The Tea Party Works Against Its Goals

I think that the Tea Party is an inherently flawed idea on many, many levels.  The kind of separation between the government and the people they look for won't protect the people from corrupt politicians, but rather it will lead to a general feeling of apathy toward government from the people.  If the government doesn't play any meaningful role in our lives, we won't feel the need to hold it accountable for its actions.  A Tea Party government could not feasibly be a government for the people!  With minimal obligations to the people and minimal public funding, what would the government do?  Would it still fund the military?  As unsettling as a powerful government is, there is only one real way to control it.  To marry ourselves to it.  We need to demand more from the government and raise our voices in protest if we feel it is overstepping its bounds or operating irresponsibly.

There is one other problem I have with the Tea Party.  I understand the threat played by the government, but, frankly, corporations terrify me much more seriously.  The government is controlled by people, corporations by money.  Which do you trust more?

Purpose of Virtue

One thing I respect greatly about Franklin is his conviction that virtues are good because they are practical.  People hold on to various virtues for a whole variety of reasons, but arguing about which virtues are most important on a theoretical level is difficult for people with different cultures, traditions, values, religions, experiences etc.  His approach (an approach that I share, very strongly) is definitely a product of the Enlightenment emphasis on reason and experimentation.  Also, tangible results tend to encourage action more effectively than otherworldly promises.

Benny's Pride

One thing I find interesting about old Ben is the role pride played in his life.  Ben makes no secret of his own vanity, and he seems to believe that it has shaped his life for the better.  He writes, "It would not be altogether absurd if a man were to thank God for his vanity among the other comforts of life," (2).  Considering all the wonderful things Ben achieved during his lifetime and the popular impression of him as a wise, almost Socratic, figure, it's strange to picture him flaunting his own accomplishments.  I don't find myself agreeing with Ben's stance on vanity though.  Vanity can lead to a dangerous notion that is sadly too common in this country.  Some people come to regard their gifts and talents as only their own and choose to disregard the circumstances and the people that made those gifts possible.  I don't think Ben's vanity ever took him this far, but this sort of extreme individualism is more accepted today than it was in his time.

Before I go into my blog post, I would like to point out that on the first page of the Cullen reading, he inverts e pluribus, unum to read e unum, pluribus, but word order works differently in Latin.  He meant to write ex uno, plures.  With that out of the way...

"Yet making money for him was always the means to a greater end: public service and notoriety (not necessarily in that order)."  I pulled this quote out because it doesn't seem to me that this philosophy is that common anymore.  Sometimes our society just keeps telling us to work more and more to make more and more money, and if we never stop and wonder why we can lose our own identities.  I think that really separates Ben Franklin from so many modern businesspeople.  Franklin didn't make money for its own sake, and it doesn't seem to me that he was particularly motivated by the promise of material goods.  Nowadays making money is an unquestionable goal.  And, yeah, I don't dig that. 

Inventory

1. One Bed with Sheets and Pillow
2. One Bed Frame, Lofted
3. One Couch
4. Two Lounge Chairs
5. One Desk Chair
6. One Desk
7. One Dresser
8. One Electric Kettle
9. One Alarm Clock
10. One Aluminum Canteen
11. One Laptop with Charger
12. One Cell Phone with Charger
13. One Landline Phone
14. One Lamp
15. One Mug
16. One Plate
17. Several Books
18. One Garbage Bin
19. One Recycling Bin
20. One Power Strip
21. One Pencil Sharpener
22. One Paper Organizer
23. One Set of Silverware
24. One Wallet
25. One Laundry Bag
26. Four Drumsticks
27. Two Cross Necklaces
28. One Multi-Tool

1. One pair of glasses
2. One Pocket Knife
3. One Stapler
4. Several Pens/Pencils
5. Two Bags
6. Four Belts
7. Several Hygienic Products
8. One Pair of Slippers
9. Three Pairs of Shoes
10. One Pair of Boots
11. One Pair of Flip-Flops
12. Several Pairs of Jeans
13. Two Pairs of Khakis
14. Three Pairs of Flannel Pants
15. Three Sweatshirts
16. Four Sweaters
17. Many T-shirts
18. A Few Collared Shirts
19. Many Socks, Underwear, and Undershirts
20. Two Jackets
21. One Bike Pump
22. One Bike Helmet
23. One Tea Pot
24. One Box of Cola
25. Several Boxes of Tea and Hot Chocolate
26. One Mini-Fridge
27. One Flashlight
28. A Set of Hex Wrenches
29. One Sewing Kit

One thing that I like about my list is that while I may not necessarily need everything on here, I do feel that I use most of the things on this list with at least some frequency.  This list says something about my values: I am a bit of a minimalist.  My room at home is much much different, however, since so much random clutter has accumulated over the years, but I made a conscious effort to only include things I would use.  My mother wasn't of this same mindset when she insisted on packing me a sewing kit.

Playing Indian on the Battlefield

As we consider the various ways that white Americans have altered and taken on aspects of Native American culture, I'd like to bring up the many Indian words and names that find their way into our military.  Blackhawk helicopters and Tomahawk missiles are just a few examples of the destructive instruments branded to recall Native Americans.  It is somewhat ironic that the same institution that fought the Native Americans on so many instances now uses its past enemies as a source of identity.

Pocahontas Before?

It really blows my mind that the basic Pocahontas story existed long before Pocahontas or John Smith did.  At the same time though, it seems that it shouldn't be all that surprising, considering how often plot lines get recycled in movies and books.  And if we keep hearing a story over and over, it could alter how we perceive and interpret actual stories from history.  The other interesting thing is how the virgin/whore ambiguity affects American perceptions of the "Indian Princess".  As Green points out, this also has a precursor in European culture, where young men are expected to protect their sisters' honor, but aren't strongly discouraged from going after women in general.