I wonder if I am too aware of the craziness of our world today.
I don't have TV, by choice, but I do of course have the internet and satellite radio. During the campaign (two years?) I kept up pretty much with what was going on with satellite radio and XM's POTUS channel. Lots of coverage. Maybe too much.
I think of myself as one of those "responsible citizens": I pay my taxes (on time!), I vote in every election even though it's 37 miles to my polling place, and I try to stay current on what is going on in the world. I even write letters to pols, papers, and magazines— not that it does any good. But that's not the point. The point is to take part.
Well, that's not true. To make a difference is the point. The only point. And I feel, for the first time in my life, that trying to make a difference may be pointless in these times in which we live. The message is not lost on me that my opinions and standards, admittedly somewhat traditional, are not welcome in today's so-called market place of ideas. They are... outmoded.
So I wonder why I don't just divest myself of that "making a difference" gene and deal with my life just exactly as it is here in my extremely remote (some would desolate) homestead and let the damn crazy world roll by in its handbasket without me, thankyouverymuch.
Hamlet asks his friend Horatio to "absent [himself] from felicity awhile" in order to tell the world of his tragic end. Well, I'm getting pretty tired of the absence of felicity in public affairs lately and am starting to wonder if those medieval Irish hermits who went off into the green wilderness didn't have the right idea after all.
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I have TV only for the weather channel. But lately it's more about yuppiefied meteorologists in tight pants with lots of makeup than real weather.
There's History Channel, and some old sci fi. But I can't remember when I could actually stomach CNN for more than 10 minutes.
We have been seriously considering getting rid of our TV. Little if any quality programming and media bias are 2 of the biggest factors. When we do watch the news, we get depressed. I'm beginning to feel much like you in terms of making a difference. The wife and I seriously talk about being crazy in a sane world (or is it vice versa).
What we are witnessing is decay. Its as simple as that. People will smarten up when forced to toughen up. The west is done
regards
Dan
I have to struggle with that same growing sense that the people really don't matter anymore. Not just me, but anyone other than those that buy and sell power. I think I might be able to live out the rest of my life up here and be left alone, if I were willing to keep a low profile and pay lip service to the government. But I need to get my kids out of this country before it deteriorates to the extent that they can't get out at all.
The problem is that you can't really get away from the world; it comes in and finds you. Irish hermits didn't have to deal with large government, census takers, and tax collectors.
"But I need to get my kids out of this country before it deteriorates to the extent that they can't get out at all."
But where to take them?
I live in Canada certainly not here.
regards
Dan
Dan, strangely enough, that's where I tried to get them established.I sent them to Vancouver for two years, where they went to school. But when my daughter's student visa was about to expire, and her work visa had not arrived, she and my son were kicked out of the country at a border crossing coming back from Seattle. The Border Guard said "we don't need any more God Damned Americans up here" and he cancelled their visas on the spot. They went to a hearing a few days later, were given ten days to get out of the country. All of her stuff is still in storage in Vancouver, because she had to leave so precipitously. So Canada is out.
BobG, there's truth in what you say. However, the further out away from society you can get, the less interface you have with it and the less influence it has upon you. It's not possible to get far enough away that you don't have to worry about bills and taxes, et al. That is true.
Maybe the kids need to stay here and join the struggle.
New to this blog, but also confused. Are you in Ireland? Your heading says American Outback.
Where can one go? I read blogs that said New Zealand was a mistake, Aussies already having problems too. More than a thousand new UK residents in my county since 2002.
Stay and fight for what's right.
I'm not sure what kind of response I owe to someone who sings him/herself as 'Anonymous,' but I'm American and proud of it, although frequently in Ireland.
When you say "Stay and fight for what's right"-- stay where?
I guess that's the problem with "anonymous." It's all such a mystery.
Well, now, it's yore blog an' ya doan owe no response a'tall to Anonymous folks. But I cain't talk straight 'cept when I'se Anon. Din't mean no offense.
I'se American too, wif' a good chunk of Scots,Irish and French blood, (a trace of Lebanese fer spice.)
"Where" is here, USA. Stay an' fight fer what our own granddadies meant us'uns to have.
No offense taken, AB, and welcome. I guess "anonymous" just has a kinda shifty look to it.
I agree. I'm an American and even though there are some "foreign climes" I really like, THIS is my country and I don't intend to let a bunch of tinhorn tyrants run me out of it.
Thanks for your comment.
Rio, I'd be satisfied if they had decent lives somewhere that didn't require them to sweat bullets every day about what El Supremo might do next. I just don't know where that might be. I talked to them about Costa Rica but it wasn't on.
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