Posted 5:38 AM by Robert Ronald Smith

it's astonishing...

when I consider that my father, were he still alive, would be 105... that my grandfather would be 143, and that my great-grandfather was killed in the Civil War, "presumably by guerillas". Most of us think of our Civil War as ancient history, but it doesn't seem so long when I realize that my grandfather was a small child when it ended. I'm a grandfather. When my grandchildren are old, will they think of World War II (when I was a small child) as ancient history? Perhaps long before that, because we seem to be losing our sense of history... and lessons that we might learn from it.

That my great-granddfather was "presumed killed by guerillas" is the official government declaration of his death. Until I first saw that paper, I assumed that "guerilla" was a more modern term, perhaps from the Viet Nam war era. It highlights that there were similarities between our Civil War and the War in Iraq. The American Southern forces were really not an army, but bands of insurgents defending their homeland against invading forces. They fought using hit-and-run tactics, sniping, and other methods that unorganized forces are forced to use. Over time they became more organized.

The Civil War was to have been, it was thought in the northern states, little more than a brief skirmish. Enlistment bonuses were paid, and many undoubtedly saw them as a nice cash payment for a short effort. Well, it didn't turn out to be short, but exceedingly bloody and brutal.

The lesson not learned was that people can fight like banshees to protect their own homeland, and they don't feel obligated to fight "fair". When attacked by "outside" forces, especially greatly superior forces, there is an only-natural and proper attitude that all the "rules" are off.

The tactics use by the South in the Civil War were certainly not our first experience with guerilla warfare. The American War for Independence was similar. The organized British forces expected an easy victory against the disorganized farmers and tradesmen of the colonies. Do we remember that our nation was established after a victory by our "insurgent forces" over the most powerful military on earth?

Despite our own experiences, we find ourselves now in the role the British once played, against us, and having the same bad experiences they had. Either our leaders are ignorant of our own history, or simply stupid, or they knowingly took us into a can't-win war. Personally, I'll give them "credit" for not doing it out of ignorance and stupidity, which leaves them holding the label "evil" instead. Those many American citizens who bought into the War in Iraq, out of false patriotism, blind loyalty, or macho braggadocio, are the ones who have been ignorant and stupid. some few of them called themselves libertarians, and I hold them as inexcusably wrong.

Posted 8:59 PM by Robert Ronald Smith

Jaw unclenched

Each week, there is one afternoon that puts me into a good mood. It's the afternoon I volunteer at The Museum of Russian Art in south Minneapolis. There are a number of things about that 4 hours that put me in a better mood. First, it gives me a reasonable excuse to dress up a bit. Leading a minimalist sort of lifestyle means that I can't afford most places where dressing is appropriate. Second, the museum is gorgeous... a splendid renovation of the old Mayflower Church, which was designed in the style of the Alamo (without the shell damage). Third, the paintings in the exhibit are great. The fourth reason is that everyone who visits stops on the way out to mention how much they enjoyed it. It's absolutely delightful dealing with satisified people, especially those who are Russian and so appreciative to be able to view painting from their homeland.

There is one additional reason, and it's the reason I volunteered: the museum accepts no government money... it's strictly private and, hopefully, self-supporting. To this point, about 1,000 people have visited each week. With that many delighted customers, I don't expect that to diminish. Many visitors take extra brochures to give to their friends.

I encourage each of you to make a visit to TMORA. We're open 9 to 5 Monday through Friday, and 10 to 4 on Saturday. Parking is free in the church lot across the street, and it's just west of 35W at Diamond Lake Road, very easy to find. If you want the additional thrill of being greeted by me, come on any Wednesday afternoon.

Posted 9:27 PM by Robert Ronald Smith

Jaw clenched, teeth grinding

Is our world filling with annoyances or am I just getting crabbier as I age? Worse, I'm not even including the wide variety of annoyances (and far worse) coming at us from government. I've often thought about writing criticism of TV commercials because so many of them are insipid or insulting. Sports commentators are another pet peeve of mine, except for Bremer and Blylevin. Most broadcast teams seem to believe that they're more expert than those actually playing and coaching the teams. Somebody convinced commentators that they're the stars and the games are secondary. Often their inflated egos are just too much to take.

Then there are the modern annoying toys... people talking loudly on cellphones in completely inappropriate places, the annoying little beep-beep (often with many extra beeps) of auto remotes, one of the dumbest lazyass inventions of all time.

Then there are some classics... TV stations that invariably allow commercials to be far louder than their regular programming. Being somewhat hard of hearing, I often have to turn down commercials to protect my neighbors, and then turn the show back up to hear dialog. Then there are the dipshits who play their car radios so loudly and with so much bass that they create small sonic booms a block around wherever they drive. They make my arm jerk in the direction of my baseball bat.

Posted 6:30 AM by Robert Ronald Smith

The state will be closed until further notice

Ah... a recurring libertarian dream... possible shutdown of state government activities because the TWO parties can't agree on a budget. It happens every couple of years, and, for a lot of us, it's a chance to find out some of the things government does that we might not have been aware of. They try hard to find things that we'll really, really miss (yah shure, you betcha). The Stillwater lift bridge may have to be closed, in the up position. Now that WILL be inconvenient, but it's also a complete phoney. Not all functions will be stopped (tax collections, for example), and how many people does it take to operate a lift bridge? Evidently it takes 3. They'll also close freeway rest stops (88 of them!) because that will be noticeable and inconvenient.

The delightful thing about a shutdown is that it gives more of us a chance to realize that we don't miss the state at all. We should also notice, if the shutdown does occur, that while our indispensible government is closed, that our personal and economic lives will continue without so much as a HICcup.

Minnesota state government is the largest single employer in the state... bigger than any corporation. The state's budget has DOUBLED over the past 15 years. Given that, you would think we might really suffer from a shutdown. Well... a lot of employees will notice, but will they still be paid retroactively once the shutdown is over? If so, it amounts to no more than a paid vaction.

Will we be able to drive without keeping an eye peeled for state patrol? Nah... that would be counterproductive, due to loss of ticket/fine revenue, so they'll cut back on training and providing public information.

If you ARE inconvenienced by a shutdown... consider what would happen if several large corporations shut down. Big differences: corporations do a few things well... government does a zillion things not so well (because they don't have to - no competition). If Target, the 3rd largest employer, shut down, I wouldn't even notice... haven't been to a Target store in 20 years. Those who DO shop at Target would just wait or shift to a different store.

That's the real damage from a government shutdown... loss of services that nobody else is ALLOWED to provide, so naturally we are a bit dependent on them. Luckily, most of the contact we have with government is stuff we would be glad to be rid of.

So... hang tough, legislators... fight each other tooth and nail... shut it down. Most of us will thank you.

Posted 7:06 AM by Robert Ronald Smith

Beseeching the Lords of the Manor

I seem to have a knack for over-volunteering and/or hesitation in saying No, and it sort of culminated this week in minor exhaustion. Nothing... absolutely nothing... tires me as much as waiting, and the week got off to a "grand" start - attending a city council meeting and waiting for a group of bar and fraternal club folks to be given a chance to speak. I intended to take some photos of them speaking. The meeting started at 6:45, in the mammoth and imposing new Bloomington City complex. When I first saw it I assumed it must be a corporate headquarters, so I drove a mile past, looking for something that resembled my obviously-antiquated vision of what a City Hall looks like. Eventually, I honed in on it. Part of the problem is that it's address is Old Shakopee Road, but all the signage identifying it is on 98th street... a major omission considering it's size and the fact that it contains all sorts of things, like a performance theatre, the city jail, city offices, council chamber, and who knows what else.

By 10:15, I couldn't stand the waiting any longer, and abandoned my friends. Maybe if there had been some paint to watch dry...

I later found out that my friends got to speak briefly after ONE A.M., so I'm glad I gave up early. It was a good illustration of how compliant and cow-towing we have become toward government... to wait 6 and a half hours for a few minutes to beseech 7 elected council members ... just to get another hearing to plead with them. They were granted the hearing, to be held on another day (maybe, hopefully).

Our local governments are out of control, gathering tasks and taxes to themselves like minor gods to whom citizens must prostate themselves in supplication. They essentially have us by the short hairs. We know that if we anger them, they have the power to cause us great grief, because they've grabbed regulatory and inspection power over every aspect of our lives.

How would one even go about reducing the size of a city government such as Bloomington's? If one eliminated programs, what would be done with the properties created to support those programs? Would we have a few remaining employees wallowing around in facilities designed for dozens?

They're entrenched, and growing far beyond the ability of their subject serfs to even monitor them. They are a local bureaucracy, tossing out an ending series of bones to a few at the expense of the many, and they indulge in serious (and expensive) self-promotion to make many believe there is no alternative but ever-expansive government. But again, the many cannot afford the time to do anything BUT comply.

(to be continued)