What's Public is Private?
"Sin isn't a private matter, especially when it comes to marriage." That's accurate, but it's not a sentiment you see much anymore, unless you hang out in these kind of literary circles. Yet a columnist at Forbes takes that position when it comes to the Tiger Woods affair. Quite refreshing. When others are chanting the mantra "It's a private matter," she says, "No it's not. Marriage is a social good. When someone undermines it, people care."
I might add, "People naturally care, which is one reason adultery stories attract a lot of attention." In general, have you noticed that cheating stories don't elicit nearly the amount of attention if the couple were merely shacked up or dating? It's when marriage is involved that our culture really stands up and notices. It's a sign that marriage still holds a special place in our culture, despite the sex culture's attempt to destroy it.
Of course, it's pathetic that we have to look to such warped signs for support, but it's still a good sign.
Lead Us Not Into Debt
Megan McArdle attended a Dave Ramsey seminar . . . and loved it. She writes about our culture of debt, and even throws in a reference to G.K. Chesterton (not an everyday sighting at The Atlantic).
Ramsey offers some investment advice (much of which would have struck horror in my business-school professors), but for most of his followers, the main attraction is a simple program: give 10 percent of your income to charity, save 15 percent for retirement, build up a sizable emergency stash and a college fund for your kids, and above all, stop borrowing money. Ramsey devotees pay cash for everything they can. They are allowed only one exception to the no-more-debt rule: a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage. He is so serious about shunning debt that his Web site takes only debit cards; try to pay with a Capital One Visa, and the system rejects the card, then tut-tuts at you. These simple, austere, unbreakable rules are, as Ramsey likes to say, “the advice that God and Grandma gave you.”
I've listened to Ramsey once. I turned him off quickly, though, because the advice was so simple. His advice was almost intuitive for me. Tithing, a 15-year fixed mortgage, a cash stash, savings. Those were things that my wife and I did as soon as we got married, without any coaching whatsoever.
But of course, we did receive coaching: the examples and advice of our parents for 25 years. That's why it was intuitive with us.
It makes you wonder: If Ramsey is so successful with his fundamental advice, how many parents fell down on the economic job when raising their kids?
Christmas in Hollywood
Big Hollywood has been running some good Christmas stuff. Check it out. I found this Ray Charles' video there:
