August 14, 2012: Post 581 (2012 Day 227)

August 14, 2012

Daily Comment

One idea my brother has held for many, many years that I am coming (back) around to is the importance of politics (government politics, at least) vs. political news and information, in my life.

Government Politics
The first is profound. It also happens, as far as I can discern at this time, with or without any input from me. Government workings affect almost everything that happens to me day-to-day. I am, after all, an employee of the Federal gubmint. My future security/income is almost entirely in the hands of my (federal) Social Security pension (the 25% that isn't, is in the hands of IBM),

But I have survived a life-time of almost continuously bad government at all levels, through times when I was either ignorant, activist, apathetic, cynical, complacent, motivated, alarmed, angry, satisfied, disenchanted, or, usually, some combination of these. Not one thing I have ever done has ultimately had an affect on my relationship with the governance of the place where I lived. And vice versa. 

Of course, there have been temporary diversions where I made some contribution, or participated in a political action that influenced my life - but only in the most superficial way, at an emotional and intellectual level, with limited life, scope, and effect. Most times, the motivation was based more on my social agenda than the politics involved.

The cause for my lack of influence may be that I am politically ineffective, exercising my personal political will frivolously or, at best, inefficiently. It could be that I am 

In a republic, a representative democracy, like ours, my views are only rarely (accidentally, coincidententally?) represented, and just as rarely found in majority views. That one political party has consistently been much further away from my views than the other has turned out to be a meaningless difference. In effect, whichever party has governed, has done a poor job in my lifetime. 

Both parties have done some good things (usually, with opposition), although both have also compromised good things into bad ones. In my lifetime, which started after all the Great Depression and post- WWII reforms had been enacted, the trend has been to disenfranchise the middle and lower classes (those that hadn't already been institutionally and historically disenfranchised), and to increase the power of the wealthy and their corporations.

I don't know if I can find any place where the government's relationship with me is benign, or, failing that, neutral. I think not. But I can put some distance between myself and the government rules over me (which will always be the US, since they demand an accounting from its citizens no matter where in the world they are). I can get out of the way. I vote for that.

Political News and Information
This is almost completely useless to me, and has never been useful, even though there are times, right up to the present, when I follow this news. 

Political news presentation inflames me. I get righteous and indignant. I get cynical. I get caught up. And there is the problem. There are no positive emotions connected with political news. It is all ego, ego, ego. I have to tell myself a bunch of lies to believe that I am getting upset at something that matters. 

The most credible news source I know of is a comedy show, where the news is deliberately fictionalized (starting with real events/people). So, it is good for a laugh. Nowhere else is the news presented fairly, honestly.

And, there is no such thing as fair balance.

I can, and will, live without knowing the political news of the day, week, year, decade.

Somewhere other than here..

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Food and Diet Section

Today's Weight:        205.2 lbs 
Yesterday's Weight:    206.2 lbs  
Day Net Loss/Gain:     - 1.0 lbs

Year 2012 daily weight from December 31, 2011.

Diet Comment:

Decided to go 'old school' and have a slow-carb diet day. Slow carb means all meals are built from non-dairy protein, non-starchy vegetables and beans.

Food Log

Breakfast

Spinach, egg and black bean fritta with salsa.

Lunch

Salmon salad on Spring Mix, red cabbage  and cole slaw mix.

Dinner

Chili (beef, black beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, spices) with peas.

Snack

Celery and home-made mayonnaise.

Liquid Intake

    Coffee:    20 oz,   Water: 96+ oz

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