Are you a free rider?

A dead willow tree blocks my driveway after a storm in Tulalip, June, 2014

A dead willow tree blocks my driveway after a storm in Tulalip, June, 2014

by Daniel Arthur J., July 6, 2014
arthbuus@gmail.com

There really isn’t a free ride in many market failures – just a short term gain with serious long term problems.

I was paid off by politicians and their financial supporters for years. They gave me tax cuts along with millions of other Americans. However, the debt still needed to be paid. It grew with every tax cut. It would now. Also, the shortage or rationing of government services was harming our nation’s infrastructure, environment and the economically less advantaged. I was paid off. Those short term tax rebates were intentional. They were designed to pacify the voter – to make me feel like everything was a-okay.

Things were not a-okay. They are not today. We need to pay our taxes to improve on what has been neglected and/or denigrated by the right wing, super free riders. It’s time to robustly improve our basic government goods and services. It’s time to make sure that all people are treated fairly and like they would like to be treated. It’s time to have real comfortable and safe housing communities for everyone, excellent transportation, an environment that is getting healthier at a faster and faster rate and healthcare for all that includes complete, holistic goods and services.

Market failures dominate our society, our nation and our world. Market failures poorly managed create super wealth for some and struggles for the rest. We need healthy markets. To be healthy markets need excellent regulatory conditions – not neglect. But, just like we need markets, we need government run by people that believe that it is not just important, but essential for our success. It’s time to help the economically less advantaged to increase their wealth much better and more securely than it has been. It’s time to make communities healthy all across this land. We can and should help others, too.

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Read, interact, think and create.

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The World Cup football tournament has been fascinating, but more than imperfect. While there are many talented and hard working athletes and officials involved, it has been much less than it could be. I have noticed that there are many other competitions and performances that are worthy of our attention. From gardening shows to horse cutting competitions to ballets and symphonies, there are many wonderful cultural activities to attend and/or lend my support. I am there.

You Are Amazing

Kensington Palace, London, England, October, 2013

Kensington Palace, London, England, October, 2013

by Daniel Arthur J., January 1, 2014
arthbuus@gmail.com

Life throws you some tough stuff at times, but you should really know how amazing you are. Just keep moving forward.

I can see you are making progress in your life. It hasn’t always been easy for you to say the least, but you have come a long way. You are where you are. You have the options you have. I know that you have a lot to offer, and there is no telling how valuable your contributions will be. They will be valuable.

You are amazing. That there is no doubt. People get beat up in life and easily forget how wonderful and spectacular they are. Of course you can get better, learn more, be more effective and find better ways to contribute. However, remind yourself that you are truly amazing and you will be even more effective.

Be good as well. No one is going to be perfect no matter how hard they try. Realize that trying your best is more than good enough. It will be necessary to make adjustments at times as some things don’t go as planned. There will always be problems to solve and opportunities to make things better and better. Just keep trying.

Yes, the world can be better. And, you make it better. It wouldn’t be the world without you. It might not feel like you are succeeding, but most likely you are. You will be even more successful if you but try. No matter where you have been or what you have done, try now to do your best doing good. That’s all that is expected of the truly amazing entity that is you.

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Find something you like to read, and create something, too.

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Get involved in your government today. Only you can make it better (for you and yours). And, vote “yes” on the Boeing contract. You can change your mind later . . .

Changing for the Better

by Daniel A. Jones, September 2, 2013
arthbuus@gmail.com

Waiting to Play at Everett Arena, September, 2013

Waiting to Play at Everett Arena, September, 2013

One thing is for sure in this world – we can improve things. There is not a guarantee that other systems, individuals included, will work to make things better. But, we can. We are intelligent and loving even if we are misguided at times. There are many issues to consider from the gassing of the powerless in Syria to non-sustainable practices by way too many to excessive rivalry in our own communities.

None of us will be perfect in our expression or our actions, but if we commit to working hard to making things better we will succeed despite the inertia and drawbacks that will inevitably occur. That we work hard at it will lead to others doing the same – a positive rivalry situation. It is really important to have these positive examples of working hard to improve things going on all around us. We are all inspired by them – from our youth to our elderly.

“You gotta get up and try, try, try” as the Pink song says. We all do. The President does, and he shows it when he consults with other branches of the government prior to taking serious action. Hopefully his actions will encourage others to try to be more inclusive and sensitive when making tough decisions. Some governments and large entities are slow to move forward, but they will. We have witnessed tremendous positive changes in even the most rigidly ridiculous governments, regimes and individuals to ever exist. We see it despite their tendency to backslide at times.

We will need to be tough and destructive and times. It isn’t what we want to do, but we aren’t given any other option by powerful entities that are behaving in a dysfunctional way. Systems that are dysfunctional and/or lethal to others need to be stopped and restructured. People are too valuable to allow them to be destroyed or even abused. We don’t want it to happen to us, so we just cannot let it happen to others. We may have been slow to respond today or in the past to terrible happenings, but we need to help improve things for everyone the best we can.

Really there is no reason that we don’t make sure that all citizens get a chance to run for office let alone vote. We will benefit by more inclusion and true diversity than by exclusion and narrow mindedness. Sharing our bounty is important and will benefit each and everyone in ways we can’t even imagine. Sure, we need to work hard to make systems work for us. We will disagree, and we will be passionate about our beliefs, but we can resolve to work together to move forward. It is in our best interest and that of our descendants. Are we not our descendants, too?

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I am looking for good, wholesome food ideas including where to eat out, the best groceries and recipes. I am partial to whole grain, natural, organic and sustainable green foods. I am planning on setting up the information geographically, and all countries are on the table, eh. Please share what you know.

Take care of yourself in all ways.

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This You

You’re going through this world
It’s making you dizzy
You need to stop for a moment
Make sure you’re not too silly

Walk through the park
Place your feet on the ground
A song fills the air
Hear that beautiful sound

You are brave, be brave
You make this world better
You are kind, be kind
We’re in this world together
You are kind, be kind
You will be remembered

You have a remarkable journey
A voyage of discovery
Bridging torn relations
You bring dignity

This work isn’t easy
But it’s all worth your while
Let’s do our best
To make the world smile

You are brave, be brave
You make this world better
You are kind, be kind
We’re in this world together
You are kind, be kind
You will be remembered

Listen
Learn
Discover
Create

You are brave, be brave
You make this world better
You are kind, be kind
We’re in this world together
You are kind, be kind
You will be remembered