Charleston Gazette Editorial-- lots of truth here ....

http://wvgazette.com/Opinion/Editorials/201204290024
There is a very clear choice in America.  One side is on the side of people and the other side is on the side of the Wealthy and a Military State.  Which side are you on?

What is valuable?

Since the dawn of Civilization, mankind has monetized its existence.  I guess the reason was to ensure that everyone participated in the economy and to set up a scoring system to disseminate the Royals and the Peasants, lol.  But in all actuality, age and experience has taught me that there is only one valuable commodity in life and that is time.  No matter how wealthy you become, everyone is going to die, it is the great equalizer.  Thus, if you spend all your time gathering wealth, then I am sure that your heirs will be soooo grateful, :), put me in your will too!!!!  


Since I have gained the insight that the only valuable resource that a person actually has is time, I have tried to spend mine doing the things that I love doing.  And spending it with people that I really want to be with.  In the immortal words of Todd Rundgren, Love Is The Answer ........

Returned to my old ways .....

Last night, I returned to one of my prior professions, lol.  I DJ'd a party for the WVEA.  It was a blast and a good time was had by most.  I love music and entertaining people.  But, Corporate Parties like this one and Weddings are the toughest gigs.  That is because there is usually such a disparity in the ages of the partiers. Last night, the group ranged from 25 years to 62 years and each age group only wants to hear their music, lol.  Anyways, I played all their music and got lots of thanks after the night was over.  I rocked them all, once again!!

 

Politics of Elections

America was founded around a concept of Freedom.  To ensure that liberty and freedom would always be in place, the Nation's founders deemed that our Leaders should be elected.  That would seem a fail safe way to ensure that the greater good would always be maintained and keep away the wolves of despotism or concentrated power.  Modern day technology and determined fringe elements has changed the dynamics of that formula substantially.  In the 2004 election cycle, a Pennsylvania Republican spent 4.5 million dollars to win a seat in the House of Representatives.  That has become the status quo.  President Obama raised 100 MILLION dollars in March, 2012 to win reelection.  And Mitt Romney and his PAC's has spent tens of millions of Dollars vanquishing primary foes.  The problem with the whole concept is that money is NOT free.  It comes from people that expect something in return.  I think Governor Walkers telephone conversation with that "Koch" brother sums up the problem in a nutshell.  

So, who is winning in this race for power?  Well, if you look at all the data and all the stats, there is only one group that has been winning since 1980.  That is the wealthiest Americans.  Their share of the Nations wealth has grown as follows:





In 2007, this was how the wealth stacked up:



Source- William Domhoff

Obviously, the balance of power has shifted from the American Middle Class to the new Super Wealthy.  They have maintained this grip by buying politicians and our news outlets.  Fox News has blinded the masses with divisive talk about Social Issues, the owner of Fox- Rupert Murdoch, is a Billionaire that is now in trouble for many sins committed in the British Empire (including buying the Police and the Politicians).  

The perfect example of what I am saying goes back to the 2000 election.  The Supreme Court of the United States awarded the Presidency to George W. Bush, he took Office even though Al Gore got more popular votes than Mr. Bush did.  During that election cycle, Mr. Bush and his Republican counterparts that were running for Congressional seats, thumped the Bible and talked about the ills of America's soul.  They showed up at anti abortion rallies and ridiculed President Clinton for sexual misconduct.  Fox News ran story after story during that cycle about America's social problems.  The American People rewarded the rhetoric by giving the Republicans the House of Representative and the Senate, a Republican Controlled Supreme Court gave them the Presidency.  So, the R's controlled EVERY facet of Government at that point and could have done ANYTHING that they wished.  

You would have thought that their wish list (given the Campaign rhetoric) would have been to 
(1) Outlaw abortion; (2) Step up enforcement of Border Laws and sending illegal immigrants home by the thousands; (3) Putting prayer back in school, etc.  

Now, what did they do?  They passed massive tax breaks for the Wealthy and did not even introduce a SINGLE bill related to the social issues that they were so intense about in the election, lol.  They also eliminated the Inheritance Tax and that means that the Super Wealthy will keep their wealth no matter what happens.

The greatness of America has been totally won by the blood and sweat of the Middle Class.  The Middle Class is dying and when it does ..... so will America. 

Cover Version of "Tears In Heaven" Eric Clapton

This is my tribute to all the people that I have known in my life that are no longer here.  I miss soooo many of them badly, :(. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZTLLq2wQZA&feature=relmfu

A Cover Ode to John Lennon "Imagine"

I always loved this song, both for its musical attributes and its lyrical meaning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lizCfqJAfJw&feature=relmfu

My Cover Version of "I Go Crazy" and some other stuff

This was a yucky day last Summer and I felt pretty chipper that morning, so I recorded some music and it went like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0I7Nlkutr0&feature=relmfu

A Special Cover of "Hey, Hey, My, My" (Neil Young)

My Son was in from the Marine Corp, he and I had a rocky time through his teen years, this was our way of saying that we love each other, :).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiH6HgK1GTg&feature=context&context=C48d3e9fVDvjVQa1PpcFNy8S4gYjbJqCsxYGBYteaxcyX26xVNDQ4=

My cover version of "Fire & Rain" (James Taylor)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7l5VLYUd6Wg&feature=plcp&context=C48d3e9fVDvjVQa1PpcFNy8S4gYjbJqCsxYGBYteaxcyX26xVNDQ4%3D

Poem By Me--- "New World"

“New World” 

Steve Smith

July 18, 2011

Evolution, Revolution, Absolution, No Solution, we are all alone (all alone).

Institution, destitution, prostitution, resolution, we got it wrong (we were so wrong).

Can you see the truth now; it’s there for all to see.

They do not care for you; they do not care for me.

 (Chorus)

Hold me now; the war is just beginning.

Hold me now; we gotta go on living.

This old world is vile and rotten.

But the new ones here, the old one will be forgotten.

Facebook, IM, High Tech funk and we are all on the run (who stole the fun).

Dope Dealers, Prescription Stealers, and get realers have stolen our young (they have taken our young).

Einstein has left the building, so has all his friends.

They left us with no answers, and then the Preacher says Amen (did he just say Amen?).

Innovation, automation, guest workers, trample over the unemployed (the unemployed).

Wall Street Banker, Hedge Fund Trader looking overjoyed (they are overjoyed).

They claimed they had the answers, they charmed us every day.

Now we look around us, at all we gave away.

Poem by me--- "The Scene Never Ends"

“The Scene Never Ends”  

This is an original poem and song by

Steve Smith, Poca, WV

July 18, 2011

Spoken: “Once there was one, now there are two, this is the story of me and of you.”

Blow out the candles, turn off the radio.

Looks like the parties over, and I’m gonna go.

Don’t look so sad girl, now please don’t you cry.

I just can’t do this life thing and I don’t know why.

 (Chorus)

And I say to myself oh why do I try?

And you say to yourself, why do I cry?

And the world just watches as the scene never ends

And after the loving can we still be friends?

Smile that smile, that one that says you’re shy.

Promise you’ll love me til the day we die.

I remember I promised, on that sunny day.

To be your one and only; for forever and a day.

The rich are much richer, and the poor are all friends of mine.

I know that I am not the man you’d thought you’d find.

So, no matter the future, how it may unfold.

You saved me from myself, from the raging cold.

Why I am here .....

I intend to use this forum as an outlet for my creative side.  I plan to post my original poems, stories, and songs here.  I also will use it as an outlet for life commentary, lol. 

jusme

Who I am ........

Steve Smith--- born of humble origins in West Virginia.  My Father was a Coal Miner and my Mother was a housewife.  I have 4 Sisters and a Brother.  I guess that at best we were working poor people.  My parents divorced when I was 7 years old and I saw my Dad sparingly over most of my childhood and adolescent years.  My Mom was married 3 more times after the Divorce.  Due to the family turmoil, I spent a lot of time with my maternal Grandparents, Millard and Willa Maxwell, I would say that they had the biggest impact on me as I was growing up.  My love and respect for them knows no bounds.  They were farmers and I loved the farm life.  It was peaceful and gave me the security that I needed to become me.  All children need love and security, without it, we become the animals that seems to fill up Society today.

Education--- I graduated (reluctantly) from Harrisville High School, I had been raised in Doddridge County my whole life and upon entering 9th Grade, Mom made me move to Ritchie County to live with her and her new husband.  My heart was always with the Bulldogs of Doddridge and I never really transitioned to Harrisville.  I then attended and graduated from West Virginia University with a Bachelors Degree in Accounting.  Finally, I obtained my Masters of Business Administration from West Virginia Wesleyan College with an emphasis on Economics and Finance.  I passed the CPA Exam and I am a Certified Public Accountant as well.

Major Life Influences--- Sports (I love playing and coaching--- I workout diligently and enjoy Football, Basketball, Golf, and Baseball); Music--- I sing, play Piano and Guitar.  I prefer Classic Rock but I just love music!!!; History--- I am a student enamored with the History of Mankind, particularly the past 3,000 years.  There is a pattern that I have noticed that prevails, we keep making the same mistakes over and over again.

Favorite Historical Figures--- Jesus Christ, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander the Great, King Richard the Lion Hearted, James Knox Polk, Woodrow Wilson, Harry Truman, and John F. Kennedy.

Religion--- I am not a fan of organized religion, history has shown it to have more elements of evil than good.  But, I love the teachings of Jesus.  It would be nice if today's "Christians" actually followed any of his teachings, lol. 


Map of living my life--- I have lived my life within the domain of what I think is right.  I do not care nor have I ever cared what Society deems as correct.  I think that if everyone lived within the Doctrine "Of thine own self be true", then this world would be a better place.  My version of that Doctrine also includes self reliance, I believe that everyone has a duty to provide for themselves and to give any overflow to the ones that they love and care about. 

Children--- are a blessing and should be treated as such.  I cannot thank God enough for the opportunity that I had to raise 3 beautiful and wonderful people.  The process of watching them grow and mature from tiny infants to fantastic adults has been the highlight of my life.

Love--- when matched with passion is a drug, and perhaps the best drug of all time.  

Physical Fitness--- is a lifetime obligation with no time off for good behavior, your life depends on being physically fit, GET OFF THE FREAKING COUCH!!!!!!  I am currently on a very rigorous program that I designed myself, lol, it is killing me, but the high that you get from being super physically fit beats any of the drugs you can buy off the street.