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Saturday, May 2. 2009
A Belated May Day
This screed was intended for May Day, when every good Communist and Socialist celebrates the triumph of collective equality over Capitalism and its individual merit and achievement. The trouble with Communism and Socialism is that it cannot regulate, let alone eliminate, individual merit and achievement.Back when the Republicans tried to tap into the philosophy of Ayn Rand with their threats of “going Galt,” it seemed odd that they would raise up as their banner the nutty notion of all the “wealth earners” stopping their productive professional lives and leaving society to fend for itself economically.
In Atlas Shrugged the government declares war on the wealth earners by taxing them unmercifully. Poor dears.
The more logical tact would have been to point out that individual merit and achievement, as personified by the “heroes” of Atlas Shrugged has proven to be stronger than Communism and Socialism.
Instead, the Republicans, led by Michelle Malkin as I recall, vowed to stop producing wealth so they wouldn’t have to pay taxes and all the true conservatives in America would follow them to Galt’s Gulch! Except that average folks, who are mostly unfamiliar with Ayn Rand and even less so with her body of work, kept getting up six days a week to go to their jobs and earn a paycheck.
When you start a movement and you want a significant number of people to follow you, then that battle cry has to be relevant to the masses. Unfortunately for the Galters, less than 2% of the population will be affected when the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy expire next year.Lately I’ve been toying with the idea of starting a movement to get me elected to Congress or even the State Legislature. What the heck, I need a job. Truly, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor has been an inspiration! He appears to have no clue what in the Hell is going on and yet he’s in a leadership position. So how hard can it be?
I shouldn’t ask myself that question. I usually end up learning the answer the hard way.
What little group did he start the other day? Oh yeah, the National Council for a New America. He and Senator John McCain want to get outside Washington and have discussions about the issues and their new group, they say, is open to everyone, not just conservatives and Republicans. Well, so far only Republicans belong to the group and I’m guessing since we don’t hear about the group any longer it too is fading from public consciousness fast.
So anyway, back to celebrating May Day. I did so by spending the morning attending to medical issues and doctor appointments. First at the clinic in Mission Valley and then the V.A. Hospital in La Jolla. The horror. My friend John was driving me and on the way to Mission Valley for the 9 a.m. doctor appointment I assured I would be finished by 9:30 a.m. Sadly for him I didn’t walk out of the clinic until 10:30 a.m. and he was asked to drive all the way to the hospital in La Jolla to pick up some medications.John is a great guy. He did all this without a complaint or frown and was delighted even because he got to take a nap while waiting at the V.A. clinic in Mission Valley.
If that wasn’t enough, on the way home at 11:30 a.m. I asked John to swing through the drive through of the Mickey Dee’s. I hadn’t eaten anything in about 15 hours and was painfully starving. While waiting in Mission Valley John had a nice breakfast sandwich so he wasn’t hungry.
Later in the day John and I walked around Lake Miramar again, this time making it to the One Mile Pole! We didn’t think to dance around the pole but we did walk two miles in 42 minutes! That was awesome. When walking with John my pace just naturally picks up since he is a bit taller than me and I need to lengthen my strides to keep up. It feels good having my hamstrings stretched like that, especially my right leg; it really needs the therapy. So it’s a pleasure walking with John; he pushes me to forge ahead.Many friends have stepped up in these past five weeks. On Thursday I found myself in a tough situation and Mike came and got me right away. Dan gives me rides during the week and often buys me dinner on Friday Nights! And then of course Ilona. She’s been essential, almost indispensable during this recovery.
As we were plowing up the 163 the other day I pointed out the In-n-Out just off Balboa Ave. She wrinkled her brow for a second, but then spotted a sushi place close by; I could have In-n-Out without recrimination if it included a stop for sushi. Ah yes! Now I know! Next time! Tempt her with sushi!
Ilona is my food cop, but that’s not entirely fair. She’s been a ride so often I can’t begin to count.Friends are the true measure of wealth so I’m a pretty wealthy guy. In fact, my friend Alan still reads this screed! He even tells others about it so I’ll mention him here. Alan is the guy who, six years ago, convinced me to buy the Trusty Trek. Thanks Alan! Seriously, the doctors said riding the bike instead of a car might have saved my life! I’ll have to pay more attention to you!
When it comes to my friends, their individual merits and achievements have proven to be a collective virtue!
Oh yeah, May Day. So, this, the second day of May, is my May Day homage to friends, especially those who have been there in the clutch; you have really been the “go-to” guys. And gals. And for that I’m eternally grateful.
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