Work versus Effort?

The individual works hardest for himself. That is the fundamental theory behind capitalism. I have to agree, that by observing failed political systems, the individual cog is a substantial element for success.
The problem is the equality of pay versus effort. Now this one really bugs me. There is no way that pay equals effort, not in this country and especially not globally. For example--I would say a slaughter house employee, farmer or a burger flipper puts forth way more effort than say an accountant or quality control tester. Some would argue that you are paying for "brain-power". I don't buy it. Once you learn your job, most white color workers will complain their work is mind numbing.
Of course income reflects higher education. But the dirty little secret of higher education is that effort maybe plays about 25% of a role. The rest is luck & brains. We are not born with the same brains folks, nor are we all born to parents wealthy enough or smart enough themselves to push us through higher education.
I don't really have an answer at this point in time, just sharing a frustration.....Because quite a few folks in this country feel a sense of entitlement because they "worked for it", and I'm saying--get a reality check.

That's Why You Are So Busy

A few blogs back I had puzzled over the two types of people I meet--the "Chronically bored" and the " Overscheduled/Overworked". I have decided that the overscheduled category may not be as common as I previously thought, especially as the latest figures regarding Television viewership put Americans at 4.5 hours per day!!
I trust those figures to be accurate, and that can only mean one thing--Americans are busy, busy, busy: rushing to get home to their big screen TV's!!! Too busy to shop small markets, cook home cooked meals, plant a garden or put down that cellphone. Because heaven for bid, they might just miss the next episode of Deal or No Deal...

School Spirit in Alaska

One of the most frustrating things about the Alaskan status quo is the disregard for education. Simply put, quite a few good paying jobs here require little if any education. Most Alaskans can afford pretty nice lifestyles by picking up a trade, craft or working in the oil fields. Into this mix throw a healthy dose of illiterate rednecks and you have the perfect formula to mock the educated or any establishment fostering education.
This attitude rears its ugly head every election season. Alaskan voters hate to see their property taxes rise--especially if the money goes to something silly like the school system. Needless to say, many kids attend classes in temporary trailers, programs are cut and I even heard talk of eliminating kindergarten!
Of course when parents don't care about schools, neither do the kids. You could point to something ordinary like drop out rates, but here the problem includes a propensity for vandalism.

I have never lived in a place where children habitually set fire to their schools and school playgrounds. The playgrounds are an especially weird crime--who hates playgrounds? But needless to say, every summer playgrounds and schools all across Alaska are set ablaze. The school system encourages campers to camp in school parking lots to eliminate the carnage, but needless to say--it still happens.

Bugs, Bugs, and More Bugs

Let me be the first to admit the stereotype about Alaska being full of mosquitoes is pretty much true. Not everywhere mind you- the average tourist will barely meet a mosquito in any big Alaskan town. They are pretty rare along the beaches as well--especially if it is windy.
But, if you happen to be in the woods on a cloudy day in June---watch out!!
The tundra and interior also have the same mosquito swarms that follow you or any hapless animal around. Poking, proding and buzzing until they each have made an attempt to sting you in the ear, lip or get through those jeans!
It is actually pretty incredible, especially because I have seen every bug repellent imaginable used against these "swarms" and nothing can stomp out their motivation. Here at my homestead, I too get to experience mosquito swarms in June. We actually have a "mosquito magnet" and a bat house--to attract bug eating bats. Well the mosquito magnet just can't keep up. A list of other things I have tried to spray on my porch or body or dogs includes: vanilla, eucalyptus, citronella (I swear they love the stuff), every "natural" repellent sold in the store, listerine and catnip. Nothing really works. Even regular Deet repellents are a joke to the mad swarms, but I heard the military uses 100% deet.
All one can really do, is wrap themselves in bug netting and wait for August. But I guess all these mosquitoes do help feed our salmon though.....