What do you do when you are in the midst of an economic crisis, you have jobs leaving your state in record numbers and not enough money to fund the programs you have in place? I know. Create a policy demanding an end to the evil use of coal. Sure you'll have to raise electric rates to sky high levels to get there, but what are a few more homeless people in Los Angeles.
That is exactly what is currently happening. Here is a link to the story in the L.A. Times. Sure they only raised the rates 20 percent this time around, but more are on the way.
Wait here is the best part. What are they going to do with the money?
"Villaraigosa said the money would help pay for the hiring of "green doctors" to evaluate the energy efficiency of homes and stepped-up efforts to help residents obtain energy-efficient light bulbs and refrigerators."
Yep. They are going to take your money so that they can hire someone to sniff around in your fridge to make sure it is using the most efficient light bulb possible. God forbid you can't afford a new fridge due to the higher electric bills, because you know some of those fridges are killing polar bears. You are definitely going to need to be taxed for not having a more efficient fridge.
Wait do you hear that.... It's the sound of more businesses leaving California.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Thoughts on Forgiveness
All of us have some things in our life for which we needed to ask forgiveness. We have hurt our friends, family, co-workers, etc... However, in the same vein we have all been harmed at one time or another and to one degree or another. While the extent of our harm varies we all share in that we are not perfect. We have both harmed, and been harmed. Hence the need for forgiveness.
It occurs to me that forgiveness is not for the person who has done the trespass. Forgiveness is for the person who has been harmed. Follow me for a moment here.
Have you ever been angry with someone for something they did to you? Did they know you were mad at them? If so, did they care? If they cared about your relationship perhaps they did, but what if they didn't. You could be angry and they would never know. You would sit up at night and they would sleep. You could let the harm shape the rest of your life, ruining relationships. You could even hate them. It won't matter. They'll sleep like a baby.
The only exception I see to this is when a person feeling guilt requests forgiveness. In that case however, the person asking for forgiveness often feels as thought they have harmed themselves while harming you. In the end whether you forgive them they must forgive themselves.
Do yourself a favor. Forgive the person who has hurt you the most because they aren't even thinking about you. Forgive yourself too. You deserve it.
It occurs to me that forgiveness is not for the person who has done the trespass. Forgiveness is for the person who has been harmed. Follow me for a moment here.
Have you ever been angry with someone for something they did to you? Did they know you were mad at them? If so, did they care? If they cared about your relationship perhaps they did, but what if they didn't. You could be angry and they would never know. You would sit up at night and they would sleep. You could let the harm shape the rest of your life, ruining relationships. You could even hate them. It won't matter. They'll sleep like a baby.
The only exception I see to this is when a person feeling guilt requests forgiveness. In that case however, the person asking for forgiveness often feels as thought they have harmed themselves while harming you. In the end whether you forgive them they must forgive themselves.
Do yourself a favor. Forgive the person who has hurt you the most because they aren't even thinking about you. Forgive yourself too. You deserve it.
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