To the American Worker

Social science is the long term observation of patterns, trends, behaviors, situations. A particular interest of mine is the observation I have made of the American worker. The people that have jobs. I also observe those that do not have jobs. After a considerable amount of time I have formed a number of conclusions. I am publishing these comments now with the ambition that they may provide enlightenment for those wishing to rise above the suffering they experience as employees.

Typically, when an individual goes to an employment interview they make several possible statements such as "I'm a good worker, I'm a quick learner, I'm a team player, I can work without direct supervision, you can count on me." Essentially statements meant to sell themselvs to the interviewer and to put their best foot forward. A noble gesture and generally appropriate. When hired they're presented with the tasks of the position, the salary or hourly rate, the hours, benefits, and so on. What is called the compensation package. They accept the offer of employment, begin working. Now let's move forward.

The worker now has moved from a position of no income to one of employment and an income. Surely a great thing to accomplish. Yes, surely. So what are these observations?

They're miserable on the way into work each day. They can't wait till their hours pass. They feel underpaid and over worked. They don't smile. They feel unappreciated. Their world is miserable. This for a job that they yearned for, accepted the terms of. They cash the check every payday and enjoy the paying of bills but when their bills exceed the income their comments are that they aren't being paid enough. However, they stay in the job and don't quit.

What is happening here? In life we choose work and education according to it's appeal for us. We become attracted to the idea of a certain profession, trade, occupation. We also are attracted to how it will enhance our self esteem, social status, economic standing, and what we will be able to acquire with the income. An individuals self concept is tied directly to the type of work that they do. In fact, much of an individuals worth is tied up in the work that they do, or so it seems. Success, whatever that is, is measured by one's work in life, as is one's attractiveness to a mate.

For the employer, it's a matter of economics, cost, profit, in other words, a business decision and not one of personal dimension. Investment of millions of dollars, return on investment, liability, safety, and on and on. They hire someone to peform tasks and pay an hourly rate or a salary for that work to be peformed. They are not interested in the employees career ambitions, personal satisfaction, or likes or dislikes. They simply want the job to be done. Nor are they responsible for these matters pertinent to the employee.

Now its not that an effort isn't made to communicate or to negotiate, or to clearly make an intelligent and mutually beneficial agreement. It usually starts out that way but discontent sets in and the relationship deteriorates. However, if the work remains available, the salary is paid correctly and on time, and the work conditions remain stable and legal and safe, the employer has preserved the integrity of their offer to the employee.

So what's happening with the employee? Why does a job that provides an income, stability, and security become such an emotional and psychological event in the individuals life?
We hear all the time about resume preparation, embolden certain words, and creatively author the document to shine the brightest light so that we may compete better and present the most attractive picture of ourselves. Then we attend the interview where we make the most promising and compelling statements designed to inspire the interviewer into hiring us.

What's really going on in this transaction? Is it really based on communication and trust? Is there an underlying ambition on the part of each party to maximize their gain? Naturally. It isn't always a win-win situation. I observe that the relatonship is a cat and mouse game of manipulation, deception, and evasion. Employers say that employees lack skills, work ethic, responsibility, flexibility, and so on. Employees say they're over worked, underpaid, unappreciated, and so on. Not a very healthy adult relationship by any means. Adversarial by any chance?

All in all, this posting is for the purpose of suggesting something to the workers. With millions of Americans looking for work, the fact that you have a job is a real advantage regardless of what you feel is insufficient. An employer does not respond favorably to the complaints of unhappiness after they decided to hire you. Actually, no one is influenced in a positive manner by complaints. Squeaky wheels do not always get the grease. Many times the wheel is simply replaced. Who wants to hear it anymore? If you feel that you would be happier elsewhere than just go and leave all the misery out of it. As they used to say, don't look a gift horse in the mouth. No one owes anyone anything anymore so I suggest to bite the proverbial bullet or quit.

That's it.

Let's Talk About Rights

We have rights in society. They vary from one society and legislative system to another. Rights are the concepts of humankind, or man, and are as changeable as the summer breeze.

The contemporary moralistic sway gives weight to one right or another. The era or period of history holds the same influence over rights as man's thought process. The result is a document outlining those rights. These pieces of paper also change over time. Much of the time they are in dispute depending whom one is and what their agenda is, whether for or against a particular right.

It is my premise that if one wishes to be some thing or some one, on the basis of a right, so be it. No one is supposed to violate that right. If they do, what ensues is a procedure, probably legal, most of the time, opinion, arguing and struggling over an interpretation and decision about the behavior and the right. The costs are monetary, psychological, emotional, and social. Why?

Should one choose a role or a behavior why is it subject to the rulings of the "rights" document? Just be whomever you choose to be and live your life. No one has the right to say otherwise. However, humans as a species develop likes and dislikes, and seek to impose those inclinations upon others. That is where most conflict emanates from.

It has been said that law is legislated to protect the weak. To protect a minority that seeks to exercise a behavior and experiences opposition from others so a law is made and a document produced and procedures established to adjudicate these differences. Here then is the key, differences. Who is anyone to decide that they like or dislike someone elses choices and impose their will upon them subjugating them to ill effect?

There are sure and certain methods and approaches that can and do remove the stresses and ills that ensue from this framework.

A Dedication To Love

I met a girl once. I didn't think it would happen but it did. I always heard that love appears and happens when we least expect it. That is sort of true. It can come but what we do with it is another matter.

It doesn't always come in the right size or quantity either. Love comes in the form it wishes to come in.

We cannot control it or reason with it.

Love fulfills itself. Herself. Himself.

I once read that a writer utilizes their personal experiences to a great extent when they write. I can agree with that. Personal experience is the color with which we paint on the canvas of our lives.

Love is a color for which we have not yet found a name.

Love is a friend that remains mostly a stranger.

It is not the other person whom we mistrust, it is love that we mistrust for we know of its power to overtake and control us. To cause us to do things that are irrational. To remain mostly confused. Love is merciless because it makes us dependent on another.

Love is a force beyond our power to control.


Without love we wither, with it we suffer. It is both hunger and fulfillment.

Love has wisdom of its own.

Let love guide us, it knows how to grow on its own.
Accept its wisdom and guidance. Love has much experience and seeks fertile hearts within which it can flourish. If love chooses your heart as its fertile field be thankful and grant it the opportunity to prosper for it is your heart that will receive its bounty.

There is a reason that love has persisted throughout time.

About Joe (a video talk)

Here's a chance to meet me and get to know me a little. Although this was recorded two years ago I am the same person. I've read alot more Buddhist literature, have a simpler life, and am free of all the struggles we are all very familiar with. Yes, I'm a dreamer but I do know what reality is quite well but I prefer to look at the world through rose colored glasses. That includes when I look at you too. I believe in the best in others. We just have to learn how to make it shine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKp059BZLX0&feature=plcp

#OrlandoHousing

Everyone knows that housing is a no brainer in a discussion. We simply know it's importance. That is established. What is not acceptable is the inconvenience and hardships that we are enduring because of societal and economic conditions that have affected this very basic part of the fabric of everyday life. We are an educated, hardworking, and industrious society and if the economy, politics, and finances have robbed us of the basics, it is the responsibility and duty of intelligent and educated people to find new solutions to the problem. That is who we are and it is my premise that we can resolve this issue with some creative, inventive, and out of the box thinking.

Many individuals today in Orlando live in motels. Many are employed and hard working. Typically, the cost of the motel room is about $200 a week. That's 800 a month. Yes, there are pros and cons to this but if you take two people that's 1600 a month and 3 people 2400 a month. That's alot of rent money and is not being used very wisely. That amount of cash can rent some amazing real estate. Orlando was recently in the news as the emptiest city in America with a residential vacancy rate of 18.8% That is quite a bit of empty housing. Do you think some of these property owners would like to have their places rented out? Do you think there are people like you and me that would like to save some money and have a good place to live? Please, no need to reply, I know the probable answers to that.

My suggestion is to network together on this and see what an intelligent exchange can result in. The worst that can happen is nothing, the maintaining of the status quo. The best that can happen is radical change and a vast improvement in quality of life and housing. Thank you.

Letters. What one man wrote to the object of his affections.

But never sent them.

The Prologue

The morning was gray, damp, and cold, so typical for a New York City December morning. This was a morning he would not feel this coldness anymore. He had passed in his sleep. A peaceful passing in the physical sense, a passing anyone would envy. Painless. Painless in the physical sense, another matter emotionally and psychologically.

Now that the dawn was rising his friend and neighbor stirred with the chilled morning and she wondered when this building would ever have the heat up at a more reasonable hour. Nevertheless she donned her robe and looked forward to her morning coffee with her neighbor. What a nice man he always was she thought, always kind and gentle and considerate. What ever could have caused him to become so immersed in his private thoughts all these years? With that she knocked on his door expecting his always cheerful "Come in!" Quiet. She knocked again and called his name. Nothing. More quiet. Could he still be asleep she wondered? Maybe he didn't want to come out from under his blankets yet. She knocked again... nothing. Now she became concerned so she went back to her place to retrieve the key he provided to her for any necessary tasks. She turned the key which had never before been used, and calling his name there was still quiet. Ah, he's still asleep she observed calling out his name. No response. Now she became concerned and approached him. Still thinking he was asleep she soon discovered from the blue color of his lips and ashen whiteness of his skin that he had departed this world. She wept in silence. She did notice that he was clutching a sheaf of envelopes to his heart. In taking them from his tightened fingers she saw that they were addressed simply to a first name.

She knew something of her but just enough to know that she was a distant love object, someone he never shared a love with. She soon realized that these letters were never mailed. She exclaimed to herself that he had spent all those secret moments in writing to someone who never even saw what he wrote. What else could be she thought, the letters were still here. Who was this creature that could have possessed him so greatly and for so many years she wondered? Looking over at the address book on his desk the thought occurred to her that there might be a listing inside. Not knowing a last name she looked and found a simple listing for the first name. Not that far away she noticed. In that instant she completely considered calling the number, telling of his passing in the night, and lastly but with incredible emotion, to tell of these letters. A quantity of letters that he was holding to his heart in his final moments and that were written and held back by him for all these years. What would this lady feel about this she asked herself? She realized that the overwhelming curiosity she was experiencing might also be felt by the intended, she immediately went for the telephone, pointed her index finger just below the number, and pressed the buttons, all ten of them, waited for the ringing, hoping a human voice would answer.

"Hello?" She was there. Why she didn't fully understand but as one woman to another she just felt it was right for the letters to reach their final destination. She reflected that she had been a faithful and loyal friend for such a long time and had never even been asked out, not even for a cup of coffee. Apparently, the declining of another to join him for coffee at a bookstore was a permanent inhibition from ever asking anyone out ever again.

In a moment she told of the letters and that she would be happy to forward them to their proper home. Writing the address, she went to the post office that very day, putting the end to his suffering, although posthumously. Contacting his next of kin, the final arrangements were placed in motion. She left that city right afterwards. She didn't want to be available should any questions be asked, and left no forwarding information. There must have been a strong reason he never mailed the letters she reflected.

A few days later the thick parcel arrived. There was no return address. Where did he live? Why no return address? There was the postal stamp with the city and state. Not that far. Letters though? What could this be? A bunch of letters that were never sent? They would have made good reading after remaining alone all those years, always skeptical of advances by men and never believing love would ever come in this life. Being buried in work to erase any impulse to love another. The pain was too, too great and the vow had been made to never be betrayed again. She knew he had perceived this condition in her correctly from the beginning and that she had been seriously wounded but she never gave him the chance to know just how much. If she did then he would reopen those wounds, he'd never accept being beside her and not being deep inside her heart, and she couldn't bear the thought of feeling that ever again, even though she knew he was the one who could heal her heart. The effort she made to resist her surrender to him was a monumental task and effort that left her drained. Why she didn't give herself to him she never understood considering he was the only man she ever really thought about.

Grasping the box and feverishly tearing the wrapping open she sat down and gazed at the contents. A stack of letters of lavender stationery with the appearance of being around for quite a long time, sealed and unopened, unstamped, but addressed with a first name. Unsent. Engaged staring at them for a very, very long time, darkness fell outside the window, the time simply disappearing with the reliving of the memories. Reminiscing, having never given up thinking of him, and before she even touched a letter, grief suddenly striking her with the realization, she cried out "He's gone!" Streams of tears cascaded downward along the slopes of her cheeks raining upon the letters, finally bringing their love together for the first time. The release of emotion was overwhelming for her as she collapsed upon the box of letters in the darkness clutching them to her breast as he did in his final moments. In an attempt to surround and capture his spirit with her body, she finally said I love you to him across the abyss of forever.

Leadership in America

America is a land composed of many people that come from many different lands with a variety of views and persuasions. That we embrace all people here is indicative of the spirit of America. That position and that tolerance of all people is what has also made America great.

Today we weep over the conditions in America. Those of wealth and position seem to seek to trample on those of lesser achievement and wealth. The wealth that seems to be most highly prized is simple money and values and traditions have been discarded, not by all but by some. Apparantly, some of those more fortunate are seeking positions of leadership in America and seek to trample further on the people enduring the plight of modern times. Those most vulnerable and those that are suffering under the conditions of politics and the economy.

America came into being and was forged as a nation under the oppression of some many years ago. There are those in these times that fashion themselves as kings who seek to impose a similar oppression upon the people. This is not acceptable nor is it fair or in the spirit of America. One cannot say that they love America while trampling upon other Americans.

It is now that we must seek out and find true leaders to continue the traditions and greatness that has made America what she is. Not to cut away the support systems that keep people healthy, with food on their tables, with medicines to keep them healthy, and for the support of those of lesser means and abilities that are struggling through hard times. To be a leader is to lead all and not just the chosen few. That is against every principle America represents.

To find leaders that consistently and sincerely care for and respect all Americans of every caliber and position. This we must do today.