One of life’s most blessed things, is to give. I mean it! Giving, voluntarily, to a cause, person, group, or candidate, really gives one a sense of accomplishment. At least it does me. Regardless of ones economic situation, giving to who or what one considers important, is one of the things which can really give life some meaning.
Personally, I give to political candidates who express my feelings, and especially at the local level. I tithe to my church. I give to the Nevada Northern Railroad, which is perhaps the one remaining steam railroad or railroad of any kind, which is totally original in every respect. I give to the Durango Railroad Historical Society which has restored the 315, the oldest narrow gauge steam locomotive there is. I am a life member of six historical societies, Colorado Railroad Museum, Museum of the Mountain West, the NRA and GOA. I have supported my kids many times. I am a big tipper at restaurants, because wait persons have to work hard for what they do, and far too many restaurant patrons leave a 10% tip or stiff them. I can go on and on, but that’s just me. It gives me great pleasure to give to those charities for which I approve.
I wouldn’t give a dime to the ACLU, Democrats, unions, the homeless, the lazy, dirty, beggars, or lots of others. I patronize symphony concerts, and give to the Utah Symphony. When I lived in Phoenix I was on the board of the Arizona Opera, and won a beautiful brass lamp for selling the most season tickets to the Phoenix Symphony. I love old people, buildings, cars, trains, carousels, books, film, music, and history. See? Now you know all about me and my likes, for what that’s worth. You can take it and maybe get a cup of coffee at Starbucks.
The point is that when I give to a cause or person, I want to be certain that the cause or person is a worthwhile cause or person. In times past, when a charity outfit existed and gave to the poor or needy, they had a woodshed out back, and the recipient was made to work for his or her handout, which is as it should be. I will give to help my neighborhood, town, state, or even nation. I consider the Tea Party Movement to be our one chance of national salvation, and I give to it, and stand on street corners waving my flag. I sent money to Ron Paul, and locals who are good people and who are running for office. I send money to Sheriff Joe Arpiao and J.D. Hayworth. John McCain has to go!
Many men in history have given their lives and money for their favorite cause. Henry Flaggler was a rich man, and he decided that he wanted to build a railroad to Key West, Florida. He did it, and it ran till a hurricane in the 1930’s took it out. He spent his wealth hiring thousands of men to do what he wanted to do. When you drive to Key West today, you drive over Flaggler’s bridges. Consider our Founders, who took their lives in their hands by signing the Declaration of Independence, and those brave fighters who fought for our independence. Good people are not afraid to give and work for causes or people they consider to be deserved.
The point of this is that when people do as they are able, to help those they consider worthy, it is totally on a volunteer basis. I give to those who will work for what I give them, preserve things, or be a good politician. Those on the opposite side of me, will give to street panhandlers, Democrat candidates, and left wing causes, but still they are doing what they do on a strictly volunteer basis, which is as it should be. Slobs and ner-do-wells don’t keep their homes well groomed, thereby harm their neighborhood. Fools don’t discipline their kids and they turn out badly, but even this is voluntary. Fools don’t maintain their cars, and they suffer for it, but it is also voluntary. In a free nation, as we are supposed to be, charity starts at home, as the old saying goes. But does it? Check this out on part two on Thursday.