Aware, Mindful and Thankful

Senator Lisa Murkowski backs the repeal of the Obamacare mandate, but did not support the repeal of Obamacare.  For this she has drawn the ire of Democrats.  Murkowski represents Alaska.  I am sure most Alaskans support the repeal of the mandate. Murkowski is representing her constituents.

I’ve never been to Alaska, but I have watched their reality shows and listened to Sarah Palin, which is kinda like seeing Alaska from my living room, dontcha know.  Many Alaskans appear to view themselves as rugged, self-sufficient frontiersmen. 

This past year, one phrase has been thrown around a lot is cognitive dissonance, which is having inconsistent thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes, especially as they relate to behavior.  Despite the self-sufficient attitude, Alaskans wallow in unearned cash.  The federal government supports one third of Alaska’s jobs.  (The Economist).  Alaskans receive an oil subsidy, similar to the manner in which members of the Seminole Tribe of Florida receive a stipend from gambling profits.  Alaska has the highest rate of welfare recipients in the United States (US Census).  That is not surprising.  Alaska’s weather does not allow for year-round work in many industries. 

Let’s take one rugged, Alaskan frontier family, The Alaskan Bush People.  Alaskan Bush Dad and one son were charged with falsification on welfare forms.  They pled guilty and each spent 30 days in jail, so much for self-sufficient bush living.

Alaska does not have a monopoly on cognitive dissonance, they just make a good example due to Murkowski’s support of the mandate repeal.  Florida has its own examples.  We have a large winter population, some of whom are super wealthy.  They supplement our economy the way the government supplements Alaska.   

 Florida also has large numbers of elderly, many of whom came to Florida when they retired.  Some elderly people have no family at all, or at least no local family.   This makes them easy prey for conmen.  But not everyone is a conman.  There are many good people caring for their elderly friends or neighbors. 

Something that strikes me about these elderly in their estate planning is they have a friend or neighbor who buys their groceries, or takes them to the grocery store.  That friend takes them to doctor appointments and helps them maintain their homes.  The friend takes them in, or with them, when a hurricane is coming.  The elderly person will be sharing the holidays with their friend.  But where is the money going when they die?  To nieces or nephews up north, some of whom they have not seen for 25 years.  That does not make sense to me. 

Years ago, I told my daughter a mom of one of the kids she went to school with had cancer, for the second time.  My daughter asked me, “Didn’t you tell me that woman has a great body?”  I said she had a beautiful body.  My daughter said, “I think your body is better.”  May we all be aware, mindful and thankful for all we have and for those who are generous to us daily, this Thanksgiving and every day.