Friday, August 20, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Stories that were not headline-news in my town.
Overpriced Health Care
"Despite having the most costly health system in the world, the United States consistently under-performs on most dimensions of performance, relative to other countries." (Full article)
Drug Companies Pay to Keep Drug Prices High
The FTC has been fighting to stop companies from paying other companies to withhold generic versions of drugs. In court, this has met with mix success. Pushes for legislation to ban this practice have not been successful. (see this Reuters article). Aside from this being a immoral practice, free trade advocates -- please note that this practice files in the face of free trade principles.
Does the Tea Party have a Soul?
The Emerald Coast Tea Party Patriots inviting Brigitte Gabriel, the head of the anti-Islam hate group "ACT! for America," to be their keynote speaker at its “U.S. Constitution Freedom Rally”
"Despite having the most costly health system in the world, the United States consistently under-performs on most dimensions of performance, relative to other countries." (Full article)
Drug Companies Pay to Keep Drug Prices High
The FTC has been fighting to stop companies from paying other companies to withhold generic versions of drugs. In court, this has met with mix success. Pushes for legislation to ban this practice have not been successful. (see this Reuters article). Aside from this being a immoral practice, free trade advocates -- please note that this practice files in the face of free trade principles.
Does the Tea Party have a Soul?
The Emerald Coast Tea Party Patriots inviting Brigitte Gabriel, the head of the anti-Islam hate group "ACT! for America," to be their keynote speaker at its “U.S. Constitution Freedom Rally”
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
I am the journey
What is more important, the journey or the destination?
When I was young, I believed my destination was the most important thing.
As I grew, I changed -- the journey itself became the most important thing.
And now, there are movements when I realize that I am the journey.
So now I believe that the most important thing is to cultivate an awareness of being the journey.
Even so, I have an inkling that there is nothing to believe or not believe about this.
I wonder ... when I arrive will I find that all are equally important?
Will it happen that in being the journey I will also become the destination?
When I was young, I believed my destination was the most important thing.
As I grew, I changed -- the journey itself became the most important thing.
And now, there are movements when I realize that I am the journey.
So now I believe that the most important thing is to cultivate an awareness of being the journey.
Even so, I have an inkling that there is nothing to believe or not believe about this.
I wonder ... when I arrive will I find that all are equally important?
Will it happen that in being the journey I will also become the destination?
Friday, June 25, 2010
Needing a jump-start
I have a strong impulse to rant. Then I remember that the most important thing is right now. And right now I do not need the negative energy of a rant flowing through my system. Right now, I need calmness and open-heartedness so that I can do something really big, even if that big thing is nothing more than changing my life for the better.
I am possessed by a strong impulse to cite all the wrongs in the world. Then I remember what that does -- and what it does not do. It does: shut down my heart, lessen my connection to the world, and makes my body feel heavy. And it does not: change anything.
I attach to this idea that everybody needs to be more aware of what is happening in this world, in this country, in our communities. Perhaps that is true; and it also true that nothing is accomplish shouting about it and passing judgment on those who do less than good, which is what I tend to do. The most important thing right now is not to rant, criticize, and judge: it is to be present in this moment. And when I achieve that, perhaps I can allow myself to be a little angry about the way things are and at the same hold great compassion in my heart.
So as I write, I ask myself, "What is the most important thing right now?" All of the things I considered posting my views on suddenly seem unimportant. Perhaps another day I will write about the need for greener computing or "regulatory capitalism" Right now, the sky is deep blue, the breeze is cool, and I don't want to get stirred up by things over which I have no control.
I am possessed by a strong impulse to cite all the wrongs in the world. Then I remember what that does -- and what it does not do. It does: shut down my heart, lessen my connection to the world, and makes my body feel heavy. And it does not: change anything.
I attach to this idea that everybody needs to be more aware of what is happening in this world, in this country, in our communities. Perhaps that is true; and it also true that nothing is accomplish shouting about it and passing judgment on those who do less than good, which is what I tend to do. The most important thing right now is not to rant, criticize, and judge: it is to be present in this moment. And when I achieve that, perhaps I can allow myself to be a little angry about the way things are and at the same hold great compassion in my heart.
So as I write, I ask myself, "What is the most important thing right now?" All of the things I considered posting my views on suddenly seem unimportant. Perhaps another day I will write about the need for greener computing or "regulatory capitalism" Right now, the sky is deep blue, the breeze is cool, and I don't want to get stirred up by things over which I have no control.
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