Parallax

our need to measure
determine
define
is satisfied by these instruments we use
but is just as easily accomplished through awareness
of where we stand
in space
in time
in the context of the whole

I, too, measure my life by parallax
staring, unblinking, at the dawn star
which seems to fade as the blue blanket that surrounds it lightens
the star itself has not changed

just as when, finding myself
moved to shed the weight of something I held dear
my being has not changed

I am simply seeing
more of myself.

AIG isn't really the problem ...

So yes, I too was very upset when news of the AIG bonuses came out in the news. It is utterly ridicilous that a group of already-wealthy people who SUCK at what they do and then take taxpayers' money should receive any more than the basest salaries. What the heck is the difference between a performance bonus and a "retention bonus"? And what about all of the workers who lost their jobs through no fault of their own??? Why isn't someone MAKING them give it back? Ever heard of garnishing wages? That's what happens to normal poor people when they don't pay back what they should (taxes, child support, etc.).

But come on people, get real! Here we are, living in a country that might as well have a dollar sign stamped on our national flag, and we are suddenly outraged at white collar crime. H-e-l-l-o. These kinds of shenanigans happen all of the time. The danger in this sudden, media-frenzied outrage is that the majority of people will assume this is a one-time mistake, ignoring the gross inequities that make this sort of thing possible. And that once we punish AIG, we can all go back to blissfully believing in "the free market" again. Because really, even if they hadn't gotten that bailout money, do you really think they would have foregone their bonuses? Really?

a note to supervisors

During my short working life, I've managed to encounter my fair share of poor ... managers. (I've also been a manager, so perhaps the people I've bossed around will have some complaints of their own.) Regardless, I believe that managing is an incredibly underrated skill, and that most people who become managers never bother to learn the interpersonal skills needed for the job. Thus, without further ado, I present a brief list of managing "don'ts", inspired by personal experience as one being constantly -- poorly -- managed (written from the employee perspective).

1. Don't say "we" will do something when you mean "you" will do it.
2. Don't pretend to care what I think if you really don't.
3. Don't make up rules that cannot be justified or explained and expect me to respect your authoritay.
4. Don't give me your opinion constantly and act like I agree with you ... cause I probably don't.
5. Don't yell at me about something trivial, then when you realize what a dolt you are come back and play nice.
6. Don't act like something doesn't matter one day and scream about it the next.
7. Don't get flustered and defensive when I ask questions.
8. Don't be surprised or upset when employees discuss and compare pay and benefits.
9. Don't treat me like your daughter ... cause I'm not.
10. Don't expect me to be loyal to the point where I put my job above everything else in my life.

stupidest quote ... ever.

"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."

~~~ Dr. Adrian Rogers , 1931 to 2005 ~~~

Okay, and now for the commentary: so, why the heck do people have this up everywhere? And why do I hate this quote? Let me count the ways:

1. First of all, it equates having money with freedom, which is a fallacy.

2. It assumes that people receiving government assistance are NOT WORKING. Which is a lie.

3. It assumes that people receiving government assistance will decide that "they do not have to work", which is complete bull****. People who receive government assistance hardly get anything, and they have to prove that they are working, in school, or applying for work.

4. It alludes to the idea that the government cannot make people more free. This is based again on the idea that money makes us free, that somehow holding on to more of our paychecks will make us free ... by going to the mall more often? The whole point of having a government is to do together what we cannot accomplish alone ... it is things that the government brings ALL of us, equally, such as the public library, public schools, etc. that creates opportunity and intellectual freedom. And if ALL people had health care, affordable housing, etc., then perhaps all people would have "freedom." For what good is freedom for some while others toil away in poverty?

This is the most self-righteous, elitist bull crap out there, and is only held dear by the wealthy who would have us all believe that if only we all "worked hard," we would all have wealth. Seriously, people. That is not real life. Do some research.