politics

Have We Lost Our Way?

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I try to avoid political discussion in any of my posts, whether blog posts, email, or even responses to things on Facebook or elsewhere. Why? Because our country was founded on freedom. We all have a right to make choices, to have positions that may sometimes be in conflict, to express views with only reasonable limitation. Yet, things seem to have changed. And maybe there is a need to sometimes look at how politics affect our daily lives. I can still be friends with those who hold opposing views. When I look at our country today, I ask myself if, as a country, “Have we lost our way?”

As a baby boomer, I suspect my parents, and their generation, asked the same question in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Things were certainly in were far different at that time than they were in the 40’s when all healthy adults were willing to make great sacrifices in the safety and security of our country and the world. As the baby boomers grew into adulthood, dodging the draft became acceptable, the use of drugs became common, and the hippie fashion became the trend. It was far different from what was acceptable as our parents moved into the world of adults.

The questions today are, in large part, not the result of young people rebelling against the past but instead seem centered around so-called adults who have not grown up. People who seem to believe that the things we have learned as a country over the past two hundred years plus are no longer important.

Differences are no longer acceptable. The ability to work and live together no longer have value. Instead of focusing on why our country has been viewed as a model for much of the world, little is of no value other than wealth or riches. Opposing views are not respected and systems which have served us well only exist to be destroyed.

While the downward spin has been slowly creeping into our lives for many years, possibly beginning in the 60’s, the beginning of the media named pandemic. During those years, much information was spread with limited research or analysis. We saw jobs lost, families broken apart, friendships destroyed, and nameless other things that were the result of individual choices – get a test or don’t get a test, take an injection, rushed to the market, or trust your personal resistance to disease, wear a mask or don’t wear a mask. These things and many more drove wedges between individuals, families, even medical professionals. Yes, there were deaths during the pandemic but the simple was to classify any death was to say it was the result of the disease in question.

Today things have spiraled even further. During our last presidential election, we had one candidate who refused, and still refuses, to accept the results of any election where he is not the winner. The opponent was a candidate who had never received a single vote in a primary election. Many chose not to vote or voted on the lesser of two evils rather than a candidate’s qualifications.

The result – much the same as the end of the pandemic. No one seems to accept that there is nothing wrong with differing opinions; that negotiation can provide better results than permanent lines drawn in the sand can never be crossed; that loyalty to a political party is far more important than representing the average person in our country. We have leadership, and I use the term very loosely here, that believes the only way to lead is through dictation, not working with others to achieve success. Leaders who are willing, and have voiced, that disagreement with them should result in censorship, loss of rights, and even banishment or jailing in foreign countries. Leaders who search for ways to ignore our Constitution, our laws, and the courts which were created to resolve differences in interpretation and enforcement of these laws.

So, we now have a leader who uses things like executive orders, bullying, and even threats to achieve his desires and ignore the legislative branch of our government. A billionaire who has been given largely uncontrolled power as a so-called advisor even though there are clearly conflicts of interest in the advice he gives (and someone who was neither elected nor did his role receive any review). All the members of one party have decided they will line up and accept this leader’s actions and decisions regardless of how stupid they may look or how their constituents feel. The other party does just the opposite opposing everything with no real justification.

When I step back and look at things today, it seems that we do not have leaders. Instead, we have people in high positions who are acting like three-year-old children playing in an expensive sandbox who will pick up their toys and run home if they don’t get their way. So, I return to my original question, “Have we lost our way?”

No Such Thing as Illegal Protest

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Last week I had the opportunity to read a short article by a legal professor whose area of expertise is Constitutional Law. It was titled, “There is no such thing as ‘illegal protest’”. I would note that this was presented as “News” and not an “Op-Ed”. While I have no legal expertise, especially in the Constitution, this article raised more questions in my mind than answers. The article was focused on some statements by our current President and was clearly written from the point of view that these statements should not have been made. My questions, however, were more related to how bad things might become were the ideas presented taken to the extreme.

The article started with the definition of a protest and of an agitator and how any limitation on these was a violation of the First Amendments protection of peaceable assembly. A protest was defined as a public assembly, presumably presenting a point of view. Although not specifically included was what constitutes an assembly but one could assume it consists of more than one individual. It was stated that an agitator was not a legal term but was colloquially defined as one who makes noise, disrupts the status quo, and calls attention to a cause. The writer stated that this is also a form of free speech.

Following the article title, then just as there are no illegal protests, there is also no illegal agitation. On the surface, this seems to be reasonable.

In my mind, the questions about this view start with the term “peaceable assembly”. What was not defined is the word “peaceable”. For example, is the brandishing of weapons peaceable? Is occupying a building or the property of another, without permission, peaceable? Is destruction of or damage to property, for example, public vehicles or buildings, peaceable?

Another question that arises is, if we assume that all protests, or assembly are legal, does the same apply to all agitation? Things become more difficult to define here. Looking at recent events, is driving a vehicle through a roadblock because one is unhappy because o inconvenience caused by the closed road the work of an agitator?  If so, are the agitators actions a form of free speech and therefore legal? Does this then excuse the agitator for any subsequent damage or death that may occur? If not, then what actions of an agitator, and one must assume a protest, not legal. But by taking the article and its title as absolute protests and agitation cannot be illegal.

Put more simply, with no clear definition of “peaceable” is anything resulting from a protest or the actions of an agitator excused? Given that the Constitution is the ultimate authority on legality, then one might use this as a defense.

Again, I do not claim expertise in the law or the Constitution. I am simply asking what I consider common sense questions. I believe that we have the right to enact laws and to enforce them. We have systems for challenging these laws and determining when they are not Constitutional. But I do not believe that we should take short articles like the one I read last week as an absolute. They are generally the opinion of someone named as an expert, or a limited group of experts, that are published by or in the media as factual. And, that we are expected to accept them without question.

What happens when a different expert or different media source offers a different opinion? Who should we accept and why?  Just more food for thought, especially in a more and more divided country.

Happy New Year!? One Can Hope!

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Today’s blog post is a bit more serious or somber than most. Much of it came to me shortly after I awoke this morning. Today is New Year Day (or Should I say New Year’s Day?). The parties and celebrations are over, and most are safely at home. Sadly, I read that several people were killed by someone driving into a holiday celebration in New Orleans for reasons unknown. For their families and friends there is little to be happy about.

I sometimes wonder why we celebrate this day each year, especially since we celebrate not on this day but the night before instead. But perhaps that is a thought for another time. Today should be a time for us to wipe the slate clean, to start anew. Yet that seems so unlikely it needs so little discussion.

To a large degree I blame much of the divisiveness in our country today on the media, both broadcast and print. It seems that instead of promoting unity, they look for ways to promote hate between people. Whether they are successful or not, their headlines or front pages seem focused on differences and ways to increase them rather than on solutions, or, at least on improvements. This is often presented as factual rather than opinion and, if you focus on what is presented, it shows the bias of those allowing it. They also appear to search out celebrities to support these opinions or who are willing to do anything for a free sound bite. This is especially true for those celebrities who are no longer as popular as earlier in their careers.

In the past year alone, there have been multiple published suggestions of cancelling Thanksgiving and Christmas because of political differences. There have also been widely publicized name calling related to the candidate preference or votes cast. This has most recently seen in the publicity given to Don Lemon for his statements regarding MAGA supporters of the incoming administration. If the same statements were made by others regarding groups where Lemon has or is a member, it would immediately be criticized by the media as racist. Perhaps it is time to stop promoting this type of activity in any form and start supporting and publicizing unity.

One could suggest that the reason for this is because the media could not exist without division. As a result, the need for peace is cast aside in favor of increasing profitability. Think about the terms or causes the media seems to promote – Democrat vs. Republican, conservative vs. liberal, north vs. south, black vs. white, etc. While there may be a need to address these issues, others are, or should be, more important to face and resolve. And this can only be done if we are willing to sit down together and discuss them.

Our country has always been strong and with a few exceptions been able to help ourselves and others. But if we allow these so-called experts to continue to drive wedges between us, one must wonder if our strength can last.

Just an old man’s opinion with which you may disagree. Like I said earlier, we have dealt with disagreement since we were young children. The question becomes, “Who are actually the most adult, the children who work through their problems or us older folks who refuse to change?”.

Skipping Christmas

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As I was scrolling through posts on Facebook a few minutes ago I saw a post from author, John Grisham. It was about a book he had originally published in 2010 titled “Skipping Christmas”. I suspect I read the book at that time since I was an early fan of Grisham’s work although I no longer have a copy. The book was not politically focused nor was it even published in the year of a presidential election. Instead, it was about a family that decided to skip Christmas and take a cruise instead. They found that skipping Christmas was much easier said than done.

Unfortunately, since 2010 things have changed greatly in our country. I wish I could say this was for the better but I’m do not think this is true. I find it unbelievable that here we are, almost two months after the election and celebrities and so-called media experts continue to pound us with how the country is doomed and the majority of American’s are stupid (along with multiple other insults) because of the person who was elected.

Even today, I read an opinion article on the front page of USA Today’s online edition where the writer stated he still believed in Santa Claus. While the title seemed positive, even there he could not put aside political opinions although he claimed he was doing so. I, too, believe in Santa Claus or at least the spirit of Christmas, whether Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, or any of the others recognized at this time of year.

A few weeks ago I asked on line if for the holiday season we could put our differences aside and try to unite as a country. I guess that is too much to ask of the self-appointed experts with access to the media. But one can always hope. So instead, I ask again that instead of skipping or cancelling Christmas can we put aside our differences and try to act like the “United States” for just one day – tomorrow, Christmas Day.

And to do my part, I want to wish everyone, even those celebrities and media experts, a very Merry Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate) and a Happy New Year.

The Path Not Chosen

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I will admit it – no denial. Today’s post is a rant! I look around and see things that worry me. I care about our country, our people, and, yes, about myself and my loved ones. I see a divided country and media stars and celebrities who benefit by encouraging this divisiveness. I would like to change this and maybe this post can help. You don’t need to agree, but try to give it some thought.  

I’m not sure this is true for everyone, but as I have become older, I look back at decisions I have made in the past and wonder how things might have changed had I taken a different path. Some of these choices were made in my youth and some as an adult. Yet choices, whenever made, always have an impact because there are always multiple options with multiple results.

I say that some choices were made in my youth and when I look back at those, I think that perhaps I should not have needed to make an important choice. Our childhood, and even our teens, should be a time for learning and even experimenting. We should not need to make choices or decisions that cannot be reversed as we age. At the same time, we should have this time to try different ideas and learn from the results. Unfortunately, it seems that today’s youth, even those in their very early years, are expected to make choices with no opportunity to change as they age. And we, the supposed adults, continue to push our children to make important choices at earlier ages. Have we taken away childhood in our efforts to control the future? And are our children forced into choices not based on their thoughts or beliefs but instead imitating those of their parents?

Things have changed, for both better and worse, since my youth. Those of my generation faced war in Viet Nam, the increasing prevalence of drugs, changes in culture as power moved from WW II veterans to the Baby Boomers. Those who believed like their parents were often ridiculed while the counterculture did not offer a strong strategy for the future. We faced the draft and associated choices to avoid the risks associated with war. We demanded, and were given, an earlier voting age. Yet we were not willing to take out choices seriously. Still our country survived and moved forward. Can we say this today? Or is the divisiveness we face today our fate? No one can say for sure, but we probably cannot go back to the past.

Our youth of today, and even those who are a bit older, no longer have the need to think. They can get all the information they need from their electronic devices, from unreliable sources, and from political pundits and media stars who are more interested in an attention-grabbing sound bite than the truth. People with multimillion contracts and eighth grade educations who claim to be “working class Americans”. People who, over a month after the recent elections, are still whining at every opportunity and suggesting they know more than the majority of American voters. And politicians who refuse to accept any blame for their losses and not recognize that their candidate had never received a single vote before the election.

For our future, when us old folks are no longer around, one must hope that the path chosen is the best. That it is chosen carefully, not because someone told us it was “cool” or “woke” or “progressive”. And not because it was “the way we have always done things” or because it is “convenient” or driven by “politics” or “money”. We can’t all be rich or superstars or have those million-dollar contracts. Nor can we all be losers. There should be a balance. And there should be opportunities. Let’s not force decisions on our successors but instead let’s teach them how to make good decisions. And then, let them make those decisions. We have been successful doing this in the past and can do so in the future.

A Clean Slate

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On Saturday, November 30, we had our first snowfall of the season. While it was originally forecast as only a dusting, we had about three inches at our home. Looking out our window it made me think of having a clean slate. It covered things in our yard that were not how we might like them. Leaves gone unraked, bare spots with no grass, cleaning that had gone undone. This was an opportunity for a new beginning, wiping the slate clean and starting anew. Others may have viewed it as no more than hiding the bad things that were soon to resurface. While I may not agree, I can respect their views. That is one of the great things about our past, the right to disagree yet move forward. I wonder if our country, and its current political climate, and have a clean slate and move forward.

The holiday season has begun. The elections have come and gone. There are some who are happy with the results and those who are dissatisfied with the results. For whatever reason, this year seems to be filled with more hatred than any election year I have lived through. There have been those who suggested cancelling Thanksgiving (I hope jokingly, but I’m not sure) and those who have cancelled family gatherings to avoid political discussions.

The blame game is continuous. People who voted one way blame those who voted another. The minority blames the majority. One group blames another. Even within a party, everyone seems to be looking for someone else to blame for something. Candidates are still asking for money although the election has been over for nearly a month. The name calling continues without end, especially by many media stars. It all seems mindless.

The only time I can remember something even close to this is elementary school name calling, like we see today, shared in print, broadcast, and social media, is when we were children on the playground. But there, the hatred was missing. We could be mad and call someone a “bad name” one minute yet be playing with them a few minutes later as though the words were never spoken.

Perhaps, it is time for us to put aside the hatred, the discontent, the constant blathering, and live together as Americans. Maybe we can respect the differing views of our fellow Americans and stop trying to force everyone into a common mold. Something the Communists have tried for years and still seem unable to make work. I wonder if we, particularly the press and the Hollywood celebrities, can put aside our differences and respect each other for even a few days and enjoy the holiday season. Or should we cancel Christmas or whatever holiday you may celebrate at this time of year? I haven’t seen this promoted by the opinion writers, or movie stars at celebrations in a country other than the U.S. but I can see it coming.

My view of all of this is, “Get real. There are more important things in life than an election. Your parents and your teachers knew this and taught you this when you were young. Have we forgotten everything we learned?”

Headline – Sharon Stone slams ‘ignorant, arrogant’ Americans after Donald Trump win

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Another headline from USA Today online quoting a useless celebrity. Statements from the article:

“…Stone is slamming Americans she characterized as “uneducated”…

…”We have to stop and think about who we choose for government and if, in fact, we are actually choosing our government or if the government is choosing itself.”…

…”my country is in the midst of adolescence. Adolescence is very arrogant. Adolescence thinks it knows everything. Adolescence is naive and ignorant and arrogant. And we are in our ignorant, arrogant adolescence.” …

…”Americans who don’t travel, who 80% don’t have a passport, who are uneducated, are in their extraordinary naïveté,”…

With regard to her “who we choose” statement, perhaps Stone is the one who is ignorant and uneducated. Trump was chosen by the majority of American voters – not just the electoral college but the majority of voters. And, Harris was not place on the ballot by winning a single primary election but through manipulation of the process by individuals including President Biden, Representative Nancy Pelosi, and other prominent Democratic officials.

Comments like these and those of Alec Baldwin, both make during appearances associated with the film and entertainment industry are starting to become insulting. It reflects the attitude of superiority pervasive in the entertainment field and the media that continues to support them.

While I may not agree with the opinion columnists in USA Today, at least their views are shown as that. Unfortunately the views of celebrities can be reported as the truth without the same disclaimers that their columnists are subjected to.

If these celebrities hate Americans so much, they are welcome to stop taking our money and leave. And perhaps the editors at USA Today should join them.

Alec Baldwin says Americans are ‘very uninformed about reality’

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I am really getting tired of “celebrities” acting like they are superior to the American public (who, by-the-way, spend their hard earned money to support these “celebrities) and at the modern day media, primarily the print media, supporting these views and reporting them as though they are fact.

The headline above was taken verbatim from the online version of USA Today. In the accompanying article, the following was stated:

“…The actor spoke to Variety from the Torino Film Festival…”

“…Baldwin touched on the 2024 presidential election and argued movies are more important now than ever as a way of informing viewers about what’s happening around the world…”.

“…”There is a gap, if you will, in information for Americans,” he said. “Americans are very uninformed about reality…”

If Baldwin truly feels this way about Americans who are not part of the elite, like him, who are so enlightened, then perhaps he, too, should pack his bags and join other elites in leaving the county, never to return.

Statements like this, and the media printing them, are a clear example of the elitism of the Democratic Party that has been, at least in part, blamed for their failures in the recent elections. It is difficult for the average, working American to feel connected to someone who is paid millions of dollars to read lines written by others, who participates in sports that, in reality, are no longer enjoyable, or who has never worked at in a job at the hourly level. When will they accept that they are paid to entertain, not insult?

If this is a representation of how the Democratic Party, these “celebrities”, and the media view the American people then perhaps they no longer have a place in our country. Disagreement is fine but insult and superiority are not.

“The Economy, Stupid”

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Sometimes the irony in politics is often overlooked but seems to always be present. The past election is proof of this. According to “Wikipedia,” James Carville was credited with coining the term “The Economy, Stupid” as one of three points that were important in keeping then democratic candidate Bill Clinton’s campaign on course. These points were posted at the campaign headquarters. Another of the points was “Change vs. more of the same.” In various forms since that time, these phrases have been used by others who have often added “It’s” to the first term.

Ironically, the Democrats failed to take these two of Carville’s three points into consideration during the recent election. Throughout the campaign, most polls pointed to the economy as the major issue facing voters today. High prices, high interest rates, and inaction by the ruling party affected almost all working-class American’s. This was more important to voters than illegal immigration, which was also important, the rights of selected groups, or other issues. Yet the Democrats failed to address this issue or even offer a plan for addressing it in the future.  On the other hand, Republicans were quick to point out problems in the economy at every opportunity.

Given this, ignoring Carville’s first point left the door open for emphasizing the second. Do you, the voter, want to have more of the same or is change preferable? I don’t believe that Republicans have the magic wand that will automatically solve all problems in the nation’s economy, but I must look at what has been done in the last four years to make things better. What I see is little change has occurred and the Democratic candidates offered little other than to say they would change nothing. So, while the Democrats would have us believe that Carville’s words were correct in 1992, they want us to ignore these words in 2024.

I don’t understand this. If it was true then, why is it not true today? I believe Carville was correct in 1992 and he is still correct. Most of the other issues, while important, do not affect most of us directly. But when we go to the grocery store and walk out the door carrying $100 of groceries in two small plastic bags, see interest rates on loans climbing three, four, or more percent over the last four years, and seeing gas prices almost double in the same timeframe then the economy become exceedingly important to us. And even though celebrities like Whoopi Goldberg claim to be part of working America, it is difficult to accept that someone who can afford a car valued at over $1,000,000 is in any way part of the same group as a person who earns $800.00 a week.

Why not take the chance, or the risk, that something different might work? Maybe things won’t be better but maybe the reward may be great. We already know that staying the same would not work so let’s try something new.

Go Sit in the Corner and Shut Up!

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Perhaps I shouldn’t write this. After all, it criticizes the media, celebrities, and a minority of American voters in the last presidential election. Not only that, I am also immoral, ignorant, stupid, garbage, uneducated, sexist, racist, and a misogynistic (I had to look that one up to make sure it was true). I am elite, a part of the “ruling class”, misinformed, psycho, and don’t care about democracy. I am a hatemonger and not smart enough to know how to react when a bear is trying to eat me (how I ended up somewhere that a bear would try to eat me is unknown). 

Each of these things have been said about me, and a majority of voters, in the last few weeks and been covered repeatedly in the media. Even today, over a week since the election they are still being given front page coverage often being treated as news rather than opinion.

Perhaps the best solution is to do as the title of this post says, “Go Sit in the Corner and Shut Up!” I know this is true for my office where the only acceptable viewpoint is an ultra-liberal, progressive one. Conservatism in any form is not only discouraged but even scorned. If we accept what the liberal press, celebrities, and others tell us then we are accepted but if we dare disagree, we are shut out. So, the best answer is to simply not say anything.

I refuse to be shouted down by those who I do not respect – the media which has had an extended liberal bias, celebrities who, while entitled to their views, are no more qualified than me to make an informed decision, and others who consider views other than their own irrelevant. I hope I don’t lose friends because of this post but if I do, I must ask, “Were they really friends?” I will continue to talk to family members who have opposing views although some may not talk to me.

I will not, however, go sit in a corner and shut up.  That may work with small children but it is not a solution for adults.