Mormonism & Lying

Listening to Mitt Romney so far in the Republican primary campaign and reading or listening to all the stories on his record and past statements and interviews, one would get the impression one of the central tenants in Mormonism is lying. Mitt Romney is a perpetual liar, who says anything to anyone to get what he wants, and in this case, to get their vote.

He obviously learned his lessons in his youth and used the tactic at Bain Capital when his job was to takeover companies, shred the employees to the unemployment roles, steal any financial holdings in the company and then sell the remants to a buyer for a huge profit. To do that you have to lie to everyone about everything and then pretend you didn't lie.

Makes you think if you've ever been approached by youths talking about their faith, trying to sell you to join them, the Mormon Church teaches it as a way of life. And we're seeing what it yields in their politicians, Mitt Romney, liar extraordinaire.

A Bad Joke

A Democrat and a Republican walk into a bar. The bartender asks what they're drinking and when the bartender returns with their drink the Republican says, "Put it on my tab.", to which the bartender replies, "Hell, your credit card bounced and you haven't paid your tab from the 8 year party of the last Republican who was here." The bartender then turns to the Democrat who points at the Republican and says, "He's buying."

Not What They Say

It's not so much what candidates say that tells us they values and views on the issues. It's what going in their ears. It's the advisors around them and with them who are telling them what they want the candidate to hear or say or what they want the candidate to do.

It's them who we should be focused on than the words coming out their mouth, because it's variation of the old adage, political garbage in only gets political garbage out. They're only repeating what they hear in a way that sounds original to them so you believe it's their ideas, values and views.

And it's not when it comes to some candidates, those who are mental, and even morally, play dough, meaning they don't have many real thoughts or ideas and are more than willing to absorb them from those around them. Their own real views and values haven't seen the light of day in a long time.

It's what they know to hide. It's what they fear the public will not vote for them if they knew. It's what they will use when they get elected, but only after they pay back all the voices they heard in their ears making agreements and giving promises, but money giving money with strings attached.

So, we should ignore what's ahead of them, the words they speak, but pay attention to what's behind them, the voices speaking in their ears. They are the real candidate.

Why Two

You know the TV ads offering a cheap appliance, gadget, bags, etc., with a lifetime guarrantee, lowering the price several times and then saying, "For this price, we'll not only give you this product, we'll give you two." So, exactly why do you need two of something that has a lifetime guarrantee?

Wait, I know why, it doesn't last more than year, if that long, because either it breaks or you break it being so flimsy it's ridiculous and the second is there for the guarranteed lifetime replacement, which you bought. And if you send it back for a refund, exactly how long do you think it will take for the amount to be credited to your credit card account?

Anyway, I just love the sales pitch, "For the price of one of this really great product, you get a liftetime guarrantee. But wait, if you call now, we'll match it with a second product for free." With a 50% divorce rate in this country, you'd think we're selling marriage the same way, "Wait, if your first marriage doesn't work, we'll give you a second one for a low price and no alimony."

Maybe it's time we stopped falling for twofer offers. And we'll discuss the the extra large size for the price of a medium one later.

Reasons to change the Station

Like everyone I only listen to a few radio stations, now mostly over the Internet (Radium is a cool app for this), dedending on the time of the day and the day of the week. I listen to the NPR station in Seattle (KUOW) on Saturday mornings and afternoons into the evening, and occasionally during the week for the news and a few talks shows, mostly Fresh Air on WHYY on their second station, but not much else.

I also listen to our local NPR station (KPLU) on Saturday and Sunday nights for the Blues show 6PM to midnight, really great stuff. After that I only listen when I want music or sound and not something in my iTunes library, meaning the BBC London and VOA English for news or KMTT (alternative) and KIng FM (classic) for music. All in all on average 2-3 hours a day.

But one thing which will always and quickly get me to change the station. Yes, you guessed it, pledge drives. I really hate them because you can be a member, especially paying your dues without being prompted over the air or call at the beginning of the drive, and you still have to listen to their drivel, yes drivel, about pledging to help support the station.

I won't argue I really like NPR. I think they should be funded more from federal monies in and for the public interest. They provide programs you won't get let alone hear on commercial stations, from the news to the talk shows, but mostly shows like Car Talk, Wait, Wait..., and an icon show, A Prairie Home Companion. That's worth my money.

I don't watch PBS stations anymore mostly because the management the Seattle station drove it into the financial ground which took years to get on the road back but they still air a lot of shows which leaves you wandering who's running the station. The Seattle-Tacoma area has two PBS stations which combined don't make one decent one, long past the time they should have merged.

That said, I just don't like the pledge drives, so when it starts for the week or so, I simply switch stations for the week or move to the programs on the Internet. There isn't any national shows the stations air you can't get the live stream or the replay from the show's Website. It's the new world of radio, you don't have to actually listen to a station, just the show.

So I don't have to listen to the drivel about money, the quality of the programming, and the benefits to your family for just the small donation of your membership. I get it and I get the need, I just don't want to listen to it or hear it repeated ad naseum, to which I'll start listening again when the pledge drive is over.