Posted on 03/08/2016 10:42:05 AM PST by Kaslin
Making the forest safe from bears. That was our topic, as a bunch of Boy Scout fathers sat in a circle around a late night campfire. Kids were asleep. We could discuss issues of the world, now. There had been a lot of bear sightings lately. Made you edgy. The topic percolated up and poured forth, like hot coffee on a cold morning. Everybody had something to say.
If Donald Trump’s wall and enthralling methods had been in season, we would have discussed them. But this was long ago. Conversation turned to big ideas, ingenious schemes, fixing the world, making the forest safe from bears. We were not far along when one brave father threw out an idea. It was Trump-like, novel if not a flash of genius. If not a wall around the country, his ingenious idea was almost as compelling. “You know, we could protect this whole campsite, end the worry about trouble bears, if we used common sense.”
Huh? “Yeah, think about it, why do we have to put up with these marauding black bears … when we could keep them at bay with technology.” We were all ears. We were on public land, so could not carry firearms. Since we were remote, we could not retreat to our cars. We knew bears moving at night were foraging. If they had cubs things got dicey fast.
There had been a lot of bear reports lately, more than normal. We were tired of thinking about bears, tired of thinking we had bumped into a bear when it was squirrel. We were ready to be done with bears. In fact, some of us knew a lot about bears; we had experienced them up close. “Why not use technology and make the forest safe from bears?” The idea, once we heard it, was flat our brilliant. It was also comforting. If simple, it was magnificent.
“Here is how we will do it…” intoned the enthusiastic father. “Why did we not think of this earlier?” was our immediate reaction. “How many of you have dogs at home?” he asked. Most of us did. “How do you keep them on your property?” A few of us used leashes, one a run, another a picket fence, but most had installed “invisible fences” around their yards. These delivered a mild electric current to an errant or wandering dog, thus keeping the dog on his own property. Nobody got hurt; the invisible wall worked. “Invisible fences do work, don’t they,” asked the imploring father. We all agreed. Yes, they worked – and worked well.
“And there we have it,” said the proud father. “We just put up an invisible fence around our campsite and viola, the bears are out, we are in, problem solved!” The idea had never occurred to the rest of us. It did seem brilliant. “Simple, straight forward, makes the forest safe from bears … they are here, we are here, but they have their space, we have ours, and everyone is safe.” For the next 20 minutes we honestly applauded him, marveling with satisfaction at the simplicity of his idea.
Life was not so hard to figure, after all. Even big problems, the sort that vex, seem complex, lead to a call for experts, frustrate patience and require time – sometimes have “bingo,” lights-on solutions. They can be figured by the likes of us, simple folk. They are about confidence, can-do and common sense, the sort enthusiastic fathers have. Darned if we were not smarter than we looked. We would do that for sure next time, and make the whole darn camping experience easier, and safer.
We had about us in the firelight the glow of omniscience. We had the heady feeling people get hearing good and simple solutions, hearty and heady, if colorful and even gritty. We had that feeling I recognize again in the faces of many good-hearted, “let it be simple” enthusiasts for Mr. Trump. Forget the details, put aside complexity, forget the mess of execution, and leave implementation to another day. Damned if being right is not a great thing. And if life is frustrating, frustrate it right back. Go simple, and if it takes getting mad, do it. Do not expend effort on long term, when the near term delivers.
On that night long ago – a very real night – we were all glad to be done, at least in theory, with those bears. The low-burning fire warmed our feet, nurtured our egos, and complemented our blissful wisdom. Sticks flickered, flames retreated, red coals radiated. All was good. The future was bright. Bears in forests across all the wild world would soon be on notice. Like Mr. Trump’s ubiquitous simplicity, unburdened by detail or worries over implementation, we were making the forest great again. Details later.
We had almost faded, heads nodding. Darkness surrounded us. There were mysterious crackles from the black, but we pushed them aside – content in our great idea. Things grew still. But I saw one father still wide awake. He was looking into the woods, then back to the fire, then out into the woods again. He seemed in deep thought. Suddenly, he came back to us – and looked about the circle. “Who is going to put the electronic collar on the bear?” he asked.
And there you have it in a nutshell. The hardest problems can sometimes be solved easily, but more often not so. The solution everyone wants can be too simple, just an elegant restatement of the problem. Sometimes it takes steady eyes, steady mind and a courageous voice to say – “not so fast.” Sometimes deeper thinking is more than advisable – it is necessary.
As we sit around our presidential primary fire, in this sobering season, a certain darkness filled with easy answers surrounds us. But big problems are seldom solved in a blinding flash of brilliance, anger, bravado, or tweeted indignity. There is no replacement for steady, even-keeled, level-headed, smart leadership. What do you say we throw another log on the fire, sit back, and think a little harder? Simple answers are deliciously deceptive, reassuring for wrong reasons, and sometimes dangerous.
Very sensitive man this writer. Lol
Based upon what?
Wrong...since 1988 Trump has been “paying” politicians and very much involved in the election cycles. Not holding office does not mean an individual is not politically involved monetarily and socially...all of which Trumps made certain he’s been a part of and admitted so.
You’ve shown repeatedly that you’re for more of the same slick politician’s slime. I am voting for Trump. The ONLY one who is not part of the problem!
Forget to take your meds?
You have spammed this on a few threads. It doesn't make it true.
Examples:
Like Carter that said he feared Trump more than Cruz. Like Al Sharpton talking about how Trump was his choice because he could be beat. Perhaps you forgot that Lindsey Graham first said someone could shoot Cruz on the Senate floor and nobody would care.
Silent my butt.
Bloomberg View penned an article the other day that pretty much expressed how they felt.
The Huffington Post put it this way.
I imagine trying to play the victim card works, but it is a ploy usually played by liberals. Carry on.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/gop-establishment-donald-trump-ted-cruz_us_56a058e0e4b0404eb8f04d0a?utm_hp_ref=politics
http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2016-01-21/the-hate-cruz-tolerate-trump-republicans
Your enemies hate him.
Your enemies are silent on his main competitor.
1 + 1 = 2
...reasons to vote for Donald Trump.
Let me know when those entities go on an island retreat to devise a way to defeat Cruz.
I didn’t figured as above the average fray, benefit of the doubt, guess you have had a long day.
As soon as you show me a Senate endorsement for Cruz, since they are so very much behind him now.
Yes, you can find a few examples of folks talking negatively about Ted, but folks, you have got to keep some connection to reality.
Are our enemies focusing to defeat Ted or Trump?
If you think it is equally Ted, you’re very delusional.
Ted said he had a list of Senate supporters ready for release.
Didn’t I read that here?
It’s both they wish to take down, why do u think Rubio stays in.
Personally, I think Rubio will look at the numbers before fla and drop. if he is smart he would. Otherwise there definitely is an inside GOPe plan that he is aware of that will happen at the Convention.
Maybe that’s why all the riot gear being ordered by the Cleveland PD.
They’re not worried about the brothers they’re worried about us
IMO if no one gets the 1237, without question the Trump/Cruz delegates will unite and shut them down cold.
A Trump/Cruz ticket will carry us for 12 or 16 years. The GOPe and the Dems fear that like crazy especially since all our growth since 2010 in all sectors national and statewide
I think they can't decide who they hate more, but the common factor that Trump is leading in delegates as of now is the deciding factor on who to turn the heat on most pressingly.
I had to hunt down the island thing you mentioned earlier as I had missed it, (person has to sleep sometimes). Seems it was a yearly thing and one of the subject of course was this year's election.
I could see no evidence that they suddenly rented the island just for bash Trump meeting. Political people have attended before and will in the future.
I found one liberal article quote someone as saying (paraphrase) that "it wasn't so much a bash Trump discussion as a how did this person end up at the top?". Perhaps they couldn't see how much the public really hates the "lets get along with everyone mentality in congress". Some scientist will end up with a fat check to research what you and I know as common sense.
Didn’t I read that (Cruz has senators going to endorse him) here?
I don't think it was Ted that said that, but some magazine that supports him. There was a breaking news (for a while) article about I think NR retracting the comment. I don't think Ted said it, but perhaps you know more than I on the subject.
you’re very delusional
On a good day, perhaps.
That’s no more true than Ted being one of two leaders when he gets 18% and Trump gets 32%.
Who are they focused on taking down?
Please read the headlines and get back to me.
For months all it has been is how to stop Trump or plans to take down Trump.
Yes you find isolated comments adverse to Ted, none of Thames stuff against Trump, on that level.
I honestly do not want Ted for president.
Eggzackly (my spelling)
I don’t want trump either but rather than 7 to2 SC under Biden/Kerry. Like I’ve said I’ll hold my nose, throw up later and vote for Trump.
I hear ya.
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