The strange phenomenon

Dear readers, this week I'll just write to you personally.

I'm wondering if anybody under 30 years old has even touched a newspaper...?

Do you know any younger people who actually will sit down and read a paper or a book?

I remember when nobody used to want to answer the phone. It sat on the wall or on the table. We were children --and nobody ever called us. So why would we want to even go over there to answer it?

For 12 years I've been writing about physical, emotional and environmental health.

I've been riding motorcycles for 60 years now. And, I can't believe I've been doing health education or over 40 years (but not continuously, I was sick for six years after a stroke and heart failure).

The last 15 years have been bonus years for me. I am so lucky to be alive! I now have a son aged four, I was in three art exhibits this year, and I coordinated many outstanding sermons at church. I even got one million views on YouTube!

The strange phenomenon I have to share is the more successful I get, it seems some American people resent me. I tell them about my life here and how happy I am --and they hate me. I'm guessing it's the same here, the happy and well-adjusted people are supportive to everyone who is improving their life... but the miserable people don't like it if you are also not miserable.

Even though cultures are different, and maturity levels very different, human emotions are basically the same everywhere.

I think people in America are very stressed. It used to be Filipinos wanted to go there, but now I wouldn't recommend it.

Unfortunately, we currently have the worst president in the history of America. He has not only damaged America, but the whole planet. His idea to do tariffs was a failure. Starting a war with Iran was a failure. His blaming of Muslims, transgenders, or immigrants for the problem of America has no basis in reality.

The problem of America is that the corporations and the billionaires control everything.

On paper America is the richest country. But in happiness it is not rich at all. The average person is struggling to pay the bills. Also, there are 750,000 homeless people. Once they are homeless, they don't have access to the things they need to pull themselves back up... internet, clean clothes, etc.

About two million Americans are in prison. What that means is the social systems have failed. The government isn't taking care of the basic needs of the people.

Most of the rich people don't want to help. They only want to make themselves richer.

There are ways to protect ourselves in a democracy. We should limit the amount of money that the corporations and billionaires can give towards elections. And if we catch an official purposely lying, they should lose their job.

As there's lots of false information on the internet, we have to have an impartial agency to monitor the social media companies. And of course, if people are better educated, they can spot false posts more readily.

Richard Baker

Masters of Arts in Education

English teacher retired living in Dumaguete

Honorary teacher of the year 2011