25+ observations (not quite Andy Rooney)

Andy Rooneywas a commentator on60 Minutes, a televisionnews show.  In his later years, he was most famous for his little observations in the show’s final minute or two.  He served as a US Army reporter during World War Two, even winning a Bronze Star.  I had a few observations of things, and it immediately made me think of Rooney’s minute.

1. Why do Americans automatically associate a religion with a nation?  Israel is not all Jews, Iran is not all Shia, and the US itself is a polyglot of beliefs.

2. The US has never won a counter-insurgency, so why do we constantly provoke the need to fight a type of conflict we never win?

3. Those who would have peace should prepare for war.  The saying says prepare, not start.

4. Jimi was right–there will only be peace when the power of love surpasses the love of power.

5. Why do conservatives claim Jesus as one of them?  Have they read the Bible?  Jesus disliked the greedy and rich, he cared for the poor and the weak.  If he was alive today, Jesus would be a Democrat (but NOT Bernie Sanders).

6. Why do politicians who have never been in a classroom know better than teachers how to run a classroom?  Since government makes a hash of most things–do we really want it with increasing influence in classrooms?

7. If teachers get paid so much for such a great job–why is there a shortage of teachers?  Great pay, no work…you’d think people would be lining up for teaching.  Hmmmm….

8. Ever notice how administrators always want to cut costs by cutting the salaries of staff, faculty, coaches, etc, but very few administrators think it’s good to cut their own salaries?  Chop a teacher’s salary 30% and you save $10,000.  Chop a Dean or VP’s salary–save yourself $50,000…enough to hire another teacher, too.

9. Only one university in the US cut it’s administrator:faculty ratio from 2000-2015.  Curious that it’s in a state that didn’t see a tuition increase from 2010-2015 either, for any of its state schools.

10. Why do people complain about doctor competence, yet when the physician says ‘Take this for 10 days’, they stop after six…then get surprised when the same illness returns and is more resistant to the medication?

11. Why do people go to a doctor for an exam and then say, “But Google said…”?

12. Men and women were not meant to run naked.  Really.

13. Former Confederate States of America states all demand less government spending, yet receive more than the national average and don’t see a problem with that.

14. When Ronald Reagan and Barry Goldwater can’t pass your ‘litmus tests’ for being a true conservative, your political party has a problem.

15. When JFK, LBJ, and Jimmy Carter are ‘too conservative’ to be true Democrats–your party has a political problem.

16. Politics today are much more polite than they used to be.  Once upon a time, Thomas Jefferson insinuated John Adams was a pedophile.  Ahh, the good old days of the noble Founding Fathers!  …until, of course, 1/6/21 when the greatest fear of the Founding Fathers came to pass–the incitement of a mob by a demagogue masquerading as president.

17. Speaking of Founding Fathers–I wonder if any Senators or Representatives have actually read what the Founders wrote, things like their belief in helping the poor, not meddling in every day affairs….or maybe wanting to avoid political dynasties? 

18. You know, if you purchased one of my novels, you could help me not pay taxes like Al Sharpton or Donald Trump.  Have you read one of my books?  Well, you should.

19. Why do administrators think equal rights means hiring people based on their gender?  Isn’t equal rights about hiring based on ability and ignoring gender? 

20. Everybody needs experience.  If you’re good running your shop, take a chance on giving someone their first experience in business, coaching, teaching, whatever.  Better still–ever thought of hiring someone different than you to add a new perspective?

21. If states want to improve student abilities–rather than look at lots of standardized tests, how about we don’t let kids use calculators on math problems in 3rd grade?  Maybe we could have reading time every day–and homework, too? 

22. I like watching athletes with skill and work ethic regardless of sport or team–or age level

23. Adults wonder why fewer kids play sports.  Maybe the fact that travel teams now exist for 4-yr olds has something to do with that?  Let kids be kids and get adults’ compulsive urge to organize things out of there.  Step back–let them play.

24. Parents pay travel teams so their kids can get athletic scholarships.  Maybe use the money on math lessons–there’s far more academic aid available than athletic.

25. Maybe parents could take those travel-ball expenses and put the money in a bank account. 4-6 years of travel ball fees is enough to pay for *an entire college degree* sometimes.

26. I wish I could’ve had a fastball to match the curve I could throw.  My elbow wishes I never threw those curves.

27. Classic cars look cool, but modern SUVs are easier to drive, have better comforts, and are faster.  I’ll still take the classic look.

28. In thirty years, every boy/young man who ‘manscaped’ will regret it when their children see their pictures.  It’ll be the big hair 1980s in reverse.

29. Everyone groans when they here a ‘dad joke’–but they are always happy to tell them.

30. Is there anyone more responsible for chaos at home or at work than the two brothers “Not Me” and “Wasn’t Me”?

31. Who wins–a sneaking ninja or the Lego pieces left by a kid on the floor?

32. Hard to believe but we could control greenhouse gases by reducing cow farts even though it’s true.

33. Japan developed an AI to tell the difference between a croissant and a bearclaw.  It failed…but turned out to do well differentiating between cancerous and healthy cells.

34. Cheetos are the best-tasting packing peanuts ever.

35. Americans admire, worship, and are jealous of wealth.  We do not admire the hard work required to achieve the American dream–and avoid that work in many instances.

36. Why is Jesus always portrayed as a skinny, meek white guy?  Dude was Sephardic.  He was a carpenter in an era without power tools capable of wreaking havoc without interference in a public arena.  He was a rabbi/philosopher in the body of Schwarzenegger (or the Iron Sheik).

37. Monopoly isn’t really about being good at building a business empire.

38. Republicans keep demanding lower taxes…except they are already less than 1/3 the level Reagan thought was the bare minimum for efficient government/running the nation.  What did I miss in my economics classes?

39. Elected officials should be required to take a test on the US Constitution and their state’s constitution.  Those test results should be made public.  We should know which of the people we’ve elected actually understands the American system of government.

40. Why do Americans side with billionaire sports owners in fights against millionaire athletes?  Are billionaires REALLY going about things fairly?  

41. There’s a shortage of HS coaches and officials.  The common denominator–dealing with parents.  Hmmmm.

42. Since this is #42, it makes me think of Jackie Robinson, but we should also remember Larry Doby, first black to play in the A.L. and also the first black player in base ball before the turn of the 20th century.

43. If we’re looking at the line item number, can I mention anyone other than Richard Petty?  He is responsible for NASCAR’s popularity.  He never turned a fan away from an autograph or a photograph, never hesitated to talk with kids.  But when his driver, Bubba Wallace, started speaking out on police violence and the Black Lives Matter movement, when Wallace got pressured to be quiet, Petty stood by him and the need for Wallace to speak out even if it affected Petty’s bank account.  When we talk about people in sports to admire–Petty needs to be mentioned regularly (and I don’t care totally for NASCAR).

44. Do I even NEED to mention the great athlete associated with this number?  Totally underappreciated now.