There are always more consequences to changes in our world than we expect. Take high oil prices, for example. We are all glad they have dropped back down. Especially at this time of year, it feels good to spend money on something other than filling up the gas tank.
But there is, of course, a bigger picture. Prices are low, but the economy as a whole is still falling. The additional good news and the unnoticed benefit? Deaths are down in car related accidents. So while many people struggle to make ends meet, there are a few thousand who can simply be grateful that they have the ability to worry about making ends meet.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Sunday, December 07, 2008
No Mob Veto
This is a great ad. We don't need to all agree. We simply need to accept that we have different viewpoints. Fundamental to this country is the ability to express those viewpoints. I have no problem with gay people speaking about their desire for marriage. I disagree with them, but I would never do anything to silence them. It's a pretty simple matter - I don't like being intimidated or hated for being Mormon. Obviously, they wouldn't want to be intimidated or hated for some of their beliefs. So, I will grant them the same respect that I ask for - to be allowed to express my opinions and views without fear.
Friday, November 21, 2008
A Rarity
An admirable CEO. I don't necessarily think every CEO should go to this extreme, but they certainly should take a page from his book. Here is a man who seeks success above wealth.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Mac vs. PC
I have little to say. Simply that not long ago I got a Mac.
I miss my more powerful, more versatile, more widely accepted, more interesting, supposedly more error-prone (not that I experienced many), but all-together more human PC.
I like my stable, sterile, somewhat artificial Mac. Few problems. Not much personality and not much versatility, but it's only frozen up once or twice and that was easily fixed.
I like Hal. But when I get my next computer, it will be Windows. Maybe I'll name him Prometheus.
I miss my more powerful, more versatile, more widely accepted, more interesting, supposedly more error-prone (not that I experienced many), but all-together more human PC.
I like my stable, sterile, somewhat artificial Mac. Few problems. Not much personality and not much versatility, but it's only frozen up once or twice and that was easily fixed.
I like Hal. But when I get my next computer, it will be Windows. Maybe I'll name him Prometheus.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Politics vs. Economics
Greg Mankiw's Blog: Auto Industry Bailout?
A great summary of the arguments on either side. I agree with Becker. I think the bailout is a wise political move, but a poor economic one. I believe propping up the auto industry in the days of Chrysler is part of the reason we are in this mess now. American auto manufacturers are simply not competitive with foreign manufacturers. They need to change. The lesson would be painful and hard for the auto industry in the short run, but in the long run it will be better for the economy as a whole.
Having said that, the plight of GM and Ford employees is a real one. Perhaps the best move for the government would be to provide retraining programs and other assistance to employees of the failed firms. That would be more effective, in my mind, than any bailout.
A great summary of the arguments on either side. I agree with Becker. I think the bailout is a wise political move, but a poor economic one. I believe propping up the auto industry in the days of Chrysler is part of the reason we are in this mess now. American auto manufacturers are simply not competitive with foreign manufacturers. They need to change. The lesson would be painful and hard for the auto industry in the short run, but in the long run it will be better for the economy as a whole.
Having said that, the plight of GM and Ford employees is a real one. Perhaps the best move for the government would be to provide retraining programs and other assistance to employees of the failed firms. That would be more effective, in my mind, than any bailout.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Friday, November 07, 2008
Disturbing Trend
I noticed a disturbing trend on Facebook. Many of the Yes on 8 groups are shrinking while the No on 8 groups are growing. Yes, the measure passed, but this is only the beginning. We achieved a great success in defending marriage. Let's not back down now. They are not going to back down, so neither can we.
Where's the Hate?
I'm struggling to find the hate that all the No on 8 crowd says I have in my heart.
And while I have never called them names or vilified them, I(more specifically, all those who support traditional marriage the way I do) have been called every name under the sun. They have an interesting way of fighting for tolerance and acceptance. I would include links, but some of them are fairly offensive. And those who are back in CA have heard and seen a lot worse than me.
The Church's response is great. It's important that all of us who support traditional marriage do not allow hate or prejudice to build within our hearts. If we want to fight for what is right, let us live what is right the best we can. Love our neighbors!
And while I have never called them names or vilified them, I(more specifically, all those who support traditional marriage the way I do) have been called every name under the sun. They have an interesting way of fighting for tolerance and acceptance. I would include links, but some of them are fairly offensive. And those who are back in CA have heard and seen a lot worse than me.
The Church's response is great. It's important that all of us who support traditional marriage do not allow hate or prejudice to build within our hearts. If we want to fight for what is right, let us live what is right the best we can. Love our neighbors!
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
It's Time to Speak Up
The election is over, but the time to speak up is just beginning. We live in a representative democracy. Our representatives may vote directly on bills, but they are accountable to us. Whether or not we voted for them, they must answer to us. Write your senators! Write your representatives! If you do this, you will have a greater effect on the politics of this nation than your vote today did. The President does not write or vote on bills, but your senators and representative do. Speak up! We can have an influence. It is not over. This is a government of the people, for the people, and by the people. But it is only the people's government if we act. Now is the time to speak up. Don't wait 4 more years. If this country goes down the drain (which I don't think it will), it won't be Obama's fault, it will be ours. This is our country, so we must do our part.
Who Are the Bigots?
The views I express here are my own and, while I believe they are parallel, they are not the views of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
No on 8 supporters have made a commercial that erodes all credibility when they call for tolerance and acceptance. They say that the Yes on 8 campaign is full of lies and we obscure the facts. Then they create this commercial demonizing missionaries. When has the church demonized No on 8 supporters? When has the church attacked homosexuals in any way? If you actually read the literature the church has released regarding homosexuality, you will find that it is full of love and understanding. It strongly emphasizes the love God has for all his children, especially for those who struggle with situations like homosexuality. He knows it is hard. That is why he provided His Son to be there as a comfort and a guide through difficult times. There is nothing in the Church's position on homosexuality that is hateful or bigoted. In almost no other issue have I seen God's love emphasized so much.
God loves all, but He does not accept all we do. He has condemned specific acts because they do not fit in His plan, which is designed to bring the greatest happiness to those who choose to obey. It is not arbitrary. It is based on eternal truths that cannot be broken. Fundamental to this plan are a man and woman marrying and working together towards exaltation - life with God. Part of that work is having and raising children. There are situations in which this ideal does not work out. But that does not mean that we are not required to try. The possibility of failure is no excuse for making no effort. There are all kinds of obstacles placed in the lives of people. Homosexuality is one of these. Those who are homosexual are children of God with the same potential as all others, but along with that potential comes the same responsibility. There are not different requirements and rules depending on our circumstances.
The point of all that is simply to state my understanding of the Church's position. It is not one of misunderstanding, hate, prejudice, or bigotry. It is based upon a belief that No on 8 supporters do not share. I do not vilify No on 8 supporters or homosexuals. While there are, unfortunately, those who do vilify homosexuals, I do not and I have seen nothing from the Church that does.
Here is the Church's statement:
The Church has joined a broad-based coalition in defense of traditional marriage. While we feel this is important to all of society, we have always emphasized that respect be given to those who feel differently on this issue. It is unfortunate that some who oppose this proposition have not given the Church this same courtesy.
From the KSL website.
No on 8 supporters have made a commercial that erodes all credibility when they call for tolerance and acceptance. They say that the Yes on 8 campaign is full of lies and we obscure the facts. Then they create this commercial demonizing missionaries. When has the church demonized No on 8 supporters? When has the church attacked homosexuals in any way? If you actually read the literature the church has released regarding homosexuality, you will find that it is full of love and understanding. It strongly emphasizes the love God has for all his children, especially for those who struggle with situations like homosexuality. He knows it is hard. That is why he provided His Son to be there as a comfort and a guide through difficult times. There is nothing in the Church's position on homosexuality that is hateful or bigoted. In almost no other issue have I seen God's love emphasized so much.
God loves all, but He does not accept all we do. He has condemned specific acts because they do not fit in His plan, which is designed to bring the greatest happiness to those who choose to obey. It is not arbitrary. It is based on eternal truths that cannot be broken. Fundamental to this plan are a man and woman marrying and working together towards exaltation - life with God. Part of that work is having and raising children. There are situations in which this ideal does not work out. But that does not mean that we are not required to try. The possibility of failure is no excuse for making no effort. There are all kinds of obstacles placed in the lives of people. Homosexuality is one of these. Those who are homosexual are children of God with the same potential as all others, but along with that potential comes the same responsibility. There are not different requirements and rules depending on our circumstances.
The point of all that is simply to state my understanding of the Church's position. It is not one of misunderstanding, hate, prejudice, or bigotry. It is based upon a belief that No on 8 supporters do not share. I do not vilify No on 8 supporters or homosexuals. While there are, unfortunately, those who do vilify homosexuals, I do not and I have seen nothing from the Church that does.
Here is the Church's statement:
The Church has joined a broad-based coalition in defense of traditional marriage. While we feel this is important to all of society, we have always emphasized that respect be given to those who feel differently on this issue. It is unfortunate that some who oppose this proposition have not given the Church this same courtesy.
From the KSL website.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Why I Voted Yes
I voted yes on proposition 8. I did it for several reasons.
First, I believe in absolute truth and absolute morality. I do not believe morality is relative, depending on the circumstances of an individual's life. I believe there is a basic, universal moral law which brings consequences - good or bad - to people, depending on whether they follow it or not. This absolute morality is something that can be learned by all people, if sought after through both reason and faith. Don't stop reading! This is a big topic and one I have just begun exploring in my own mind, so I don't have flawless arguments, yet. But this absolute truth and morality, I believe, is a premise of pretty much all I do. So, i vote based on my moral views.
One of the truths I believe in is that marriage is the foundation of society. I'm not speaking of a loving relationship between two people. I'm speaking of a man and woman united together, often raising children. This marriage has been the basis of all successful societies. The family is the institution in which children learn about basic morality, justice, love, and all good things. True, this is the ideal and does not always happen, but no other organization or institution of man has been as successful at producing good people as the traditional family.
Many of society's recent ills show correlation with the falling apart of the family. Some may ask, "Have society's problems, such as widespread drug use, pornography, crime, increased anger and much more, been the result of the break-up of the family, or the cause?" I propose that the break-up of the traditional family is the cause.
With the family in such a precarious position, why do we want to experiment further? What evidence do we have that gay marriages will contribute to the well-being of society? I feel that the burden of proof lies with them. We know traditional marriage works. It worked for thousands of years. Only in recent decades, as our society has experimented with reforms, has the traditional family begun to deteriorate. Experimenting further is risky business.
Now to go from the slightly abstract to the facts. The legalization of gay marriages poses threats to both families and religious freedom. In Massachusetts, two events show this. First, the reading of a book about two princes marrying led to a lawsuit in which parents tried to control their children hearing about homosexuality. The court ruled that the parents cannot control what their children learn at school. When courts take away a parent's right over the education of their children, something is wrong. Public schools are there to assist parents in teaching their children, not to replace them or try to do the job better. Second, Catholic adoption agencies had to shut down because the state was forcing them to adopt children to gay couples, even though this is against the Catholic faith. Does this sound like freedom and tolerance to you?
Finally, people claim this is about equality, comparing it to the black civil rights movement. This argument is fundamentally flawed. First of all, one of the main arguments for black equality is that skin color does not mean a person acts, thinks, believes or is different in any meaningful way. It is simply skin color. But this does not work for homosexuals. Regardless of whether or not homosexuality is wrong, it cannot be compared to skin color. Skin color does not affect behavior, but the definition of homosexuality is a type of behavior. This is not about equality. it is an issue of a type of behavior.
Proposition 8 takes nothing away from homosexuals. It preserves marriage as it has existed for all of Western society. Justice and morality, as well as genuine Christian love, requires that we treat homosexuals like all other people - with respect and dignity. I do not hate gays. They are people just like anyone else. But I do not accept their behavior and will not accept that preserving marriage, the foundation of society, is somehow bigotry and a hate crime.
Please, comment and help me refine my argument.
First, I believe in absolute truth and absolute morality. I do not believe morality is relative, depending on the circumstances of an individual's life. I believe there is a basic, universal moral law which brings consequences - good or bad - to people, depending on whether they follow it or not. This absolute morality is something that can be learned by all people, if sought after through both reason and faith. Don't stop reading! This is a big topic and one I have just begun exploring in my own mind, so I don't have flawless arguments, yet. But this absolute truth and morality, I believe, is a premise of pretty much all I do. So, i vote based on my moral views.
One of the truths I believe in is that marriage is the foundation of society. I'm not speaking of a loving relationship between two people. I'm speaking of a man and woman united together, often raising children. This marriage has been the basis of all successful societies. The family is the institution in which children learn about basic morality, justice, love, and all good things. True, this is the ideal and does not always happen, but no other organization or institution of man has been as successful at producing good people as the traditional family.
Many of society's recent ills show correlation with the falling apart of the family. Some may ask, "Have society's problems, such as widespread drug use, pornography, crime, increased anger and much more, been the result of the break-up of the family, or the cause?" I propose that the break-up of the traditional family is the cause.
With the family in such a precarious position, why do we want to experiment further? What evidence do we have that gay marriages will contribute to the well-being of society? I feel that the burden of proof lies with them. We know traditional marriage works. It worked for thousands of years. Only in recent decades, as our society has experimented with reforms, has the traditional family begun to deteriorate. Experimenting further is risky business.
Now to go from the slightly abstract to the facts. The legalization of gay marriages poses threats to both families and religious freedom. In Massachusetts, two events show this. First, the reading of a book about two princes marrying led to a lawsuit in which parents tried to control their children hearing about homosexuality. The court ruled that the parents cannot control what their children learn at school. When courts take away a parent's right over the education of their children, something is wrong. Public schools are there to assist parents in teaching their children, not to replace them or try to do the job better. Second, Catholic adoption agencies had to shut down because the state was forcing them to adopt children to gay couples, even though this is against the Catholic faith. Does this sound like freedom and tolerance to you?
Finally, people claim this is about equality, comparing it to the black civil rights movement. This argument is fundamentally flawed. First of all, one of the main arguments for black equality is that skin color does not mean a person acts, thinks, believes or is different in any meaningful way. It is simply skin color. But this does not work for homosexuals. Regardless of whether or not homosexuality is wrong, it cannot be compared to skin color. Skin color does not affect behavior, but the definition of homosexuality is a type of behavior. This is not about equality. it is an issue of a type of behavior.
Proposition 8 takes nothing away from homosexuals. It preserves marriage as it has existed for all of Western society. Justice and morality, as well as genuine Christian love, requires that we treat homosexuals like all other people - with respect and dignity. I do not hate gays. They are people just like anyone else. But I do not accept their behavior and will not accept that preserving marriage, the foundation of society, is somehow bigotry and a hate crime.
Please, comment and help me refine my argument.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Hope in Capitalism
This is a pretty amazing article about the financial crisis and it's relationship with our market system. There are some great quotes in here, especially in the last paragraph.
Sunday, October 05, 2008
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