POCKET NERVES
Friday 8 February 2008

    Over 50 years ago in a course on copy writing by Mark Hungtington Wiseman, I first heard the concept of pocket nerves. Mr. Wiseman spoke of the very strong reaction you get from people when their pocket nerve is threatned... meaning their pocketbook.
    The author of the book FOR GOOD OR EVIL - The Impact of Taxes on the Course of Civilization, by Charles Adams believes that all revolutions result from excess taxation. When governments want more money, they usually increase the taxes. And when the tax rates are too high and interfere with the pocket nerves of the population: result? Revolution.
    The other day when a scan of my heart was being done, the operator was not interested in any of my observations re my heart attack. He was just interested in getting the job done quickly but correctly, and then left immediately on another assignment. It seems all of the workers at that clinic were working at full speed (making money). But one nurse did take a few seconds to hold my hand, and then leave. Seems to me there needs to be more positive interaction from patients to medical personnel. I had a lot to say about the influence of the pacemaker on my life, but who cares? Maybe the next doctor I see will get my two page list of the dependent variables. The pacemaker is the independent variable.
     A responsible competent woman in charge of an essential enterprise has been avoiding any conversation with me. I sense she might be afraid of my influence on her position which could effect her pocket nerve?
    At one time when giving out my FREE HUG COUPONS, my timing was off because the other person was about to order some food. The Manager of that business became irate and did cost me time and money as a result. You see his pocket nerve was being effected, not on purpose, but still it was effected. And his reaction was very, very strong. indeed. As a result he did not know how close he was to a law suit from me to him.
    At times when employed by other people over the years I have encountered employees who felt their security was theatened by my high performance. And as a result they set traps for me. I avoided some of their traps, but sometime one of their traps caught me. And when that happened, the employer fired me not realizing he was letting go the better worker. The pocket nerves of the other employees was threatened, they thought, and did what they could to get rid of the threat.
    A local real estate owner threatened one of his commercial tenants if the tenant did not remove certain election signs from his property. You see the real estate owner was threatened, pocket nerves again, by the political platform of the particular candidate for public office.
    And then a landlord who was trespassing upon a tenant's property, and at times stealing food, faced a theat to his pocket nerves when he found a copy of the Landlord & Tenant Act on the table of the tenant's premises. The trespassing stopped thereafter.
    And when an illegal mail strike was costing the economy of Canada billions of dollars, the head of the postal union and two cabinet ministers found their own pocket nerves threatened by a lawsuit in Small Claims Court against them for damages. That action caused people with lots of money to follow the lead. The result was quick. The mail strike of several months came to a sudden stop.
    The use of stickers advising people that premises are protected by electronic security systems prove effective. You see the criminals know their pocket nerves will be effected adversely if there is such a system on those premises. So they tend to go to easier pickings.
    And governments often can NOT afford to lose a particular law suit, and so will do whatever is necessary to win. Because if they do not, their deed pocket nerves will be effected adversely.
    And there are lawyers who are landlords and developers who will do any thing to protect their pocket nerves. They even will do things which are illegal. They use their wealth to overwhelm those without wealth to win. Such persons also file fraudulent accounting statements with the government. And the clerks in those offices do not care when such irregularities are pointed out to them. Such is life.
    Some of the pan handlers, beggars, can be very aggressive because their pocket nerves are hurting. They need money for the necessities of life including food. So the presence of WARMING ROOMS in any city can help prevent such agressive panhandling, and the reduction of crime.
     Even the police suffer from the influence of pocket nerves. For example when there are 30 infractions of the law per hour downtown... the police have other things to worry about. Examine the logic and realize that the costs to the government, and the police, in time and money, for petty crimes has an adverse effective on the pocket nerves of the police and the government.
    Even advertising can get pretty nasty at times. Consider the attacks in the media on the opposition. The pocket nerves of both the accusers and the accused is being effected sooner or later.
    And why do lawyers interfere with the oath of witnesses to tell the truth and nothing but the truth? The pocket nerves of the lawyers would be effected adversely if the witnesses were to tell the whole truth. One day in court I told the judge that I hereby rescind my oath. The Judge and the lawyer were startled. I told the Judge I swore to tell the truth but the lawyer would not let me do so. So the Judge told the lawyer to let me speak. And I did, and I also won.
    It is very interesting the things people do because of the pocket nerves.
    Have you ever considered that the government acts as if the pockets of the people are very, very deep? Is it any wonder that there is very strong reactions at times. Voting is good to change, but sometimes demonstrations are faster.
    And then there are employees who steal from their employers. One such instance on the last day of employment a particular item disappeared from inventory. Because of the status of the parents of the employee, the employer did not pursue the situation. Once again pocket nerve influence.
    What say you?
Pastor William