Winners and losers. Haves and have-nots. Yadda, yadda. We have created this world of contest, and it goes to every aspect of life. I am right,you are wrong. I have been thinking to see if this is a just for certain periods of time or is this ingrained in us? Let’s let it rip. 

DNA is a whole bunch of genes. They dictate every part of our development, growth, and function. They steer us this way and that. Let’s just say it is built into our system, and to date, it is tough to change, although there are a lot of people trying. 

Now, these cells change infinitesmally over time to adapt to one’s environment. This is not minute by minute but over tens of thousands of years.

The caveman had it a lot different than we have today but there are some who would debate we are acting like Neanderthals. Let’s at least take it as a given. 

In pure survival mode, our forefathers had to be kings or queens of the mountain, or they were goners. You invade my turf; you are going to pay for it. Someone is going to win, and someone is going to lose. A fact of life. Yet there was a further wrinkle. I not only want to survive, but I want more. I want to better my lot in life. As we became more social and communicative, we began to compare ourselves. 

Men and women want to matter. It is just that simple. How they do that is subject to interpretation. I can beat the crap out of you. I can run circles around you with my wonderful brain power. I can have tons of stuff, and my stuff is flashier and better than yours.  I can have natural sex appeal or there is some doc who will help me find something out of a bottle or scalpel to get me perfection. 

Let’s assume this is all normal. Normal means you are never going to get there. I know some of you believe in Nirvannah, but for TTG, I am going to accept my lot. It’s funny, but as you get older and older, many areas seem to be less important. It is not like I am giving up but learning to accept my limitations. Who needs the angst?

Where am I going with all of this? Today I think we have taken the concept of one upsmanship and put it on steroids. This can be government, war, golf or even a casual discussion. I don’t think we realize how much our lives are dictated by what other people think of us. Sure, we can deny it as a person or country but it matters. 

Look at Ukraine. I really am not sure if Putin is truly fearful of NATO or is still bemoaning the breakup of the USSR. He has not done very well by any standard. The only thing he has going is the nuclear missiles in his back pocket. He is pulling off the best bluff ever seen at a card table. 

Yet the Trumpster thinks the Russians have a strong hand, or perhaps he has bigger and better plans for them. Include XI, and everyone wants to be king of the hill or at least their portion of it. The sheer fact that they think the world is a chess board bespeaks their inferiority complex. That is sad. 

Let’s have a go at the budget deficit. You and I know the answer. Cut the fat,even the untouchables.  Getting elected is the biggest beauty pageant on earth. You are pretty if you get those other bastards and leave me untouched. Go after my entitlements and you are a dead man or woman. Image is everything. This would not be so unsettling if we ALL didn’t act like juveniles. Yes the bozos in DC and yes those who dwell in the Flalalands throughout our country. It’s always the other guy’s fault. Sorry, but we are all to blame. 

Going back to DNA there are two tracks here. First is we are the winner. Screw the rest of them. We have put so much into the world, it is time we worried about ourselves. I am going to berate heads of state and nations as a whole. No more living off the dole. You are low lifes. To some that makes absolute sense. 

On the other hand we can say we are making an absolute wake-up call.

You do have to help us more but we are still there. Let’s approach tariffs in an even-handed way. Let’s play fair, even though we have let you get away with a lot. That would require a lot of humility. Among nations. Among leaders. Among the public at large. 

We can be big or we can be small. Nations have to fork over more of their time and money and armed forces. Maybe we have to fork over more of our money in taxes. Maybe we have to take a long look at entitlements. That would really take a lot of big men and women. Do you think they are out there?

As always 

Ted The Great 

Factoids. 

Tariffs are a great rallying cry. In theory, if I make it more expensive for you to bring products into our country, then people will manufacture here. That’s great until we realize that we no longer get TVS for $350 bucks or clothes and food costs skyrocket.

60% of our fruits and nuts are imported.  That is outside of the fruits and nuts in California. No more guac.

Starlink connections for war in Ukraine can be turned on and off, as can reconnaissance and intelligence. We can hold back guns and dictate use of weaponry. Man,are we powerful.

Numbers can’t be substantiated, but Russia has lost at least twice as many troops in its war with Ukraine. On both sides over 250,000 soldiers have died. Almost 13,000 Ukrainian citizens have died. We call that collateral damage.