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Mama Vic is here to tell you that you have to be very careful about what you believe. Most of us get our start in life believing what our caregivers tell us. Later we believe what our friends, teachers, and spiritual leaders teach us. We also believe what we read on the internet, in books (including holy books) and what we are told in the news.
One thing you learn in journalism is to verify the facts before you print or announce them. Oh if only journalists did that these days. Instead, many have prostituted good journalism for a good story and the resultant revenue. Whether the story is true or not doesn’t seem to matter to these journalists.
Mama Vic doesn’t believe as an absolute fact anything I can’t prove to myself. Are aliens visiting us? Who knows? I’ve never seen one. Does Yeti exist? Beats me. Was there really a big bang? Science tells us the big bang theory is proven to be right and out of that big bang came the birth of our universe? Could be, then again maybe their theory is wrong. The evidence points in that direction right now, but maybe there is more evidence yet to be discovered. At one time evidence also supported the theory that the earth was flat. Science has been wrong before.
How about God? Is there one? Maybe so, maybe not. My brain doesn’t conceive of something that is infinite very well. I’ll leave that debate to philosophers and theologians. I do know there is a force (call it God if you want) into which I can tap for whatever I need. I’ve proved that to myself and you can prove it as well.
For goodness sake kids, you have been given a good brain, use it to do your own thinking. Follow no one’s lead, lectures or theology unless it is something you can test and prove for yourself. I realize that’s more difficult than blindly taking as fact what is spoon fed to you, but it is the only way to get at the truth. And you should always seek the truth.
On politics
If you live in a country that votes for its leaders and laws, get your butt out and vote, but before you do, make sure you’re voting for the right person or law. A prime example of how important this happened right here in Washington State.
Recently, we voted on a bill to mandate the labeling of GMO foods. Polls showed that the vast majority of us thought that bill was a good idea. However, big dollars were dumped into ads to convince the citizens that their food prices would skyrocket if they voted for the bill and the bill was voted down. Of course, the ads were a big pile of manure, but people believed that pack of lies despite plenty of evidence to the contrary.
So how do you know who to vote for and how to vote on bills? That’s an easy question. Begin by realizing you can’t rely on one thing you’re fed on political ads.
On choosing a candidate
What I do is check on the voting record of a candidate (you can easily find that online). That’s when they have to put their money where their mouth is. If that candidate, votes on issues in the way I feel is right, they get my vote. If not, they don’t. If the candidate is someone new with no voting record, I listen carefully to what he or she has to say in debates and make my best guess. Next time around, there will be a voting record to check. Another thing I do is check the voting recommendations of groups and organizations I support. I have strong very strong feelings about the importance of having clean air to breathe and clean water to drink so I check on the recommendation of the environmental groups I support.
I vote for people, not a party. I vote for a person who can stick to his or her principals regardless of whether they are endorsed by the party. However, if somebody held a gun to my head and made me choose a party, I would probably choose the Democrats. Why? The reason is simple; my personal goals don’t involve the quest for capital. I’m interested in doing what I can to make the world a healthier and happier place. After all, I’m Mama Vic and have a world full of kids I love.
That said, I believe the Republican Party today is definitely the party for you if you make a lot of money and your primary interest is in making more. If you belong to the middle class or poor, I don’t understand why you would vote for a candidate simply because he or she was a Republican. Please comment below and tell me why. I really want to know. Mama Vic is puzzled. (Remember: no hate and no snarkiness, Mama Vic values and respects your opinion, but will slap you if you’re mean.)
On choosing a new law
When asked to vote on a new bill, I make it a point to slog through all the legalese. I read the pros and cons. I also check out the endorsements of the bill. Then I make my decision.
The takeaway
What you believe can be either a godsend or a curse. It can create divisiveness or unity. It can create compassion or cruelty. It can create love or indifference. Knowing this should make you realize how important it is to always seek the truth and always think for yourself. The ultimate loss of freedom is when you allow others to do your thinking for you.
Mama Vic is here to tell you that you have to be very careful about what you believe. Most of us get our start in life believing what our caregivers tell us. Later we believe what our friends, teachers, and spiritual leaders teach us. We also believe what we read on the internet, in books (including holy books) and what we are told in the news.
One thing you learn in journalism is to verify the facts before you print or announce them. Oh if only journalists did that these days. Instead, many have prostituted good journalism for a good story and the resultant revenue. Whether the story is true or not doesn’t seem to matter to these journalists.
Mama Vic doesn’t believe as an absolute fact anything I can’t prove to myself. Are aliens visiting us? Who knows? I’ve never seen one. Does Yeti exist? Beats me. Was there really a big bang? Science tells us the big bang theory is proven to be right and out of that big bang came the birth of our universe? Could be, then again maybe their theory is wrong. The evidence points in that direction right now, but maybe there is more evidence yet to be discovered. At one time evidence also supported the theory that the earth was flat. Science has been wrong before.
How about God? Is there one? Maybe so, maybe not. My brain doesn’t conceive of something that is infinite very well. I’ll leave that debate to philosophers and theologians. I do know there is a force (call it God if you want) into which I can tap for whatever I need. I’ve proved that to myself and you can prove it as well.
For goodness sake kids, you have been given a good brain, use it to do your own thinking. Follow no one’s lead, lectures or theology unless it is something you can test and prove for yourself. I realize that’s more difficult than blindly taking as fact what is spoon fed to you, but it is the only way to get at the truth. And you should always seek the truth.
On politics
If you live in a country that votes for its leaders and laws, get your butt out and vote, but before you do, make sure you’re voting for the right person or law. A prime example of how important this happened right here in Washington State.
Recently, we voted on a bill to mandate the labeling of GMO foods. Polls showed that the vast majority of us thought that bill was a good idea. However, big dollars were dumped into ads to convince the citizens that their food prices would skyrocket if they voted for the bill and the bill was voted down. Of course, the ads were a big pile of manure, but people believed that pack of lies despite plenty of evidence to the contrary.
So how do you know who to vote for and how to vote on bills? That’s an easy question. Begin by realizing you can’t rely on one thing you’re fed on political ads.
On choosing a candidate
What I do is check on the voting record of a candidate (you can easily find that online). That’s when they have to put their money where their mouth is. If that candidate, votes on issues in the way I feel is right, they get my vote. If not, they don’t. If the candidate is someone new with no voting record, I listen carefully to what he or she has to say in debates and make my best guess. Next time around, there will be a voting record to check. Another thing I do is check the voting recommendations of groups and organizations I support. I have strong very strong feelings about the importance of having clean air to breathe and clean water to drink so I check on the recommendation of the environmental groups I support.
I vote for people, not a party. I vote for a person who can stick to his or her principals regardless of whether they are endorsed by the party. However, if somebody held a gun to my head and made me choose a party, I would probably choose the Democrats. Why? The reason is simple; my personal goals don’t involve the quest for capital. I’m interested in doing what I can to make the world a healthier and happier place. After all, I’m Mama Vic and have a world full of kids I love.
That said, I believe the Republican Party today is definitely the party for you if you make a lot of money and your primary interest is in making more. If you belong to the middle class or poor, I don’t understand why you would vote for a candidate simply because he or she was a Republican. Please comment below and tell me why. I really want to know. Mama Vic is puzzled. (Remember: no hate and no snarkiness, Mama Vic values and respects your opinion, but will slap you if you’re mean.)
On choosing a new law
When asked to vote on a new bill, I make it a point to slog through all the legalese. I read the pros and cons. I also check out the endorsements of the bill. Then I make my decision.
The takeaway
What you believe can be either a godsend or a curse. It can create divisiveness or unity. It can create compassion or cruelty. It can create love or indifference. Knowing this should make you realize how important it is to always seek the truth and always think for yourself. The ultimate loss of freedom is when you allow others to do your thinking for you.
