MAKING UP YOUR OWN MIND

Whether it is a political candidate or the Affordable Health Care Act or a movie or play – I make up my own mind. You can’t really do that intelligently unless you research the subject in some depth. No, you don’t have to be an expert, but you should check the experts for their opinion and find out where that opinion comes from and why.

So many people who opine on matters don’t have the expertise or knowledge to actually opine with authority. Just replay the Super Bowl interview that O’Reilly had with the president. The president had facts and O'Reilly had opinions not necessarily based in fact and he got taken to the woodshed.

Look at the recent CBO report regarding “Job Lock.” Rand Paul who is knowledgeable said in a an interview that job lock was creating some bad productivity because the employee could not afford to lose benefits if that employee changed jobs. Paul thought that was terrible – that was a few years ago. Now that the AHCA allows employees to leave their jobs and either retire or seek new employment and take their insurance with them, Paul is saying that this law is a jobs killer – when it isn’t. In fact if job lock is now a thing of the past it will open opportunities for new employees and increase jobs. The CBO report said nothing about job loss, which is not “job leaving.” Read the report and make up your own mind.

The 24 hour news cycle and the need for headlines and “breaking news” distorts the actual events and the facts. That is why I like newspapers. You often get both sides of an issue with specific details and you are not restricted to a 30 second look at the story. Take all the time you want to learn the facts. The make up your own mind. Ah, but Fox loved it as they distorted the truth with glee.

I have been watching a National Geographic TV series on the “Monuments Men.” That was fascinating to watch. These well-educated experts in the arts and related field went into a combat zone, over age, out of shape and saved the culture of Europe by finding and protecting the arts that are appreciated worldwide. They went to basic training, even for a young man that is tough, carried weapons and at times, and had to use them in their pursuit. They are heroes.  Two of the men lost their lives in this effort – 33% casualties.

So, what did I read in the Los Angeles Times? It was an “Ocean’s Eleven” remake set in World War II. The critic did not like to flow of the film, he criticized the director, he criticized the script and ended saying that it was a good story, but . . . !

The next night the film premiered and I went to see it. I saw another film that evidently this critic did not see. I saw a great story with good direction with great acting and some wonderful facts that created a good outcome. It entertained me; it educated me and made me feel good after the film ended. I guess a critic needs to be negative in order to earn his pay.

In New York a critic can destroy a work of art with just a few words and often does. People will not go see a critically panned play because some blow hard says it is not what he thinks it should be. Or what the actor should be doing on stage is not what the critic thinks that actor should be doing. 

For the past several years I have seen so many films and plays that critics have attended and apparently not seen, or I believe they saw something different from what I saw or experienced.

“Gravity” was a marvelous film about a woman that needed to find her courage and use her expertise to save herself under some very trying circumstances. It was an amazing movie (I saw in 3D and I am not a 3D lover) that had suspense, drama, emotion against an amazing backdrop of space. The critics said that the story was lacking, one of the two characters was not deep enough, etc., etc. I walked out of that theater feeling great because I loved the story, the characters, the effects, because it entertained and educated me and the film had a great outcome. Critics be damned!

The “Sound of Music” on TV was wonderful except for the commercial messages. Even TiVo disrupted the flow, but the music and the story were quite uplifting. There was a Country and Western singer in the lead which lead s me to believe that talent always wins out. The critics did not see the same show that I saw. I was entertained, educated and uplifted.

“August: Osage County” was a depressing film. It seemed like it would take all of August to get through the film. It was a slow, agonizing, miserable story line with great performances by the cast. There are award winning portrayals in this movie and I am sure some will get an award for their part. I do not think that this was a good movie. I was not particularly entertained; I was not educated about life in Osage County, just about this family that was really screwed up.  I walked out of the theater and my first words to a stranger were I need a drink!” But the critics loved it!

In this day and age many of us defer to the “experts” to provide for our thinking. It is easier than thinking for ourselves. One friend derided me by asking don’t you want to know the facts? Yes, I do but not Fox Facts. Not MSNBC facts. I want the facts from the impartial reporting (not sure there is any these days) but I am smart enough to figure it out for myself – at least I hope that I am. I hope that you are, too!

That is my take – you decide (for yourself)

IT WAS NOT FUNNY

No one was laughing, especially when they got caught. Governor Christie is not my guy nor my governor  but I always thought highly of him, not so much of his ideas. I was impressed with the way he handled “Bridge Gate.”

He took immediate action and canned the people responsible. He did it without a long and deliberative process, they screwed up, they screwed him now they get screwed along with the people of two states that got screwed for four days.

When it comes to pay back politics I am at a loss as to understanding the high that they got. Had any of these people that created the mess had to be in the Big City how would they have reacted? It was not funny. What was tragic is that the jams held up emergency vehicles. Had there been a family member heading to hospital in an ambulance with lights and sirens with no ability to move, that would have been hilarious, not. The chain reaction of what they did was really very tragic – who knows what lives were damaged by a doctor being delayed for a procedure and the patient that need it.

Payback is expensive. Ask George W. Bush whose defense of killing about 5000 young Americans was payback to Sadam for trying to kill George  H.W. Bush. “Sadam tried to kill my daddy, “ he said. So, the mother s of about 5000 dead soldiers and about 20,000 or so wounded soldiers paid dearly for that payback.

Recall the dinner where George jokingly was looking under the table for the WMDs. That was NOT FUNNY. We know how that played out. The bridge disaster will be quantified as time goes on and as stories emerge from the people riding in the buses and their personal vehicles start recount the effect of those days while on the asphalt. Jokes, like these have consequences.

It is my hope that Governor Christie does not suffer from the effects of these ill- advised actions on the part of some of his staff. I am hopeful that this does not land at his door. I want to see him get the Republican nomination. He is not a Tea Party idiot. That means though I might not agree with him, he has cogent ideas. Ryan, Paul and Cruz are the village idiots that live in the village of the Congress. These are three jokes that are definitely not funny.

These idiots that created the traffic jam may have also created an atmosphere where Christie may not be able to run. He has to overcome the association – he did hire or appoint them.

Let this be a lesson for all civil servants; you serve the civilian population. Not an elected official though you may serve at that official’s pleasure in order to serve the people.

We in Los Angeles have had Carmegedon, twice. There were no problems as we knew that they were coming. The Port Authority did not warn any one of the lane closings for the “traffic study” that wasn’t. It was deliberate, it was deceitful, it was mean spirited and meant to hurt the people they serve. Then when one of the cowards was asked about it he took the 5^th. That gave the people of New Jersey a great sense of comfort. Oh! They were just drunk. Until they learned that the 5^th was not scotch but the 5^th amendment of the US Constitution they are to defend. Now the people need a fifth to deal with this.

The Super Bowl is coming to New Jersey. Who knows what these brain dead civil servants had planned?  Let’s see the Mayor of New York is a Democrat as is the governor. Payback time – really? 

I have a question: Since the New Jersey as well as the New York populations get their news and traffic reports from the same  media outlets, how did the Governor not know about the major snarls that were created in his state and reported on by local TV outlets? Hmmm!

 

That is my take, you decide.

CUBA - HOPING FOR A NEW TOMORROW

Since I got back from Cuba in November, I am seeing stuff about Cuba in the news, in magazines and just about everywhere I look. I guess before I took the trip I wasn’t paying that much attention, but now Cuba has got my attention.  The innocent handshake in South Africa got worldwide attention

First let me say something about the Cuban people. They have amazing spirit and can make do with just about anything. They are enterprising, they are inventive, they are artistic and they are a warm and apparently happy people. With all that rum and all that great coffee what else do you need? Well freedom would be a good start.

They have it – at least some freedoms. I saw no restriction on the freedom of religion,  my experience s also did not expose any lack of freedom of speech. They all spoke their mind. They did that when asked a particular question and where the answer may be critical of the government.  The government does take care of the people. The people do not have to worry about healthcare – they have it. From what I understand the Cubans enjoy treatment from some of the best doctors in the world. They do need medical equipment and drugs. There is no embargo on either from the United States. But that equipment must be paid for in cash.

Cubans are now allowed – with some restrictions- create their own businesses. Some have electronic repair businesses, some have established restaurants, some others have created small factories for clothing and other products. As I stated, they are artistic and the artists may sell their own art work. I bought a few pieces to bring home. At the arts and craft building in central Havana there are hundreds of vendors selling their own jewelry designs, wood products and clothing. Some of the businesses are government owned and others are privately owned enterprises. There is little or no negotiation, the prices are fair and the business people expect to get the asking price – they are quite polite about it, too.

You can eat the food – everywhere. There are no MacDonalds, Burger Kings or Pizza Huts. That is refreshing. Fresh fruit is sold on carts all over town and you can’t get fries with that.

Cuba appears to take care of their elderly, their poor and their children. We visited senior centers, a center for under privileged children, an art workshop for people of all ages and a dance group. All but the dance group were government operated and one of the children centers was run by a religious  philanthropy with government support.

The people are repressed in some ways. They get great education in the arts and sciences along with language skills. But the history they learn is limited and skewed according to government guidelines. The access to the internet is limited – very limited. Logging on reminds me of the day of the 300 baud modem. Very slow and certain web sites are blocked. I got CNN in my hotel room but I understood that is was not available outside the hotels. I was warned not to try to access my bank’s web site or use an American bank issued credit card. So, our freedom was limited as well. Free to complain but not free to use the facility.

The Cuban people make do. They make their own car parts for the 50 plus year old cars. Most are in good shape and get around. Many are falling apart. There are no Pep Boys in Cuba. The film “Yank Tanks” explains the process of keeping these 50 and 60 year old cars running.  The Cubans are highly skilled mechanics because they have to be. I asked a Cuban why something was bright red – the answer was because that was the color of the paint that they had that day. Whatever is available is used – and used to perfection.

Cuba supports it artists. While there we visited UNEAC (Union of Artists and Writers of Cuba) and the Ludwig Foundation which is a worldwide foundation for the support of the arts. The artists are happy, they create. They adapt. I bought an etching that was done on x-ray film. I also saw them etching on linoleum flooring.

Do they want democracy? I am not sure. They haven’t experienced it for some generations. Before Fidel  and Raul it was Batista. In principal, I believe that they do but they have no idea what democracy will do for them or to them. Democracy is messy. Just look at the U.S. Even George W. Bush lamented that he could run things better if he were the dictator instead of the president.

Is putting fast food in the hands of the Cubans a good idea? Is putting better cell phone usage and access to a wider internet a good idea for the Cuban people? I don’t know. Neither do they, but they do deserve the ability to find out. Maybe not all at once, but a gradual easing out from 1950 to 2014 may help the Cubans realize their greatest talents. They adapt and they endure.

If they get to democratize then the Cubans need to create a better economic foundation so they can enjoy their access to the “better” life. Their monthly wage is about twice basic hourly wage. That is not a solid foundation for economic
growth. I haven’t heard much in the way of planning for the revitalization of the Cuban people, but I was immediately informed when I arrived at the Havana International Airport that this is a transformative time.

  Lately there has been much written about change for Cuba. Such a beautiful country with such rich talent, a desire for better life – it is all there.  Did the president’s simple courteous handshake start the process? Can we get past that there were nuclear missiles set up with the idea to destroy the U.S.?  Since the Cuban Revolution more than 70% of the current population was born. They know nothing else but how it is. Can we forget, should we forget and can we forgive? Is that the basis of the America mental embargo for Cuba?

 That is my take, you decide.

PS 12/17/2013
If you had a chance to review the photos from Cuba you would have seen a gym that trains boxers. Yesterday,  Cuba had for the first time since the Revolution a professional prize fight. Things are changing slowly - but changing. The Cubans won all five of their matches.
Here is the URL for the Gallery Site: http://saulsgallery.shutterfly.com.