Yes, I can and do make mistakes. I surely knew that the Microsoft thing was a hoax. What it was, you see, was that I had nothing else to write about and decided to send this chain thing out and see what would happen.  I deserve the scorn that was sent over e-mails. Actually, I’m disappointed in the rest of you – those who chose to throw my THINKING ALLOWEDS on a pile and not read them at all.  I think I answered all those who chose to tell me how disappointed they were and I agreed. Please forgive me and chalk it up to a faint, barely discernable thought that perhaps I could be one of those lucky people who made so much money through the good offices of Bill Gates.

To my knowledge, I have never gotten anything for nothing.  Everything has a price and the most priceless things are those that really are free – like breathable air, sunlight and clouds and, if you are lucky the marvelous vistas of the Western Mountain States.  Snow is good in manageable amounts and we never ask for it and it is given freely – but not in the heat of summer.  You know what I mean.

All the get rich schemes in the world are nothing besides the joy of living and knowing that you have tried to add to the sum of good that can be done for our fellow creatures sharing our space on this Globe. All the plans and schemes of those in power who want only to enrich their friends and supporters and who consign the rest of to a hell of hoping that good can get better for the vast majority - are not seen for the perversion of democracy they really are.

If we are to teach the rest of the world to be like us it would be a travesty for most of us – including those who did not read my forwarded get rich at Bill Gates’ expense exercise – are suckers for the trickle down theories and take care of the top one or two percent of the wealthiest in our country – and perhaps their friends around the world.  Honesty is not rewarded nor is hard work any more.  Only a sucker takes a job that causes sweat and is rewarded with a minimal wage.  That is what we practice and this is what we export and expect that this is what democracy will mean to countries that have only known totalitarianism, dictatorships and degradation of individual rights and civil liberties.

I try to write my essays on things that interest me.  This experience with a get rich scheme was worth a try. Look what it got in return - a few have responded and I produced another essay. It was an interesting experience and, I hope, no one was hurt by it.