Just Sayin'

  After careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion the phrase, "Just Sayin'" needs to be stomped out from common usage.

  Grown adults say things, or they don't say things, but they don't just say things.   The only people who just say things- blurt out their thoughts without consideration or context- are small children and people with serious mental disorders such as Tourette's Syndrome.   When a person denotes their most recent utterance with "Just Sayin'," most commonly after having said something offensive, they are excusing their inability to control themselves thereby hoping to lessen any offense.  I think its therefore important to a. not use the phrase myself, and b. point out, when socially appropriate, to other people what a a terrible phrase it is.

If only GOD would save us from the oil spill

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal is calling for a day of prayer to help solve the oil spill crisis.  I like this praying solution, or at least I like what this solution says about the relationship between the people praying and their god.  It says:

• God is not doing what you want.
• By begging, or nagging, God can be made to do what you want.
• That God has the power to stop the crisis, but hasn't already done so because you have not asked in the correct manner.

I guess it makes sense to directly request action from God after growing frustrated with the Federal Government for not having the powers of God.

  This confusion about agency- what are the actions and within the ability of Man, versus what are the actions and within the ability of God - is a theme on the Right with regard to the BP oil spill crisis.  For instance, after Rep. Barton's apology to BP, House Minority Leader Boehner issued this statement: 

"The oil spill in the Gulf is this nation’s largest natural disaster and stopping the leak and cleaning up the region is our top priority.  Congressman Barton’s statements this morning were wrong.  BP itself has acknowledged that responsibility for the economic damages lies with them and has offered an initial pledge of $20 billion dollars for that purpose.

"The families and businesspeople in the Gulf region want leadership, accountability and action from BP and the Administration.  It is unacceptable that, 59  days after this crisis began, no solution is forthcoming.  Simply put, the American people want all of our resources, time and focus to be directed toward stopping the spill and cleaning up the mess."

  Calling the ongoing oil spill a natural disaster is ascribing it to God's agency when it is actually a result of the actions of Man.  On the other hand, saying that it is, "unacceptable that...no solution is forthcoming." implies that Man is capable of instantly solving this problem but has not done so for lack of will.  Make no mistake, the solution to this disaster requires engineering on the scale of putting men into space, such things require time. To solve the problem without trial and error - to get it right on the first try- would be a miracle .  Miracles only result from God's actions.      

  I have noticed that the collective actions of Man are often ascribed with Gods powers.  The Markets are one example, the Markets show favor and disfavor towards political decisions and current events.  A particular index rises on a given day, we turn to the priesthood -financial reporters- to read the auguries and explain what pleased or angered the Markets that day.  Perhaps todays 100 point drop in the Dow was caused by a 3% drop in cattle imports, never mind that it's on the same day as a solar eclipse. We then seek to appease the markets, by trying to ascertain what they want and giving it to them.  So too Government, which is nothing but the collective actions of Men, is ascribed with God-like powers.  We confuse those who break its laws with sinners, and pretend any action that happens contrary to its will is in defiance of the natural order.

  Actually, if you take it as given that the Government is a god, as is any sufficiently large corporation, then the dissonance disappears.  Under this framework, the disaster is an act of a god, as is the solution. Then it makes sense to pray, because god will not act on your behalf until you have exercised your power over it using the correct ritual.  One caveat, if you're going to take the collective actions of Man as a god, don't expect any miracles.