On the Federal Reserve

To touch on a political note...not to spend too much time on it, but reduce it to it's basic elements. This is the sign of good and unbiased teaching. Dare I say there is not a lot of it happening in the United States...just my opinion.

To quote the Fed on the Fed, "The Federal Reserve System is not "owned" by anyone and is not a private, profit-making institution. Instead, it is an independent entity within the government, having both public purposes and private aspects."

So the Fed is not "owned," according to the Fed.

And to continue the conversation the Fed says of itself "The Federal Reserve's income is derived primarily from the interest on U.S. government securities that it has acquired through open market operations. Other sources of income are the interest on foreign currency investments held by the System; fees received for services provided to depository institutions, such as check clearing, funds transfers, and automated clearinghouse operations; and interest on loans to depository institutions (the rate on which is the so-called discount rate). After paying its expenses, the Federal Reserve turns the rest of its earnings over to the U.S. Treasury."

So, the Fed is profitable, after expenses.

Let's put two and two together. The Fed is not owned, but is profitable. How does this add up? In order to be profitable, you have to have a business. Every business that I know of is owned. Quasi owned, is still owned.

This, for me, lays a foundational seed of mistrust.

To add to the frustration it makes money by lending the US government money. From many reasonable perspectives the borrower is servant to the lender. If I owe you money, you have something over me. And it takes "someone" to lend money and that "someone" "owns" the money.

There is one more aspect with regard to the legislated role of the fed: "* conducting the nation's monetary policy by influencing money and credit conditions in the economy in pursuit of full employment and stable prices
* supervising and regulating banking institutions to ensure the safety and soundness of the nation's banking and financial system and to protect the credit rights of consumers
* maintaining the stability of the financial system and containing systemic risk that may arise in financial markets
* providing certain financial services to the U.S. government, to the public, to financial institutions, and to foreign official institutions, including playing a major role in operating the nation's payments systems"

So they print money to lend to the US government and then make money off of the interest.

Is there a conflict in there...somewhere?

Now, I will admit that the situation is complex primarily through the actual and theoretical conflicts between private and public interests. Banks runs are painful regardless of one's philosophy. However, I have found that for all of the complexities we find in life, there are always simple elements of which they are comprised. Call a spade a spade.

Somehow I think I went into the wrong business. What a business to be in: to make money by taking a cut of tax revenue as interest. This is the best passive income a government can legislate to an elite group of rich folks. Power to the people :)

And by the way the securities are purchased in the "open market." Maybe I'll by a US government bond, but wait, I can't print the money to buy the bond...I actually have to work for it.


Sources:
http://www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/faq/faqfrs.htm

Words, Action, Healing

if words have the power to heal
  meaning has the power to heal
    every act has meaning
      actions have the power to heal

On How You Look

How you look produces a reaction in people. You must manage that reaction to reach them, good, bad, or ugly.

On Learning

To maintain learning, automated processes must, for many, become conscious processes.

Learning is natural, but over time may become difficult due to lack of practice.

On Desire and Vengeance

I am not my desire.

I am in control.

Desire is not in control.

Desire is a servant.

Vengeance is a servant.

Vengeance does not belong to me.

When You "know" Someone Doesn't Like You

Yeah, I have this bad habit of "knowing" that people don't like me, so I put it out there to end it.

First of all, I'm smart enough to know that I'm not alone in such unenlightened and debilitating thinking. Secondly, there is someone, including myself, who will benefit from my diatribe. Thirdly, I recognize there are those that think the very thought is absurd and a waste of time...who cares if they don't like you...

What should/do/will I do when I "know" someone doesn't like me? Well I know better not to go down the path of how do I know. This will lead to all sorts of imaginations that will eventually justify the position. As a result, this path is avoided. Instead I notice my state, how I am feeling. I note my reactions especially when they ask me to do something that I don't want to do (I get particularly negative when interrupted by said request). Negative reactions cause me to treat with a low level of disdain. Observing this behavior I then think through the consequences...

The consequences are never good. Thus the need to rethink the process. It rarely to one's advantage to act "negatively." It is a bad habit. I am starting to kick it by considering the consequences and whether or not serves the overall goal of the relationship at any level

Breaking the Grip of the Educational Elite

Now, this is not to say that there are not some extremely bright people amongst the educated elite. Nonetheless, there seems to be a grip on the hearts and minds of the American people that the current system supports the needs and values of the American people. I would suggest that they do not.

The idea of apprenticeship is basically lost. People learn best by doing. People learn best by doing along side someone that does it very well. The educational elite in conjunction with the lawmakers, make it difficult for apprenticeship to flourish, as a result we have fewer people working at their highest potential. The current system of learning subject matter out of useful context is a waste of money, resources, and talent.

Myth of Critical Thinking

I believe we give critical thinking more credit than it is due. Critical thinking cannot easily tell you when to stop thinking. This is not in any way to say that critical thinking is not useful. It is useful. The role of intuition and other non-rational processes are required as well.

As we attempt to teach critical thinking we must also teach the role of faith, intuition, and a "that's enough" philosophy.

On Being Planted Where You Grow

Often times I hear people give advice to church members looking to leave a church that they should "stay where they are planted." This to me is not the best way to address the problem.

The primary reason for the argument is John 3:8 which describes those who are born of the Spirit are like the wind whose direction is unknown. As the wind is not "planted," neither is the Christian.

The underlying issue is better expressed in a relational context with regard to commitment. Is there a commitment to the ministry in question? What are the factors that are eroding the commitment? Are these valid factors for moving on or should one stay?

In my opinion, these are often not easy questions to answer and like most other decisions there are good reasons to agree with either side of the aisle. Thus coming to a decision is one of faith. That decision should never be made in a coercive or "God said" atmosphere. If it is, it is probably best to go.

Do you follow who you worship?

What is the relationship between who you worship and who you follow?

I am inclined to believe that the two intrinsically related. Worship is more than deep adoration. It is a sign of commitment that runs as deep as life itself. If the object of one’s worship tells you to do something, there is a deep desire to obey as there is a sense that one’s obedience is life saving.