Good morning,
A potpourri this morning…
GREAT GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS
A while back I listed a number of positives (and a few negatives) of government programs. While I think government isn’t always the finely-tuned, practical, or efficient vehicle to manage complex affairs, there are some things that they are just plain better at. To wit, highways, air traffic, delivery of utilities and water, maintaining national defense, administering government social programs, disaster response, policing (although one could write volumes on the successes and failures in this area) and maintaining a social safety net. That said, there is much work to be done managing public pension programs, the mess of a health care system we have, the inefficiencies of our welfare programs (and their paternalistic and disincentivising factors), regulating the dispersion of disinformation, and managing the budget. That said, Adam Torson adds the following commentary to the discussion, as relates to heroes of the government bureaucracy:
“Be on the lookout for the shell game where anti-government types purposefully undermine government programs and then point to their failures as evidence that government programs can't work. Michael Lewis's book, The Fifth Risk, talks about the unsung heroes of the various government bureaucracies, from weather prediction to rescuing people at sea. In my opinion it's not his best work in terms of writing, but it conveys the point that there are myriad and numerous government functions that are invisible but essential to our everyday lives, many of which the Trump administration endeavored to destroy or monetize, or which they destroyed through sheer incompetence.”
CASUALLY HURTFUL SPEECH LEADS TO ACTIVE HATE
Another spin on hurtful language, from Bradley Tabach-Bank: “I believe the overwhelming majority of Americans reject and abhor overt racism and antisemitism. But the rejection of hate is not enough. Hate feeds on the subtle and casual degradation of others that so many accept in our day-to-day conversations…It is a short journey from disrespect to active hate.”
SOME PET PEEVES FROM THE DRIVER’S SEAT
In yet another edition of “Glenn the cranky old guy,” here are some observations while driving:
The other night driving home from downtown, I encountered no fewer than three cars that went barreling down the road through red lights. It was terrifying. As I told my kids and any other new driver, one must assume that every other car out there is trying to hit you. Then, you’ll drive defensively and carefully.
When two lanes are merging, the protocol is that the lanes take turns folding into each other “like a zipper.”
Use the turn signal. It’s a nifty device to warn people behind you that you are going to slow and turn.
The lane of moving traffic (the one to the left of the parked cars) is not a delivery zone. You can’t sit there “for just a minute,” waiting for your companion.
I empathize for you—I really do—when you are in the right turn lane and realize you meant to go left. But to hold up two lanes of traffic and over a dozen cars, so you can cross over two lanes is just not ok. Just go around the block. It will be two minutes for you, as opposed to two minutes each for all of us who are waiting.
TIME FLIES
From Mark Farrell on the years flying by and turning 65:
“It doesn't help that the Social Security flier tells me that "the average 65-year-old will die at 83-years-old." Which coincidentally is the age my mother died. But she smoked, didn't exercise, and her favorite food was a patty-melt. I haven't neglected myself in that manner. In fact, for a few years, I was a vegetarian!
"83" is only 18 years away and these last 18 years just blew by!
Suffice it to say that I find myself wondering, "what's next?" And contemplating the things I wish I had done and how much time I have left to do them. In fact, a dear friend sent me a "Bucket List" notepad with headings like, "Places to visit," "Things to build," "Foods to eat," and "People to meet." These things and others are top of mind right now.
I've always wanted to through-hike the Pacific Crest Trail, which is a tri-state wilderness trail that spans about 1,650 miles from the Mexican border in California, through Oregon, and terminating at the Canadian border in Washington. The pressure of time and health regarding this journey is something I've never felt before this landmark birthday.”
Have a great day,
Glenn
From the archives:
Thanks for sending the gif separately. If it wasn't daylight, I would swear it was Mark trying to rush back to the dorm in time for SNL.
Greetings Glenn. Thanks for this perspective on aging and traffic. I’ll be drinking early today.
I did read a few years back that some expert said that the zipper merge in the stated situation was the most efficient.
And on the road, yes, people are out to get you. I do miss the old commute home.
(Attach hilarious gif here).