I have the fortunate situation of living in Essex county, New Jersey, the county that contains that ultimate example of the American dream, Newark. Just last week I could have sworn I heard an enormous toilet bowl flush from that city as 100 million dollars were donated by the facebook guy and is destined to go down the Newark educational toilet. Newark currently spends $24,000 per student which is significantly more than most private schools. Yeah, like another 100 mill will make them geniuses.
Why can't these knuckleheads understand that it is not the money that is the limiting factor. Answer: Because it is too politically incorrect to assign the blame to anything but money, like poor parenting which is the root cause of Newark's educational disaster. And since government cannot fix poor parenting they just throw additional money down Newark's educational toilet bowl.
I had a patient a couple of months ago who worked in the Newark schools. He told me of a successful situation in Newark where a charter school removes children from their homes and puts them into boarding schools. These children have strict rules while in school. Limited TV if at all. Longer class hours and study periods at night. Large class loads. Mandatory curfews and healthy meals. These children excel dramatically. They outperform because they are removed from their homes and parents not because of additional monies. How sad that the only way for these kids to excel is to remove them form their detrimental familial environments.
Yes, there are kids in suburbia who underperform even with good parenting and there are kids in Newark who excel even with bad parenting. But overwhelmingly, the trends are that supportive parents who take an interest in their kids school work and stress the importance of their kids educational success translate into better learning and better outcomes.
No matter how many millions are sent to Newark, they will all go into the toilet until it is realized that the problem is the parents. It is not the money, or the building, or the number of smart boards. All it takes is a parent who cares and this is not something money can create.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Octamom and Darwin
I am completely disgusted after hearing that the Octamom, Nadya Suleman, has applied for welfare in order to support herself and her 14 children. If this doesn't demonstrate the absolute decent of this country into the abyss, I don't know what will. It is reprehensible on so many levels but the main one is the most politically incorrect to discuss (I cannot resist). The encouragement and support of the lowest segment of society to have multiple children which expands the DNA of the least fit into our gene pool.
For hundreds of thousands of years humans have evolved to where we continuously improve upon ourselves through the process of natural selection. Darwinian principles, the survival of the most fit, as harsh as it seems ultimately lead to a more evolved being. We have developed bigger brains and more intelligence which has been our strategy to increase our survivability. This continues to go on in parts of the world. In the last hundred or so years humans in "developed" societies have determined that they will subvert natural selection by not allowing nature to select out those least fit to survive. Governments have stepped in to ensure their and their progeny's survival. Since parents at the bottom of the socio-economic scale do not feel the pressure of the need to feed their children, (since government will), they are free to multiply without end or disincentive. These government programs have the unintended consequence of promoting the expansion of DNA into our gene pool of the LEAST likely to survive. I am not saying this is wrong policy just making an observation.
On the contrary, successful people, people with means, are more likely the intelligent segment of society. This segment has to support their offspring and may be disinclined to have multiple children as they alone are responsible for their necessities. This decreases the volume of DNA from the most intelligent into the gene pool. So we have a situation where the DNA from the most successful is decreasing and the DNA from the unsuccessful is increasing. We will not see the result of this experiment for many generations but I can assure you that it will have an effect. Draw your own conclusions.
Again, these are just observations. My feelings are that humans may try to outwit nature and its laws of selection but the power of Darwinian principles are too strong. Eventually we will be overpowered by those laws and again those with the most ability will survive. The Earth is not limitless in its resources and the population is increasing at an unsustainable rate. Eventually we will go through a natural selection and Octamom and her progeny will have to compete to survive not just apply for welfare and have the government take from me and give to her.
For hundreds of thousands of years humans have evolved to where we continuously improve upon ourselves through the process of natural selection. Darwinian principles, the survival of the most fit, as harsh as it seems ultimately lead to a more evolved being. We have developed bigger brains and more intelligence which has been our strategy to increase our survivability. This continues to go on in parts of the world. In the last hundred or so years humans in "developed" societies have determined that they will subvert natural selection by not allowing nature to select out those least fit to survive. Governments have stepped in to ensure their and their progeny's survival. Since parents at the bottom of the socio-economic scale do not feel the pressure of the need to feed their children, (since government will), they are free to multiply without end or disincentive. These government programs have the unintended consequence of promoting the expansion of DNA into our gene pool of the LEAST likely to survive. I am not saying this is wrong policy just making an observation.
On the contrary, successful people, people with means, are more likely the intelligent segment of society. This segment has to support their offspring and may be disinclined to have multiple children as they alone are responsible for their necessities. This decreases the volume of DNA from the most intelligent into the gene pool. So we have a situation where the DNA from the most successful is decreasing and the DNA from the unsuccessful is increasing. We will not see the result of this experiment for many generations but I can assure you that it will have an effect. Draw your own conclusions.
Again, these are just observations. My feelings are that humans may try to outwit nature and its laws of selection but the power of Darwinian principles are too strong. Eventually we will be overpowered by those laws and again those with the most ability will survive. The Earth is not limitless in its resources and the population is increasing at an unsustainable rate. Eventually we will go through a natural selection and Octamom and her progeny will have to compete to survive not just apply for welfare and have the government take from me and give to her.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The Melting Pot, a Positive or Negative?
I wanted to expand a little regarding what I finished with last post. There is no doubt that the decrease in religious participation has coincided with a deterioration of cultural values worldwide and in the US in particular. Let me just explain that I am not a fanatically religious person. Yet I do believe that participation in a faith based community is important and especially so for the population of the US as compared to other countries. I will explain why.
Last post I discussed the culture of gluttony and overconsumption we now have. If we humans are simply a bunch of carbon atoms amassed into molecules, cells, and organs. If we are basically glorified gorillas which have evolved larger brains and walk on two feet then I can understand why we overconsume. It is a matter of Darwinian survival, every man for themselves. I will overspend, overeat, and overconsume because there is no incentive to care about my neighbor as he is just a competitor in survival. If we are to survive as a group we must find ways to interconnect.
This is where religion plays a critical role. It connects people to each other in a way that secular institutions cannot. It connects people to each other within their church, within their community, and within their faith both nationally and internationally. It also connects people to each other through the belief that we are all products of god's creation resulting in connections between religions. Being part of a faith based institution is not only about faith but more importantly about establishing connections between people.
In any other country where there is uniformity and everybody is Icelandic or Swiss or Russian there is an inherent connection between all its citizens. People would be less likely to overconsume at the expense of their neighbor. On the contrary, this country is formed by numerous disconnected groups. This diversity provides great advantages but also results in a disparate and fragmented society. In the US people overconsume without guilt because they are disconnected from their neighbor who may be negatively effected by their overindulgence. They do not see and do not care about their neighbor only about there own sense of entitlement. It is all about them, what the individual can amass, without seeing the larger results of their behavior. This individual disconnectedness is especially inherent in this country due to its diversity and why the need to connect through religious organizations is so critical to our survival.
Last post I discussed the culture of gluttony and overconsumption we now have. If we humans are simply a bunch of carbon atoms amassed into molecules, cells, and organs. If we are basically glorified gorillas which have evolved larger brains and walk on two feet then I can understand why we overconsume. It is a matter of Darwinian survival, every man for themselves. I will overspend, overeat, and overconsume because there is no incentive to care about my neighbor as he is just a competitor in survival. If we are to survive as a group we must find ways to interconnect.
This is where religion plays a critical role. It connects people to each other in a way that secular institutions cannot. It connects people to each other within their church, within their community, and within their faith both nationally and internationally. It also connects people to each other through the belief that we are all products of god's creation resulting in connections between religions. Being part of a faith based institution is not only about faith but more importantly about establishing connections between people.
In any other country where there is uniformity and everybody is Icelandic or Swiss or Russian there is an inherent connection between all its citizens. People would be less likely to overconsume at the expense of their neighbor. On the contrary, this country is formed by numerous disconnected groups. This diversity provides great advantages but also results in a disparate and fragmented society. In the US people overconsume without guilt because they are disconnected from their neighbor who may be negatively effected by their overindulgence. They do not see and do not care about their neighbor only about there own sense of entitlement. It is all about them, what the individual can amass, without seeing the larger results of their behavior. This individual disconnectedness is especially inherent in this country due to its diversity and why the need to connect through religious organizations is so critical to our survival.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
A Nation of Gluttons
Last week I was consulted on a patient in the hospital with an ear infection. She was a young woman and weighed over 300 pounds easy. I was rounding on her one day and her friend came in who also cleared 300 after just having gone to the cafeteria to bring up something for the two to eat. She brought two enormous slices of strawberry shortcake with mounds of whipped cream on top. They were neither embarrassed by their glutony or had any remorse in devouring these calorie laden snacks.
I have also seen incidences where an obese individual takes food from home and I am curious as to what they are bringing. I have seen one lady bring in granola, fruit, and yogurt every day thinking she must be trying to lose weight. But day after day, month after month there is no change. Now I feel sorry for her if in fact she eats a low calorie diet and cannot lose weight. But I suspect she goes home and gorges on yodels and ring dings. She brings in the healthy stuff to work just for show.
I just do not get it. What goes through these peoples mind as they add more girth to their bods and take years off their life. And don't give me the arguement that they are ignorant of the health effects or that they are so obese that they no longer care. If the fear of a shortened life with disease doesn't incentivize these individuals from restricting their intake then there is NOTHING that will. No government intervention, tax on certain foods, or public education will fix this problem. It is a national crisis and a huge economic burden on the health care system with no solution.
It is an American cultural problem of over consumption without thinking there is a payback. We over consume everything. We overconsume energy to the point of destroying our environment. We overspend and overborrow money to the point of bankrupting ourselves and our children. We overeat ourselves to the point of disease and death. We feel we can do anything to our bodies, our country, and our world because we are entitled. We have lost a sense of humility and self control. We care only about what we can consume at anybody's expense, even our own. We truly have a pathologic culture of conceit and self importance and I see no way to reverse it.
We need a national shrink to redirect our priorities and I think the only one who could do it is the man upstairs. Shana Tova
I have also seen incidences where an obese individual takes food from home and I am curious as to what they are bringing. I have seen one lady bring in granola, fruit, and yogurt every day thinking she must be trying to lose weight. But day after day, month after month there is no change. Now I feel sorry for her if in fact she eats a low calorie diet and cannot lose weight. But I suspect she goes home and gorges on yodels and ring dings. She brings in the healthy stuff to work just for show.
I just do not get it. What goes through these peoples mind as they add more girth to their bods and take years off their life. And don't give me the arguement that they are ignorant of the health effects or that they are so obese that they no longer care. If the fear of a shortened life with disease doesn't incentivize these individuals from restricting their intake then there is NOTHING that will. No government intervention, tax on certain foods, or public education will fix this problem. It is a national crisis and a huge economic burden on the health care system with no solution.
It is an American cultural problem of over consumption without thinking there is a payback. We over consume everything. We overconsume energy to the point of destroying our environment. We overspend and overborrow money to the point of bankrupting ourselves and our children. We overeat ourselves to the point of disease and death. We feel we can do anything to our bodies, our country, and our world because we are entitled. We have lost a sense of humility and self control. We care only about what we can consume at anybody's expense, even our own. We truly have a pathologic culture of conceit and self importance and I see no way to reverse it.
We need a national shrink to redirect our priorities and I think the only one who could do it is the man upstairs. Shana Tova
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
The Economic Tide
There is a simple truth which is lost on this administration. The fact is that the method to improve the lot of the poor and middle income people in this country is to improve the situation for business and the upper class which will raise everyone's standard of living. This so called supplied side economics or trickle down theory has historically been shown to be the most effective way to secure an improving future for most Americans and for future generations. But this simple reality is completely antithetical and an anathema to BO's ideology.
The problem lies in the fact that this administration is so ideologically rigid in it's idea that the rich have had all the advantages for so long at the expense of the poor. BO came in declaring now that I am here I will change the rules and the advantages will now go to the poor at the expense of the rich. They refuse to understand that it is not a battle of rich versus the poor, one having the advantages over the other. It's role is to improve both group's position and the best way to do this is not to take from the rich and give to the poor but to put in place policy that will enhance everybody's opportunity to succeed. A rising tide will raise all boats.
They must understand that there will always be rich people and poor people in a successful capitalistic society and in such a society the poor will be elevated economically as the entire pot increases. Success of the rich is not at the expense of the poor but to the benefit of the poor. The key is to provide OPPORTUNITY for all, not to guarantee the end result. Their job is to ensure a level playing field where anyone can excel based on his/her abilities but can also fail and be allowed to try again.
The administration must realize that the rich are not their enemies. The government must partner with business and the wealthy which then and only then will help the poor and middle class. Only business can produce wealth which can then be spread amongst all people and this idea is so distasteful to this administration. Their fault lies in the belief that they can short circuit the system by taking from the rich and giving to the poor without undermining the system. That government can orchestrate the distribution of wealth at it's whim and according to it's distorted sense of fairness spells the death of capitalism in the USA. It is said a rising tide can lift all boats, but contrarily, an ebbing tide will lower all boats however the rich will have the resources to move to a better shore.
The problem lies in the fact that this administration is so ideologically rigid in it's idea that the rich have had all the advantages for so long at the expense of the poor. BO came in declaring now that I am here I will change the rules and the advantages will now go to the poor at the expense of the rich. They refuse to understand that it is not a battle of rich versus the poor, one having the advantages over the other. It's role is to improve both group's position and the best way to do this is not to take from the rich and give to the poor but to put in place policy that will enhance everybody's opportunity to succeed. A rising tide will raise all boats.
They must understand that there will always be rich people and poor people in a successful capitalistic society and in such a society the poor will be elevated economically as the entire pot increases. Success of the rich is not at the expense of the poor but to the benefit of the poor. The key is to provide OPPORTUNITY for all, not to guarantee the end result. Their job is to ensure a level playing field where anyone can excel based on his/her abilities but can also fail and be allowed to try again.
The administration must realize that the rich are not their enemies. The government must partner with business and the wealthy which then and only then will help the poor and middle class. Only business can produce wealth which can then be spread amongst all people and this idea is so distasteful to this administration. Their fault lies in the belief that they can short circuit the system by taking from the rich and giving to the poor without undermining the system. That government can orchestrate the distribution of wealth at it's whim and according to it's distorted sense of fairness spells the death of capitalism in the USA. It is said a rising tide can lift all boats, but contrarily, an ebbing tide will lower all boats however the rich will have the resources to move to a better shore.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Thank You and Goodbye
Thank You
A couple of weeks ago a 26 billion dollar package was passed by the government to deliver two main objectives. The first was to ensure that teachers would not be laid off and the second was to shore up medicaid programs in the states (government insurance for the poor). The next day I went to my children and thanked them for being so generous with their money. In essence the government is borrowing/stealing money which will be paid back in the future by my children and grand children. The government is basically taking their future income and giving it to me so I can take care of poor people. So thank you kids, for transferring your future wealth to me.
They are also transferring this stolen money to support ridiculous and unsustainable government pensions. This is instead of making the tough and necessary changes in those benefits just to continue pandering to secure votes and power. HOW IRRESPONSIBLE of these generational thieves to steal this money? They spend money as if there is no payback. Both parties are at fault (you know which one primarily) and are a bunch of pathetic cowards.
Good Bye
Yesterday I sent off my first child, my only daughter. She went to study abroad for 10 months before she starts college next Fall. I suppose I wasn't prepared for how difficult it was going to be for me. As if a piece of me has been removed, and one of my best parts. The years of her living with me under the same roof are over. It went way too fast. The memories are so numerous but it is difficult to think about them because they are by definition in the past and this marks the transition to a new stage for which I am not prepared. The memories just reinforce this painful change.
My daughter's main worry and apprehension was she didn't want things to change. She was worried that the dynamics of the family, the day to day relationship would be altered by her absence. Although I reassured her that things can never change between us, inevitably her absence produces a huge void in our household. Although this change is extremely difficult for me, it is good change. I know time will heal this emotional wound but in the meantime it is extremely difficult. As we enter a new and different stage in our father daughter relationship I know we will share experiences that exceed anything so far. So goodbye to my daughter for now. I miss you and love you so much.
A couple of weeks ago a 26 billion dollar package was passed by the government to deliver two main objectives. The first was to ensure that teachers would not be laid off and the second was to shore up medicaid programs in the states (government insurance for the poor). The next day I went to my children and thanked them for being so generous with their money. In essence the government is borrowing/stealing money which will be paid back in the future by my children and grand children. The government is basically taking their future income and giving it to me so I can take care of poor people. So thank you kids, for transferring your future wealth to me.
They are also transferring this stolen money to support ridiculous and unsustainable government pensions. This is instead of making the tough and necessary changes in those benefits just to continue pandering to secure votes and power. HOW IRRESPONSIBLE of these generational thieves to steal this money? They spend money as if there is no payback. Both parties are at fault (you know which one primarily) and are a bunch of pathetic cowards.
Good Bye
Yesterday I sent off my first child, my only daughter. She went to study abroad for 10 months before she starts college next Fall. I suppose I wasn't prepared for how difficult it was going to be for me. As if a piece of me has been removed, and one of my best parts. The years of her living with me under the same roof are over. It went way too fast. The memories are so numerous but it is difficult to think about them because they are by definition in the past and this marks the transition to a new stage for which I am not prepared. The memories just reinforce this painful change.
My daughter's main worry and apprehension was she didn't want things to change. She was worried that the dynamics of the family, the day to day relationship would be altered by her absence. Although I reassured her that things can never change between us, inevitably her absence produces a huge void in our household. Although this change is extremely difficult for me, it is good change. I know time will heal this emotional wound but in the meantime it is extremely difficult. As we enter a new and different stage in our father daughter relationship I know we will share experiences that exceed anything so far. So goodbye to my daughter for now. I miss you and love you so much.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Ground Zero Mosque, Too Close or Too Far
I think I have come up with the perfect location for the 9/11 mosque. Some say it is too close to the terrorist massacre that occurred but I say it is not close enough. I mean why should the mosque be built a whole two blocks away from ground zero. I propose that the mosque be located on the top floor of the Freedom Tower. Yes, one third of a mile up in the air in the replacement to the World Trade Center is the ideal place and fulfills several important goals.
I suspect it will be difficult to lease out the space on that floor. For whatever reason, companies and employees may fear occupying the top floor. By locating the mosque on that floor it alleviates this concern. Perhaps as time goes on they will need to expand and occupy more floors. Probably a Halal restaurant will need to be built on the floor. Maybe some office space or sleeping quarters for visiting Muslim leaders and dignitaries. Yes, put them all on the top floors of the Freedom Tower.
As tenants the Muslim community will be paying rent to support the existence of the replacement to the World Trade Center. This is a wonderful way to demonstrate their rejection of extremist Muslims. What better way to spend their dollars than to assist in the success of the building that was brought down in the name of Islam. Quite a statement by moderate Muslims that they will not be brought down by the extremists amongst their ranks.
The Mosque will be called the Cordoba Mosque in the Sky and will be the highest Mosque in the world attracting many tourists. The top floors will be packed with Muslim tourists from around the world to take in the views, be called to prayer, and to catch a bite at the Halal Windows of the World.
By putting a mosque on the top floor I think the chances of another similar attack on the building is brought way down. Al Quaeda will certainly be deterred from sending another plane or planting a car bomb in the basement if the result is the destruction of the Cordoba Mosque in the Sky along with their brethren in the building. It serves as a great deterrent.
Finally, Imam Rauf should have his top floor office facing New Jersey with all glass windows so he has a great view of any incoming aircraft.
I suspect it will be difficult to lease out the space on that floor. For whatever reason, companies and employees may fear occupying the top floor. By locating the mosque on that floor it alleviates this concern. Perhaps as time goes on they will need to expand and occupy more floors. Probably a Halal restaurant will need to be built on the floor. Maybe some office space or sleeping quarters for visiting Muslim leaders and dignitaries. Yes, put them all on the top floors of the Freedom Tower.
As tenants the Muslim community will be paying rent to support the existence of the replacement to the World Trade Center. This is a wonderful way to demonstrate their rejection of extremist Muslims. What better way to spend their dollars than to assist in the success of the building that was brought down in the name of Islam. Quite a statement by moderate Muslims that they will not be brought down by the extremists amongst their ranks.
The Mosque will be called the Cordoba Mosque in the Sky and will be the highest Mosque in the world attracting many tourists. The top floors will be packed with Muslim tourists from around the world to take in the views, be called to prayer, and to catch a bite at the Halal Windows of the World.
By putting a mosque on the top floor I think the chances of another similar attack on the building is brought way down. Al Quaeda will certainly be deterred from sending another plane or planting a car bomb in the basement if the result is the destruction of the Cordoba Mosque in the Sky along with their brethren in the building. It serves as a great deterrent.
Finally, Imam Rauf should have his top floor office facing New Jersey with all glass windows so he has a great view of any incoming aircraft.
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