Musings of a Dumb Ass

Musings of a Dumb Ass .......... I love freedom. It is such an all encompassing state that I'm not too sure I actually know what it is in reality. Ones freedom can be anothers oppression, for instance, a smoker who puffs away in the midst of one who does not. There are some places on the planet that lay claim to being free, but from another's standpoint may not look so free. In Germany, a waiter in a restaurant must go through specialized training and be 'approved' before they can wait tables. What?...and they feel free? In Europe most of those old buildings that have survived wars and the ravages of time were built by labor with little training but are regarded as treasures and we are in awe of them, while in The U.S. in my state and county the person who wants to do for themselves in maintenance on the personal home and property irregardless of their ability are no longer allowed to do so because of state and local building codes, and this is freedom? If you're in Africa and lucky enough to have a vehicle to ride in, just get in the damned thing as best you can and get going, standing, sitting or laying. In this country, to take your family to the grocery store there's probably a hundred written laws that govern your trip to the grocery store one block away, including special seats for the kids to be strapped into and where they may sit. If you don't feel this is the way to do it you are shunned and fined and scowled at for being irresponsible. So which is in a state of freedom? In the late 70's while in Seattle I spent some time with a young man from Russia. He worked in Moscow at a vending machine company owned by a rich individual. He came to Seattle to better himself in pay and working conditions but only stayed in Seattle 3 months before returning to Mother Russia. He couldn't adjust to the work rules of the union shop of the vending company in Seattle. He said 'There were just to many rules for him'. I was amazed to know he worked for a rich independant business man in Mother Russia. At the time, I didn't think there was any such thing as a rich independant anything over there. It is increasingly difficult in this country to get an idea or have a passion and 'just go do it'. And there's a reason for this. We send politicians to work each morning and it's their job to pass new laws. And they're doing a fine job of that. We've now reached a place that only the most private of your private thoughts are unregulated. At this time in our history that's all that we have left free. And you better be damned careful about that. If you happen to say your thoughts out loud, you might go to jail...... maybe therapy.... or at least counseling.... and that isn't free......... is this a state of freedom?....... I suppose it depends on what you compare it with.............