So? On any “good” cruise, I imagine the cruiser gets to know one’s steward very rapidly. Ours was a delight. He was in his 18th year with the line. We talked a good bit, as he was always happy and talkative. He, as well as most of the crew work from contract to contract – many times with rather long “vacations” between. From reading, I would guess this hard worker – 16 hours per day; 7 days per week – was being paid in the area of $450 per month plus tips. Tips are built into the cost of a cruise and goes to about 50% of the crew at contract’s end. This could well add another $600 per month. All stewards, and basic service crew are residents of anywhere but the U.S. Indonesia is a particularly popular recruitment point.

Meanwhile, those of us who could afford the steep rates were treated to the best of everything. Food on most top cruise ships is top notch and frequent. Life aboard is what I would imagine living at Trump Tower would be like. I hasten to say, that most of the “cost” of our cruise was from anniversary gifts.

So? Well, I would very much like to book another cruise for late 2013. But the little guy on my shoulder tells me I am contributing to a very employee abusive industry. In many ways worse than Disney. I met the Captain of “my” ship – and I assure you he is doing very well. As he should. He has years of knowledge and experience – and is responsible for about 2000 souls. There are many in between the Captain and the seamstress who never leaves the basement. But of the 850 crew – I would say about 80% are making next to nothing and are subject to poor treatment. YET – they each and every one always smile and appear to be truly happy people. What would my Steward do at home? On board, he or she has no expenses – so there is a plus.

Yes, I am having a debate with myself. I could offer rationalization. When I go out here in Orlando to a fine restaurant, someone making minimum wage cleans up my mess, I give another guy $3 to “go fetch my car”. But it is not the same. It is the thing which separates us from them. Or does it? The porter can’t live on minimum wage in the U.S.
My Indonesian friend goes home a happy man to spend up to four months before setting out again.

Cruising? It bothers me. Then – here I am on my Mac which was assembled in China by a kid making a dollar a day. I suspect Mitt Romney has been on many cruises. He know doubt know many line owners. I strongly believe Mitt never went below to meet the men and women who make things hum. So long as they hum, Mitt could not care less. I don’t want to be like Mitt.

Seriously, I would love some input on the subject. It really doesn’t have to apply to cruising – but with the rising popularity of life at sea – it seems timely. But what of all the ways we of just average means take advantage of those who live in America’s basement.

The U.S. Supreme Court is about to hear the case of Obama Care – and very specifically as to whether the “individual mandate” portion of the law is constitutional. I presume the result will largely depend on how much Justice Kennedy will hold out for to vote with Roberts. (Sorry, that was just sarcasm).

Let’s look very specifically on just what the Federal government may mandate the citizens do to. Until and including the War in Viet Nam – the Federal government required (mandated) that various individual serve time in the U. S. Military. In many thousands of cases, those individuals were mandated to PAY with their lives. How much is a life worth Mr. Roberts? Others paid by losing limbs, sight, voice, or the ability to think. What might that be worth Mr. Scalia? Whatever – these were individual mandates imposed on U. S. citizens. And indeed all wars are engaged in commerce.
So there is not a constitutional question in the Obama case. It is purely a political question. And while I admitted “payment” in the case of Justice Kennedy was sarcastic – I take it back. Payment comes in many forms. What will CJ Roberts promise Mr. Kennedy?

Here is a solution – easily based upon the preceding. Those who have served their nation in the U. S. Military – have paid the mandate. The government can pay for their health premiums. Those who refused the mandate – can pay it now. Buy health insurance – and waste no time doing it. FOR you see, if they do not, the people like me – who served in the military – will get TWO mandates. I will now have to pay for these lazy coward, SOB’s insurance. Those like Mitt and sons who believe they are much too good to touch that old dirty military equipment. To say nothing of their great fear of war. I’v been listening for Mitt to even mention why we refused. He would rater speak of the height of trees. And what about the “boys”????

Is not he income tax an individual mandate? The toll to ride on the Florida road system? But this may come out well. If mandates are not constitutional – we all have filed our last tax returns. And don’t even think of paying any more health insurance premiums. The Roberts kids will have declared it to be unconstitutional.

Using the wonderful benefit of hindsight, at age 70, I can say only World War II, could be classified as absolutely necessary. We pretty much knew it was a matter of time – and that time came obviously on December 7, 1941. World War II was about global domination. The result of not becoming involved in that war was obvious. So we can hopefully establish one extreme – that of “clearly necessary”. After WWII, we had Korea, Viet Nam, two Gulf wars, and Afghanistan. There were other short “wars” where we were participants, and the periods were short. Bosnia would hold such a distinction.

That was fairly easy. Far more difficult is to establish the other extreme. Korea would probably fall in the necessary category to maintain America’s “sphere of influence” in Asia. The North and South were also clearly distinct. The first Gulf war? The tiny nation of Kuwait looked to a friend for assistance. Knowing the history of Saddam Hussein, I believe Bush 41 was correct in his reaction. Before wading into Iraq – let’s deal with Viet Nam. My war. Forty years after the official end of U.S. involvement in that war – it remains so complicated – that we may never actually be in a position to say if it was necessary. Again, with hindsight, we know the “Domino Theory” was simply wrong. But I emphasize hindsight. There were many excellent reasons to suspect that turning our backs to Viet Nam would give China (and to a lesser extent – the Soviet Union) the confidence to proceed in other areas.

Without retracing all the policy changes and methodologies from 1963 to 1974, I believe some conclusions can be made. At the outset, under the guidance of President Kennedy and Secretary McNamara – our intentions were clear. We mark 1965 as the beginning of the war, but our involvement began before JFK’s death. In fact, it is my view that it was his death and the assumption of the office by Johnson that led to the years of uncertainty. Johnson came to office riding a wave of agony and frustration in the country. On the domestic front – Johnson was able to use this period to pass many pieces of major legislation. Then came the “obvious to the public” period of our lack of progress in Viet Nam. More importantly, it led to a period of no specific goals for that war. The military was there – and more than capable – of carrying out any orders from Washington. But alas – the orders were full of ambiguity. Ambiguity in Washington led to ambiguity among military leaders. Eventually it would drift down to the fighters in the “field”.

Nixon’s plan for ending the war did not come to fruition – if a plan ever existed. We would find ourselves in Cambodia and Laois. Deadly battles for ground we occupied overnight and withdrew. Washington had, during three administrations, made a complete farce of “the war in Viet Nam”. So there we are. Different people have come to different conclusions. For my purpose, I am placing Viet Nam at the other extreme – an unnecessary war – or at the very least – a very poorly executed war.

Iraq. Many in government in the late 1950’s and through the 60’s believed firmly in the domino theory – let one nation fall to the communists and others would topple in succession. During all of W. Bush’s first term and most of the second – Neo Cons dominated foreign policy. For years – people such as Ron Perle, Doug Feith, Paul Wolfowitz, and Dick Cheney had wanted to establish a western democracy in the Middle East. Just like with the domino theory – other nations would observe and follow. Along comes September 11, 2001. Bingo. We certainly had an obligation to go after those responsible for an attack within the U.S. Few questioned the initial invasion into Afghanistan in pursuit of those people. Back in Washington, Cheney and company were about to take advantage of the American people. Ready to believe just about anything and certainly ready to ward off any future attacks – the Neo’s hatched their plot. With Cheney and Wolfowitz leading the charge, they descended on the Oval Office like vultures. Despite the testimony of the U.N.’s chief inspector – Bush was sold. We would make a fast entry into Iraq – destroy the massive amounts of WMD – and rid the world of Saddam. Eleven years later all but a few now concede Iraq was a horrible idea. A completely unnecessary war, which has accomplished little.

Full circle – back to Afghanistan. This time it was to make that country into our image – and thus prevent the future training of folks who would destroy America. The fundamental problem is that most evidence points to Pakistan. We, for various good reasons, will not be invading that country. The Obama Administration finds itself, once again, in a virtually impossible situation. The people are tried of war. The military is desperately over-worked, and spread far too thin. We are literally running out of personnel to conduct wars. Add to that the history of Afghanistan, and the current corrupt government – and getting out looks like the way to go. Meanwhile honorable folks like Senator McCain argue that we can succeed if we stay with it. Now the raw nerve has been breached. Bush and his Neo-Con advisors basically left the ball on the field in order to divert to Iraq. Having done that, and considering that Afghanistan is now the longest war in our history – I am left to conclude we must get out. The country is simply no longer able to conduct this or any other war. Were we to decide to remain in Afghanistan in substantial numbers, a draft would be mandatory. At that point – the point at which far more than 2% of the nation “feels” the war – we have another Viet Nam – most likely with the same end.

Is Afghanistan a necessary war? It was in 2003. The Bush Administration blew it – and now it simply can not be necessary. It is not even possible. How about Syria, Iran, or the Sudan?

Well, I mentioned the GOP and its rather entertaining effort to find someone to run for President. The GOP does things differently than the Dems. We had our contest in 2008. Perhaps it is just my perspective – but as I remember it – we had two rather intelligent folks fighting it out. I was ( and am) a Barack guy. I can not think of a single time when he made reference to the correct height of trees, or sang the Davy Crockett song. Hillary did not either, to her credit.

No, I really don’t think it is just my perspective. I have tried moving about, trying for a better view – but the four guys look and sound the same from everywhere. I don’t have the money to run for the presidency – and truth be known – I don’t read that many newspapers. But were I wealthy, and well-read, I still don’t think I would make the run. I can just see myself up on stage, hands in pockets, smiling, making goofy expressions, and saying really dumb things. “How about this weather?” There is no danger that I would try to make myself sound very holy. I believe in birth control and women’s rights, so brother Rick would make me appear to be the devil. There is no devil, but there is in Rick’s world. I love to “run at the mouth”, so I would probably find myself migrating over to Newt’s corner. Newt and I could discuss colonies on the moon. I don’t know how we get along without them. But one must find $2.00 a gallon gas somewhere. Maybe Newt knows more about Mars than we believe. He does have an odd shape, and he was “gone” for a spell.

I have eaten grits. No offense to Southerners – but I just don’t care for them. Tried butter, gravy, jelly, various seasonings – just don’t seem to like them. I did order have one occasion where I ordered grits with gravy – hold the grits. That wasn’t bad.

The question before me – is in fact the same question much of the world is encountering. Greece. Riots in the streets continue as the government moves forward with its austerity movement. Promises made. Promises not kept. The UK has experienced similar uprisings. I am a creature of the Left. I did not wake up one morning and decide to lean Left. One accumulates points of view over a few years; coupled with a natural bent towards one view or another. I want to be “for” things rather than “against”. Even now, all I see coming from the Right is opposition. That is a turn off for me.

Accounting. Other than something one (like me) did or does for a living – it is a day of reckoning. The budget is still one hour from seeing daylight – but as usual, the media seems to have most of it. Are we indeed going to kick the can just a bit further down the road? Am I (and perhaps you) not being selfish in believing again that it is OK to kick that can? It’s good for us. Our Social Security, our pensions, our Medicare and Medicaid will be safe.

After hearing the outline of what President Obama has in mind – I turned off the TV and sat in silence. Contemplating. Good for me – but what of my son and his children? We are about to enter into another of those long debates featuring the Left vs. the Right. Part of the budget proposal will be to let the Bush tax cuts expire and raise the rate on the super rich. The President is reported to have said, “Now is not the time for austerity”. As desperately as I want to climb aboard yet another ship leaving the Port of Washington – there is that word again. Epiphany.

In my case, I just may have been jolted into having one. I find myself saying “now just may be the time to go after entitlements. Bring them back to Earth. It would hurt folks. Folks who have already been severely hurt. It would hurt ME. Somewhere, sometime, there is going to be hurt. Looking clinically at the situation with the deficit and the politics of reality – I doubt Washington has the guts to fix anything now – and will not have the guts as far out as I can see.

Social Security, despite some observations to the contrary, is in decent shape for about 30 years. It works as Rachel Maddow says. Do we really want to cut the revenue which actually pays the benefits? Even the Tea Baggers say “Do not touch MY Social Security”. And so it goes. Everyone wants to get the deficit to around 3% of GDP – so long as it is the other guy who pays for it.

President Obama. I have worked so hard to elect and support him. I believe deeply that given the circumstances – this has been a highly successful first term. There is so much more work to be done. A second term is needed, and I will be out there working my tail off again. But here is where the rubber meets the road. Take on cuts to Medicare and Medicaid – and reelection will become impossible. The Progressives will dump the President in a heartbeat. We get to have President Romney or President Santorum. The very thought is repulsive. How do we win in 2012? First, we must leave entitlements once again for the next person. We must regain all our strength with the base. Attract the independents. It is the only way. But in may be wrong.

Is it time for we Progressives to be martyrs? Tackle everything in an out effort to do the right thing? Be defeated? The immediate result would be Barack Obama leaves the White House. But I will bet $10,000 of Mitt’s money, history would judge President Barack Obama as one of the greats.

I want this damn epiphany to disappear. ( I seem to like the word ) Let me get on with preaching from the Left. With a day or so to think – I believe I can put it back where it came from. That I will go about saying “don’t worry too much about the deficit – it will be taken care of in time”. Yeah right. Answer one question for me – and perhaps pull me out of this hole. The U.S. will continue to sell debt. There is no other way. But assume (and it looks very likely) that in 2020 we have a boat load of debt to sell – at 2%. No takers. Not even China. Then what folks? Then what.

It appears that we just might get a major revision of the Tax Code. (It’s good to dream). That would be the time to radically revise tax exemptions.

Now the Catholic Church according to Peggy Noonan – has been awoken. Who is she kidding? They have been wide awake for centuries. They are “up in arms” over new regulations proposed by the Obama administration regarding employee insurance coverage. (Abortion !!!!!!!!!!!!!) BUT – they want to keep their exemption. Give up the exemption and do what you please. Do not do so and expect all of us to pay your bills.

The media as usual is clueless. At this moment the mouths are moving, condemning the administration for laying down rules for the most holy institution. YET they do not mention tax exemption. So long as idiots rule the media – we must learn on our own. But that’s a good thing – provided WE LEARN.