the intelligencia of politics ...

don't think for one minute just because a guy or gal could talk a sweet game, sweet enough to get elected, that your political leaders are smart cookies ... and if they all were smart cookies, don't expect all to be the same flavor ... some would be snickerdoodles, other sugar cookies, still others danish wedding cookies with insanity icing.

now, for another minute, don't think i am talking about anyone specific as you read the following words ... i am thinking about specific folks, not necessarily those in my current life, but i won't be talking about them ... at least by name.

i'm not that reckless.

in my career path, i have had the fortunate and unfortunate circumstance to meet a lot ... a lot, i say ... politicos and civic leaders ... and rising to leadership does not leadership skills make.

and i will certainly agree, political service is a tough game to enter ... i know this by having friends and family who have been, or are in, the game. it is supposed a selfless endeavour, a labor of love for community, country and major kickbacks ... wait, did i just say that? at any rate, good people often get in over their heads and end up looking like doofuses.

whether it is jumping head over heels into a civic project with no thoughts of the forefront events or just simply saying things which are inappropriate and inconsiderate, our political leaders can get into a mess of problems.

and when they do, we are all quick to jump on them and lay blame and say things like 'kill the bum' and 'run him out of office' ... yet when time comes to give the people, us, a choice in voting, no one will step forward. certainly our system of government is designed for all of us to have a shot at leading, if we so choose it, but few ever do ... if i didn't enjoy talking about them so much, i might run for office ... but i like getting paid to seem smart, rather than taking a chance at looking dumb.

whether our current president or a seemingly whacko u.s. senator, people are always quick to support or lay waste to a person's character, upbringing, mental state or motivations ... same goes for those who will quickly to their support, no matter the reasoning.

if there were a point to this piece, which i am struggling mightily to reach, it would be this ... education and research, both in the leadership arena and in the area of electing said leadership, is the utmost in import.

researching a project, even something as small as a streetscape project, or researching a candidate, right down to the local level, will help us avoid those moments where we want to beat our heads against the wall over shortsighted legislation or lack of action by our representatives.

we will be frustrated by politics ... it's the nature of the beast, but we do have recourse. and that recourse are elections and even when the people speak, we will get it wrong sometimes ... but there is always another election and chance to make the wrongs right.

peace.

in a surrounding of talent, i feel solely inadequate ...

been ages ... 'bout time.

we'll talk about talent today ... not necessarily, my own personal talent, 'cause i just don't see much in myself ... but the talent of my friends, my family, those people in my circle ... which by it's very nature, is a small circle.

but i know some talented people, which in turn, can have the nice little effect of rubbing off on me ... well, maybe not rubbing off on me, but i do get to brush by it from time to time.

i am fortunate in knowing people who are musicians, painters, sculptors, writers of all sorts, photographers ... and that is just the so-called creative types ... there are also the hard workers in the industrial arts, such as welders, drivers, heavy equipment operators ... all these folks have varied interests, yes, but they do inspire me at different times ... they make me thankful that i have such an assortment of talent surrounding me.

there is no greater joy in my life, outside of my children, than being allowed into my friends' creative circles ... whether it is hanging with my friend josh and his bandmates, listening as they work out new songs for their setlist, or reviewing another's photographs and being asked for my critique, it is so nice to be included.

sure, my friends value my 'creativity' from time to time, and that is nice, but i much more so enjoy them ... i enjoy where their ideas and creative flow comes from, for it is always from a place much different than my own ... i am inspired by them ... at times, some tell i inspire them.

but perhaps that is what trying to create is all about ... gaining and growing from the products of others' creative spirit ... our own personal flow can become muddled sometimes, yes, but i can always count on my circle of close people to provide a spark of genius.

peace.