Friday, October 21, 2011

Musings

It is three weeks now since I got my new hip. The recovery is going well. No bone pain, just soft tissue soreness and lingering bruising. I walk with a cane that is used mostly for balance rather than a support. I am grateful that this has worked as well as it did.

I am also thoughtful about the circumstances that allowed me to have this expensive procedure without adding a mortgage to my house or selling a child into bondage. I feel ashamed that I live in a country where I am privileged, able to do this while others cannot.

I look at our country and truly believe that it is not the same one I grew up in. When did our national priorities grow so askew? How is it that the resources of one of the greatest nations on earth are devoted to war (undeclared), and to the rich rather than to health, education, infrastructure, and the general well being of the nation? I am not sure how we got here, but I know what it is that lead us - greed.

I look at us (the nation) and I see the problems, but I do not know how to solve them. Our system of government is not working. Our congress is deadlocked and either committed to party dogma, or incompetent when it comes to trying to solve the nation's problems. How do we fix this?

People are demonstrating on Wall Street and around the country, but what will that really do? We need to abolish the current system. I do not believe that it can be repaired. It is too entrenched in polarizing, moneyed interests that work not for the common good, but for the financial sources that provide the funding. How to change this?

I guess that I am feeling so frustrated because I do not see a way to get beyond our current position. Do any of you see a way? If you have an idea, I would surely like to hear it.

Enough with the complaining. On the health front, as far as I know, things are good. My hip condition continues to improve at a good rate. I go to the Mayo next week for a regular checkup which will involve the dreaded, but necessary CT scan to see what's happening inside. Wish me luck. I'll let you know what's up when I find out.

Ta ta.