Thoughts For Thursday...

We're in the homestretch now, and rapidly approaching another weekend...won't be long now.
And, it was nice to have some rain last evening. and at times, it came down fairly hard. We had plenty of lightning, but not all that much thunder - someone forget to pay the bill?
Our Hoosierland weather for today brings us a good chance of some rain early on, with the clouds breaking up later.
Our high today is whatever it is outside right now, because the temps will fall throughout the day (think low 60s for now).We'll wind up below 50 degrees by evening.
Might see some gusty winds as well, so take care driving and watch out for any downed tree limbs, or other assorted flotsam in our streets.
Now, with that said, let's get that morning drink poured, as we take a look at what's been going on elsewhere...
*** First out of the toaster is the answer to yesterday's WHO SAID THAT? quote:
"The obligation of subjects to the sovereign is understood to last as long, and no longer, than the power lasteth by which he is able to protect them."
This was spoken by Thomas Hobbes (5 April 1588 – 4 December 1679) who was an English philosopher often considered one of the founders of modern political philosophy.
And here is his WIKI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Hobbes
Yes, you can't (fully) debate politics without understanding some of the philosophical aspects (and theories) of the subject.
((Hobbes is best known for his 1651 book Leviathan, which established the social contract theory that has served as the foundation for most later Western political philosophy. In addition to political philosophy, Hobbes also contributed to a diverse array of other fields, including history, jurisprudence, geometry, the physics of gases, theology, ethics, and general philosophy.))
Seems that people of the past were really into a LOT of things...more so than we see today.
(no Internet  or reality television - all that time on their hands, no doubt)

Hobbes is best known for his work "Leviathan" , where he ((set out his doctrine of the foundation of states and legitimate governments and creating an objective science of morality. This gave rise to social contract theory. Leviathan was written during the English Civil War; much of the book is occupied with demonstrating the necessity of a strong central authority to avoid the evil of discord and civil war.
Beginning from a mechanistic understanding of human beings and their passions, Hobbes postulates what life would be like without government, a condition which he calls the state of nature. In that state, each person would have a right, or license, to everything in the world.))
Life without government. Not as easy a premise to swallow as we might think...and pretty scary in the long run.
It's a very good read , if a bit long, but explains the philosophical angle in a way even I can understand. without getting into the minutia.
Moving on...
*** Next, time for our "What the hell happens today, Bob?" feature:
APRIL 27 -
---It's National Babe Ruth Day

(definitely one of a kind)
---It's National Prime Rib Day

(never met one I didn't like - make mine medium-well)
---It's National Take Our Daughters and Sons To Work Day

(got a feeling there are jobs where that's NOT practical)
---It's National Tell a Story Day

(Hell, I do that every day here)
*** Next up, I'll just bet we got us some STUPID going on out there...I can just feel it.
(you know humanity would never let us down along those lines)

---This story is a "two-fer" as far as crimes go...very coincidental.
http://wane.com/2017/04/27/attempted-armed-robbery-possible-shooting-happen-just-minutes-apart/

An attempted robbery at the Sunoco located at 3003 Oxford (you guessed it - very SE) around 2334 hrs, followed soon by shots fired along 500 W. Branning (slightly SW).

((Police on West Branning Avenue told news sources the victim said he was taking the trash out when he was shot in the alley.)) The injuries are non life-threatening.
Wow, and to think I take my trash out early in the morning...but I'm ARMED when I do it...just in case.

Those two locations are pretty much a straight run one from the other (not even 2 minutes away)
And that seems to be it for the dumbassery, but never fear, today is NOT over yet, and the locals love to wreak havoc , as is their typical behavior pattern.
*** Now, THIS story, to me, is beyond stupid, and perhaps you'll see why:

http://www.wpta21.com/story/35246472/raising-your-income-taxes-to-pay-for-riverfront-development
So, OUR (local income) taxes should be RAISED to help pay for Riverfront development?
I'm sorry, but HOW the hell is any of that crap benefiting all of us on the south side of town?
We, who (still) have so little retail and services available?

This is where councilman (at-large) John Crawford and I differ in opinions (like we did when he pushed that smoking ban, and screwed a lot of restaurants along the way).
"The riverfront isn't the end, it's a means to an end. And it's the whole idea of look at downtown 20 years ago and look at it now," Crawford says.
John, look at the SOUTHEAST SIDE 20 years ago, and then look at IT NOW...
The EXACT OPPOSITE has taken place, and actually been allowed to occur (and thrive), thanks to the short-sightedness of those running City Hall for those same 20 years (and even before that).

Welcome to the SE side

Twenty years ago, I had no problem with walking the neighborhood. Now, I pack a gun JUST to mow the damn lawn.
Twenty years ago, we had REAL neighbors...friendly,. helpful, respectful...home-OWNERS. Today we have deadbeat landlords running rentals out the ass with human refuse moved into them (thanks to HUD and other assorted agencies) who have NO desire to do anything but party, smoke dope, sell dope, burglarize, rob, steal, rape, shoot things (and people), while a vast majority of businesses (here) have up and left, along with a lot of good people who used to live around here.
It has become a WAR ZONE in many ways.

NOT on the south side.

Twenty years ago, our house was assessed at close to $77K, with many others not that far behind. Now, it's worth less than $40K, all due to the devolving conditions in our part of the city. Other houses have gone on the block for UNDER $20K!
What the hell does THAT TELL YOU, John?
That we need to fund a new riverfront (and downtown)???
Sorry, not buying into that one...damn...bit, sir.
(("Right now our total income tax in Allen County is 1.35%. State average is 1.59. We're the lowest of all 10 surrounding counties," Crawford says.))
SO? To me, all that says is that coming HERE to work (or live) is a better deal than those other 10 counties, right?
((But a household with the average annual income of $49,000 would pay an extra $6 a month, and that could generate $12 million a year to be spent.))

Care to play, John?

You forget that most of the SE side has people dwelling here that DON'T WORK AT ALL (they're on the government DOLE)...so NO honest income to tax. How does THAT impact this "bottom line"?
Oh, it causes everyone else who DOES work to pay "more"...got it. That sure sounds fair to me (NOT)!
Just like the other "Costaplenty" projects...another way to fleece the hard-working among us...all for the sake of some mayor's "legacy". Gas tax hike, utility hikes, property tax hike, and now an income tax hike. Gimme a damn break.
*** Next up, time to kick the stupid to the curb and drop by "Kitten Corner"...

Another good day for the kids (and me). I was really beat from mowing the side lawn (that hill is getting to these old bones), and they both came in to nap with me. That is when they weren't napping on thier own.

At least I didn't get shot while mowing...and the cats seemed happy for that.
They do like to be fed on time...can't blame them there.
*** Last back to the stove-top...I see where Hobbes is coming from.

Sounds like TODAY.

We need some form of governance for mankind in general.
Let's face it, without someone around reminding those of the "rules" (who would otherwise follow none), we'd all be a very sorry state (or city)...right?
People need guidance, if for no other reason, than the fact that none of us are perfect.
If we were, than we would know not to commit wrong...sounds simple enough.
That is why we created forms of government...to "guide" people (keep them on the straight and narrow).
But, there are some caveats connected to such guidance.
Government (and those within it) can always grow too big, become corrupt, and have a desire for power.
This leads to more CONTROL than guidance over the populace.
Wars have been fought over such things, and, for the most part, rightly so.

Looks like THIS John gets it.

Our Revolutionary War is one example, and our Civil War is another. Other nations have suffered more protracted conflicts, and some of them didn't pan out all that well.
Such is the nature of mankind.
Funny thing about government...it likes to keep it's distance with religion, and yet, by the same token, embraces a sense of MORALITY when creating it's own foundations. I find that curious.
We have separation of church and state and yet, the state laws are based upon moral principles, ethical behavior, and civil discourse...sounds more biblical than they want to admit to, doesn't it?

The gospel truth here.

Will there ever come a time when government is obsolete?
Not as long as mankind is imperfect, so I think we're stuck with it. Let's try and make the government work FOR us in that regard, rather than against us (and for themselves).
Sounds like a plan to me.

Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay SAFE out there, America.