SOMETHINGS NEVER SEEM TO CHANGE

                    

       I have changed, but the thrill remains the same!

                                   Jupiter

A month and one half from now and I will be 77 years old. Several 

of my teenage interests are still part of what made me what I am. I 

have just returned from outside where I observed the First Quarter 

Moon through my 80mm/400 mm focal length/refractor. I have 

never gotten over the thrill I experienced in Indiana as I looked 

through my very, very crude 2 inch objective refractor with about a

 48 inch focal length. The chances are excellent I was the only 

student in Paris Crossing High School, in Southern Indiana who 

a telescope. Several boys, and a few girls, peered through my $12 

monster and were awed by the craters on the Moon, Jupiter’s four 

moons, the rings of Saturn, and the phases of Venus. Sunspots 

could be projected onto a piece of white paper held some distance 

from the eyepiece. 

Over 60 years has passed since those clear skies were both my

entertainment and outdoor classroom. Several telescopes have 

come and gone, yet the joy of seeing God’s spectacular creation in 

the heavens has always remained the same. Nothing puts life into 

the proper physical perspective of seeing nebulae, star clusters,

double stars, and galaxies thousands, millions, of light years away. 

I'll never fully understand how the Creator and Sustainer of the

Universe finds time for me. WOW!

Glenn <><

   

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN--Maybe?

                              Mission Essential?  

                                                  

It galled me to hear comedians say, “Military Intelligence is an oxymoron.” For 20 years, I saw the fruits of such invaluable intelligence. What frustrated me even more was the use of the term “Mission Essential Personnel” in our many contingency operation plans for inclement weather, natural or man-made disaster, or government shutdown.  Without exception, those plans always said, “Only mission essential personnel need report for duty.”  Here is my analysis: 

The position description for every member of every unit was directly connected to the unit mission. Not every member (military and Department of Defense civilian) was designated as “Mission Essential.” In my mind, only two possible conclusions existed---(1) Too many personnel were assigned to the unit to support the mission or (2) The mission of the unit was of limited importance. That was then, this is now.

Threats and fears of a looming government shut down have produced discussions about such a shutdown not affecting “Mission Essential” employees. Further, conversations I have heard on radio/TV imply all affected government employees would be paid when the government restarts normal operation. Here are some of my opinions:

1.     The term “Shutdown” has ominous and, in my view, unwarranted suppositions. The fact is, military members will not abandon their duty stations, law enforcement personnel will not turn in their shields and weapons, aeronautical and maritime control members will not go on vacation and permit aircraft to fall from the sky or watch helplessly as tugs, ocean liners, oil tankers, and other water craft crash into piers or  other ships.

2.     Government shutdowns, as currently envisioned, are not without precedent. Recall: Presidents Ford-- 1 for 13 days; Carter-- 5 for 73 days; Reagan—9 for 56 days; Bush(H)—1 for 5 days; Clinton—2 for 50 days; and Obama—1 for 17 days. (VOX website). Remember, the world as we know it, did not end!  

3.     For all intents and purposes, the government shuts down every weekend. No one marches in the streets. No trolls crawl out on social media. And, no calls are made to talk shows demanding the government not close every Friday at 5pm. Today, the term “Government Shutdown” is now loaded with partisan political and desk pounding implications that border on the absurd. 

IF, the government shuts down, it might be an appropriate opportunity to objectively examine the true meaning of the term “Mission Essential."

Glenn <><
Just West of Yesterday

NEW SERIES STARTING---LETTERS TO EDITOR

Over the years, I have sent many letters to the editors of several newspapers. This is the first of many that I'll be posting:

                                      Reverse Political Alchemy

In the Middle Ages, alchemists vainly sought to turn lead into gold. Today, in my opinion, socialist alchemists are vigorously attempting to turn our Representative Republic (gold) into Utopian Socialism (lead).The names of the new champions for a government-commanded economy are well known; consequently, this letter focuses upon the “Why Now?”

1.     The American public has been bludgeoned into near unconsciousness by daily accounts of Special Counsels, North Korea, Russia, Iran, Tariffs, Border Security, Fake News, November Elections and a multitude of other lead stories. As a result, the startling rise of socialist activity fails to move the public attention needle.

2.     Another benefit of socialists hiding in the weeds of public indifference is the historic failures of socialism that somehow is conveniently omitted from the discussion.

3.     While President Trump has many economic and international achievements to herald, he continually diverts the political radar sensitivity of Republicans that support him and Democrats that want to impeach him. These “neutered” professional political gurus have neither strength nor resolve to confront and counter the fast-growing dangers of the socialist agenda.

4.     Social media and the atrophied legacy media are fertile soil to sow the socialist dogma. While it is an unfair stretch to suggest the media is pro socialist, it is certain socialist headlines trump (pun intended) the bleeding away of advertisers and readers/viewers.

5.     Free Medical Care, Free University Education, and Free Housing resonant with younger voters raised on the Pablum of entitlement. Socialism to these voters is an adult “binky” that just keeps on giving.  Socialism has immediate appeal to those who lack a strong work ethic, understanding of American history and a desire to make the future better for their children.  Socialists smoothly veneer the cold hard truth----in life, there are really no free pizzas! 

6.     Socialists are always primed for the K.O. punch to their position: “Sure, it hasn’t worked anywhere else; but this is America, we are smarter, richer, and better educated than those other socialists, and besides, we are really just Socialist Democrats. Who can be against poor people, old people, and children?” Fear and emotional appeal are options the socialists use for both offense and defense.

Perhaps the late “Iron Lady”, UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher uttered the single best line against socialism, “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.”

Glenn <><