Editorials: A Lil' Bit of Everything

WARNING: There will be too many ideas jammed into this blog post.  I've been thinking a lot lately about economic justice and related topics (I know, sexy, sexy stuff).  It seems like every time I open my Facebook home page, some new criticism of President Obama, Winner of the 2009 Nobel Peace Price, is being voiced.  I know that the difficult economic environment has impacted many--perhaps even most-- more than it has me.  Still, I'm detecting a vibe that makes me highly uncomfortable.  In too many instances, people seem to be lashing out in anger at those less fortunate than themselves.  Opposition to President Obama's initiatives, whether in health care or other areas, may stem from dislike of the idea of redistribution of wealth.  Well, maybe we're only focusing on some of the ways we redistribute. 

I just redistributed $20 by getting gas.  I have to do that to get to work, but mostly to get out to Mequon--where I write this--to the hiking trail, coffee shops and other activities I enjoy.  If this were Germany, there would be an S-Bahn (suburban metro railway) that would get me out here.  As nearby as Chicagoland, a weekend Metra pass allows unlimited riding for $5.  The Metra system extends into Wisconsin.  Though slow advances seem to be being made in Milwaukee-area transit, it remains in the Pleistocene compared to other regions of its size.  Attitudes are formed by talkers such as Mark Belling.  I don't hate Belling, but he's in the Mark Belling business.  I'm in the Mike Miller business.  You, dear reader, should be in the (insert your name here) business.

Now why, oh why, would Mark Belling be against transit?  Because if we had good transit, you might be in a fast-moving train at 5:30 p.m. instead of stuck in traffic listening to his show while getting angry and constipated.  Hello?  I'll be the first to admit that I often lack common sense, but that sure seems like common sense to me.  I'll also be the first to admit that I'm not exactly a financial wizard, but it seems odd to sit in one's car listening to the radio so that advertisers can suggest ways to spend your money--so that they can buy more advertising time.  I've been listening to a fair amount of radio lately, mostly in the evening while at work.  Kessler's Diamonds is a heavy advertiser and has been for years.  Now, this isn't an attack on Kessler: his folksy ads are endearing, though annoyingly omnipresent, and reading the biography of Richard Kessler, he actually sounds like a really cool guy--the kind I could look up to.  But again, he's in the Richard Kessler business.  I'm in the Mike Miller business.

If I'm sitting in my car listening to ads for Kessler's, who am I working for?  To what end is my life?  To put gas in my tank, I send money to Saudi Arabia and other governments with whom I disagree.  To buy a token of my love to give to a significant other, I'm supposed to give money to Richard Kessler.  Even though he's a really cool guy, I don't think he needs any of my comparatively modest income.  To be honest, I think it would make a lot more sense if society's custom were to give $10,000 in cash to your significant other.  (Please don't consider that an offer and try to take me up on it.)

Wanna be in business for yourself?  I don't pretend to have the answers, but I can share some things that have worked for me.   If you occasionally get out of your car and walk someplace, you're actually accomplishing several things at the same time.  You can check transportation, health care, and entertainment off your list.  It'd be interesting for some more numbers-oriented person to put a dollar value on walking.  I believe it would be substantial: consider fuel savings, accident prevention, savings in public works projects, and health care costs not incurred due to the preventive value of exercise.  That's money going back into your own pocket.  No radio programs or commercials are going to tell you that, because no radio programs or commercials are going to tell you to do anything that's in your own financial interest.  (OK, Suze Orman is probably an exception!)

So, to get back (somewhat) to my original point--I'm not worried that President Obama is going to redistribute some of my money to black people who might spend it on 40-ouncers or worse.  That notion is a divide and rule strategy being perpetrated by the powers that be.  Americans wisely saw through that strategy in electing President Obama.  If we exercise similar wisdom in our everyday financial decisions, consumer choices and other actions, we will be a society of stronger and healthier individuals.

Comments

[Emma]

sing it, Mike!

[James Wigderson]

I really just wanted a cup of coffee.