REALITY CHECK

AN INTELLECTUAL COINED THE PHRASE "THE THEORY OF OSTENTATIOUS FAILURE." IT APPLIES MONEY AND VERBIAGE TO UNSUCCESSFUL SITUATIONS WITH ELAN. NO MATTER WHAT THE THINKER WAS REFERRING TO, I SAY IT REFERENCES COMMON SENSE. TOO OFTEN I REALIZE COMMON SENSE IS DEAD. GOVERNMENT, WHETHER REPRESENTED AS THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, PUBLIC EDUCATION OR THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEMONSTRATES THE DEMISE OF COMMON SENSE (GRANDMA’S VERSION). POLITICIANS, CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS AND SOMETIMES EVEN CHURCHES HAVE LOST THEIR RATIONAL BEARINGS. THE RESULT? FEAR.

I AM SUPPOSED TO NOT ONLY LIVE IN FEAR OF SOME DREADED, RARE FAILURE BUT ALSO TO FEEL LEFT OUT THAT I HAVE NOT SUCCUMBED TO ONE. FOR LOSERS LIKE ME, EXAMPLES ABOUND. WHAT, NO BREAST CANCER? NO SWIMMING PROFICIENCY? NO ENDANGERMENT TO MY BABY'S HEALTH BY IMBIBING WHEN PREGNANT? NO TOXOPLASMOSIS FROM CAT BOX DUTY? NO SCHOOL DAY EVER CANCELED FOR DINT OF STORM OR GRIEF? NO PREMATURE BABY THOUGH I SHOULD HAVE HAD ONE WITH A 1 IN 8 CHANCE OF A RANDOM HIT? NO EXCLUSION FROM PAYING MY INCOME TAXES ALTHOUGH HALF OF THIS COUNTRY PAY NONE?

I AM COMFORTED, HOWEVER, BY REALITY THAT SHINES A LIGHT ON POLITICAL CORRECTNESS AND PANIC MONGERING HIGHLIGHTING THEIR OSTENTATIOUS FAILURES. PEOPLE WATCHING HAS PROVED THAT OVERWEIGHT, OBLIVIOUS SMOKERS PRODUCE PLUMP, HEALTHY BABIES - AND THEY CAN AND DO IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THEY ARE AMERICA'S BEST CHANCE FOR AMERICA’S FUTURE WITH AN ABORTION RIDDEN, SELF-ABSORBED CULTURE.