THE PIZZAONIAN

The United States may have exploited its existing resources to the point of impending exhaustion

“Pizzaonia Emerging” Courtesy of the Pizzaonian Art Institute, Abe Straction, curator

 

Pizzaonian reflections on happenings in the United States

 

What happens when you live in a world where the good stuff never seems to run out? Through the years, many countries in the Western democracies, particularly in the United States have grown very used to having resources that seemed inexhaustible.

Those days seem to be running out. When you have an economy where economic survival depends on continued expansion, there is not much time to consider the future. The object is to make what is in front of you work today, tomorrow will take care of itself.

Well, for the first time it is beginning to look like tomorrow will not take care of itself.  The United States may have exploited its existing resources to the point of impending exhaustion. The question is what can you do about it? Without the willingness of the people to understand the problem and its long-term consequences, without the will of a political system that will risk in order to call for sacrifice, without a courageous leader who is willing to step forward and honestly lead regardless of the consequences, nothing is going to happen other than the tragedy that is waiting to happen.

One could consider many reasons why this is occurring, but the most obvious is an economic system that must grow regardless of the outcome. One must be careful here not to be critical of the free-enterprise system. We are believers. Regulated free enterprise is absolutely necessary for true democracy to exist.

However, with the blessing of a healthy free enterprise system is a need for self-control and discipline. Unfortunately, frugality is not compatible with the existing mentality. It seems that the need to be frugal and the need to consume available resources for continued expansion are mutually exclusive.

Where does the blame lie?  The truth is that in the final determination, the people are ultimately responsible for the result.   I know that today it is considered fashionable to blame the politicians but in a democracy the people bear the responsibility.

To paraphrase John Kennedy, who said it best: Will a democracy impose upon itself the necessary sacrifices that a dictatorship does by decree?

Brother Giovanni

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How about a little political reality from your political parties? What a novel idea

“Pizzaonia Emerging” courtesy of the Pizzaonian Art Institute, Abe Straction, curator

 

An editorial opinion - A Pizzaonian perspective on American politics

Let me ask you a question - Is there anything more specious today than critics of the current administration? If there is I don’t know who they are? I’m not singling out any particular political party here - the comments that I am making would apply to whoever is currently not in power. 

Democrat or Republican whichever side is out becomes critics of virtually everything that is done. Whether it’s right or wrong, good or bad is no longer an issue. The fact the other guys did it is all you need to know it was wrong.

Not only do you have to criticize the current administration or whoever is in power at any given time; it is important to emphasize that they may be less than patriotic, and at the core of their beliefs, not truly American.  

Again, no one needs to be concerned about what wreckage or harm they do by being this critical - this is not their concern - there eye  is on the next election and they will say whatever is in their best interest to make sure that they win the next time around.

Here in Pizzaonia, we are amazed at the current situation that’s taking place in Europe with Russia and the Ukraine and the absurdity of the remarks being made by critics of the current administration. Again please let me emphasize that I am not trying to be Democrat or Republican here. I suspect either side is quite capable of doing the same thing.

It seems the Russians have decided to reclaim part of the Ukraine. We could get into the obvious economic interest in Crimea concerning energy that revolves around the Ukrainian issue and how it seriously affects the Russian economy, but that doesn’t seem to have any place in the arguments we are hearing today. Please know we are not defending the Russians.

One thing that should seem obvious to everyone is how geopolitical reactions are affected by geography. The Russians are obviously acting against international law in what they believe is a reasonable defense of their country. Whether it’s reasonable or not seems to depend on who’s commenting. One thing is clear it is in defiance of international law.

However, since the Ukraine is within their geopolitical and geographical sphere of influence, and since the Russians are still a considerable military power, they’re going to do pretty much what they need to do in their own interests.

So what is the United States going to do about it? To hear the voice of the critics apparently the president has decided to give Crimea away - that assumes incorrectly that he could’ve done anything about it in the first place.

We hear a great deal about sanctions against the Russians. Again, the whole concept of sanctions ignores the vested economic interests that European countries have with the Russians and not incidentally the economic interest of American corporations who have a vested interest in the same area.

It is obvious you cannot apply sanctions against the Russians without hurting a lot of people you don’t want to hurt including many of your allies. The European reluctance is not based on some whim or fear - it is definitely concerned about the money that will be lost if sanctions are applied against the Russians.

So where does that leave the president or for that matter, anyone who is president during a crisis like this? Pretty much nowhere unless you consider the power of the "bully pulpit" as it is called. The president can rally world opinion against the Russians, and I am sure he will do that.

However, let us not hear any more about implied military threat or the use of force. We are very tired of hearing how so many political hawks seem so willing to send someone else’s sons and daughters off to impossible wars. It’s obvious the president knows the difference - thank God for that.  

Finally, not even the Russians can always completely ignore world opinion - they also have economic interests that need to be looked after, and market reality depends on a certain amount of good will for them to succeed.

May we suggest what might seem like a new thought to our American friends - how about expecting a little patriotism and political reality from your political parties? What a novel idea - let’s hope it takes place.

Brother Franco, commenting for the Pizzaonian Newsertainment Network

 

 

 

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Check your bank account. It's time to go watch big league baseball! #sports #life

Abstract image of a father of four trying to figure out how to pay for his family's once a year trip to the Ball Park. Courtesy of the Pizzaonian Art Institute, Abe Straction, curator ©2009

 

What is it about baseball that makes grown men and women start babbling like 10-year-olds? About this time of the year when spring training begins every middle-aged pundit regardless of age, gender or expertise suddenly starts waxing sentimental nostalgia about baseball.

Please spare me all the stories of how it was when you were young, and how much you enjoyed going to the baseball games with family and friends.  I would much rather talk about the game as it is today rather than what you prefer to believe it is or was as the case may be.

As an interested observer from Pizzaonia, I cannot be anything but fascinated by this phenomenon.  I too grew up around baseball, but that was a very different time. And, when I was going to baseball games, it cost a dollar to get into the stadium, and another dollar would buy you the goodies you love to munch on while watching the game.    

Of course back then baseball, while still a business, saw itself as a game. Now baseball is a big business that is about a game.  This is not a little change - this is a significant difference in how the game is played and how it is currently seen by most of the observers watching the incredible spectacle of big-league sports in America.

Today we hear more about contracts then we hear about double plays. Yes, I know that statistics are still a major part of the discussion about baseball.  However, when does a day go by starting with spring training and continuing for the rest of the season when you don’t hear about how much money everyone is making?  

Let us not forget about the marvel of television that has taken the game out of the stadium and into everyone’s living room.  Actually, this is a blessing for baseball since it now cost so much to go to a game the only way most people can watch anymore is to see it on television. Revenue from television ratings pays most of the freight these days.

Yes, there are a few sprinkled seats around the park that seem affordable. But don’t let that fool you, by the time you add up the cost of the seats, plus the goodies, and what it cost to park plus transportation to the Ball Park, you’re talking about a big chunk of change.  

Who then goes to the games and pays the outrageous prices?  For the most part, the very rich - this includes corporations with their luxury boxes, and anyone with a big enough bank account to impress their constituents. The closest these folks get to the common people is when they use their binoculars to see what’s happening in the bleachers.  

As for us in Pizzaonia, we can’t wait for the season to start.  We warm up our HD televisions, open up our six packs purchased at the super market - sit back and enjoy.  Play Ball!

P.S: We love commercials.  It gives us a chance to stretch our legs, go to the kitchen for more goodies, take a restroom break and when finished with all that - talk to our friends until the game starts again.

Brother Franco

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