The World According to Condi Rice

Greetings, 

Well now that we are unofficially in the "New Cold War," I think it's a good time to add a new entry. 

On Tuesday night this week, I went to see former Secretary of State and former National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice speak at Texas A&M. Let me start by saying that she is an extremely charismatic, well-spoken, witty, and humorous public figure. She had a lot of interesting perspectives, both good and bad in my opinion, which I'll get to in a minute. If you're a conservative, this is the person you should be pushing as the only viable candidate in 2016. Honestly, who is going to compete with Hillary Clinton (assuming she runs)? Every other household name in the Republican Party either has too much baggage, or is too far right. As for me, I'm not in support of either of the main parties, which may not be the smartest way to vote. But in my opinion, "tactical voting" has only propagated our problems. 

So I'll start with the positive things that Condi had to say:

1) Ms. Rice is pro public education and actually took a more Democratic stance on this issue. Now, I actually agree with the ideology, which, oddly enough, is contrary to the overall Libertarian platform. She asserted "American K-12 public schooling is in a dire state." She also pointed out that if college becomes too expensive for most people to afford, then America's role as a nation with equality of opportunity would severely diminish. Like I said, I agree with Condi's statements. However, she didn't propose any solutions. 

I'm not quite sure that the federal government is necessarily the solution to all of America's education problems. But yes, they should play some sort of role in the reform process. I think communities and municipalities are best suited to figure out what will work best for them. Then, if they need help monetarily from the federal government, they should apply for it and if deserved, be given that help. College is an entirely different animal and I personally feel that all the subsidies do is make college more expensive. 

2) She also said; "Entitlements are killing us." True, but again, she didn't propose any solutions. 

I've already mentioned this in previous posts, so here's a quick summation of my proposal. Implement the Fairtax (H.R. 25); everyone under the age of 28, unless they are already receiving Social Security and Medicaid benefits, will now be responsible for their own retirement (including medical health planning for post retirement years); Welfare and Unemployment should be handled entirely at state and local levels; and finally, disability should be the responsibility of the entity that caused the person the disability. Now, with all that being said, there would obviously be some exceptions to the rule, but those should be handled on a case-by-case basis. Again, this is just a brief summation. I realize that it would be more complicated and require detailed legislation to govern certain circumstances. 

3) Another good point; "We need to continue to be a country of immigrants." I agree. All this anti-immigration rhetoric coming from the right is pretty hypocritical when you think of Adam Smith's view of the world and laissez faire economics.  Free crossing of international borders in all directions stimulates competition. Our current protectionism is what makes prices high on American made products. A truly free market (which would require more reform than just immigration) allows for competition to give the consumer (of any good or service) the best possible product for best possible price. I'm not saying just let anybody come across our borders or through our air and seaports; but beyond screening out criminals and fugitives, we should allow free flow of people. This doesn't mean give them access to benefits, but let them come and earn their own way and let the citizens here buy goods and services from them. If people here at home are robbing us in the market because they don't have to compete with equally skilled labor at lower prices, then that isn't a free market at all. 

4) Lastly, Ms. Rice made a simple statement that I still agree with and it's something that drives me in my everyday living. She said; "The class you're born into doesn't have to determine the class you are as an adult, and ultimately, the one in which you die." So true. Even with our problems, this country still allows us to be the masters of our own universe, though not without struggle and hard work, but that's okay. As bad as gets here, we still should be thankful that we don't live in places like North Korea, where there is literally no hope or chance to move out of the class you're born into, unless the state allows or facilitates that (i.e. Olympic athletes). So Ms. Condoleezza Rice, thank you for your positive thoughts and wisdom.

Now, here's where she went off the rocker, at least in my opinion. 

1). She literally called Putin an "oppressive dictator" and compared the Russian annexation of Crimea to Saddam's invasion of Kuwait. Wow. Really? Whether or not you believe that the Crimean people's vote to become part of Russia was legitimate or not, the fact remains that there was a vote. Saddam actually invaded with a full force whose intent was to take over the country. Furthermore, in both instances, the West drew the maps in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. So we only have ourselves to blame for the all the turmoil and upheaval now happening in those parts of the world. So let's try not getting involved for a change and see how "letting nature take its course" plays out. Frankly, I don't see any conflicts overseas threatening our way of life. Beyond insuring international trade and commerce remains open, we have no business taking sides in foreign conflicts. 

2) Condi, who by the way has never been to war, said; "If I were in charge, I would put a brigade in the Baltic States to show Russia we are serious." Come on! How is Russia threatening America here and why is it important for us to stop them? Please answer those questions first, and then maybe I would consider foreign intervention providing some utility for America. Is another conflict what America really needs right now? Is more American money worth stifling Putin's ambition? Are more American lives worth exerting American influence abroad? I think not. 

Please comment and list your thoughts and response to this, whether good or bad. I want to hear if these issues are of concern to my peers, friends, and family. And if so, what are your thoughts? 

Until next time...stay conscious my friends. 

Semper Fi,

Chris Bentley

Crimea River

Hello All,

Been a while since my last post. I've been paying close attention to current affairs in utter disbelief. Because so many issues are at hand, I'll be brief with my critique and proposed solutions.

1. Defense cuts: Obama Administration proposes "deep cuts" in manpower and some minor cuts to pay raises and benefits. The typical war hawks and proponents of the military industrial complex say that these will make us weaker and more vulnerable in the realm of national security. Plus, veterans support groups say that we "shouldn't be trying to balance the budget on the backs of the troops."

Not that I completely agree with what the Obama administration is proposing, but I definitely don't agree with rhetoric coming from the opposing camp. Here's why. We don't fight attrition warfare anymore. Power in numbers died on Armistice Day. Furthermore, personnel costs are the highest costs in the defense budget. Now, I would propose some cuts to foreign bases first, but that's a different matter altogether. Bottom line, we don't need our current troop numbers. I could go on and on about the thousands of useless billets occupying the dozens of useless layers of military bureaucracy. But that would bore you by paragraph two. The point is, we can truly afford big cuts to personnel numbers without weakening our military capabilities.

On the benefits piece, I have mentioned my stance before. We veterans have become quite unionesque. We already get an amazing G.I. Bill. We get paid  and fed well, can't get fired even if we're lazy and do the bare minimum to get by. We have amazing retirement and medical benefits. So even though we have to put up with a lot of crap and sacrifice a lot, we get compensated pretty well for it. This doesn't even take into account the massive nonprofit sector benefits we have access to. And even if we didn't, it wouldn't matter. Last time I checked, we were supposed to be "serving" our country, not ourselves. If you join the military for money and benefits, you're nothing more than a mercenary.

2. Russia, Ukraine, Syria, etc...

Once again, we are getting involved in places we shouldn't. Giving American taxpayers' money to the new Ukrainian government, threatening sanctions against Putin's Russia, and just adding fuel to the fire. Seriously? We have people calling this the "New Cold War." Come on! Do we need another war? Do you know that there are neighborhoods in America where kids literally walk to school wearing bullet proof vests? Sounds like a war zone at home to me. That billion dollar check John Kerry handed over to Ukraine might do a lot more for us here at home.

3. Gay rights

Come on Kentucky and Arizona! Don't you have something better to worry about than whether Steve and Steve, or Jane and Jane suck face at night? In my opinion, the government has no role in defining marriage at all. Why should married people (gay or straight) get more government benefits than single people? That's really what it all boils down to anyway. You get tax breaks when you're married. Enough said. Moving on to more important issues....

4. Debt, Deficit, Taxes, Unemployment...

Over the past few years, several prominent leaders and pundits have said that the number one threat to national security is the federal budget deficit/debt problem. I believe they're right. Unfortunately, I'm not sure there's any feasible solution, short of invading all of the countries we're indebted to and taking them out and then having a provision in the subsequent peace treaty that relieves us of all of our debt (joking). However, what we could do is balance the budget, and even get a surplus in tax revenue via tax and entitlement reform. If you don't know about the "Fairtax," then you need to look it up. A lot of people don't even bother reading about it because most of the literature comes from the far right. But it is actually an amazing idea. We get rid of all income taxes, medicare/medicaid, and social security deductions, and then implement a national sales tax. Now, this is just a short summation, so you'd actually have to read up on it to get the total picture. But think about it, a national sales tax, which according to many bipartisan studies, would generate much more revenue than our current tax code. It gets rid of the IRS. Nobody would file taxes anymore or get a tax return. The more you spend, the more you pay. Liberals should love this since they want the rich to pay more. Right wingers should love it because you don't get penalized for being more successful. What I like about it is that EVERYONE pays, from the Wall Street yuppy, to the little kid buying a new iPod. If you shop in America, you pay into the federal system. Think about all the cash business folks that don't pay taxes (migrant workers, strippers, drug dealers, etc.), and then all the people who still shop but don't work, or at least not here (tourists, kids, housewives, etc.). They would all pay into the system.

This leads to medicare, medicaid, and social security. As it stands now, everyone who works pays into these programs and then gets to use them once they reach a certain age. Do you think Mitt Romney, Bill Gates, or Jay-Z really need to collect their social security checks or medicare benefits? Probably not. So we need to turn those programs into ones where only the needy get to collect those benefits. The current system where people see line item deductions on their paychecks only gets people to associate those deductions with not needing to worry about retirement planning. Let's bring back self-reliance and personal accountability.

I'm sure you all bored out of your mind with politics by now, so til next time, stay conscience. By the way, Texas had the primary votes yesterday. Pretty interesting. I think David Dewhurst (the 3 term Lt. Governor) is going down. Just my prediction though.

Semper Fi,
Chris Bentley

Greetings,

It's been a while since my last post, but for good reason. I just started a new job on Monday and have been getting our new home ready for the arrival of my family. So things are looking up for me. 

As for the purpose of this blog, things have been crazy lately, both in domestic and foreign affairs. Ukraine is looking more and more like the Arab Spring and the minimum wage has been raised for some workers, just to name a couple of the issues facing us currently. 

However, I don't want to talk about any of those. Recently, a good friend of mine from Cambridge, MA visited me here in the Lone Star State. Of course, we were having a lively political debate over lunch. Our waitress tried to sit down and chat with us, which is common here. But as soon as she realized the conversation was about politics, she got really uncomfortable and coldly explained that she didn't want to talk about it. Now, I understand that maybe she was in an odd position worrying about her tip earning potential. However, she made a statement that shows a big problem we have here in this country; one that I've touched on before. Generally speaking, Americans shy away from political discourse. Sure, people will talk politics with those who agree with them. But I rarely here people engaging in meaningful debate with those whom they disagree. Furthermore, people rarely are able to be true friends with people of opposing views. 

We really need to start engaging each other and finding out WHY we do or do not support a minimum wage hike, or intervention in foreign affairs, or gun control, etc. If we don't, we will continue to be told by Fox News and MSNBC (O'Reilly & Maddow) what "the majority of the American people support."  And then an hour later, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert will mock the issues and have the same people thinking its all a joke (I do appreciate the humor, but it's not necessarily good for our country when people use them as a source of news). 

It's our job as citizens, to know the issues, know the politicians, and then engage in debate and collective action. No matter what your concerns are (the environment, gay rights, gun control, taxes, economics, war, etc.), how can you fight for or against them if you only talk to like minded individuals, and/or don't get involved in changing things? 

So here's the solution... find someone at work or school who is opposed to your political ideology, befriend them, or at least make them an acquaintance, and then plan to have at least one meaningful, yet non abusive, political debate a week. 

My friend from Cambridge and I do this on a regular basis. I can at least speak for myself in saying that hit helps me understand the other side. I'm not saying I'm converted, but at the minimum, I understand. And if I want to effectively combat policies I don't agree with, I need to truly understand their origins. 

Until next time, stay conscience my friends.

Semper Fi,

Chris Bentley

State of the Disunion

Greetings,

I hope you all have been following the circus. This week, our Commander in Chief, President Obama, addressed the nation. If you didn't watch, or listen, he basically said he would use executive power to get things done if Congress doesn't play ball.

Hey, that's great, right Democrats? Well at least for the next three years. Then, when we elect a different President in 2016, all those executive orders could possible be thrown out by President Obama's successor. I wonder how much that will cost! Who's going to pay for it? Oh wait, that's right, you and I will.

So I could go on and on with a rant about how asinine and idiotic our government is right now, including the Congress. But I named this Blog Socratic Solutions because I hoped to come up with feasible solutions and not just use this as a venue for negativity. The main point of contention here is the Affordable Care Act, a.k.a. Obamacare.

Just like with every other ludicrous piece of legislation that has been passed, uninformed/ignorant citizens were dooped into believing one or more of several claims:

1. Health care is a human right.
2. If everyone has health insurance, then health care will be cheaper.
3. The federal government has the ability to manage a nationalized health insurance/ health care program.

Well, stupid us! Really? We have been in the business of war since 1776, and we still can't get that right. Why would we be able to break into the medical industry? And, how the heck is health care a human right? Last time I checked, health care is provided by doctors. So in order to provide this "human right" to people, that means that a doctor would possibly have to be coerced against his or her will to provide a service to another human being. Lastly, insurance is the problem, not the solution. Doctors know that they will get paid because of insurance companies. Before insurance, people went to the doctor directly and paid a modest fee. With insurance, all the healthy people who rarely go to the doctor pay a premium every month even though they are not utilizing those services. This allows the doctor to charge all the sick people astronomical rates via their insurance companies who collect monthly premiums from thousands and thousands of people, both healthy and sick.

So here it is, two possible solutions:

1. From the Liberal Lefty camp... wait for it... Price controls on doctor's services! The left loves price controls. I don't think they work, but it would probably be a better option than Obamacare.

2. Leaning slightly to the right... except for the fact that insurance companies would hate this... ban health insurance. The patient should be a direct consumer of doctor's services. This would have several positive benefits. People would be more inclined to be in charge of their own health and informed about medical issues. Furthermore, prices for treatment would go down automatically using a free market approach. If only sick people were paying into the market, then it would lower demand, therefore lowering costs.

Now, realize that no system is perfect. Sure, some people would suffer, just like they do now and will continue to under Obamacare. But is sacrificing the liberty of the many worth insuring those who are unable to insure themselves or pay for their own health care? I don't think so. Plus, the great thing is that charitable organizations would still be free to provide medical services at no cost to the patient. I can't speak for anyone else, but the more money the government allows me to keep, the more I would donate to charities.

Okay, so that's my spiel on the "crucial issue of our time."

Until next time, enjoy your weekend, whether it's watching the Superbowl or fighting AIDS and Cancer.

Semper Fi,
Chris Bentley

Getting Rewired

Happy Tuesday Everyone,

I hope you all at least had a little time to reflect on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. yesterday. At the very least, he was an extraordinary and inspiring man who showed the world that one person truly can overcome adversity and affect change.

Since my last post, a lot has happened. I'm still working on this transition into, for lack of better terms, normal life. I no longer worry if I need to shave or not when I run to the store on Saturday morning, or if I am showing the right amount of deference when speaking to someone of "authority." But those are all little things that really have no real significance in life. What does, is what inspired this post I am writing today.

I used the term "rewired" in the title for several reasons. People in the military, especially enlisted service members, are often referred to as brainwashed, or robots. Additionally, the term has been used in official training twice in my career; during my three month visit to the infamous Marine Corps Recruit Training Depot, and then again during my exit training, referred to as TAP class (Transition Assistance Program).

During boot camp, the Drill Instructors referred to our brains as circuit boards that needed to be "rewired" for optimal performance and rapid obedience. At TAP class, we then had to be "rewired" to return to civilian life. But I want you all to consider this; shouldn't we all be rewired?

Above, I mentioned that a lot has happened since my last post. Nothing too crazy or dramatic has occurred, but many things that opened my eyes to how the world works, or doesn't work for that matter, have taken place.

The most egregious example happened recently when I attended a luncheon that was specifically put together for veterans to meet face to face with hiring managers and do some networking. It was held at an amazing venue, and was totally free of charge to the veterans in attendance. I was so excited to meet my future boss, whoever he or she was going to be. Well, the Lieutenant Governor of Texas, David Dewhurst, who by the way is up for re-election, showed up and stole the show. By the time he was done telling us several long winded stories about how he was so supportive of veterans, and that if he is re-elected, he will continue to help veterans, it was time to leave. I could see the look of disgust on the veterans' faces in my immediate vicinity.

Anyway, my point is this: yes, as I mentioned in my last post, "The Entitled Veteran," we  vets do need to rewire ourselves and change the way we look at things. But so do the people that supposedly "support the troops." So do the folks that complain about the school systems in their neighborhoods, but don't join the school board or the city council. So do the people who go day-by-day as part of the herd, only eating what they're fed by someone else, and not seeking out information.

I'm not sure if this is a book title already or not, but we need to "Rewire the Republic." Citizenship isn't just something that is debated about in D.C. with regards to illegal immigrants. Citizenship is a duty. And if we don't like where things are headed, then we need to get engaged and attempt to do something about it.

A good friend of mine from Cambridge, MA often tells me that the Constitution is outdated and needs a total overhaul. I personally feel that our Founders got it right, and that they were men with such amazing intellect and foresight. Let's not forget their amazing wives either. (If you ever have time, read some of Abigail Adams' letters to her husband). However, I think "We the people..." have gotten it wrong and we need to strive to be more like the Founders.

I could join the rest of the doomsayers on the web and try to scare everyone, including myself, into frantic action, but that obviously doesn't work, and quite frankly, it's a bit extreme in my opinion. I do believe we are headed down a very destructive path. However, I don't think the "zombie apocalypse" is going to happen overnight like all the folks on the fringe. And if I'm right, that means we still can do something about it.

Dr. King mobilized millions for his cause. What are "We the people..." going to do today? As we say in the military... "crawl, walk, run." Start out by turning off ESPN or the Kardashians and talking to your friends and families about the issues that affect your immediate circle, and then do something about it. Tip O'Neill coined the phrase, "All politics are local." I'm not sure I agreed with too many of his political views, but he was certainly right that we have the power to make changes at our levels.

Now, I must cut it off here, as I don't get paid for this, but please remember, that this is truly OUR country, and not just a plot of geographic space we occupy. We must own it and make it what we want it to be. Until next time, remember...

"The unexamined life is not worth living." - Socrates

Semper Fidelis,
Chris Bentley

The Entitled Veteran

Howdy Y'all!

I finally made it to Texas and am getting settled into civilian life. During my travels and encounters over the past few weeks, I have inherited an interesting opinion; collectively, United States Armed Forces veterans have a huge sense of entitlement.

Now, let me start with a few recollections of personal encounters that helped me arrive at this conclusion.

When I left Vermont with a U-Haul full of furniture and junk that I accumulated over the last 14 and a half years, I was worried that my trip to Texas was going to be extremely stressful and laborious. It turned out to be quite the opposite, and only because I am a military veteran.

The first break I got due to my military service came from a toll booth attendant in New Hampshire. He saw my ridiculous haircut and then looked toward the back of my U-Haul which was also towing one of my vehicles. He said, "You in the military, son?" I answered, "Yes, Sir." He then asked, "What branch?' I proudly told him I was a Marine. Of course, he then proceeded to tell me he was in the Corps and served in Vietnam and said "Semper Fi, Devil Dog! Carry on." I was a bit a confused until the car behind me started honking. He again looked at me and said, "Carry on, Marine. Don't worry about the toll." I was dumbfounded. If you're from the Northeast or New England, you know that Friday December 13th was a cold and snowy day and would not have been the ideal day to start your PCS (Permanent Change of Station) from Jarheadville to 1st Civ Div (Civilian Division). The act of kindness alone was enough to warm my heart, but the fact that I had three axles and faced a potential toll fee of $18 made it even more astonishing.  Good start to a trip that had me anxiety ridden from the time I found out I was to be medically discharged from the Corps.

I could go on and bore you with several more stories of the same flavor, some less astounding, and several that would even bring a tear to the Executive Director of Code Pink. In summary, let's just say I got discounts on meals, hotels, and even had a trucker insist on paying for my gas at one stop in Virginia. This is nothing new, as I have received acts of kindness from civilians, both here and abroad, since I joined the Corps back in 1999. The only difference here is that so many "random acts of kindness" happened to me within a four day period and at several different geographic locations throughout our country, and only because I am a military veteran. I've never heard of anybody thanking a teacher for his or her service to our nation, or even a citizen who obeys the law and pays their taxes on time and without fraudulent claims. They are just as much an asset to this nation, if not more, than us veterans who are well compensated for our service.

I don't want to lose your attention, but my point here is this; veterans don't hold the monopoly on "service." Yet, many of us think we do and that we should be given even more benefits and monetary compensation than we already receive. Are you truly a patriot or a selfless servant of your nation if you refuse to give up just a few of the goodies during such difficult economic times? I think not.

Within the last couple of years, the services tried to suspend tuition assistance for active duty members, which was met with fierce opposition. Really guys? You couldn't just use your extremely generous Post 9/11 G.I. Bill to attend classes? Come on! The military and veteran community sounded very similar to current protest attempting to raise the minimum wage for menial work to exorbitant levels.

Fellow vets, as well as guys and gals still on active duty, please don't forget how well we are truly compensated. We may put up with a lot of BS and sacrifice very much during our time in service, but we were all volunteers. I'm not saying don't speak out against bad leadership and horrible policies, but don't just sound the horn when some of the unnecessary perks need to be cut back for a while.

Lastly, I want to mention all of the nonprofit organizations out there that add an extra layer of bennies for vets. The Wounded Warrior Project, The Semper Fi Fund, Lone-Star Veterans, Soldiers' Angels,
and Able Forces are just a few (the ones that have helped me out during my transition). Veterans have so many options for help if they need it. "Normal" people don't have such easy access to as many helpful organizations, nor do they get such amazing benefits from their employers.

So Vets, next time you find yourself fighting for more benefits or monetary compensation, think back to all that you have received and/or have access to because you are a veteran. And then, refocus that energy into fighting for things that would be way more useful to our military, such as less bureaucracy on the battlefield, a more conducive system for enlisted members to "speak truth to power," and better training at all levels to reduce deadly battlefield mishaps and increase unit efficiency.

Until next time, stay conscience my friends.

Semper Fi,
Chris Bentley

Issues to consider in 2014

Happy New Year Everyone! I hope you are recovering from last night's/this morning's celebrations.

Before you tune into the Rose Bowl, or whatever version of entertainment you seek today, please think about what issues you could take action on this year. A simple email or phone call to your politicians at all levels is enough, and much more than most do. Here are four of my favorite issues as well as some links to websites that I feel are helpful. I picked the top four because there are four quarters in a year. Maybe you can dedicate each quarter to a topic and be active in getting your politicians to address them in the way you want.

1. Campaign Finance Reform - Now, I typically fall into more libertarian schools of thought; however, it seems to be a no brainer, at least to me, that corporations are not people and that corporate influence on political legislation needs to be reigned in. Check out some of the following links from both sides of the aisle regarding this issue and make your own judgment call. Then take action.

https://www.aclu.org/free-speech/campaign-finance-reform

http://www.citizen.org/congress/campaign/index.cfm

http://www.policyalmanac.org/government/campaign_finance.shtml

http://media.aclj.org/pdf/040317_fed_campaign_finance.pdf'

2. Tax Reform - I personally believe there is only one solution for tax reform, "The FairTax," which I have posted a link for below. However, I will probably write an extensive analysis of this in the near future. For now, check out the following links and decide what you think. It's easy to say who should pay more or less taxes based on idealism, but it's not easy to understand the tax code and how it truly affects each individual person.

http://www.atr.org/

https://taxreform.gov/

http://waysandmeans.house.gov/taxreform/

http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer

http://www.heritage.org/research/factsheets/2012/01/the-new-flat-tax-encourages-growth-and-job-creation

http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc1/ProgressiveTaxes.html

***Note - The Flat Tax and the Fair Tax are two separate proposals which are commonly confused by talking heads and pundits who don't bother to actually read proposed tax reform legislation.

3. Foreign Policy (Wars, Intervention, Global Trade and Commerce, etc.) - Again, this isn't the blog entry where I try to sell you my own personal views. This is a call to action for you to read up on the issues and come up with some of your own ideas. One thing is for sure, Foreign policy absolutely affects you and I here at home. Check these links out and see where you stand.

http://www.cnas.org/

http://www.rand.org/topics/international-affairs.html

http://www.foreignpolicy-infocus.org/

http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/foreign-policy

4. Entitlement Programs - No matter whether you think these things should be in existence or not, there is no denying that they need serious reform. Check out these position papers and analyses and determine your stance.

http://waysandmeans.house.gov/entitlementreform/default.aspx

http://www.heritage.org/initiatives/entitlements

http://www.ipi.org/ipi_issues/cf/list/entitlement-reform

http://www.pewresearch.org/topics/entitlements/

There is much more out there on all these issues. And believe it or not, there are actually some good books on these issues that you could read in a few hours on a flight or train ride. Again, this entry was not to try to steer anybody in any certain direction, but just to open your eyes and minds to the issues.

Until next time, take care and keep on keepin' on!

Happy New Year,
Chris Bentley