The Goose with the Golden Egg

September 7th 2009. Another Labor Day has arrived, a day to honor the American Worker.


The individual citizen, each laboring at their chosen task is the very fiber of this of this place we call America. We have rolled along here for 233 years, growing, expanding, developing and sharing, unprecedented in recorded history.

Building on the beliefs and values of the founding fathers We The People, have raised and nurtured our very own Golden Goose. And what a Goose she is!!
I do not submit that she is perfect, for that is not the case. You may think that the goose eats too much. That may be true. But compare her to the other geese in the barnyard and she still looks pretty good to me.

Alas, as in the tale of old, our goose is being asked to produce more than she can. She is being starved and yet asked to give more and more to those who do less and less. They threaten to cut her open and redistribute her golden eggs. Then what? Her very survival is at stake. And with that our freedoms are also on the block.

“The way to empower a family, a business or a nation is to empower the individual.” –mj

It is through our combined personal strengths, efforts and contributions that we can keep our goose healthy, to make her even more bountiful and able to provide for ourselves and those who truthfully need help. The more we give to those that refuse to feed the goose, with reasonable taxes or personal service, the weaker she becomes.

We are a diverse country, comprised of cultures and histories from around the globe. That is an elemental factor that makes us strong. Those people came through Ellis Island, from all countries of the world, down through the years, to become Americans, to live the American dream, not to make Her into what they had just escaped. Why would they want to do that?

Each person must give of their portion to tend the goose,
to feed, care for and steel her for the years to come.

It is unreasonable to think that she can do it on her own.

Everyone who wishes to partake must contribute.

Celebrate today! Celebrate the American Worker.

Celebrate what has become the greatest nation on earth.

Our ancestors were key players in her rise. We must make certain to do our part to prevent her fall.

We are her caretakers.

It is up to us;

We The People.

"Brevity is the soul of wit." - Shakespeare

Ah, Brevity.
What a treat, a cool drink on a stifling August day.
We each have endured sermons that dragged on and on, the classroom lecture from which only the bell could rescue and meetings without structure or end. Whew!

I was first introduced to the above quote by my high school English teacher, Mr. Baker. He signed my year book with Shakespeare’s quote and added: “you are brief.” I attempt to
apply those words in many aspects. Thank you Mr. B.

Clown acts, speeches, writings all were/are revised and trimmed, only the essentials to remain. A distillation of ideas, an economy of words, is the goal.

Jim Rohn says it best of all: “Jesus the master teacher said: 'Follow me.' That's brief! And He was able to do that because of all that He was that He didn't have to say."

Many times we listen to someone’s babbling, telling us much more than they know.
If I catch myself trying to make up for, in words, what I lack in being I know it’s time to get back to work on me.

In giving advice on public speaking, F.D.R., our 32nd President, applying his own council said:
“Be sincere, be brief, be seated.”

I’ll sit down now.


I would love to hear your thoughts.
mj

Genius, Power & Magic

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way.
I learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets:
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it!"

W. H. Murray in The Scottish Himalaya Expedition, 1951.