Aristotle once wrote, "The masses are
asses."
Einstein said, "One of the greatest
questions I have in life is whether I am crazy or the rest of the
world crazy."
The great intellectuals once believed
the world was flat and were sure Columbus was going to sail off of
the edge.
We are destined to learn from the
past or keep repeating our mistakes.
Our government has passed a law
regarding smoking on public conveyances. Now our government is
passing laws subsidizing the same public conveyances. Could there be
any significance? Customers go where they are invited and stay where
they are made comfortable.
One of the most infamous periods in
the history of the United States was the Roaring Twenties. A very
vocal and active group of our citizens passed the prohibition law.
Analyzing this law, it was probably beneficial to the health of our
society, but our society was not worried about its health. When our
government or any activist group passes a law which interferes with
our enjoyment of life, Americans have a tendency to rebel.
Our average citizens glean their
knowledge from one of three sources: education facilities, written
material, or associates. If we accept the knowledge and repeat it
enough, eventually we believe it as a fact. This is what is
happening to our society in many areas (i.e. justification for war
and justification for laws which deprive us of our personal
freedoms).
When I was a child, my dad complained
about laws being passed regarding owning a gun. He would say, "When
guns are outlawed, only outlaws would have guns". I used to
secretly believe he was getting senile. We are approaching that
point today. It is much easier to buy a gun on the street than
legally through an authorized business.
Forgive me if this article sounds
like a lecture. I spent 20 years in the education field before I
retired, and it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks. Also, with
my advanced years, I have a tendency to wander off the topic.
What facts can and do special
interest groups distort? The key is words like "might", and "could".
The following are samples which anti-smoking groups "might" use:
INTENSIVE STUDIES SHOW THAT GEORGE
BURNS MIGHT HAVE LIVED TO THE AGE OF 101 IF HE HAD NOT SMOKED!!
A part of George's comedy routine
usually related to his doctors advising him that smoking was very
detrimental to his health. He then would inform the audience that he
frequently had to change doctors because he was outliving them.
In the business and accounting world,
percentages are used to pacify the masses. An example of this
"might" be:
XYZ COMPANY POSTS A PROFIT OF 10% FOR
THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW!! AS A REWARD, ALL EMPLOYEES HAVE
RECEIVED A 10% BONUS
What really occurred is employees
making $10,000 received a $1,000 bonus and management making
$100,000 received a $10,000 bonus. The 10% makes it all fair!!
What is the point of this article?
Tolerance. Acceptance. Consideration for your fellow man. And
EVALUATING FACTS.
I live on a hill in Kennewick,
Washington. My house has never been struck by lightning, subjected
to a flood, no typhoons, no tidal waves, and no snow slides. My good
fortune "might" be related to the fact I was raised in a smoking
household and have smoked cigarettes for over 50 years!!!
