Fostering Evil

Enron was founded in 1985.  By April 17, 2001 their fraud became public knowledge.  We have since become aware that dozens, if not hundreds, of Enron associates were aware of the company’s nefarious activities but remained silent.  Their intent was to squeeze every last penny they could out of that corrupt company for their own wealth, comfort and enjoyment.  

Deregulation began under the Carter administration.  It was vigorously continued under the Reagan, George Hubert Walker Bush and the Clinton administrations.  The removal of many of these restrictions and safeguards dealt with the banking industry.  This banking deregulation hit it’s crescendo in 1999 with the repeal of “Glass Stegall.”  

 “Glass Stegall,” was enacted in 1933, shortly after the “Great Depression” in 1929.  Its purpose was to restrict commercial banks from engaging in highly speculative investment practices.   When President Clinton stripped us of “Glass Stegall” and its  66-year protections, commercial banks could then speculate if far riskier investments for greater profits.  

These newly fashioned investment giants devised derivatives and created the housing bubble.  This resulted in the country’s worst economic downturn since that great depression in 1929.   The repeal of “Glass Stegall” proved to be the lynchpin for the financial crisis of 2007 - 2008.

 As in the case of Enron, we learned that hundreds of Wall Street wizards knew of these swindles and again remained silent.  Like Enron, none of those silently duplicitous were ever held accountable.  

In November 2011 we became aware of the Penn State sexual abuse practices.  We learned that the abuse had been ongoing for 15 years and involved some 52 students.  Once again, we come face-to-face with the same old disgusting reality.  Any activity this widespread had to be known by others who, once again, remained silent.

 Since September 2016 we have known about the sexual abuse that took place within the Olympics and at Michigan State University.  USA Gymnastics National Team Doctor and a Michigan State University osteopathic physician who treated female athletes from 1986 to 2016 has been accused of molesting 150 young women.  Currently the University faces lawsuits from 144 female athletes.  No criminal reprisals are currently expected for Michigan State or those who had to be aware of this debauchery.   

Once again, we have someone who was able to avoid detection; this time for 30 years. Now we are told, once again, that no one knew anything about it?   Yet, the most recent developments at Penn State tend to suggest otherwise.  

 Even in the face of limited undying alumni and board of trustees backing for Joe Paterno and the school, new information continues to strongly support that the school's administration had knowledge of the revolting campus conduct far in advance of 2011.  Meanwhile, the financial fallout for the school is now close to a quarter billion dollars.  Lawsuits run rampant, including Penn State suing their insurance company for not covering more of the school’s nefarious and cruel activities.  

 It was scoffed at years ago when the suggestion – NO; make that the demand – that Penn State university be shut down.  That same scribe is about to do it again in suggesting – NO; demanding - that Michigan State University be denied its accreditation and all of its public funding cut off.  Based upon what we are continuing to learn about Penn State, we would be wise to heed Michigan State trustee Joel Fergusons’ assessment; “There’s so many more things going on at the university (Michigan State) than just this Nassar thing.” 

 A teacher at a local college once suggested that administration changes in admission policy was not just unethical but boarding on immoral.  His colleagues became furious with him demanding he keep his mouth shut as the school’s profitability was their livelihood.  He didn’t and he was fired.  That school has since closed its doors. 

Then, OF COURSE, there’s the Catholic Church 

 A popular axiom is that “Evil flourishes where good men do nothing.”  Ample evidence suggests a flaw in that wisdom.  For evil flourishes where the knowledgeable (not the good) remain silent.  Enablers cause as much pain and suffering as the perpetrators.  It’s time to hold them accountable.

MLK Day

Today has been set aside to honor perhaps the greatest American to ever walk among us. 

What makes the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Junior so extraordinary beyond his success in the civil rights movement, is that he NEVER held an elective office or any political post.  He worked outside the system.  He created a movement that initially had no political support, no funding and faced violent opposition resulting in the deaths of many who supported humane treatment for our fellow citizens.    

 

That makes today one of the most significant days of the year.  Significant because most American today believe that simply showing up at the ballot box is where their responsibility in safeguarding our liberties begins and ends.  They refuse to become activists – to create citizen movements, to educate, agitate, strike, boycott, to break some windows - to threaten those in power with the disruption and stability they need to continue their terror of suppression.  We are fearful to take to the streets as Dr. King did, even in knowing that that is only way in which any meaningful change has ever been implemented in America – knowing that if we don’t, we are destine to lose our liberties and freedom. 

 

The fact that today is not a national holiday clearly indicates that Dr. King’s dream is far, far, far from fruition.
 
 “I've Been to the Mountaintop” Sermon

Delivered Mason Temple (Church Of God)-  Memphis, Tennessee
April 3, 1968 – The night before he was shot and killed

 Excerpts:

“Every now and then I guess we all think realistically about that day when we will be victimized with what is life's final common denominator—that something that we call death”….And I don't think of it in a morbid sense. " 

 

“If any of you are around when I have to meet my day,…I'd like somebody to mention that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to give his life serving others….I tried to love somebody…that I did try to feed the hungry… that I did try in my life to clothe those who were naked…that I tried to love and serve humanity.

Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice.  Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter."                                                                      ~ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Mission accomplished – Well done sir.

For the millions of Americans who have no knowledge of this

- “NOW IS THE TIME”  TO CORRECT THAT DEFICIENCY.    

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARvrvJV4th4

 

Life and A College Education

The concept of forsaking college and a college degree due to extravagant costs only has value if there is a mass migration away from earning those degrees.  As long as employers require a degree to secure positions ranging from that of a rocket scientist to a receptionist, refusing to meet that employer demand could make finding employment very stressful.  In today’s environment, you MUST ask yourself if you are comfortable with the reality that you will not even be granted an interview without a college degree.  It’s not right - It’s not fair - and yet the only aspect more troubling than the requirement is the rationale behind the requirement.

 

Secondly, only in very select professions (Medicine, Law, Engineering and etc.) are college degrees designed for job training.  They are also designed to expand the mind in providing critical thinking that serve us throughout our entire lifetimes.  Even if you never use algebra or geometry, that education has expanded your mind to think in ways it wouldn’t have functioned.

 

History has value in determining the truth versus lies and deceit. This is crucial in making key decisions. It can be the barometer in determining what has worked and why; what is right and wrong and why; who to vote for and why – who to financially support and why. 

 

Finally, a degree has the value of creating lifelong pleasure and enjoyment in areas that would never have been introduced to us.  Literature, art, theater and etc. bring enormous pleasure to millions every day – millions who would have never known of these potential benefits without being introduced to them in college.

 

What you should do with your life is really quite simple.  First you must determine what you are most skilled at and what you love doing.  That is what you will do best and, being the best, will almost always ensure your greatest success along with the highest range of appreciation and thus the highest level of income.  If developing those talents and skills to the max requires a college degree than you must secure the degree.  If technical training and apprenticeship programs are required than the degree is not necessary.  

 

A final word on income.  The biggest challenge faced is not in determining what you will work at, but rather, disciplining yourself and learning how to live within your income level.

 

Most importantly, and in the final analysis, life only has meaning in our contributions to the common good and general warfare.   We can only derive true satisfaction from our professional accomplishments if they promote compassion and kindness, which clearly defines our purpose and thus the meaning of life.

 

The universe itself is a gift designed to provide for all our needs.  We have been given the world and everything in it.  Now we must choose.  Either we can hate and kill one another or we can love and nurture one another.  Your efforts and thinking in life – even the work you choose to do - will certainly favor one of those choices.  

Our professional life is NOT one tiny, teeny bit more complex than that.