My Musings | The Way I See It

Parkland, Billy Graham, Opioids and American life

March 10, 2018 by Robert Cook

The headlines of past days has caused me to rethink what is happening to American culture. Seventeen dead high schoolers should be enough to know things in America are not right.

I watched the Billy Graham memorial at the Capitol, and then the funeral in Charlotte North Carolina.

The opioid crisis is now killing sixty thousand Americans a year.

There are so many overdose deaths, the ‘life expectancy tables’ are being affected. The increased death rate has reduced the average life expectancy in the United States when compared to what it was just a few years ago.

Andrew Sullivan, writing on opioids in The New Yorker in February, makes the case as to why. He details the history of opioids including its use in colonial America, the civil war era, and now.

What Do Illegals Really Pay In Taxes

February 10, 2018February 10, 2018 by Robert Cook

What are the real numbers for taxes paid by illegals? It may seem fun for some, to say the illegals in our communities contribute huge amounts in taxes.

The next step is to then compare that collective number to just one person. Donald trump.

Not So Fast

Comparing what several million pay in taxes to the taxes paid by just one person is nothing more than click bait for social media. There is nothing serious about it.

Integrity – Defined By An American Hero

September 10, 2017 by Robert Cook

The issue of integrity is one in a core set of personal traits that define who we are. One American hero defined it.

Our very character is determined by each of at least nine traits, including integrity.

Dr David Jeremiah’s new book will be released on October 3rd. He is previewing Life Beyond Amazing in a series of programs aired on television and available at his website, DavidJeremiah.org.

As I watched today, I was struck with his comment on integrity. Dr. Jeremiah said that a profound definition of integrity is one that comes from (James) Stockdale.

Integrity is keeping a commitment after the circumstances under which the commitment was made, have changed.

James Stockdale was a United States Navy, Vice Admiral. Stockdale was awarded the Medal of Honor for his service in Viet Nam. He was a POW and ranking officer at Hoa Lo Prison. It became known as the “Hanoi Hilton”.

The NFL, Disrespecting America and Most of The Fans

September 6, 2017October 2, 2017 by Robert Cook

It is becoming more and more evident that the owners and players in the NFL, find it acceptable to disrespect their country, and the fans.

The entire league, all it’s owners and players are to be blamed. Those players not taking part will become collateral damage if the fans decide to boycott.

The National Football League, A Club For Millionaires.

There are two types of members.

Team Owners

Owners are millionaires and billionaires. They have enjoyed all that this country has to offer.

Many have worked hard, taken risks and built financial empires that allow them the opportunity and benefits of team ownership. For most, the opportunity for such success would not have been possible any other place in the world.

Had the owners built their businesses elsewhere, the NFL would not have been available to them.

Players

Players are paid exceptionally well. Not all are millionaires, but with proper financial management, they should be.

Even if they squander their riches, the NFL pension plan will keep them in a lifestyle most Americans will never experience.

Case in point, O. J. Simpson. He still receives a $25,000 per month in pension payments. Compare that to the $3,500 a month income earned by most football fans.

Governor Brown, Still Defying The United States

August 7, 2017August 7, 2017 by Robert Cook

Governor Brown of California may just be a chip of the old block. The first Governor Brown considered segregation a good thing and did all he could to keep it legal. The Brown family has a long record of opposing the Federal government.

What is the difference between segregation and discrimination?

There are people in this world that love to hate. Some hate only because others look different. Some hate cultures because they don’t understand them. Some hate only because they are hateful people.

I think everyone can spot haters. Be they racists, bigots, or just stupid.

It is the one who looks you in the eye and tells you how important you are, and then works to destroy you, that is the real hater. Be they racists of something else.

A Trip Down Memory Lane

To remind our friends shouting racist, let’s take a quick look again, at just where the bigots dwell.

We already know that without Republicans, the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act would have never become law. A solid block of democrats opposed anything that would stop segregation, allow equal protection, or insure fair housing.

We already know that a solid block of democrats opposed any bill that outlawed discrimination. Georgia Senator, Richard Russell,(D) was once the most powerful man in Washington. He led the delegation in opposing all civil rights legislation.

Former Klan Grand Wizard, Robert C Byrd (D) W. Virginia, was no friend of civil rights legislation.

Senator Al Gore Sr (D) Tennessee, stood shoulder to shoulder with his senate colleagues Russel and Byrd, along with then President Lyndon B. Johnson (D) Texas, to block anything that would insure the rights of black Americans.

Did You Know This?

Today’s memory lane candidate is California’s former Governor, Pat Brown. His leadership as governor from 1959 to 1967, created proposition 14. A measure to off set Federal civil rights legislation.

Specifically, the proposition amended the California Constitution nullifying the Rumford Fair Housing Act. California democrats did not want to integrate neighborhoods. Housing discrimination was legal and supported by democrats.

Proposition 14 was finally declared unconstitutional by the State Supreme Court in 1966.

Think about that. California did not like Federal legislation that outlawed discrimination. They were determined to find a way to ignore Federal protections for United States citizens.

It was Proposition 14 that fed the flames of what is now known as the Watts riots.

If you are looking for racists, you may do well to check the record. Those pointing fingers are often the ones with something to hide.

Most do not realize that prior to 1968, Black voters in America turned out for Republicans in far greater numbers than they did for Democrats.

When Dr. Martin Luther King advised black voters to not support Nixon, it was personal. Dr King was killed in April of ’68. Nixon was elected in November.

The decision to vote for Democrats stuck. Not because it has been good for Blacks, but because Dr King had a problem with one man running for President, Richard Nixon.

Lastly, Pat Brown was the father of California’s current Governor, Jerry Brown.

So ask, is it good for race relations to support those who’s record is centuries of discrimination.

As we look at the fate of American cities, can anyone see the timeline of decay? Did it not begin in earnest in 1968. The killing of Doctor King followed by the empty promises of democrats.

Nearly 50 years of voting, and Detroit is a ghost town, Chicago has record high murders, and nearly every inner city is worse off after trillions of dollars to make things right.

This is on my mind. But it’s also on my heart.

Leave me comments or suggestions in the comments area below.

An Answer To Why

July 16, 2017 by Robert Cook

Those who have, or are raising children, know about the question “Why?”

Sometimes the only reasonable answer is, “Because I said so.” To explain further is a waste of breath. Your response is not to be mean or to simply quiet the child, but because the child will not understand. They do not have the capacity to understand.

It is normal, even as an adult, to ask ‘why’. It can be about nearly anything. Often it has to do with issues of the universe, or morality, or human responsibility or unfair treatment, or, and the whys go on and on.

Being a Christian often means having to accept that very answer. “Because I said so.”

Man is not capable of understanding all the answers.

Non Christians may have never heard this truth. Even Christians are often unaware of it.

Truth is truth.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” and what follows, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Speaking to faith in the God of Heaven, whether you believe, or choose not to believe, it is still true. Truth is not changed because of what people think.

There will always be “Why?”, and the only answer may be, “Because I said so.”

It’s hard sometimes to not know.

It’s hard to grasp the concept, we don’t know, what we don’t know.

It is those times, that we hear the answer, “Because I said so.”

As parents, because we love our children, there will be times when that is the only answer. They won’t understand. They often think we’re mean or don’t care.

We know that’s not true. We know that our love is so great, we are willing to hear the words, “I hate you.” And sometimes, they disobey.

Love abides. It will forever. From us to our children, and God to His.

My musing for today. Love to hear what you think. Drop a note in the comments section below.

Fixing Health Insurance Is Not Difficult

June 30, 2017July 16, 2017 by Robert Cook

Fixing Health insurance does not need to be difficult. It may require hard choices be made, but that’s what Congress is suppose to do.

Auto Insurance Cheap. – It was the headline from an email.

While I have never considered car insurance as cheap, I have shopped it from time to time. Just to see if I can save a dollar or two.

Here is what I know

I am deluged daily with auto insurance ads, either on television, by email, with website popups, while reading a newspaper, and the U.S. Mail.

You know them well. Good neighbor, you’re in good hands, funny skits of unusual accidents, and little lizards that can talk.

I often wonder why there is no crises with auto insurance. Insurance companies spend millions trying to convince us we’ll save money if we switch.