Channeling Andy Rooney....

Andy Rooney was a commentator on 60 Minutes, a television news show.  In his later years, he was most famous for his little observations in the show's final minute or two.  He served as a US Army reporter during World War Two, even winning a Bronze Star.  I had a few observations of things, and it immediately made me think of Rooney's minute.

• Why do Americans automatically associate a religion with a nation?  Israel is not all Jews, Iran is not all Shia, and the US itself is a polyglot of beliefs.
• The US has never won a counter-insurgency, so why do we constantly provoke the need to fight a type of conflict we can't win?
• Those who would have peace should prepare for war.  The saying says prepare, not start.
• Jimi was right--there will only be peace when the power of love surpasses the love of power.
• Why do conservatives claim Jesus as one of them?  Have they read the Bible?  Jesus disliked the greedy and rich, he cared for the poor and the weak.  If he was alive today, Jesus would be a Democrat.
• Why do politicians who have never been in a classroom know better than teachers how to run a classroom?  Since government makes a hash of most things--do we really want it increasing in teaching?
• If teachers get paid so much for such a great job--why is there a shortage of teachers?  Great pay, no work...you'd think people would be lining up for teaching.  Hmmmm....
• Ever notice how administrators always want to cut costs by cutting the salaries of staff, faculty, coaches, etc, but very few administrators think it's good to cut their own salaries?  Chop a teacher's salary 30% and you save $10,000.  Chop a Dean or VP's salary--save yourself $50,000...enough to hire another teacher, too.
• Only one university in the US cut it's administrator:faculty ratio from 2000-2015.  Curious that it's in a state that hasn't seen a tuition increase in four years, either, for any of its state schools.
• Why do people complain about doctor competence, yet when the physician says 'Take this for 10 days', they stop after six...then get surprised when the same illness returns and is more resistant to the medication?
• Men and women were not meant to run naked.  Really.
• Former Confederate States of America states all demand less government spending, yet get more than the national average and don't see a problem with that.
• When Ronald Reagan and Barry Goldwater can't pass your 'litmus tests' for being a true conservative, your political party has a problem.
• When JFK and LBJ are 'too conservative' to be true Democrats--your party has a political problem.
• I wish Al Sharpton would spend more time paying his taxes than ramping up hate and rage.
• Politics today are much more polite than they used to be.  Once upon a time, Thomas Jefferson insinuated John Adams was a pedophile.  Ahh, the good old days of the noble Founding Fathers!
• Speaking of Founding Fathers--I wonder if any Senators or Representatives have actually read what they wrote, things like their belief in helping the poor, or not meddling in every day affairs....or maybe wanting to avoid political dynasties? 
• You know, if you purchased one of my novels, you could help me not pay taxes like Sharpton.  Have you read one of my books?  Well, you should.
• Why do administrators think equal rights means hiring people based on their gender?  Isn't equal rights about hiring based on ability and ignoring gender? (Don't actually mention this to most college athletic directors...really.)
• If states want to improve student abilities--rather than look at lots of standardized tests, why don't we not let kids use calculators on math problems in 3rd grade?  Maybe we could have reading time every day--and homework, too?
• I like watching athletes with skill and work ethic regardless of sport.
• Adults wonder why fewer kids play sports.  Maybe the fact that travel teams now exist for 4-yr olds has something to do with that?  Let kids be kids and not play only a single sport.  Step back--let them play.
• I wish I could've had a fastball to match the curve I can throw.  My elbow wishes I didn't ever try and throw curves.
• I forgot the last time I missed back-to-back serves playing volleyball.  How hard is it to not do that?  I don't know--but I know it's at least nine years now.
• In thirty years, every boy/young man who 'manscaped' will regret it when their children see their pictures.  It'll be like the big hair for many in the 1980s.