I want the world to be better for everyone

Ayn Rand

2011-04-19T10:05:00.000-07:00

"Reason"? Then how did you "reason", Ayn, AT ONCE both:

1. in addressing "all the propaganda of the ecologists", she said human behavior in a "state of nature" "on the level of sea urchins or polar bears" isn't survivable.

2. yet if we don't act in our own self-interest (you know, like sea urchins or polar bears) then we're not only irrational, but immoral.

I CAN be altruistic, Ayn Rand, therefore I do my level best at it.

The 2016 Platform - bullet 2ish

2009-02-23T11:26:00.000-08:00

An email response I wrote today:

---------------------
On Islamic Misogyny:

A BROADER context is needed here. Examples: veer slightly from misogyny for a bit and you might notice, TO THIS DAY in the U.S., nooses are being hung in black professors’ offices by “Christian” zealots who still think blacks are unequal to whites “according to the Bible”! I live MINUTES from Franklin, TX – a town that is, for all practical purposes, KKK CENTRAL. And all around this little town, lynching nooses, TO THIS DAY, appear almost overnight in black churches! As for misogyny, who was the messianic David Koresh but a religious extremist who murdered his followers in cold blood! His worshippers, among whom were MANY VERY YOUNG girls he’d quite simply raped by his twisted “Christian” doctrine that caused him to spread his seed by all means, ended up BURNED ALIVE because he’d rather that than rendering anything “unto Caesar”!

We can’t measure religions anymore. That’s what got us here in the first place, for goodness sake! After all, who remains on the face of the earth today but descendents of the most prolific within yet most outwardly violent religions of their times?!
---------------------

For one thing, this is why I'd CELEBRATE the day all religions gang up against agnostics like me!
And 2, the reason I, for U.S. Constitution purposes, deem Atheism a religion - so religion can be protected from our government, and remain outside our government both!

Moral to the story too: remember, when one points a finger at someone else, the 3 fingers pointing back!

The 2016 Platform begins

2009-01-08T18:48:00.000-08:00

For relevance, how 'bout this economic mess! Angelia, VP contender, "heard about it" from me re: this yesterday!

The Macroeconomic answer (WAY long-term solution)? I paste that "rant" at her here:

- ". . . keep trending toward a final, permanent commodity-based international monetary standard; started by the Euro; good answer could be, say, the Amero for Canada/US/Mexico combined."

Gold? Petrol? Silicon? Who knows! Maybe a "basket" or "index" of commodities? An index-type system seems best to me.

Many benefits to this.

1. CURRENCY traders! What do you call a busload of them going over a cliff with one seat empty? A crying shame! Seriously, what do they "produce" that a stable, common currency wouldn't?! I mean REALLY?!

2. "Trade Deficit" - Pick a country, any country. Can you tell me what their "trade deficit" is in real terms? Good luck!

3. WTO - The "cart before the horse" as I also call it. Aside here, but relevant, here we are setting up markets reminiscent of our "Industrial Revolution" (remember that? child labor? steelworkers falling in molten steel and never being heard from again? Yeah that one!) WORLDWIDE, with absolutely NO rules of the game WHATSOEVER! The Chinese worker lead-poisons him/herself ALL day PLUS, bless their hearts! For what - Yuans?! And, uh, how much would that be in Euro's - DOH - in the microsecond I typed DOH, it CHANGED!

I do hope the silliness is apparent to you, the reader, at this point. Assuming so:

The Micro answer (ASAP)? Stop the fear! Not really that simple, but outlook change could do WONDERS! Maybe I have no idea how wonderful! But truly isn't that all we have to fear?! Fear?! How? First thing is a WHOLE LOT of mortgage restructuring. I, for one, may be too naive to know the fear I'd feel if I wasn't able to make my house payment! The most "homelessness" I've ever known is as a college student living in a flea-bitten apt! Just plain ole annuity math here anyway: change the 30yrs to 40yr, 25s to 30, 20s to 25, etc. You get the drift.

to be continued . . .

Presidential Election Campaign Fund $1

2008-03-19T14:42:00.000-07:00

Wiki it for starters. It's a no-brainer.

Only a few changes I'd make to the fund:

1. ALL federal elections,

2. minimum SIGNATURES, not DOLLARS! The no-brainer part. It never has been and never shall be "one dollar, one vote" on my watch! If we need an explicit Constitutional Amendment to clarify this (as if not clear enough already!!!), fine!

3. SOLE SOURCE OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS! "Single-payer" elections, if you will. Like magic (well, I'm an economist, so it's certainly not magic to me: SCIENCE, I call it), the market becomes the BUYER'S (we the taxpayers), rather than the SELLER'S (the media, that has, for years, enjoyed candidates tripping over one another to "bid up" THEIR ads!!)

Did I mention this was a no-brainer?

Was Kanye West right?

2006-11-22T08:46:00.000-08:00

Well, let me "draw a picture" for you:

Now what?

2005-10-19T11:36:00.000-07:00

Part of a letter I sent to Dad and Mary Jane today:

Hey, missed your call Saturday!

We were on our way to Jefferson. We thought about stopping by, but we were so off the beaten path, it was out of the way. We should've called ahead. On the other hand, you got to spend time with daughter this go round. I'm glad!

Passed by an interesting place on the way back (I forget where, and Casey was asleep at the time). Along the lines of this gas war email. We passed by a "bio fuels" farm it looked like! Right there in the middle of the Piney Woods! I think around Jacksonville, but I don't remember. Our farmers are "on the case", as always! People so disrespect them (even I, a novice farmer, have before), but they keep on "farming".

THAT'S the ticket to freedom from petrol right there! Bio diesel, biogas or whatever comes after (electric, solar, whatever, as long as it isn't petroleum and we have short and long term plans both). Biodiesel, with a fuel line modification, if that's needed, to any big ole diesel pickup you see driving around East Texas (have you seen any?! Did I say our farmers are already "on the case", as always?), can easily reduce petro diesel consumption all by itself! And if for your next car, you purchase a diesel that can burn biodiesel, well that's one less petrol burner on the road! We're thinking about that, but worried with bio diesel prices and pollution (though there is a tax rebate for hybrids already, and biodiesel is a good enough short term solution for me). Imagine a hybrid diesel!!

Speaking of hybrids, sales are going out the roof, I see! So the petrol companies WILL take notice, if they haven't already. We're at about 2.599 in town now. ABSOLUTELY that is not the standard that will be beaten into my head by billions in profit poured into "warm fuzzy" marketing campaigns!!! There are so many folks around me, just "making ends meet", broadsided by a bunch of greedy oilmen! For merely those around me, the price is coming down!

Meanwhile, vote for the alternatives in every "vote" that comes up. In every letter, phonecall, email to representative: "ALTERNATIVE FUELS, ALTERNATIVE FUELS, ALTERNATIVE FUELS!!!" It's past time for "Big Oil" to pay. Heaven knows they've profited. Bless the roughnecks, so we should think our "retaliation" through with them in mind.

Need I mention the blood that's been shed for and by oil? I worry for my family, this family that has raised me and still does raise me so wisely. I think about my uncles, Billy Bob (and William M Manion), Carrol Keith, and James Butler, my father, Kara Brooks, and my cousin Lee! I think about the wives, mothers and daughters who worried for them, fought the war right alongside! The many families torn apart by the war, directly or indirectly! They put their lives on the line for me! Where would I be without them now? I've cried over and over about this! I choke it back now! I'm so lucky!

I almost feel their "lessons", or "commands" to me, my heroes: From this day forward, ENOUGH!!!! From this day forward, no more uncles, no more fathers, no more cousins, no more friends, no more 19 year olds with their whole lives ahead of them, better ideas in their grasp, ENOUGH!!! From this day forward, we'll all be "lucky"!

I almost hear the command straight from the battlefield without them giving it: "Earn this, son/nephew/cousin! That's all I ask! You know what to do! Go do it!" If I was in the line of fire like they were, I'd surely be scared senseless (Dad, Uncles, Cousin, I think I get the picture, but please correct me). But I'm not in the line of fire. And I'll do everything I know to do and then some, with adrenaline-clear head, to keep it that way. I'll "fight".

Kedren Reade, reporting for "duty".

Everyone OK?

2005-08-29T10:36:00.000-07:00

"processing . . ." Sometimes you see that on a computer, or a cash machine. I guess I've been doing that for awhile. It's been awhile since I've posted on here: William M. Manion, born September ?, 1928, died April 22, 1997.

This has been a place I haven't been to before: this search for Master Sergeant Manion. I hope I did OK. I hope the Manions are OK. I hope me writing this down doesn't upset them. I'm an amateur videographer too, so practically everything I see I ask the questions of myself - "How can this be recorded for posterity? How can this benefit others?" Especially if it's a new experience, like this one.

Still no word from Mark or the Manions. I haven't tried John yet. I hope Mark still has this url, so this will keep him sort of updated.

I think Mark's trying to call

2005-08-08T12:17:00.000-07:00

I think he tried me on my way out of town Friday night, the 5th. I tried to call back. I'm getting that funny message, and it won't let me ring his number. I'll wait a few more days, then call John to see if he can't get hold of Mark. Mark's number just won't let me call back. I've never heard such a message before. I wish I could remember it exactly, it's so unusual.

Went to Nacogdoches for visit with Grandmother over the weekend. Also visited with Dad and Stepmother. Good time! Poor Delany! She was really sliding on that mattress board! It almost fell on Jordan! Both enjoyed the "hayride" though. They saw several lizards, but no deer. Dad is a Vietnam vet. He was a medic, so his unit was pretty small.

Not like Uncle Bill's unit! WOW, saw some old pictures this weekend! Saw Master Sergeant Manion (looks exactly the same in one of the pictures of Mark's fax, Uncle Bill agrees). Aunt Jeansie is making copies to send to Mark pretty soon. I told her Mark already had copies and that he would send them whenever as well. Hopefully he'll contact Uncle Bill and Aunt Jeansie pretty soon. They haven't heard from him yet. Hope he's OK. I hope all are well there. Quite an emotional time for me for sure! I hope the family can see this blog too. I told Mark about it last entry and he looked at it (couldn't make out Uncle Bill too well from the picture, so small). It's odd knowing of them now, the Manion's, talking to Mark even, and looking back to see what I wrote before I even spoke with any of them! But I bare my soul to them: my sisters and brothers. A new mother as well.

Uncle (Master Sergeant) Billy Bob Sitton final, it appears

2005-08-04T09:11:00.000-07:00

Master Sergeant William M. Manion. 6' 1", looks like Ben Afleck, Mark says. Picture coming soon. I wish he was still here! I'll remember him!

I forgot! Our scanner went down last week too! I could've scanned this fax from Mark in and put it on here. Oh well. The fax from Mark didn't come out in real good detail anyway. Need a plan B. Maybe I can scan it into file at work. The fax has some detail, but I can't see Uncle Bill in any of them. I've never used the work scanner for such. Last I remember we were having trouble making files of scans.

Long talk with Mark yesterday! Wonderful time! He misses his father. It makes me miss my mother. I hope he can talk to Uncle Bill soon. I heard more about what happened to Mark's dad last night from Uncle Bill when I called him. I heard about how Sergeant Manion's wounds looked from Mark.

Mark's 9 years older than me. One of 8 siblings: I only know of Molly, Connie and him so far. Uncle Bill laughed and said "they must be Catholic" when I told him this! He can't wait to talk to Mark. He can't wait to see all of them. Trip to Minnesota is in the works.

Uncle (Master Sergeant) Billy Bob Sitton 7

2005-08-03T09:07:00.000-07:00

I cried again. All morning at home. When Coleen calls back, first question to her, before I start crying again, is "name, rank, serial number". I have Mr. Manion's name, service number, and date of passing. Service number and wounds confirmed with Bonnie at the VA. I want her to tell me her dad's name, service number, and date of passing. I'm an IT guy. I work with numbers all day. The work can be mundane, but if one number is off, all hell breaks loose! Then I want to know names (spelled) and birthdates of everyone in her family from her father down. Then I want to know her and her mother's address there in Minnesota. Then I want to give her Uncle Bill's names (spellings), birthdates, address and descendents. Then I want to take no more of her time: I want her to call Uncle Bill, and I think she wants to call him. As much as I want to speak with her, I think. We're a close family, the Sitton's. I bet the Manion's are too. I had 5 sets of parents! All of them raised me as if I was their own. Being raised that way, I feel like Mr. Manion is my father too! I think this is why I'm crying: I've just found out I lost my father, in 1997. I'm so lucky to still have him through Uncle Bill. I think Coleen has her father back! I don't know if she has any siblings or not. If not, then it's just her and her mother now. Her mother has hearing problems.

Called Uncle Bill and Aunt Jeansie. Left a message: headsup, Coleen might be calling in the next couple days.

Uncle (Master Sergeant) Billy Bob Sitton 6

2005-08-02T09:06:00.000-07:00

Got a call from Connie, I thought, seems like it is Coleen (sp?) now since John called me back and filled me in. Yes, it does sound like Coleen now! This ridiculous answering machine! Another one! Why can't they be made better!

She's Mr. Manion's daughter. Mother is Marjorie.

John said pardon him to sort of keep the guard up for them: he didn't give me their phone number. He said it sounded like, since she called (I wasn't sure until after I spoke with him and replayed the frazzling answering machine), the family was ready to make contact, but just being safe. Of course, I understood. He said they'd be calling again in a couple days and that he would call to check.

Earlier today I left messages with the original numbers I had started "call center"ing a week ago to get back with her since Coleen left no contact info on our answering machine. A call back to John was one of the first.

Coleen sounded heartfelt, but standing strong, like a lot of things were coming back - rushing back to the present. Just on our answering machine - there she was, exposed. Or was that me? Maybe both of us?
This man in her life was gone, and not too long ago really. As if 100 years would make a difference. But he was gone from my uncle too.
That's touching me. I'm so happy and lucky to still have such a man in my life! I hope, soon, she can meet him.

She said she had memoribilia. I told John I looked forward to meeting him, maybe, someday. Quite a distance! Maybe Minnesota won't seem so distant with time.

Spoke with Megan Manion. She was no relation. She very much understood what was going on. Her grandfather, if I recall, was a WWII veteran.
What a large name for so few letters! Manion!

I talked briefly to another lady, an older lady, also a Manion. She said she wanted to call me back, but couldn't afford the phone call. No relation to Mr. Manion either it turned out. Is this what my uncle and Mr. Manion fought, nearly died, for? So we can have people in our country, especially seniors, who can't afford a phonecall? Here it is again, mixed feelings! So frustrated and so happy all in the same moment. Happy to be making contact with these Manions and frustrated that even other Manions aren't in a good place on my planet, or even in my country. I can't let this happen. My government, my country, will change; this will stop if I have any say in it. I owe this to these brave people. I have my orders.

Uncle (Master Sergeant) Billy Bob Sitton 5

2005-08-01T09:05:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend and toward end of last week, got a couple messages from a man. Tried to call the number back. A strange message, and it wouldn't let me through. Hope he calls back. Got a call from Connie too. Answering machines! No contact info, *69 didn't work. Hope she calls back. Got the FOIA application from Bonnie at the VA. It is back in the mail, this time to Missouri. It came from Waco. Hopefully the info will come as quickly as the application did, a couple days from now.

Uncle (Master Sergeant) Billy Bob Sitton 4

2005-07-29T09:04:00.000-07:00

Manion John
416 123rd Ave NW Coon Rapids MN 554482613
add to address book
(763) 754-6359

This is who got the ball rolling.

The original list I started "call center"ing:

Manion Brian
26088 Partridge St NW Isanti MN 550404401
add to address book

(763) 444-6171

Manion Brian & Lisa
5400 Dupont Ave S Minneapolis MN 554191646
add to address book

(612) 827-0810

Manion C J
1181 Edgcumbe Rd 116 St Paul MN 551052826
add to address book

(651) 699-6735

Manion Clare F
2200 Midland Grove Rd Roseville MN 551133881
add to address book

(651) 639-1404

Manion Daniel
5306 Nicollet Av Minneapolis MN 554192622
add to address book

(612) 827-6815

Manion Daniel C
5405 Interlachen Blvd Edina MN 554361320
add to address book

(952) 929-3920

Manion Donald
2110 131 Ave NW Coon Rapids MN 554482547
add to address book

(763) 757-8179

Manion J
add to address book

(763) 529-0001

Manion James R & Patricia M
11251 Burr Ridge Ln Eden Prairie MN 553474712
add to address book

(952) 942-8990

Manion James Robert
1372 Carling Dr 214 St Paul MN 551084203
add to address book

(651) 644-7713

Manion Jennifer
4732 Blaisdell Av S Minneapolis MN 554195505
add to address book

(612) 825-4855

Manion John
416 123rd Ave NW Coon Rapids MN 554482613
add to address book

(763) 754-6359

Manion John & Patricia
6212 S Knoll Dr Edina MN 554361118
add to address book

(952) 933-6814

Manion Joseph M
1096 Summit Ave St Paul MN 551053003
add to address book

(651) 224-2469

Manion Kathy
691 Brentwood Ln Eagan MN 551231332
add to address book

(651) 405-0151

Manion Kevin C
825 Lone Eagle Rd Chanhassen MN 553179417
add to address book

(952) 470-0112

Manion M
4440 46 Ave S Minneapolis MN 554063618
add to address book

(612) 729-6323

Manion M
5534 Oliver Ave S Minneapolis MN 554191535
add to address book

(612) 929-0510

Manion M
add to address book

(612) 870-0444

Manion M J
1096 Summit Ave St Paul MN 551053003
add to address book

(651) 224-3387

Manion M L
2570 Concord Way Mendota Heights MN 551201741
add to address book

(651) 681-1962

Manion Martin
10855 NW Avocet St Coon Rapids MN 554336339
add to address book

(763) 755-6789

Manion Megan & Michael
312 S Cedar Lake Rd Minneapolis MN 554052009
add to address book

(612) 377-0273

Manion Michael
3738 Shady Oak Rd Minnetonka MN 553054224
add to address book

(952) 938-9604

Manion Mike
27 22 Ave NE Minneapolis MN 554183301
add to address book

(612) 782-0879

Manion Molly
1343 Gentry Ave N Oakdale MN 551285724
add to address book

(651) 735-3129

Manion Patrick W
2091 Berkeley Ave St Paul MN 551051203
add to address book

(651) 690-0127

Manion Scott & Lisa
8236 Narcissus St Victoria MN 553869528
add to address book

(952) 443-4122

Manion Thomas A
5215 Irving Ave S Minneapolis MN 554191127
add to address book

(612) 926-5407

Manion Thomas J
3841 NE Hayes St Columbia Heights MN 554214052
add to address book

(763) 781-3905

Uncle (Master Sergeant) Billy Bob Sitton 3

2005-07-28T09:01:00.000-07:00

A new beginning in a few ways today, 7-28-2005! Shuttle Discovery took off today, looks great so far! 2 years and about 5 months after the Columbia accident. Yes, bittersweet Discoveries today. This after an answering machine message from Aunt Jeansie yesterday that would rule me thereafter like never before.

A lame baby grackle, fallen from nest, is in the driveway outside my office window this morning; this young bird can't live much longer. Spoke with Bonnie again today, 7-27-2005. That appears to be William M. Manion, died April 22, 1997. She confirmed with the service number. She's sending me an application for his archival records. I'd rather Uncle Bill see for himself. But I want to know where he's buried. Maybe these records will help. Maybe a phone call at night to some strangers in Minnesota will too. Uncle Bill has probably been ready for a Minnesota trip. Godspeed to him and Aunt Jeansie!

I asked Bonnie for her full name. She wouldn't give it. Such a wonderful person! She did know - yesterday. I hope I can tell her the story someday.

Called Uncle Bill back and told him this night. Such mixed feelings here! I'm so honored to help Uncle Bill with this, and so honored he asked me to. I really appreciate him and love him. Yet I gave him this news: Confirmed, his buddy was gone. I want this to be right so badly. I want his buddy to be visiting with him right now! I'd stand on my head to listen to what they said. I sure need the guidance!

I don't want to go to the MASE protest tonight. Not after this. I'm afraid of my anger. I'll go. I'm so angry about this! THIS ANGERS ME! Here I am telling my Uncle Bill his wounded buddy is gone forever, and these ridiculous people are taking baseball bats to others of different skin color!

Still 7-28-2005

Got through MASE rally just fine. It was somber though. What a burden! He is gone, William M. Manion. This is a wound that will not heal. I feel sick to my stomach. Like I can't even write. I have to. Is this what Uncle Bill felt like in 1952? Was Punch Bowl like this: no worries but that you live the next minute? Are these sympathy pangs? Is there still some shellshock going on? Deep anger? Just a heavy, heavy load? This doesn't feel good at all. So many questions. I want to answer them, but - it's just not clear "here". There's a war in my head, and it's hell! Korea? My God - Uncle Bill!

Uncle Bill asked me last night if I thought it would be alright to send pictures to the family. WOW! How do you answer that? He's asking ME if I thought it would be OK to send pictures to Mr. Manion's family?! I don't want war. Anyone around me knows this. And he wants it less than I do! He doesn't want to hurt so much as a person's feelings! What a range for one human being: "split in two" one person with a rifle, yet be sensitive to the feelings of another! I guess I'll never know how.

I'll find William's family and where he's buried.

Uncle (Master Sergeant) Billy Bob Sitton update

2005-07-26T11:10:00.000-07:00

3. William A. Manion - Wrong, should be William M. Manion of Mendota Heights, Minnesota according to Aunt Jeansie. Spoke with her this AM, 7-26-2005. Uncle Bill recovering from Colonoscopy in the recliner. Progress in the search today! Spoke with many people/orgs today. Latest was the VA Service Center 800-827-1000. Bonnie had record of 3 William M. Manions (note: those who requested benefits, she may not have records of all WMMs, therefore). Best, most approximate WMM records she had were of one born September 1928 (wound to elbow and forearm), died 1997, another died 1975, and a third not of appropriate age for the Korean War. She asked for SS# or service# if possible. I'll check back with Uncle Bill for more details.

I wondered why my heart sunk a little - I had that sinking feeling. Bonnie at the VA Service Center told me of the 3 WMMs as above, but now I see she paid particular attention to a William, described above, who died in 1997. I called Uncle Bill this same evening, about 8:45pm. He was up and alert after 10 hours of sleep after his procedure. He sounded good. Prepared I guess looking briefly back. I told him of the 3 WMMs Bonnie told me about, but only that one wasn't the right age, and the other two had died. Uncle Bill told me they were in the same combat team, he and William. He was there when William was wounded in the arm, he said. Like a ton of lead it hit me! That's what Bonnie said - in the elbow and forearm. Uncle Bill continued: William was evading fire after being hit and they were side by side. Overwhelming! At some point I told him that this particular William Bonnie told me about was wounded in the elbow and forearm. Silence for a bit. Then he said "hmm, I guess that's him", shaken I think, but I'm not sure. My feet weren't touching the ground at the moment. Uncle Bill was prepared today with the rest, I think. I guess he knew. I guess I knew. Bonnie too. Sometimes it gets spooky the things that happen. As if God is right there! I'm sure glad!

I don't think I want to know, but I'll call Bonnie back tomorrow to make sure with William's service number, US55038549. Uncle Bill last knew him to be at Hospital Directory Section APO501 C/O POSTMASTER San Francisco, CA. Last home was 2091 Berkeley Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota. Rest in peace, Mr. Manion! I don't know the story here, I guess, fully. But somehow I get the feeling he saved my Uncle's life. BOY do I owe a debt!

Tried a couple local Minnesota numbers as well (http://www.dexonline.com):

Manion Molly
1343 Gentry Ave N Oakdale MN 551285724
(651) 735-3129 bad number

Manion Megan & Michael
312 S Cedar Lake Rd Minneapolis MN 554052009
(612) 377-0273 left home and work numbers on their answering machine

Manion M L
2570 Concord Way Mendota Heights MN 551201741
(651) 681-1962 left home and work numbers on her answering machine

Uncle (Master Sergeant) Billy Bob Sitton

2005-07-25T11:46:00.000-07:00

Orginally posted 5-23-2005

He is trying to track down 3 people from the Korean war era - particularly 1952. I post them here in case someone is looking for Uncle Bill (they can make comment to me), or next time I visit Uncle Bill and I have internet access, I can access the blog, print out stuff, and etc. If I get pictures later, I'll post them here. Names follow:

1. Kim Chu Bong - 12 yrs old
2. Rhy Jung Cil - 10-11 yrs old

The 2 above (not sure they're spelled right) worked with Uncle Bill that year. The 5th regimental combat team, E Company around "Pork Chop Hill", "Punch Bowl", and "Heartbreak Ridge", near the 38th parallel. They were taken away, and Uncle Bill hasn't seen them since. He'd like to see them again. I believe he has pictures of them (again, I'll post them as soon as I get them). I've contacted Song Soo about them, songsoo@krei.re.kr. Hopefully he can find them.

3. William A. Manion - Wrong, should be William M. Manion according to Aunt Jeansie (spoke with her this AM, 7-26-2005) see new blog post for update

I searched St Paul and found Manions but no Williams. I then searched the U.S. and found a single William A. (just below). I list the findings here:

WILLIAM A. MANIONS IN THE UNITED STATES
Manion, William A
6025 S Minneapolis St
Wichita, KS 67216-4138
(316) 524-6783

WILLIAM OR BILL MANION'S IN THE UNITED STATES
Manion, Bill
7103 Turquoise Ln
Orlando, FL 32807-6375
(407) 275-7316

Manion, Bill
3640 Ridge Rd
Sullivan, MO 63080-4045
(573) 927-5795

Manion, Bill
11306 Red Rock Rd
Oklahoma City, OK 73120-5347
(405) 749-0887

Manion, Bill
906 Dyer Rd
Sultan, WA 98294-9746
(360) 793-0921

Manion, Bill & Connie
108 Hanley Rd
Dodge City, KS 67801-2834
(620) 225-4686

Manion, Bill & Emily
124 Montcalm St
Lake George, NY 12845-1314
(518) 668-2424

Manion, Lynne & Wm
75 Perkins Ave
Old Town, ME 04468-1744
(207) 827-2108

Manion, William
Longmont, CO 80501-3810
(303) 776-7959

Manion, William
Ansonia, CT 06401-2458
(203) 736-6430

Manion, William
4765 Orange Grove Blvd
North Fort Myers, FL 33903-4510
(239) 995-8803

Manion, William
324 S College St
Decatur, IL 62522-3115
(217) 425-2731

Manion, William
2107 Garrs Ln
Louisville, KY 40216-3730
(502) 448-3504

Manion, William
10405 Middle Ln
Casco, MI 48064-4668
(586) 749-4531

Manion, William
2304 S Big Bend Blvd
Saint Louis, MO 63143-2002
(314) 645-3945

Manion, William
11 Devondale Ln
Saint Louis, MO 63131-3262
(314) 993-2795

Manion, William
89 Lincoln Ave
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866-4512
(518) 583-7965

Manion, William
6226 Waterloo Rd
Atwater, OH 44201-9704
(330) 947-2892

Manion, William
6229 Waterloo Rd
Atwater, OH 44201-9704
(330) 947-2892

Manion, William
Spencer Rd
Dingmans Ferry, PA 18328
(570) 828-8865

Manion, William
7031 Edgerton Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15208-2824
(412) 731-6742

Manion, William
7031 Edgerton Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15208-2824
(412) 731-6746

Manion, William & Dolores
120 Old Farm Dr
Newington, CT 06111-1850
(860) 666-3011

Manion, William & Susan
31 Luray Ln
Marlton, NJ 08053-2473
(856) 797-6916

MANIONS IN ST PAUL
Manion, C J
1181 Edgcumbe Rd
Saint Paul, MN 55105-2826
(651) 699-6735

Manion, James Robert
1372 Carling Dr
Saint Paul, MN 55108-5213
(651) 644-7713

Manion, Joseph M
1096 Summit Ave
Saint Paul, MN 55105-3003
(651) 224-2469

Manion, M J
1096 Summit Ave
Saint Paul, MN 55105-3003
(651) 224-3387

Manion, Patrick W
2091 Berkeley Ave
Saint Paul, MN 55105-1203
(651) 690-0127

Manion, Robert
2200 Midland Grove Rd
Saint Paul, MN 55113-3832
(651) 639-1404

Why vote?

2005-07-20T11:34:00.000-07:00

The most powerful force in our Democracy is the voter, but only a fraction of us vote. Even I've missed voting in elections! This can't happen. We all must vote.

It's ironic those who vote are the elite, and rich few that, by their numbers, should never have winning candidates. And those who don't vote are the many, many poor to middle class who should, by their numbers, always have winning candidates. It's true that low voter turnout favors business interests (they say conservatives, but businesses are the entities that want to influence the voters no matter the political affiliation). And high voter turnout favors labor. A pro business democracy (more like fascism) is inversely related to voter turnout. The lower the turnout, the more pro business (fascist) the government.

Again, we must vote! There are many reasons not to: 1. what difference does one vote make? 2. I don't know the candidates anyway, 3. I work for a living, I don't have time to vote. We'll be at the polling place on every election day if we take to heart the answers to these "questions": 1. Look at the presidential elections of 2000 and 2004 - our votes DO count! 2. You still have a "gut" feeling, usually right, about people, even strangers you pass by. Why not a "stranger" who has additionally been in the public eye? 3. If you don't have time to vote now, so you don't, you're guaranteed to have less time later (business interests will see to that! THEY KNOW OUR VOTE DEFEATS THEM EVERY TIME! That's why they keep you as busy as possible.)

Free Trade - a letter I sent to the local paper today

2005-06-24T09:36:00.000-07:00

Header: Compelling! One reason to stop CAFTA.

Here's my "agenda" - don't repeat history, especially terrible history! We don't have to repeat history to remember it anyway. For over 100 years the United States of America has brought, through blood, sweat, and tears, civility to the marketplace. Over this span consumers in this great country, despite all our greed, have striven to keep businesses honest about what they produce, how they produce it, and what they consume in the process. We in this country, specifically unions, have tried our level best to assure that no longer do sweat shops operate with impunity, children work 84 hour work weeks in deadly textile mills, and people aren't figuratively and literally enslaved to the "market". We've gone out of our way to see that pallets of cash don't get flown to places like Iraq on cargo planes to be handed out to civilian contractors without receipt. Over this span of time this country has legislated rules such as the Sherman Antitrust Act and many other rules to govern the marketplace.

CAFTA would see clear for multinationals to bypass all of this, blood on hands, and wreak historical havoc elsewhere in the world where such rules don't exist - all over again! Just like NAFTA has. Just like WTO would. And we have only begun to reach civility in the United States of America, my great country! We have far to go.

Here's what I'll support (for those who don't like "whiners", but instead hypocritically, conservatively stick with bloody status quo): international rules and enforcement to prevent the horrible history I mentioned from repeating. I support the higher priority setup of a United Nations "rules and enforcement body" that will govern the international "market" exactly the same or better than the U.S. Constitution and enforcement guarantees in our country. This body would be membered, and supported by dues-paying multinationals operating under its umbrella. I see no compromise on this.

CAFTA, NAFTA, WTO and any other so-called "free trade" proposal are insidious in their serious undermining of the civility we've achieved so far at great price. They should be stopped in their tracks.

What's freedom?

2005-06-16T08:19:00.000-07:00

The Libertarians would argue even someone starving to death, dying of thirst, etc is an indication of true freedom. I'm not kidding! I posed the question to a Libertarian colleague one day of the mentally ill person in the street with noone to take care of him/her but charity, and they're all "booked up". I asked this colleague if it's OK to just let this person die there in the middle of the street instead of setting up a catchall government program to make sure this person is cared for. HE HAD NO ANSWER! How impossibly cruel and uncivilized!

It may be freedom to my colleague, this mentally ill person getting run over, starving to death, or dying of thirst. I bet if you asked this mentally ill person, he/she would disagree, especially if they didn't want to die.

So do I. This isn't freedom. This isn't civility. Civility is basic and is nonnegotiable to me.

Government of Conviction II

2005-06-15T11:40:00.000-07:00

Karl Marx believed "labor's" takeover would be by war or dictation. I believe "labor's" takeover will be by dictation or conviction. And I define labor as all human beings. Already, by popular vote ( or dictation since, by definition, those who voted against are being commanded to follow those who voted for), the "state" is partly providing "according to need". And (a little humor here) based on my relative pay rate, I'd say, in my "state" job, I'm definitely giving according to my ability! I think we will progress from dictation even. One by one, and hopefully soon, every human being in the world will finally be convinced to make nonnegotiable the 5 basics for human existence: healthy food, clean air and water, the safest shelter, and the best health care.

I guess mine is a progression from Marx's apocolyptic view of humanity. I'm optimistic.

Government of Conviction

2005-06-13T08:26:00.000-07:00

There seems to be a misunderstanding going on - especially by my work colleagues - but in general around Bryan/College Station. I try to compare my political/economic thinking to Marxist theory (it is so similar, to me). But I disagree with him on some really important points. For example, a "takeover" doesn't - ever - have to be violent, or even a takeover. In fact, it must be a resolve by everyone for such a thing to ever work. Anyway, automatically, I think, people assume I want a dictatorship for a government (see my June 2, 2005 post for my thinking that we've actually never known a Communist country, to this day - dictatorship, sure). They assume I want my views and proposals to be dictated to everyone. The government I propose is not one of dictation, but of conviction. My life purpose is to convince others - not command them - that we follow the "from each according to his ability, . . .", Marxist ideology. Once everyone is convinced (read slowly, detractors) by---------their---------own---------free---------will, then we're there, democratically, as in the Democratic Socialist model Marx theorized. Compare this to a traffic law: Why do we look left, then right before crossing a road? Why not right, then left? Because the traffic from the left is the first traffic you would cross. This kind of convincing may take awhile. So be it. One person at a time.

But we have to get past Lenin and Stalin. Aside, I think there is some jealousy still going on since the U.S.S.R. put the first human in space. No, we're so hateful of "Communism", especially the conservatives around my office (who by the way live off of "state funds" - EGAD, Communism!), that when I say Marx, or the C word, they automatically start defending "the good ole U.S. of A - Live Free or Die! Don't Tread on Me! Stop or I'll Shoot!"

I believe in Democracy, pure Democracy. The U.S. is not a pure democracy. We can't be yet; we're too greedy, and power hungry. We still have to dictatorially care for the poor. We don't yet take for granted how priceless every single human being is. This is dictatorship - those who want to care for the poor dictating to those who don't that we will do so. When we shake this and the PTSD of Capitalism off, Democratic Socialism will "take over" by---------our---------own---------free---------will.

Democrupation

2005-06-10T07:50:00.000-07:00

Thought up a new word last night, late. I was watching FSTV and listening to a discussion of the American Press in the Middle East (more like American propaganda). At one time the speaker, a critic of the Middle East Press, said Democratization and Occupation so closely together, I thought I heard him say Democrupation.

The word is a combination of those 2 words, Democratization and Occupation. Definition: To cause another to free thought and action ironically, even hypocritically by force. I think I'll post it on my office door.

Pay It Forward - Government and Market system

2005-06-02T08:24:00.000-07:00

This movie presented a simple solution, though a difficult one to carry out: Pick the hardest thing you can possibly do for someone especially with least expectation of any return and do it. The acts permeated the country in this movie! Oh, Hollywood! I think it's possible, but really, it has to happen, because, again, we will be extinct if it doesn't. It's a very black and white issue to me: If we don't do this we'll die. But if we do, we can do anything!

Including set up a utopian Marxist system. "Pay it forward" is basically one part of Marx's famous phrase "from each according to his ability, . . ." We've never seen Marxism. We badmouth Communism, his theory, to this day, yet we've never even seen it. The U.S.S.R wasn't Communist though we call it that. Understandably it closely modeled the monarchies of the Czars as a dictatorship when it was a threat to the U.S. - under them, Stalin, Lenin, and Breshnev. Familiarity is contentment. It became slightly democratic when it became Russia under Gorbachev only after watching the U.S. and other "freer" countries for a hundred years. It was never Communist. China is a dictatorship. Cuba is a dictatorship. North Korea is a dictatorship. There is no Communist country on this planet. There never has been.

Marxism is for a more advanced civilization - the biggest reason why we've never seen it. Even we in the U.S. have inacted some "to each according to his need" type policies, like Social Security, State Parks, NASA, etc to move in a Communist direction. Unfortunately Capitalism mostly fits us now - we're still very greedy and proud. For Communism to ever work, 100% of the country must be beyond carelessness, pride, and greed.

I must be, but still I'm optimistic! Compassion and imagination are our best qualities! Not greed.

Religion

2005-05-23T07:55:00.000-07:00

My hope is churchgoers nowadays go for the social contact mostly no matter what the religion. We humans are very social. I think that's for our survival, since it'd be awfully hard to not be social and reproduce. There's no other place to go to make contact with other humans and make sober social contact without confrontation than church. I know this because I've tried. It's hard to do this at a bar, at a city council meeting, or many other places. There's no place like church. I hope this wanes as well because we're still way too cookie-cutter for our survival. I know this too, because I've "failed", stood outside the masses, and looked at them from there.

And beyond that, religion, any religion, is frightening the way it grabs hold of laws made thousands of years ago that might not have even applied then and tries to apply them now. There was a time when the Christians of the Holy Bible would not eat seafood unless it had fins or scales! Not so anymore.

Less social contact would be better for women. It would be better for the gay community, and any other group of consenting adults who are considered "different", or "odd" - the minority. Less social contact would be better for all of us. What's standing together if we can't even stand alone?

It's the power

2005-05-11T08:24:00.000-07:00

Power over others is not only unnecessary, but dangerous. No person or group should ever have power over other people. People must be egalitarian or extinct.

In the Democratic U.S. even crime is almost never anything more than a power grab. We justify power with phrases such as "white collar", "felony", "misdemeanor", etc. But the problem is allowing ourselves to pursue power at all.

Is Europe the ultimate demonstration of human vanity?

2005-05-09T10:40:00.000-07:00

It just occurred to me. Some grad students going off to Europe for a month before they start their "real job" got me thinking. Europe seems to be a popular destination. Perhaps compared to the U.S. it is far more popular. I wonder if that has to do with the fact that there really isn't thousands of years of visual history here like in Europe where it seemed the Europeans were so vain and narcissistic they built or painted some elaborate building or statue that stayed standing for years and years. While here in the land of the massacred Native Americans, there was no such narcissism prior to the massacre. In fact, before we, perhaps least vain and narcissistic of Europeans, arrived, these inhabitants lived the antithesis - from dust to dust - in peace with nature, though perhaps not always each other.

Maybe this is the feeling I get from my fellow countrymen: they are naive enough to desire the facades of old Europe despite what these facades meant at their times and places - or maybe ignorant of those meanings. I know enough about the Spanish Inquisition, for example, that to this day the Catholic church and Vatican politics angers me more with each passing year. But I'm not sure many of my countrymen know about this event. I doubt they are even aware of the Salem Witch Trials.

As an American I look to Europe for its sage advice if only because it is reminded daily of man's vanity by these facades.

I hope for the full appreciation these grad students get the opportunity to see the ugly history behind these beautiful facades they'll see. The Coliseum is surely an overwhelming sight, though I haven't seen it. I can almost hear the builders shouting as loud as they can "I'm so much better than this, than the Lions!" Not vanity, but apology. I hope the students see this.

First ever!

2005-05-06T14:13:00.000-07:00

I'm in IT. I have been since 1997. Yet here I am, years later, finally doing a blog! I guess for many years I thought I had nothing to say. Now I think I can't hold it in anymore. I'm always writing letters to editor arguing various issues. Heck, I've kept them all! I might just retro put them here!