Monday, August 22, 2011

Thoughts of Summer

I wrote this little piece about 20 years ago and didn't want to have it disappear, so, here it is.

Summer

Summer turns its warm breath on me
A chance to see her revelry.
Summer plays its games untold
A time to see the leaves unfold

Summer haunts my distant past
Straining cracks in a schooner's mast.
Summer hurls her bolts at me
A time to feel the revelry.

Summer can give, but also take,
Of fresh corn and love to make.
Summer lights my heart a fire
Of which my mind will never tire.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

The Pete Morin Editorial Review--Issue #84

Thought of St. Michael's

I was saddened to read in the local paper, recently, the passing of a fellow St. Michael's graduate, Timothy McCarthy.

It's not a commonplace occurrence for me to think about my contemporaries from high school, but in this case it merits mentioning.

Apparently, Tim had a successful life. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts and received an MSW from another university. I would attribute this success to the kind of student he was in high school. His demeanor was one of quiet leadership, a judicious student not interested in the petty qualities of fad and fashion. Those of us who remember those years would recognize a pecking order with Tim at the top, not because he strove to be there, but because this is where he belonged. He understood there were those of us who occupied the lower rungs of this ladder, but he never took advantage of our station. He treated all with respect and kindness that engendered respect in return.

These reminiscences are not just about Tim, but about youth, life and aging. We remember these times because they are valuable to our growth as a person. We remember those people who gave us a positive experience, who gave us a reason to believe in the goodness of people. Tim gave us that experience by acting in a manner that was worthwhile to remember; an example to honor and to follow.

It has been said that time heals all wounds, but it also brings to mind the good instances of lives well lived. It brings to my mind the character of a Tim McCarthy and others who, as youth and beyond, try to live a life forged in truth, dignity and honor. We may not always succeed, but we will never fail if we recognize this basic goodness in people like Tim.

R.I.P. Tim, St. Michael's class of 65'.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

The Pete Morin Editorial Review--Issue # 83

Questions


A few questions you might want to ask yourself---

The headline in today's Springfield Republican read, "Payroll error overpays teachers." Why is it that, apparently, no teacher went to their administration to mention that their pay was not correct? Perhaps someone did, but the paper doesn't give any indication that this happened. Click here for an explanation of why the teachers WERE guilty of something.

The headline in today's Boston Herald read, "Out Of the Blue." Apparently, the former CEO of Blue Cross/Blue Shield got a severance package of $11 million dollars. Why is it that a CEO of a healthcare organization, that lost $150 million dollars in the previous year, should get such a magnanimous 'kiss-off' from the Board of Directors? Healthcare is not cheap in the Peoples Republic of Massachusetts. What's up with this board?

The GAO(Government Accounting Office) has determined that there are multiple programs in the Federal Government that have duplicative functions. WOW! What a surprise! Go back and read my blog, Issue #80. Martin Gross knew about this TWO YEARS ago. Want to bet that NOTHING changes?

Will anything change because of the above revelations? NAH!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

The Pete Morin Editorial Review--Issue #82

A final post----NOT!



In a corrupt space of time
the window of truth strains to open.
Cast a fetid stream upon shallow minds,
The window closes.

Keep the fire, the songs for ears
of noiseless clamour,
Weep for what once was, what is
What would have been.

Languish
stupor
hope
eternal
shall not spring.

Adieu

Saturday, January 29, 2011

The Pete Morin Editorial Review--Issue #81

Of Pyramids & Pyramid Schemes

As we speak, the country of Egypt is in a state of meltdown. Hosni Mubarek, American Allie and all around beneficent dictator, is facing the most serious challenge to his 31 year rule. Will he survive and what will come is any one's guess, but I'm betting that it's not democracy. The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt during the 1920's, may see a chance to impose an Islamic state, similar to Iran, upon the Egyptian people. Should this happen, Israel would be in the cross hairs of an emboldened Islamist nightmare.

But why worry--we in the land of milk and honey have our own pyramids known as crushing debt and a bloated Federal Government. Those of us who consider this a national nightmare have been warning our fellow citizens of the danger of Federal over-reach. We, of course, may not end up with the same kind of social disorder taking place in Egypt, but a cause for alarm cannot be ruled out. As long as we have a government that refuses to acknowledge the burdens it's placing on future citizens, we run the chance of a dissolution of our civil society. What would fill the void? Hard to say, but I'm betting it's not democracy.

More than anything else, we need a bold leader to step forward and recognize the exceptionalism of the American spirit and return us to a path of individual liberty and freedom as exemplified by out unique founding documents. If we are to avoid a long, painful decline to a second rate power, with little influence beyond our own myopic view of a stale society, we must demand that Washington change course. We must pressure our elected Representatives to respect, and acknowledge, our exceptional character.

Time is short; in fact, time may not be on our side. Let's work toward rebuilding our civil society, not pyramids to some Utopian view of egalitarianism and entitlement.

Friday, January 28, 2011

The Pete Morin Editorial Review--Issue #80

Blurbs

I feel an urge towards witticism-so here it goes--

From the February 7, 2011 edition of the National Review--

" Pres. Barack Obama, whose signature achievement in office has been dropping a 1,000-page package of regulations onto the American health-care market, has now decided that there are too many federal regulations, and, with an eye on job growth, has ordered regulators to study the problem. There is a kind of genius at work in that: The regulators already are regulated under regulations derived from the Regulatory Flexibility Act, which requires that regulators, before regulating, study a proposed regulation's impact on small business. To that regulator-regulating regulation, President Obama has added an additional regulation, stipulating that regulators "reduce regulatory burdens on small business." What obviously is needed here are additional regulators to regulate the enforcement of the regulator-regulating regulations, which is to say, regulator-regulating-regulation-regulator regulators. Who says Obama doesn't know how to create jobs?"

If there's anyone out there who believes we can't cut very much waste from the Federal Government, I suggest you read "National Suicide" by Martin Gross. This interesting little tome will make you lose your lunch, or at least get you thinking about a personal preferred method of oxygen/CO2 removal.


Wit--a terrible thing to waste!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

The Pete Morin Editorial Review--Issue #79

What's in a person's heart

"Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women. When it dies there, no constitution, no law, no court can save it; no constitution, no law, no court can do much to help it."

James Madison penned those words at the time of the founding of our nation. It's a stark reminder that once the desire to be free, to be responsible for one' self, is extinguished, then so will our actual freedom be gone. The over- reaching state will consume us leaving but an empty shell with servitude to our political masters as our natural state. Paul Ryan, R-WI, said it best during his response to President Obama's State- of-the-Union speech. "(o)ur nation is approaching the tipping point", by which he meant that not only is the budget unsustainable, but the nation's legacy of pioneering innovation will be only a memory, a thing of the past.

Sadly, I believe this tipping point had already been reached. A majority of Americans look to the Federal Government for their daily survival. How can we possibly reverse the bloated Social Security and Medicare programs, let alone make them solvent for younger generations? How can we convince people that the " Patient Protection Care and Affordability Act" has little to do with care and is hardly affordable. How do we convince environmentalists that their beloved EPA has little to do with a clean environment and more with controlling business. Why are liberals so enamored with the notion of doing good, but unconcerned with the results of their idealism.

We live in a time where we may see the word's greatest economic engine brought to it's knees. We have a President who's providing us with the knee pads and many of us willingly following to oblivion. You were right, Mr. Madison. The hearts of many of our fellow citizens have been dimmed and are now silent to the call of liberty.

A leader, a leader. My Nation for a leader!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

The Pete Morin Editorial Review--Issue # 78

Evergreen Solar--or, so long Nevergreen

Anyone who's read this column for the past year and a half knows how I feel about Government intrusion in the marketplace, but recently there's been an example for all to see what happens when the best of intentions go awry for our masters and overlords.

Evergreen Solar manufacturing received $58 million dollars from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts approximately two years ago for a new factory at the old Fort Devens Army facility outside of Boston. Governor Deval Patrick decided that the money would be well spent since the future of energy production in the US would come from, so called, 'green' energy sources. Now, this is a most laudable idea from our wise and enlightened leader. After all, who could disagree with his assessment that the future would be in this 'green' technology? Apparently, Evergreen. You see, they announced last week that they would be laying off 800 of the 900 person workforce and transferring most operations to-----CHINA!! That's right, our friends and comrades in China. Seems that the cost of doing business and producing solar panels is a little cheaper in the People's Republic of China than in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

It's certainly bad enough when investors make the wrong decision concerning an investment, they lose their money and a little pride also. When a government does so it does somewhat more damage. How so, you say? The money spent on this adventure comes from the paychecks of the citizens of Massachusetts. They don't give it willingly. Taxation and coercion are two adjectives that come to mind. Secondly, lives are adversely affected by the closure of the facility. Notice the report of the words of a 25 year old temp worker as he exited the factory recently in near tears: "It came so suddenly, I don't know what I'm going to do."

The free market isn't perfect and mistakes are made regularly by some very intelligent people, but when the government interjects itself between investors and a product the outcome can be much more detrimental for all concerned. Governor Patrick's desire to see the solar energy industry succeed had nothing to do with the reality of whether or not it would ACTUALITY succeed. The result was a 'mal-investment'; a kind of moral hazard, if you will, committed by a government that should have known better than to venture where it didn't belong.

But Government never learns, or I should say, liberals never learn, They have an agenda, an ideology and a purpose that transcends mere mortals and we little people must learn to accept their higher wisdom. Be it solar energy, healthcare, finance, or any other free market endeavor, liberals never stop trying to impose their ideas for improving the future, results be damned.

The free market--nothing else even comes close.

The Pete Morin Editorial Review--Issue #77

A mind is a terrible thing to waste

I can't take it anymore. I've had it. I'm disgusted, flabbergasted and utterly shocked at the current condition of political thinking in, what was, this great nation.

Mark Levin had a piece of tape concerning an interview with John Lewis (D-GA) and his thoughts on where the Constitution authorizes the Government to pass healthcare legislation. Now, I'm going to paraphrase because I don't have the exact quote, but here it goes. Lewis contends that in the Preamble to the Constitution there exists the people's right to 'pursue happiness' and furthermore, healthcare is a human right. This coming from a United States of America House of Representatives elected Congressman. This comes from an individual who's been in the House for around 30 years. This comes from an individual who possesses the power to pass laws that affect the lives of millions of people. Folks--there's no hope for this Republic. I'm now convinced that we are beyond the point of no return. We are now being governed by fools and idiots. Why, you say, do you believe such incredible things?

Dear readers, consider the following: 1)There is no reference to the 'Pursuit of Happiness' in the Constitution. It's found in the Declaration of Independence.
2) Human rights are natural rights not given to us by other humans but acquired from our humanity, or from nature, God, or nature's God. Human rights can NEVER be given to people through , or by, the coercive acts of government. Ordinary rights can be conferred through law and are done so on a regular basis by government, but not human rights.

Lewis' position is not unique. Most of the democrats in the House of Representatives mouth the same nonsense. Therefore, I give up. I concede defeat. There's no hope. We are a nation of fools led by bigger fools headed for a swamp of fiscal insanity.

Our minds are gone--such a terrible waste!

(P.S.--I'm no really giving up--just reloading. OOPS!! Sorry, that's not allowed anymore--I'm retrenching).

Saturday, January 1, 2011

The Pete Morin Editorial Review--Issue # 76

Welcome to 2011--New Year, New laws

Happy new year everyone. Let's hope this year is better than the last, but judgment will, of course, be delayed until 12/31.

The headline of a local newspaper read "Anti-bully law goes into effect." Why this is just what we need, isn't it? A law to stop bullying. All bullying will now cease and desist as youngsters will most assuredly respect the feelings of their revered classmates. This one headline shows how inept, and ineffective we, as a nation, have become in dealing with societal problems. Does anyone think, for one moment, that a law of this kind will actually stop children from doing what comes almost naturally? Once again, liberal sentiments trump reality. Laws won't stop bullying, nor will they be successful in having students treat each other with sweetness and love; that act comes from the home, with two parents in tune with the actions of their dear progeny. Teaching children how to respect others is the sole responsibility of parents concerned with the well-being of their little ones--not the nanny state!

It really doesn't matter, however, since Americans are now told that government knows best how we should live our lives. Michelle Obama is waging her war on calories and Barack is waging his war on healthcare, the energy industry, financial institutions and college tuition to name just a few nanny moments.

But let's not quibble, enjoy yourselves. The nanny state is protecting you, and your children, from the vagaries of the big bully free enterprise system. So--pop a cold one and let's toast all the new laws we'll get to see in 2011! Utopia, here we come!!!