Why? I became a good golfer

I took up golf after college at the age of 24. I was self taught but I was and am very analytical and have great hand eye coordination. In any case, my game progressed rapidly. Within three years I was shooting in the low 70's and I ended up coaching high school golf for 33 years. In that time I won a number of tournaments including club championships in three different decades. I found the following golf notes to myself in an old golf bag. Now every person's game is different, but you might find something of value for your game in these notes.

Golf Notes to myself prior to 1993 tournament
1.play within yourself. slow down
2. relax
3. keep left wrist firm
don’t let right wrist(hand) over left had before impact

Putting
1. normal routine
2. forward press keep left wrist firm but don’t tighten grip

Driver
1. 1 piece swing - everything back together
2. right foot - left foot weight shift
3. inside out

One of the few people who can plan to shoot a very low round is Tiger Woods. I always asked my players, "What is your best score and did you plan to shoot that score?" Without exception, no one ever planned to shoot their best score, it just happened. So I say to you, "plan to hit a "good" shot not a "great" shot. A "good" shot might turn into a "great" shot, but trying to hit a "great" shot can turn into really bad shot. Expect to play well, but don't expect to play "great". Just let it happen and "stay in the moment". "Think ahead to the next shot" but "don't think ahead to what your final score might be". And when all is said and done golf is really not a "good" game, but a "great" game.

why? My Frank Martin signed basketball

Again for my grandson's baseball team fundraiser
I obtained this Frank Martin signed basketball from the Athletic Administration Office in Bramlage Coliseum, Manhattan, Kansas on January 6, 2011. The signature reads: Frank J. Martin


Kurt Heaton(KSU 1964)

And again my daughter purchased this ball for me(it went higher than a Bill Self signed ball) Again thanks so much, my blood runs purple.

Why? My Bill Snyder signed football

A Note About this Football

I contacted Kansas State Athletic Director John Currie about obtaining a Bill Snyder autographed football for the Topeka Capitals fund raiser silent auction. He directed me to Joan Friederich, Coach Snyder’s longtime administrative assistant.
Arrangements were made and I hand delivered this ball to Coach Snyder’s office on the morning of February 16, 2010. At the time, I requested a “letter of authenticity” from Coach Snyder’s office. I received a phone call from Joan Friederich that afternoon of February 16 that the football had been signed. I asked about the letter of authenticity and here is the direct quote from Coach Snyder relayed to me by Joan. And by the way this is pure coach Snyder. “My signature is good enough and If anyone wants to know they can ask me”. As I am the same age as Coach Snyder I can tell you that he is exactly right. We both come from an era where a “man’s word was his bond”. So Bill Synder’s signature is good enough and I provide my signature to authenticate the signing of this ball. And also, a big thank you to Coach Bill Snyder for his support.


Kurt Heaton, Kansas State 1964.

P.S. My daughter purchased this football for me. thanks so much

why? an answer to an email

Dear Mr. Heaton
I was delighted to hear from you. While I do not remember your face, I do remember your name very well. I presume you were with at the local high school in Pratt or at the Community College. At age 83 I haven't taught class at ESU since the 1990s, but I am still holding forth at the University as an adjunct professor in a variety of projects and am working on a couple of books which may or may not get done.

I much appreciated your email, which was a real tonic for my day.

Loren Pennington


kurt heaton 01/27/10 11:37 AM >>>
Dear Doctor Pennington,

I attended Emporia state in the Summer Of 1968 on a national grant. I began serious pursuit of a Masters Degree in the summer of 1970. You were my advisor and I wanted to relate to you an experience I had in my very first class that summer. I believe It was held in your office. There were 6 or 8 of us there. I was nervous and somewhat unsure of my self. You asked a question and I remember part of my answer, "sort of scientific". A fellow student, quite sure of himself, jumped in and put down my answer. And you did something that affected me for the rest of my teaching career. You defended my answer. Now I suspect that my answer was not that good, but I learned something that day that I applied to my teaching for 38 years. All answers have value. So I just want to thank you for that very small moment. It helped shape my teaching philosophy. Kurt Heaton Emporia 1968-1972- Master Degree Social Science( I know they don't offer this degree any more, but I wanted to have a broad appeal in the Social Science area. I taught Economics and World History for 38 year in Pratt and loved every minute of It.) again, thank you

Why? the genius of Bill Snyder

My cousin, Darren Gale was a starting safety for the Kansas State football team in 1981-82. We bought season football tickets in 1982 and have had football season tickets since. I mention this so you will understand that we have seen it all. When Snyder arrived in 1989 the team had not won in the past 27 games and was considered the worst team in football. The genius of Snyder was unleashed on Manhattan. "Just get a little better each day". "You have to believe". On and on went the process of creating a new football culture. Schedule easy teams early to build wins and the "belief" in the process.
As I have seen the "Miracle in Manhattan" and am seeing it for a second time I realize the Bill Snyder has a huge mind. It is compartmentalized and the attention to "detail" is enormous. He has taken good players and made them into great players. His ability to judge the "upside" of players and to make the "upside" a reality is the genius at work.
Snyder is known for his work ethic. He is really and this will sound strange, the equivalent of two, yes two geniuses: 18 hour days. burning the "midnight oil", bringing it all together and keeping it all together, planning it all, adding to the play scheme, finding just the right piece of the puzzle in a Junior College setting, building confidence, creating a "family atmosphere".
I talked to a football recruit who told me that Coach Bill Snyder simply asked him "what do you want to be?". He had never been asked that before and under Snyder, "what do you want to be? "involves more than football, it involves everything in life".

Why? expansion

I am not a Texas fan. I am not a Mac Brown fan. But Mac Brown was and is right about this football expansion business. The fans and players should have priority in the consideration to leave the Big 12 and go, let us say, "flee" to the SEC or Pac 12 or somewhere else. In the current Big 12 setup, fans can literally drive to any away game. Parents of players who live in the Big 12 footprint can attend away games without much difficulty. Traveling to the West Coast or East Coast or through "several states" to get to a league game in simply wrong headed. The Big 12 needs 12 teams and ideally they should be within a reasonable driving distance. Please, can we forget for a moment the "bottom line" driven football apocalypse of expansion and let's just play some FOOTBALL. EMAW

Why? the most important things in one page

There will come a time when you will go beyond contemplation of your demise and actually realize you should develop a plan. I'm talking about relieving every one of the terrible responsibility of having to deal with your death plus making decisions under the burden of grief. So my wife and I did just that. We preplanned everything and it is bought and paid for. It will be cremation and a grave side inurnment. Now writing your own obituary is in itself and experience, putting something on paper that sums up, briefly what you were. But then what else might be said? This is it.


Kurt Heaton
Favorite quote, poem and philosophy

Robert Kennedy quote

"Few will have the greatness to bend history; but each of us can work to change a small portion of the events, and in the total of all these acts will be written the history of this generation...It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is thus shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."


Poem
Mary Elizabeth Frye

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond’s glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the autumn’s gentle rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die.


Kurt Heaton Philosophy

Let me remind you of my personal philosophy -"you may beat me, but I am not beaten. I cannot be defeated or beaten by anything or anyone. I will never,ever give in or give up. Even in death I am not defeated".

Remember, "We are what we believe". "We are what we think". If you want to think misery,fear, sadness, depression, that is the person you will be. I choose to lift myself up, not down and so should you.

With love and forgiveness to all and I ask the same from you. Kurt

Why? Ability and effort

My grandson missed 6 months of activity beginning last July. He broke his arm at basketball summer camp and re-broke it at the World Series Baseball tournament at St. Louis. He was working out with his football team with his arm in a cast and began to have a knee problem that was diagnosed as a fragmented knee cartilage. The result was 2 months in a full leg cast.
Now we come to this fall and Washburn Rural seventh grade football. They had 80 some boys out for the team. They would have an A and B team . They had a lot of big, athletic kids out and my grandson, weighing 98 pound was one of the smallest. He had not played any football for a year.
The team has many players from feeder teams, boys who have played tackle football for 4 years. Now having spent 38 years in coaching allowed me to advise my grandson of one distinct thing. In order to make the team, "you have to be noticed". Run faster, hit harder and play harder than anyone else." Now it should be said that my grandson is a gifted athlete, fast, quick, and not afraid to hit. He was one of the smallest players on the team but now he is the smallest player on the A team. He was picked as a slot back on the A team and was the starting safety in the first game(they won 24-0). Washburn Rural is one of the biggest schools in the state, average class size of 400 plus. The odds of making a team are small and this was a tremendous accomplishment. We are very proud. You need to understand that my advise carries over to all of life. The world is a tough place, and sports help players to understand what is needed to be successful. In a sense for all of your life, you need to "run faster, hit harder and play harder than anyone else". It is a life lesson.

Why? Things that are Bigger Than Me?

A musing. Things that are bigger than me. From the infinite to the ultimate. An atom, building block of the universe and the power of E=MC2. The universe, a vastness beyond human comprehension. Ideas, the power of the mind to comprehend, question, debate and create. Family, a force of attraction for good or evil. Nature, the ugliness of "eat or be eaten", an earthquake, the power of the ocean, and the beauty of sound and color. "The Greatest Game EverPlayed". Clint Eastwood. Nationalism. Fear. Love. History. And through it all, the power ideas. I am so small, but grateful for it all.

Why? Party before nation

Political parties are driven by ideology. This is especially true of the far right and far left. I am a liberal Republican. I can't know for sure, but I feel I pretty much stand alone. Liberal means free from government. At the extreme is freedom of choice vs right to life. The government cannot, should not deprive women of the right of choice. The right to life movement is based on a false premise, that human life is precious. Yes, on a personal, family and friends level, life is precious, but in this world of burgeoning population, it is not. Our major problems of pollution, energy costs and unemployment all can be tied to population growth, in fact overpopulation.

And as a liberal. I believe that every one has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and this includes the RIGHT TO HEALTH CARE. So even though I believe in less government, government is absolutely necessary to provide for every ones protection of and provide for our basic human rights.

So now we come down to it. This nation is in big economic trouble, but the Tea Part is putting party ahead of nation. To push for cuts in government spending in the Depression we are in, is idiotic. Spending of any kind at least helps hold, if not create jobs. We need a return to the Civilian Conservation Corps of the Great Depression. Infrastructure needs to be rebuilt. the old CCC used unskilled labor, the new should also involve skilled labor. In addition, to place the anti abortion agenda ahead of the economic needs of the nation and to attack a fundamental of democracy, unions and to hope the country fails to gain the presidency in simply WRONG. Wow! Well it is now "out there" for "no one to see". At least I feel better.

Why? Would somebody lie

Be careful in judging others by who you are. People will lie to advance themselves or convince others of their agenda. We have experienced it and it is an especially tough lesson for a child.

Why? How do you handle some one bullying your child

A year ago, my grandson was punched in the jaw at school because he talked to the bully's girlfriend. I immediately went to the parents and informed them of what happened. Their son apologized and I thought it was isolated and now done with.

Now my grandson, age 12, has been through a lot in the past few years. The most difficult thing was finding his father dead on the bedroom floor 4 years ago. He and his little brother, age 3, and his mother found him after coming home from work, school and daycare. My son-in-law had been sick for a week, refused to go to the doctor and died from an enlarged heart and pneumonia. What a shock. As a result my wife and I have been helping to raise the boys. To keep them busy and help them get on with life, one or the other or both have been in flag football, football, basketball, baseball, t-ball, swimming.

A year ago my grandson broke his arm at basketball camp (he was also playing baseball). He continued playing baseball with a cast on his arm and within three weeks, started a game at 2nd base. He later rebroke the arm at the Wold Series. He went into football wearing a cast and did some drills and lots of running. His knee began to bother him, but he continued running. After his arm was being x-rayed to see healing progress, we asked to the doctor to examine his knee. An x-ray showed a suspicious spot and we were sent to a specialist at Children's Mercy in Kansas City. The end result was a fragmented area of the epiphysis (growth plate area). This is a serious injury.

My grandson had missed 4 weeks of baseball and now all of football. He was put in a full leg cast and was on crutches for 4 weeks and then put in a walking cast. After 3 weeks of physical therapy, he was cleared the day before Christmas to play sports. He played basketball for 4 weeks and then went down hill. He was first diagnosed with Mono and walking pneumonia. Later on in a further test they found it was not mono. He continued to go downhill. He lost 10 pounds (100 down to 90 lbs), nauseated every morning, not eating, and finally said he didn't want to go to schooL and FINALLY HE TOLD US WHY. HE WAS BEING BULLIED AT SCHOOL BY THE SAME BOY WHO HIT HIM LAST YEAR.

Now, what to do? It was apparent that going to the parent had done no good.

We contacted the school and they were great. They were all over it. Teachers were informed. The bully was stopped. Now I will say the bullying was mostly name calling, put downs, that kind of thing. A little shoving, but no hitting. The end result was, we thought, that the issue was settled.

My grandson came home 2 days ago and said the bully had punched him in the mouth (splitting his lip). Well, we informed the school and they took action.

Last night the bully’s father came to our door very angry and accusing my grandson of lying about the incident. And said “I’m going to the superintendent and prove your grandson is the problem.” I said “do what you have to do”.

.

Why? facing possible demise

I had blood in my urine 3 months ago. It was not bright red, but a dark brown. I went to emergency and was told to drink lots of water and see if it cleared up. I did and it did.

I have prostate cancer in my family, grandfather and uncle and after putting off seeing my urologist for three years(I had a rotor rooter job), I went in for an exam and they wanted a urine sample. It was as they put it "coffee colored" and was old clotted blood. This was a bit of a shock to me. My doctor did the usual rectal exam and said my prostate felt normal. That was a relief, but then he said I needed a ct scan as soon as possible. I went in a day later and was given a ct scan of my stomach and pelvis. This really multiple x-rays from different angles looking at my stomach, kidneys, urethra, bladder and prostate. I was to receive in the results from my doctor in 2 days.

Now to the point. Many people have faced this same or similar situation and I was experiencing it for the first time. I might have something very, very seriously wrong with me. It was high apprehension and having to wait. You realize that you might need to get your affairs in order. Well in truth I have been doing that for quite a while. I do have and recommend to all a "black box". A black box has all the information any one would need if you, to put it bluntly, die. It contains the following information:

NOTIFY

Doctor or hospice nurse

Coroner

Funeral Home

Clergy

Relatives and friends (list with phone numbers)

Social Security Office Social Security Number – xxx-xx-xxxx

Employee Retirement System

Life Insurance

long term care

auto insurance

monthly payments

memberships

Location Of Will

Executor of Will

Banking with password

checking accounts

savings accounts

CD”s

Credit Card Information

Investment information

Funeral Decisions

Cemetery

Gravestone inscription

Obituary

The nurse pulled up the ct scan on the computer and said, "I shouldn't tell but it's kidney stones" And I was happy. Ultrasound surgery is in a week, for a large stone that is threatening the urethra. When you get to be 70, you know life is short and you are grateful for life and know it can end at any moment.

why? A most serious and controversial topic

This going to be very heavy. I'm going to let it cook, "rest" and serve it with generous helpings.

OK. Let's begin with a brief review of the basics of an age old conflict, the Haves vs the Have Nots.

The Haves of course have money and thus power. Drive through the neighborhoods of any community and look for a house(really a mansion) that is deeply off set and is 2,3,4.5 times the size of an average house. A house with a gardener, probably a cook and housekeeping staff. These are all visuals indications of great wealth. And hidden from view are the millions and billions of dollars either rightfully earned or ill gotten by ethical or unethical means.

The Have Nots live on an annual average wage of maybe $30,000. Two incomes or two or three jobs are mandatory. It is living paycheck to paycheck and life is an on going struggle. The Have Nots are also the truly poor, welfare dominated, hardcore unemployed. The Have Nots are also a major portion of the so-called Middle Class. Their wages, salaries may get to six figures, but economic issues remain at the core of their existence.

Now another basic is Republicans versus Democrats Or the Haves vs the Have Nots. In truth not all Republicans are Haves(Many Tea Baggers have very little) and not all Democrats are Have Nots(witness the great Kennedy Family).

From a previous blog, Tea Baggers. They believe they have a precedent in the Boston Tea Party. You know, "no taxation without representation", no voting rights etc. Doesn't seem to fit, but the American "right to protest" does fit. I believe the basic problem for the "baggers" is the changing hue of America. If you have a racial bias and many people do no matter what their hue then somewhere deep inside and for some on the very surface is a fear of loss of place. White people are rapidly becoming a minority in this country. But make no mistake, an organized minority can rule in a democracy. The far right , ultra conservative wing of the Republican Party has done rather well in recent years, until the rise of Barak Obama. He of course represents a variety of hues and thus represents the future and the racial fears have been stirred as never before.

Check the the Tea Bagger rallies, they appear to be 100% white. And this is proof of their intent and believe it is intended. Racial fear can it be overcome? Yes, the great mixed hue hope is Barak Obama, but I must tell you I go on line every day with slight apprehension. Can he survive?

The Tea Baggers had great in influence in the last election, running on the issue of government spending and jobs. BUT underneath, not really hidden, but ignored by many in the electorate, was the issue of abortion. Now I will say up front as a liberal Republican(I am a retired teacher so really a Have Not), that government should not tell women that they cannot have a choice when it comes to abortion. I do believe that big government is a danger to us all. Freedom of choice is essential to a true democracy.

What the Haves have done is to really tap into the racial fears and antiabortion mentality to create political power. But Why? Who has the greatest gain by reducing government spending and government regulations? THE HAVES and who has the most to lose by reducing government spending and government regulations? THE HAVE NOTS.

Now, in truth, government power, spending and regulation should always be questioned and challenged. It is central to our democracy. With out such challenge, totalitarianism can lead to total control by the Haves.

"Once, I had a momentary vision of the future and it was totalitarian."

Why? The cynic in me

Let's face it "self interest" begins at birth, crying for food and attention and ends at death with many hoping for salvation or at least peace. I remember a study done by a consumer protection group. Now these figures are not exact because it has been so long ago, but a "perfect car" was driven into service station by a "little old man" who said "it doesn't sound right". Forty percent found something wrong. I personally took a car in for service and the station said I needed a major repair. I said I would have to wait(expensive) and took the car for a second opinion. Nothing was wrong. A third example, my car was running poorly and it was diagnosed for a very expensive repair. I then took in in for a second opinion and they fixed a loose wire for ten dollars.

I taught Consumer Economics for years and one of my favorite days of the week was Fraud Friday. Every week I presented examples of scams and ripoffs. Basically if something "seems to good to be true" it is in all probability, NOT TRUE. Every class was taught the idea of a Ponzi Scheme(Can you say Bernie Madoff). Every class was taught the definition of a CON man. CON is short for confidence man. In Ponzi Schemes, people are conned by giving huge returns(paying people off by increasing the number of victims).

In the end you have to have your antenna out and be on the alert. But also remember that 60 percent of the service stations found nothing wrong. Second opinions were offered with honesty. And finally the key to avoiding ripoff and scams is to be a bit at least a bit of a "cynic". The key to recognizing a Ponzi Scheme is the very large returns on you money and not being blinded by the dollar signs in your eyes.

By the way, I love Consumer Reports, they take no advertising(thus cannot be pressured). This magazine will help you wade through the morass of advertising that makes it difficult to judge the TRUTH about goods and services. It can help balance your cynicism.

why? My investment in Kansas State University

It really began with Dev Nelson, award winning radio broadcaster for Kansas State and the year was 1956. I picked up a basketball game on the radio and I was hooked. Nelson was simply spell binding and in the next 2 years, I followed the Wildcats on their eventual run to the Final Four. I remember driving to Manhattan in the fall of 1957 to watch KU's Gale Sayers beat the Wildcats with a long run. Somewhere in the process of following Kansas State sports I came to the conclusion that I wanted to attend college in Manhattan, Kansas.

It took me six years to graduate from K-State because I ran out of money and went to work for the city of Manhattan for two years. In those 6 years(1958-1964) I saw some very poor football and some of the greatest basketball ever played at any college anywhere.

Upon graduation my wife, Carolyn, and I found lifetime employment in Pratt, Kansas. For 38 years we taught and raised our family in what I consider the finest small town in Kansas. In those years we drove to Manhattan many, many times to attend football and basketball games. In 1982, my cousin, Darren Gale, was a starting safety for the Kansas State football team and we purchased season tickets. Bill Synder-beating Nebraska, bowl games, the Big 12 Championship. Today we still hold 5 season football tickets.

My son and I saw Mitch Richmond's last game in Ahearn Fieldhouse. My wife and I had a great time with our season tickets to Kansas State Women's Basketball: Oldhe, Wecker, Mahoney, Lehning, winning the Big 12, winning the NIT in Manhattan(12,00 there).

Time and money - We have donated to the Ahearn fund for 30 years and I spend at least an hour a day on GoPowerCat.com, following my Wildcats. "The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat". My greatest memories are beating Nebraska with snow falling and players making snow angels after the game and stunning #1 Kansas 84-68 at Bramledge on Valentines Day in 2011. I must say the investment was "absolutely worth it".

Why? Life is a Greek Tragedy

First, my definition of Greek Tragedy. In my lifelong fascination with history, I developed a sense of the term Greek Tragedy that cannot be found by googling. To me, Greek Tragedy means that life is doomed to tragedy and you cannot stop it or avoid it. The Greeks met the challenge anyway. do you understand? You will face tragedy, but you must rise to the occasion, meet it, go all out to defeat it, even though in the end you know you may fail.

Let me remind you of my personal philosophy -"you may beat me, but I am not beaten. I cannot be defeated or beaten by anything or anyone. I will never,ever give in or give up. Even in death I am not defeated".

Remember, "We are what we believe". "We are what we think". If you want to think misery,fear, sadness, depression, that is the person you will be. I choose to lift myself up, not down and so should you.

Why? would an email lose friends

I sent the following email to a few friends who had been sending copious amounts of web fabricated anti Obama material
Out of the closet I am a Liberal Republican That means liberal on social issues and I believe less government is better and that people will for example, take advantage of government aid when they don't need it and that the welfare system traps people and at the same time I believe heath care is a right not a privilege and on and on. Anyway I blog. really only for my grandchildren to know me some day. http://greatestquestion.blogspot.com/
Now my point is that I keep receiving anti Obama e-mails from my friends. I have said nothing until now. . This country is in big, big trouble. Now I would tell you that I have a Master's Degree and taught History and Economics for years and years and Only mention this to explain that my opinions do not come out of thin air. And it is my opinion that the Republican Party has been hijacked by the Far Right and instead of trying with all their wisdom and might to help the country the "Party of No" is pushing for Obama's failure to win control of the government. Understand this means they want not to help the county, but only to help themselves. Make no mistake, this country has and is being controlled by corporations and the wealthy. Now for the kicker. History will judge Barak Obama as one of our greatest presidents. Great presidents serve in the most troubling times and you had better hope I am right.

Sorry, for the rant, but now I feel better. If I have lost my friends, so be it

sincerely, Kurt

TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2010

Why? Tea Baggers Mulling

I am currently in the state of mulling. won't be long. Well the issues seem complex, but in most cases have great simplicity.

Tea Baggers. They believe they have a precedent in the Boston Tea Party. You know, "no taxation without representation", no voting rights etc. Doesn't seem to fit, but the American "right to protest" does fit. I believe the basic problem for the "baggers" is the changing hue of America. If you have a racial bias and many people do no matter what their hue then somewhere deep inside and for some on the very surface is a fear of loss of place. White people are rapidly becoming a minority in this country. But make no mistake, an organized minority can rule in a democracy. The far right , ultra conservative wing of the Republican Party has done rather well in recent years, until the rise of Barak Obama. He of course represents a variety of hues and thus represents the future and the racial fears have been stirred as never before.

Check the the Tea Bagger rallies, they appear to be 100% white. And this is proof of their intent and believe it is intended. Racial fear can it be overcome? Yes, the great mixed hue hope is Barak Obama, but I must tell you I go on line every day with slight apprehension. Can he survive? Another question

SUNDAY, JULY 11, 2010

Why? the "new" left vs right

Left vs right, democrat vs republican , liberal vs conservative, non-noble vs noble. This conflict goes back to the beginnings. I call it the haves vs the have nots. It is the rich vs the poor, business owners vs workers and so on. Of course, this is a simplistic view, but generally true.

But, there are splits within the haves and have nots and it does lead to "strange bedfellows". The issue of racism adds a grim flavor to left vs right brew. The left is in general, the poorer 80 percent of the population. And probably 40 to 50 percent of that group consists of laboring white people. Within that group are to be found the teabaggers and other racists groups. What the racist far right conservative haves have done is to successfully court and control those have nots and have orchestrated the current Republican "just say no" campaign to affect the next election cycles. The smear campaign against President Obama is unprecedented, mainly because of new, instant and really uncensored communication methods. The internet is being intensely used to spread complete fabrications concerning Obama and fellow supporters of the have nots(democrats). "If you tell a big lie often enough, it become truth to many".

The left, split by racism, is being neutralized by this campaign and the real question now becomes, Why? is the left unable to mount a "real" counter attack?