NOBODY RULES GOVERNMENTS

There is a type of government that is characterized by no one is in charge. Simply put, each person is generally responsible for himself (or his direct family). I would say that this type of government would best be labeled "Anarchy" and a rather pure form of "Democracy". 

Anarchists believe that there should be no controls placed upon people as well as no one is responsible for an individuals well being. Anarchy, in my opinion, is really not a viable condition because no individual is totally self sufficient.

Democracy is a milder form of Anarchy in that people will gather together for mutual support and protection. However, a Democratic society is one in which each individual has equal power to act and vote on all issues relative to the group's existence. Some forms of the Democracy impose restrictions that compel people to follow rules agreed upon by a majority of the people that vote or who are eligible to vote.

Most of these schemes are considered to be unworkable in most societies. I am not aware of any modern examples of these governments. The Athenians supposedly operated under Democratic rule, but I suspect that there were variations to the system so that it was made to be workable.

GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS

The most used systems in government throughout history are in my opinion:

1. Tribal Organization

2. Absolute Monarchy

3. Constitutional Monarchy

4. Democracy

5. Representative Democracy (Republic)

6. Socialism

7. Communism

8. Anarchy

There may be others, but, I believe that the others could be shown to be subsets of the above list. 

Each of these systems have positive and negative aspects. Over some of the next Blog entries I shall attempt to present my idea as to which is most advantageous to people and which are least, and why. 

PERSONAL BLIGHT

These are the latest pictures near and in front of my house. We have been living with a significant mess for over 4 months, and I am getting tired of having to view the current results. The city of Globe (AZ) does not seem to be powerful or decisive enough to be able to encourage the builder to quickly fix the problem. The street that is presently closed was supposed to be shut down for a maximum of 2 weeks starting last June (2008). The builder was somewhat apologetic and promised quick resolution to a portion of the problem. I needed to get the attention of the city and police just to ensure quick closure to the trench and safety warning signs (cones) added that was dug along my garage and front of the house. Now there only remains to have the dirt covering the trench to be asphalt covered. It probably will not be done until next year some time. 

The trench beyond my property line has been open and relatively unguarded for close to a week.

The neighbor's trailer storage yard is another (separate) issue. The weeds in that lot partially obscure the trailers (one is below the level of the weeds).

Any constructive suggestions on how to combat these problems would be appreciated. 

OBAMAPALOOZA

History can be a difficult and heartless teacher. Apparently, Sen Obama has not had time to study. He and the Democrats are planning a big Presidential victory party and have or are spending 2 million dollars to stage the affair in Chicago. He should probably wait until he is crowned before assuming the title of king, er President. 

In the 1948 election a national newspaper displayed a headline that said "DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN". Unfortunately, all the votes had not been totaled prior to the headlines. President Truman did win.

Sen Obama should not show such gall in assuming a victory without waiting for the votes to be cast must less counted. For this reason alone, I hope that he is soundly defeated!

NATO GETS TOUGH

According to a headline on the FOX news website "NATO ships head to Somalia" 

I wonder what they did with the rest of the body!!

Note that there are multiple US warships already in the region attempting to deter pirates. Approximately 3 weeks ago a Russian warship was reportedly on its way to help deal with a Ukrainian vessel that had been seized by pirates who demanded 20 million dollars ransom. I do wonder whether the Russian ship was having difficulties getting there since it seems to have been in transit for a very long time.

Although it may seem extreme, I believe that there should be no ransom paid to any of the pirates and that military action against the pirates is warranted, even if some of the innocent captives are subsequently harmed. 

History has shown that paying Tribute leads to further demands for payments while exercising force once (or twice) usually ends such activity.

STILL WONDERING

This does seem to fit the same or familiar pattern of 1989-1990. I find it hard to believe that because the makeup of the congress shifted by a small number of people, that the judgment and capability of the majority of the Congress would go so badly negative.

The information below was sent to me from a friend and are not my original thoughts.

George Bush has been in office for 7 1/2 years.  The first six the economy was fine.  A little over one year ago:             1) Consumer confidence stood at a 2 1/2 year high;             2) Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon;             3) the unemployment rate was 45%.                  4) the DOW JONES hit a record high--14,000 +                  5) American's were buying new cars,taking cruises,   vacations overseas, living large!...     But American's wanted 'CHANGE'!  So, in 2006 they voted in a Democratic Congress and yes--we got 'CHANGE' all right. In the PAST YEAR:     1) Consumer confidence has plummeted ;              2) Gasoline is now over $4 a gallon & climbing!;              3) Unemployment is up to 5.5% (a 10% increase);              4) Americans have seen their home equity drop by $12 TRILLION DOLLARS and prices still dropping;               5) 1% of American homes are in foreclosure.               6) as I write, THE DOW is probing another low                 $2.5 TRILLION DOLLARS HAS EVAPORATED FROM STOCKS, BONDS & MUTUAL FUNDS INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS!                      IN 2006 AMERICA VOTED FOR CHANGE...AND WE SURE GOT IT!  REMEMBER THE PRESIDENT HAS NO CONTROL OVER ANY OF THESE ISSUES, ONLY CONGRESS.  AND WHAT HAS CONGRESS DONE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS,ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.  NOW THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT CLAIMS HE IS GOING TO REALLY GIVE US CHANGE ALONG WITH A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS!!!! JUST HOW MUCH MORE 'CHANGE' DO YOU THINK YOU CAN STAND?

JUST WONDERING

In 1990 President Bush was contemplating a second term after a successful campaign to rid Kuwait of an invader; when out of nowhere(?) the stock market took a deep nose dive, the Democrats declared a financial disaster loomed unless the Republicans were replaced by their visionary, and the rest (next 8 years) was history. Now flash forward to 2008. Now president Bush has completed a rather successful relief of Iraq and that country is sorta on its way to full recovery and what happens?? The stock market takes a nose dive (closely resembling the 1990 dive) the economy is supposedly in a terrible state, and the Democrats are blaming the Republicans for all of the ills. 

Does this seem to be a remarkable coincidence? Or are there behind the scene forces manipulating the game?

No conspiracy theory here, just wondering.

NAVY BIRTHDAY

October 13th is the 233 birthday of the U.S.Navy. In honor of that occasion, I am posting some pictures of ships that I served on .

USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63)

USS Lynde McCormick (DDG 8)

USS Long Beach (CGN 9)

USS McGinty (DE 365)

USS Pickett (AGR 7)

Harley's Clone

Seth's guina pig has a new harness, but has not yet adapted to it very well. I can fully understand the frustration because We have Sara.

How Many Smoots are you?

In order to break the strain of the election news and concerns, I thought it wise to provide some equally important information about a relatively obscure measurement system developed at MIT. Since it was initially determined by a former  student of the august University, I wondered why it has not been given wider acceptance.  I guess not everyone embraces pure science.

The measurement is known as the SMOOT.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The father of a measurement known as the "Smoot" returned Saturday to be honored at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the school where he and his fraternity brothers invented it 50 years ago.

Oliver Smoot was the shortest pledge in the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity in 1958 when its members decided to lay him on the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge. After discovering Smoot measured 5 feet 7, they marked the bridge in those increments, with an eventually exhausted Smoot getting up and down for each new measurement.

They soon determined the bridge was 364.4 Smoots long.

Today, Google.com's calculator function can convert any measurement into Smoots.

The original Smoot, who later became chairman of the American National Standards Institute, spoke Saturday at "Smoot Celebration Day" at MIT and received a plaque. The plaque will be installed on the bridge this year.

"This plaque will brighten the lives of windblown pedestrians," MIT President Susan Hockfield said during the presentation.

Smoot said the freshmen who repaint the Smoot markers on the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge every year may not appreciate how good they have it.

"For years, the police departments of Boston and Cambridge took this as an infraction and would chase the guys repainting the marks - but they called a truce," Smoot said. "I'm not sure if they tell the freshmen that at least you won't get hauled into jail."

 

Unknown Plant

If you know what the plant is, I would appreciate knowing what it is. Looks like some sot of Calla Lilly, but, it blew in one day and decided to stay in a usually very dry hill side.

NEW AUTO HAT

Are you serious? Of course I got an appropriate hat for the occasion of the new car. As a matter of fact, I almost declined to buy it without the inclusion-- tough negotiations you know. 

By the way, as tradition dictates, the car has been named;; Agatha; as a tribute to her British heritage (From Oxford GB no less).

Unfortunate we must share the one cap.

NEW AUTO

Some people think that I do not wait for the ashtray on my cars to fill before I trade them in. Well, they are wrong, the Colorado LT truck did not have an ashtray. But, it still got traded yesterday. This time, though maybe for good reason. The Passenger air bag system was causing the air bag sensor system to shut down thereby making the system inoperative. The dealer ordered a repair part approximately 2 weeks ago, but it arrived too late as far as I am concerned. Since I had lost confidence in the safety of the vehicle (what else was due to go wrong?) I decided to trade it for:::: A MINI Cooper S. Seems to be a nice little car and is probably the wave of the future for autos in this country (some might say the size of a pregnant roller skate). But with the Turbo boost, it seems to be quite peppy...