Non-representative Democracy

One of the reasons the United States is the greatest country in the world is our governing system of representative democracy.  Too bad it doesn't always work that way.

When is a representative democracy not a representative democracy?  In Iowa, the answer is when it comes to legalizing medicinal marijuana.

This week, a Des Moines Register Iowa Poll found that 70% of adult Iowans favor the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes.  This is up from just 59% last year, and 58% the year before that.

It's over.  It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that this issue has been decided, and Iowans are ready to follow the rest of the country into making this rational, albeit long overdue choice.

Unfortunately, Iowa's elected state legislators don't seem to be any closer to legalizing marijuana for medical uses.  Basically, we've elected a bunch of old, white, close-minded, and mostly Republican males (including the governor) who will always believe pot is evil, regardless of its proven therapeutic uses or the desire of their constituents.  They continue to use the intellectually dishonest argument that the 'unintended consequences' of legalization will lead to serious drug abuse in Iowa.  Simultaneously, they attend numerous political receptions where they, along with many others, can legally drink non-medicinal booze without a thought of the 'unintended consequences' of alcohol abuse.

Some Iowans seem to be buying that 'unintended consequences' argument, because the same Iowa Poll reports that only 30% of adults approve legalizing marijuana for recreational use, a number unchanged over the past two years.  We are still years away, or more likely, one big fiscal deficit away, from joining the few other states that have done this.

Oh well.  One thing we know about representative democracy it that it works, it's just a matter of time.  So it will be with legalizing marijuana use in Iowa and in the U.S.

Yes Means Yes

When our kids were little, and said 'yes' to something we asked, we usually threw in a reminder that 'yes' meant something.  Specifically, it meant a promise, and a person doesn't break a promise.

Unfortunately, some people don't live up to this verbal contract / moral obligation.  Even more unfortunately for me, when this happens in my line of work, that results in a monetary loss.

I'm a fee-only financial planner.  When I first meet with prospective clients, it's typically a fact-finding mission coupled with a trust-building conversation.  I'm asking them what they need, and they're asking me what I do,

Occasionally, this Q & A evolves into the prospect asking a number of specific questions about their situation, basically poking around for free advice.  I have no problem with that, but before it goes far I ask them for a commitment.  This is where it gets real.

Every so often, I'll get the 'yes' from the prospect, and we'll go on to have lengthy conversations about their situation.  Often, I'll put together a more formal presentation, at no cost to them.  Of course, this does cost me, but at this point, I'm relying on the 'yes' that a will eventually be collecting a fee from them.

In the past month, two of these 'yes' folks have called me after I'd done this work, and told me that they were going to work with someone else.  As you might expect, they suddenly disclosed they have a friend or family member who does this kind of work.

So basically, they lied to me to get something they wanted.  Ironically, they had both previously disclosed to me something that suggested they were faith-based.  When people do that in a voluntary manner, any discomfort I may have is overshadowed by the comfort I have in thinking their word will be their bond.

I'm glad to say, these situations happen infrequently -- I can only think of one other time in the past couple of years.  That's good, because working for free isn't something I want to do.

Those who say 'yes' when they have no actual intent to commit are intellectually dishonest, at the least.  At the most, they are freeloading liars with no moral compass.

Even my children know that.

Don't Buy The Fake

Society doesn't accept emotionally fake people, right?  People who mislead in order to make themselves look better are eventually exposed, then ostracized by others.

It's the same for intellectually dishonest people.  If someone lies about the facts in order to make themselves look better, society is usually quite efficient at discovery and excommunication.

Then why are we so willing to accept physically fake people?  Those folks are also doing something to make themselves look better, yet others often encourage them to repeat that behavior.

From plastic surgery to artificial hair to indoor tanning, people have plenty of ways to pull off the physical-fake.  Unless it's taken to the extreme, we accept that it's better to look good (and younger) than to feel good.

I suppose faking the physical self isn't harming others, so we let it go.  But is it really harmless?

I'm not so sure if obscuring the physical-you is any better than obscuring the emotional-you or intellectual-you.  I don't buy that faking it should be allowed in anything.  (Yes, even that.)

In matters of integrity and trust, I'd rather deal with someone being honest in all three.

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do (Even With An Escort)

Excluding part-time or temporary work, I've only worked at three organizations.  Two of them were 10+ years runs, with the most recent run ending at 5 years.

In each case, I was fortunate enough to meet good people, and gain professional experience.  I was also fortunate enough to leave on my own terms, and of my own choosing (although I probably stayed longer than I should have).

Unfortunately, leaving a job isn't usually done without issues.  So often, long-term employees are let go with no warning, and given an unceremonious escort out the door, as if they were a criminal.  Thanks for all those years of service!

In those involuntary work separations, plus many voluntary separations, it's also common for former colleagues to wrongly accuse the former employee of doing something inappropriate.  It's a great way for intellectually dishonest, poor performers to try and cover for their own ineptitude.

For some former employers and employees, I guess breaking up is hard to do.

All That Lying Got You Nowhere

I can't let this week pass without a tribute to U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, an always reliable member of the WOITH club.  This week, she released a web video announcement about how she isn't going to run for re-election.

Mixed feelings about this.  On one hand, it's good to get people with extremist views out of government.  On the other hand, I'm going to miss how much her dumb comments damaged others who shared her views.

This article from PolitiFact pretty well sums up her fundamental intellectual dishonesty.  In the larger sense, it reflects how the so-called Tea Party has devolved from a grassroots taxpayer watchdog group, into an extreme right-wing group with no chance of gaining a serious mainstream following.

But at least for a while, she won't go away yet in Iowa, where her pitiful 2012 presidential campaign and campaign manager have serious legal problems, related to how they handled their funds and their affairs.

Plus, it's only a matter of time before she becomes a Fox News commentator and/or lobbyist.  That's sure to keep us entertained for a while.

In the meantime, to U.S. Rep. Steve King, you're up!

Post #200

Since July of 2009, I've been writing random thoughts out in this blog.  This is post #200, so just as I did with post #100, let's review some of what was covered in the last 100 posts, or basically the past two years.....

I spent a little time writing about the importance of certain singers and song lyrics.

I spent some time writing about finance and investing, which is the work I do for a living.

I spent a good deal of time writing about politics, particularly in 2012 as related to the presidential election.

I spent a bunch of time writing about people who are dishonest, how to identify them, and calling them out.

I spent too much time, but will probably spend more, writing about the moral hazards of religion.

I spent a lot of time, and will definitely spend more, writing about how taxpayers are being shafted by people in government who make selfish decisions.

Stupid Is As Stupid Does

There are many iconic phrases given to us by the novel/movie Forrest Gump, e.g. "Run Forrest, run!" or "Life is like a box of chocolates."  The one that I've been pondering the past few days is, "Stupid is as stupid does."

I've never been quite sure what that phrase means, but I can think of at least one recent instance where it fits perfectly.  That is, in the case of last month's fake 'debate' in the Iowa legislature over medical marijuana.  (Yep, this in another blog post on the topic of pot.  Only the enlightened should continue reading.)

A legislative subcommittee just held a hearing on the topic of medical marijuana, which a new Des Moines Register Iowa Poll revealed is supported by a majority of Iowans.  That didn't stop the old white man who chaired the meeting from starting the hearing by saying, "Doing any bill.....that would legalize marijuana would be one of the stupidest bills that's ever been passed by this organization.  There is no reason to legalize medical marijuana."

Stupid is as stupid does, sir.

Before the hearing, I wonder how many legislators or their family members got their day started by taking an anti-depressant, anti-anxiety, or anti-pain medication, or some other kind of mind altering drug?  And after the hearing, I wonder how many legislators went to one of the nightly lobbyist-sponsored receptions and had an alcoholic drink or two?

I'll bet the answer is, "Lots of them."  But please ignore the man behind the curtain, we have an intellectually dishonest argument to make.  Society has determined that legalizing those other mind-altering substances is perfectly fine, even though they may be addictive, routinely abused, and lead to dire consequences for other people.

Stupid is as stupid does, for sure.

So we won't even have a real debate about controlling and legalizing medical marijuana.  We will merrily go along another year in Iowa, not only ignoring the incontrovertible organic health benefits of marijuana for some, but also spending millions on anti-pot enforcement and criminal incarceration for others.  Iowa allows gambling, Iowa allows gay marriage, but somehow the social conservatives here continue to beat back progressives on medical marijuana.

Maybe Forrest Gump's mom can explain this to me, because he also once said, "Mama always had a way of explaining things so I could understand them."

"And that's all I have to say about that."

The Liars Club

As we enter the heart of election season in presidential election year, so do we enter a time when the rhetoric is at an all-time high.  If only it was just rhetoric.

These days, we don't have rhetoric, which would be fairly defined as persuasive but insincere speech.  Instead, we have intellectual dishonesty, which I would define as a failure to apply a rational standards that one is fully aware of.

(Yes, I got those definitions with the help of the internet, defined as a place from which you can get information to help prove your point.  Also, don't confuse these terms with another one of my favorites, 'truthiness', coined by Stephen Colbert as something people claim to know intuitively because it feels right, in the gut, without regard to the facts.)

Intellectual dishonesty is what political campaigners (and most people) engage in these days.  It's when a person knows but ignores the facts, and says or does something contrary to those facts in an attempt to convince people otherwise.  Let me use it in a sentence: "Every word that comes out of Michele Bachmann's mouth has the smell of intellectually dishonesty."

While this kind of thing obviously happens in politics, but just think about the day-to-day applications.  What workplace doesn't have one or more employees who aren't as sharp as their co-workers, but tries to cover up their shortcomings by skewing the truth, and parsing the blame onto others?  And don't get me started on the so-called 'financial advisors' who spend their days selling products to people who don't need them, in order to get a big commission.

Intellectual dishonesty is the same as lying, and it is currently pervasive in our society.