New Blog Post 2 – The Media Problem – IT’S YOU

 

            As I stated in my previous post, it is practically impossible in this day to have a civil, constructive conversation with someone of a differing opinion. The reasons for this are many. There’s education, culture, and family to name a few. But the one driver that constantly seems to outpace everything else is media.

        Now when I say media, I’m not necessarily talking about the traditional media of the past; the network news programs, newspapers, and normal radio programming. What I am talking about is the assorted mishmash of news sources we come across from the highly-partisan and rarely honest variety found on most forms of new media like cable news, social media, podcasts, blogs, vlogs, etc. The full list of sources is long, varied, and all-too-often remarkably unchecked by anything resembling truth or, God-forbid, facts (regardless of what side of the aisle they are on).

           Yes, we have 24/7 access right in the palm of our hands and it’s easy for many of us to not only stay informed, but over-informed, misinformed, or completely uninformed as well. Far too many of us are so “well-informed” that we believe we can’t possibly be wrong, and we are all-too-ready to attack anyone who disagrees with us or hasn’t acknowledged the flaws in their own arguments.

 I’m not picking on anyone, it’s just the truth. Honestly, I have been that “informed” person before. So I know from where it is I describe.

 As I thought harder about this, I began to realize that much of the problem stems not from the variety of news services or opinion pieces, but from our desire to consume only the sources that reinforce our beliefs or speak to what we want to be true. Sadly, there is an over-abundance of sources, so if one wants to, they can easily stay in their own little multi-media universe, complete with groups of like-minded believers and never accept the fact that there are people who have differing opinions who can be caring, logical, intelligent, honest, and might have a good point.

 As I look back on my 52 years on this planet and I can see the direct correlation between the rise of incivility and the proliferation of the 24/7 media, multi-media, and social media. When I was in my 20’s and before, most Americans read the newspaper, those actually made of paper that left ink on your fingers. We listened to music or sports on the radio, and we might catch the nightly national news program in the evening for 30 minutes before we ate supper.

 In my youth we got our TV news from Chancellor, Reynolds, and Cronkite. By the time I was in high school, college, and the early years in the Navy those names had changed to Brokaw, Jennings, and Rather. Those were your television news sources. We read the paper, watched the evening news, and we were done – THAT WAS IT!

 We simply didn’t sit and watch hours upon hours of CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, Newsmax, CNBC, HLN, etc. We didn’t sit in front of a screen and watch YouTube videos. We didn’t listen to countless hours of Podcasts. We got our daily dose from a news sources and then we got on with our lives.

 We lived life away from media. We went out and enjoyed evenings with our friends. We watched sports. We went to the movies, and we saw movies without a political tone, you know… for entertainment. It wasn’t about us not wanting to be educated about our times and what was going on (newspapers…. DUH), it was about us being informed productive members of society, not mindless drones enslaved by the hours of biased, partisan media of any nature.

 Maybe we should try to get our news like we did before. Subscribe to your local newspaper. Watch the nightly news on ABC, CBS, or NBC at 5:30 pm or 6:30 pm depending on your time zone. And then leave all the rest alone.

 Try it for a month; heck, try it for a week if you can’t do a month! Put down your phone and look around. Turn off cable news, quit spending all your time looking at Facebook, twitter, Instagram, snapchat, or whatever else you look at. Enjoy your family, your friends, your neighbors, your community. I guarantee you’ll get enough news and info from the paper and the nightly news to know what’s going. And you’ll have more time to decide for yourself what you believe rather that forming your beliefs from what you are exposed to on internet media, cable networks, and social media.

 Give it a go. Maybe, just maybe we can begin to reintroduce civility to our conversations.

 

Cheers,

Bill

New Blog Post #1 - Reset

 

It’s time to start writing a little bit more often. For those that don’t know, it has taken a while for me to get back to place in my life where I feel secure enough to express my thoughts; so, it’s time I start writing again.

             In the past, this blog has been a little more partisan than I would have liked. I thought about removing the old posts, but I decided to leave them as they are a part of my journey down the road of development as an American, a Texan, a veteran, a family man, and a Conservative. Often, my journey has been more of a moderate view of American Politics. So, I wanted to start this blog back up to make some points, spread some helpful information, and hopefully start some respectfully civil dialogue.

              Far too often today’s political discourse takes about five seconds to lose all semblance of civility and disintegrate into the ridiculousness found regularly on an elementary school playground.

 “No, I didn’t… Yes, you did… No, I didn’t… etc.”

             Far too many intelligent and respected people fear speaking out less they find themselves cancelled by some loud-mouth who makes their points through volume, interruptions, and absurdity rather than civil discussion and understanding (Side Note: I am a recovering “Loud Mouth”). They don’t listen to anyone who has a differing opinion, only a favorite news outlet, podcast, YouTube video, or alternative media source that puts out the information they want to hear – AND they’re on both sides of the political/social spectrum.

             So, I have decided to take this blog in a direction that promotes discussion of ideas. A place where you can agree or disagree and not be attacked or cancelled. I have my opinions on issues, and they are formed by my beliefs and my experiences. When I started this blog way back in 2009, I was like so many hyper-partisan people we see and hear from today. I never really listened to what someone was saying. I would often interrupt as I already knew what the other person was going to say and just wanted to get my point out as it was far more important than anything the other person had to say.

             After much soul searching, prayer, counselling, and repentance, I have learned so much better how to listen, how to empathize, and how to have an actual discussion of ideas rather and delivering a proclamation of why my opinion was right. With genuine interest, I can hear out the differing opinions and ideas of others. It may or may not change my mind, but I will listen and be open to the exchange of ideas to better understand what others think. I’m not perfect by any means, but this has helped me be a better husband, father, son, friend and Christian.

             Far too often people go through their day looking for the next argument or fight about the subjects of the day. What a harsh way to spend your time. We must realize the truth of life; we come into this world with nothing but the love of those around us and God-Willing we will be surrounded by the love of those around us when we depart this world. Remember that the next time you’re “looking for a fight.”

 In closing, I leave you with this:

We can disagree without being disagreeable,

We can have differences without division,

We can compromise without abandoning our principles,

And we can work together, and we should!

 

God Bless,

Bill

Want Economic Development – Buy Local

With the news that Bitmain is “Scaling Back Operations,” many in Milam County are asking what’s next? Everyone is looking for the Homerun that will put Milam County back in the positive as far as tax base goes and help lower the tax rate that threatens to still go higher in the near future.

As reality starts to set in, it’s important to realize that a tax base and county-wide gravy train like ALCOA only comes along once in a long while. To continue on with the baseball analogy, and truth be told, any good baseball coach will tell you that homeruns rarely win you the game. It’s when a team puts together the base hits and solid overall offense that the game is won.

ALCOA was a homerun and every since they folded up shop, Milam County has been looking for the next grand slam. It’s time to get serious about economic development in Milam County and that starts, like all things political, at the local level. So, in short, the local level is where we have to start if we truly want to build a stronger Milam County.

I’ve looked around and there really isn’t anything you need, or want, that can’t be found right here in Milam County. From groceries, to clothing, to household supplies, to building materials, to auto dealers, to furniture, to any list of items you could need; It’s all right here in Milam County. I hear the arguments all the time; from it’s too expensive to there’s not enough selection, you make the argument and I guarantee you I’ve already heard it. So what’s the truth?

It’s your money, do what you want with it, but when businesses fold in Milam County we all lose. You might spend a bit more to shop at home and you might not be able to get that exact designer brand you had your heart set on, but when you shop local you are supporting you neighbors, friends, and your own pocket book over the long run. And when you leave the county to do you shopping, the county loses out on the tax money generated by the sales, and in turn so do the Milam County Tax-payers.

When you buy in Temple, Bell county enjoys the windfall of your purchase, Milam County gets nothing. If you buy in Bryan, Brazos County wins; buy in Austin, Travis County gains; buy in Waco and McLennan County adds to their coffers. See the trend?

When you shop out of county for items and stores fold in Milam County, the tax base shrinks. When Milam County citizens leave the county to find work, the county loses a tax-payer and the tax base shrinks. When the tax base shrinks, the tax rate has to go up to pay for county services.

I hear all the time, ”if there was an HEB here in Milam County I’d shop there, but I have to go to Temple/Taylor/Bryan/Waco to use HEB?”

GUESS WHAT…. If we all “sacrificed” some and shopped locally for a while, HEB would notice and build in Milam County. BUT… HEB doesn’t build in Milam County because they know you’ll make the 25-45 minute trip to the nearest HEB. They don’t need to come to Milam County because Milam County will come to them.

We have three car dealerships in Milam County and several used car lots, yet how many people take the trip down the road and buy a car and give their tax money to other counties. That’s a lot of money every year that leaves Milam County.

Home improvements are an always an ongoing occurrence, yet every hardware store and lumber yard in Milam County struggles while you drive to the next county over to shop at the big chain store. I’m not sure, but I think most of the local stores employ local Milam County folks and help sponsor a great deal of the charitable works throughout the county. You don’t see too many of the big chain stores helping around Milam County.

Patronizing local businesses are the base hits that win a game. Sure it would be nice to hit the homerun, but the base hits and the full team press of a shopping local are what makes for a strong tax base, a lower tax rate, greater overall economic development, and a more prosperous Milam County. We might not be able to draw the Home Run, but each of us can make the base hits it takes to keep Milam County Strong.

Batter Up,
Bill

Civility in the Modern Political Era

With this week’s death and funeral services of President George H. W. Bush, we have seen a great deal of civility and national unity. It always does my heart well to see this sort of camaraderie in our country, especially considering the constant bickering, name-calling, and hateful talk that normally comes from Washington, and the rest of the nation on a daily basis.

Regardless of your feeling for the former president, one thing that is apparent is that during the time of Bush 41 and before, there was greater cooperation and thoughtfulness in every part of the political arena. Prior to and during Bush 41’s presidency, there were disagreements over issues and differing plans on what was best for the country, but those disagreements were generally handled in a professional and respectable manner even when members hated the other members.

In today’s government it’s quite the opposite. Today, the hatred is openly displayed and even if the members of the two parties actually get along, they can’t be seen as such in the public eye. It’s too hard for these members to admit that while they don’t agree with the other side, they actually can have a friendship with each other. It’s too hard because we as a society can’t believe that we can be friends with those who have different political views.

When Jack Kemp died a few years back, thee was talk about how to bring civility back into politics. When John McCain died recently, there was once again talk of bringing civility back into politics. And this week once again, we talk of how civility has been lost in the halls of government. Yet in reality, all this talk will fade in the next week.

This time next week we will once again be in a place where one state party is trying to boost membership by offering bumper stickers that don’t promote their party, but make fun on the other party’s losing nominee. Next week will see the leader of one party spewing venom at the other party’s leader and vice versa. We will see on PAC running ads not promoting their stance on an issue, but attacking the values of the alternative view. Not telling us why they’re right and the other view is wrong, but simply why those who believe opposite of them are a racist, or degenerate, or whatever attack they can make not to give their views substance, but to denigrate those who subscribe to the opposing view.

Can we get back to a place of civility in American politics and government?  I don’t know.

But regardless of the leadership we are to follow, civility starts like all things in politics – at the local level.

We must learn to be civil to each other, we must learn to be respectful of each other, and most importantly we must learn to make our arguments in support of what we believe and now to denigrate those who believe opposite of us. Until we learn to do that, we are doomed to the same partisan bickering that has our country in a death spiral. AND make no mistake, that is the direction America is heading.

God Speed 41 and God Bless America,
Bill

Spending Bill My Foot!

In the last 24 hours the Congress passed yet another bill so they can keep their doors open. When Congress does this it's called a Spending Bill, when a company does this it's called Fraud, and when we as individual Americans do this it's called Bankruptcy.

But not the government!

For them it's business as usual.

Why do they call it a spending bill?

Because it would be too long it they called it the "we can't live up to our obligations as responsible stewards of the public's money and are completely incapable of balancing a budget" Bill - which is entirely what it is.

Oh, make no mistake about it, both parties are complicit in this charade. When one party is in the power they say it's necessary to keep the country (Code for government) working and the other party says it financial irresponsibility. When the other party is in power they just change jerseys and play the others parts.

In reality, a spending bill means that once again the elected officials and bureaucrats have let us down and are kicking the Washington bar tab farther down the road. A road that is unsustainably deepening with each subsequent Spending Bill.

10 years age, 15 years ago, 20 years ago, it doesn't matter. Every few years we hear how this new budget will put us on a "path to a balanced budget" in the next decade. How's that working out for us?

Basically, the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over expecting a different result. Think about that the next time you rush to the polls to vote for your favorite incumbent. Until we hold them accountable for their inability to meet the demands of the fiscal responsibility that only a balanced budget can deliver, then nothing will change.

Oh, and before some politico or their staff asks you how you would fix the problem, remind them that they were elected to make the changes necessary to do just that. AND if they can't, then they need to get out of the way and let someone in there who can lead.

The answers to fiscally responsible governing aren't hard to find, but they can be, and usually are hard to follow through on.

Cha-Ching – There They Go Again!!

Later,
Bill

The Oval Office and Grandmother's Rules!

Many years ago, folks had respect at all times in the Oval Office. In his book "A Different Drummer," former Reagan White House Aide Michael Deaver tells a story that epitomizes that respect.

As the story goes, he was accompanying President Reagan back to the Oval Office from the front lawn following the White Easter Egg Roll. Deaver describes the day as unseasonably warm and of how everyone was hot and sweaty upon their return. As everyone begins removing their suit coats and loosening their ties, he noticed that the President was not. Deaver suggested to the President that it would be fine if he did the same. With that, the President looked up towards his staff and remarked that his respect for the office and the hallowed they were occupying prevented him from doing so. With that Deaver said the entire staff tightened their ties, put there coats back on, and never again thought of entering the Oval in anything less than a suit and tie during the workday.

This last week, President Trump  invited presidents and administrators from Historically Black Colleges to the Oval Office for a meeting. During the meeting a photographer took a picture of the event. Everyone was standing around the President in a normal staged setting for photographers, except for White House advisor Kellyanne Conway who was sitting with on her feet on the Oval Office couch.

As for me, I’ll just say that she should have been standing and standing out of the way, not sitting in front of everyone on the couch, on her feet on the couch. BUT that should be a minor Protocol issue that can be corrected and not happen again; however, the press and liberals blew it up and then the ensuing retorts from the Right have followed keeping this in the news and making it a much bigger issue than it should be. Meanwhile, the realists of society sit here and give it the much-adieu-about-nothing head shrug.

But here’s the truth, the Oval Office is not just a work place, it’s not a lounging area, and it’s not a hangout spot. The Oval Office is a special place. This is the office of the Commander and Chief of the United States of America. This is where the people of America expect the work of the President to occur. It’s the one office where Americans demand the utmost of respect and decorum.

So whether it’s Kellyanne Conway’s feet on the couch, Obama’s feet on the Resolute Desk, or other frolicking in the Oval Office; it really doesn’t matter, disrespect is disrespect.

But like everything else in the last twenty-five years or so, both sides of the political aisle are trying to one-up each other on who has had the most, or the least respect for the Oval Office. As usual, it’s political gamesmanship, and another episode of the venomous back-and-forth that weakens us as One Country.

So how about rather than making it a Democrat/Republican issue, we simply use Grandmother’s age old test of, “Would you do that in your own home and with your own furniture?”

For the Record, that was a trick question. If you answered no, she would respond with, “Then don’t do it here.” If you answered yes she would respond with, “Well this isn’t your house!”

So just like Grandmother’s house, it’s never alright to disrespect the Oval Office, even unintentionally.

Keep your feet on the floor,
Bill

School Choice or Public-Education Abandonment?

Everyone has the right to a free public education – THAT’S IT! No more or no less.

Just as when the United States was created, the Constitution of Texas also allows for the right of a free public education through high school. It also allows parents the right to put their children in a private school and/or to home school if they so choose (at their own expense).

These days we are seeing an even bigger push away from the public education system in favor of other alternatives. Alternatives such as Private Schools (religious or secular), Charter Schools, Alternative Schools, and Home Schooling. All of these options have their positive attributes and all have shown to have positives as well as negatives.

Which is right for you or your children? It’s hard to say because each child, and each family is different. Are public Schools broke? That depends on which schools you look at, but it has as much to do with the community around that school system as it does the school itself.

Not a single school system can be successful without community/parental involvement in the education process. Schooling our children is an active process. It must involve the parents as much as it does the children and the teachers. Unfortunately, far too many parents only become involved in the education process when there is a problem. Far too many parents are absent from their child’s daily school life.

Regardless of the many issues facing Public Education, removing resources from the public education system is not the way to handle the issue. Our problems with public education have come from the state and federal government confusing oversight with micromanagement.

Unfunded mandates, mandatory testing, and financial manipulation by the state and federal government are the root causes of the educational failure in this country and this state; furthermore, robbing the public education system of more resources will not change that. Stripping away at these resources will only serve to deteriorate the already frail inner-city schools, weaken strong schools, and steal from the small-town local education that is a key part of the very fabric of rural Texas.

I hear many folks say that they want to use the tax money they pay for public schools to pay for a private school for their children. OKAY, but there are so many flaws with that system. First, take me for instance; let’s say I pay roughly $500.00 a year in school taxes on my home. That hardly seems enough were I to elect to send my child to a private school, or to home school them. But I have/had 4 kids in school at one time – YEAP – No Where Near Enough!!!

But what if the state or federal government gave me something like the $4,500.00 a year voucher or credit such as Indiana gives out? That sounds great too; however, what about all the hidden fees associated with private schools or home schools. There’s uniforms, books, lunches (no free lunches in private schools or home schools), equipment fees, extracurricular fees, and facility fees to name a few. I doubt that voucher would cover all that.

Then there’s testing! Yeap, testing is an inevitable part of accepting public money. What about the fact that once private schools accept public money they will most likely no longer have the ability to select the enrollment of certain students over others as they do now. Oh the strings that come with accepting “government” money!!!

In all honesty, vouchers tend to favor people who can already afford private schools. Vouchers help to offset their costs. But vouchers really won’t make much of an impact on those who are most affected by the failing public education system.

Instead of stealing resources from public education might I suggest a few items that will make things better:

1.       More emphasis on local control and less (Or No) emphasis on Mandatory testing!

2.       More emphasis on vocational and agricultural education.

3.       Appropriate emphasis on college prep.

4.       Less emphasis on athletics. Do we really need $60 million-dollar football stadiums?

The problems that plague out public-school system can be summed up with the following: Testing over Learning, Athletics over Academics, College Preparedness over Vocational/Agricultural Education, and Parental/Community Management over Government Controls.

Vouchers, Credits, etc. won’t fix that.

Want to know more? When was the last time you asked public school teachers about this?

I bet it’s been too long!

Later,

Bill