Too Much
Tuesday, May 8th, 2012Author: James the Wanderer May 7, 2012
This starts as a tale of time, several decades, and gradual overload. What applies to houses applies to governments…..
My house was built in the 1920s, when things were simpler and houses were built reasonably. It is a fairly small house, my lot is about 1/10 acre, and the house was nothing fancy. It has single-layer walls (a crack developed from settling, and my daughter noticed a tiny trace of sunlight where you could look out the dining room wall). It was built with an eye for economy as well, as the roof trusses were 2×4 (back when those numbers were real, not nominal) but more than sufficient when the only roof load was a layer of cedar shakes, and light winter snow.
Sometime shortly after, electricity came in, and the house was (sort of) wired. Up in the attic, ½” holes were drilled for hollow ceramic spacers, and the separated wires (a foot apart, one hot, one neutral, no ground) were run to power lights and outlets. Again, nothing fancy; not sure why the ceramic spacers were necessary, unless they didn’t trust the insulation enough to prevent contact / grounding or fires in the attic. Whatever, that’s how they did it, and the system worked well enough for the time. Some are still in place, all these years after they were put in.
Years pass; an owner needs to stop roof leaks, and puts a layer of asphalt shingles over the cedar shakes. Nothing wrong with that, saves time and effort, and the trusses (although weakened somewhat by the drilled holes) still had plenty of strength to support it all.
More years pass; more layers of asphalt shingles accrue.
I come along in 2006, and can see from the roofline that there’s trouble. It sags, hills and warps in weird ways; clearly a new roof is needed, and I’m prepared. It takes me until July 2007 to get it together enough to find a local contractor, and his Mexicans take the old roof off, preparing for the new one.
They took off FOUR layers (each a different color) of asphalt shingles, as well as the original cedar shakes. They go back with plywood decking, tar paper and one layer of new shingles. The roof load probably drops 75%.
The trusses and joists were allowed to relax back into something like a reasonable position. The kitchen ceiling, covered from beneath two or three times, sags in several places. This is from the splintered joists, weakened by drilling which also created stress concentration points, refusing to carry the extra loads they were never designed for. I have ripped down the kitchen ceiling, all the way down to the lath-and-plaster, sistered the splintered joists back to structural functionality, re-routed some of the antique wiring, and am getting ready to re-do the insulation, install a new outlet for the microwave, and restore the kitchen ceiling (now that it’s been jacked and reinforced back to something resembling level and plumb) to something like aesthetic appeal.
It took a rather severe tear-out-and-restoration to return my house to decent condition, but it’s weathertight, plumb, level and liveable. I had to remove built-up layers of accumulated junk, pull out broken and bent items, put new, stronger materials back in place and repair the results of repeated “Let’s just pile on more and cover it up, we don’t have the time and money to make it right” solutions. Fixing it the right way was mildly expensive, took a lot of time and muscle and “sweat equity”, but the payoff is there, and I can see it.
It’s time to do the same in Washington.
No related posts.
Val says:
May 8th, 2012
3:56 pm
James, it’s way past time to do the same in Washington. There comes a point where it’s just more cost-effective to bulldoze the whole structure and build a new one with fresh materials and updated technology. The U.S. of A. may be at that point.
James the Wanderer says:
May 9th, 2012
10:46 am
Hey Val!
You are probably right – yet until enough folks figure out this game can’t be won, it’s tough to advocate more effective approaches. Zero-ing out the funding for both DOEs, the DHS, the DH&HS and Commerce would be a promising start.
Lugar just found out how many people are disgusted with him – and I have hopes that Orrin Hatch (one of my Senators) will find the same. I plan to vote against him quite soon. Still, it will take lots more to reform Washington, but that’s the path available right now.
We are way beyond broke as a nation – and the politicians are STILL voting to spend more, instead of cutting way back. You can’t start doing the right thing until you quit doing the wrong thing – and we haven’t really changed yet.
Despite all that is, I remain optimistic – “there’s no fool like an old fool”! and look for better, while recognizing the obvious.
Hang in there!
JtW
Cheri says:
May 10th, 2012
8:57 am
Val-”Cost effective” solutions were applied to James house at the time solutions were fashioned and implemented. I do get your point and agree sometimes a “Bull”dozer is the best solution. Best, as always, is situational taking in to account time, resources and goals/purpose. These are really the failings of Washington and the current political environment. The lack of leadership is astounding. As well as the lack of followship. I constantly struggle with the right of idiots to have idiot opinions and their right to forward them through the same system sane and rational people haave to use. Idiot-someone lacking in contact with the realities of time, resources and worthwhile goals/purposes-as defined by ME! : )
JtW is right we have to keep on pushing till we replace as many popularists and opportunists with statesmen dedicated to maintaining and bettering individual rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The more truly sane rational and analytical people in postions of power the better the decisions will be, resulting in a more stable structure, and removing those items “loading” it down.
Quick example-Last night I saw an old friend with a new roommate. The Roommate works for the state of CA as a contractor through a major UC campus doing tabacco research. The stated goal of this government construct is to make Ca the first NON-Smoking state. They are spending my tax $$ funding this research and all the annoying ads, school campaigns and oppressive laws that come with such ridiculus ideas (Which I don’t recall voting for). Don’t get me wrong, I am a non/never smoked both parents died early due to smoking related cancers, but I still recognize it was their life, their choice. I have dealt with my grief and anger at them, with them. I am not taking it out on society at large.
Thanks for the new article. I know sometimes I feel like it has all been said, but there are always new ears!
James the Wanderer says:
May 11th, 2012
12:42 pm
Hey Cheri!
:The more truly sane rational and analytical people in positions of power the better the decisions will be, resulting in a more stable structure, and removing those items “loading” it down.”
Wow, it’s great when someone gets it!
Your friend’s roommate is part of the problem, although she can’t see it that way, or she wouldn’t have taken the job. California is about to hit a fiscal wall, they have no business creating new government jobs until the budget is balanced – and that’s just not gonna happen, too few residents understand to counterbalance the crazies. I used to live in CA for a while, I remember the insanity.
You’ll know you have sane, rational and analytical people in office when they shrink the size, cost and scope of government. What’s that noise, sounds like someone singing “Over the Rainbow”?
Reality wins, however, and the longer reality is ignored the larger the impact. Find a nice, quiet place to ride out the storm, it’s hardly over the horizon now.
Yours in responsibility,
JtW
Val says:
May 14th, 2012
8:02 am
James and Cheri,
I wish I could still feel that passion to “change the system” through the electoral process. I used to have it, too. But dissolution set in back in 2000 (an armageddon year for me in several ways). I supported a candidated for president that I felt really got it and had the ability to bring about the kind of change we need in this country. I would go to Republican meetings/caucuses in central Texas and try to talk to people about Allen Keyes. The people I spoke to who said “Allen Keyes? Who’s that?” I could understand. Even those who knew who he was but said that they felt his views were too radical or extreme for them I could forgive. The people who destroyed my faith in elections were the majority I spoke to who said “Oh, Allen Keyes! I really like what he has to say and I think he’d make a terrific president. But I’m going to vote for Bush (tone turns a little condescending here) because I think he can win.” That’s when I came to realize that the elections were basically rigged, that the party elites and the media pick their darlings, and that’s who We the People get to pick from whether we really feel they’re the right person for the job or not. The 2008 election eroded my faith even further when I saw how many people fell under Obama’s spell like a hoard of brainwashed zombies (or drugged rock-star groupies). When so many of the voters are the same millions who follow Lady Gaga on Twitter – where’s the hope?
Maybe there-in lies the answer. I think The Founders had it right when they placed restrictions on voting rights. Of course I wouldn’t want to go back to the days when women were denied the right to vote, but restricting it to those who actually PAY federal taxes might be a good start.
Val says:
May 14th, 2012
8:04 am
Oops! Please forgive me, Alan Keyes.
Cheri says:
May 14th, 2012
10:05 am
Val, two words…Mitt Romney. I liked Alan Keyes too.
If the system is opened up or scrapped, there is no guarentee what we will get. I fear the Bulldozer because starting from scratch at this brain dead time in history would be foolish, IMO. So many chomping at the bit to remake the system to serve JUST their world or selfish views. While not perfect, the Founding Fathers did a pretty good job of trying to balance things then and in the future. Imagine if the Occupy group were given a seat at the table. Freeloaders unite! Democracy is not an effective form of government the current education system has taught children it is only fair and that they can make government serve them, not how to look at things to find a way to serve everybody, or at least a productive majority. Apathy IS the “other” side’s goal. No opposition. Keep fighting-we may not “Win”, but if we don’t keep fighting we will definitely LOOSE!
Val says:
May 14th, 2012
5:41 pm
Oh, I never said I was apathetic! If I was, I wouldn’t be reading and commenting on The Texas Ring. I just have no faith in the election process as it currently operates – although I will still vote; I always do. Your “two words” are a case in point. I’m sorry, I just don’t think Mitt Romney is all that. I’m not convinced that when it came down to brass tacks he’d be significantly better than Obama especially when you consider the Obama-like health care plan he put together in Mass. But he’s “it” because he was the party and media darling all along, and so many people like those I mentioned above went along not necessarily because they believe in him any more than I do, but because they felt “he could win”.
For what it’s worth, my Mom and Dad agree with you. They’re voting for Romney. I may write in my choice, as I did in the last election. I’m thinking of writing in my own name for Senator of NM.
Val says:
May 14th, 2012
5:46 pm
See, and that’s another thing I think is wrong with our current system. I think we’d have a better chance of voting in the kinds of people we really need if there was no party system. I don’t think we need more political parties. I think there should be NO political parties. Everyone should run on their own merits and their own ideas.
I also think that with today’s technology, Congressmen and Senators should reside in their home states/districts where their constituents have as much access to them as special interest lobbyists. They can convene via video conference.
And no representative should be allowed to vote on a bill until they have read it and passed a comprehensive test on it’s contents.
Val says:
May 14th, 2012
5:48 pm
So, Cheri, which do you think would be easier? Try to get the above reforms passed in the current system… or scrap the whole system, and start completely over with, say the Articles of Conferderation and one or two of my suggestions above?
Cheri says:
May 15th, 2012
2:03 pm
Val,
I was backing you up with Mitt Romney. I just didn’t write it right. He is EXACTLY what you were describing in your comment.
Maybe the apathy I am sighting is my own? Just got my absentee ballot and CA has gone to an open primary and the two highest vote getters, regardless of party, will move to the general election. There are 24 names for 1 Senate seat. The only recognizable name is Diane Feinstein. So, what that means is MORE Democrats for CA. A 16 billion dollar deficit is not enough. Current rationales; if you are going $16B in debt you might as well have educated, fed, clothed and housed a few more people, then it will have been worth something and full steam ahead, we will get it by raising taxes! Those “rotten” 1%-ers, now the fastest shrinking demographic, next to illegal immigrants who can’t find work in CA; have the nerve to be leaving the state…
I do not know the solutions that will correct the current corruptions without a significant number of prosecutions and even executions (for treason. The government is too involved in people’s day to day lives. There are no easy solutions; we are all experiencing lifestyle changes, expectation reductions and reeducation. W & G’s article “Despair and the State” covers it pretty well.
I wouldn’t say “easier” to scrap the system (Leftists, Liberals and Anarchists, are workin’ on that right now.) ” tempting”, maybe, to start over. Again, it will be EXTREMELY hard to institute a “better” system! Forcing the conversation back to the constitution of the Founders and enumerated powers is a BIG step. Thanks to the Tea Party and the Heritage Foundation for starting and supporting that conversation. A little “confederation” could hurt. I cannot create a coherent sentence on the whole reading/not having read a bill before passing, beyond the situation is INSANE and is part of what lead me to the executions part of my comment. It is a dereliction of duty, plain and simple; I would think it would already have been covered… If they were part time it might reduce the current rate of destruction.
The only reason I will vote for Romney is not voting for him is voting for Obama and I do not like the direction he has taken the country. I am waiting to hear Romney’s plans for correcting the over reaches of power and elimination of all the NON-elected officials setting and enforcing policy.
James the Wanderer says:
May 16th, 2012
3:52 pm
I am now officially distressed that Ron Paul, the best chance we had this cycle for breaking up the status quo, is apparently not campaigning any more. He may do some good at the convention, but that will pass; the Establishment Republicans win a Pyrrhic victory, since most of Paul’s supporters will not vote for Romney due to his Imperial Federal Government orientation.
Vote Libertarian, then, or write Ron Paul in if your ballot allows; I’d rather Obama preside over the Crunch and subsequent Collapse than Romney. Paul might have turned it around, barely, in the time remaining; Romney will watch it slide slowly over the cliff, while Obama will floor the accelerator TOWARD the cliff. We need to develop plans and contingencies for living through the pain, because our best shot at avoiding the pain just got sidelined.
Sorry to be so dismal (again!) but that’s the way I see it. Good luck with whatever you need to do to survive, and may God save us all, if he thinks we’re worth it. Rebuild the Republic!
JtW
Val says:
May 17th, 2012
2:35 pm
James, now we’re on the same page. That’s exactly how I feel about it. In fact, I’ve even been tempted to vote for Obama just because I’d rather rip the band-aid (or duct tape) off and get it over with than peel it off slowly. But I won’t have to. I’ll stick to my principles and probably will write in Ron Paul’s name whether there’s a space for it or not (I lived in Oregon for the last election, and they do or did have a space to write in a name).
Cheri, I understand what you’re saying. And history is full of examples where The People rebelled, and what they replaced the old government with was no better or far worse than what they had. Usually what you end up with now is a military dicatatorship… but then, we’re kinda headed that way already. You’re right, none of us has the answers, and each of us must decide for ourselves the best way to “fight the good fight”.
Allen Currie says:
May 24th, 2012
11:54 am
Val, Cheri, JtW, et al;
I have been back in isolation preparing for the worst. If it doesn`t come, the novel will still be there to promote. If it does the preparations will be critical. I don`t get out frequently.
I have just posted at my forum a few posts that are germain to the current situation. Regarding this discussion, I have cited two examples, the last depression in the US (1920-21) where the Fed and other authorities did NOT intervene, and Iceland who let the banks fail the same as any other commercial enterprise, and the government stepped down without any `fixes`. As things go, both events were very severe, but relatively short lived. (Not that Iceland today is the land of milk and honey, but it is far better than Greece who is still“fixing`.)(Also it has shaken out the banking problems suffered by the rest of the world, and is unlikely to suffer as much as the rest of the world when it goes down.) It is generally agreed that the 1930`s were made much more severe and much longer by government fixes.
If the US were to fall back to the original constitution, how many of the current systemic problems would disappear. These nitwits in charge have proven conclusively they cannot manage. Why would one vote for them to fix their home grown problems. Their solution is always, if this plan does not work, make the market come to heel with more draconian rules. NEVER try a different approach
Allen
Val says:
May 25th, 2012
11:11 am
Allen,
Did you happen to catch yesterday’s (Thur) W&G? I didn’t follow any of the links ’cause I don’t want to do it from my home computer. But when I get a chance to do it remotely… there are some interesting suggestions in there.
The drones are coming…
BTW: I never did get to finish the novel. Where’s the link?
Allen Currie says:
May 30th, 2012
4:08 pm
Val et al
Firstly a general horror FYI to all. Apparently a recent poll finds that over (just) 50% of Americans believe the US itself is bankrupt. If that is the case the fears leading to a bank type “run”, in this case a currency run is in place. Because the Greeks feared that, given the election results, Greece would revert to the dreaded Drachma. Because the election results were inconclusive, that fear will still be valid for some time to come. The authorities will not be able to stop the fear. The Greek run which pulled 700 million Euros on Monday ALONE a week ago (Think how many 20E bills are needed to make 700 million, and how many Joe Sixpack level Greeks had to withdraw to make that amount.) A lot of Euros are also escaping to the “safety” of the US dollar, which has the USD up recently. Because the USD is across the ocean it is OBVIOUSLY safer. The blind leading the blind. Greece has MUCH further to fall. The Euro is well on its way to toast.
Then note how easily the run has spread to Spain. (And ONE bank, Spains 4th largest needs something between 19 and 29 Billion Euros, depending on which newscast you choose to believe, to bail it alone out.) With the doubt and fear already in place in the US, (and around the world) this disease can spread to other countries, inculding the US at the click of a mouse. If they can’t get this stopped IMMEDIATELY, it will just grow and grow. Portugal, Ireland and one of the old Eastern block countries like Romania are next. Then Italy, France and England. Finally Germany. Damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.
Val
If you will send me mail at JustamereBear@gmail.com I will squirt you a copy along with any links you might want. I have just taken down the free read in favor of a sample read since I have largely stopped promoting the novel in favor of making preparations in my backwoods isolated hidey hole. If nothing happens the novel will still be there to promote. If someting does happen, the preparations will be critical.
Allen