AliveAndKickN

Labels (one of many)

If someone donates money to help others, he or she is called a philanthropist.  If someone uses policy to help others or to level the playing field, he or she is called a bleeding heart liberal.  Who gives more, liberals or conservatives?  And are "selfish motivations" subject to scrutiny or should we just take donations at face value?  As I am writing this, my doorbell has rund and ironically, it is a group of people going door to door on behalf of "Awake".  It talks about saving the environment, helping developing nations, and family values, etc, but obviously there is a religious overtone.  Does the end justify the means? 

One of the newest labels is the Grassroots Activist.  I believe the definition entails a person who supports local initiatives.  It could be as simple as discussing with Alex at A&P a transition from the vending machines from the entrance, as the space could be used for better purposes (reducing landfill, avoiding HFCS) to something more aggressive, such as lobbying for organic only food in the schools.  Maybe it could include campaigning on behalf of a candidate who doesn't have a ton of money, or creating a fund to sponsor a lesser know set of charitable organizations.  Colleges have started a competition called recyclemania.  With the amount of kids in sports leagues in the area, I'm sure there a number of programs that can be initiated for the betterment of the community.    

Will corn and/or oil rule the world?

Just recently, two important bills were in the news - The Farm Bill and The Energy Bill.  While both have positive implications for the future, do they both have negative implications for the future?  If so, are they inter-related?  As we speak, corn is used in so many things already.  Row after row of government-subsidized corn is being used to create high fructose corn syrup, processed corn meal, and a whole lot more.  Instead of animals like cows and chickens eating what they've done for the past million years, aka grass, they are eating among other things, corn.  Throw in some hormones and antibiotics, and cows are now attaining full size in a year and a half instead of five years.  If I was a major league baseball player, I'd use the agriculture policy as my excuse for testing positive for steroids.

Oh and by the way, did anybody notice or even raise a stink when nothing changed as far as the taxes on the oil companies and hedge fund managers?  Think about it, right or wrong, we are putting income limits on subsidies to farmers, yet there are no limits to the oil guys.  And why was wind and solar taken out of the energy bill?  Who wins and who doesn't and is it possible to reduce dependence on corn and oil?

Carpool (the average soccer mom spends 17 full days/year in the car), buy organic in the supermarket (Boylan soda, Seventh Generation cleansers, Hain-Celestial products, Newman's Organics, dairy, meat, produce), buy local from the farmer's market or from a co-op, re-usable canvas bags, reduce electricity (energy efficient appliances, compact fluorescents), reduced packaging.  Try not to make a special trip for one or two items, and of course reuse/recycle/compost wherever possible, and resist the urge to buy cheap disposable crap to limit landfill.  If you are in the market for a new roof, look at solar and roof-top gardens.  Both can reduce your dependence on the grid, and with the energy prices expected to rise 30% over the next few years, it will be cost-effective.  Make sure appliances are energy star certified.   

Use your purchasing power to make a difference.      

"Root" of the illegal immigration issue and what is Homeland Security?

Much of the rhetoric from the candidates seems to center around illegal immigration.  Is NAFTA the cause of much of the issue with Mexico, and if so, why do the candidates make such a big deal about it?  Do they really see it as a problem or is it simply an easy target because there is no voice to shout back?  Assuming we actually considered expelling all of the illegal aliens, who is going to do the jobs that most of us don't do anymore?  Families don't run the farms, so the big corporations would have to pay real wages to tend the fields (could any of these corporations actually be helping get immigrants from the borders to midwest farms?).  The urban families would need to do their own laundry and housekeeping.  The suburban families would need to do their own landscaping. 

Speaking of Homeland Security, what is it?  I agree that Homeland Security is keeping up the defense against foreign invaders and terrorists.  But should it be something more?  How about defense against the potential global warming issue?  If the seas rise several feet over the next few/several years, a whole lot more people will be affected than by terrorists.  If we don't reduce our dependence upon foreign oil, the middle east will continue to dictate our foreign policy agenda.  And if we don't hold individual corporations accountable for the products they sell, additional coal-fired plants oversees, such as in China, will continue to spew toxic fumes into the air.

A wall is a solution?  Maybe our military should be protecting the rain forests from illegal poaching?  Before jumping to conclusions, I can only request that you look at the issue below the surface.  Who wins, who loses, and how many will it affect?

Lucky to discover cancer?

Can giving blood save your own life?  I found out about my own cancer when I tried to donate blood at Community Blood Services in Paramus.  My iron count was so low that they were tempted to give me a transfusion as opposed to taking from me.  According to the latest reports, blood bank levels are once again at critical levels.  Why the aversion to blood donation?  Get your cholestrol and glucose levels screened.  It's almost a mini-physical without the co-payment.  Maybe the majority of Americans are below the minimum 100 pounds or just came back from a third world nation, and couldn't qualify.  Seriously, most months they give away stuffed animals or other things to give the kids (saves a trip to the Dollar Store), and all of the donuts and coffee are free.  What a deal!

Up until May 2007, I never cared about organic or hormone-free.  I assumed that if it was sold at A&P, it was fine.  Like most people, I cared about calories.  Among other things, I drank soda, ate packaged snacks, and I ate fast food.  Now, I not only look at the nutritional content, I look to see what goes in (or doesn't go into) to the making of the product.  I look at companies that are sustainable and follow tenants of the triple bottom line.

I am not saying that any/all of these common practices are the cause of my illnesses.  I am saying that the numbers are staggering.  As many as 100 million people are directly affected by diabetes, obesity, coronary disease, and cancer.  An additional 5 million people are affected annually.  Could there be something inherently wrong with our current practices and what can be done to change?       

What I learned as a child

When you were younger and you were playing in the playground, did your teacher/mother tell you to “take all the toys and get out, but not until you pollute the sandbox first?”  No, your teacher told you to share with the others and clean up after yourself before you leave.  What changed?

Or how about the whole "Circle of Life" thing?  The grass grows, the antelope eats the grass, the lion eats the antelope.  When the lion dies, it becomes part of the grass again.  With people, it's different.  The grass grows, the lawn mower cuts the grass, the livestock eat corn and take steroids, the people eat chemicals and discard grass and food scraps into landfill.  When the people die, the people are preserved and sealed in laminated casket that will never decompose.  Huh?

   

Who am I?

I never claim to be the smartest in the room at any given time.  However, my personality and my perspective seem to allow me to see through the clutter and get to the bottom line.   My philosophy that I live by has always been “Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.”  Unfortunately, the cynic in me often takes over and other philosophy kicks in “Who wins, who loses, and how many does it affect?”  I try to imagine myself as the “alien who lands on earth” and takes a look at what is happening.  As long as you will allow me, I will post the questions and issues that keep me awake at night.  You can post your perspective, and hopefully share your success stories.  I will try not to lecture.