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| Alfred E. Newman, MAD Magazine |
“Reading MAD Magazine as a kid,” says
writer Bart Bartolozzi, “I was often
confused as to what the meaning of Alfred E. Neuman's
signature catch-phrase – ‘What, me worry?’ -- actually meant. As I tried to put
it into some context, based on each new MAD magazine cover, I
constructed a meaning that I was quite sure was correct: that ‘I don't need to
worry about anything ... especially things that I don't understand.’”
I too grew
up with MAD Magazine and like Bart, looked forward to buying the latest issue
as soon as it arrived at our local Drug Store.
I also believe that his definition of what it means is also correct, but
let me take it one step further. I remember
reading a quote from someone who said, “Don’t worry about the small shit… it’s all small shit.”
While this
might not be the best way to start off an opinion, I think that you will agree
with me about reading what I’m about to write, that an Alfred E. Neuman
philosophy fits pretty good.
At the ripe
old/young age of 65, I have found one concept that is painfully true:
People do not typically change
until the pain of not changing is
greater than the pain of changing.
AND, at no
time in my life has this been made so poignantly clear than right now – 3rd
and 4th quarters of 2012. Why
these two quarters? Because in the 3rd
quarter, just prior to the Presidential Election, we heard all the rhetoric
about what was wrong with the present administration, and all the changes that
needed to take place so that which needed to be done, could be done. This promise or pledge to the American public revolved
around: honor, loyalty, equality, and truth.
AND NOW, in
the 4th quarter, after the Presidential Election, all WE (the
American public) see is childish bickering and arrogant posturing from wealthy
politicians, who seemingly don’t give a damn about the people they supposedly
serve; although, they will emphatically state that is exactly what they are
doing.
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| How long do you think the implications of this handshake will last? |
Have we
become so blinded by our freedoms that most of us take our freedoms for
granted?
Do some of
us simply want the Federal Government to take care of us financially, even
though we do not want to exercise responsibility or discipline to take care of
ourselves? Is this the kind of freedom
that we think we have been given?
Do some of
us simply think that because I own a small business that I should sell products
and services to my customers 3 to 4 times higher (or more) than what it cost me
to produce and market them? Is this the
kind of freedom that we think we have been given?
So, which
side is right?
Neither, I
would venture to say!
How many
families or individuals can go into debt year after year after year without
thinking that at some point-in-time, they have to substantial reduce their debt
in order to continue to borrow?
How many
businesses, cannot wait until Black Friday, so that they can have their sales
and come out of the red? So, why don’t
they have sales (or reduced prices) all year long?
But, here’s
the “what me worry”
line and that is no matter how much I worry about Congress not being
able to come together and solve the problem, the more I realize that there is nothing
that I can do about it. I also know that
our politicians will not change their attitudes or states of mind until the
pain of not changing is greater than the pain of changing. And, as long as we have wealthy politicians
they will have no need to worry about changing so that they can collectively do
the right thing.
That is,
unless we vote them out of office. But,
if you have read Animal Farm,
you know what’s likely to happen…
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