How Stealing a Chocolate Easter Rabbit Taught Me Who I Should Vote For

If you read, study, and think, it's an easy decision. Harris/Waltz. It's about integrity.

Oct 31, 2024

I was a kid, maybe eight, when I decided to steal a chocolate Easter Rabbit. It wasn’t a planned heist. You could call it a spur of the moment act.

Every day I rode my bike to school. On the way home, I’d stop at the grocery store and wander the aisles looking at the candy displays. I never bought anything. I was saving my paper route money for a baseball glove.

But those displays, so enticing. I deserved some chocolate as much as the next kid. I grabbed a chocolate Easter bunny wrapped in gold foil, looked around, didn’t see anyone, and stuffed it down my pants. I walked around the store a little. I didn’t want to attract any attention by making a beeline outside. Just stay cool. I casually strolled out the door.

I made it. No one was the wiser.

But I had sisters at home. They deserved some chocolate as well. I grabbed my lunch box, that was bungee-strapped to the handle bars, and went back in. I loaded up that lunch box. Filled up the empty spaces with little chocolate eggs. Looked around. Strolled around. And headed back out.

This time, as I exited the store, a man grabbed the back of my neck, with one hand, squeezed tight, and said, “Kid, you’re coming with me.”

He guided me through the store, with his hand still wrapped around my neck, my feet barely touching the ground, trying to keep up, and ushered me into the manager’s office.

The manager called my parents and made me confess my crime. And after guarantees from Mom that I would be ‘dealt with’, they sent me home. It was a long bike ride back.

Mom didn’t say a word. Sent me to my room. No dinner. Sat on the bed waiting.

He came in the room, looked at me, and asked,

“ What type of person do you want to be?”

I didn’t have an answer. I hadn’t even thought about it.

Over the next hour, he lectured me on the attributes required to be a good person. It’s the longest he ever spoke to me in one sitting. It went something like this…

(Don’t worry. We’re getting to the whole President thing.)

1. Be responsible

You are responsible for your actions. No one else but you. Not your buddy that talked you into doing something stupid. It’s not bad luck. Or an accident. No one is out to get you. When you’re older there will be more temptations. More people tugging on your sleeve saying, “Hey, let’s smoke this or drink this or skip out on this.” Doesn’t matter if it’s fair or not. Your actions are your responsibility.

Responsibility doesn’t mean perfect. It means acceptance. When you screw up you take responsibility for your actions. You correct them to the best of your ability. You learn. You adjust your behavior. You don’t blame others.

It’s your fault, period. You did it. Don’t whine.

You accept. You correct. You forgive yourself and move on.

An historical example: Even before he was inaugurated, Kennedy was briefed on a CIA/Eisenhower plot to overthrow the Cuban government. The plot involved training Cuban exiles and dropping them back into Cuba to overthrow the government and replace it with a democratic one. Kennedy green-lighted the project shortly after taking office. It was a disaster. A complete failure in execution, in world-wide perception, and included the capture of over 1000 US military men. Kennedy publicly took complete responsibility for the failure. He didn’t blame his advisors, or the military, or the CIA. He didn’t blame the Eisenhower administration even though they originated the plan. He took responsibility. This helped to restore some faith and trust in his leadership. It set a precedent for his leadership style moving forward and helped him manage the Cuban Missile Crisis in a thoughtful manner.

A Trump example: in response to a question at a press conference about a lack of testing for coronavirus, at a time we now know he was sending testing equipment to Russia, Trump responded, “I don’t take responsibility at all.” And then went on to blame many. many others for the issue.

2. Be honest

Telling the truth is important but living the truth is critical. Let your actions reflect your words. If you say one thing and do another, you’re a liar. You’re dishonest.

Your thoughts may jump around. It’s okay to have crazy, jumbled thoughts. But words spoken and actions taken tell the story. They matter.

It’s easy to fool yourself. Be self-critical. Question yourself. If you’re not willing to stand up and tell your family and friends what you are doing, then you shouldn’t be doing it. If you can’t explain it, then you haven’t thought it through.

Honest people surround themselves with people that tell the truth. Your friends should be able to tell you the truth. Protecting a lie is not friendship. Hiding a mistake or a crime or misstep is not loyalty. If you don’t want to hear the truth from your friends, you are being dishonest.

Doesn’t mean they are always right but listen.

Today, you were dishonest. You were a liar.

A modern example: Warren Buffett has been writing an annual letter to his shareholders for over 40 years. He makes a point of calling out his mistakes and shortcomings. He constantly praises his group of managers giving them credit for the growth of their portfolio companies. In his 1986 letter to shareholders, he points out deceptive accounting practice used in the industry of a recently acquired company, The Scott Fetzer Company. He could’ve kept quiet and just changed the policy. By pointing out this legal, but misleading practice, Buffett demonstrated his commitment to honesty and his unwillingness to propagate deceptive valuation practices even when such practices were advantageous for Buffett’s investments.

A Trump example: Trump refuses to admit defeat in the 2020 election and has continued to lie without one shred of evidence. There were over 60 lawsuits addressing the issue, filed by Republicans and Trump’s cadre of criminals, in multiple states and jurisdictions, in front of many judges including some appointed by Trump and no evidence has been found of fraud. Yet, Trump, to this day, after 4 years of failed lawsuits and no evidence, lies about the outcome.

3. Be compassionate

You need to listen to people. They’re constantly communicating to you, but if you don’t listen to them, to understand them, you’ll never make any meaningful connections, any real friends.

If you don’t listen, you don’t understand. You’re not that smart. No one is that smart. You can’t be thoughtful and make wise decisions without listening.

Compassion takes a level of respect. Start with respect for everyone, period. You can’t understand someone if you’re judging them.

An inspiring example: In 1996, after serving 27 years in prison, Nelson Mandela, as president of South Africa created the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It was one of his first acts after the end of apartheid. The concept was to recognize and forgive acts of racism perpetrated under the previous regime. The committee was granted the power to grant amnesty to those that had committed these crimes, as long as they admitted their crimes, and took full responsibility for their actions. The program did come under fire with some claiming it put the an emphasis on reconciliation and redemption over the rights of the victims. However, Mandela and Reverend Desmond Tutu remained steadfast in commitment to compassion towards their former oppressors.

A Trump example: After a violent riot at a demonstration led by white supremacists in Charlottesville, VA. over the removal of a statue of Robert E. Lee. Trump said, “There were some very fine people on both sides.” That’s it for compassion from Trump. Praise for white supremacist.

4. Pass the praise to others

Humans don’t do well on their own. We need each other. You will do many great things in your life but you won’t do any of them without help.

Life is unfair and failure is a part of the journey. You will lose more than you win especially if you don’t ask for help. And when you do win, it’s because of the work of others. It’s because the opportunities you have. It’s because the community you live in.

This is hard to grasp. You do not have full control over the outcome of any task. Life has a way of crushing your plans. You do have control over your effort. You do have control over your response to the end result. It is not about you. It’s about your family. It’s about your team. It’s about your community. A good person realizes this. An immature person thinks it always about them.

Find someone to thank for each and every one of your successes. Take all of the blame and responsibility for each and every one of your failures. This will build trust. You’ll trust yourself. Others will trust you.

A world changing example: Dwight D. Eisenhower was the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force. It was a grand title and a powerful position. He lead the team that planned the D-Day invasion during World War II. Prior to the invasion he gave a speech to the troops. In the address he stated, “You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.” Not a single ‘I’ in speech. He didn’t make the speech about himself, constantly deflecting and giving full praise to others. Except when it came to failure. Eisenhower prepared a speech for failure. It went like this, “Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based upon the best information available. The troops, the air, and the Navy did all that bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt, it is mine alone.” He didn’t blame it on others. He was prepared to take full responsibility. This is leadership.

A Trump example: When asked in 2016 about his refusal to disavow support from David Duke, a former Grand Wizard of the KKK, Trump said, “There’s nobody that’s done so much for equality as I have.” He claimed responsibility for civil rights advancement by saying anyone could join his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach. Well, as long as they have the $1,000,000 initiation fee.

(These leadership examples and others can be found in Ryan Holiday’s book, Stillness is the Key).

5. Be a leader

I’m not asking you to push your way to the front of the room and shout louder than everyone else. That’s not a leader. A leader lives a life according to the principles we’ve talked about and is willing to stand by these principles even when it may hurt them. It takes courage.

Sometimes, it’s hard to know what the right thing is. Honesty and the truth don’t come easily. They take thought. And empathy. Most ‘truths’ are not black and white. Don’t be afraid to change your mind. Accept your new way of thinking. Correct your action to match. Move on.

A leader must be constantly seeking new knowledge. People drive progress, not through looking backwards, but by going into the unknown. It’s scary. Many people get stuck. But just solve the next problem. It’s a step by step process.

You’ve failed yourself. It’s a problem that you need to resolve. Decide. What type of person will you be? A good person must first manage themselves. And maybe that’s all a good leader is, just a honest, compassionate, person that keeps working, learning, and moving forward.

Decide.

The principles I want in our leaders

It’s not about the party, or the policies, or even the ideology. I want our next President to be a responsible leader.

It’s about these simple concepts explained to me by my father with an intensity I’d rarely seen. They may seem old but responsibility, honesty, compassion? But they don’t go out of style.

A President’s duty is to uphold the law. This requires honesty. A leader’s duty is to inspire, guide, and support their team while maintaining integrity. This requires compassion. It requires putting society’s needs before their own.

I’m voting for the candidate that best fits these attributes. No need to make it more complicated.

You decide.

Think about it…

It’s simple.

All you have to say is, “I support facts, science, and women’s rights” and the Republicans know you aren’t voting for them.
Pause for a moment and consider what an indictment of their ideology that is. - Walter Rhein

And on another topic.

I’ve been more and more concerned about the homogenization, in other words, the monopolization of our thoughts. I dropped a quick note on it earlier today:

How do you like living in the United States of Monopoly?

Watch out.

Monopolies in our modern society are extending their creepy little tentacles into areas we’ve not thought were susceptible in the past.

Sure, we have traditional monopolies:

Food & Beverage - controlled by about 8 companies. And only 3 companies control the vast majority of the seed market.
Retail distribution - There are only two in most industries. Walmart and Amazon, Home Depot and Lowes, Walmart and Kroger, CVS and Walgreens, and on and on.
Tech - Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft
Pharma - Pfizer, J&J, Merck
Energy - Exxon/Mobil, Shell, BP, Chevron

But the impact on innovation, and pricing aren’t what disturb me the most.

Our very thought is becoming monopolized.

It’s:

Red vs. Blue
Liberal vs. Conservative
Rich vs. Poor

Wealth and market accumulation by the few creates a monopoly on influence. It creates a monopoly on thought and viewpoint.

We are exposed to a limited, select group of viewpoints.

And our media, our press, have voluntarily jumped on these viewpoints for ratings and money.

Fewer options of thoughts puts more of us in conflict.

Don’t let others monopolize your thoughts.

Think for yourself.

(And this doesn’t mean to embrace conspiracy theories. It means to research and learn and evolve your thought processes.)

Read. Share. Vote. It’s how you fight back.

Thoughts?

Do it…

Watch it: This is one I didn’t think I would like but it’s turned out to be a blast. Harrison Ford steals the show. Check out Shrinking.

When was the last time you went to the movie theater? It was once a weekly thing for my family. Not anymore. Miss it. Might venture out to see Venom: The Last Dance. Loved the first two.

Read it: Heather Cox Richardson: Oct. 29th, 2024. Always an important read.

Fiction wise I just finished; Guide Me Home by Attica Locke. She’s a favorite of mine. This is the third and final(?) book in her Hwy 59 trilogy. It’s as great as all of her writings. If you want to start at the beginning with this series it’s: Bluebird Bluebird.

Listen to it: Always a favorite. Here you get a little jazzy rift on the blues. Plus, I needed this to cleanse the palette. Riveria Paradise: Stevie Ray Vaughan. I don’t usually listen to anything when I write, but if I do, it’s this one. I just let it roll over and over again.

Quote it:

Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing about. — Ben Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanac, 1738

I get it. But sometimes you have to write a lot of crap before you get to something that’s worth reading. So just write. The life part will come. As long as you’re thoughtful about the day-to-day.

Brain-Slap

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