FScouter

... and folks wonder why our country is headed to oblivion. We citizens actually elect representatives and pay our government to hire someone to think up stuff like this. Hey, what about that pothole in the road? Pay for that instead!

I've noted that at the "hats off" camps I've been to, none have a hat rack.

ala Emily Litella, "never mind".(This message has been edited by fscouter)

"Projection, projection, projection "

Johnponz - you must be new around here, but are quite perceptive. This has been going on for years. Maybe his account has been hacked again.

http://www.scouter.com/forums/viewThread.asp?threadID=67337#id_67354

It's easy to see who feels strongest about the practice of singing...

Horizon's description notwithstanding, I think NJ has hit the essence of this phenom. Of course I think a handwritten letter on paper with a stamp on the envelope is a significant communication.

I do agree with Eamonn when he opines that some of us may overthink this stuff. Though, it is nice to see someone (Scoutfish) cogitate and develop and refine a view. Considering alternative viewpoints is a good thing, and such thinking is not a bad thing.

Overthinking works both ways too. Thinking up new ways to reiterate a point, a new argument supporting one's point of view - that can be overthinking as well.

So at the risk of "overthinking" - "trustworthy" doesn't seem to much relate to keeping track of one's belongings. As the Scout is taught through his handbook: "A Scout is trustworthy. A Scout tells the truth. He is honest, and he keeps his promises. People can depend on him."

If "teapot" songs help a boy become a better person and teach life lessons, well.... and if not... and a simple "I found your stuff Dude" then how about "thanks for finding that Bud... I owe you one", and good thoughts of how that worked out.

Or, "I'm a little idiot short and fat ..."

Overthinking here ... what's really the best approach?

"If a priviledge then why tax us for the upkeep of the roads??"

You also have the privilige of fixing the potholes in front of your house any time you want.

Polls reflect what people say, not necessarily what they do. If 62% of folks really wanted to pay more for U.S made products they would have done that. We know what they did - they bought lower priced foreign stuff instead.

U.S. companines are out of business because they can't sell their product at a price high enough to recover their costs. Other companies try to stay in business by outsourcing the work elsewhere. Why? - polls notwithstanding, the American consumer wants the lowest price possible above all else.

"Come on, folks, let's get a wee bit of a grip, eh?"

You know a "discussion" has deteriorated to closed-ear arguing when one cannot think of any merits to support one's case and instead resorts to unequivocally declaring the "official" definitions of terms like "corporal" and "bullying" and telling others to get a grip.

Instead of putting down those with another viewpoint, how about presenting a persuasive argument in favor of pushup punishment? Explain how drop and give me 20 is a good thing...

I agree that sports drinks are heavily promoted and while there is a modicum of value there, its mostly hype. I run marathons and ultra-marathons and water works perfect for me. Ive found no value in commercial sport drinks.

Three strikes. Kinda like cutting the corners off the 'ol Totin' Chip card - three violations with no consequence - a free pass - then finally deal with it on the 4th.

If the body is short on water, the balance of salts to water is too rich. The body can't force itself to drink more water but it does have the ability to bring the balance back to a safe and stable level. It does that by excreting salt through sweat.

If the kid would drink more WATER in the first place, his body would not need to excrete the excess salts.

The solution to the balance dilemma is to drink more water to replenish that which is used to cool the body. Gatorade (water with salt) is a cure to the consequence of losing salts due to failure to drink WATER.

Could be, but it depends on how you define "wet".

It might be a good idea to add in an FOS presentation too. You know, like kill three birds with one stone - be efficient with folk's limited time... and don't forget some announcements too.

Two insignificant thoughts:

Why do folks now-a-days say "hydrate", when for 10 million years we've been saying "drink water"....? Is it the hip thing to say?

If your pee is clear, you drank too much and your body is working overtime to get rid of the excess.

"Q2) Is access to health care a "right" or a privilege?"

Both (neither?). If you want health care, you have both the "right" and the "privilege" to buy it from the doctor. Or work out an arrangement with an insurance company whereby you pay monthly fee and they pay the doctor.

If you don't want to pay and want/expect someone else to pay your bill, that's what we have today - go to the emergency room for "free".

The reform legislation attempts to make those folks PAY something in terms of an insurance premium to get what they currently get through everyone else paying the bill.

How about a universal personal security law that requires all Americans to purchase a gun and training? For those who chose not to, we can penalize them thru the IRS when they file their annual return.

That might make sense if those folks that dont lock their doors get their possessions stolen and expect those that do lock their doors to pay the cost of replacing their stuff. Imagine that you get burglarized, head on down to the local home center, pick out what you need to replace, and tell the cashier I dont have insurance or locks on my doors, so I dont have to pay for replacements. How far would that fly??

Yet, its OK to go without health insurance and head to the emergency room for health care and not pay for it. I dont want to pay for somebody elses health care costs. Yes, either mandate insurance, or allow hospitals and doctors to charge up front before treatment cash on the barrelhead.

"I really do not know why people insist on calling the Affordable Healthcare Act, 'ObamaCare'."

Obviously, it's a not-so-subtle way to snub the man that took the bull by the horns to actually DO something to improve the country's broken health care "system". Little digs such as "Obamacare" speak volumes about one's character.

It's sad really that the executive branch of government has to step in and take action because the legislative branch is too lily-livered to do their jobs. They're great at obstructionist politics, but it seems most of Congress sees their "job" as blocking and emasculating the efforts of others.

It's no wonder that the vast majority of Americans simply tune out, don't vote, and shake their heads in disgust.

Discipline is making right a wrong, repairing the damage, a time-out, a lost privilege, sending the kid home.

"Drop and give me 20" is an exercise of power and control forced on a kid.

"Drop and give me 20" is not much of a trick or technique for handling a "civil infraction". We all know what's going on with someone in authority ordering pushups. Think power. Think control. Yeah, it is what it is. Archaic.

I know testing isn't allowed. But that' my whole point, maybe it shgould be.

For the most part, we trust the merit badge counselors are doing their job correctly. Going over every requirement with the Scout, after the fact, undermines the program.

If the problem is merit badge counselors that dont cover the material and who falsely certify completion, the solution to that problem isnt re-testing at the unit level. The solution is to properly select and monitor the counselors that will do a proper job.

If the problem is a Scout is unsafe with his pocket knife and cuts himself, the solution is not to outlaw knives. The solution is not to stock extra band-aids. The solution is to teach and monitor safe handling of a knife.

Of course, stocking extra band-aids, or outlawing knives is easier than teaching and practicing knife safety. Re-testing is easier than selecting a good counselor that promises to do a good job. But which is better?

Agree, and, theres a lot of downside to being an extrovert.

There have been some interesting points of view presented in this discussion:

Most Scouts that age out are no longer introverts when they leave.

Extroverts will thrive in Scouting, but so can the introverts and more importantly, become less of an introvert.

Scouting (among other things) is what has helped me overcome this.

Introvert and extravert are characteristics. One is not better that the other. One is not a deficiency, a thing to be overcome or cured.

I too am currently reading the best-seller book Quiet The Power of Introverts in a World That Cant Stop Talking. Its a fascinating read. Some of the most creative minds and productive people ever known are introverts.

Let's make it clear that "BSA" in this context means individual units controlled by Scoutmaster, assistants, unit committee members, and parents. The national BSA council has not de-emphasized the outdoor program at all.

Classroom style instruction, merit badge mills, Scouts being rushed through the ranks to get Eagle is all done at the most local level. Individual units do those things, not BSA.

The National Council doesn't insist "vanilla". They do expect that one unit will not gut the program and another unit turn it into a military style boot camp. Troops within "Boys Scouts of America" must have some basic commonalities.