For what price?

I saw this photo that got me thinking recently and I didn't really know what I wanted to say about it.

I knew at the time that there was a message glaringly yelling out at me. I just didn't quite know what the message was.

The message that I am getting from this is that we are all way too caught up in the concept of worth and value regardless the cost. Whether it be diamonds as depicted in the picture, cars as evidenced by all of the BMWs, Mercedes and Lexuses that I see on a daily basis to homes.

We all want items that cost too much for the purpose that they serve and we all ignore the real cost of those items. The picture shows a horrific human rights violation that I would guess happened in S. Africa, the world's largest exporter of diamonds and tyranny. The same type of picture could be made in reference to cars or housing. You still have people being taken advantage of by working in unsafe conditions and for pennies compared to executives.

I got to thinking that it was a shame that we spend so much on these things and so little in aiding others. That led me to thinking about what is truly of value and the price tag associated with it and then the meaning of the picture to me became crystal clear.

Love. The cost is time.....the value is priceless. Love is something that is so easy to give once you are with someone that you can let your guard down around. You are able to share moments with them and create memories. You are able to look at each other and communicate without ever speaking a word. You are able to make someone feel so good about them self that, for brief moments, they realize their true self-worth as others see them.

When you are in those moments....you will truly find the only thing that is worth its cost.

The real leaders of the country

Often, I engage in political debates that end up breaking down to democrat vs. republican. While somewhat entertaining because I like to debate and also play the devil's advocate, it doesn't really cut to the root of the problem.

As is with most things in life....the real key to truth and power is to follow the money.

The real leaders of our country are not those that are elected on a ballot. They are those that are "elected" to sit on the boards of major corporations and the leaders of industry. Now, most will probably think that there are way too many of them to be able to coordinate that type of movement. For those that think that to be the case....I present to you:

http://www.theyrule.net/theyrule.html

This site will open your eyes to how consolidated the power already is in the major industries. You will be able to see how a small handful of men and women sit on the boards of major corporations across different industries that ultimately lead to lobbying congress to do one thing...pass legislation that benefits them.

In return, the congressmen and senators get fat paydays and cushy gigs if they play along and then either "retire" or are voted out.

Whichever is the case, it all equals the same result, the American people are nothing more than
pawns in the game of chess of life that is also nothing more than a power-grab for the ultrawealthy.