Election

Being from Ohio we get endless visits and much media attention regarding the presidential election. I wonder how people in states where there is no doubt about who the state will pick feel about this. It's almost as though the solid red or blue states don't matter. I don't know if there is a solution to keep interest high in these states but it seems like we should strive to make every vote mean something.

We didn't build this?

Everyone has heard President Obama's statement by now, You didn't build that.. It doesn't matter how you reacted to the statement some saw it as a denigration of people who have achieved success in the business world others just saw it as a statement on the importance of the federal government in any ones success.

I think the big difference come from peoples mind set and how we view success and failure. because if we didn't succeed on our own we can also say we didn't fail on our own. I think this is a major difference between the left and right. People on the left seem to look for societal cause for everything. That's why they seem to almost always  be looking to government for solutions. On the right  people tend to see success and failure as coming from our own personal decisions. I tend to agree with the right because opportunities are there for everyone it's all in what we do with our opportunities.

To once again fulfill the greatness that is the U.S.A. we need to stop blaming others for our shortcomings and quit expecting someone else to pave our way.

Independence Day

Celebrating the day that a country so great was born that illegal immigration is an issue. While people generally are unhappy with the state of our borders and immigration policies. I think it real shows how lucky we are to live in the U.S.A.. People aren't busting down the doors to get into Morocco or even Sweden.So while I would prefer a better immigration policy and tighter borders I thank God that I live in this country that is truly blessed.

John Roberts

A couple of weeks ago I read an article bemoaning the partisan nature of the Supreme Court. The story used the 2000 Gore vs Bush decision to emphasize how the conservative justices walk in lock step.

No matter which side of the Roberts decision for Obama care you fall on you have to admit he is out of step with fellow Republican appointees. In fact for years the supposed conservative justices Anthony Kennedy and Sandra Day O'Connor generally were the ones concidered to be swing votes.

So if conservative justices  are the swing voters does that mean the people who are truly close minded are the liberal justices.

Book review/Travels with Charley

I ran across Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck at a library book sale. I read it before as a freshman in high school some 30 yrs. ago well actually closer to 40. I don't know why exactly I bought it nostalgia I guess.

I guess there is a reason authors win Pulitzers Travels won the prize in 1962. The test of time was passed with ease by Steinbeck. Most of Steinbeck's work is fictional but this is just as it sounds a travel book just John and his dog Charley. John felt he lost touch with America and had a truck retro fitted with a camper and set out to rediscover America anonymously. Through his trip he makes an effort to connect with the locals as often as he can to find the real America.

While some of the information is dated it made me remember why John Steinbeck is one of my favorite authors.

Joy

The Bible tells us to rejoice in the Lord always, but rejoicing is not always easy. Lately I have been felling old and wore out. Sore feet, stiff muscles and just plain tired. Making it hard to exercise which is something I really enjoy. Today however I found a reason to rejoice in getting older, my son informed me that come November I will be a grandpa.

Joy is always there sometimes we just don't realize it.

Drums

We went to a free concert at the North Ridgeville Public Library with some friends Sunday. The group was called 7 Mile Isle and the main focus was the steel drums. I had never knowingly heard the steel drums so didn't know what to expect. The drums create a sound that is not what you would expect with bell like sounds that are very melodic. The steel drums are the focal point for reggae and Carribean music in general.

We had a good time and would recommend a steel drum concert to any music lover.