A Rube Goldberg Contraption

Some of you may not remember Rube Goldberg. Rube Goldberg was a cartoonist who drew fantastically complex and impractical machines for performing simple tasks. His machines incorporated pulleys, strings, levers, hammers, candles--you name it--to do a variety of jobs that any ordinary man or woman could handle quite effortlessly without the aid of Mr. Goldberg’s contrivance.

I’m sure most of you already know where I’m going with this, but after looking over some of his more outrageous drawings, I’m reminded of the way our government, or perhaps I should say the machinery that carries out its work, has developed over the years.

Our Founding Fathers created a small, simple, well balanced system of government. It possessed only those parts necessary to perform its limited functions. Nevertheless, it was believed by its designers and builders, all wise and capable men, to be more than sufficient to govern a nation of industrious, practical and well behaved citizens.

Over time, however, the original design seemed, to a new generation of government leaders, inadequate to meet the escalating needs of the citizenry. They decided, therefore, to set things right. Believing themselves to be superior to the Founders, they began making poorly conceived and questionable modifications to a near perfect system. More often than not these changes were hastily fashioned with no thought given to size, simplicity or balance. And certainly not to the Constitution.

Today, as a result of their imprudent actions, our government has developed into a gargantuan and hopelessly disordered Rube Goldberg contraption. It has grown so complex and unwieldy, in fact, that no one truly understands it. Yet year after year, more and more components are hurriedly slapped together and tacked onto it to meet perceived needs and emergencies. Unfortunately, these carelessly added components quite often disturb a very delicate and fundamental social and economic harmony that in turn sets off another round of pressing emergencies, each one needing the immediate attention of the government. Or so we’re told by the government.

But there is one glimmering ray of light in the midst of the enveloping gloom. As the government continues to expand out of control, the number of responsible citizens who rightfully are concerned about this growing problem also expands. These wide-awake, fully functional and pragmatic individuals are asking themselves whether this burdensome heap of ill-designed parts, parts that now overlay and suppress the original system, is truly helpful. They understand, after all, that the original configuration did work. In fact, it worked very well for a great many years. And it worked because the people who inhabited America in former times, our hardy forebears, were largely self-sufficient, and didn’t require anything bigger, more complex or intrusive than what that initial design offered.

I don’t know about you, but this gives me an intriguing idea. Perhaps instead of tackling the almost hopeless job of reforming the government, we ought to start reforming ourselves. When the government sees that we’re no longer willing to go on mindlessly exchanging genuine freedom for false security, they’ll have to start downsizing. And then some of those impractical Rube Goldberg parts will be lopped off, one by one, and we’ll get our government back into a condition that more closely resembles what our Founders initially gave us--which was really quite extraordinary and remarkable.

Rube Goldberg’s goal as a cartoonist was to amuse and entertain, but there is nothing amusing or entertaining about an expensive, inefficient and dangerously oversized government.

Let’s stop kidding ourselves. We will never regain the small, manageable and cost-effective government our ancestors had unless we’re willing to fully assume the risks and responsibilities they did. And what’s worse, we won’t be enjoying the priceless freedoms they enjoyed either.

That’s all there is to it.

Nevada's Freedom Fighters

As much as I have come to enjoy it, I must admit that only so much can be accomplished by exposing the mis-deeds and mischief spawned by inept, self-serving and double-crossing politicians. And besides, why dwell perpetually upon the negative? I think it’s high time we started drawing attention to those in Washington who are sincerely trying to preserve and protect our way of life--the American way of life, a way of life that has drawn millions of hopeful immigrants to this great land of opportunity.

Fortunately, we in Nevada do not have to look far to find solid men of character, men who faithfully and truly serve our state and nation. In our congressional delegation, for example, we have two extremely capable and committed public servants: Senator John Ensign and Congressman Dean Heller. Their voting records clearly demonstrate that they fully understand and appreciate the fundamental principles and values upon which this great nation was founded. And furthermore, they have never given us any reason to suspect that their faith in these principles is weakening.

In a country where more and more people seem to be clamoring for a bigger government, believing erroneously that a bigger government will be better able to care for them, it is easy to see why so many elected officials simply give in to it. After all, it is the least demanding way for men and woman who possess none of the qualities of true greatness to acquire prestige, popularity and power. And what’s more, they can get themselves elected and re-elected time and time again by pretending to be generous and compassionate on our money.

How refreshing and commendable it is, then, to see members of congress resisting that easy road. How commendable it is to see members of congress who will not allow themselves to be seduced away from cherished and proven principles simply because more alluring ones are coming into vogue. How commendable it is to see political leaders who have enough backbone to express an unpopular truth, even though expressing that truth might spell defeat at the next election.

True greatness reveals itself whenever someone firmly stands up for what is right no matter how many influential and fashionable people may oppose it.

Today High Desert Digest salutes John Ensign and Dean Heller and calls upon each of you to sustain them in their unflagging efforts to pursue a course that is compatible with our free and limited form of government. Please rally behind these men, and the many other men and women in Washington, who are daily questioning and challenging the highly corrosive political and economic theories that are being imprudently introduced into our country.

At this very moment a desperate struggle for liberty is being waged in, of all places, the hallowed halls of Congress. Please support Nevada’s courageous freedom fighters in Washington: Senator John Ensign and Congressman Dean Heller.

Old Age: A Realistic Analysis

Let’s take a break from Harry Reid for a moment and turn our attention to another gloomy subject: old age.

Sadly, 100 out of 100 Americans who do not die pre-maturely will eventually suffer from some form of old age. It is a shocking fact, to be sure, but nonethe-less true.

What is particularly unnerving about old age is that despite everything you may do to evade it, it will nevertheless catch up to you. And once it has taken hold, it will torment you and ultimately kill you. Perhaps I’m a voice crying in the wilderness, but I hardly think this is the way old people should be treated in this country.

With so many high-level politicians crawling all over our broken economy like wide-eyed kids at a train wreck, I suppose it would be an inconvenient time to bother them. So what can we as individuals do about this grievous problem of aging?

To be honest, not much; but two options stand out. 1) We can live fast and heedlessly, grabbing all the gusto we can while we can, or 2) We can eat sensibly and exercise daily, hoping to delay its onset and reduce its impact. Unfortunately, whichever choice you make, the results are often surprisingly similar, if not identical. This may be due, in part, to the puzzling role genetics plays in the aging process, which will not be addressed here.

The path one chooses then essentially boils down to a personal preference regarding what one believes will generate the greatest satisfaction while waiting for old age’s final symptom to manifest itself. If you’re inclined toward loose living and pleasure seeking, you will go with number 1. If you believe in stubbornly fighting physical and mental degeneration in all its hideous guises, you will choose number 2.

Whatever your strategy for facing old age may be, there are a few things you might wish to consider as it draws nearer. For example, I am staunchly opposed to dwelling unduly upon the inevitable. However, I also believe it is unwise to keep oneself in a perpetual state of denial. Therefore, try to find some middle ground. But whatever you do, do not vacillate between the two. This will only make you seem neurotic.

If fast living is your preference, bear in mind that it is not a sure-fire approach to dodging old age. You may still have to experience it. You will just be experiencing it earlier and for a shorter duration. And fast living has other disadvantages. For instance, studies show that it is not conducive to forming or maintaining long-term relationships. So expect to be alone anytime you’re not at a bar or night club. And don’t let yourself become too fond of money, because you may not be accumulating very much of it. Which brings us to another important subject--your family. Though your behavior will doubtless alienate them, try to stay as close as possible to your parents and siblings, the people who feel obligated to love you. You will likely have to procure money from them with disturbing regularity.

If , on the other hand, you choose to battle old age, you should not attempt to do so by strictly abstaining from all of life’s little pleasures. For example, you needn’t go without that occasional bowl of ice cream or that double shot of Scotch after work. And on Super Bowl Sunday feel free to over indulge and make yourself a little ill. Rigidity in any form, after all, is detrimental to your health. Furthermore, as an exercise regimen, I feel it is unwise to run everyday and for long distances unless you’re being pursued by a tax or bill collector, in which case it might be advisable. But even then I believe running should be taken up only after consulting with a physician who is a recognized practitioner in both health and financial matters.

In conclusion, I will just add this: Regardless of your choice, make it carefully because you may live to regret it. Which calls to mind the insightful words of Dean Martin, who, in a rare moment of lucidity, faultlessly summed up one of life’s most vexing paradoxes. While swaying unsteadily on the brink of old age, he was heard to say: “If I’d known I was going to live so long, I’d have taken better care of myself.”

CHANGE: A CALL TO NEVADANS

There’s been a lot of talk lately about change. One of our presiden-tial candi-dates repeated the word so often, in fact, that it became a mind numbing chant that eventually lost its meaning. Nevertheless, it carried him to the presidency.

But don’t get me wrong. I too believe in change.

I believe, for example, that it’s time we began making substantial personnel changes in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. As you know, it’s our duty and prerogative as American citizens to periodically effect such changes. Regrettably, we will not be able to clean up the whole mess single-handedly or overnight. We will have to call upon many others, all across the land, to do their part as well. But if we will look upon it not as a burden but as an opportunity, and pitch in with willing hearts, the job could easily be accomplished in a few short years. And what a gratifying difference it would make in the political scenery.

Many of the pathologically deceptive and inept office holders who now clutter Washington are the very ones whose dereliction and unconscionable performance brought about the recent world-wide financial collapse. Their failure to maintain strict control, through existing regulations, of the nation’s credit and money supply has resulted in dire economic and political consequences for us and our children.

The Bible tells us that whatsoever we sow that also shall we reap. It also tells us that when the wicked rule, the people mourn. We have loaded our nation’s capitol with self-serving hacks. Is it any wonder, then, that things are falling into disarray?

Our political future is becoming increasingly tenuous. The unprincipled narcissists in Washington, whether by clever design or unbridled incompetence, are methodically robbing us of our priceless birthright. Are we going to stand idly by and let them complete their horrific task? We have the noble blood of patriots flowing in our veins. Shall we just hand over to this band of crooks and hustlers what our ancestors paid so dearly to acquire?

Fellow Nevadans: Open your eyes! We’re upholding and abetting a scoundrel in the U.S. Senate, a man who is a bona fide menace to good government and a major impediment to genuine prosperity. He’s our state’s shameful and virulent contribution to the political affliction that is infecting and destroying this country. I call upon you to join a worthy and honorable cause. I call upon you to unite with me in remedying a tragic mistake.

On November 2, 2010, go to the polls and strike a blow for freedom; give a pink slip to one of America’s most calculating politicians and Nevada’s ranking hypocrite--Harry Reid. If you do, another noxious and pestilent organism will be removed from our weakened and diseased political system. And that, my friends, will constitute real change, wholesome and hopeful change.

Change we can believe in.

The integrity and faithfulness of public servants are not apt to be greater than the public demands.
--Grover Cleveland