"THE END DAYS"?

 The national conversation this week was all about Hurricane Irene--and whispered within the talk, a tantalizing question, which we will get to later.  As we anxiously awaited Irene's visit and her  wrath  as she blasted her way across the eastern seaboard, we are reminded once again of our fragility and utter helplessness in the face of natural disasters. Preparations were made,  evacuations were done, agencies did what they could do, flights were cancelled, and ----then she hit, Irene came to call, but nobody answered the door.  New York looked like a ghost town, as the storm poured gallons of rain and blew its fury across the state. Irene left her calling cards with uprooted trees, flooded streets, submerged cars and massive power outages.  It wasn't as bad as feared, but the city and others across the east coast, stood firm---with the exception, so far, of 37deaths in 11 states. It wasn't another Katrina, but could have been, and there wouldn't have been much we could do about it.  Global warming theories not withstanding, we are but passengers on our space ship, and are no match for the violence and unpredictablity of  storms, to say nothing of earthquakes,  and tsunamis, which leave us trembling at our helplessness and  lack of ability to accurately foresee and prepare adequately for days of  natural disasters.   Days---they tumble generously out of the sky, one after the other, giving us a brand new beginning with each sunrise. None of us really knows where or how it all got started----we just don't want it to end.

 So the question for this week's conversation is:  Are these just capricious weather cycles, or climate change, or---signs of Biblical warnings?  'There shall be earthquakes and famine and  drought and---' to warn of the end of the world. There are those who claim this is it----the " end days", and we must get our spiritual selves in order---or be left behind, as written in the book of Revelations?  But haven't people been predicting the end endlessly since the beginning of time? And hasn't the earth been known to convulse and change dramatically over the eons ? Still, one can wonder at the world we live in and the seemingly over whelming problems---has the human race run its course and is headed towards the finish line? If there is a God, is He weary of us, and our ungodly ways---disappointed in His human experiment?  Will He repeat his impatient anger, as He did with Sodom and Gomorra, those Biblical cities who refused to turn away from their sins of greed, corruption, and worship of golden idols, now known as money? Well, that's pretty heavy duty stuff---way too religious and hokey-dokey for many to subscribe, much less re-order their spirituality---or their priorities.  Most of us are way too busy living to worry about such imaginary and apocalyptic  predictions.  No man has the ability to prophesy, and some have been dangerous, cult-ish, and wrong. Even  Al Gore and his cadre of scientists have been proven to be less than accurate, after all, with their dire weather facts.

But as we watch the evening news and observe the global crises, it isn't such a stretch to believe that we could well be on a path to major upheaval, if not destruction of our own making---so perhaps we don't need a God to provide the end. We are doing it all alone to ourselves by our inability to solve our problems, understand our neighbors, and strive for peace, rather than power---let alone the likes of "Irene" and "Katrina".Then again, perhaps, this is the dawning of a new  age, --- led not by Aquarius, but the "Arab Spring".  These countries may produce their own peaceful democracies, free from despotic and oppressive rule. They may cease to be a threat to us,  terrorism will finally be snuffed out, wars will end, and there will be treasure and compassion to end starvation in Africa, Asia and elsewhere. Tribal and ethnic differences will also end, as those in power will gain the wisdom to lead away from such cruel and senseless behavior. No religion will rule, but all may worship as they please, as long as they do not infringe upon another's right to do the same. A global economy will bring incredible co-operation and wealth to all, as we work together and share our resources. Utopia??  Why not?  It could happen---but probably will not.  We are humans, not gods, with limited wisdom--- and our instinct is to survive, to protect our own, and defend against those who would trespass against us. No, we would need divine intervention for such as the above to happen---which brings us to Biblical lore again---there is another story called "The rapture", a heavenly taking of some and leaving of others, which will precede many years of peace on earth----much too religious and complicated to discuss in mixed, secular company, which this is.

Of course, the Bible and it's stories  could all be a grand fairy tale, and this isn't an attempt to evangelize ---it's simply a reflection of the current conversational buzz, a possibility, a religious belief to many, and a nice alternative to the evening gloom and doom news.  End days?  Who knows? If you are any kind of  Biblical scholar , you surely know the words of Jesus so often quoted in response to those who would predict such things as endings---"I shall come as a thief in the night".In other words live well the present, and don't try to guess the end game--- not ours to know. It would be like cheating on an exam by peeking at the answers before hand---with life being the  real deal test.

But wait---- this blog is supposed to provide conversational fodder----yet isn't this all rather taboo, in that the "end of days" is usually spoken of in connection with religion, not terrorism, wars, nuclear bombs or even climate change disasters, which are much more politically correct.  Certainly,  do not call "Irene" and "Katrina"  "acts of God", perpetrated perhaps by an angry God,, a la Sodom and Gomorra, as Michelle Bachmann recently and half jolkingly implied .She got burned big time by the media for that one---who considered  her remarks politically inappropriate, unsophisticated, and terribly offensive.  No, no no, they ba-a-a , ba-a-ad---natural disasters  are simply freak accidents of Mother Nature ----as we may also be, and no telling when or where the end will come.

So be  careful with whom you discuss "the end days", unless you run into Michelle Bachmann.  Those words smack of Biblical references and faith---and well, that's just not very popular or intellectual sounding anymore---separation of church and state, don't you know. We are becoming  increasingly secular and proud of it.  In God we trust??  Are you kidding me?  That was our founders' idea, not necessarily ours---and we are a changing, fluid mix of people, less and less needful of any God in our government. But then, in whom do we trust? What do we stand for, and whose principles do we follow? We appear to no longer care so much----

 Unless you happen to be  John Polkinghorne, a world class physicist , author, and reknowned scientist who dares to speak of the relationship between science and religion.  He admits to not knowing for sure that there is a God, bows to uncertainties in both religion and science, but is a believer in spite of his doubts ---just as he believes in other scientific theories, such things as "light", or "quarks", or "gluons".  But he says there is enough evidence of God all around us for him to "bet my life on it----I'm not certain. Sometimes I'm wrong". I don't know what Mr. Polkinghorne would think about the "end days" and all the supposed signs we're seeing, but I'll bet he's not betting against it.

I like a gambling man who will bet his life on what he doesn't know for sure---and is willing  to take a leap of faith.  Takes guts to go publicly against the flow and many of your own peers----and an intelligence, which concedes to the possibility of a higher intelligence, presumably based on some pretty hard evidence---a life sustaining planet, a universe of infinite mystery, order, and design, and a race of people who know not from where they came---but, who in spite of their many flaws, have great capacity to love, laugh, and weep----and who cherish the thought of yet another day to get it all right.       

THE RIGHT STUFF----

The race is on-----for who will be the next Republican presidential nominee It's a little early yet to bet the farm, but right now, it's looking like the front runners are Mitt Romney, the Mass. Governor; Michelle Bachmann, congresswoman from Minnesota; and the latest entry, Rick Perry, the Texan Governnor---cowboy boots,and shades of Bush, et al. There are others, but so far, they are not resonating in the polls or the media. Does that matter? Yes---we are, for better or worse, a country influenced by media, image, and popularity, reflected by the polls. If we were not, Ron Paul, the eternal candidate, congressman, and devoted libertarian; Newt Gingrich, still in the running and probably the smartest kid in the class; and Sara Palin the most passionate, would be in the current crop of likely winners---any one of them, however could still rise up and join the latter laps of the race. Sara hasn't officially declared her presidential aspirations, but is predicted to do so later---personally, I doubt it, but stranger things have happened. Anything could happen at this stage, including a new, not yet known face---think Obama. News has it that Paul Ryan, the House Budget Committee Chairman, who crafted the controversial budget ammendment, is being encouraged to run---he's young, good looking enough, and very bright---but does he have the right stuff? More to the question , what "stuff" sells to the American public? We can be a fickle bunch, sometimes just voting for anybody other than whom we don't like. And other times, we vote our hearts, rather than our minds---or our hopes, rather than reality.

 There are those who say that Obama will be easy to beat. His approval ratings for a sitting president are at an historically low 37%, his accomplishments are few, unemployment is awful, housing not much better, and our debt crisis still in peril. But, this prez has moxie and he intends to take it to the people, as evidenced by his recent bus( million dollar limousine manufactured in Canada) tour. His main message is that the mess we're in is not his fault, and that his opponents must rise above politics, and "put country before party"---read, vote his way, and raise taxes to cover all his spending. The cries for non-partisanship sound disingenuous at best, and like hypocritical gamesmanship at worst---who does he think he's kidding? This is the man who would not even listen to anyone opposing his health care plan, and waved off any serious cuts to the budget,leaving it finally to a committee of twelve, not to mention that his vice president, Biden, has referred to the Tea Party as "terrorists". Non-partisanship? After you, Mr. President. The bus tour is now over, having attracted thin crowds and not the hoped for enthusiasm. Now,he has taken off for Martha's Vineyard for a family vacation,giving his critics even more ammunition. Does he even care what people think? Has he not heard of "stay-cations"? Oh, the slings and arrows of public servants-----can't really blame the guy for needing to get away from what has turned out to be a pressure cooker presidency. But one has to wonder about his timing and whether he's really into a second term. Maybe he sees the handwriting on the wall---or in the election booths, and has decided if he's going to lose, he's going down big---with million dollar limousines, make that buses, and rich man's vacations.

 But don't count Obama out yet--- he's not done yet, and Americans, as a rule, don't like to admit they've made a mistake ----they tend to give second chances, and some still unbeliebably believe in the magic of Obama. They are convinced that his perceived weaknesses are just that---an incorrect perception. And in fact , that he is actually " too cool for school", way too intelligent for most people to grasp, and that eventually his low key global approach will pay off in our diplomatic relationships, his healthcare victory will prove to be the right thing, his stimulus and over reaching regulation programs will prove to have been better than the alternatives, and that his spread the wealth philosophy is the new American/European way. Whether he can hold on to his true believers, while courting the middle with words of " compromise" and "common sense", remains to be seen. Obama's brilliance was and is his oratorical prowess, his ability to connect with "the folks"---but his hands-on job experience was always the worry---and who and what he really believed was even more troublesome. We now see a man whose political and ideologies are driving him, but apparently not leading the country. Is there still time for him to transcend his own limitations and surprise us with a conversion to greatness, and in his own words, "put country before party"?

 Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the Republicans are scratching their heads and searching for "the one". Who will it be? The media has convinced us that he/she doesn't exist. Don't believe them---one will rise to the occasion in time. The Dems are scared silly, as they watch their president losing favor every day. The country is floundering, with the stock market, our financial bell weather, rocking and rolling ---and the people are looking for leadership. There is great unrest and discontent---a sense of loss, and a profound desire to re--calculate our way. Perhaps this is our pinnacle moment in history to decide which kind of country we will be---an entitlement state, or a return to our roots of a capitalistic society. But first we must figure out a way to survive our economic crisis, and much rides on the next election. Look the candidates over carefully, including the current president---and place your bets for whom you think has the right stuff. And what is that? At this in point in time, it seems like it is an amalgamation, just like us---of someone who understands that, who will have the ability to lead and inspire all of us. Of course, he or she must have intelligence, leadership qualities, charisma, a bit of shrewdness, acceptable appearance, an optimism and a sense of the inivisible ties that bind us, and, most of all--- an innate perception of who we really are ----a unique ,great mix of people, talents, and energy, with a fierce love of freedom; that we still treasure our historic independence from big government, and have no wish for extreme change; that while we must care for those who need help, we don't wish to become slaves to a welfare state, and that we still believe in ourselves.

 The race is on for the next Presidential election----it's a big one, and we can only hope that through the grueling, only in the USA, electoral kind of process, the right one with the right stuff will emerge---be it a wiser, more experienced Obama, or a Republican replacement---what we really need is someone to steer us through these dark times---someone with a big light, lots of heart, and the wisdom of Solomon---now accepting resumes. Party affiliation is important, but not the total stuff----Reagan had it, Kennedy had it, Clinton had it---- unbridled love of country.

HOUSTON----WE HAVE A REALLY BIG PROBLEM---

So----we have lift-off, Houston.  The debt crisis debate is over---or is it?  We lifted, temporarily at least, the threat of economic disaster by raising the debt limit at the very last possible moment---and with a grand display of  "give a little, get a little" Washington politics.  Problem is, most people would agree nobody got very much out of this deal, considering the magnitude of the problem. After all the smoke cleared, and the congressman stopped congratulating each other, we now have a 14.3 trillion dollar debt. The debt ceiling has been  raised by 2.4 trillion predicated upon promised spending cuts of 917 billion over ten years, with another 1.5 trillion in cuts proposed before the end of the year.  To ensure all this works as planned, there will a panel of 12, now being tagged  the "Super committee" or "The Dirty Dozen", bi-partisan ( is there such an animal?) members of congress to oversee this two stage plan and instigate the cuts.  If they cannot accomplish enough cuts , a "trigger" will automatically kick in --- especially targeted will be domestic entitlement programs, --- and the military budget. Either way, the debt ceiling will increase, and at this point in time, without a balanced budget amendment.

So, who won this  very contentious battle of spending vs. cuts vs. taxes?  Some say the Democrats, but many of them are not happy with the present agreement not to at least tax the rich; others say the Republicans won, but there are plenty of them who fear they will lose when President Obama goes after taxes if nobody can agree on where the cuts are going to come from---and do we really believe that won't happen?  And then there is the Tea Party, who the media tried to portray as winners,insisting that the Republicans stand  staunchly against taxes---but they are not happy either, still feeling that the debt increase was way too much for far too little, and the spectre of future tax hikes haunts them, as the choices for cuts narrow down to the military and possibly medicare.  It appears the final solution was far from final---and only the beginning of another battle, come fall when the Super 12 must decide for the country what's best in terms of cuts.  For now, we can breathe a little easier, having averted a government shut-down---but it's only a reprieve, with much more bickering to come.

If the stock market is any indication, our staggering economy and the public were not comforted or encouraged by the latent and compromised vote on the debt crisis. The market plummeted one day this week by 500 points, and though not the worst in history, it wasn't a good sign.  It knows, as do most folks, instinctively,  that something doesn't smell right, doesn't feel right, and probably isn't alright---more likely the vote last Tuesday was pathetically only a political manuever, designed to pacify, appease, and procrastinate, with much of it driven by election concerns. Like a  bad cold, which we treat with aspirin to ease the discomfort, the  national debt has not gone away, and the economy continues to show very little recovery.  There is much uncertainty as we look away from the cliff we were supposedly about to tumble over, and into the eyes of the elephant still in the room.

Where and to whom do we look for comfort and guidance---certainly not to Europe, who seems to be screaming at us to learn from their mistakes? President Obama?  Many think the honeymoon  is over for this man, who while he managed to stay above the congressional "sausage making" , did little to guide or offer alternative ideas. He came off looking like "Johnny one note"--tax, tax, tax the rich. However, he may have won more than it appears---it looks at first glance that he caved on this issue, but look again--- he knows he holds the final cards when and if the approved cuts do not do enough to trim the budget or encompass the type of cuts he approves.  Furthermore, his costly health care plan miraculously escaped so far, unscathed, even though it is going to contribute heavily to the budget expense, as it attempts to provide insurance for all.   He seems unable to raise our spirits, having cast his lot time and again with his political agendas and ambitions, leaving the rest of us, without much reason for hope or optimism. "Things will get better", he said this week---but his words ring hollow, as though he himself doesn't believe it.  "Hope and change"? What we need is stability. At a recent 50th birthday celebration for the president this week, Obama claimed that he had not promised over night change----and that he was only half way through with the changes he hopes to make for this country----bold statements coming from a president who seems out of touch with a country who is on its knees as the result of too much change, seemingly over night.

Summarily, one could conclude "there is little joy in mudville"  this week as we worry and wonder what's next.  And how about the vulnerability of our military budget which is up for at least one half of the proposed cuts?  Are we willing to risk our security? Will medicare eventually be affected? Are higher taxes for all only a matter of time? These questions have not disappeared and will be dealt with again and again---until we manage to do something besides print more money. But at least, for now, we're still here, and regardless that Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister of Russia, dares to call us "parasites", living off other countries, we're not down yet.  There may have been a bit of truth in that statement, but the contempt and disrespect was palpable, personal, and a slap in the face to a country that has been known to help so many others in their hour of need, including Russia.  It is time to get our house in order. The debt crisis ended this week, but perhaps it has just begun and has served to awaken the people of this country--- because, if nothing else, we now know, "Houston, we have a problem"----pray that we'll stay alert and keep chipping away at it, until we get it right.

As these last lines are being written, word comes that for the first time in history, the United States credit rating has been down graded.  Uh---Houston, are you there? SOS!! Wait----haven't we shut down the space program? OMG---make that, literally, OMG----