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Where did simple go?...or better yet, who stole it?

By Dennis Burgess

Property Manager with AmeriTeam Property Management SL#3200658

October 22, 2011 03:19 AM

Where did simple go?...or better yet, who stole it?

I know, I know...I'm full of wacky, CRAZY questions lately- and this is just another one for the heap.

But about half of my office spent Thursday in Fair Housing class. It's a mandatory class here- and I'd expect little difference elsewhere. Both Florida and Alabama (where my other license is) have Fair Housing and quadrennial ethics classes and core law classes of some sort- and I'd figure it's about the same throughout the greater portion of our blessed nation.

In the Fair Housing world and other arenas, thick books with a bunch of case studies and cartoon-ish pictures have long replaced good, old-fashioned common sense. Yes, somebody stole simple- and I want 'em to bring it back.

Where did simple go?...or better yet, who stole it?

Lest anyone think otherwise (Liberal Left, for example), I am in no way caling for an end to the classes I've just mentioned. No, I want them to hang around as long as they're needed. I'm calling for an end to the need for them. They say "common sense has become far less common" (whoever "they" are), and the classes are needed until a thief brings that back, too. I think we're in for a long wait, though- 'cause there's a dang good chance he pawned it and it'll never see day's light again.

Here's Dennis Burgess' Down Home Fair Housing Class for you. It's only 6 words long and you don't get any CE credits for it, but it's free- so stop your complainin'! Treat folks right. Treat folks fairly. Congratulations, you've now graduated from Dennis Burgess' Down Home Fair Housing Class. No, you don't get no dang diploma. You didn't really expect a class with more words in it's title than in the actual course material to spend money on parchment- did you? Come on, now...

Where did simple go?...or better yet, who stole it?

I've been known to inject a bit of humor into a situation from time to time, but some things are no laughing matter. One of those things is how we Americans have gotten so caught up in "Hustle!" here, "Hustle!" there, cater to this special interest and cater to that one. We've forgotten how simple things really are...or once were:

Don't steal other folks' stuff.

Don't kill anyone.

Don't lie, don't cheat, don't abuse your wife or your kids.

Don't accept it when your fellow man does any of these things. Don't be afraid to call a cheater a cheater, a liar a liar or a thief a thief. Love your fellow man, but hold him accountable for his actions. Demand of yourself that you do your best to treat folks right.

This kindergarten-era line of thinking can travel with you from the sandbox to the pine box. Simple has gotten a bad rap and it's been stolen- but it's still not a bad thing nor a bad way to live.

There's beauty, truth and college-level schoolin' in one of the most simple songs you'll ever come across- one with no hidden meanings, double-entendres or innuendos: Jesus loves me, this I know- for The Bible tells me so. It's as simple as it's ever been- it's we that have changed.

Where did simple go?...or better yet, who stole it?

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John Souerbry

Cordon Real Estate - Fairfield, CA

Homes, Land & Investments

Dennis - did you just steal the 10 Commandments to put in your class materials? I think Moses or one of those fellows wandering the desert owns the copyright.

Oct 22, 2011 03:27 AM

Rob Arnold

Sand Dollar Realty Group, Inc. - Altamonte Springs, FL

Metro Orlando Full Service - Investor Friendly & F

Even simpler just obey the Golden Rule - do unto others as you would have them do unto you. The government doesn't want you to discriminate but they love segregating people into classes and races as almost to perpetuate the issue.

Oct 22, 2011 03:32 AM

Dennis Burgess

AmeriTeam Property Management - Mid Florida, FL

Orlando Property Manager and Realtor

Hi, John: Thank you for stopping by, and for your comment. Wellllll, it's a close one. My materals dealt with treating folks right and fairly, so there is a bit of overlap with The Good Book there. I'd call it collateral material- but can't help that the Spirit stays in me! Good thing I'm forgiven...

Oct 22, 2011 04:04 AM

Hi, Rob: Thank you for stopping by. Absolutely true. It also doesn't help that discrimination cases stand alone in that you have to mount an affirmative defense- you're guilty until you prove yourself innocent. That's at times a tough hill to climb when they tell you not to ask questions about race, for example- then look to slam you 3 years later when you can't recall who was of this one or who was of that one.

Also rough that, as you may know, in Fair Housing cases the government will appoint the complainant an attorney at our expense in order to come at you and slam you. Tough.

But yes, living right all the time renders all of the classes- even mine- unnecessary.

Oct 22, 2011 04:12 AM

Mike Carlier

Lakeville, MN

More opinions than you want to hear about.

Why and how did simple evolve to volumes of explanations and clarifications? The reason is that there are people who would rather find loopholes in every facet of their lives than abide by the intent of the simple message.

Oct 22, 2011 05:17 AM

Hi, Mike: Thank you for stopping by, and for your comment. So true, and even found in the churches where folks understand what The Word is- yet look to find other words to get them out of things or excuse things.

Oct 22, 2011 05:38 AM

Broker Nick

South Florida Real Estate & Development, Inc. - Coconut Creek, FL

Broker Nick Relocation Broker Service

Featured - This post is now featured in Silent Majority Group of Active Rain!

Oct 23, 2011 02:53 AM

Hi, Nick: Thank you for stopping by- and for throwing me up there as a feature!

Oct 23, 2011 09:20 AM

Dale Terry

Yadkinville, NC

Dennis, only the government can commit fair housing violations and not get punished. They do it everyday. That is the class we need.

Oct 23, 2011 10:50 AM

Hi, Dale: Thank you for stopping by- and for your comment. It's tough to come up with a list of things I'd like to see come out of this upcoming election cycle and prioritize them- once you get past the obvious #1 in bringing 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue some new residents and a makeover.

I hope, though, that enough folks stay in the race that issues can be raised that carry on past the elections themselves. I want to see folks get fired up about their candidates...heck, I just want a vast number of them to spend a few minutes voting! So if you think about it- how can we expect folks to be concerned about piddly little things like Fair Housing, when they're not concerned about voting for the next leader of the free world?

Initially, something needs to draw one's attention- following that, there's gotta be a catalyst for real action. We're still stuck in the attention phase.

Oct 23, 2011 12:47 PM

Where did simple go?...or better yet, who stole it?

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