bring about UTOPIA

When one realizes the fact that no political system created by man can ever bring about UTOPIA, then one can then look at how to make a system where each person can have the most control over there own situation.  

 

 

 

 

 

Curtis Neil 11/25/2025 

On Political Islam, or, the War aginst Western Civilization.

On Political Islam, or, the War aginst Western Civilization.

What is overlooked is that the Political Ideology called Islam (and I did say Political, Not Religious, there happens to be a Religion in there, some where, but it is it's Political aspirations and Goals that drive it, the Religion just gives it Unity, gives it a draw, gives it cover, and adds a since of purpose to it actions, a sort of Legitimacy for it followers, which with out, the Political Ideology would have trouble attracting many supporters.)

has been at war to conquer the culture of the West, and to destroy it, for almost 1400 years.

It was in defenses of the Conquered Christian People and the real threat of the advancing Islamic Army which caused the Empire of Constantinople to request the aid of Western Europe. What We today call the Crusades, where a reaction to the attacks of Islam, A War to defend the Culture of the West and of Christians in Recently conquered lands.

In many ways, the Crusade where a War of survival, for with out them, the Political Ideology of Islam would have by force of arms conquered all of Europe. The Jihde of today, is a continuation of the Political Ideology of Islam War against the Ideas of the West, it people, ideas, and Religion/(s).

We in the West, too often these days, and Political Correction is a big reason why, We overlook or forget that Islam is, mainly a Political Movement, which just happens to have a Religion attached to it. We tend to treat it as if it where a Religion only. To with, Our Values, (not theres) Require that we give it all of the Freedom, Respect, and Space we would any other Religion. (For the Religion part of Islam, that is the correct thing to do. But it up to the followers of Islam, if they wish to live in the West, to make a clear separation of the Religion and the Political Ideology, this has not been done, with out this, the Ideology is incompatible with those of the West.)

We need to wake up, recognize that Political Islam is at War with us, is attacking us, and if we do not Unite in a solid front to defend our values, they will surly destroy us.

We need to treat this as a Real War, for it is, and it one for our very survival.

They will allow no truce, no compromise, no peace, they have raised the Black Flag of no quarter given.

Some times we must live with the consequences of living with the values we believe in. Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Religion.

We can not “Ban” a religion, any religion, with out sacrificing the values we believe in.

But we can strengthen the recognition of the Fact that Western Culture is Christian, based on Judeo-Christian Values. That the United States is a Nation, founded on those values and beliefs, and that it will defend them, all of them.

These values are not acceptable to Political Islam, we will not, and agin I believe we need to make this clear, bend, alter, curtail our values to suit them, and we will resit with all of our might attempts to do so.

But in the Same way, we will not react in a way which is contrary to our values like banning a Religion, and we are just as prepared to use as much energy and might to defend these values and ones own Individual Rights to worship as they please, as they see fit, but only to the point where it dose not Infringe on to the Rights of others.

On the Refugees

Refugees. The truly humanitarian responses is not to bring a few lucky recipients to Europe and North America, but to instead send help to Syria. For each person resettled, hundreds could be helped in there own land. It much less expensive to transport food, send medical personal, and other assistance than it is to resettle people.

Syria will also need the talents and the skills of the refugees once thing settle down, keeping these people in Syria means they do not lose those skills and people.

Looking at the photos and video of the Refugees, one notice an absent of Women and children, of the old and the in-firmed and a large portion of 15 to 30 year old males in good health and physical condition.

In the long history of Strife caused Refugee seekers, it always been Women, Children and the Elderly who flee the strife, the healthy military aged males stay behind, as rear guards, and fighters to try and quill the violence and salvage there homeland, with the hope that there families members, i.e. parents, wives, sisters, children can some day return.

At best, we can call these men Coward, fleeing the sinking ship that there homeland like RATS, leaving behind there defenseless relatives to fend for themselves.

More probally, we are looking at an Army being smuggled in under the guise of Refugees in to the harts of our lands, to wage War on us.

Recent reports from the United Nations suggest that 72% of the Islamic refugees from Syria are military age males in good health and fitness, further, only half are actually from Syria, the rest from other ISIS countries. This suggest that Syria is not so much a country these people are fleeing, but is being used as a conduit, where the soldiers of ISIS are being gather to then be funneled to non ISIS controlled regions, i.e. a TROJAN HORSE.

Interview of the refugees found that 13% admitted they have a favorable view of ISIS and it activities.

The Real Refugees, the ones the world ignoring.

The Christian communities in Syria, Turkey, Arminia and Iraq have been persecuted and living under threat of complete extermination, as in Genocide, by ISIS.

Kurdish, Yazidi Christians face execution at the hands of ISIS, have been chased from there historic homes. The population was estimated to number 1.2 Million in 2003, but is believed to day to be only 250,000 in the region.

In 2014, there where 4,000 Yazidi killed before Militarily help came to rescue them. The ISIS fighters had chased 40,000 Yazidi men, Women and children from Sinjar onto a mountain top which ISIS had laid siege to. The Yazidi Christians faced certain death till International Help arrived, and by force, with soidgers on the ground and Airstrike, manage to clear a evacuation route.

Yet, these real Refugees, are nit the ones from Syria. Our Government in fact been very resistant to admit them, even with sponsors in this country.

On the appearance of ISIS attraction.

ISIS uses a reign of terror inside the districts it controls to violently subdue all decent.

In this way, a relatively very small number of people, by the active and persuasive use of FEAR, of unrestrained Violence, can subdue the extent of the population in the district and force a acceptance, at lest in all outweighs appearances, with a forced conformity and support of extreme policy. This may attract those with weak or unstable minds or those who recognize the opportunity to gain power by aligning with the terroist. This is the way of All totalitarian regimes.

Unalienable Rights, the Ideas of the Enlightenment and the English tradition and influence on the Founding Fathers.

Unalienable Rights, the Ideas of the Enlightenment and the English tradition and influence on the Founding Fathers.

July 4, 2015 at 2:47pm By Curtis Neil

From the Time of Aristotle's
Unalienable Rights, the Ideas of the Enlightenment and the Englishtradition and influence on the Founding Fathers.

For 2500 years, Western Civilizations has struggled to go from aFeudal/Group right Society where Law is based on the will of Man, toIndividual Rights, where Law is based on the rule of Law, and the Lawis to recognize Natural Rights, which are all ready the rights ofeach and Every man, not because a Government, to a Group gives them,but because they are Intrinsic to being Human. Natural Law.

From the Time of Aristotle, Western Culture has been debating whatRights are Intrinsic to being Human, and How best to define anddefend them. (this actually dose not require the Acceptance orrecognition of a God or Gods, but this dose simplify theunderstanding a bit) The United States was the first country in theWorld which was founded on the Ideas of the Enlightenment, the Ideasof Natural Rights, that is, each person has rights, not because aGovernment decides to bestow them, but Rights naturally by the factone is, and is the Job of Government to recognize and protect thoseright.

"The philosophical roots of modern political conservatismextend back over many generations through Burke and the natural lawto the Middle Ages and classical antiquity." -- -Peter Stanlis(TheUnbought Grace of Life)

Humans, specifically in Western Civilization, have spent 3 Millenniatrying to free themselves from tyranny of bondage, enslavement, beingeither physical, or Mental. A Man, Living under a TotalitarianRegime, thou he may be labeled a Freeman, is ever much a Slave and inbondage as any slave or Serf.

It is the main idea in theUnited States of America’s Declaration of Independence.
“Wehold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienableRights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit ofHappiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments areinstituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent ofthe governed”. 1776
For with protections from where in shrine inthe United States Bill of Rights. 1791
These are just theCulmination of our Three Millennia struggle, which one will fineechoed in many classic Authors and philosophers, one of my favoritesstates in powerful conviction”
“It is in truth not for glory,nor riches, nor honors that we are fighting, but for freedom - forthat alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.”Declaration of Arbroath, 1320.
So, from the
Charter of Liberties, 1100, Henrythe I, had specified particular areas wherein his powers would belimited.
Magna Carta Libertatum, 1215, KingJohn, also know as the Great Charter of the Liberties of England,The rebellion of the Barron’s, where by they forced on to King John(of Robin Hood fame) to accept that the King was Bound by the Law. (the King is the Government)
The Declaration of Arbroath, 1320,Scotland. A Litter to Pope John XXII, to plead the case of Scotland’sposition as an Independent Country, who May not be rules with outconsent. (Kink Edward the I, claimed overload ship at this time.Robert the Bruce had been excommunicated for his murder of John Comynin 1306. The Document is seen as an early expression of the idea –that government is contractual and that kings can be chosen by thecommunity rather than by Godalone.
The Petition of Right, 1628, KingCharles the I, is a major English constitutional document thatsets out specific liberties of the subject that the king isprohibited from infringing. Passed on 7 June 1628, the Petitioncontains restrictions on non-Parliamentary taxation, forced billetingof soldiers, imprisonment without cause, and restricts the use ofmartial law.

The English Bill of Rights, 1688,It lays down limits on the powers of sovereign and sets out therights of Parliament and rules for freedom of speech in Parliament,the requirement to regular elections to Parliament and the right topetition the monarch without fear of retribution.
The English Bill of Rights was stronglyInfluenced by the writings and thoughts of John Locke.

This is the In heritage as Englishmenwhich the Colonist in America had come to cherish, there Rights, andas stated in the Declaration of Independents of the United States ofAmerica, these foundering Fathers did not see this as simplysomething given by the Government, but Something which was all readythere’s, Natural Rights, “the separate and equal station to whichthe Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them”.

It was this belief, which allowedthese, most Loyal subjects of the King, when they felt that therehome Country, who they honored so well, when it became deft to thereneeds, when Natural Rights are being denied, and therefor, violatingand nullifying the Contract between man and Crown, which allows ,nay, Compelled these men to Rebel.
"We hold these truths to beself-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowedby their Creator with certain unalienable Rights..."

In General, the men we call theFramers, the Founding Fathers, where some of the most Loyal subjectsof the Crown, the most proud of to be a Subject of the King of theFreest people on Earth. People well ground in the history, theheritage, the Laws and traditions. Neseby and Bosworth where as wellknown to them as Lexington and Concord are to us. They knew, andtook pride in Magna Carta Libertatum and The English Bill ofRights, 1688 like we do the Declaration of Independence and theConstitution of the United States.

Benjamin Franklin journey to England tosee King George the III coronation, and as late as 1769 has was stillwriting about how proud he was to be an Englishmen and a Subject ofthe Great King George the III.

George Washington, order all hisclothing from England, Subscribe to the equivalent of the day ofEnglish House and Garden, so that he could make Mount Vernon the verymodel of an English estate. George Washington also had applied servaltimes in the 1760's to join the British Regular Army.

John Adams, even after the war, asAmbassador to the Court of Saint James, would in his spare time, tourEngland to see the sights of great historical events he read about sooften. He go to Runnymede, where the Great Charter had been signed,Neseby the English Civil War and Bosworth in the War of the Roses,etc. In the evening, he find himself in road house, and he would betalking to the locals, and he would become upset, as the locals didnot know the Important events that had happened in there own backyards, and what these events have meant to the History of England,and the development of Western Thought, and Rights. Now this did notmake John Adams popular in these villages in England, but it doseshow, just how proud of this heritage.

John Hancock was also present at thecoronation of King George III, and a successful Boston merchant. Andso it gose.

The men we call the Framers, theFounding Fathers, where not natural Rebles, but exctally those whoare normally the Pillers of Society and the supporters of the statusquo.

It was, In defense of those values, ofthose Rights, which they saw as there Rights as Englishmen, and whichthey saw as being denied them, being infringed upon.
And they where not alone, there was asympathy for the cause of the American colonist in England. A feelingwhich had been emerging for some time, that they too had lost muchsince the Glorious days of the English bill of Rights of 1688.
The the Rights and Freedoms which theyrejoiced in so, had been slowly infringed upon, trimmed, loss.

The raise of the English and Scottishenlightenment added to this the body of philosophy.
No Less than Lord Frederick North, 2ndEarl of Guilford. Prim minister from 1770 to 1782 expressedsympathies with the American Colonist and there cause and tried tomake peace early on.

Unalienable Rights, the Ideas of the Enlightenment and the English tradition and influence on the Founding Fathers.

Curtis Neil

July 4, 2015 at 2:47pm By Curtis Neil

Random Observations on SOCKS

Random Observations on SOCKS

May 16, 2009 at 7:06am

Random Observations on SOCKS
Random Observations.

Subject: Socks.

I am convinced that with in the hart of every sock is a rebel streak.

Such strange creatures socks are, they seem so docile and well mannered, but every one know how when you are not watching one will decide to wander or run away to who knows where.

But that is common knowledge, but my latest observation has to do with mating soaks, You spend all of this time trying to select good compatible partner for each and every sock you own and whale you are not looking, they go and team up with some totally unsuitable sock, one you are sure they know you will not approve of.

This is so disappointing, practically after all of your efforts to introduce them to only the most respectable and suitable socks.

A nice fresh sock deciding to team up with some old sock, so old he could be her grandfather, and full of holes and all worn out and way past his prime.

Or a white, 100%Cotton sock teaming up with a 50% poly sock that you have no idea where did they ever meet, it was sure not at your house! And is bright red to boot!

Then there is the real odd couple, Rag wool and Silk, yes they are both quality, but oh, so different. Well you know what they say, Opposites attract, but I really do not see how it will ever work out, best separate them now.

Yes, sock seam to have a real rebellious streak.

Curtis©2008

Lament for Mustard

Lament for Mustard

July 9, 2010 at 7:31am

Lament for Mustard

After many years and many delivers I for the first time have consented to put pen to paper to transcribe my famous Lament for Mustard.


In the entire world there are no finer examples of this marvelous seed than that which are grown here in the United States.
It is larger, more flavorful and in far more abundant supply than that to be found any where else in the world.
A beautiful, large by mustard seed standards, golden brown seed of exceptional quality and flavor.

So here in the United States we have the Finest Mustard seed in the world and what do we do with it?

We dry it, mill it, bleach it all in to a fine white powder which we then add artificial yellow food coloring and distilled white vinegar. The result, we take the finest mustard seed in the world and produce the worlds worst mustard!

The mustard seed of England are small and of a lower quality, yet they produce Colman’s mustard, nicely sharp.

France starts with even a lower grade of mustard yet produce Grey PuPon and LaSalle mustards along with many other local verities, all very good.

And so it goes all around the world, stone ground, whole seed, fermented, with horseradish, with honey, with cinnamon, with wine…..All the world has learned how to take there inferior mustard seeds and turn out great mustard. But we who are blessed with the finest mustard seed, a seed all the world craves and lust after, produces what? French’s, Morehouse, and Heinz. What a waste!

Mustard lovers, unite, lets produce a American mustard that is worthy of our fine seeds
A spice the whole world will set up and take notice of and that we can be truly proud of.

A whole seed mustard with natural color and flavor.




Copyright 2005
Curtis Neil

Thoughts on Taxation. Sales Tax vs. VAT, vs Income Tax

Thoughts on Taxation.

November 9, 2012 at 7:19am

Additions to a few Thoughts on Taxation
January 18^th, 2015

On the design of a Tax system, it should not be the aim to use it to encouragement of, or the discouraging actions of the citizen. It also, should not be used as some form of social tool for redistribution of Wealth. It sole aim should be,to generate the necessary income, to allow the State to function and to accomplish it required duty’s, and only it required duty’s, nothing more, with as little distress on to the Citizen as possible and in as fair a distribution of that liability as possible and in a efficient manner.

We should align the Interest of the State to those of the Citizen, that is, have it benefit by its frugal actions, and wisely straying on task, by limiting it ability to raise tax’s. In this way, the Way the Government gains more revenune is by operating in a frugal manner, and its Income increases, but the Inpovment in the Standard of Living of the Citizens and the Incresses prosperity.

In short, Like the rest of us, have the Government feel the pain of a poor economy,and the  rewards of a good economy. Itthen becomes to the Interest of the Adminstration, to take actions which benefit the economy, and refrain form actions witch retard the economy.

“I favor the policy of economy, not because I wish to save money, but because I wish to save people. The men and women ofthis country who toil are the ones who bear the cost of the Government. Every dollar that we carelessly waste means that their life will be so much the more meager. Every dollar that we prudently save means that theirl ife will be somuch the more abundant. Economy is idealism in its most practical form.” --President Calvin Coolidge

“A government which lays taxes on the people not required by the urgent public necessity and sound public policy is not a protector of liberty. But an instrument of tyranny. It condemns the citizen to servitude.” -President Calvin Coolidge

“I go on the principle that a public debt is a public curse.” – President James Madison.

“Every dollar released from taxation that is spared or invested will create a new job and a new salary.”-President John F.Kennedy



November09, 2012

Thoughts on Taxation.
(a Recent question has been posed about if we as a nation should consider a VAT ( Value Added Tax) It is like a Sales Tax, but is applied to the value added at every stage of bring a item to Market. No miss use of Resale Licenses there for, or total loss oat a point of Final Sales )

There are some basic concepts, which should be followed in designing any Tax system.

1. One of which is Transparency, that is the one paying the tax, should be able to see what it is, in total. A Sales Tax is Great for this, a VAT is not, in that it place on  inside the process of bring a Item to Market.
2. A Income Tax, especially with with holdings , is not Transparent , in that the Citizens really dose not see it in total. ( We really should have Tax payers have to write a Check to the IRS for the total amount with no With holdings, So that the Tax payer know what the total amount is they are paying.)

I would their by prefer a Sales Tax to a VAT.
Yes, a VAT is much harder to escape, witch is a good thing in the design of a tax.

2. A Sales Tax and a Vat are by there nature, more fair than a Income tax. A Income tax needs Deductions and exemptions, because of the way it naturally punishes Thrift , Savings and Investment. Where as With a Income Tax is a tax on all income, a Sales tax or Vat, Taxes are only collected when spent, and Investments , Thrift and Savings are handled only by accessing the “Fruits” of such endeavors are utilized.

Seconded Question, Constitutional, not just Legal, but in ailment to Principles.
On this Question, ANY FORM of direct Taxation, be it a Income tax, a National Sales Tax or a VAT, placed upon the Citizens by the Federal Government is wrong and contrary to the Principles this Country was founded on.

Instead, A Amount, determined by the Federal Government, be it as a percentage of GDP, or as a Percentage of the Population, which is determine to be sufficient to cover the operation expenses of the Federal Government to preform it duty’s, but should not be design to generate excessive amounts , nor be used for activity’s out side it area of responsibility, ( Our Government has a responsibility to conduct it Activity’s in a Frugal and efficient manure) as the allocated responsibility of each State, who then in turn have the responsibility to Gather it, by which ever means it see’s as Fair with in it borders.

Moving to any Flat Tax, any Vat by the Federal Government needs to be tied to the Elimination of Income Tax completely and it mechanism of application, i.e. the IRS needs to be Eliminated. A Sales Tax or VAT can be carried out by the State. Principles, you do not Tax both Fore and Aft at the same time.

Curtis.

"To take from one because it is thought that his own industry and that of his father’s has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association -- the guarantee to every one of a free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it." - Thomas Jefferson —

San Joaquin Valley Regionalism Architecture

San Joaquin Valley Regionalism Architecture

May 16, 2009 at 6:59am

San Joaquin Valley Regionalism Architecture
or
A call to return to a California Reional style
by Curtis Neil
(This is the Article which I wrote and appeared in the Village News, 1998
I still believe a return to a regional style Architecture.)


What is Regionalism Architecture?
Regionalism is a style of architecture that, if not native to a region, is so adapted by way of it’s adaptation to the area’s climate, use of local and readily available materials and labor skills, that it appears to be native. It may also be influenced by the roots of early settlers to an area.

Many people say that Kern County is missing or absent of a regional style. Not true, I tell them, we had a very clear regional style until the 1952 earthquake.

It is a style adapted particularly well to Kern County, made of native materials and designed to moderate the climate. Elements of sun, blistering dry heat, wind, dust, and cold damp fog are forces that need to addressed in the design. Thick walls with white paint to keep the heat out, curtains over the south and west facing doors,ridge vents to let the heat escape from the attic,tall windows and in line doors to capture the breeze all mitigate the harsh climatic conditions of the central valley. A kitchen was often built out back to keep the heat out of the house . Often it was topped by a tile or tin roof for it’s ability to withstand summer’s onslaught of drying rays and still shed water.

Some people then responded, “ We don’t want to look like Santa Barbara”. It did not and will not , it does have heavy Spanish Colonial roots, Italian, Basque and Western Ranch as well.

Exploration and first settlement. (1830’s to 1865)
1834 Adobe built by miners around Frazier Park,
1842 Adobe built by vaqueros on the San Emigdio ranch,
1854 Adobe house built on greenhorn mountain, still standing
Many more... Ones we might remember are the Sebastian Indian Reservation,and Fort Tejon,

Pioneer (1868-1874)
George Chester’s Store, 1871 at what is now called S.W. corner of 19th and Chester.
Many of the buildings in Bakersfield prior to the arrival of the railroad in 1874 were of adobe construction.

(1874-1910)
New supplies from the east arrived by rail. Adobe as well as log, dub and wattle and canvas tents are out of favor , a stick built or brick building is all the rage for those who can afford it. Adobes are still built on farms and by the poor.

(1887-1915)
Mission Revival , seems to have little effect on Kern County. Few remain. The Santa Fe depot was a good example.

(1910-1941)
Revival styles became popular. In the west, a romanticism is started with the Spanish Colonial Revival, particularly after the 1915 Panama-California Exposition in San Diego done in the Spanish Churrigueesque mode.
Local Architect Clarence Culimore designed many of them in Bakersfield. Also represented are the Government Service Building on M street, The Fox Theater, the Tejon Hotel on Chester and Truxtun, the Bakersfield Inn, the Padre Hotel, the Kern County Board of Trade bldg.{ now the K.C.Museum} many more.



(1952-) Bakersfield’s earthquake
Many buildings of all types fell or were damaged, many more were cosmetically altered to “Modernize” them. International style became the predominant style of new commercial and government buildings.


What will a resurgence of a Regional style mean?
Regional style has a since of the past and a since of place. It would make Bakersfield and Kern County as recognizable place, by it’s style, It will reconnect Bakersfield and Kern County to the larger west. Many of the design features make for a lower maintenance, more comfortable, more economical in the long run. They are easy to incorporate to new buildings. Your next house may not be built out of adobe brick but it can certainly have large overhangs, shaded porches, tall windows and covered with low maintenance materials.

By the 1920’s a “California school” or style of architecture, was clearly reconized and admiered nationaly.
“.....but it remained for California to group and combine these(Italian), with reminisceces of missions, into a style lovely, easy and perfectly adapted to the climate conditions of California.”
“....California may be said to have “found itself” architecturally, a thaing not yet true of the East.”
Aymar Embury II, March 1923 #38. Architectural Forum.

“It has been said that there are no houses in Spaine so Spanish as those that are built in America.” a {sentament repeated by King Alfoso of Spain on his visit to California in the 1970’s.} “We have developed an architecture which is the quintessence of the Andualusian type.”
Henry Humphrey,jr., Country Life,#49, January 1926

What we have done is develope a unique California style based on Spanish and Italian roots.

A return to a Californian Reional style will allow Kern county to contribute to the regional quality of Southern California, and at the same time allow Kern to emerge with its own distinct personlity.

Spanish Colonial Revival: or maby we should say California Revival for that is what this is. Spanish Colonial Revival is a style developed in California, for California.
It is scalable, that is it can be used on small apartments as well as grand houses and large office complexs.
It is adaptive, that is it can
It is Eclective: It allows for a common canvas for archetects to be creative, what other style alows one to use parts of Moorish, Tuscan, Medevile Spanish, Gothic, Romanesque, Italian, Rococo, Baroque, Craftsman, Arts and Crafts, Art Delco.... and tie it all together in a form that works.


Advantages for:
Local Architechets. With the resurges with a regional style local architects will have a advantage of being familiar with the styles vocabulary and resource. With a increasing local interest and knowledge of design, clients will look more for architects rather than just a draftsman to design buildings.

Local builders. Local builders familiar with local taste and craftsmen will have a advantage in bidding projects.

Interior designers and various craftsmen. As an increased awarenas of facility that surround us and and increasing awarenas of our environments, an increasing interest in having professionally design and decorating.


Curtis Neil

May 16, 2009 at 6:59am

San Joaquin Valley Regionalism Architecture
or
A call to return to a California Reional style
by Curtis Neil
(This is the Article which I wrote and appeared in the Village News, 1998
I still believe a return to a regional style Architecture.)

On Wages, Inflation and Value

On Wages, Inflation and Value

October 25, 2014 at 8:03pm

On Wages, Inflation and Value
Monetary value is all relative, and it based on the value of labor and it productivity and perceived value of agreed upon exchange for goods.If we raise the Minimum wage, we devalue the value of the wage, within the short term, prices adjust, but the value of investments and savings has shrunk by virtual of the now lower evaluation of currency.

Result is, people are hurt by raising wages. Inflation, which correct for the artificial increase in wages, these zeroing out, and often leaving people worse off than they where before the attempted mitigations.
In the time of re adjustment in Value, the very bottom of the earning may feel there benefiting, but as both low paying jobs get eliminated and as inflation come in to re adjust the values, they often end up not as well off as they where before the increase in Minimum wage.Worse is the long term effect on people just above Minimum wage, as they often do not see a proportional increase in wages, but get hit by all of the increasing cost of Living created by it. Result is,working class people and retirees get hurt by Minimum Wage increases.
.
What we should be doing instead, is working on how to get the valuation of labor to be worth more, or the buying power (the medium of exchange)to have greater value.

Let me explain:, If a person to day, making $10 per hour goes to the Store and buys with one hours wages 1 quart of Milk, 1 Dozen Eggs and a Loaf of bread (about $7.58 if one a good shopper) and in 6 months,the person Making $15 per hour, buys that same 1 qt. Milk, 1 Dozen Eggs and a Loaf of bread (but cost now $11.37) And every thing elseh as raised in cost the same, so that the net increase is neutral, but any Savings or Investments have now decreased in relative power.(this is what is called Inflation, ones dollar buys less, which is but another TAX, one which no benefit is reaped, but like a leach, sucks the life, the value away, to be seen no more)

Now lets take that same person, to day making $10.00 per hour, if in 6months they, with there one hour wages buy the same, but it only cost them $6.89, they are now ahead.

In the Same way, if we can reduce the amount of Tax's on that person, so that there NET income where to grow compared to gross, I.E. that $7.58 per hour take home off of $10.00 per hour pay where to be instead, $8.00 per hour net. That is, it the buying power of the currency we should be concerned with, not the numerical assignment of imbursement(Minimum wage)

Whatis a Wage? It is an amount of compensation which is accepted in an agreement between the Employee and Employerin Exchange for Labor, Work, that is, I agree to do “X”, inexchange for “Y” compensation.(X =work or Labor, and Y = imbursement, compensation,recompense)

What is a Minimum Wage? It is a base line evaluation, where the Government, be it City, County, State or Federal has decided that No agreement can be negotiated below.
(There is an exception to this, Where a person can not, by law enter in to an agreement below the Minimum wage, a third party, the Unions, can Negotiate and enter in to an agreement which is legally biding on the workers and protected by Law, for less than the Minimum wage. This is not as un common as it might seam, (In fact it rather common) and is currently taking place in Los Angeles, where the Hotel Works Union, not having much success in organizing the Hotel workers, has hatch and is now implementing a plan, where by they've lobby the City of Los Angeles to raise the Minimum Wage of Hotel Workers to $15.00per hour, but the same union pushing this is going to the Hotel perators and offering them a deal, that if they will sign a Project Labor Agreement with the Union, thus requiring ALL of there employees to join the Union in order to continue to work there, the Union will sign a 2 year contract for $13.00 per hour +the holding of the Union dues.)

Minimum Wage is always an idea, popular with the populace, but a Devils Bargain.
By having a base line, baseline jobs often migrate to that amount, thus people on the lower ends of earnings, may actually be settling for less than they would otherwise. Also, for each step a Minimum Wage is set above a portion of the working class is deemed to not be worth the new higher cost, that is there value added to the company is judged to no longer be a positive, and as such, these people are then turned out, expanding the roll of the unemployed.

Whati s Money? Many people have not put much thought in to this, but it is simply a mutually agreed upon unit of representational value for the purposes of exchange.
Atone time, we had Gold or Silver in the coin it self, we then moved to paper currency, where the precious mettles which backed up it value where stored some where. Then we went to a currency totally depended on the people trust in it continuing worth.
But why Money at all?, well, it so much more convenient than carrying around Cows, Pigs, Sheep, Goats, Geese, Ducks, Checkins,Rabbits, eggs, fish in our pockets.
Imagine,you in the store, you want to buy a bed, you ask the merchant how much, he tells you, “Oh, 2 cows, 3 sheep, and a Rabbit”, you answer back, well, I only have one Cow, 10 sheep, 5 goats, no rabbits and 20 Chickens in my pocket. 1^st.Question, how many Goats equal a sheep, How many sheep equal a cow,2^nd,how do you fit all that in your pocket.

A Better way to understand Money to day is to look at it as a representation of a Unit of Labor, Thus,If I go in to a restaurant, I look at the menu and then decide if the offering I fine appealing are worth me giving up (exchanging with) a fraction of or number of units of Labor. I might decide that Hamburger is worth 1/3 Unit of Labor, so I make the deal, but the so called Value Deal, which would set me back ¾ of a Unit of Labor, is not worth it to me, so I chose to pass on it.

One person, because they they are doing a job of low value, may earn 1Unit of Labor per how, another, because of there great skill, either by means of education, or years of honing some art or craft of value,may earn 1 unit every quarter hour ( thus accumulating 4 per hour)

Now this brings us full circle
It really dose not matter that a Unit of Labor receives $1 Dollar, $4Dollar, or $10 Dollars, in the market place, over time, that Unit value remains constant as far as exchange.

Conclusion is, Government can not raise the buying power of people by FIAT action of increasing the minimum wage, it in aggregate self adjust back to it equilibrium balance.

To raise the standards of Living, the Government needs to instead look at how value to units of Labor can be increased. Either by lowering taxes which drain from the Value of Labor, or /and working to create a more competitive, innovative market place.
It is by these that the ability of people to be more productive, to bring better products at lower cost, and production innovations which allow each person to be more productive, and thus making each unit of labor worth more.

Somewould say that dose not work, but look thru history, it what hasalways worked.
In1870, Approximately between 70% and 80%of the United States Populations was engaged in Agriculture, To dayusing 2008-2010 data, it is less than 2% of the country population isdirectly engaged in Agriculture.
Aseach farmer has become more productive, the price of food has comedown, and labor and energy has been released to be employed in otherventures.
Asman first came out of the trees, then developed Farming, thenIrrigation to water those farms, the plow, the domestication of theOx to pull the plow, then the Horse, which could plow more acres ina day, then the more efficient Mobar Plow, man has become moreefficient, going from a substance living to being able to feedothers.
Thishas happened in every Industry, with two results, the cost of theproduct getting less expensive, and the value of the Labor worthmore.


Curtis Neil. Copyright 2015
October 25th and 26th. 2014

On Healthcare Reform

On Healthcare Reform

July 1, 2015 at 6:24am

I heard on the news this morning, President Obama (really for the first time) is talking about talking to Americans about what can be done to make the so called “Affordable Care Act”, AKA“Obamacare”, better, improve it, make it work.
These where really questions he should been asking before he and his allies forced it passaged. But at the time, there ears where closed and theywould not listen to any suggestion which might have improved it, or proposals which might work better.
Theyhad a solution in there hands, they where looking to fit the problem to it, no matter that it was neither the correct or the best.

There where really Two questions, not one.
First is, do we, the people of America believe, that we should create some form of Nation wide Healthcare?
The Second Question was, If so, what should it look like?

I believe on the First Question, the American public has ansewed Yes.
We did not have a free market solution, nor a totally comprehensive solution, but a hodge podgy of heavily regulated Solutions whichprovided fantastic care to some, and no care to others.

The Second Question was never asked. President Obama simply assumed,Ansewing yes to the first, automatically could be assumed to be an endorsement of his highly centralized, inefficient. Expensivesolution which simply place a blanket over many of the underlining problems we have, so there less visible.

Many people, Many think tanks have spent years, decades study these issues and developing solution, They where all ignored!
(July1^st. 2015)

Mythoughts: There are few Black and White decisions in politics, mostpolitical decisions require a balancing of plus and minus, of tradingoff cost vs. value. There are many paths, to solutions, each requiring tradeoff and has different rewards.

This was where President Obama administration messed up, they decided that it was a Black and White issue, that is, if one wants reforms, the none wants there plan, no discussion, no change, it was, in the reminds, the only solution, it option was to stay with the status –quo.

In reality, There are really not one issue, but servile.
Each could be a master thesis in itself. Each could be years of debate.Each should be part of a National discussion. There not abstract ideas, but very personal, as a person health is personal.
And they have a lot to say about our own image of ourselves as a nation and National charter.

A discussion of each of these, a National conversation and some sort of consciences should have been held (and we still need that) For it simply not healthcare, it a pointer on the National direction.


My own belief is, what ever we go to, must preform better than the Status-Quo, or why do it.
We must recognize what the problems are, and what is right with, United States Healthcare.
A,It really the finest healthcare in the world, but it suffers from not every one can access it.
In many ways, it the most efficient at allocating needed services.
But it not been a Free Market in many years, it heavily regulated and often controlled by Large corporation in League with Government Regulators. These deprive it of innovation, of efficiency, or competition which would give people more options and saving in cost.

So Cost, and Acceptability need to be looked at.
Cost.

1. Tort Reform, probably the single step which could do the most to both cut cost with out hurting service, and open up creative solutions.
   
2. Streamline regulations, Reduce paperwork. This is another huge cost savings, where once we had 1 back office person for every 2 to 3 medical person, we now have 2 to 3 back office people to every medical provider, this despite automation and the use of computers.
   
3. Open up Competition over State lines. Currently, many states have only a few Health Insurance company’s, by allowing company’s to sell across state lines, we open up the market to competition, which means that then, Insurers will need to attract, or retain customers by providing great service at a good price.

Obamacare,or ACA as it now being called, failed to look at or do any thingwhich on issues which are driving cost up, if any thing, it protectedthese by putting a blanket over them, so the public would be lessable to see them.

Onemore item, one which offers both a cost saving, and resolves theaccessibility issue, namely, to allow the creation of purchase poolsso the Individuals, self-employed and small business can buyhealthcare insurances at the same discounted rates as the Governmentand Large Business do.
Becausepools are group rates, people with existing conditions get accepted(understand, this cost dose get distributed across the whole group,or groups, so, rates will be a little higher, but the efficiency ofcompaction and the others cost saving, the overall rate should remainvery reasonable.)

Thisdose not and should not be ran by the Government, be it State orFederal, and it should not be by exclusive right or license.
TheACA Healthcare Exchanges really done not meet the purpose ofproviding competition. I like to see much smaller non-profits likechurches groups, service organizations and such, So one might join bybeing a member of Farm Beuruo or throe the Rotary club, the Chamberof Commerce, Automobile Club, etc. In this way, one can shop whichexchange there prefer to deal with as well as the offering with inthe exchange.

Thislike Income redistributions should never be attached in to otherprograms. (this was another BIG problem with the so call AffordableHealthcare Reform Act, or Obamacare, was it emphases on Incomeredistribution, in fact it appears the administration was really moreconcern with income redistribution and empowering government in themarket place than they where in actually helping healthcare.)

November16^th, 2013
RevisedJanuary 11, 2014

Onthe question of Affordable Healthcare
Thereare really not one issue, but servile.
Eachcould be a master thesis in itself. Each could be years of debate.Each should be part of a National discussion. There not abstractideas, but very personal, as a person health is personal.

1. How to control Health care cost, make it more affordable.
   
2. How to expand coverage so more people have access
   
3. Should healthcare be totally a private responsibility, or a State and Individual, or National
   
4. Should, if some form of State or National solution is decide on, should it be voluntary, or Mandatory
   
5. Should, if a National solution is decided upon, should it be a Single source? Regulated Monopoly’s? Or Open Market with in a regulated spear? Or some hybrid system.
   
6. Should, if a National solution be decided upon, should it be distributed in management or centrally control.
   
7. Is this the best we can do? Are the solutions the best we can do, or can we re look at any part and fine better ones. Good enough should never be accepted, but Best we can should be the answer, and we should always be re examining those answer to make sure it remains as such. If some one develop a better solution, we should look at moving to it.)

Oneof the problems whit the so called Affordable Healthcare Reform Act,or, and since the President himself has taken to calling it this,Obama care is, these questions where never even considered by thosewho created it, much less think about the issues. They had a solutionin hand, and they where simply looking for a problem to apply it to,weather or not it the right solution, they never considered, muchless if it the best or could it be improved.

Tocorrectly solve a problem, one should first ascertain what theproblem is, and as list above, and in that order, start with, How dowe control cost, which then leads to the question, what driving costup?

1. Frivolous lawsuits and fear of them, Answer, Tort Reform
   
2. Cost of excessive paperwork requirements, Answer, Streamline Regulations to reduce paperwork.

Andso on, it wasteful and foolish to jump to the next set of questionstill reasonable work on question one has been accomplished.Obamacare, never even looked at Question 1 to 4. All the reasonsprices, and cost have been raising have not been address and arestill there, and placing Obamacare in place with out address those isa really bad idea, for it will now be much harder to work on thosebecause those are hidden.

Realreform would be to work to make changes which allow healthcare to bemore affordable so more people could afford it. Instead, the So call“Affordable Healthcare Reform Act” hides it from the consumer byusing the exchanges to steel from Paul to care for Peter, when weshould be looking at how can we provide the best coverage and thebest price for both Peter and Paul.

Obamacaretherefore protects and preserve waste inefficiency and fraud in thesystem, and treat it like a standard part of the government doingbusiness (this is not acceptable)

Italso adds new layers of beurocracy on top of our Healthcare system,so that it becomes even more expensive. (We added an additional 25%,according to one report I saw last month from the Government, andthey where proud that was all they added so far, so far in 2015 tothe Cost of Healthcare, none of that going to service, all of it inthe new mandated layers of Regulations and Bureaucracy)

Curtis Neil Copyright 2015
July 1, 2015 at 6:24am

People need to understand the truth, Socialism is not compatible with the concept of Freedom and Liberty.

People need to be made to understand the truth, that no form of Statism, including Socialism, or any variation there of, is compatible with the concept of Freedom and Liberty.

 

Because of the rawl created the last time I posted the above, let me start with a defenition.

Socialism , the word, has two meanings.

 

1.)A ideas of commonality, similar to that of the relationship with in a Family, a Club, Clan, Tribe, small company or a monastic organization, where every one working for the same goal, together, and the better off help the weaker and those in need to help every one succeed. This is actually part of basic human instinct. 

 

And: 2.) Socialism, (Should be “State Socialism”, Socialism with a capital “S”) the political philosophy, where by the ownership and/or control of major enterprises are owned and/or controlled (one need not own something to control how it is used, ran, and what it dose, but this dose sort of devalue the value of ownership) by (and this is where different flavors of Socialism arrive. By the State, By the Common, by the workers. So by the Commons would be like each citizen having a share in a Corporation, by the Workers, is ownership by people who actually work at a company. In all most all cases, the Government will take on the proxy. Government has long realized, it really dose not need to own any thing to run it as if they did, Rules, Regulations, Oversight, Tax’s and Tax law, can allow a Government to operate a business as if it owned it, with out owning one share or investing one dollar )

 

State Socialism the political philosophy is a member of the group of philosophy’s known as Statism, witch includes Socialism, Communism, Fascism, Feudalism, Crony-Capitalism. (Crony-Capitalism, also called State-Capitalism, is not, and is very different from Free-Market Capitalism. The United States has been moving towed Crony-Capitalism for decades, but when most people talk in support of Capitalism, they are speaking of Free-Market) 

 

The Centralizing or Common idea which units all of the Branch’s of Statism, is a belief that Sovereignty is not vested in the people of the nation state, but in the government it self, as if it was a living entity and the Individuals, associations, community’s all exist solely to enhance the power, prestige and well-being of the state. 

 

Statism ( and thus, Socialism), is repugnant to Individualism and Families and the Rights and Freedoms there of, it favors the Rights of the Group or State as supreme.

 

3.) There is no such thing an a stable Socialism Light political /economic alternative.(It existence is a mirage, a great fiction)

 

Karl Marx did not call his ideas Communism, but Socialism, he did have High and Low version of it, but the Low version he consider to be transitory only, not stable.

 

In the same way, Vladimir Lenin (the guy who actually coined the name Communism, used it to describe High Socialism) Considered Low Socialism as simply a transitory stage, unstable, and that it would eventually and unstoppably so, develop in to full High Socialism with a Totalitarian Regime to manage it, He consider those people who believe one could have Freedom and Socialism, and retard it growth half way as “Useful Idiots”.

 

Such thinkers as Hilaire Bellock, G.K. Chesterton, first excited about the possibilities of low Socialism, as a way of correcting the ill effects of the Industrial Revolution, looking for a more humain, more Catholic/Christian form, but upon study and research they turned against it, finding that it was not compatible with humanity or Christianity. (They then worked on the ideas of Distributism as a possible “third way”, one that both more human and Christian.)

 

Ludwig Heinrich von Mises and later F. A. Hayek Study Socialism, and it variations, and have shown that it is uncontrollable, that it will, like walking on a very slippery slop, continue to consume more authority, rights, of the people, and fall short of it aims of supplying the needs of the public, and result in a Totalitarian Regime, and a poor economy.

 

Result is economist, philosophers, thinkers of the Left, the Right and the center all agree, Low Socialism is unstable and if adopted, Must progress to a totalitarian regime, if not immititally, then over time and must include the sacrifice of all of people rights to the State..

There is there for No Difference between Communism and Socialism, except in what stage of the despotism it is in at that moment.

 

4.) Capitalism. A term actually coined by Marx, to be derogatory of the Free Market by forever linking terms of finance with a form of economic pholosaphy.

As mentioned above, there are two forms of this now as concerns economics, and this tends to lead to lots of miss understanding as those supporting it, are normally speaking of Free Market, where it critics tend to sight the problems of Crony-Capitalism, a form of Statism. People should iditify which form they are speaking of.

 

5.) Limiting of Government dose not equal elimination of Government!

We in the United States have lived, more or less under a Limited form of Government for 228 years, and the British for far longer, if less defined and less Limited. The ideas of Limited Government is now a proven concept, and has proven workable and stable as well as benificial to the citizens and protective of there rights.

 

6.) Some one expressing the belief that something should not be in the domain of the National Government, dose not automatically mean they are against it being a need, a good idea, or even something to be done. Many people believe that many functions belong not to the National, but to the State, to the Counties and City's there of, or are the reserved prevue of the citizens.

 

7.) Support of a Free Market economy and/or protection of the Rights of Citizens of the State by Limiting the scope of Government, dose not automatically mean the same is advocating Anarcho-capitalism as in theories of Murray Rothban and Hans-Hermann Hoppe. (I do fine there theories interesting, They are very well worked out and workable. But I believe there greatest value is not in action, but as proofs that the claims the Statist make that if people want any services, such as Roads, Police, Fire protection, then you must support unlimited Government and be willing to turn over and trust your rights in the hands of others, that there no other option, all or none. The Anarcho-capitalism show almost every duty, service of Government could be provided by other means, with out giving up Rights.) I belive most people, including myself, do see and support apprrate duitys of Goverment.

 

 

Curtis Neil 2015

How dose one deal with Ants in the Kitchen, Or, How to deal with Lobbyist.

How dose one deal with Ants in the Kitchen, Or, How to deal with Lobbyist.

When one has Ants in the Kitchen, one has 2 choices, one can buy and spray Ant Poison, and do so agin each day, with a cost to ones pocket and a risk to ones health. (And the Ants keep coming back)

Or, One can clean the counters, remove the food which attracts them, and with in a few days the Ants are gone.

One large concern shown by manny and in recent debats is how do we deal with Lobbyist in Washington. The Left would say, Oh, lets add more Regulations, and more oversight, and more taxes, etc. Yes, this may reduce the problem for a bit, but at huge cost and restriction on Free Speech Rights.

And the Ants, i.e., lobbyist will still find ways.

Or, One can remove the “food” which attracts the ants. i.e., the lobbyist. That being the Large budgets, the grants, spending programs, the extensive regulations and the tax cuts, credits, deductions, etc. If we simply, remove most of these, then we removed the benefit of all of these paid lobbyist to be there, but have nort restricted Free Speech Rights nor built a Hugh new bureaucracy.

Curtis Neil Copyright 2015

A proposal for Education in the State of California for the 21st Century...

A proposal for Education in the State of California for the 21st Century...

March 4, 2010 at 6:46am/ Updated August 28^th, 2015 / Updated September 20^th, 2015
A proposal for Education in the State of California for the 21st Century..
The development of appreciation of the “Permanent Things, in search of that which will last.”



"The most important fact about the subject of education is that there is no such thing. Education is not a subject, and it does not deal in subjects. It is instead the transfer of a way of life." -G.K. Chesterton
“Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel” - “Socrates
“Employ your time in improving yourself by others men's writing's, so that you shall gain easily what others labored hard for.” -Socrates
This is a very short summery of an Idea I wrote up several years ago.

To go from the currently common, System of
1^st to 6^th Grades, “Elementary school”
7^th. & 8^th. Grades “Junior High School”, (or as sometimes 4^th. To 8^th. Middle school)
9^th. To 12^th. Grades, “High School.
To an Expanded system of
3 Pent annual sections for a Total of 15 years of Basic Education.

This proposal would require the addition of 3 more years to the states education system
But with the great increase in knowledge which one is required to know and the saving in a, or great reduction of remedial work at our Jr. College system it should be considered a great improvement at not much greater cost.

The prim difference from our current system is instead of 6 years elementary, 2 years Jr. High school and 4 years High school. Total is 12 years
The proposal is 3 terms of 5 years each, or 15 years.

Now, to what originally got me thinking on this was problems at local school boards as to the distribution of students. The school wanted to re configure the schools, but the parent did not like the idea of having 5^th. Graders in the same school as 7^th. And 8^th graders (they did not seam to have such concerns with 6^th. Grades kids, feeling they where mature enough to handle it. So I started to look at how the grades could be better divided up, to which I came up with the 3 Pent annual sections for a Total of 15 years as a solution. I then, seeing the success of some of the home schooled kids, and looking at some of those programs as well at some of the things I felt could of, should been done different in my own early education. This lead me to the other ideas I incorporated in to it.

The other difference from our current system:
1.) 5 years elementary, Basic skills introduction and development.
2.) 5 years Middle school, Refinement of skills. (moving much of the currant High school curriculum into the Middle school)
3.) 5 years High school, Application of skills.
(here comes the radical part) I would propose here a more Classical Education, using the Trivium (Grammar, Dialect, and Rhetoric) and the Quadrivium (Artithmetic, Geomertry, Astronomy, Music) “Great books”/ Classic Liberal Arts education. Returning High school to its original meaning, a school for “Higher education”. The education which was long given, in the Universities of the world, but most have now long moved away from, concentrating in stead on much narrower bands of education, extreme disciplinary specialization like training a technician, instead of teaching a person how to think and learn, as in a broad liberal arts/humanities education.
In response to this problem, already showing up toured the end of the 19^th. Century, and to give it's fruits a wider audiences, Dr. Charles W. Elliot, then president of Harvard, complied what would be called, “Dr. Elliot's 5' book shelf”, or as it now known, the Harvard Classics, a collection of 51 books of classic works from world literature which a person, by reading 15 minutes a day, would gain a classic education.
In 1920, Professor Erskine of Columbia University created a program based on the "great books" of the Western canon. Mortimer Adler and Mark Van Doren where junior faculty in this program, but would go on to spread it ideas to other collages and refine the programs. As much as possible, students rely on primary sources, with emphasis is on open discussion with limited guidance by a professor or facilitator. (Thomas Aquinas Collage, Santa Paula, Ca. says, there teachers are the Great Books, the facilitators are to guid in the discussions) This is NOT a passive learning model. (St. John's Collage, Annapolis is another Great Books school, as is Saint Mary Collage). The Great Books of the Western World contains about 517 works, in these are the great ideas, cover philosophy, history, grammar, politics, mathematics, astronomy, theology, economics...

All 15 years would include an Arts component. (and I mean strong Arts, in Music, Painting and Drawing, not “Rec. time”) The Arts are both a form of expression, and an alternative way of understanding. We know now that art encourages cognition, critical thinking, and learning development-“The US Secretary of Education recently published a report on "The Value Added Benefits of the Arts," in which he states, "Studies have shown that arts teaching and learning can increase student's cognitive and social development. The arts can be a critical link for students in developing the crucial thinking skills and motivations they need to achieve at higher levels" (Deasy, & Stevenson, 2002). “and “through art, children learn complex thinking skills and master developmental tasks (Belden & Fessard, 2001)”
Class time would be increased, partly by removing much of the record keeping (required by school districts, superintendents office and State and Federal Governments) from the teachers.

Teacher Education and Preparation: A higher value should be given to learning subject matter and less to techniques of teaching.
A person learns how to be a great teacher by learning from great teachers. The best teachers are often those who love and know their subject.

Classes are to be challenging, for I have come to the conclusion we lose more student by having classes too simple, thus boring than we do by having challenging classes where a student has a little struggle to achieve and a real since of accomplishment at the end.
The purpose of Education is not to quench the thirst for knowledge, But, to create a vessel to enable one to better drank from the well.
There is a famous saying, that they like to say in the College of Piping in Glasgow, Scotland and which my bag-piping friends like to tell, “To the make of a piper go seven years of his own learning and seven generations before. At the end of his seven years, one born to it will stand at the start of
knowledge, and lending a fond ear to the drone, he may have parley with old folks of old affairs.” (Neil Munro-“The lost Piobaireachd”).
Now,(and make no mistake, it is a cantankerous, difficult Instrument) but I come to realize that it has far deeper meaning than that, it referring to life and learning, of the attainment of knowledge, and that Graduating, is not the end of the Journey, but the beginning.
WHY, or What the purpose for Education?
Now, this really is a telling question, and upon it anserw rest the directions which we should be striving. It is an inportant question, for us, as a people, as a Nation, as a society and as a civilization to ansew, and the results of it, will determine, both the types of solution we will want in Education as well as what our civilization will become in the future.
Now, as I started delving in to Published theories on Education, I started to fine to my surprise that the debate before us, which most do not realize is raging, has been actually going on for over 100 years.
To Sum it up, it is, Educating people for what they need to Work, or Educate people to be fully rounded human beings, capable of participating in the diabetes of the day in Politics, Theology, Science and Life, to be a person fit for a Free Society, that is Educating for Life.
Thomas Jefferson understood this when he wrote a proposal for the State of Virginia to provide 3 years of public education at the Public (tax payers) expenses. (Virginia Statutes in 1797) That for a Democratic Republic to work, people had to be educated to think. ( the plan then gose on, with the best and brightest then offerd higher education, the rest, with this good base, ready to take there places ion the farms or shops, learn there trade, and advance there own learning.)



In the first, Educated to , or what needed for Work, the ansew is, “man is a machine”, a cog in a great machine of the nation state, but still only a cog, like any other cog. The child machine is to be educated in only what they need to grow into a useful cog in the machine, training in the skills necessary to be an efficient cog, and a little bit more, to make them easy to control, to distract them during there hours of non-work.
(And this is not an exaggeration, but the driving force behind education by tracks, by fields, at an early age, to test children, deciding then if they are to be a Labor, a technician, (and then in to sub categories of that, Medical, Law, Engineering...) and educating only what needed in those fields. Many politicians and Educational experts to day, are pushing in this direction. Part of it is they say is it the most efficient use of scare resources, and part they say is that one just dose not need to know all that other stuff.)
(“Consider This: Charlotte Mason and the Classical Tradition, by Karen Glass)
In the latter, Educated for Life, that is a well rounded Education.

It was in support of this, that John Dewey wrote Education and Democracy, 1916. and My Pedagogic Creed, 1897

That Dr. Charles W. Elliot, president of Harvard, compiled his famouse list of classic workers that he belive the public should have access to and read for there own education, those not so fortunt to go to Harvard or the like.

That lead Professor Erskine of Columbia University to creat a program based on the “Great books” of the Western canon in 1920.

Mortimer Adler and Mark Van Doren, who have spent a life time each, teaching, writing and helping others with programs based on the Great books and classical education.

Alan Bloom, who also wrote and worked to protect and popularize Classical education, including his best seller, The Closing of the American Mind, published in 1987
A strong feeling that academia had failed in it duty, by abounding the Great books, or, more percseilly, the writings and the ideas contained in them.

And it really the intent of, “God and Man at Yale: The Superstitions of “Academic Freedom” by William F. Buckley. Jr. 1951 Showing how a University, was failing it students and it mission, by abandoning the very principles on which the school had been founded on, and on which it Prestige as an Institution of higher learning rested on.

It really too bad that the wake up call issued by William F. Buckley. Jr. in 1951, thou written about one University, was most unfortunately true of the vast majority of the Insitions. Was not headed, and so that in 1987, When Proffessor Alan Bloom published his book, it was still true, and worse .

To day, if one want to recive the Education which made Harvard, Yale, Princton Columbia, Stanfoprd in to world famouse Insitution, it not to them you would apply, but eather be home schooled, or attend a Collage like Thomas Aquinas Collage, or Saint Johns.

As I look more into this, I finding a lot of material now for Prochiel schools and home schooling.

Is it just our public education system who asleep at the wheel?

NOTE:
I am not a Professional educator, thou I believe every one, by way of having experience from education, has some understanding of it. Yes, I realize there are many details I am probably missing, but this not a complete proposal, but a set of thoughts and opinions which needs further development and refinement, much of which would need to be from those who education is there field of expertise.
I originally wrote this up as a proposal for Public education, but it probably easiest to implement in the Parochial school systems and the Charters schools.
John Dewey (October 20, 1859 – June 1, 1952) was an American philosopher, psychologist, Geologist, and educational reformer said,” vocational training, training for particular jobs, is not education of a free men and women.”
“The entire art of teaching is only the art of awakening the natural curiosity of the young mind for the purpose of satisfying it later.”- Anatole France


Curtis Neil Copyright 2015
March 4, 2010 at 6:46am/ Updated August 28^th, 2015 / Updated September 20^th, 2015
A proposal for Education in the State of California for the 21st Century..



A Personal Perspective
I, as a child, was not a good student. I had a curious mind, a desire to learn, but it did not come easily to me.
I do not think most of my teachers knew what to do with me, and the result I was ignored, or placed in lower level groups. Grade school often felt like a prison to me, or a place to pass the time.
My parents worked with me, and also took me to tutors to help me acquire the skills I was having trouble with. (I had the right personality type, I would have done well with home schooling)
I spent a lot of time going thru the pages of World Book Encyclopedia, National Geographic and such, studying every picture for what information I might be able to gleam, trying the read the captions beneath them.
I liked when we go to museums and historical sites, in those days, they did not cater to children the way they do to day (I so glad, I saw them then, looking at the displays for kids to day, there so dumbed down, that they leave little to learn from them these days.)
So, when I speak or write about not simplifying something or recommend aiming high, it not from the point of view of some one who these things came easily too, but one who struggled to learn it.
I had to work hard in high school, and Collage, and spent a lot of time doing home work.
It was not easy for me.

The Paideia Proposal: An Educational Manifesto by Dr. Mortimer J. Adler. 1982

SBN-13: 978-0025002401

ISBN-10: 0025002406

Education: Free & Compulsory by by Murray N. Rothbard 2012

ASIN: B0072QGTXW

Democracy and Education: an introduction to the philosophy of education by John Dewey(1859–1952)

ASIN: B0082ZJ6WS

My Pedagogic Creedby John Dewey

ASIN: B00CMX44GE

By William F. Buckley - God and Man at Yale: The Superstitions of Academic Freedom (50th) (1/26/77)

ASIN: B00HTJW08A

In Defense of a Liberal Education 1st Edition . Fareed Zakaria 2015

ASIN: B00RZXW0Z8

Closing of the American Mind

by Allan Bloom (Author), Saul Bellow (Foreword), Andrew Ferguson (Afterword)
ASIN: B003719GL8

The Lost Tools of Learning by Dorothy Sayers

ASIN: B00AOBDUIO

The Liberal Arts Tradition: A Philosophy of Christian Classical Education by Kevin Clark

ASIN: B00DMJTVZQ

The Trivium: The Liberal Arts of Logic, Grammar, and Rhetoric by SisterMiriam Joseph

ASIN: B007XHIUJG

Consider This: Charlotte Mason and the Classical Tradition by Karen Glass

ASIN: B00OG3VNFS

The Well-Educated Mind: A Guide to the Classical Education You Never Had

By Susan Wise Bauer
ASIN: B001PNYJ12

The Story of Western Science: From the Writings of Aristotle to the Big Bang Theory

By Susan Wise Bauer
ASIN: B00NUB4ESK

How to Read a Book (A Touchstone book) by CHARLES VAN DOREN and MORTIMER J. ADLER (1902-2001)

ASIN: B004PYDAPE

A Student's Guide to Liberal Learning (ISI Guides to the Major Disciplines) by James V. Schall, S.J.,

ASIN: B00LMPBBLY

A Student's Guide to the Core Curriculum (ISI Guides to the Major Disciplines) by Mark C. Henrie

ASIN: B00LMPBBB4

The Idea Of A University by Cardial John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

ISBN: 0615952097
ASIN: B003APYOUO

The Case for Classical Christian Education by Douglas Wilson

ISBN: 1581343841
ASIN: B0028BEE2E

The Harvard Classics in a Year: A Liberal Education in 365 Days by Charles Eliot and Amanda Kennedy

ASIN: B00OF9SEYG

Beauty in the Word: Rethinking the Foundations of Education by Stratford Caldecott

ISBN: 1621380041
ASIN: B00CWR3YCA

Classical Education by Jennifer Brown

ASIN: B00GISLVT2

On Leadership, Philosophy and Responsibility.

On Leadership, Philosophy and Responsibility.

A few weeks ago, a website ask the question about do people believe that political leaders should have education in philosophy?

Now, understand the website focus is on Learning, in particular with the classic writings.

But it really dose bring out a big problem in modern society and education.

To day, too many of the people running the country, running companies, etc. are trained as “Technocrats” and not in a broader since of things, asking what, why and should it be done, is it right.

To be a real leaders, one needs to serve, not simply basque in the glory.

“But you shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that does serve.”-Luke 22:26 – King James Bible 2000

"To Lead, One Must First Serve"...Robert K.Greenleaf, The Servant as Leader.1970

If one looks at the people who often lead volunteer organization, the hardest working people are often the Leaders, they help new members to fit in, they come in early to make sure things are ready, Set up chairs, tables, lights on, etc. They help clean up after. They do a lot of the drudgery work with little or no thanks. Why, because there working for something greater than themselves, they are working on something they believe in.

A Technocrat is like some one who been taught how to Drive, but dose not have an idea of why they are driving or to where they are going.

But if you ad philosophy to that, then the leader not only knows HOW to drive, but has ideas on why, to where, and best ways.

But with out philosophy and history, one dose not know where one been, what worked and what has not. Some might anserw, Yes, but we do not want old ideas,.

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." -George Santayana, (December 16, 1863 – September 26, 1952), was a philosopher, essayist, poet

or

“Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it.” -Edmund Burke, (12 January 1729 – 9 July 1797) was an Anglo-Irish statesman born in Dublin

“Liberty, is not a means to a political end. It is itself the highest political end.” -Lord Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton—First Baron Acton of Aldenham 1834-1902

“Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority; still more when you superadd the tendency of the certainty of corruption by authority.” -Lord Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton—First Baron Acton of Aldenham 1834-1902

The Power of the collective Brain or the Invisible hand at work.

Adam Smith, (16 June 1723 NS – 17 July 1790) was a Scottish moral philosopher, pioneer of political economy, coined the term, the “Invisible hand” in his Pioneering work "An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations" (1776), also called Laissez-faire economic philosophy. This is based on a miss understanding, it not that the economy is NOT planed, Not controlled, but the Invisible hand is the collective, and often uncouscis working of every participant in the economy, voting with each action or non-action as to the quality, price, acceptability, desirability and utility.

This differs from the obvious planing and control of systems like Mercantilism and Socialism, where a few people, try to predict and understand, plan for the wants and the needs of the many. A much less efficient and much less effective way, but one which can give great power and influence to a few.

Errett Lobban "E. L. " Cord (20 July 1894 – 2 January 1974) Who in 1924, took the old but by then failing Auburn Automobile Company in 1924, and moved it to 13^th. Largest automobile manufacture in the United States by 1928. By 1929, he owned 150 companies, including Auburn, Cord, Dusenburg, Lycomming Engine, Checker Cab, AVCO, Vultee Aircraft, Stinson Aircraft, American Airways, New York Shipbuilding....

E.L. Cord lead his companies by offering a vision, which included Quality, Style, Engineering and Technical excellence.

I remember talking to Alexander Sarantos Tremulis (1914 to 1991), who was a designed for Auburn, Cord and Dusenburg. He had in his long design career worked for General Motors, Ford Motor Company, Tucker. But in talking to him, it was obvious, it was the days working for Cord, and the automobiles of Auburn, Cord and Dusenburg he was most proud of, had the greatest connection too and the fondest memories.

(I Talked to him at the Concours d'Elegance in Santa Barbara in the 1980's, and so many examples of the great cars he been involved with where on display. I remember one year, as I was talking to him, a 1936 CORD model 812 stretched Limousine drove on to the grounds. He walked across the field to it, I walk along, as he talked. There where only 2 of these built, one for the wife of E.L.Cord, the other, this one, (and he knew the name, but I since forgot it) As we got near, he started to describe the changes on the car he had done. He knew the car, like a child, like a very good friend, well remembers, but long not seen.) Over the years, he related other stores of his days at A.C.D. especially the last days of the company. I can say they had fun, they loved what they where doing. At G.M, an Engineer or a designer could spend there whole career designing door handles, accounts, and executives with no since of style may dictate things. But with E.L. Cord, he give a vision, then give you the power to work on it, he listen to your ideas, and the Creativity was encourage. He was the one giving direction, and the one with final say, the output of the company was really the result of harnessing the power, the creativity, the so called “Collective Mind” of the group. Each could think of, and felt that the product was the Fruit of there labor, and they took ownership to see it right, and took pride in them.

Now, I know I have presented a set of seemingly unrelated ideas, but they really are related, it the qualities of Leadership, the dangers to avoid, in one self and in others, and how to get the best out of people. Be it a non profit organization, a company or a nation.

We build up ourselves by building up those around us, by serving them, encouraging them. By this, we build up the organization, allows us to harvest the talents, creativity and skills of each, to create something greater than ourselves.

This, all can take pride in, and benefit from.

Be humble, recognize the contributions of other, the team can be more creative, more knowledgeable than the regular top down administration.

On a project I headed up a few years ago, one that turned out very well, and for which I received many compliments on, and still do form time to time. Yes, it is my name on it, but I recognize that it was with much thank s to the talents of others that it came out so well. My normal reply, and I do mean it is:

“I was but the conductor, blessed with a very talented and creative set of musicians and artist.”

That is, what was created was greater than myself, or my ability. Yes, it was my concept, Yes, I was the one who selected the team, told them of my vision, directed the varius parts and brought it all to gather. But it was in doing it in a way, where each person, bought into the vision of the whole, and added there own creativity, invested themselves into it turning out Great, and not just good, that caused it to work so well.

Each person who work on it, looks at it today as also there creation, takes pride in what they help to create.

This is very rewarding for the people who work on a project, and it results in both happier people and better work. These should not be UNIQUE situations, but we should strive to create such a working environment on every project, be it for a non-profit, for a company or for Government.

On Work as a vocation, a calling.

Many people see only work, such as being a Teacher, a Doctor or Nurse, a Policeman or Fireman, a Farmer producing food for the table or a Priest, Monk or Nun as a calling, serving the public good and will of God.

These things are all important, but many of us will play many rolls in life and serve in many ways.

It is important for one to realize not every one can be one of those recognized positions of calling, but in the world, almost every job is necessary, and it in how one approaches it. In attitude, that makes it but happy for yourself, and a service to God and your fellow man.

If I may, for illustration. A person working as a hamburger flipper at XYZ Hamburgers.

I assume there not looking for this to be there permeant job, that they have higher aspirations, maybe there working here after school in High school, or helping to pay there way thru collage, or while there looking for a “better job”, or to help pay some big bills by working this as a second.

Dose not matter, even if this, by way of ones own abilities is the best they can do, every one should approach it as while I here, I am here to do this the best I can, and to be helpful and cheerful while doing it.

With each person doing well at there work, being helpful and cheerful, it makes the working environment nicer for all the people working there. Also, One is doing a service, feeding busy people on the run, fast, Fridley, hopefully healthy food.

So one, while working even such a job, can see it for the time, as there vocation, there service unto there fellow man and to God.

Every brick is important in the construction of a house, some it more obvious of it being so, such as the corner stone, where others, as filler bricks beneath a windows are less so. But each serves a purpose.

It was with this I approached work, when I was a salesmen in a Camera store and in an Art store.

My service was to try and do my job as best I could, to know my products, and to help my customers.

I was not there to simply to sell, but to provide solutions to people problems. I was, in my own way, educating them.

Be in how to take better family pictures, how to take sport photos of there kids, or how to mix colors to get a certain look on a painting or what type of brush one needs for water color, I try and help. And I could recommend products, the Right products, not just any, but I could also share tricks, techniques to make the art or the photography better, which some times dod not require buying any thing. But I served the customer, and the customers became loyal clients.

This is still a Work in Progress.

Curtis Neil. Copyright 2015

November 1st. 2015