Cap and Trade/Energy Bill

Here I go again! Raising a red flag! This time it is because the House of Representatives slid a bill through that was proposed by the Administration that, as reported, will make huge economic changes, possibly to our detriment, in our lives.

Wish I knew more about the provisions of the bill. But what I am hearing, a lot from the Fox network - and maybe CNN is talking the same, is that this is going to cost us individually hugely. It worries me that it seems not much debate was made in the House. It worries me that such a huge bill would pass and not much be said about it. Frankly, I did not know anything about it until a friend of mine emailed me a couple of days ago all distraught.

I think we want energy looked at. I think we want to loose ourselves from the choke hold of foreign oil. I think we might should be concerned about global warming, although there seems to be quite a few who say the alarm is being rung too loudly. But I think non of us wants to pay for it; at least, we don't want to pay what we don't have. Isn't that a kick?

Fact is, many of us cannot afford to pay for it, from what I am hearing now. Maybe the Administration is taking too big a chew? I don't know, but I don't like what I hear. For example, houses have to be made 30 percent more energy efficient. And that does not just apply to new houses. It applies to us when we want to sell our house. Isn't that a kick?

Somebody needs to tell me what all that means. I do hope the Senate is more cautionary than I think the House was. I often complain about all the deliberation in the Senate as I watch on C-SPAN, but now I want them to slow it so that provisions can be debated to come with a solution that we all can live with. People, the Senate in this case, gotta also think about the people.

Maybe there is no easy solution, but all factors have to be weighed, and we must do what we have to in small enough steps that we can bring everybody along in their state of readiness.
I know here I stand the risk of talking where I do not know, but it is on my mind, for sure.

One thing more: The Obama administration sure seems to be coming out in mass change. Frankly, again, I am worried. We need to see what happens with one before we swing so rapidly into the other is my gut feeling.

There, I have raised my Red Flag. I feel better.

Some thoughts on Rotary

This is a good time for me to think about Rotary. Tonight is the annual banquet where administrations are change, from the previous year to the new, which actually begins July 1. I am the incoming secretary of The Laredo Rotary Club.

I served two years before as secretary. Then I was out of the club for a couple of years adjusting to retired life and to some health difficulties that I was encountering. Joining back up about six months ago, the incoming president asked me if I would be his secretary for the coming year. I accepted. So, here I am about to be inducted to a year of keeping record and doing what I can as secretary to bolster the club.

The Laredo Rotary Club was chartered May 1, 1920 in Laredo. Rotary had its beginning in Chicago, Illinois in 1905, first off by three businessmen who just wanted to meet together. They rotated their meetings between their offices. That is where the name came from, from rotating to Rotary. Today, Rotary International is all over the world doing things to help people, following its motto Service above Self. That is what The Laredo Rotary Club is about - helping people.

Our club has been doing good things locally since its beginning. Thus, it is a good organization to be in, if one wants to help people. I like it because it is a way that I can help fulfill my objectives in Christianity. Christianity is about helping people, too. I call the club kinda like church, though I know it is not, but for me, it is.

So our club, with our new administration will push off tonight to keep the flame burning as best we can. Our president, Jim Williams, has a lot of expectations. The rest of us will try to make those expectation come to fruition.

Oh, there is another reason I like Rotary. I like the Four Way Test that each of repeats at each weekly meeting: Of the things we think, say or do, FIRST, is it the truth? SECOND, is it fair to all concerned? THIRD, will it build good will and better friendships? and FOURTH, will it be beneficial to all concerned? This was adopted in 1943 by Rotary International as a process to promote better ethics in dealing with mankind. Again, seems like church to me.

So, off we go for the 2009-2010 Rotary year in Laredo, Texas. I wish us well.

Reflections on Fathers' Day (My 8 y/o letter to my dad)

Dad, tomorrow is Fathers Day. I guess you knew that, though you might not; I forgot it until yesterday when someone reminded me.

Though late in life, I still remember the best thing I learned, or had reiterated: in taking college course here a couple of years ago, the English teacher told the class to just write a letter, because that was the most important thing that a parent could receive. I believe that to be true, and that is what I am doing now.

I think as Fathers we do want to know what our kids think, and I guess we want to know what they think about us, though there is not much we can do about their thoughts now, this late in life. But I know in my case, if I did something to make my kids better, I would feel good that they told me so -- though I know writings too can flower things over a bit. But that is OK on the Fathers Day. After all it is the day I am supposed to feel good as a father and a day that I have opportunity to make you feel good as my father.

Fathers are like all: there are some things we could have done better and perhaps some things we wish we had not even tried. I know that is true in my case, and I would imagine that is true for you. But this is not a day that we reflect on our mistakes; it is a day we reflect on our successes, and what I say here is not "flowering it over.".

I have always looked on you with respect and with pride. I held you in high esteem because you worked for the AAA (a Tennessee county agriculture office), though I can't remember quite that far back with specifics. I was proud that you worked for the state (that was getting a little closer), and I was proud of all the promotions you got. I was always glad to say, " My Dad did (this and that)." And I am proud of you today when you tell me about leading a prayer or having a Bible discussion or when you say you won or lost a Bingo game.

When you were gone from home so much, I was always anxious for you to get home. Roger and I would stand out near the road on Fridays looking for your car coming in. There were a couple of times you didn't make it, like when you were in a car wreck a couple of times and when we had the ice storm; and in those cases we were saddened, not knowing for sure of your safety, though Mom was always the cement that kept us in good spirits (I wonder to this day how she always hid her real feelings-- most of the time.)

I remember the pride that you seemed to have with my successes, too. At least I think I recognized it: like when I was commissioned an officer in the Navy, and when you told someone last year that I "was a writer for the Laredo Morning Times." There were other times, too, and they all contributed to my good thoughts of you on this your day.

There is so much that I could talk about, but more than anything I would give you a pat on the back for the encouragements to do good that you gave us, sometimes by word and sometimes just by support or example.

Nothing has changed in the way you are. You are still all those things and more. Even today, I look forward, as you turn 81 and I 60, to those talks, though short they may be, that we just "chew the fat," so to speak, when we might just talk about the weather or how well we slept the night before.

This know: I am proud of you. You did good, Dad. May God bless you on this your Fathers Day.

Chuck Owen

Laredo, Texas

June 17, 2000

Almost the price of a cup of coffee

Don't need to let this idea of blogging grow too cold. There is always something that will come up to warm up the cold, docha you know.

I was reminded yesterday of how it used to be to get an envelope in the mail with a window, and you knew it was not something good. The IRS used to send stuff like that. Other "dunners" did, too. It always brought some feeling of anxiety. Well, yesterday kinda took me back - to the good ole days? Naw.

I get the windowed envelope and study it and open it. Turned out the toll road people in Austin were saying I owed the $1.60 for not paying to be on their 183A. They had me cold. My name, my license plate (they did leave off the handicap), and MY ADDRESS, and a date that I was definitely there and traversing somewhere in the neighborhood of 183A. Wow! I felt bummed for not paying that $1.60!

Worse, they said if I didn't pay by a certain date (luckily it was a month away), the charge would go to $200.00, by law.

Well, I did not do it! Not that I have any recollection of, anyway. I do know that I travelled 183 NW out of Austin, and I distinctly remember there being a toll road off to my right, but I chose to stay on the non-toll 183. I saw several places I could get on the toll. But I stayed off. Frankly, I wished I had taken it, because, turned out, I went through a lot of red lights "getting outta Dodge."

Thinking of the billings and the warning, I wondered how they got me? I know I didn't do it, but how does one fight "city hall." They must have had a panoramic camera. So, I went online last night and paid the $1.60 with a credit card. I decided that my defense was not worth $1.60. Who could hire a lawyer for that amount, anyway?

I did decide today to call them and make my point, anyway; just have my say. I got one of those animated/automated, push this/push that, and after a few minutes, they sent me to a real live agent's line, the animator said. But then, another animated voice came on, saying, "Your expected wait to talk (to a real live agent) will be approximately 11 minutes." Humm. Wait 11 minutes to argue a $1.60 charge? I don't think so. I hung up.

Clearly (to me, obviously- I just hate it when folks use that word), I know I did not access their toll road, and thus did not really owe the bill, but what can one do? Not much. Just pay it and go on. And that is what I did.

Such is life. I will maybe eliminate one cup of coffee, or maybe I won't.

Memorial Day in perspective

We are at Memorial Day again. It used to be called Decoration Day, which was a day when folks would visit the cemetaries to decorate the graves of the war dead. But now we call it Memorial Day, probably with the intent of raising the level of appreciation for those who died in defense of their country.

Many times people confuse the day as a day to honor all veterans, people have served or who are serving, but that is not the case. We have a Veteran's Day for that purpose. We also have an Armed Forces Day. Both of these are for the purpose of paying honor to the living who served or are serving.

With regard to the cemetery, one last thought. Cemetery comes from a Greek word which meant the place where the dead sleep. That was a change long time ago from a term we called Grave Yard, which left out the idea that they only sleep but left the impression of a final resting place. Well, so much for that.

My brother is in New York today as I write and is participating in what is called Fleet Day. He and the family were going out to the museum piece now called the Intrepid. The Intrepid, now a museum, was once a fighting ship, a carrier, of our Navy. It was commissioned in 1943 but served its time a few years ago to become a museum, where the efforts of men at sea could be reflected upon. Reminds me of the USS Independence (pictured), where I served.

Back to Memorial Day. We have had countless thousands (well, they are counted, but I like that phrase) who have died in defense of our country, whatever we might have called that (I am thinking of the Civil War, where there were two countries offering up their sons to die.) We could list the number, and it would be staggering, of those who left home and never returned.

So Memorial Day is a day in which we give some thanks, some memory, for the sacrifice made. While we might sound a glory horn for them, it is not really that. They went at our order for the most part, and while many may have indeed gone knowing they might never return in the carrying out of their duty, many sure hoped to return home, and they did not.

We must appreciate all who have given so much in order that we might have the freedom we enjoy. Without that effort there is no telling what system we might live under today.

But we need to know that it was not all pleasure in which they served, those who came back and those who did not. I am reminded of a poem written by Winfred Owen (no relation) which probalby speaks more to the thought of the soldier, airman, seaman, Marine, on the field of battle. In my thinking Owen brings out the best way of saying Freedom is not Free. His poem ends "The old Lie: Dulce et decorum estPro patria mori," which is to say, "It is sweet and seemly to die for one's country" is a lie. The title to the poem is Dulce et decorum est.

As we memorialize on the Memorial Day, we must also understand what the sacrifice was - for those who served in Intrepid and those who fought on the battlefields so far from home.

Thoughts on San Diego, CA

Just winding up a four day visit in San Diego. Came with my wife, who came on business. So, the visit was not to see or learn about San Diego. It was really just to be here. But wouldn't it be terrible to visit a place of significance and not see or learn some about it? I thought so.

Everybody visits places and misses the finer details that are available. We all do that. I have thought in retirement how neat it would be to go to places and visit with the old timers and find out more. Never did that, but I still think it would be neat. For a while on San Diego I was thinking I would come and go and not know much about San Diego. Oh, I experienced some of the beauty and the cool weather (Texas was over 100 degrees while we were gone, and the daytime in San Diego was not more that 67.)

So, I got to looking around to find how to leave knowing something more. I would hate to go home and somebody ask, but didn't you see.....? I found a tour! The tour took two hours, which we had available on the last day and cost us $64 but it was time and money well spent. We took the Old Town Trolley Tours.

The driver was Bill. Bill had been doing it long enough and had been educated in what he did that he could give us a lot of information. That information enables us to leave feeling we know something about San Diego. So now when we get home and the question is asked, we might be able to answer some of the questions right.

The tour first took us to Coronado Island across the Coronado Bay Bridge. Turns out that bridge has not been around very long. Used to people had to use a ferry to get back and forth. Of course the whole of the area, like all other areas, has been developed from nothing. It was interesting to hear that a Spaniard planted a flag on Point Loma for Spain. Well the first did so and named it one thing, but the second, some 10 years later assigned the name that stuck.

Who would want to miss Balboa Park? That will be one question and can provided some answers so. I am waiting for someone to ask, "Where did all the trees come from." I will respond that this woman got approval from the city to plant trees, and she did, greatly. I can tell them I saw a statute of her, to her memory, but I cannot remember the name. I can say she made a beautiful place, for sure.

Who woulda thought there would be a Little Italy in San Diego, California? There is. Of course, San Diego is a melting pot of nations, as is much of the USA these days. And now I know where the first USA flag was planted following the Mexican American war. Probably not the same flag pole, but Bill said it was the same spot, and I believe Bill.

Bill had all kinds of stories. Some might not have been true, but I expect more were. Particularly the stories of the few entrepreneurs who bought land cheap and made a mint were probably true. And the fellow by the name of Horton who had a big hand in developing New Town (as compared to Old Town) was likely true. He has several monuments around. And about how San Diego really populating following the 1906 quake of San Francisco. I imagine that was true, too.

Yes, a tour is a good way to learn more. While it would have been nice to take a little more time in certain places, this was good enough be me at the moment. Now I can go home feeling I have gotten a little more out of what was always available.

How much does $2 trillion really help?

The news of the day is that current health care providers including insurers have agreed to shave $2 trillion off expected increases over the next four years. Wow! "What a deal," the sages seem to be saying. Personally, I have been struggling with that. What does that mean?

They are not, to my knowledge talking about cutting what is now paid for health insurance. That stays, plus the expected increases over the next four years less about 1.5 percent. (I think I have all that right as to the percentage and the time. It is something like that, anyway). I have been waiting for somebody to say what that really means, but, no; no one is saying anything except about the savings plan. What I want to know is what is going to be done about current health care costs?

For example, I spent one day in a local hospital recently and the bill to the insurance was over $8,000.00. What they are talking about now has nothing to do with that. It has something to do with that cost escalating to maybe $12,000 over the next four years rather than $13,000 (just for talking purposes).

In all this one has to question why costs might go up 40 percent in the next four years. Why would that be? Cost of product? Cost of manufacture? Cost of labor? Cost of profit? Whoa. Profit? Yes, profit is usually turned into a planned or expected increase. Isn't it? I think so. And the profits are spread over all areas considered from the origination to delivery phases. Yes.

So, what I am saying is no one is addressing the real problem. All they, the media and the administration, are talking about is a savings of $2 trillion, and they are making that sound like a really good deal. Well, is it?

$2 trillion divided by 300 million people amounts to about $7,000 per citizen over a year's time (if we were just talking about citizens, which we are not). Put that way, it does not sound like a lot, actually. But if that is so, how about what is left? Come on, now! Lets get real about the cost of health care and stop just talking about someone's expectations of where it is going.