Touring the Valley

Gimme More

There are people who actually imagine that trump (and others like him) can't be bribed because "he's already rich." Somehow, they have failed to observe what is on display every day: the insatiable greed of the ultra-wealthy.

For a normal person, enough is enough. If I had, say, $100,000 in my bank account, and someone tried to tempt me into sin by offering another $1000, such a person would make no impression on me. I could afford to laugh at them. The normal person imagines that someone who already has everything neither needs nor wants more. In the popular imagination, money will tempt only people whose bank accounts are empty, who are facing bills they can't pay, who long for luxuries they've never been able to afford. In the real world, money tempts those who already have it. The guy who already owns a couple of yachts and a private jet will do unspeakable favors for someone who will give him yet another jet. The person who has billions burns with the desire to have trillions.

A famous quotation says, "Poverty exists not because we cannot feed the poor, but because we cannot satisfy the rich.” The wealthiest, the oligarchs, already have all their needs met. And if, through some quirk of circumstances, they find themselves wanting or needing something they don't already have, they can easily obtain it. They have more material possessions than they can possibly use. And yet, they want more. Further, it upsets them when people who aren't wealthy are allowed to have things. They don't feel rich enough unless everyone else is verge-of-death poor. Thus, we see men who have the means to end world hunger using their influence to take food away from impoverished families. We see men who are guaranteed to live in comfort for the rest of their lives, whose wealth could easily provide housing and medical care to entire nations, working to cut off other people's access to housing and medical care.

Again and again, research finds that poor people tend to be more generous than rich people. High-income individuals are more likely to shoplift, to cheat at games, to take candy from children, and to cheat on their taxes. While not every affluent industrialist is a miserly Scrooge, those at the top are, overall, less giving than the rest of us, more likely to deplore the very existence of other human beings, more likely to openly tout selfishness as a virtue.

World Economic Forum: Wealth can make us Selfish and Stingy
Why Wealth Inequality Matters
VNHS Mirror: Billionaires are Evil, and You'll Never Be One
Oxfam: Top 5 Ways Billionaires Are Bad For the Economy
The Guardian: Why Do Wealthy People Shoplift?
The Atlantic: Why the Rich Don't Give to Charity
The Guardian: Trump administration has pushed off 13% of Americans enrolled in food stamps
House Judiciary Committee: The Cash For Clemency Racket

"Eat the rich, and you feed your family for a day. Tax the rich, and you feed them for life."
-- R.K. West

Achievements and Honors

Washington, DC: Martin Luther King statue with Washington Monument in the background

George Washington did not spend his time as President campaigning to get the nation's capital city named after him. He did not build monuments to himself, nor did he fantasize about the time when statues and monuments in his honor would exist throughout the country. He did not hope to become a king, and never portrayed himself as one, but instead expressed his view that the creation of an American monarchy was repugnant.

Martin Luther King Jr. did not dream that one day city streets would bear his name, or that there would be a grand statue honoring him in Washington DC, or that his legacy would be remembered by a federal holiday. His dream was that someday Americans would live together in "an oasis of freedom and justice," where they would "not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." He worked toward achieving that goal, not toward personal enrichment and autocratic power. He recieved the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, without asking for it or complaining about others who had received it. In his acceptance speech, he did not brag about his personal sacrifices and achievements, but instead accepted the prize on behalf of the civil rights movement, describing the struggles and injustices that he still hoped could be remedied.

In his inaugural address, President John F. Kennedy said, "My fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country." He added, "My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." Long before the presidency, as a Navy lieutenant in World War II, he saved the lives of fellow crew members after their boat was destroyed. Although he was awarded a medal for his courage and leadership, he did not go on to make speeches bragging about the incident. As president, he worked long hours, staying informed by reading six daily newspapers, as well as reports from his advisors. He and his wife made the White House a center of American culture, restoring the rooms and hosting people from the arts and sciences. Kennedy founded the Peace Corps, which he did not name the Kennedy Corps, an organization of volunteers helping people throughout the world.

These men, and others like them, understood the true nature of achievement. Achievement is what you do, not what you say. Achievement consists of what is actually accomplished. It does not depend on praise from others or symbols like statues and medals. The most important reward is knowing in your heart that what you did was worthwhile and that you succeeded.

I could have a trophy shop make a fancy basketball trophy with my name on it and then give a party where my friends hand me the trophy and shake my hand. That would not make me a great basketball player. There would be no achievement, just a meaningless lump of metal.

Certainly, it is often enjoyable for an accomplished person to receive recognition and to be given symbols and souvenirs commemorating their achievement. They may treasure their prizes because of the symbolic value that recalls the great satisfaction that comes from doing meaningful things, and because they feel honored to have been acknowledged. I am fond of my trophies and medals because they remind me of the work I did to earn them, and because it felt good to have my work appreciated. If I had been gifted someone else's prize, or if I had created a false award for myself, I wouldn't care about those things.

Yet there are some people who think that the prize itself is an achievement. For them earning it isn't necessary. For example, imagine a man who fantasizes about receiving a Purple Heart, neither knowing nor caring that it is given to soldiers wounded in the line of duty. He wants a trinket that allows him to play at being someone he could never be. He definitely doesn't want to serve in the military and risk getting hurt. A person who actually donates a hospital to the city certainly deserves to have his name on the building. But imagine someone who just wants to see his name on the wall, although he contributed nothing to the hospital, and doesn't even care about the lives being saved.

Currently, we are subjected to the daily spectacle of a high-ranking official who obsessively denigrates others while bragging about himself. According to him, every problem in the country is the fault of his predecessors and rivals. He boasts of his own imagined knowledge and skill, claiming that he can solve all our troubles, despite many years of failing to do so. His time is not spent studying the situation or devising effective plans. He does not do anything recognizable as work, but uses his waning energy to complain about the unfair treatment he recieves, insulting and berating anyone who is not sufficiently subservient to his will, accumulating wealth through blatantly corrupt schemes, crudely undermining decades of international goodwill, implementing policies that threaten the health and safety of the people while destroying the nation's natural resources, and directing expensive projects designed to feed his narcissistic need for fame and attention. He has admitted that no one will honor him after he is gone, so he feels compelled to honor himself now, perhaps not aware that his pointless monuments will quickly be dismantled and forgotten.

The Threat of a Fake Emergency

The head of The U.S. government's executive branch has threatened to declare a "national emergency" for the purpose of taking over elections, if Congress does not pass a radical voter-suppression bill.

Elections were held as usual in the U.S. during the War of 1812, the Civil War, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Elections were held as usual during the 1918–1920 flu pandemic, and the recent Covid pandemic. Elections were held as usual a year after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Elections continue as usual after hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and earthquakes. One might wonder, what kind of "national emergency" would be so extreme that it would require the federal government to take over and change election procedures?

The real emergency is the commander-in-chief's obvious mental decline. Supressing or suspending elections will not fix that problem, which requires that citizens vote to unseat his enablers.

Photo by Arnaud Jaegers on Unsplash

Cutting it Off

Photo by César Badilla Miranda on Unsplash

In this article, we take a look at some of the surgeries commonly used to remove or modify certain body parts. What is being done, and why?

Circumcision

Circumcision is a surgical procedure that removes the foreskin from a penis. Historically, circumcision has been practiced routinely in many different cultures, often as part of a ritual celebrating a boy's promotion to adulthood, or as a religious requirement, or for hygenic reasons. Worldwide, around 38% of men are circumcised. Circumcision appears to have health benefits, helping to prevent certain infections and to reduce the spread of HIV and other sexually-transmitted infections. Research indicates that circumcision usually has neither a poitive nor a negative effect on sexual function or enjoyment. Some medical authorities recommend circumcision for newborns, while others consider it unnecessary. When performed under proper medical conditions, circumcision is a low-risk procedure, although it causes pain.

A growing anti-circumcision movement argues that the procedure's risks outweigh its benefits, and that it is abusive to perform it on minors. In the U.S., major medical organizations have taken the position that infant circumcision is a choice that should be left to parents.

Castration
Castration is the removal or deactivation of the testes (testicles), and includes removal through surgery or mutilation. Surgical removal of the testes is called oriechtomy. The most common reason for oriechtomy is to treat cancer, and it is also a procedure undergone by persons transitioning from male to female (who may also choose to have the penis removed). If both testes are removed, the production of sperm and testosterone ceases. Chemical castration uses drugs to stop hormone production. It is sometimes used as a cancer treatment, and is also occasionally imposed on sex offenders.

Historically, physical castration has been performed on men as a component of slavery, as a terror tactic in war, or as a punishment for certain crimes. It is performed on animals to prevent overpopulation and to obtain desired temperament and behavior. In antiquity, castrated slaves were called eunuchs, and were used as harem attendants. In some historical societies, eunuchs had special roles as trusted royal attendants or guardians. In some cases, men performed self-castration for religious reasons, committing themselves to celibacy. If castration occurs before puberty, the man will retain a high-pitched voice in adulthood. For this reason, boy singers were sometimes castrated to maintain their soprano voices. They were known as castrati. The practice was ended in the late 19th century.

Penectomy

Penectomy is surgical removal of all or part of the penis. This may be necessary due to cancer or other very serious illnesses. Because penile cancer is rare, this is not a common procedure. In some caes, a phalloplasty, or penis reconstruction surgery, may be performed, although this is a complex surgery with a high risk of complications. People undergoing sex reassignment surgery may choose penecotomy, or may choose to use the penile tissue for vaginoplasty.

Although many people equate penis removal with castration or emascualtion, they are not exactly the same. Castration is the removal of the testicles. Emasculation is the removal of all external male genitalia. The history, purposes, medical consequences, and long-term complications of these procedures are different.

Prostatectomy

Prostatectomy is surgery to take out part or all of the prostate gland. This is a common surgery to treat prostate cancer, and may also be used for other conditions. A radical prostatectomy removes the entire prostate and some surrounding tissues. Sometimes nearby lymph nodes are also removed. A simple or partial prostatectomy removes the interior of the prostate, leaving the exterior intact. This surgery is typically used for enlarged prostate. Possible side effects of prostatectomy include urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction or other sexual problems, and the usual problems associated with any major surgery.

Mastectomy

Mastectomy is the surgical removal of the breast, typically performed to treat or prevent cancer. Sometimes a mastectomy includes removal of nearby lymph nodes. Sometimes chest wall muscles are also removed. A partial mastectomy, called a lumpectomy, removes a tumor and a small border of healthy tissue around it, rather than the entire breast. In some cases, the skin and/or nipple are preserved, either for appearance or in peparation for possible reconstructive surgery. Persons undergoing gender reassignment sometimes choose mastectomy to obtain a more masculine appearance.

Breast reduction surgery, known as mammoplasty, is not exactly the same as mastectomy. Mammoplasty removes some fat, tissue, and skin to create smaller breasts. In some cases, liposuction is used to remove excess fat. Mammoplasty is performed on women with very large breasts that cause pain and interfere with life activities.

Hysterectomy

A hysterectomy is surgery to remove the uterus. This is performed to treat cancer, fibroid tumors, and some other conditions. Without a uterus, pregnancy is impossible, and monthly periods will not occur. A "supracervical hysterectomy" or partial hysterectomy, removes the upper portion of the uterus, leaving the cervix intact. Cervical cancer is still possible, and regular pap smears are needed. A "total hysterectomy" removes the uterus and cervix. Because the ovaries are still present, hormone cycles still occur. A "total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy" removes the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. A "radical hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy" removes the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and the upper part of the vagina. This type of surgery is done to treat cancer. Any time the ovaries are removed, the patient will experience immediate menopause, although hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be used to prevent this.

Some research indicates that many hysterectomies are unnecessary, performed due to misdiagnoses, or to treat conditions that could be treated some other way. Unnecessary hysterectomies are often characterized as symptomatic of gender and class discrimination, lack of informed consent, and even human rights violations.

Female Genital Mutilation

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is the removal of all or part of female external genitalia for non-medical reasons. This is a practice that is carried out on minors, as part of a longstanding pattern of discrimination and abuse against women and girls, typically with the intention of limiting and controlling women's sexuality. FGM is internationally recognized as a human rights violation, but is still practiced in around 31 countries, and affects millions of people. Supporters of FGM often try to make it sound benign by calling it "female circumcision," but this is a false analogy. FGM has no health benefits, no religious or cultural meaning, and places the victim at risk for pain, infection/death, and urinary problems, as well as long-term or permanent complications, recurring infections, reproductive harm, chronic pain, childbirth complications, and mental health issues.

Resources

Wikipedia: Circumcision

Circumcision: A Parent's Choice

Cleveland Clinic: Circumcision

Wikipedia: Castration

Chemical Castration

Operavision: Castrati

Surgery For Penile Cancer

Wikipedia: Penectomy

Mayo Clinic: Prostate Cancer

Surgery For Prostate Cancer

Cleveland Clinic: Mastectomy

Breast Reduction Surgery