Tim, I enjoyed reading your quotes. One reminded me of a story at Basic Combat Training (BCT) in Fort Benning, Georgia. It includes a lesson about personal responsibility.
“The great escape of our times is escape from personal responsibility for the consequences of one’s own behavior.” - Thomas Sowell
I joined the active duty Army in 2004. I wanted to learn hard work, discipline, and leadership - and pay off my private school education. I got all of that and more. ;)
In the woods of Fort Benning, I learned a tough lesson. My company of Soldiers had finished marching through tropical storm El Nino the previous day. Standing in formation, our drill sergeant asks us to perform a functions check on our M16A4 weapon. (This is to make sure it works correctly.)
At that time, there was a blank round in the chamber of my weapon............... Was I aware of this situation? With Soldiers all around me at arm's lenghth, I performed the function check (holding my rifle in the air to avoid aiming it at anyone). What happened next? THE WEAPON FIRED THE BLANK ROUND IN THE FORMATION.
At that moment, I instantly and permanently learned an important lesson: I take full responsibility for my actions.
Let's just say that the drill sergeant made an example of me. Push-ups became a way of life and night guard-duty was my primary occupation. I failed to properly clear my weapon, which put my battle buddies in danger. I made a poor decision not to properly clear my weapon, which resulted in negative consequences.
Over the past two decades, this lesson has served me well. A hard lesson, yes; but a good one: I take complete responsibility for my actions.
Thanks, Tim. Keep up the rant-mode and reasonable writing! Cheers.
As a minority member, I’ve grown sick and tired of my people being labeled as “victims” despite Mexican people descending from a warrior nation. Old wrinkly politicians and the liberals dispose of us when we no longer suit their needs, which is every two to four years for votes.
Excellent article. Thanks for putting out another banger.
Thank you Mr. Denning for putting into words everything I think of everyday. I find it hard to express. When I try to say what I know to be absolute truths about how things are today and why, it always comes out wrong and I am usually called out for it and for being out of touch. Putting wisdom into words is difficult for me, you do it so well and I thank you for that..
Well said, Tim. Thank you for raising the issue of inflation. Its robbery of the highest degree.
And unfortunately many investments commonly thought of as inflation protections fall far short. People will require sound thinking to in order to survive financially.
Tim, welcome to substack. I used to follow your work at Medium. I liked the quote abount inflation and your synopsis on it. Can I republish that passage on my publication?
Useful quotes, but I couldn't hate Thomas Sowell's personal philosophy more - with every fiber of my being (one's personal philosophy matters too). Emotional? Sure. But when one has been F-d by the African-American wing of the John Birch society enough times, one takes offense.
https://carsey.unh.edu/research/fedgovspend-explorer-app (U.S. Federal Budget of $8,660,000,000,000)(yes, that's 8.66 Trillion, which is $1924.44 every year, since the formation of Earth 4.5 billion years ago. $778,000,000,000 is defense.
Paying for This
$1004/per month Health Care Insurance policy, which covers what my employer-based Health Care Insurance policy ($700/month) doesn't. $1700/month for basic health care. What do you pay in Australia? Not $1700/month -taxes or not.
My point? Plenty of that money could be pointed at priorities that are much more compassionate. These stoic, "I don't care about people" lines of thought keeps the LACK OF COMPASSION funded.
Tim, I enjoyed reading your quotes. One reminded me of a story at Basic Combat Training (BCT) in Fort Benning, Georgia. It includes a lesson about personal responsibility.
“The great escape of our times is escape from personal responsibility for the consequences of one’s own behavior.” - Thomas Sowell
I joined the active duty Army in 2004. I wanted to learn hard work, discipline, and leadership - and pay off my private school education. I got all of that and more. ;)
In the woods of Fort Benning, I learned a tough lesson. My company of Soldiers had finished marching through tropical storm El Nino the previous day. Standing in formation, our drill sergeant asks us to perform a functions check on our M16A4 weapon. (This is to make sure it works correctly.)
At that time, there was a blank round in the chamber of my weapon............... Was I aware of this situation? With Soldiers all around me at arm's lenghth, I performed the function check (holding my rifle in the air to avoid aiming it at anyone). What happened next? THE WEAPON FIRED THE BLANK ROUND IN THE FORMATION.
At that moment, I instantly and permanently learned an important lesson: I take full responsibility for my actions.
Let's just say that the drill sergeant made an example of me. Push-ups became a way of life and night guard-duty was my primary occupation. I failed to properly clear my weapon, which put my battle buddies in danger. I made a poor decision not to properly clear my weapon, which resulted in negative consequences.
Over the past two decades, this lesson has served me well. A hard lesson, yes; but a good one: I take complete responsibility for my actions.
Thanks, Tim. Keep up the rant-mode and reasonable writing! Cheers.
As a minority member, I’ve grown sick and tired of my people being labeled as “victims” despite Mexican people descending from a warrior nation. Old wrinkly politicians and the liberals dispose of us when we no longer suit their needs, which is every two to four years for votes.
Excellent article. Thanks for putting out another banger.
Thanks for your comment :)
“The least productive people are usually the ones who are most in favor of holding meetings.”
How true !!
But, people love sugar coated lies than bitter truths !!
That's been my experience Gajanan.
Yes Thomas always challenged the system with words of wisdom
I discovered him too late.
Great article. One caveat-- Thomas Sowell has zero terrible ideas.
Haha I thought you'd say that Ayo :)
Thank you Mr. Denning for putting into words everything I think of everyday. I find it hard to express. When I try to say what I know to be absolute truths about how things are today and why, it always comes out wrong and I am usually called out for it and for being out of touch. Putting wisdom into words is difficult for me, you do it so well and I thank you for that..
No probs Sophia.
Great article. Loved it
Thank you Nailini!
Minorities and injustice to the word 'Discrimination' ... Amazing piece... Made me think more about the suppressed thoughts over such issues!
Making you think is a good sign Shivani
He doesn't have too many bad ideas...
Well said, Tim. Thank you for raising the issue of inflation. Its robbery of the highest degree.
And unfortunately many investments commonly thought of as inflation protections fall far short. People will require sound thinking to in order to survive financially.
Tim, welcome to substack. I used to follow your work at Medium. I liked the quote abount inflation and your synopsis on it. Can I republish that passage on my publication?
Useful quotes, but I couldn't hate Thomas Sowell's personal philosophy more - with every fiber of my being (one's personal philosophy matters too). Emotional? Sure. But when one has been F-d by the African-American wing of the John Birch society enough times, one takes offense.
- Human Rights violations of the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Hemisphere_Institute_for_Security_Cooperation
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran%E2%80%93Contra_affair
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Tonkin_incident
I "paid for those" too.
Paid for This
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/32277/here-is-what-each-of-the-pentagons-air-launched-missiles-and-bombs-actually-cost
Paid for This
https://carsey.unh.edu/research/fedgovspend-explorer-app (U.S. Federal Budget of $8,660,000,000,000)(yes, that's 8.66 Trillion, which is $1924.44 every year, since the formation of Earth 4.5 billion years ago. $778,000,000,000 is defense.
Paying for This
$1004/per month Health Care Insurance policy, which covers what my employer-based Health Care Insurance policy ($700/month) doesn't. $1700/month for basic health care. What do you pay in Australia? Not $1700/month -taxes or not.
My point? Plenty of that money could be pointed at priorities that are much more compassionate. These stoic, "I don't care about people" lines of thought keeps the LACK OF COMPASSION funded.
As I said in the intro he's not perfect. But his ideas can really make us think.