Tuesday, December 21, 2010

A Brief Thought On Commonality

It occurred to me, after the fact of my latest post, that I mentioned that FDR and LBJ perhaps did more for the common people of this country than any other presidents.

I have an IQ that actually got me into the Mensa Society. (Although, admittedly, I am a relatively dumb Mensan. I got in by all of 2 points.) Anyway, some people would ask me, why in the hell I would want to identify with common people? Shouldn't I regard myself as above them?

I certainly haven't found a position in life that has been above them. I generally work for people who I know are not nearly as smart as I am. Perhaps their EQs (emotional quotients) are higher than mine. I've taken a test on that, and my EQ is very average.

Life is a strange and fascinating journey, and you never know where you're going to end up. God, if he's there, blessed me with high intelligence. But I sense that he also blessed me with a life in which I began poor, and then saw what poor people have to run up against in their struggles for a better life. This, too, was sort of a blessing, and it's a major reason why I trudge on, writing this blog.

There, but for the grace of God, go you. There, perhaps with the grace of God, I have gone. -- MJ

7 comments:

Jack Jodell said...

Manifesto Joe,
We wouldn't have you any other way!

Cletis said...

Joe, growing up in Harlan County, Kentucky like I did teaches one to appreciate a full or even half full larder. Often, we couldn't afford roaches. My father, (UMWA) personified, and his peers changed that. So do men like you. Please continue to kick their respective asses my friend. If you haven't read "Prospectors" on the blog, give it a shot. I've generally been able to find the humor along the way. Cletis

Manifesto Joe said...

Those roaches eat a lot.

Manifesto Joe said...

What is the date of the "prospectors" post? I wasn't able to find it just now.

Cletis said...

Joe, "Prospectors" is under "Creative Sunday #2" December 12th. Cletis

Anonymous said...

Funny you mentioned EQ, I've noticed a lot of people in power and business lack empathy and IQ, but are rewarded for; toxic management styles, delegation of duties, animal cunning, dumb luck, nepotism, birthright, and lobbying for federal bailouts for incompetence and sociopathic stewardship...

-WageslaveZ-

Manifesto Joe said...

Hi, WageslaveZ, you seem to have become a regular here. Always good to hear from you.

I suppose that I should be grateful to be working at any job that enables me to afford mortgage payments. I started life as an absolute nobody from nowhere, who didn't know anybody, so being in the middle of the pack at 54 should be plenty for me. But it does pain me sometimes to see such dunderheads finding their way into high places, and then staying despite their errors and misconduct. Oh, well, I could easily be dismissed for being merely bitter that luck didn't smile so broadly upon me.

But you remind me of something my wife says, and I see now that it's mostly true: There isn't life after high school. Life IS high school.