on complexity to squeeze out simplicity.

In his recent column, he lists five areas which explain much of the deficit issue and lend themselves to corrective action to remedy the situation, a list that has been identified by others as well.

We could invest in our infrastructure and would get a great return (jobs, improved bridges, etc.) on our investment.

We could address the ridiculous size of the Pentagon budget that builds weapons for enemies that no longer exist and addresses problems that are outside the role of a military.

We could address the income inequality in our nation that even Chairman Bernanke mentioned on Sunday's "60 Minutes". This is complicated, but creating a fairer tax system would achieve a much more equitable distribution of wealth.

We could address the issues of corporate welfare that range from farm subsidies to other incentives that make no sense in a capitalist system that is intended to reward initiative and the free enterprise.

Finally, we could increase the taxes paid by the very rich people to help balance our national sense of equity.

It is hard to believe that his views would be endorsed by the majority. Yet we know that they aren't. It makes one wonder about our future.

Tax Bill

I clearly am upset with the wimpy response of the President and fellow Democrats who will compromise over a major issue of fairness by accepting the tax cuts for the rich. Unless a stand is taken, there is virtually no hope in the future when there will be a Republican majority in the House and more Republicans in the Senate.

I just sent to our Senators and my congressional representative the following message:

I STRONGLY oppose cutting taxes for those with more than $1 million ($250,000 in current debate) to the point that I hope that you will oppose any compromise even if all Bush tax cuts are eliminated. I would want to start from scratch and create a new tax bill in 2011.

History of Liberalism in the United States

There is no doubt about the fact that I am a liberal. I realize that our nation was built, however, on the principles of personal liberty and capitalism. It is sort of a national religion that there can be no violation of these principles even if they may be counterproductive to many. It somewhat explains why so many support conservative politicians who support policies that are not relevant to their personal well-being.

Emmet Tyrell provides a helpful overview of the history of liberalism in this country. It is noteworthy that it captures well the inherent resistance to any form of "socialism". Even the policies advocated by the original Obama, i.e., the one before election, cannot be considered a threat to the dictates of individualism, albeit, they would have ameliorated some of the unfairness associated with capitalism.

It is now clear that there is no hope that I will live long enough to see my expectations of a second FDR. I was hoping that there would be universal healthcare provided with a single card, e.g., Medicare, that would extract the profit motive from health care. I was hoping that we would see a restoration of safe banking, i.e., the separation of investment banking from commercial banking. I was hoping that we would see increased transparency in government which the elected Obama seems to have forgotten about.

So, I have to learn to live with reality, knowing that I am personally secure while others have to deal with the ravages of capitalism run amok (slight exaggeration; I still enjoy living in this nation, but wished that it could adopt policies that ultimately provided the security of accessing health and education for all)!

A Very Sober Story!

I am only one of many who have bemoaned our military's sorry involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. If the military involvement could possibly be viewed as making those nations better for our presence, it would be one thing. As it is, there is no index that indicates any real success. Iraq continues to be very unstable, violent, religiously intolerant, politically corrupt. Nothing positive is seen in Afghanistan. Even some of the more "friendly" and "dedicated" Afghanistan military turn on us!

Robert Kaplan is a person that I read to be sure that I am aware of "the other side". He is one person who generally is very supportive of our military's engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, in today's column, he presents a honest and very sober picture of the personal ravages of war as experienced by the military themselves and their families. The article may not represent new information, but it eloquently presents the terrible results of war. Coming from him, the words have even more significance.

Mystery of my Relative Success!

I know so well my failures. I did not "make it" as a priest. I failed to successfully get my doctoral dissertation accepted. I failed to become a hospital director.

I now view all these disasters from the perspective that I did relatively well, "given my limitations".

I never was able to "adapt" to reality. I always thought that people would "see" the truth if it was explained to them. I now realize that if I belonged to a more "democratic church", one that I support in theory, I would never be selected as a pastor. There would be so many that would oppose my views and I would not demonstrate the ability to waltz with the singers. I tried maneuvering through the Berkeley Graduate Theological Union to transition from the clergy to become a psychologist. It was not viewed positively by those on my committee and I had not learned how to deal with the political dynamics involved in graduate education. Within the hospital system, I continue to voice objections to policies that brought out some tension between me and those in power.

Given all that, it is a wonder that I actually was employed for nearly 35 years, that I was somewhat productive, even if I often laughingly thought that most people who noted my e-mail messages etc. would simply hit the "delete button". I know that I am no where near the parent that my wife is, but somehow or other, I did not hamper her success with our children.

When it is all said and done, given the limitations, I did o.k.

Wonders of Something New

When you are old, you sort of rivet on those "changes" that speak to the fact that you remain human. I am still a person that is focused on "schedules": I tend to go to bed at the same time, eat the same stuff, exercise with the same routine, read.

Everyone once in a while, I change! Wow!

During the summer, I added to my routine my adding swimming each day. It is so accessible. What is easier than walking across the street. Since then, I have maintained that routine for all the days that I have been here (went to New Orleans for Thanksgiving). When the surf is up, I use the boogie board; otherwise, I am swimming about 300 yards (three football fields).

And now that my wife has pointed out my slouching posture, I am adding Yoga! I am just starting with positions designed to improve posture. It will probably add the better part of an additional half-hour to my day, but I am sort of enjoying these changes. I would like to think that it is a sign that I am human.

President Obama's Downfall

I try to keep an open mind on decisions made by the President. I wanted so much for him to succeed with his agenda. I wanted him to be the next FDR, the next president who really made a difference in the structure of our nation.

Unfortunately, he continues to disappoint. In reading Paul Krugman this morning, I cannot come to any other conclusion than Krugman's. However bright he may be, he is misreading all sorts of the political realities, e.g., hoping for "compromise", electoral realities, e.g., he is losing so many of his base that supported him so strongly.

At this point, there is no reason to think that he will change his approach that is essentially doomed.

I hope that I am wrong. I would love to live long enough so that I could report what a miserable person I have been to think that President Obama does not know what he is doing!