Do I really want to change the world?

Everybody wants to change the world, right? Or maybe we're all supposed to want to change the world, to make it a better place, or something like that. Well, I'm not sure I really want to change the world. After all, we all have our own opinions, so if we are each trying to change the world to suit our own views of what the world should be like, that suggests a lot of conflict. Sure, maybe some of us are "right" and know how the world really should be, but which of us is that? How can we know? So, my conclusion is that although it is a noble goal to want to make the world a better place, we need to tread carefully as far as thinking that we can actually change the world to be something close to what we think it should be and to expect that the result really will be a better world for everyone. Herewith, I am formally and publically declaiming any intentions or desires to change the world. That is not to say that I won't change the world or that I will give up pursuit of living a better life, but simply that change should be a side effect of living a good life rather than a goal of its own.

 

In short, I definitely do desire and intend to live a better life, but whether that results in the world becoming a better place is besides the point.

 

One caveat: In principle, I actually do believe that all change is good, but that is not to say that all meaningful change needs somehow to be intentional and carefully planned and orchestrated in advance.

 

Doing a little Web searching I ran across a blog post on the PickTheBrain blog entitled "So You Want To Change The World?" that makes these points:

• Be Mindful of Your Intentions - Are you doing this for selfish or selfless reasons?
• Be Aware of Your Own Energy - Know yourself
• Know How Other's Energy Affects You
• Humble Yourself - keep your ego out if it
• Dream

Intentions indeed. Part of my writing this post is that I am quite skeptical of people who have quite specific ideas for what change should look like. To me, that would kill a large portion of the vibrancy and health of the world and make the resulting world less sustainable.

 

-- Jack Krupansky

Made my 18th payment to pay down the public debt of the U.S. government

I just made my 18th monthly payment to pay down the public debt of the U.S. government. It wasn't a large payment, just another $25, but it is a matter of principle, albeit mostly symbolic. It may take me another 48 billion years to pay it all down all by myself at this rate (and assuming the deficit went to zero immediately), but, as I said, it is a matter of principle and a sense of personal responsibility. It is our debt, not somebody else's.

 

According to the U.S. Treasury web site, the total public debt outstanding was $14,344,559,511,924.92, as of June 17, 2011, a decrease of about $881 million over 26 days, but this number may be misleading since Treasury is artificially depressing debt needs due to the statutory debt limit.

 

We have reached the statutory debt limit, but I fully expect a deal before this becomes a problem.

 

Here is what I wrote back in January 2010 when I made my first donation/gift/contribution/payment:

Everybody is whining and complaining about the ballooning debt of the U.S. government, but who is actually doing anything about it? Well, for starters, ME! Yes, that's right, I, Jack Krupansky, just did something to reduce the U.S. government debt. Really. No kidding. I actually paid down a small slice of this debt. Granted, it was a rather small slice, but a slice nonetheless. Okay, sure, it was only $20, but the point is that at least I am one of the very few people willing to stand up and DO something about the problem, rather than be one of the whiners and complainers who refuse to acknowledge that it is their debt and their problem, not just the fault of mindless politicians in Washington, D.C. After all, every politician ultimately answers to voters and most of the so-called wasteful spending of the U.S. government is simply politicians responding to the demands of their constituents (voters.) Maybe my one small contribution to paying down the debt won't really make any difference to any of those whiners and complainers, but for me it is a matter of principle. I consciously choose action rather than the inaction and lack of responsibility of the whiners and complainers.

If you have any sense of principle, you too can pay down a slice of the U.S. government debt yourself at Pay.gov. You can pay via credit card or debit transfer from a bank account.

 

So do the right thing and show all those whiners and complainers (including so-called "tax protesters") how mindless and spineless they really are. PAY DOWN THE DEBT! And that has to start at the grass roots with us individuals before politicians will ever pick up the lead.

 

For the record, the only real way out of the deficit is not to merely cut expenditures or raise taxes or some combination of the two, but through economic growth, which includes a healthy amount of immigration in addition to unemployed workers going back to work and young people entering the work force. Sure, we need to manage the federal budget more carefully as well and make difficult choices about the size of government and tax rates, but the big focus has to be on achieving sustainable economic growth. In truth, nobody, including all of the Nobel laureate economists, knows what that sustainable rate really is or how to get there. We'll stumble our way in that general direction. That's the way we do things in America.

 

Another note: A significant part of the deficit is businesses writing off losses from the financial crisis and recession as tax deductions. That may continue for awhile longer, but will gradually wind down and tax receipts from businesses will begin to pick up in the coming years.

 

-- Jack Krupansky

 

Cafe Philo in New York City in two weeks, Thursday, 6/30: What is the purpose of life, pleasure or knowledge?

Cafe Philo in New York City will meet in two weeks, on Thursday, June 30, 2011 for a discussion of the topic "What is the purpose of life, pleasure or knowledge?"

 

The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 7 attendees):

1. Does determinism entail predestination? (2)
2. Do political borders rope people in? (4)
3. What's up with dog people? (3)
4. Humanity is too big and hungry for this earth. (3)
5. What is art? (3)
6. What's intrinsic to myth and history? (3)
7. Should we have dueling in a democratic society? (1)
8. Rhetoric vs. reason. (6)
9. What is the purpose of life, pleasure or knowledge? (7) *

I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant – he hopes to be at this upcoming meeting before he heads to France for the summer.

 

As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)

 

After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.

 

There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.

 

There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.

 

-- Jack Krupansky

 

Cafe Philo in New York City in two weeks, Thursday, 6/16: What is the value of college?

Cafe Philo in New York City will meet in two weeks, on Thursday, June 16, 2011 for a discussion of the topic "What is the value of college?" I suggested the topic based on recent discussions and media attention to the topic. For example,

• The New Yorker: Live and Learn - Why we have college? / Debating the Value of College in America
• The LA Times: College, too easy for its own good / Was college worth it?

The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 11 attendees):

1. What is the value of college? (6, 7) *
2. What's up with dog people? (2)
3. Rhetoric vs. reason. (4)
4. Is $1 trillion enough for one person? (3)
5. Power vs. reason. (2)
6. Polarization vs. compromise. (2)
7. Should we impose penalties for people who walk using cellphones? (2)
8. Why atheism is on the rise in this country. (2)
9. Competitive world. (1)
10. How can something come out of nothing? (3)
11. Humanity is too big and hungry for this earth. (5)
12. Should we have dueling in a democratic society? (3)
13. Should modern democracies adopt the practice of denying lawbreakers the protection of law? (4)
14. Dream, idea, reality - How can we compromise? (4)
15. Does determinism entail predestination? (1)
16. Do political borders rope people in? (6, 6)

I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant – he should be at this upcoming meeting before he heads to France for the summer.

 

As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)

 

After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.

 

There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.

 

There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.

 

-- Jack Krupansky