This is not as easy as it looks. I start out with an idea and then shift gears. After all it is Ted’s Head. I have never found a thought that I couldn’t take a totally different turn at things in a matter of seconds.

Kathy and I have traveled cross country. We have set our sights on the Sunshine State, Florida. This is really a tour with many facets. We are visiting friends and family. We hope to give our daughters some respite with kids in tow. Gammy and Padge will work overtime for a week. And finally we will spend time just like the old farts I give a hard time to with a little R and R together on Sanibel.

As we travel the miles my mind wanders endlessly. I take in the local color and industry. I am searching for that thing I call rhythm. We listen to a book on tape and I drift between plot line and the broken or dotted lines on the highway. I continually try to understand this crazy quiltwork of a country we have. Tough if you use 2000 miles as your playground.

I am looking for an issue that will tie us together. One that will unite us, not tear us apart. Aha! How can you argue with infrastructure? Roads reflect the state of the state. Forging from Missouri to Illinois is dramatic. The smooth ribbon of highway becomes pitted and uneven. Maybe this is Chicago politics on the macadam. The problems can’t be ignored.

By some stroke of genius or military luck, President Dwight D
Eisenhower championed the Interstate Highway system. We needed highways and biways to span our country north, south, east and west. Not two lanes with stop lights but non stop freeways, coast to coast. Top to bottom.

Very cool. And he said we will pay for it with a tax on gasoline. In those days it was probably 15-25% of the cost of a gallon of petrol. Seemed fair. There would be some tollways but you could now avoid them for the most part. America was on the move.

Enter Cerberus, the two headed monster of decay and inflation. Either poorly built or just getting tired, roadbeds, off ramps, and bridges had to be replaced or get some heavy duty maintenance. But kicking the can down the road wasn’t invented by our current crop of idiots. They learned from the best.

We have not changed the gas tax since 1992. Assuming it was 15% of the price of a gallon back then it now represents less than 5%.

That was twenty years ago. Automobile usage has quadrupled but with new gas efficient car, the revenues continue to plunge to the point where the national highway trust fund teeters on bankruptcy.

Now TTG is not a rocket scientist but I think I get it. Raise the tax or create tollways or both. If you use it, you pay. Duh! What a profound concept. I may get a Nobel. And yet today on the floors of the House and Senate this gets shelved and shuffled.

The bridge collapse in Minneapolis should have been a call to action. That was five friggin’ years ago. I am sorry. What was I thinking? It is in committee. For five years. We have more important things like Iraq and Afghanistan to occupy our brain trust.

Okay gang. I will go back to chilling. It’s what everyone else does. Why do you think about all that negative shit anyway, Ted? Let’s talk golf. Football. Manning. Where are we going for dinner? These are the things we should be concentrating on. Where was I in that book on tape?

As always.

Ted The Great

Factoids:

The Interstate Highway System is 47,000 miles long. There are 14,750 interchanges. There are 55,512 bridges. 17% or almost ten thousand are in serious disrepair.

It is estimated that 1 in 4 of bridges of all shapes and sizes are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.

The longest interstate is I90 stretching 3020 miles from Boston to Seattle. North South the winner is I35 from Laredo to Duluth. I95 goes through 16 states. I 80, 11 states,

Our current funding for highways is $38 billion per year. We need $56 billion and climbing. But then again it is an election year.

The mighty warriors are starting to stir. Let’s bomb Iran. Let’s inflict sheer terror on Syria. Let’s show them bastards. I am with you every inch of the way they say. Well maybe just a little behind you…. but let’s go get them.

Today you line up on either side of the spectrum. You are either for or against war. There is a little in between but not much. War is like being almost pregnant. I have my own opinion which I will share later.

Nowhere is this more apparent than on the floors of our Congress. It makes great press either way. Especially in an election year playing to the “The Base.” Bring our boys home or let’s finish what we started is the battle cry on either side of the aisle.

War is not fun. War is not romantic or heroic. To be shot at is not to be taken lightly. You wouldn’t wish it on your worst enemy. Today in Afghanistan some of these troops are coming under fire two and three times a day….day after day. You see someone maimed or with their headless torso laying in your lap. That is not something that goes away with a little Rand R.

Yet we are so quick to stand at a football game with the stealth fighters going overhead while we mouth the National Anthem. We give the guys a first class seat or buy their dinner and drinks when they are in uniform. Yet are you ready to go? Or how about your son or grandson?

I watch the PBS News at night. They project pictures of the armed forces who have died from the previous few days. There are usually 10-12 in number. They are for the most part young. They are from Nowheresville. You don’t see many big cities. You don’t see congressional or presidential kids. You don’t see Wall Street or Big Business kids. You don’t see Halliburton kids. But they are someone’s son or daughter.

Wars are fought at the top with the grunts and sailors as the pawns on the chessboard. I was supposed to drive my Swift Boat in an op one night. It was the brainchild of a commander or captain who flew in that morning from Saigon. He wanted to endanger a vast majority of the boats in our division.

As he laid out the plan many of us were suspect or at least wary. Not of combat but a suicide mission. Tempers got heated and I offered the senior officer the symbolic keys to my boat and said “you drive”. After a period of time things cooled down and I asked him what he was thinking? He spoke and the words rang in my ears. ”It’s the only war we got, buddy!” He left on the four o’clock chopper to make happy hour at Tan So Nhut. Scary is the only word I can conjure up.

My opinion is simple. Sometimes you have to fight a war. You don’t want to but you do. The Iraq war was the creation of Rumsfeld and Cheney. The Secretary of Defense was convinced that he could fight a quick strike battle with a nimble force. He wanted to prove his brilliance and the size of his ego. Halliburton Dick was right behind him. Look what it got us.

They violated every rule of combat and so many poor bastards had to pay with their lives. They were poorly equipped. McNamara did the same thing in Viet Nam and then blithely explained it away in his memoirs as a miscalculation.

My solution is simple. No one can vote to go to war unless they have been there or their kids and grandkids are in the armed services. I don’t care how small the number is, that is the voting requirement. Should we have gone to Afghanistan? Maybe. Iraq? No way. After ten years I think we have done enough.

I respect John McCain like no other. Yet I was blown away when he called for air strikes on Syria  and or Iran. Just take a deep breath and really tell me you want us to go into another conflict in the middle East. Didn’t we figure this out the last time around?

Israel is scared and also trigger happy. I really have mixed emotions. Obama is saying we got your back. What would our response be in a non election year? Red herrings like the Gulf of Tonkin and WMD. Is this another one?

We have spent 10 years, over a trillion dollars and thousands of  our children trying to bring sanity to this wasteland. The rest of the world has been cheering us on and building their own nations while we battle. Nuke’em? Go right ahead. I think we should sit this one out. Or if not how about I  let you be the lead singer.

As Always

Ted The Great

Factoids:

Cost of War to date:

Iraq…$801,757,000,000

Afghanistan…$508,790,000,000

US KIA

Iraq…4486

Afghanistan…1910

US Wounded

Iraq…33,184

Afghanistan …9773

Some names….Kenny, Kelly, Lynch, Harrison, Flynn, Wilkins, Mc Carthy, Williamson. Sound familiar don’t they.

I am going to put on my old steel helmet and flak gear. Pull the pin, TTG. This is the part where Kathy leaves the room. We are going to talk about religion. What? In today’s day and age, are you nuts? Of course. Actually I am just trying to think outside the box. I am not a theologian by any stretch but I have given it a lot of thought.

It started with a pamphlet about Lenten meditations that they gave out in church on Ash Wednesday. Of course I took a look at it when I got home and promptly lost it in the pile of stuff on my desk. Cleaning out today, there was a resurrection. Sorry.  Bad joke.

I have done mainline meditation before and it is very cool. Today’s world could use a lot more of it. You turn off the TV, phones etc and try to blot everything out of your mind for the moment. You try not to be distracted by random thoughts but just concentrate on the here and now. You try to listen to your body and maybe if you are really good you can hear your soul. There is a thing called peace.

As I went through certain Scriptural passages the light bulb went off. I call it prayer and you call it whatever but it is getting in touch with inner feelings. It is being open to the word of God or the word of life. Your choice. But you rip away all the material things and try to find out just who you are. You cogitate on the real meaning of existence. You just listen. Maybe this is that thing they call truth.

So much of our life is scripted. We are all on a stage but we rarely question the dialogue. We have acted this part or another and we know it by heart. Our makeup gets heavier every day and we wouldn’t dare take off the residue because that would reveal the real us. Some of us haven’t aged very well but deep down we are all natural beauties.

You know we all love being in control. Delving into the unknown? There is an ultimate discomfort in chaos and playing it loose. Not knowing where the road is leading right now. Boy routine feels good. I know it all and have it all figured out. Wanna bet?

Some of you are very successful and do not have many wants. Some of you are hurting bad deep down inside. Some of you have never known contentment because after all life as you know it sucks or is a bitch. Some of you have never looked for your self. You mistake ego for soul. You are described by your things and relationships but have never let anybody see inside. It has taken me awhile and a lot of dead ends.

Maybe people are cranky for a reason. Maybe that gnawing inside of you is something that wants to get out. It’s tired of being penned up. But oh baby are you afraid to let it go. You don’t know what it looks like or what it will do unchained. Let’s  just not go there.

My buddy Leonardo would sometimes sit on a rock and just think. It could be a problem to be solved or an inspiration that needed some seasoning. He was baking in his mind  and he had to wait until it was cooked just right before he served it up. Best of all for him and I hope us, the recipe changed every time. And it still came out just right. He never really worried about being judged.

Wait!  I thought this was about religion? Last night I watched the archbishop of Dublin be as forthright as any church official I have seen on the horror of abuse. I saw people this week being killed over a Koran. There was a fool who cast the first stone and called a young girl slut while he is working on his fourth wife. We have an Ayatollah who says we should wipe a nation called Israel off the face of the earth. How did we warp this so far out of control?

I just think it is a very special thing to sit alone for some period of time during the day. Could be ten minutes or an hour. You don’t have to be a holy roller. I’m not. But you just put the distractions of the world aside. You sit quietly and you listen. I listen to God. You can listen to whomever. But you do look at the world around you and be grateful for its beauty, remembering how much there is to life.

Some of you might believe this is all evolution and ergo man made. Some of you might believe in a Creator that is all merciful and powerful. It doesn’t really matter. What does matter is that we are not separate pieces of space drift but part of a very complex thing called society. Sure we view things differently but that doesn’t mean we all aren’t worthy of love and consideration. We breath the same air. No one is better. No one is worse.

Relax. I am not claiming to have had a vision. The Lord is way too busy for that. I just feel like I have had a morsel of understanding and it tastes pretty good. I am going to look for more. That thing called truth. I have a long way to go but I hope I am on the right track. I hope you are too.

As Always

Ted The Great

Factoids: None. I am just going to let this piece do the talking.. Have a great week.

Author’s Note: During my one week sabbatical I received messages that were caring,inquisitve and derisive. All were greatly appreciated. I am glad someone noticed.

Ah, the sounds of spring and another political campaign. I have decided to take Ted’s Head up to 30,000 feet. I live at Mile High but the airwaves are too crowded and the air a bit fetid in an intellectual way. I need to step back.

If you care to, join me. I need you to take off  your cloak of red or blue. We are going to look at our world in a rather dispassionate way. Kind of like a business problem and not a crusade. You see, on my week off I have been thinking about polarization and its implications.

Forget about which side you are on, realize that whoever gets elected there will 50% of the voting populace that didn’t like him. That’s a whole lot of millions who want to skewer the victor. Now if that just went away with time, all would be well. In reality as soon as the votes are in we spend the next two to four years using every machination we know to make sure he or she fails. Fun in chess but we are talking about our country.

How did this all come to be? Well it starts with the concept that if I am right, you are wrong. Fair enough. Like a good type A country we have amped this up to I am now good and you are evil. That is heavy duty.There is no in between. No compromise available. You are a jerk and even worse, your line of thinking will bring down the Republic as we know it. Now it is getting ugly.

We are talking about raw emotion. Cue in love and hate. Love gives you a warm and flighty feeling in your heart. It’s great. It is spring. The sky is blue and you have a strange but comfortable feeling in your soul. Things bounce off your back. Man this feels good.

Hate is something else. It is a visceral and raw feeling in your gut. Your temperature rises at the thought or sight. You are physically repulsed. The rage is building. You seek out kindred spirits to vent your wrath. Aha, let’s watch or listen to the talking heads of your particular persuasion and just grovel in the inflammatory. I don’t want it subtle. Let’s just bring those bastards down. This is not good.

Our particular two party system leaves no wiggle room. Overseas there are coalition governments. No one has a clear majority. They have got to work together. I am not advocating overthrow but we really have to figure out a different way to make this work. It is actually quite amazing to me that the pols think the hopes and dreams of 300 million plus people can be capsulated in two party platforms. I don’t think so.

I am an independent and if pushed I would call myself a moderate although I feel more comfortable with pragmatist. A local conservative talk show host who feels intellectually superior to most of  the world announced that the word moderate is not to be considered in the political lexicon. I rest my case.

So now we are looking down at this quandary from a distance. We have got severe but not insurmountable problems. They are right out there. We see them. Why don’t they? We get it. They have let their emotions and petty strivings for personal gain blind them. Is it me or do they really look foolish?

Our problems are social and economic. Unfortunately we have to address the material first. We have got a business to run. We have to make tough and sometimes surgical choices. Fourth quarter earnings suck. Production is down big time. But guidance is looking better. With some prudent thinking and a sense of cooperation we can get this thing going again. We need concessions from both labor and management. We have to think long term and not worry about the current share price.

Hmmm. this might not be easy. There is mistrust on the board. We have political creatures making economic decisions. Forget about reality. Let’s just look good. Play to the base. We really might want to replace the whole lot of them.

Once again it comes down to hate and love. The hate seems so deep rooted. As pure adrenalin it is much easier to maintain. It is so much easier to do than saying I might be willing to listen or God forbid not be 100%, AAA, right. Give in? Are you nuts? That would be Unamerican. Unfortunately that might be the case today.

We are landing now. Our destination is everyday. We can be refreshed and enlightened by the respite or we can get back to the samo samo. Somehow “I hate you” might feel better in the short run but it is really not a long term solution. Believe me I am one of the best at vitriol. But I have to change. You are all very smart people. Have I missed something?

As always

Ted The Great.

Factoids:

131 million people voted in the last election. That’s 63.6% of eligible voters. In theory 66 million of 330 million people elected the president.

If you were president of the company, would you present a budget  while hemorrhaging cash that didn’t mention entitlements? If you were the board would every one of you publicly refuse in any which way to raise taxes even with 1$ of taxes for every $10 of spending cuts.

Congress has an approval rating of under 10% but sitting members get returned every two years 98% of the time.

There are 20,500 nuclear warheads in the world. We own 8500 of  them.

Two more kids died in Ohio today. Please don’t tell me hate is not a crime.

We went to the symphony Friday night with some dear friends. The hall is mostly circular. We sat in the dress circle which put us at eye level with the orchestra about thirty feet away. A great spot to not only listen to the music but a wonderful vantage point to watch them in action.

As the maestro gave the downbeat you could see all the violin, cello and bass bows work in perfect synchronicity. The horns were raised and provided right punctuation  for the piece. I love trombones and French horns the best. Brassy but a little more subtle than the brash trumpets. Like me. Ha!   Fill in with percussion, oboes, flutes and a harp and there you had it. A well meshed group providing a single sound. Very cool.

It had been a crazy week. I found myself deep in thought trying to figure out this world of ours and making some sense of my own. Don’t get me wrong. I love it. But it was just great to sit there and listen to warmth on a winter’s night. It was great to hear community.

On Sunday we went to mass in new parish we have joined. This place is special in all aspects. You go to church not because you have to but you want to. The place is packed for all different times and they just added another mass on Sunday evening. Quite an accomplishment in this day and age.

It could be the music. There is a choir of at least fifteen and sometimes thirty at all masses. The female director has a fantastic voice and accompanies with a violin that has an Irish lilt to it. The great part is that the solos aren’t always by the all stars. Some of the lesser divas stand up and belt out this or that with something less than perfect pitch. Doesn’t matter. And the shock of all things is that everyone in church sings. For you non Catholics that is not our forte.

Maybe it is the priest. A really great guy named Pr. Pat. He connects with people like the best of them. He writes a lot of the music for mass. He has a strong voice both musically as well as verbally. The church is in the round.  He is dramatic as he circles the altar with ease during his homily, making sure to have eye contact with all. He is down to earth and yet learned. It is a sight to behold.

We had a baptism yesterday. Not just a splash of water but a full scale dunking. The kids of all families in church gathered around. Pat makes it a celebration not just a rite. At the end he packs the infant under his arm and walks around the church introducing him to the parishioners as they touch and clap for him. This is good stuff.

The people are engaged. They smile, sing and pray together. This is not Rome’s church. It is theirs. It’s not so much a revival meeting as it is a group of people who feel pretty good about their God and their religion. Nice to see.

As I am sitting back and relishing these events you can’t but help to drift towards what is going on today. Take your town, state, country or world and look at it as an orchestra or a parish. If for one moment we didn’t worry about who was trying to screw us and instead saying what can I do for you, where could we be?

It’s Monday as I write and the usual diatribes are coming across in the emails. Imagine if all those clever individuals put some time in on solving problems instead of calling people out, where we could be? We had great employment numbers. The candidates and Rush spent all weekend explaining why they were bad. Obama has the GOP candidates killing one another and he decides it is smart to take on religious freedom. None of these guys will be invited into Mensa just yet.

I saw some kids competing on a science contest for eighth graders. There were great devices and theories. A lot smarter than me. I thought of Solyndra. Imagine if we spent that $500 million on 5,000 $100,000 prizes to kids for worthwhile inventions. Or better yet 500 $1million prizes to industry. I like that way better.

Imagine if we were all like an orchestra. Sure we would have a solo here and there but we would come back to the same melody. We would pick up some one who was faltering and help them along instead of putting them down. Sure there is a conductor but he is there to guide and not dictate. We would all be in there together. There would be a long standing ovation. What sweet music we could make.

As always.

Ted The Great

Factoids

Wonders of the World,

The Great Pyramid, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Temple of Artemis, Statue of Zeus at Mt Olympus, Colossus of Rome, Lighthouse of Alexandria, Mausoleum of Halicamassus

15 million people in the US live alone. The highest percentage in DC and New York. 50% of the households are one person.

1/3 of taxes in Greece are just not paid. This equals the deficit per annum.

There are 25 million more male children in China than there are female. Nice odds if you are on the right side.

There is only a three month supply of Methotrexate which is the optimum treatment for childhood leukemia. A bill aimed at resolving this shortage is sitting in limbo in Congress. No action being taken because the Dems want to give the FDA more power to correct the problem and the GOP doesn’t want to give them any more power. Ergo stalemate and kids could die.

Since the last time we chatted I have been wondering about so many things. We seem to have survived some catastrophes while mixing the witch’s brew for some others. I just can’t let things go. It seems they become all the more urgent as our instantaneous worlds keeps twittering me.

I wonder how this whole political thing has come down to good versus evil? I am totally, 100%, A number one right. No if ands or buts. Ergo you are wrong. Not one thing in your thesis holds water. Yes, you my friend are the devil incarnate and it is up to me to put you out of your misery or move you to a new part of the world. By my calculation that is hell and you belong there. I wonder why I was so lucky to be imbued with this gift?

I wonder why the Army prevented the head of all chaplains from disseminating a letter to the Catholic troops regarding payment for contraceptives? Isn’t that freedom that they are fighting for in hell holes like Iraq and Afghanistan? To further the perplexing nature, the hue and cry from the “faithful” was from Catholics of whom 60% said they have used contraceptives during their adult lives. Beats me.

I can’t help but wonder at Susan G Komen. I am not sure what breast cancer has to do with Planned Parenthood?  I understand a woman’s right to choose. I  just don’t agree with abortion. But the two don’t seem to match up. Talk about a firestorm. But then 68% of Americans think abortion is wrong. Didn’t sound that way. On this point there were 350,000 abortions last year provided through PP. There were 850 adoptions. Do you think there is as much joy in the organization when a girl decides to keep her baby? I wonder?

I was wondering the other day. I hopped in the car and drove south to a little town by the name of Salida. I drove through the high plateau that goes down the spinal cord of our state. I estimated you could see over 50 miles on a magnificent Colorado Blue Sky Day. I talked with simple folk in gas stations, motels and a simple ski area called Monarch. I really wondered if their day’s tone was set by Greece, Syria, the Fed and  stock price of Apple?

Speaking of Apple, the deceased Steve Jobs had told the President a while back that there was no way his products could or would be built in the U.S. You see there is this little wonderland called Foxconn. It consists of 300,000 employees who work 12 hour shifts 6 days a week. They live in dorms and are susceptible to suicidal thoughts. Go figure. They make Ipads, Kindles, WII’s and X boxes. Yet we buy millions and millions of these things without outcry. Steve and his partner started in a garage. No wonder.

I love Boston. It is where I met my wife. I will admit that I was not rooting for the Pats. Bill’s hoodie and constant look of pain just don’t jive with my schtick. But after reading reports of the post game I wonder if the boys from Southy, Dorchester and Revere are inviting Gisele Bundchen and Tom over for drinks and dinner next weekend? Actually I wonder if she has a brain in her pretty little head? And you think guys are stupid?

Newt constantly refers to Barak and Saul Alinsky as being blood brothers. I decided to tickle the keyboard and find out who this dude was. Actually quite interesting in an intellectual way. He was a community organizer but I don’t think communism was part of his lexicon. He said that there were two sources of power: money and people. He didn’t have money. After the defeat in Florida, Newt said Romney had the power of money. He had the power of the people. Makes you wonder how far apart they are?

I wonder a lot. Life is full of extraordinary mysteries and enigmas that at the same time seem so obvious after a little thought. I question. I am not so much a non believer as I am just not satisfied with a quick hit explanation. I hope it makes you question. I wonder if you do?

As always

Ted The Great

Factoids:

There are 77 million Catholics in the U.S. 22% go to church on a regular basis. Catholic Charities is the largest private charitable organization in the U.S. with 160 separate agencies

After the dustup Planned Parenthood got $1 million in new donations. $250,000 from Mayor Bloomberg. Susan G Komen said donations were up 100%. I am going to create a controversy for the TTG Foundation.

Can you name the Seven Wonders of The World ? ..Answer next week

Do you ever wonder why:

They sterilize needles for lethal injections?

If con is the opposite of pro then is Congress the opposite of progress?

Why the guy who invests all your money is called a broker?

(All plagiarized..I am not that smart)

TTG’s Head is on the go this week. Many points to ponder….so little time.

An author appeared on PBS News the other night discussing liberal and conservative. The overall gist was that liberals want everyone to come together and share. Kumbaya. The conservatives want to keep things as they are or were. The gap is wide. If push comes to shove the conservatives will fight to the death because it is in fact about their possessions and lifestyle. The liberals aren’t quite so passionate. Doesn’t sound good either way.

Every man is an island. In discussing the whole rich man poor man thing with a friend, he had concluded it wasn’t worth the discussion. Basically our world and politics is every man for himself. They are going to do what works for them. No one else matters.  Rather than fight it he is just going to figure out how to live in it. I felt sad at that thought but on the other hand admired his pragmatism.

I saw an old clip of a golf tourney of long ago. Plaid slacks were the norm. Of course we all emulated the pros. Some of those were a cross between butt ugly and ridiculous. What were we thinking? On the other hand if we wait long enough they may come back. Width of ties and designs. Shirt collars. Tabs, collar pins, button down, flare, no collar at all. Is this an expression of individuality or slavery to some strange fashion god ? Dunno.

Other than the “candidates” there are some very cool people running around DC et al. Leon Panetta. Alan Simpson. Erskine Bowles. Mitch Daniels. Corey Booker. Booker is mayor of Newark and an African American. He went to Stamford, Oxford and Yale Law. Instead of cashing in, he became mayor. Alan is Alan. Forthright and straight shooting. Not worrying about taking whomever to task. Mitch Daniel is governor of Indiana. Practical thinker. Rides around the state on his Harley but looks like an accountant. Stays in the homes of fellow Hoosiers along the way. Wish he hadn’t gotten out of the race for president.

Walking miles in your shoes. I think before you vote for war or bombing some place back to the Stone Age you should either have participated in combat or have your kid in the Armed Forces. Likewise before you formulate your illegal policy you should be required to drive a deported family to the border and make them get out of the car. You should also go to the hospital on a Friday or Saturday and tell someone without insurance that you can’t help them even though their baby is in distress. Lastly if you are President, your kids should have to go to DC public schools. Makes you stop and think.

Labeling. Ever notice even after they retire, people still call them Mr. President or Senator or Governor or Mr. Speaker. Not really sure why that is? But then again we always call people excons, felons, rapists and sexual predators for life. Okay I get that line of thinking and  I am also realizing the similarities of the two groups. Wonder what they will call me?

I think we all get the idea that we need jobs in this country. Now let me get this straight. If we don’t have any rules we will have prosperity. Everyone is waiting for a moratorium on laws. Then we will fly. If we tax the rich, then a chicken in every pot. Or if we take away all taxes then the economy will hum. Is it me or has no one actually come up with specifics on how we are going to come up with 18 million jobs? Oh yeah, we are going to build a colony on the moon for 18,000 people in eight years. What was I thinking?

Our priest brought up an interesting concept. The Muslim etymology actually refers to a submission to God. I am going to believe because Allah said so. The Judaeo Christian is more about struggling. You are always grappling with this concept of God. What does faith mean? Instead of taking in on face value they always want to discuss and is rife with different religions.Just a little food for thought.

Lastly I had an idea when I saw various politicos standing behind their front man or woman. You know how they line up. Now they could be a glee club. But then aren’t they just singing to the choir?

They could be the Marx Brothers but wasn’t Groucho, Harpo, Zeppo et al  a little more clever. They could be the Three Stooges but they are usually more than a trio. I think I will go with proud parents who are fawning over their new born(in this case a new speaker or piece of legislation). They look at it and think how wonderful they are for having brought it into this world.  Then ten years later they watch in horror at what a monster they have created. But then like parents of brats put on a happy face and look the other way.

As always

Ted The Great

Fun Factoids:

The Bible is the most shoplifted book in the world. Thou shalt not steal.

All eyes are blue at birth. Light changes the colors. The eye stays the same size throughout your life. A sight for sore eyes.

The Interstate system was formed for national defense in the 1950‘s. One mile out of five has to be straight so it can be used as an emergency landing field. Duck and cover.

If Barbie was life sized she would have measurements of 39-23-33 and I would change my name to Ken and play with dolls.

The most common name in the world is Mohammed.

You know the routine. Good looking guy meets baby blue eyes. He will tell you anything you want to hear. You are the most important thing in my life. Is it love? Well sort of. Will you respect me in the morning? Well sort of. This is not a lover‘s tryst. It’s a political campaign.

If you are in the Bible Belt, you love Jesus. If you are in New York or San Fran, you are suave and sophisticated. If you are on Wall Street, you love money. If you are in the Midwest, you eat corn dogs. The South, ribs and plenty of them. Don’t forget your drawl. Left. Right. Who cares? What do you want to hear?

Of course, you know me. I have only heard of this woman chasing thing but I can see living proof of the tawdry lineup of unabashed political solicitations every day and night. They ought to bathe everything in a red glow. Hey sailor going my way? Sorry Kath, that was when I was single. Actually the thought of Newt putting moves on someone is kind of disturbing. That’s just me.

Trust is simply defined. I have confidence in you to get the job done. I am going to rely on you. You have character, strength and ability. Fade to black. Who if anyone comes to mind? How has this little institution called government done on any of those counts?

You start with party platforms. Details matter. Talk to the candidate about specifics and you get a W.C. Fields, “Go away kid, you bother me.” Look on our website. We are just talking concept here. I dare anyone to take any part platform of elected presidents or majority parties in the last few years and tell me anyone that has accomplished anything of significance. Trust me.

Let’s take Barak on just some key points. Transparency was the byword and then he goes out and hires Rahm Emanuel. Great. We are going to have policies on energy, the deficit and education. I am going to nail immigration he says. What we have gotten is a collection of incompetent do gooders that were  going to conquer Washington and got run over by the train. Kind of like going from college to the NFL. Different game.

But let’s not forget good old “W”. He started off with a surplus and left the place in shambles. His Republican cronies amped up spending(when they said they were going to cut) to the point where even McCain said they were spending like drunken sailors. I know about those kind of guys. Rummy, Cheney and Rove pulled the strings of a nice guy who was just a puppet. Another guy in over his head.

So let’s look what we have coming up. We have Romney who has filliped flopped extraordinare. He tells people he can feel their pain after earning $20 mill last year. Make all the money you want, just don’t tell middle class America that you are one of them. It doesn’t play in Peoria.

Now  Newt is a wonderful guy. He was thrown out by his own party as Speaker. Went before an ethics committee and coughed up $300,000. He is on his third wife. Canned one in the hospital when she was suffering from cancer. X’ed the next one after fooling around with one of his aides. Now says he is a changed man and found religion. Where do I sign up to back this guy? Or his religion.

And it goes on. The lobbying and hush money. The back door deals when you leave the government. Plenty of perks. Plenty of partying. Plenty of just knowing what strings to pull.

We had dinner last week with a lobbyist and former senatorial staff member for Barry Goldwater. I asked if  there is any way this mess can work? They both said only if you get rid of the money. And the ultra Conservative added that the worst of the bunch was Wall Street. As long as there is chaos and indecision, Wall Street thrives. Their money is everywhere.  His words not mine.

I have always felt trust is something that is earned over time not bestowed by title. Sit back for a moment. Close your eyes. Tell me if you would trust your favorite politician with your husband or wife? How about a guy like Anthony Weiner with your daughter as an intern? How about Charlie Rangel, Mitch McConnell or Nancy Pelosi with your investments?

How about the management of your affairs with any of them. You know we are doing just that. And I don’t trust a one. You want my vote? Earn my trust. You have a long way to go.

As always

Ted the Great

Factoids:

The governor of North Dakota reported on FOX News that the State Department could not rule on the Keystone. All the states had submitted permits with the exception of Nebraska. Nebraska couldn’t get it done with their legislature objecting. It wasn’t going to happen. Did any one hear about that? Either Republicans or Obama pulled a “wink wink”. Maybe both. Trust me.

Congress is immune or exempted from “insider trading” statutes.

The so called STOCK bill to end this is littered with loopholes. For one you can’t act as a congressman but it is okay if you pass that information onto your spouse. Trust me.

Go up and down K Street and you will find untold numbers of former government officials and congressman on the building rosters. This is while they are collecting congressional pensions.

Generals and Admirals are hired immediately upon retirement by contractors they did business with for years. Wish I could say the same about the poor  bastard grunts and sailors that got them there. Trust me.

PS: So you don’t think I am a total grouch. I go to Hopsice on Mondays. I have a special buddy there who is 94 and failing. He was in the US Navy and I always ask for permission to come aboard before I enter the room. We just talk. I didn’t think he would be there yesterday when I came. He was but very weak. I said I thought the two of  us should go on liberty and drink beer and chase women. His weary eyes lit up and we laughed. He said,”We’re not going to tell the wives are we?” I said your secret is safe.Don’t tell anyone. Life is good. Request permission to go ashore?

You know the two Jewish maxims. “I’ve been rich and I’ve been poor…rich is better” and “You can never be too rich or too skinny”. I think I agree with both. Now the question becomes rich in what?

Lately the rich are under attack. Big time. People even accuse me of being against the rich. Au contraire, mon ami. I love rich people and just hope they keep inviting me and Kathy places. I am not talking about pseudos. I want the crème de la crème. Actually the diatribes are somewhat absurd. I know some very nice well heeled people.

The Sunday NY Times had a fascinating article as to what it takes to be in the top 1%. I guess it really depends on where you are living. Stamford is a lot different than Abilene. Let’s just say there are a boatload of people that make a lot of money and let’s get over it. And let’s just say we would all love to be there. Why else would we buy LOTTO tickets?

Growing up, I guess we were well to do but I never felt particularly wealthy. On the North Shore of Long Island there were some seriously rich people. The Whitneys, Huttons, Phipps et al were quietly interspersed in Manhasset, Brookville Sands Point, and Lloyds Harbor.

I actually used to take tennis lessons at Alistair Martin’s (of Martin Marietta fame) estate. My teacher had a deal with him to use the indoor court that looked like mansion in its own right. I played one Sunday at Sherman Fairchild’s (of Fairchild Electronics) estate. On weekends, Shermy had a jazz combo playing in the living room for no other reason than he liked to listen to music. No big deal.

I think where this thing goes awry is how the elite handle it. Do you flaunt it or take it in stride. My dad and mom used to have the heads of the bond departments of Citibank, JP Morgan and Marine Midland over on a Saturday night. All brought their wives and my mother cooked. No it wasn’t fancy restaurants or high priced bottles of wine or limos. It’s just the way it was. Times have changed.

I think the internet and 24 hour news has a lot to do with it. That and I guess  the ones I will call the nouveaus. In today’s world people love to tell you how much this or that cost. How big their house is and how many they have. Forbes 100 Wealthiest. Old line rich wore their Izod shirts forever and faded. They had long driveways for the most part to shun publicity not to have people ooh and aah.

Beyonce just had a baby at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. They had bullet proof glass installed in the maternity ward. No one could go out of their room while she was out of her’s. Are you friggin’ kidding me? Ellen Nordgren is tearing down a $17 million house in Jupiter because of termites. And will build an even bigger one will replace it. Maybe with a high wall to keep Tigers out.

Larry Ellison of Oracle has a 474 foot yacht which is only the second largest in the world. The Rising Sun has one distinction and an important one. It is larger than Microsoft Paul Allen’s. He is actually building a new one. And you thought size didn’t matter.

Now look, if you have tons of money I could care less. You earned it somehow and how you spend it is none of my business. But do you really get how this looks to the rest of the world? You say mind your own business. But I am here to tell you that unfortunately it’s in everyone’s craw today.

Years ago before the media and the incorporating of wealth, no one knew how wealthy people were. They just guessed. Now Wall Street is publicly held. Entertainment, the Internet, and biotech have created wunderkinds in both mind and salary. Subtlety and understated are not part of the vernacular today.

To the ultra rich I say, just get a little class. Understand that the world is not an easy place. It’s not so much empathy as it is brains. Or as I say, “Neat but not gaudy”. Enjoy it but don’t shove it down people’s throats. Larry Ellison actually made that new yacht smaller when he realized there were not “intimate” spaces on the old one. Whatever!

To the not so rich I say, get over it. They really don’t have to share a thing.They should to some degree but don’t bet on it. But there are also many ways to measure wealth and success. The grass looks greener but in many ways it is not all it is cranked up to be. There are a number of happy swells but then again there really are some things money can’t buy. Just ask them.

As always

Ted The Great

Factoids:

The largest private yacht in the world is 538 feet long and has 15 staterooms and a crew of 70. There are six onboard tenders and room for three helicopters.  It is owned by a Russian billionaire.

The largest private home under construction in the US is a 90,000 square foot cottage being built by Hollywood mogul David Segal in Windermere. Fl.

The highest paid exec in the land is McKesson’s John Hammergren who weighs in at $131 million last year. Jamie Dimon only came in 12^th at $42 million. Piker

The highest paid athlete is still Tiger at $75 mill. Kobe and Lebron are around $50 million. $50 million is the equivalent of earning $500,000 for 100 years.

Why are they occupying Wall Street and not movie theaters, sports arenas, Oracle and Facebook?