Art Hyland

Can’t discuss this with Bill, so I’ll do it with you all.

This July 4th we’ll start our 249th U.S. year. Bill Simmons and I had many discussions about the condition of America over some of those years.   I recall one in 1965 while aboard the Jean D purse seiner fish boat heading North to Petersburg, Alaska.  It was about how irresponsible our federal deficit and debt was and could grow to be.  Of course then it was a mere 300+ billion,  40% of GDP.  Every time we got together I learned something I hadn’t given too much thought to.  Bill was a serious person and a great citizen, but we always had plenty of laughs in between his occasionally lengthy orations. Bill passed away recently, as you all know.

During the run-up to the 2016 presidential election, and a few times since, I highlighted in this forum the federal debt issue as one that left ignored will consume us all.  We are there.  This issue is now in uncontrolled condition.  It’s 26 trillion, close to 100% of GDP.  You probably have heard we are adding a trillion dollars of federal debt every 100 days.  GDP can’t keep up with that. We’re borrowing money to pay interest on what we borrowed.  Every other political issue under the sun has pushed this issue aside because every other issue involves distributing immediate goodies to voters or enablers.  And so it has gone.

We are handing our younger generations a problem perhaps only God can solve.  But lately I’ve begun to consider that perhaps God created a pattern for us to recognize and act upon.

A rather compelling case of 80 + - year cycles caught my attention.  Essentially a history-repeats-itself concept, this one surrounds a simple idea, using the word “men” for mankind:  

Strong men create Good times, Good times create Weak men, Weak men create Hard times, and Hard times create Strong men.*

These four periods roughly follow the four generations within an 80 year cycle, even though they obviously overlap.  Our current cycle began during the WWII period, with its “greatest generation” (our parents) as the “Strong men,” resulting in us Boomers experiencing “Good times.” 

“Weak men” then gradually created and empowered political, social and economic abnormalities fed by ludicrous government spending.  IMO the 4th period of “Hard times” has begun.  That each of our 80 year cycles began or ended with a major war seems ominous indeed, but maybe not this time.   

If the cycle described above is accurate, then “Strong men” will eventually emerge to lead America and the world to the “Good times” once again.  Under what sort of hard times our nation and the world will experience is unknowable, but I pray we will learn to shorten the bad and extend the good.  Of course that’s simplifying it, but we aren’t as complicated as we think we are.  Maybe we can even learn to eliminate the pattern.  For those who believe we’re in a simulation, well, I suggest prayer is as logical a human resource as any alternative.  

I had hoped to discuss all this with Bill, but he checked out without asking permission.  FYI, Bill’s Military Ceremony will be held Wednesday July 3 at 12:40, at the Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, WA.  I’ll be there to chide him for his absence and to relate to his family the good times we had.

Best to you all.

Art

I kept this to under 600 words and would suggest it as an approximate limit.

* via BillWhittle.com  

Keith Morris

Well stated Art. Thanks for posting.

Eric (Rick) Moon

Thank you for that, Art.  Not only is there a lot of wisdom in your speculations, I really like the way you have of speaking inclusively of the members of our class.  It confirms in me, as I suspect it does in all of us, a feeling of belonging that is quite precious.

I think there is something to this idea of the 80-year cycle.  It's quite plausible.  I would add that there are trands, as well as other cycles, underway that are going to confound any effort we make to create a reliable forecast, particularly after you toss in the butterfly effect.  Not to derogate anyone's efforts, but just look at the things people were predicting a hundred years ago if you want to find a reason for humility.

I think at this juncture we might very well avoid Hard Times, for the simple reason that the private economy in America is so vital and robust.  As long as well-meaning interventionists do not throw too many monkey wrenches into the works which they understand so poorly, we can expect a phenomenal increase in wealth creation from the dynamism of our evolving methods of production and commerce, and this effect could very well be powerful enough to overcome what would otherwise lead to Hard Times. 

Not sure what that means with regard to the next generation of strong ones.  Strong ones will step up eventually of course, because it is an essential part of human nature to rebel against limitations on liberty and justice.

Art Hyland

Today, July 15, it’s difficult to ignore what happened yesterday at the Pennsylvania Trump rally, if for no other reason the subject is nonstop media discussion. However there are many reasons to be thankful in our nation today. 

I don’t intend to get into the weeds of the incredible lapse of security that took place. Instead, I was struck by seeing the spitting image of a “Bill Simmons” telling the BBC and the world he and others had spotted and identified a man with a rifle atop a nearby building, while for 2-3 minutes! pointing and attempting to motivate authorities to take immediate, appropriate action.  Bill was someone who purposely observed things many people do not. Perhaps his lookalike and those around helped cause the shooter to alter his bead ever so slightly. For certainly the shooter could see the arms pointing at his direction.  

Jerry (Bear) Owen and I were at the recent military ceremony for Bill Simmons, and so Bill has been on my/our mind since. To see his image just after this tragedy (one attendee dead, two others critical) made me think again of the suggestion made in comments above that perhaps Strong men will indeed return our nation to the Good Times, but there’s bound to be some trouble in that process. 

For those “never Trumpers” among our august Sammamish class, please know that Trump is merely a temporary instrument in our wish to return our nation to its Constitutional foundations where mutual respect for one another is paramount in our joint efforts to create a strong unified America. Bill would have said as much, and probably a great deal more!

Best to you all,

Art
 

Jay Spaulding

Thanks Art and all who read and responded to his latest post.

I didn't know Bill, but then, after reading what Art wrote about him, in a way I do know him. I grew up in a home that was full of bitterness and anger, and I hated it. I think many hate America because they find it so divided and full of lies and distortions. Maybe some of that is true. But one thing I'm convinced of is guys like Bill and Art and many others inspire me to tone it down, take a deep breath and realize that we must individually live with care for others, even when we disagree, even when we think the other person is wrong. We all have opinions, we msut take care how the opinion is expressed. If it ends in an argument, I and you lose, the ones making the case, have lost. We must be careful listeners and ask careful questions. "If it is at all possible be at peace with one another." If God judges America, He will definitely provide care, help and hope to all who would be so bold as to believe in Him and ask for His Divine help in the time of need. I don't want to sound too preachy, but we all must admit that many things that are occuring in America are now beyond human solutions (like a 30 trillion dollar debt!!). As I said in an earlier post, I have great love and respect for you all. Please consider the claims of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. Perhaps God Himself will turn out to be your greatest love and affection.

Jay

Art Hyland

Not willing to think we're all too tired or busy to check in here, here's 

Wishing You a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Next Ten Years!

Art

Eric (Rick) Moon

Thanx for that Art - always good to hear from you.

As the second-youngest member of our class (only Karen Peterson is younger, if her birthdate is shown correctly), I might not be as tired as some of you war babies, but I still find myself craving frequent naps. 

I hope all of you are still savoring the experience of being alive, and treasuring a lifetime of memories.

Edgar Hart

Thanks for the note Art. I'm still on my feet and enjoying life at a slower pace. Burnt the toast this morning but that's about the extent of my hardship. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah . Thanks for being a great part of my life.

Richard Sherman ((Leslie Field))

It’s been some time since I’ve posted. I have enjoyed the lively discussions here.

It was 54 years ago I moved to Canada from the U.S and settled in Vancouver. I have never regretted that decision. I had a long and rewarding career at the University of Briitish Columbia.

Canada legalized marijuana years ago, we have already had a female Prime Minister and abortion is not only legal but it is covered by the provincial health insurance plan. Our medications are much cheaper than the same ones down south. Ours is a single payer medical system.

We are not a socialist country but rather a social democracy. We have three major (and a couple of minor) political parties.

Given the outcome of the recent U.S. elections I am even more convinced I made the correct choice.

Earlier this year my younger sister (Linda Sherman - SHS ’65) passed away; I’m the last one in my family still standing.

Merry Christmas to all my friends on both sides of the border.

Stephen Nicol

Rick, I know Karen skipped a grade.  How did you wind up in the class of 63?

Eric (Rick) Moon

When I entered the first grade I already knew how to read.  I learned from reading the comics (Lil Abner, Buck Rogers, Dick Tracy, etc.) with my mother beginning at age 4.  So I was in the first grade until Christmas and when they saw I could already read they moved me to the second grade for the rest of the year.  Pluses and minuses - when I entered the 10th grade I was 5' 1" and 102 lb, while many of my classmates were somewhat bigger.  If there were any other baby boomers in our class I would be interrested to know.

George Furst

Rick, I too am a babyboomer for virtually the same reasons as you.  Like you, I learned how to read from comic books before I was four.  I skipped second grade at the beginning of the school year after my family moved to a suburb of Chicago during the summer.  I didn't mind, probably because I was new to the school and had not yet made friends.  Later I became more aware of the the pros and cons of being younger than most everyone else   -- the pros being more interested in what I was being taught and having an "extra year" for whatever before I started a career and the cons being shorter, weaker and less coordinated than my classmates (especially in sports), lagging in social development, and getting my first driver's license long after most everybody else I knew.  On balance, however, I think I came out way ahead.  The only lingering consequence of skipping second grade is that I never learned cursive, and as a result my handwriting even now remains a disgrace.  Of course, now we have word processing, and learning cursive in school or elsewhere is passe'.  

Eric (Rick) Moon

Very interesting - that makes at least 3 boomers in our class.  Although I must confess that I was taught cursive (the Palmer method), and my handwriting is disgraceful nonetheless.  So maybe neither of us has sufficient manual dexterity.

I do remember you - I know we had at least one class together, perhaps sophomore English?

Patricia Doyle (McLain)

I too passed a grade because we moved from California where the age requirements were different. So I was always a year younger than my classmates in Washington. But unlike Rick and George I did not learn to read with any comprehension until in the sixth grade. Before that I just memorized words and did a lot guessing to read. Then a teacher who changed my life taught me phonetics. I still recall hiding in my bedroom trying to sound out words when it suddenly hit me. Those groups of letters were words I already knew. Now I read everything from the back of a ketchup bottle to Seamus Heaney's poetry.
I wasn't diagnosed with dyslexia until I was in graduate school where I was working toward my masters degree in science. That explained my difficulty in learning to read and was a huge relief. Bet I'm not the only slow learner in our class. 

George Furst

Rick, I remember you as well.  The class would have been Mrs. Johnson's English class.  She was an outstanding teacher, very thorough and patient when anyone fell short of expectations.

Eric (Rick) Moon

So now there are four boomers at least in our class, and probably a few more.

George, I agree that Mrs. Johnson was an outstanding teacher, very inspiring.  Without her I never would have known what metonymy and synechdoche are, nor iambic petameter.  She made it all very interesting because of her love for the subject.

Patricia Doyle (McLain)

I remember Mrs. Johnson. She was so patient with me as I misspelled every possible word and she opened up diagramming sentences to me which came in handy when I took linguists in college. When I think back on it I'm stunned at what an extraordinary number of teachers we had. I came away with low grades but a love of learning that has sustained me. And when I see how narrow the education is that so many children are getting theses days I'm saddened. Literature, art, biology, history, chemistry, speech, business, debate....the list goes on of the subjects we could learn so rich and rewarding. I'm so very thankful. 

Edgar Hart

Happy New Year Classmates! We are greeted with the first snowfall of the year. About baby boomers: the census bureau says it started in mid March 1945, demographers said it started on Sept 1, 1945, which is nine months after the first men came home from Europe. Anyone born before Aug 6, 1945 was born in the pre-atomic age. I was born in July. I think being born before the atomic age makes us unique and old!

Stephen Nicol

When I looked it up, the baby boomers were born between January 1946 and December 1964. They are marked by an increase in the birthrate every year between those.  Each class after ours was larger than the one before it.  You can verify by asking google which generation was a person who was born on (insert your birthday) and you'll get your answer.  Most of us belong to what is called the "Silent Generation".   Although, in my case the label doesn"t fit the facts. 

George Furst

Most of the online websites seem to define "baby boomers" as having been born between January 1946 and Decemnber 1965 (presumably inclusive of those months).  One of my friends was born on January 1, 1946, at 12:06 A.M.  His family unfortunately lost a tax exemption for 1945 as a result.,  However, the date and time put him very close to being Baby Boomer No. 1.  As noteworthy as the impact of us baby boomers on current matters may have been (lots of peope and demographic bulges if nothing else), my hat remains off to the many members of the Greatest Generation who rose to meet existential challenges to our lives and values.

Steve Carr

George, with those devastating fires in California I'm hoping you are safe.  They appear to be all around Encino.  Steve C.   

George Furst

Steve, thanks for reaching out.  We and the families of our two daughters are safe but remain in a "red flag" area (e.g., warning of possible need to evacuate).  Prevailing winds are favorable.  The scope of these tragic fires is unbelievable.  We have a number of friends and acquaintances whose homes and home contents have been totally destroyed.  Restoration and reconstruction will be a mammoth task, which I sincerely hope does not get tangled up in politics.  For the moment, however, we are extremely grateful for having been spared.

Steve Carr

George, So glad to hear you and family are safe.  My heart goes out to the thousands of people that have been affected by the fires.  Last year the entire town of Medical Lake, WA, just a few miles west of Spokane, was devastated by wild fire. Our entire community was impacted by that.  A few years ago we had a fire that swept through a forested area just a mile from our house so we know about those concerns.  I just hope someday those people can get there lives back together.  It makes one feel so helpless.  Take care and stay safe.  Steve

George Furst

Steve, thanks for your continuing concern.  You apparently had faced similar circumstances some years ago.  This tragedy gives rise to may reflections on how lucky my family has been in comparison to the massive losses of which we are now aware.  Stay safe and  well.  George

Art Hyland

Those of us still able to read this site, distributed to us through the magic of a technology our generation helped discover, have successfully managed the thousands of risks associated with just living.  But our mirrors nevertheless reflect many of those years of risks and experiences. 

As the LA fire grew to incredible proportions I looked up its locations relative to George Furst’s long time home and was glad to see he was not directly in the fire’s apparent path. But as he noted, avoiding it personally while knowing many who have not brings a sense of awareness of the fragility of security we are occasionally shocked into experiencing.  One day you’re routinely attending a garden, the next day your community disappears. 

We ask why it couldn’t have been avoided, and silently wonder if something like it could happen to us. The answer to both is yes, no and maybe.  Despite our iPhone/Amazon/Google world, caveman risks remain. We haven’t conquered complacency and probably never will.

As the Wildebeests we kind of are, we know the lions will take some of us but the herd we’re part of will continue to roam. Well, we’re a bit more than herd animals but I wonder about our willingness to focus on more than just where and when we graze. I expect Californians and more will reexamine priorities, clearly an often neglected responsibility.  Tragedy seems to be the primary motivation to making rational social decisions but we as inhabitants of this planet can and will persevere. I’m optimistic we as a nation and the West in general are going to unite to prioritize our worlds so individuals can prosper by virtue of their own initiative and freedom to choose.  

I’m grateful for all the benefits we have reaped despite our losses.  The games will continue, the laughter still exists within us, and the Almighty we acknowledge as humbly as we must will carry us and those that follow to heights unknown.  I look forward to observing it all, and so should you. 

Art

(George, I know I'm tardy at replying to your emails many weeks ago but i've been busy tending to gardens as it were)