Thoughts Before the Mid Term Elections

 I have made a personal decision not to discuss my political views on social media. This is because I have seen it break up friendships and families. Recently, a friend of mine has begun to post and repost political comments on social media which are very different from my beliefs. I still consider him my friend because of our history and who I believe he is as a person. I believe everyone has their right to their opinion and that shouldn't make them less of a person, since it is your actions that really count in identifying who you are. One of the things he mentioned was that people continue to talk about Donald Trump negatively and don't talk about the good and generous things he has done. I don't have a hate for Trump, and I would suspect that he is liked by many people. I would expect that anyone who has his type of money would have occasions of generosity and philanthropy. These might be things that the media doesn't bring up. 

I personally have some respect for Trump being the best conman I have ever seen. He has been able to convince the majority of the people in this country that he has their interest ahead of his own and that he represents them. This is a person who has never served his country in the military, held any government office prior to the Presidency, or spent any time working a public service or regular nine to five job in his lifetime. Trump had two major mentors who, by his own accord, have shaped him with the following principles for success and to gain power. They were his father Fred who was fiercely competitive, dominating and emphasized toughness and Roy Cohn who was a lawyer and political fixer during the 70's and 80's. They taught him to always attack and never apologize, counter-sue adversaries hard, claim victory regardless of the actual outcome, use social media to control the narrative while attacking mainstream media. 

These traits served him well in business where he ran everything, but in my mind not what you want as a leader of a perceived democracy. However, he was just the right man for a Republican party which for years, since Newt Gingrich had been speaker of the house, have been looking to establish sustainable power in the government by bullying, obstructing and absolutely no compromising with the other party. If there was a deep state it was being created by the conservative wing of the Republican party. The idea is to consolidate power into the executive branch so that control of the government and their plans can be ongoing. By the way, this is the way democracies fall over time. Mitch McConnell was able to deny President Obama for appointing a Supreme Court judge, which allowed the Republicans to place two conservative judges during Trumps first term. The court gave the power to corporations to provide unlimited amounts of money towards the election of candidates. This basically killed the idea of one man, one vote.  

 I don't think Trump is the problem, but the people of the administration are, along with the policies they have convinced him to put into place. Unlike most people I have read the entire Project 2025 document. It is blueprint for everything that is going on now, without considering Trump's own narcissist behavior (wants to change Washington to have his name or stamp on everything including our money) and the belief that he is smarter than everyone (smarter than the Generals, the Economist, the Scientist). This document does have some points which I agree with, but because of Trump's incompetence in these areas, and his desire to have loyalist in positions versus experienced and competent people, the implementation has been horrible and extremely harmful to the country. Reducing government waste and red tape is something that should be done, but to eliminate whole agencies with a proper implementation plan, or to going and reduce experienced staff and personnel as Elon Musk did has proved to be a travesty. Eliminating DEI is in the document as a way of maintaining power and to some extent the white supremacy doctrine.  

Trump and the policies which he is enacting will cause geopolitical unrest. His bullying techniques and poor thinking have us using tariffs, in an attempt to bow to America's washes to enrich itself as country without the cooperation of our previous allies. It is also costing the American consumer considerable pain to rich the President says they should endure. This is again part of the failed thought that if the rich make more, they will let some it trickles down to everyone. People cannot count on America to act responsibly as we enter trade wars, military war with Iran, limited support against Russian and Israeli aggression, and the folly of a President renaming bodies of water, building ballrooms and Arch's at the capital, and continue to push changes in elections based on a debunked conspiracy theory that if he doesn't win someone has to be cheating. 

 I believe in a better immigration policy than we previously had but the current policy with ICE is terrible. They are untrained which leads to the deaths of innocent people. They are not concentrating on going after the worst of the worst or criminals, but a blanket approach to removing anyone of color. This includes people who have been here for decades with productive lives and families. Part of the reason these people are identified is due to the bureaucracy that it takes to become a citizen or even have visas, permits reviewed.

 The fact that Trump is making deals with foreign countries, in cryptocurrency, and American business that are enriching him and his family is also contradictory to everything that we would want from our top leader. The fact that he does these things in plain sight is even more disturbing. I don't know where we are headed but the idea of Make America Great Again appears to be just the opposite. We seem to be going backwards regarding race relations, foreign policy, and even economics. Our national debt is only going larger every year, while the gap between the haves and have-nots is also growing larger. I think that through this Trump presidency our country will never be the same. Love him or hate him there will be a price to pay. 

 

    

 

2025

 Well, it's Christmas 2025 and another year is coming to an end. Now well into the fourth quarter of my life it feels much different this year. While I still celebrate Christmas, it is not the same with no children around. Our children are grown, and the grandchildren are all over the country from California, to Arkansas, Missouri and Kentucky. No one sends Christmas cards anymore to set around the house, and the tree has fewer and fewer presents each year. But Christmas is about Christ and for that I am truly grateful and blessed. 

Over my life I have seen a great deal of change in my life and the country which I live. The things that a second term as President for Donald Trump have occurred are truly mind boggling. As a black man, growing up in a black community, after WWII and during what is known as the Civil Rights era it is truly astonishing. All my life I can truly say that white Americans have always felt that they are the superior "race" and all others are not as good as them. While in America one of the guiding principles that our democracy was built upon was that all "men" are created equal. While it was written, it was never ever practiced. Not for anyone who wasn't an Anglo-Saxon, wealthy, or even a man.

I think things really got bad when something happened that I never expected to see in my lifetime. The election of an African American President, Barrack Obama. While other countries have had women and people of color as leaders, because of America's history I did not see it coming. That is when the rich and white supremist found a leader, or conman, to fight for them. Donal Trump was obsessed with this, and he used his money and mean spirit to do everything to denigrate him and his policies for change.  Make America Great Again was born with an ongoing barrage of lies, misinformation, and insults over the next eight years. Trump part one began with a bang and ended with a botched pandemic response and an attack on the Capital when he lost reelection .

Things weren't great under Joe Biden but as was the case with Obama, he was able to get us through the Covid pandemic and kept the economy afloat while we tried to recover from the supply chain problems and inflation. Immigrations which was a hotspot political got out of control as the pendulum swung from the Trump era restrictions and "build the wall" to open asylum for immigrants needed to escape the gangs and corrupt governments in South America. Everyone wanted a better life in America. Those policies were not sustainable and added ammunition for the America first mantra of Donald Trump and the Republicans.

So now in 2025 Donald Trump was voted back into office and our democracy has been almost unrecognizable. He has shut off the influx of immigrants at the southern border, but the system is still broken. He has spent more money of trying to deport "all" immigrants. While saying that he was going after the worst of the worst, which everyone could support, every day we see people who have been in the country since childhood, now making an honest living and serving the community, being sweep up by a masked military force, even when they are going to court to continue their attempt to "do the right thing to become a citizen". It's true that many of the people have no record at all, are being separated from their families, and sent to countries where they have never lived. Trump has used the USA military to go into American cities and uses them against citizens. This was not what the National Guard was intended for and something that I would see on the news going on in autocratic and underdeveloped countries. 

The office of the Presidency has slipped to the point where it is ok to be a convicted criminal who outright lies, bullies, and denigrates anyone who doesn't agree with him on anything. The moral fiber of our country is at it's lowest point in my opinion with three more years of Trump possible. Trying to be open minded I actually read the Project 2025 plan that the conservative Heritage Foundation put out for Republicans to follow. This is the policy Trump said he didn't know about or had read. There are intelligent authors of the plan. I agree with several parts of it which include the reduction of government and bureaucracy, however I totally disagree with the implementation. It talks about place so much power into the executive branch and particularly the President that the country would become an oligarchy with one individual having immense power, eliminating the checks and balances of our government. The Republicans are following the plan completely, with items like eliminating the department of education, establishing a new department of war, eliminating vaccines, moving away from alternative forms of energy, moving on Venezuela. 

Yes, 2025 will be a watershed year for America democracy and whether we continue down this path. Will we continue to follow the best grifter I have ever seen, or will we become a mock democracy like some other countries I have seen. All great societies have arisen only to fall. The Greeks, the Romans, the Chang, and most recently the USSR. Will America be the next great society to fall. I hope not for the sake of my grandchildren who are in the first quarter of their lives.

Just Thinking Out Loud

 This post has taken me a while to write simply, because there is so much going on in the world today and I am trying to make so much sense out of all the information available. America has always presented itself as a country representing good versus evil. A country with high Christain values and a democracy supported by the people with freedom, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all.  During the 21st century we have allowed our political landscape to be polarized by one major individual, Donald Trump, and also by extreme liberal ideas pushed by several individuals in the Democratic party. The Republicans, who are conservative by doctrine are being controlled by what I consider an immoral, narcistic, and a manipulative individual. This is a person who after losing an election refused to accept the loss and actually incited a riot and insurrection on the United States capital! 

 While many support him because they feel that he is highly intelligent and a great businessman, if you study him, you will see the false facade that has been created. He has obtained wealth, but usually through the loss of others, while others go to church on Sundays, he plays golf. Does anyone even know what faith he claims to be. He is the first person to use profanity regularly as the leader of our nation. Not a great example for our people or others looking towards us leadership. He has established himself as a crime boss with those in other positions (The Department of Justice, Homeland Security, FBI), set to do his bidding of persecuting anyone who speaks out against him or his policies, past and present. He is a multiple convicted felon, as his record will show and not a great deal maker or businessman, as his bankruptcies and international agreement failures demonstrate. This is all in the name of America first.

With this being said, I am not a Trump hater. I just think that America has been conned and at the same time shown some of its real colors. America has always been a country that the founders "wanted" to work towards equal justice and liberty for all but has never had that. Those white Europeans who first came to American took land from the indigenous people already here. When they could not enslave them, they started the slave trade from the Caribbean and Africa. They have never considered black people as human at first, nor equal later. As Black and brown populations have grown the fear of losing this power is in play in all levels of society. 

The Democrats have been labeled as the party of liberals. They speak of taking care of the common man and giving everyone a fair shot at achieving the American dream of equal justice and the achievement of God given inalienable rights. However, they have a major group which is looking for the unobtainable. This Navana where the government provides everything the people need, because as a whole they can do it better than the states and private capitalism can. This is pretty much what is perceived as Socialism or Marxism. Both of which are contrary to our democratic system of capitalism and democracy.

After reading books about views of both parties, I had to look at myself. I have always voted Democrat feeling that the policies and laws they promoted where more in line with my needs and situation, including things like civil rights, health care and assistance for the poor, regulations for industries, and environmental protections. I felt that the Republican party was more involved in promoting business and capitalism for the rich, versus the ordinary citizen. They talked about conservative spending, but always ran up the budget deficit, particularly with their trickle-down economics, which never seemed to work. Once more we have a Republican destroying our economy with the promise of tariffs, bringing in billions (at no cost to us?) and bringing down inflation. His idea of Making America Great Again is to return to the days of white supremacy, limited diversity or inclusion, removal of immigrants, tax breaks for the wealthy (which won't trickle down), and control of international trade (good luck with that).

I am what I call a moderate. I believe in conservatism when it comes to spending and the government. I think we as a country should strive to have a balanced budget which will allow for our most important priorities. I believe our government has gotten too big and could be reduced, but the way that Trump and the republicans are going about it is wrong. You would think that those that we sent to congress could go through the departments in a reasonable manner and collectively look at areas to reduce staff and improve productivity. Surely just closing departments, firing well educated and experience employees, and placing those people with limited expertise into high positions just because they are loyal to you is not the way to go. Clearly, we are at the point where both sides are dug in and unwilling to compromise on anything. They continue to try and gerrymandering the voting process to their advantage for complete domination.

I think that the issue at the Southern border need addressing, but once again the whole immigration issue has been mishandled by both parties. Improving the system and moving money to improve the court system, the tracking systems, and the actual process of becoming a US citizen. The fact that I.C.E. is now a Defacto police agency under the control of the President is similar to the laws that were established to round up runaway slaves. If we were to go after the major criminals' immigrants in our country, I would definitely be in support providing funding. However, they are racially profiling all black and brown people, regardless of their status, age, or criminal background. It is clear that Trump wants all non-white people who were not born here to be deported, and he is even after the constitutional amendment that says if you were born here, you are an American citizen. What is occurring remind me of the history lessons I have read and experienced regarding the fall of great civilizations and other democracies. Watching some US news casts without captions look just like the actions that have been occurring around the world where democracies have failed. Both parties claim that they are fighting against an existentialist threat to democracy. Only time will tell who is right.

I will continue to see both sides of arguments but as a Christain, I have to stay withing my own moral values and compass as I do so. As I look forward, I cannot see a future where our democracy survives what's ahead. I would like to be optimistic, but the number of people that are representing moderates like me are dwindling. The quality of people who are currently in our government is not encouraging. The coming of AI into our society and the aspect of war in various parts of the world cannot be overlooked either. All I can ask is God bless America, please.

What's Going On

 Back in 1971 Marvin Gaye sand a song entitled "What's  Going On". The song was a social commentary and a call for peace, addressing issues like the Vietnam War, poverty, drug abuse, environmental degradation and racial injustice. It offered a vision of unity and understanding as a solution to the world's suffering. I would recommend everyone today in 2025 to listen to the song and see how appropriate it is today here in America.

While our current President and his followers talk of making America great again, they seem to be taking us back to a time was war was a reality. It was Viet Nam then while it is Ukraiane and Gaza today. It was our fight against Communism in a foreign land then, while today we bow as Russia invades and try's to take over a sovereign nation and Isarael kills millions of civilian Palestinians as retribution of their government's military actions. They are both crimes against humanity. 

Crime is up with police brutality against black lives and our President raging a war against immigrants. These are the people who helped to build our country and instead of improving our system for immigration and the way these people can become productive and have a road to citizenship, they have been demonized, rounded up like criminals, separated from their families and sent to foreign prisons. This is to make America more like the 1900's when it was ruled by white males and everyone else bowed to their power and perceived superiority.

Global warming is real and our planet is deteriorating, yet our leader's call it a hoax, because restraint cost them money and power. They now are divesting in environmental protections and alternate power sources to the age-old money makers coal and oil. They also want to isolate us from the world economy with a put America first policy by putting tariffs on "every other country" with hopes of bringing manufacturing back to the USA. What they fail to recognize it was their own policies of catering to the rich and allowing them to shelter profits and make profit overseas which has created this imbalance.

As I see the effort to distort history in schools and book bans my mind goes back the idea of how monarch rule. Win the children and control the narrative in the country. Misinformation and lies are posted so often that they are thought of as truths. After decades of vaccines being used to protect the public against diseases a small group of people can be placed in power to wipe it all away, with no need for proof or evidence that they are bad. I actually heard our Surgeon General in Florida say "who is the government or even I to tell you what to put in your body." You are a doctor and should be the exact person to tell me what medicine I need for my health based on scientific research, not some non-tested theory. to

"Brother,brother,brother there's far too many of you dying. You know we've got to find a way to bring some loving here today."

"War is not the answer, for only love can conquer hate"

"Picket lines and picket signs, don't punish me with brutality"

"Mother,mother, everybody thinks we're wrong. But who are they to judge us because our hair is long"

What's going on,Yeah what's going on. Make you want to holler, throw up both your hands!!!!

Can we get the message?

Are you smart grandpa?

 Recently my grandson asked me how I got to be so smart. I told him that it was because I was old and had lived a life full of experiences just like the one we had just been through. Afterwards I began to think about how I viewed myself and others on this subject.

When I was a child growing up in grade school, I took tests which indicated that I had a high level of intelligence and was placed into a "gifted" program in our school system. I was moved from my neighborhood school and bused to another school and grouped into classes who had been identified the same way. This is where I had my first experiences with integration and discrimination. Among this group that I spent time with during the day I wasn't considered to be that intelligent or even smart compared to others. When I left that world and went back to my world I was still at the top of the class in the hood. I also had to develop what was called street smarts if I was to survive.

As I grew older, I was able to use both my intelligence and smarts to advance. A few years of college to acquire additional book learning then on to the military for some new-life experiences. Even in the military I was able to use my intelligence to get assigned as a Chinese voice specialist and was sent to school in Texas and California to learn the language and put it to use tracking Chinese flight activities while stationed in Japan.

After my time in the Air Force, it was back home to the real world. I secured a job with a tobacco company and spent over twenty years starting from an entry level retail salesman to becoming the first African American Area Vice President. During this career I met many intelligent people who had natural cognitive capacity, problem solving skills, and knowledge acquisition. I tried to learn from all of them. There were others who I saw like myself that were focused more on the practical, social, and the ability to work with others and adapt to various situations. While intelligence is something that may be innate and obtained through education, genetics, environment, and is applied in an academic or theoretical context. Being smart is often cultivated through practical experiences, social interactions, observations and decision making in changing situations.

After being given early retirement from B&W Tobacco I moved on to be VP of Sales for the Kentucky Lottery, where I was able to transfer the experiences and skills I had learned to a new career. In this job I again meet many intelligent people. I also came to realize that many of these people could come up with many ideas, but it was always left up to me to get them implemented. On many occasions there would be a clash between what could successfully be done in a smart way in the environment, and the ideas put forward. This happens over and over in the world we live in today. 

There may be intelligent people in our government. There are others that have experiences, but they are do not match those needed for the job and are not even intelligent. It is hard to watch intelligent and people with experience being fired or replaced by people who are just loyal to a party or person no matter what. Our President is an example of a person whom many people think is successful because he is intelligent. I don't think that is the case at all. He is smart, since he has been able to take the lessons he learned from his father, and people like Roy Cohen & Roger Stone to get things from others to his benefit, including the American people. As a street-smart businessman, he has been able to lie and con people all the way to the most prestigious position in the country. His knowledge of the constitution, government, and the lives of the majority of Americans is limited at best. He will do and say whatever he needs too, to enrich himself, with no real moral or ethical compass. 

At the end of the day, I believe I have some innate level of intelligence which fairly high, and over the years have become smart due having experienced a lot of situations over 75 years. My goal though is a "wise" man. To be able to use my knowledge and experience to make sound judgements and decisions, knowing that I cannot control the action of other, but only my own. To have understanding, insight and be able to see beneath the surface of things. To make decisions that are ethical and assess situations understanding the consequences. I want to be able to navigate life's complexities with understanding, empathy, in a way that reduces stress in my life and others.

That's Right

 I recently watched an episode of Family Feud. During the fast money round at the end of the show Steve Harvey asked the answer to the following question: We asked 100 married men what percentage of the time their wife was right? Both of the contestants answered 100%. However, when the results were revealed, this answer got very few responses. Everyone was shocked, including myself, and wondered who these men were. The #1 answer was 50%. Now my brain tells me that is probably the correct answer, as married man I would be intimidated to not give that answer. I wondered if these men had to give their answer out loud and within earshot of their spouses, or by secret ballot.

After 27 years of marriage I am still getting use to wife speak. I also have discovered when to back out of differences where either one of us could be right. If my wife is wrong, it is better to let her discover it on her own, versus me saying that I was right. I realize that when she says that I loaded the dishwasher wrong, she is basically saying I didn't load it the way she does. There is really no real right or wrong way to load the dishwasher if the dishes get cleaned. Most right or wrong issues in a marriage revolve around each person's perspective on an issue. Husbands of the world chose your battles wisely.

In Plain Sight

 Usually, political corruption and white-collar crime is done in the shadows. Bigotry and racism were once covert and masked in systems and policies, along with outright denials. However, right now in America I am watching all these things happening publicly and in plain sight by none other than our President. Over the past decade I have watched this conman take control of our nation and bullied his way, using the courts and his money, to the most powerful position in the world. Roy Cohn would be proud. 

Trump has used the office of President to enrich himself and his family in ways that no one would have imagined. How is it that he can justify receiving a $400 million dollar tricked out airplane from the Qatar government as a gift while in office. In his first middle eastern trip he didn't do anything to help American interest, but did make deals for his company worth billions of dollars. Investments into his crypto currency business, licensing deals for hotels, and investments in the Trump organization projects run by his sons. This is clearly him profiting from his position with foreign governments. He has even suggested that Isreal take The Gaza strip, killing thousands of Palestinas, and turn it into a joint Riveria with the US, with Trump hotels no less.

His war against immigration has been hyped to use an old white supremacy tactic of fear mongering. The American public has bought into it, but it is only a visible display of his disdain for people of color and anyone who is not white in America. He has used the power of the Presidency to develop what will soon become a Desopo state, with masked ICE agents arresting immigrants, even those here legally or seeking asylum, and placing them in detention center, or worst. I believe in cracking down of immigrant criminal gangs, but his operations are far from just that. 

Every American citizen should be concerned by the power to arrest without due process or recourse. They will come for those who disagree with their agenda next. The ability to protest will be lost. In plain sight Trump welcomed white South Afrikaan immigrants suggesting that they are being persecuted by the majority black South African government. It is no coincidence that three of the wealthiest men in the world are from South Africa and funded his rise to power.

His tariffs are a disaster for the economy and will cause hardship for years to both the poor and the middle class. His allies say he is using them as a negotiation tool, but it appears he is just using them as a means to fund his tax breaks for the wealthy, including himself, and his white supremacy agenda at the end of the day. 

I have watched other countries democracies fall, but usually through a coup or an uprising from protesters. But also, through the promise of making things great by autocratic figures. First by taking party control of the government, then the judges, while making it hard for others to vote or hold free elections. Then the media is silenced to presenting opposition points of view. Those who voice counter points of view are labeled traitors and/or prosecuted. The Supreme court which was stacked by Trump provided him with the power of not being faced with any criminal penalties and he has taken full advantage of it, using executive orders to get his agenda accomplished, whether they are constitutional or not.

WE are currently looking at the dismantling of our Constitution in plain sight, with no one having the power or internal fortitude to stem the tide. They have made it illegal to teach or promote diversity, inclusion, and equality in our current world. We have four years of a man who would be king leading us to who know what. Make America Great again only means take us back to the patriarchy society where white rich men ruled over the people of color and poor people. I'm a baby boomer, so I have seen post war growth, Vietnam war, assignations, the civil rights era, the technological revolution, 911 terrorist attack, decades of foreign wars, the first black President, the Covid pandemic, and now the rise of an autocrat in the "White" House. 

Scandal Episode 2025

 As I watch the Trump second term in office it reminds me of the TV school Scandal that ran between 2012 and 2018. For years Trump and his minions have been pushing the narrative on the American people that there is a deep state operation in Washington, with nefarious players in control of the government. This idea has grown and grown and eventually led up to the January 6th uprising by Trump supporters to overturn the 2020 election. The peaceful transfer of power was no more. While they were not successful the Trump marketing campaign of disinformation, judicial delays, and claims of his persecution by the deep state and the Democrats have led to him becoming President again. 

While I disagreed with some of the far-right policies of the left, I am a moderate Democrat who believes in fiscal conservatism by our government. I believe we can do better to reduce spending while still supporting and helping those in need. Trump has promised a smaller government, but his methods are suspect and are being implemented by an Olivia type fixer, Elon Musk.

In the tv series Pope runs a crisis management company in Washington, DC for high profile clients like politicians, celebrities and public figures, and as an aside she is sleeping with the President, who she helped get elected. Elon is not Olivia (while there is a bromance going on with Trump) he is playing the crisis management role for Trump after having helped get him elected using his millions of dollars. Musk is basically the head of B613 in this scenario.  In the tv show B613 was a secret CIA subdivision that's involved in fixing elections, terrorism and more. While Musk is not that deadly, his title of leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is in plain sight and is setting up Trump for control of the executive branch and the other arms of government. 

While Trump labeled the Biden family a criminal organization, he is actually running the government more like that, with his placement of loyalist on the Supreme Court, House of Representatives, Justice Dept., Senators, FBI, and the Military Dept. of Defense. People like JD Vance, Mike Johnson and Kash Patel operate as consiglieres for B613 and the Republican party.

Immigration acts as a rival gang in the way of Trumps power. All the people from black and brown country coming to take his power as the leader of a supremely powerful white nation. They are taking over.... Yes, the Biden policies were too far right and liberal when it came to immigration, but it was based on compassion. The problem is not the people, but the policies we have to review the immigrants and allow those who are valuable contributors to work and become citizens within a reasonable period of time. A bipartisan proposal was put forward to help, but Trump had his minions vote it down, because it would have been a win for the government in place and hurt his election chances. Now he can move forward with just deporting all this people indiscriminately. 

The next four years or episodes of this will be very hard on the people outside the Presidents circle, and even some supporters who though they would be safe. I think the rural voters and the poor who supported Trump with thoughts of improved lives will bear the brunt of his policies. The upper class and oligarchs will do fine as they continue to reap the benefits of loyalty to their leader. Morals, and empathy for the concept of all men are created equal in this country, have been replaced by misinformation and open lying. Perhaps somewhere in the future someone will be able to step forward and return life where the truth matters, and the government did work for the good of the people.

Left,Right,Uppercut

 Well, the 2024 election is over, and the country has decided that they want to make America great again and that means bringing back Donald Trump as President. His agenda against the progressive left Democrats and drive forward with an army of followers who claim to be right wing ideologist has been successful. I still find it hard to believe that the average American who is suffering, through no fault of their own, can believe that Donald Trump represents the common man and their needs. As a Democrat I do not dislike Donald Trump because he is a Republican and we must defeat them politically. I dislike him because I believe he is a morally corrupt individual and a conman. I agree with fiscal conservatism and human liberalism. When he talks about making America great again, what he actually means is an America "ruled" by white males in control. There is no room for any African American, immigrants of color, LGBTQ individuals, or opposition ideas. 

He riled on illegal immigration, which I agree was out of control. However, both parties have been pushing this problem down the road for years. The system is broken and was never fixed to allow people to enter the country legally, obtain a work visa, and then become a citizen in a reasonable period of time. Instead, they cross illegally and are allowed to work and establish families under the threat of deportation daily. Who will take on the jobs that Americans don't or won't do in farming, construction, and service industries. The drug trade fueled by the insatiable demand from Americans has made criminal gangs and empires prosper here. Now we are looking at mass deportation, which only be a catastrophe of human suffering and a hugh expense for the public.

Trump has always wanted to be accepted into the "billionaires" club and now he has galvanized these people around him because of the power he has obtained. They laughed at him in his private life for his wanna be attitude and will use him now to their own ends. He immediately has gone about dismantling the checks and balances and controls put into place to protect our democracy. The Supreme Court has given him immunity for acts that he performs in office whether they are against the law or not. He is removing anyone or any policy that were against him during and after his first term in office. He is filling positions not based on qualifications, but on loyalty to him.

Our constitution was based at least on the promise that all men are created equal. This has never been the case in America and that's when Trump felt that America was great. The elimination of diversity, equality, and inclusion programs in the government and the corporate world sets back the achievement of this promise to pre 1960s. This decision will not only hurt minorities but also women, poor whites, and a whole generation of our children. This is one of the ways tyrants and dictators take over countries. Misinformation is rampant, dissenters are prosecuted, silence the media, and those with money control public policy to their advantage. 

It is hard not to be a person with pantophobia, but I still believe that God is on the throne and that some good will come from those that do things for evil. Perhaps the tariffs will work, and the economy will improve, and hopefully for everyone. Perhaps Trump's threatening manner will result in some ceasefires around the world and cause for pause by the dictators already in place. My job is to manage my life and my family during a period of unrest, both internally and externally. Hopefully climate change won"t take us out first.

 

Depressed and Blessed

 Recently while just sitting on my couch and thinking about what is going on in the world, I found myself overcome with depression. We have just gone through hurricane Helene. Seeing all the suffering of the people who lost everything in the storm from Florida to North Carolina was heartbreaking. It was even more painful was the fact that I live in the Tampa Bay area.

 I have visited the beaches, coastal cities, and even the inland areas where flooding took place. At the same time my home was spared from any damage, even though we live a mile away from the water in one of the southernmost points of Tampa, near MacDill Airforce Base. The thoughts of what these families will be facing from now well into the future is mindboggling and heart wrenching. 

The whole picture of the toll global warming has taken on our country and the world is horrific. There is really no place to escape. There are heat domes, fires, tornados, hurricanes, floods caused by rains in some areas and droughts in others. 

There are displaced children all over the world who are suffering from starvation and wars. I cannot count the number of requests I receive daily to Feed the Children, Feed the Poor, and others causes. Indians, Africans, Middle Eastern, European, and American. 

The daily news shows us the pictures of those killed in the senseless war in Gaza and Ukraine. These are not soldiers fighting soldiers, but innocent men, women, and children caught trying to live their daily lives. The cities and homes destroyed, and nothing left but crumbled rock. There is nothing left to even be inhabitable. This all based on one ideology that opposes another and has designs to eradicate the other.

Then there is the issue of mass shooting in America and the fact that innocent and not so innocent people are killed every day by guns in our country. I cannot for the life of me understand why it should be legal to have assault guns in this country except for the military and police. The fact that the name itself "assault" indicates that these are meant to assault and kill people should be enough to say they should be allowed for everyday use. The idea that "guns don't kill people, people kill people" is asinine. It is depressing to see another memorial for children or adults killed in mass shooting.

 As I tear up for the Hurricane victim in Florida, the flood victim in North Carolina, the fire victim in California, the starving child in Sudan, and the bloody child in Gaza, I am overwhelmed by the thought of how blessed I am. As a Christain, I believe that God is in control and all the good fortune that has been bestowed on me is from the grace of God. Every day I will thank him for my blessings and conduct myself with the thought of WWJD. I also pray that this country and the world will become a better place for those who will remain after I have passed from this place.

 

Justice-Maybe/Maybe Not

 Recently there has been so much activity with our justice system that it's hard not to discuss. Not only has an ex-president been indited for several criminal crimes, but I have watched tv programs about people incarcerated for crimes they didn't commit as well as those who may have been guilty but never faced punishment. My local newspaper ran a weekly series about a person who spent years in prison for a crime they didn't commit and now what happens next for them. The one thing that stands out for me is that while our system of justice is probably the best in the world it is complicated, and those with power or money can manipulate it, while common or poor people don't really stand much of a chance. Also, whether you believe it or not race has a play in decisions by a supposedly blind justice system. I know this for a fact, as I watched my daughter try to navigate through the legal system after a series of poor choices in her twenties. It is discouraging to see white people extended chances that she would never get.  Charges such as hitting a pedestrian while DWI, even though your driver's license had been suspended three times and two other DWI on your record.

While the things that Trump has done including inciting a riot at the Capital, retaining classified documents after leaving office, tax fraud, and probably many other things that were never pursued he uses his money and lawyers to delay trails, find loopholes, and will eventually not face what any reasonable individual would consider cut and dry crimes. His New York trial regarding misrepresentation of campaign finances was a weak case at best and 34 charges all about the same crime is overkill even for someone like me. At the same time the current President's son is on trial for buying a gun and checking a box that said he wasn't an addict at the time, when he was. It was a first offense, he didn't even load the gun, and had it for eleven days. Anyone else would have gone to court got a fine and a probated sentence, but not in this politically charged environment. 

It is painful to see these things happening and envisioning a future where the rich and powerful control the system in a way that maintains their power over minorities or people who disagreed with them.  People say that things swing like a pendulum, and that we must speak out to clean up the system and the partisanship politics that has helped to politicize democracy and its many great systems and institutions. Unfortunately, I feel like this is not a pendulum but a sludge hammer, that is on the downswing.

Day by Day

 As I have aged, retired, and continue to learn wife speak I have become a person of habit in the mornings, I normally get out of bed between 8 and 8:30, after having gone to the bathroom at least three times during the night. Fortunately after these excursions I am able to get back to sleep easily. My fit bit says I normally get two hours of deep sleep, four to five hours of light sleep, and about fifteen minutes of awake(pee) time. After getting up I go about my morning ritual of washing up, brushing my teeth, and shaving (head and beard). I then take my morning medications put on aftershave and get dressed. As a creature of habit I always make up the bed (by now my wife is also up and out of bed). This seems to set up the organization of my day. Down the stairs I go to turn on the coffee maker, plug up my phone to it's charger, and open the blinds at the windows to get that morning sunlight and see what's going on outside. 

I make my morning cup of coffee (got to have it) get my laptop and set down at the kitchen island to read the morning newspaper. Yes I still read the paper. I used to get a printed copy, but they were so sporadic with delivery that I now just go digital. Yeah for me. I could fix breakfast, but I have learned that it is best that I stay out of my wife's domain here. Since my life resembles the "Pickles" comic strip, by Brian Crane in the newspaper (I highly recommend it. I get my morning smile everyday from it) I know that I have to have instruction from my wife on egg cooking, elimination of crumbs from the counter, pan usage, and a variety of other issues. While she may not want to do all the cooking (she really does) she feels it is necessary. I think her OCD and germaphobia may have something to do with it. 

I turn on our Sonos music, which is relaxing to me, and listen to whatever Pandora station I'm into this particular day. No TV till after 4:00 in the afternoon. Mostly news then, which is always pretty depressing. After these morning rituals the rest of each day is up for grabs. Do we need to go to the grocery, a doctors appointment, retail therapy for my wife, book reading, walks in the park, workout at the gym, trip to the beach or new restaurant. There's always housework and planning for travel trips.

The evening activities start with the evening news and then identifying what we are going to watch on TV. We have a list of programs for each day including reality tv like Survivor, Big Brother, etc. Then there are the dramas, comedy, and of course sorts shows for me. Basically when people ask me "How's it going?" I normally think " the same sh--, just a different day." But that's life, an accumulation of events and experiences. and I am blessed to have them day after day.

Is the context important?

 With the terrible attack by Hamas on Israel, I felt it necessary to think about what this war is all about and how it started. While I know that there is a biblical context to this whole story as it relates to Christianity, Judaism, and the Muslem religions. Many of the spiritual locations should as Jerusalem are key parts of these religions. Wars and have occurred for centuries in this part of the world between ethnic groups. As a baby boomer the back story to this current war occurred as I was just a child and as I grew up I only heard about the conflicts themselves.

Before World War I this area of the world was part of the Ottoman Empire and was called Palestine. It was populated primarily by Arab Muslims, some Arab Christians and Jews. Most Jewish people lived in Europe or outside of Palestine in the Middle East and the Americas. Over time populist movements developed where Jews wanted to return to Zion, hence the term Zionism, and the Arab Nationalism. In the late 1800's there was a movement in Europe by Jews to return to motherland and an antisemitism movement began in Russia and Europe. In 1917 after defeating the Turks, this area was under British military rule. After WWI an agreement was struck that established this area as a Palestinian state and established it as a national homeland for Jewish people. 

After this there were many conflicts between Jews, Palestinians, and the British occupation forces leading up to WWII. Hitler gained support for the Middle East by committing to eliminate this homeland for Jews in Palestine and the British control in the region. He went further with the Holocaust. After WWII Palestine was divided up by the United Nations and ongoing accords. An independent Israeli state was created in Palestine with various portions isolated for the Palestinians within it. A war ensued between Israel and surrounding Arab states in 1948. This resulted in a victory for Israel and they annexed more territory. 700-750 thousand Palestinian Arabs fled or were expelled and became refugees and were not allowed to travel into what was now considered Israel while 850,00 Jews fled or were expelled for Arab countries. Violence was ongoing during this period with several short wars thorough the late sixties.

After the defeat of Arab countries during the Six Day War with Israel political and military factions of the Palestinians began to surface. Extreme military groups began establishing strongholds with Hamas become the most established. It mantra is the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people for the pain and suffering which they have subjected the Palestinians too. There is no more room for discussions on a split of the into two states. One for Palestine and one for Israel. Because of ideology it is not possible for these two sets of people to share the land when both claim it for themselves. Context is an important part of understanding both sides of an argument, and history has brought us to the point where we are now. The Palestinians want a free land of their own, just as the Jews have wanted for centuries and now have. 

I don't have any idea about what the outcome of this latest war will be, but I am sure that it will not be a positive result for our world and its future. Hamas does not represent "all Palestinian people. It is an extremist group that has a stated mission of the annihilation of Israel. Talks of peace or even a two state compromise in the area is a threat to them. In my opinion this is why they attacked and not due to anything that Israel had recently done.  Win, lose, or draw thousands of lives will be lost and this area of the world will be devasted. As both sides should say, "God help us".

 

 

Aging Pains

 As I get older the little aches and pains become more prevalent. While I am in fairly good physical health the need to do more stretching and have a better diet is not lost on me. I have learned that my wife on the other hand takes her health and aging as catastrophic. Keep in mind that she is what the younger people say is "extra" about everything. The fact that she has legitimate pain and issues is very real. One thing that affects me though is that she is a terrible patient. If I try to help or give suggestions, they are readily dismissed. At least until she can review are read something on the internet which suggest just the same thing I said. 

Also most pain or issues are "extreme" to her. Because of this it is hard for me to determine what is serious and what is not. If we are walking, or she has a hot flash the typical response is that she is "sweating like a dog" or "she is hot as he--". This also causes a variety of temperature adjustments to room and car temperature. 

The other thing I have noticed, and I don't know if this is a thing with older African American women, but she will identify a pain or a problem but doesn't want help from a doctor or a specialist on what to do. It's like they are afraid to go to them because they believe they will get bad news, find out other things are wrong, or are afraid of "possible side effects". Now all of these are reasonable but for a person like me it amounts to living your life in fear of the unknown. My wife has a more holistic approach to her ailments and pain and believes in finding natural ways to deal with them. This does also allow her to continue to have them ongoing to some degree.

While I hate to see her in pain and do whatever I can to help through it, she is the boss around here. Like the old show "Father Knows Best" , my "Wife Knows Best" and one of my jobs as a good man is to support her when and wherever I can. On the flip side as the boss she "always" is looking out for me and my health. This is one of the ways I know she loves me. And I love her.

A Crossroad

 When I retired to Florida I had several good reasons in mind, and after four years still believe they were and still are valid. The weather, cost of living, taxes, and attractions all make it a great place to live. When I first arrived, we had to endure the last year of the Trump "dynasty" and the beginning of the covid pandemic. The transition to Joe Biden and the democratic government has been rough, particularly with Trumps allegations of a rigged election and the riot at the capital, caused by it. But now my concern turned to what comes next. 

Our governor, Ron DeSantis has an agenda that I am more fearful of than Trump's. Trump was basically a narcissist, racist, and individual with no real knowledge of government. A bully who had power, leading those who had been undercover in their fear of losing it. DeSantis, on the other hand is intelligent, with knowledge of how politics work, while still having the desire for power and control. His "culture war" against what he calls as the "woke" establishment is horrifying, particularly for those who look back over history with a purpose of learning from our mistakes and successes.

While Florida has a critical need for property tax reform, an insurance network which is in catastrophic trouble, a teacher shortage and a public school system which continues to get worst, environmental issues, along with a health department that rails against prevailing science, our governor is off on a cultural based on "us versus them". Since he has obtained a Republican/conservative majority in the legislature, he has gone about his work with surgical precision, taking control of local and state boards. Overriding the vote of the people in many cases to put those in charge who will do his bidding. He has used the pretense of giving parents more control in schools and over their children, with his anti LGBQ policies, banning books, and any efforts to teach anything that does not show white America in a positive light. He incited people at the teaching of "critical race theory" (which by the way was not taught in elementary classes) when he didn't even know what it is and has never even taken an African American Studies program his career.

This is a politician who has persuaded individuals that they live in the free state of Florida when at every turn they are having government interjected into their lives. How they can/cannot vote, what they can read, what they can say, what medicines they can use, and many other things. Many policies are pushed based on the governor's agenda and not from the majority of the population. It is easy to see how a move to charter schools a plan is to eliminate the public school system or at least change it to a second-class system for poor and minority studies who can't afford anything else. The "state" will be able to teach history it sees fit and "indoctrinate" our children, just the way they say they are being indoctrinated by liberals today. In the meantime, average people will suffer from devasting climate events with no coverage, raising taxes and interest rates forcing them from their homes, limited health care and assistance from their government, and forced to toe the line or else.

I fear for the future of my grandchildren, when this type of leadership is the alternative for America's future. And that is only if we don't succumb to World War 111. Remember history and how the last two World Wars began? The opponents to the Trump's and DeSantis's of America are not out there now, but they will need to be developed if we are to survive. At least in my mind. While both sides of our political arena talk about the "policies of the elite" on the other side, there aren't many average Joe's in positions of power. Racist policies and those like gun policies based on misrepresented constitutional amendments, will keep us from realizing the dream for this government experiment.

 

Is your house a home?

 When I retired a few years ago my wife and I decided to downsize and relocate to Tampa Florida. We enjoyed the city with its weather, beaches, attractions, restaurants and all-around livability. We moved into a two-bedroom condo in a gated community, made some renovations and I was pretty happy. I didn't take long for me to see that this would not be our retirement home for long. My wife became fascinated with the thought of selling or renting the condo to make money. My house was no longer a home but an investment. Now I like making money s much as anyone, but as I have told my wife on many occasions real estate has no attraction for me. While she scanned realtor apps and housing in Tampa I went along because I want to support her interests, as we are a team. 

After living in the condo for a and a half, and managing our funds to pay off the mortgage, her itch to move reached its peak. We had been walking in the neighborhood park during the pandemic year and had watched a group of townhouses being built. After they were completed, we had to see what they looked like inside. My wife loved them, even though they were three stores with steps and cost twice as much as the condo had cost. She convinced me it would be a great "investment" (which it was) and we could rent out the condo to help pay the higher mortgage. Now that we have furnished it, I really like my "home" and enjoying living in it.

However, once again it is not treated like a home, as talk revolves around what we can make when we sell it. Because of the housing market here in Tampa, both the condo and the townhouse have appreciated considerably. However, I cannot be comfortable with every decision and topic of discussion geared around selling. Every trip out is peppered with looking at houses and what might be for sell. Seating, flooring, painting, appliances are all highlighted by what it means to a seller versus what it means to me. Because of the size of the townhouse and the fact that my wife it pretty much a control freak who feels that she has to do everything, makes it hard to just relax. Everything in terms of cleaning is exaggerated. And everything must be in the place. For I guy I think I'm pretty neat and organized but usually I'm the somebody who has or hasn't done something.

Well, we'll probably be moving again in a few years. A process I dread but will be necessary. I don't have many years left, but I'm sure my final "home" will be great, as long as I my project motivated wife still tolerates me being me.  

The Roaring 20's

 In the twentieth century the 1920's were exciting as people maneuvered through a stylized decade of fashion, culture, and economic prosperity. There was prohibition, and people went to Speak Easys to get their groove on dancing and showing off their stylish dress. While there was a Harlem Renaissance you heard little about the Tulsa race massacre. In many major states women won the right to vote. The media hit us up on the new tv medium along with new sport stadiums and cinemas. The Wall Street Crash of 1929 ended the era as the Great Depression brought years of hardship worldwide.

Well, now I am in my roaring twenties, starting with 2020 and things aren't looking to good. First off, our President Donald Trump has been spreading the big lie that the presidential election was stolen from him and he refused to concede power to our new president Joe Biden. Him and his supported attempted to stop the peaceful transfer of power by storming the capital building on January 6th. People died including police officers as the rioters were eventually contained. However, this was a direct attack on our democracy by an individual would want to become an autocrat here America. 

During this time in 2020 the world and the United States was struck by a worldwide pandemic. Covid, as it was labeled ravaged to US and before it was contained over a million people would die from the disease. A vaccine was developed and by social distancing, wearing masks and taking the vaccines when available me and my wife have been able to avoid infection for now. However, the virus is still with us and because of the world supply chain has been severely disrupted along with worldwide economies. People have lost jobs, homes, and the inflation rate has soared.

The new President has addressed these issues by providing stimulus packages and programs to help as many people as possible but that has helped to push inflation as people begin to spend more with less supply available. The housing market has soared as interest rates were at all-time low with limited inventory. I was able to refinance my home and pay off our condo while my equity in both properties increased by 13% in 2021. Things economically are a mess as the Feds try to curb inflation by raising interest rates at a historic pace which many say will eventually trust into a recession.

On top of that I have just went thru one of the strongest hurricanes to hit Florida in decades. My wife Donna was visiting her mother in Louisville, and I stayed home. Heard of the hurricane coming while she was gone, and I decided to stay in Tampa and shutter our place. We were supposed to get a direct hit but by the grace of God hurricane Ian made landfall south of us. It was disaster for the people Fort Meyers and my heart goes out to them and others more heavily impacted by the storm. This was a storm of the century type of events and will have ramifications on people's lives for decades. Hurricane season is only a third of the way over and there could be more storms to come.

The midterm elections of 2022 are coming and the fate of the country moving forward hangs in the balance. The far right and Trumpers of the Republican Party will try to gain control of the government, both country and statewide. They have already been able to stack the judiciary with conservative judges as demonstrated by the Supreme Court's decision the throw out Roe vs Wade and remove a woman's right to abortion. Donald Trump is still in control of the party, even as he is being investigated by the Justice Department and several states for criminal offenses. One being the taking of classified documents from the White House when he left office. 

Last but not least has been the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. The Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, has declared the Ukraine is Russian land and that the democratic government, who he called Nazis, should be ousted. Russia was already under sanctions for their invasion and annexation of the Crimean Peninsula which was part of Ukraine. The Ukrainians have received military aid from the US and the EU to resist the invasion. They have held off the Russians and vowed to fight for their country, even as they are outmanned. Their resolve has begun to make inroads in retaking territory previously secured by the Russians and exposed some of their weaknesses. Put, with his losses has begun desperate and implied the possible use of nuclear weapons to win the war. He has drafted 300K soldiers. People in Russia are starting to push back on the war at home because of this. This threat of world war is real and makes the world a dangerous place to live in, the roaring 20's.

 

 

Believe It Or Not

 I have discovered that in the world that I currently live in it is impossible to always tell the truth from lies. That is a sad state of affairs. The internet has provided us with an informational engine like no other. However, it has no filter, and, in our democracy, you can say almost anything you want, true or not. The ads for products can tell you they are great on one platform and a complete scram on another. People can observe things with their own eyes but is actually true or some sort of virtual stimulation. Recently, I viewed a segment on 60 Minutes that demonstrated how people are making videos of celebrities, to post on the internet, using artificial intelligence software. They can post video and make claims that the person is making statements of performing acts that they really didn't. How dangerous is this that it may not be possible to believe your own eyes because of possible deception? What impact long-term will this have on our justice system, when evidence can be refuted, and people can just say that wasn't me. It's a fake. And what about everyday relationships, when people can post fake information on social media. Many people are already facing that problem.

The traditional media is somewhat better, but it has its problems too. There is a bad news bias in this area where the bad news is always considered the best news to present. This includes anything the is divisive or controversial. This has a tendency to skew the data. For example, the idea of providing welfare entitlements like food stamps, social security, VA benefits and other services that the richest country in the world should be able to do, the media normal portrays people of color. The majority of these benefits go to white people in this country. Information with visuals of these people might have a better impact on improving these services and everyone would benefit. Immigrants are portrayed as a drain on the countries resources because illegal immigration is the only form of immigration shown. 

 Alot of this problem comes from our leaders at the top of the food chain in our society. It is a "win at all costs" in politics today. The us against them mentality leads to no compromises, and has been foster by the conservative right, basically the Republican party. Of course, they will say it comes from the progressive liberal left of the Democratic party. Donald Trump has led a wave of change where misinformation is the goal. If you say something enough times, to enough people, you can convince the majority of them (or enough) to believe it. Supporters can pass along conspiracy theories for sport and power with impunity. People's perceptions and assumptions are passed along as truth. This type of misinformation will eventually destroy us, as we lose faith in our policies, systems, and relationships. It is a sad state of affairs which I hope we can pull out of, but all the information I get says it will get worse before it gets better. (or is this misinformation)

Gun violence

 There are more guns in the United States than there are people. Why is that? Basically, the answer is greed and a country filled with scared people, either rightfully so or because of a belief in conspiracy theories. The gun manufacturers have developed guns for the military to provide us with a tactical advantage. Then they exploited Americans, using the second amendment to support them, and sold them to the general population. An AK15 is a military weapon which by its very name implies it is to be used to "assault" people and inflict maximum deadly force in a minimum period of time. At one time these were made illegal, but political and powerful lobbyist from the gun manufacturers overturned this act. Background checks to try to ensure that criminals, or people with mental health issues, could not purchase guns were opposed or voted down using the rhetoric that one party of government was trying to take away "everyone's" gun and their constitutional right to have them.

 The constitution second amendment was placed there to ensure that the people were free to defend themselves against a tyrannical government through the use of a capably armed militia. Because our government has become so toxic and polarized, we are suffering from the consequences of having representation by extremist, demigods, conspiracy theorist, and just people who cannot compromise. Common sense is no longer important, but what you can do to keep you power position or generate profits for a capitalist system running off the tracks.

Once again there has been a school mass shooting in the USA with twenty people being killed. Nineteen of these were elementary school children. They were killed by another child (18 years old) who was allowed to buy assault weapons as a "birthday gift". Many people who have their heads buried in the sand say that this person was a monster, pure evil, and this could not have been stopped by any more gun control. I totally disagree with this line of thought. These mass shooters were no more mentally ill than any off us. They we people who have been indoctrinated in a culture that promotes killing and are very "unhappy" with their lives or situations. Their choices are just morally different than what mainstream society would accept.

  

Gun control with background checks, bans on military weapons (and equipment) for the general public will not keep criminals from obtaining guns, but it will be harder. I don't hold anything against anyone who wants to hunt with a gun or have a firearm for home protection. But, you do not need an assault weapon or large magazine automatic to do this. Some politicians say that gun ownership is a human right. That is absolutely not true. Human rights deal with life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Owning a gun is not considered a human right, while having water, food, and shelter  are examples of "human" rights. Having a gun is a "privilege" that Americans are afforded.

Because our country is divided, polarized and unable to accept a win of any kind from those who hold different views, we will suffer these types of unspeakable acts. Nothing will get done until the majority of voters can find a platform which will make the changes. People will have to understand better how our experimental form of government works. The change has to come from the bottom up because those at the top are ill prepared to do the work of the people right now. And maybe I am wrong and what we see now in leadership and voters is who we really are as a nation. And that's my two cents on this subject.

 

Are you watching a movie or the evening news?

 For years I have enjoyed watching fictional action/suspense movies that always pictured an apocalyptic view of our world caused by man or nature. But recently it feels like many of these predictions may have been accurate. With climate change going unchecked massive storms, fires, air pollution, and famine are recking havoc on this earth. War has escalated in places around the world and rushed towards world war and possible mass destruction.

It is painful to watch the nws and not compare some of things I see with movies I've viewed. Our democracy is under seize by those people who believe that the country was built by white people, and they should fight to remain in power. The melting pot that we were suppose to be, is overtaking them and they are afraid. Watching the January 6th storming of the capital looks just a made for tv movie. As in the movies "Olympus Has Fallen", justice prevails and democracy wins....this time. There are twist and turns throughout the plot, with the President of the United States actually being the instigator of the riot with plans to take over the government. There is the conspiracy going on, the coverup, and the untimely deaths of some individuals during the seize. 

Covid came into the world and matched the intensity of a movie like "Outbreak", The world went into survival mode and has been playing out this movie for the past two years. Whole cities locked down in quarantine with places like New York, and Shanghai looking like ghost towns. Even as a "vaccine" was developed and pushed out to the world, hospitals where pushed to the limits, bodies piled up and long lines filled at stadium sites for testing and shots. None was safe as everyone was forced to wear masks and social distance. People protested mandates and loss of jobs and liberties. 

On top of all of this war breaks out in Ukraine as the leader of Russia decides that he wants to have more power by taken back land that was previously part of the failed Communist regime the USSR. This dictator has worked to make himself an autocratic leader for life. An ex KGB office in his previous life it would be an excellent plot for a Mission Impossible movie. The war atrocities that are shown on the news are scenes that would only be shown on movie screens in the past. It is hard to continue to hear the newscasters state the warning that these videos "are disturbing." It reminds me of "Saving Private Ryan".

The world has war going on in the name of religion and racial division. These play out in the news like newsreels. Guns have proliferated in the US that it seems to be going backwards to the ways of what we use to call the wild, wild, west. School shootings, police shootings, and the criminals outgunning the police are common in what was once the land of the free.

While I love a good movie, watching the news pains my heart. While I don't believe it fate or coincidence I do believe in providence. I believe that things are set in place and playout through some master plan. I don't believe I will live to see the end of this movie, but I am not optimistic about the final scenes.