“Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” began as one man’s journey in self-employment, and evolved into his musings on issues: political and cultural in nature. This may irritate some people. It may inspire others. If I can get one person to think a second time about their beliefs and ideas, then that’s alright with me.
My Why
I refuse to believe that there is nothing an individual can do about the way things are. I don’t have millions listening to me on talk radio. The networks and cable stations don’t point their cameras in my direction. Hollywood moguls and New York glitterati don’t come to a stop when I walk in the room. Politicians and power-brokers aren’t waiting for my pontifications on the day’s policy issues.
Here are a few quotes from G. K. Chesterton that capture something of how I look at the world.
“Men invent new ideals because they dare not attempt old ideals. They look forward with enthusiasm, because they are afraid to look back.” – What’s Wrong With The World, 1910
“Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to that arrogant oligarchy who merely happen to be walking around.” – Orthodoxy, 1908
“The modern world is a crowd of very rapid racing cars all brought to a standstill and stuck in a block of traffic.” – ILN, 5/29/26
An Extremely Short Personal History
I grew up in the Sacramento valley suburbs. I have formally studied Psychology, English, Transpersonal Psychology and even Theology for time. I served in the United States Navy, as one of many men operating a sea-going nuclear power plant. I have worked as a bouncer, mover, for a mortgage company, a software company, an insurance company, a shipping logistics company, a hospital and several general contractors. I’ve been a temporary employee, doing mindless temporary tasks within large faceless corporations for too much of my working life.
I have recently tried my hand at network marketing, with not much success to date (a failing that is entirely mine, not the industry’s). This was an endeavor I took up when I was laid off just as the economy started to tank in late 2008. I remain unemployed. If you know of any interesting gigs, I am all ears.
Quirks
My reading tastes run towards genre fiction: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Thrillers … that sort of thing. If you check out my Amazon storefront, which I call Haunted Seas Books, you can will get a glimpse of my book buying habits (any and all purchases from Haunted Seas Books is greatly appreciated given my current economic condition). One of my dreams is to operate an SF, F & Horror speciatly bookshop in Seattle. If it were to come to fruition it would be the only bookstore of its kind in Seattle.
I believe that if conservatives are ever going to affect any change in America, they have to work on the Cultural front. I do not mean that they need to be more politically active to end abortion or same-sex marriage, etc. I mean they have to write stories, make movies, create art, perform plays, report the news and critique intelligently. Constantly beating the political drums might win an election or two, but it will do nothing to impede Progressivism’s creep toward every expanding Statism. Conservatives would be wise to spend less on the Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise and more on creative writers, artists, filmmakers, thespians, playwrights, etc.
I may add more to this story as time goes on.I will leave it at this for now. Reader’s comments are welcome. Spammers can take a flying leap.
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