Meet the New Boss

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. The Who, Won't Get Fooled Again
Tomorrow, at long last, we have the midterm elections. And, they will change little, if anything. The Republicans will still do their thing and the Democrats, theirs. Business as usual. Once upon a time, that was fine, because at least they were, if not on the same page, in the same chapter. Now, they are not even in the same book.
We are in the midst of a massive, overwhelming paradigm change. People do not see the World as they once did. Fine. That is the way it shoud be, but in such shifts, there is always great chaos. The problem is, in great part, we are trying to deal with that using the old style politics. The old game of fixers and manipulators, of threats and rants, od accusations and wild promises, of backroom deals and campaign fund payoffs, will not help. In fact, it will make things worse.
The electorate is frustrated. That is whu we are seeing such viscous rhetoric. I will not be surprised if, here and there, we see substantial violence in tomorrow's wake.
We will be stuck once more, with the same old politicians going about their work with the same old, tired, routines. No changes, even in the face of a Nation and a World that are changing ar a frantic pace.
I would say, as I gave in the past, a pox on them all, but is insufficient. Nothing that will happen that will solve our staggering load of problems. Vote Republican or Democrat, whatever you choose. Or just ignore the whole rotten mess.  Spend the day doing something that really counts. Make something, Learn something. Help some one. Heck, hus go out and pass a football around' at least you'll get some exercise. Then get ready to duck, because something si going to hit the fan.
The only way around this mess is, I am sorry to say, to learn all you can about what we are discovering about our Earth and its inhabitants. This will give you a clue about the nature of the paradigm shift and some ideas of how we need to change. Or, at the very least, it will give you an idea of how to get around the agents of the status quo. The end of the old age is here and they do not know that. But they will. Harsh thoughts? Yes, but this can be a harsh World. The best way out of this is to just ignore the rantings of power mad old men and women.
I will leave you a line from Dylan's All Along the Watchtower. 'Let us not talk falsely now for the hour is getting late.' Have a Blessed, healthy and happy day.

And Now an Opposing View

It occurs to me that yesterday's predictions drifted a wee bit toward the gloomy side. I stand by all of them, but I do see some bright spots.
First, the announced retirement of Supreme Court Justice Kennedy. He was basically a moderate and I guarantee his replacement will be  conservative, a fairly young cponservative, who will sit there for many years. The President has Congressional Majorities and will hanner thiss appointment through before the mid terms. Hooray.
Second, by imposing his travel and immigration ban, now approved by the Supreme Court, the affedted countries will be forced to deal with their own problems instead of pushing dissidents over here. Most European natins will follow suit and the Mid East may finally setlle down.
We will finally redognize the importance of Latin Amerrica and turn our attention toward them, nor ro impose our will, but simply to become good neighbors.
We will see even lower Federal taxes. Local and State taxes may go up a bit,, but at least those officials know what their citizens need and want.
We will, at long last, make a serious move to repair our disgraceful infrastructure.
More, non violent criminals will be punished ny fines, community service and being restricted in their travels ( home to work and back).  This will lower the overall cost of imprisoning the truly dangerous. Also, more and more prisons will be administered by provate companies. Nothing improves efficiency ike looking for profits.
Likewise, you will see a move to have schools run by private companies. They may still be public, but not government administered.
The Space Program will return, only this time at a more practical level/ The first steps toward creating a Moon colony will begin. It will be small and, initially serve as a base for launching probes and Rover type missions to Mars, of course, but also to the moons of Saturn and Jupiter, which may actually support life. We will explore the asteroid belt and, at last see what lies beyond Pluto.
Huge entertainment blockbusters will give way to small local show.   They  are less expensive and usually more entertaining, Golf will become more popular as an actual sport people play instead of watching with the spread of tiny courses, (9. or even 6 holes), short and playable by all. Bowling will get more popular as will other sports that real people can play, badminton, croquet, flag football and such. Restaurant chains  and fine dining palaces will give way to small cafes, diners and even street vendors. On line shopping will fail just as soon as their business is hit with sales tax, which us right around the corner.
A religious revival will occur, but not the old time fire and brimstone evangelism. Instead, we will have a gentle, community action oriented faith, short on doctrine and long on helping those in need, and open to moderate Christians, Jews and Moslems, to  all the People of the Book. And, at last, we will have a religion compatible with science, as it used to be.
So, cheer up. Things are dark, but glimmers of light are staring to show. \

Befuddled

I seldom watch news these days because not much is happening. Well, actually, a lot is happening, but the media is ignoring anything of import,

Sex scandals still dominate, Of course men should learn to keep their hands to themselves. But, why are women waiting 10, 15, 20 years to report this poor behavior. I a also wondering what will happen wneh men start reporting women who have groped them. Such things do happen. All I know is that if you do not report criminal sexual assault because you are afraid it will hurt your career, is that, in plain terms, you gave prostituted yourself, Sorry, but that is precisely the definition of things.

We hear scant mention of the Russia probe. I think that is because the investigation is finding as much Democratic involvement as Republican. That prostitute word pops up again.

Trump seems to have done his thing, making deals, very successfully in the East, Hats off to the President. It was a truly remarkable display of skill, and it has been almost totally ignored by the media.

However, just to show that he has not lost his knack for putting his foot in his mouth, he

is mouth, he used the Pocahontas- Elizabeth Warren joke, which I live, at a gathering that celebrated the WW2 Navaho code talkers, true heroes of that War.
Tacky, at best.

The tax plan, which we were told would pass any day, is looking shaky, but that is not surprising.

Overlooked are several viral bits of news. We are ridding the nation of several violent gangs ar a fairly rapid pace. Vast amounts of opiates have been seized and many dealers arrested. A large numver of child porn and child prostitution rings have been busted. Hats off to President Trump and Attorney General Sessions. On the down side, the climate is changing quickly and we cannot stop pointing fingers long enough to figure out practical ways around the effects. And volcanoes, rather large ones, are blowing, events that in themselves are climate changing, Still, this is ignored so we can gear just who is playing grab ass with who.

Such is life in this very odd time and place. Still, Christmas is here.

Remember, the message. Peace on Earth. Good Will to Men. Maybe we can have that for a little while. We just need to try.

Seriously?

It never ends. A parade of inane, banal, evil. Let's take a quick view of this idiocy.

The latest fad seems to be sexual harassment, both the harassing and the subsequent suing for. Celebrity after celebrity is being accused, although I cannoy qyire grasp why the alleged victims are waiting long years to come forth.

The Democrats area still after Trump over Russia. They may want to rethink that since Mueller is hinting that he has as much on them as on Trump's people.

N. Korea is still at it. War stumbles along all over the middle east and for reasons I cannot fathom, we seem hell-bent to spread those wars throughout N. Africa.

Still no healthcare bill, but we do have a budget that is going to put us on even deeper debt and a tax code reform that may finish the task of destroying the last of the middle class. But, don't worry, we are going to Mas soon.

Or not. We best leave soon because the Antarctic ice sheet is cracking at a high speed and when all that water melts, there will be no Florida or Texas, NASA's favorite launch sites.

Because of hurricanes and fires, expect you grocery bill to rise, a whole lot, real soon.

Last, and I bet you thought O forgot, another senseless massacre.

You folks may want to consider taking up prayer as a hobby

America - Politics and Theology

This is a sticky subject, worthy of a full length book treatment. But, relax, I have no intention of even attempting that. What brings the subject to mind, us my recent rereading of Frank Herbert's Dune and the subsequent Children of Dune. The main subject of his series is the interplay of religion, especially a populist, Messianic religion, and politics.

Religious fanaticism, when inflamed by a popular, charismatic leader, is overwhelmingly dangerous. In past civilizations, religion and governance were inseparable. The Pharaohs of Egypt were god/kings. In later times, Church and State were complimentary arms of Government, such as in the European royalty and their assumption of the Divine rights of kings.

Slowly, Church and State grew more and more separate, until, in the USA, they were Constitutionally declared to be totally separate. This has become more and more the case in modern Western culture. (I know that this is an amazingly simple minded way of stating things, but, as I said, I am not writing a book). 

But, however much we think we want to separate these areas, humans are religious animals. Even atheism is a religious stance, a negative one, but religious none the less. The recent Presidential regime, despite its protests to the contrary, has attempted to be almost purely secular. It has become almost funny in its politically correct attempts at ecumenical inclusion. Many in this Country are happy with this, and many are not. Seemingly, those who are not have spoken. Our current President elect has repeatedly said he will defend Christianity around the World and at home. His Vice President is devoutly Catholic and he is surrounding himself with folks in his Cabinet who are very traditional in their beliefs.

He is walking a tightrope, with only a very tiny safety net. Fortunately, he is a very middle of the road Christian. Were he a rabidly charismatic preacher, dogmatic in his beliefs, we might have a wee bit of a problem.

Much of the World is not Christian. A lot of Europe gives, at best, lip service to Christianity. China is still officially atheist, but seems to be allowing some leeway on the subject. Much of the Far East is still Buddhist or practices their local and ancient beliefs, although there are pockets of Christianity. India is Hindu dominated.

Africa is a very uneasy blend of old religions, Christianity and Islam. The Middle East is, of course, mostly, although by no means totally Islam. Mexico, Central and South America are still. largely Catholic, but inroads have been made by local beliefs and Protestantism, especially Pentecostal.

Why is this important? Simple. Someone (and I cannot remember who) said that all politics is theological and truer words were never spoken. How you view the World and its place in the Cosmos and how, or even if, you relate to the Creator, dominates all of your beliefs, all of them. Thus, religion determines, to a huge degree, how you think we should be governed.

We may have got it right in this Country by choosing Trump. It is a fine idea to bring back the Christian view that has worked so well in this Nation's past. At the same time, he is moderate enough to be sensible. I think.

I grew up in and loved the traditional America and that included its spiritual basis. At the same time, I and most folks I knew, were never over the top with our beliefs. We tried to be realistic and sensible within that framework. Maybe, that is where we are headed now. Maybe.

I still do not trust Trump, but, I could be wrong. It would not be the first time and it will not be the last. Maybe this will work. I'm not at all sure how, but, maybe.

American Politics and the Media

I have sworn off politics. I cannot watch another minute of those 2 idiots, Trump and Clinton, carrying on like lunatics and promising things they will never deliver. I can watch no more of experts who's opinions are worth no more than this mornings toilet paper.

I will not sit and watch another minute of mindless arguments. The last several days of news coverage has been little but angry black folks and angry cops yelling at each other. Surely, there are other things going on in the news. I am quite positive that somewhere in this vast Cosmos, something else is happeneing.

If yelling the same things over and over would do some good, I'd be all for it but, it just makes things worse. And the numbskulls running these shows just egg people on. What was once news programming is on the verge of becoming like the old Jerry Springer Show. I've been half expecting to see someone take a swing at Chris Cuomo or Wolf Blitzer. I truly belive that they ought to bring back Geraldo, at least he could handle fights.

 In the meantime, Korea is threatening, we're upping the troop levels in Afghanistan (didn't Obama promise to have them all out of there years ago?), and immigrants are still flooding Europe, and all of that gets but a brief mention between the arguments. Roller Derby has more class than our so-called News Media.

America - The Majority

I want to make something clear. I love America, both the idea of it and the majority of its citizens. I have taken to task the media, the government and the big corporations, for good reason, but the vast majority of folks are decent, good people. and the structure that made the Nation great is still in place, sort of.

The media is dominated, in fact, owned by, big, big corporations. I have little doubt that the on air news people are basically decent people, for the most part, so I do not really fault them. They, like most of us, are just trying to make a living, and, like most of us, have to play by the boss' rules. I will say that in times of emergencies, they do a pretty good job, at least until the crisis passes and they have to start spinning the information again. It is the giant corporations that are to blame for the focus most broadcasts choose. Certain events are covered, others ignored, and always, those favored by CEOs are given smooth passage.

I am also sure that many public officials are, at heart, decent people. I doubt that few of them go home and kick the dog or make their kids live on gruel. I am sure many of them would love to actually help people and, every now and then, they manage to push through a piece of legislation or two that does help. The problem is this. To get elected, and keep getting elected, costs a bunch of money and, always, there are business representatives, lobbyists, PAC funders, etc., who are just waiting with big checks, provided you do as they wish. Power, which does come with elected office, is perhaps the most insidious of drugs, and the lust to obtain and keep that power clouds the minds of even those with the best intentions. In the Lord of the Rings, even the great elves, even Gandalf, had no desire to take the ring from Frodo, lest they be tempted by all of that power. So, government grows more and more corrupt and less and less concerned with the welfare of the vast majority of its citizens.

Even amongst corporate leaders, I am confident that many, if not most, are reasonably honest men and women who simply want to put out a good product at a decent price and who try to treat their employees fairly. It is when we get into the upper reaches of business, the mega-corporations and the mega-banks that we begin to detect the truly rotten apples that spoil the business world. These are the manipulators, the men and women who are always trying to steer the world in the direction they want, no matter what the cost to others. In the board rooms of these ridiculously large institutions, the most despicable lust for power is put on display. These giants of business have polluted the environment, released a mind boggling array of pharmaceuticals, crushed smaller businesses in the drive to own the World, have manipulated economies in ways that have enslaved most of the Earth's population, and are looking for more.

The majority of American citizens are, at heart, or so I fervently hope, still as ornery and cranky as ever. Likewise, they are still the hardest working and most creative people around and also, the most fun loving. But, right now, they seem to be slumbering, sleepwalking through the beginning years of this millennium. Understandable, since, as I have previously explained, we have been bombarded with change at a furious rate over the course of the last century. But, unfortunately, we cannot yet rest. There are countless troubles on the horizon and we must face them or this great experiment, The United States, will be nothing but a fond memory. Forget troubles abroad, we must solve our problems here. Walt Kelly's wonderful old comic strip Pogo had the wonderful line, "we have met the enemy and he is us." That is the truth.

The structures that made this Nation great are still in tact and we need to reclaim their use. The elections we are seeing unfold are nothing but a farce. I urge you to vote, but not for either of the 2 parties. Vote for any 3rd party candidate you can find. They will not win, but it will send a message that you wish to participate in elections but refuse to put up with the current dog and pony show of Trump, Clinton, Bush and the rest of the confederacy of dunces ( not an original line. A Confederacy of Dunces is a wonderfully funny novel by John Kennedy Toole. I just love the phrase). If there are no 3rd Party candidates, write in Homer Simpson or SpongeBob Squarepants. Just let the ruling elite know that you are wise to their game and you have had about all you can take.

Will that work? Who knows, but right now, it seems to me to be the only palatable response; if mockery does not get their attention, then, as was done in the 60s, it might be necessary to get in the streets, to start demonstrating. I sure hope not because, trust me, that is not pleasant. In the meantime, simplify your lives, avoid debt like the plague, learn as much as you can about everything and take care of yourself, your friends and your families. Remember, you are the physical and spiritual descendent of the brave and brilliant people who created and built this Nation.

 

The Debates, Part 2, or the Continuing Search for a Marginally Competent President

I really find politics terminally boring, but today I have to write about the debates again. This morning, I turned on the news, never a great idea, and was greeted with Donald Trump ranting about how strange this years elections are. He seemed amazed that Carson keeps claiming he once stabbed someone while authorities keep saying 'no, he didn't.' In other words, a Presidential candidate is being defensive about the commission of a felony. Normally, the commission of said felony would be the issue, but Ben is upset because others say he didn't do it. Let's be clear. The felonious act isn't the problem, the false claim of guilt is. This is totally upside down.

 

The even stranger thing is that 'The Donald' is acting as the voice of reason. Why is this buffoon even running? And how, in the name of all that is Holy, is he near the top of the polls. This is a man who is most famous for yelling 'you're fired' on his idiotic TV show. This supposed business genius has, here and there, gone bankrupt, yet we are to trust him with the management of the country. I can just imagine him in a high level conference with Vladimir Putin. Imagine the reaction when he screams, 'Vlad, you're a loser. You're fired.' Putin is not known for his sense of humor and Russia does still have a nuclear arsenal.

 

Then we have the rest of the pact. Jeb Bush has turned on his former protégé and dear friend Marco Rubio in hopes of grabbing enough points to save his failing campaign. Mike Huckabee is whining that he doesn't get enough time in the debates which is true and not surprising, given his miniscule poll numbers. Then we have Ted Cruze who seemingly is loathed by other politicians who are forced to work with him. He is polling fairly well, probably because voters remember his stirring reading of Green Eggs and Ham during a Senate Filibuster.

 

On the Democratic side, things are even stranger. Bernie Sanders is still polling well and still refuses to go after his opponent, leading me to believe that the American public just likes him because he looks like a kindly Grandpa. And in Ms. Clinton we have a candidate who quite possibly will have to campaign while occasionally making court appearances to defend herself against multiple felony charges.

 

People, there has to be a better way to pick the man or woman who will, at least in theory, be the most powerful person on Earth. Either that or we just admit the whole thing is a dog and pony show and that we are run by a few corporate heads. The latter is the truth but, we are a Nation that clings to past illusions like Linus clings to his security blanket in the old Peanuts comic strip. Oh well, at least I got that out of my system. Next time, I'll write about something of interest. I'll try to leave politics alone for a while. Promise.                                                                            

America on the Edge of a Strange Future

 America stands on the edge. Of what? Who knows, but that is what I am going to try to figure out. We are now far enough into the 21st Century that a few patterns should be developing, but that just does not seem to be the case. Instead, the fractiousness of the last Millennia seems to be deepening.                                                                                                                           

What we half laughingly, half mournfully refer to as the news media has become an inane parade of semi-intelligent talking heads, spewing disinformation interspersed with celebrity gossip and mind-numbing analysis of trivial nonsense. With the election over a year off, we are faced each day with new poll numbers and detailed discussion of the implications of these trends, only to be told the next day of conflicting numbers and new trends. On and on it goes and we have not even reached the actual election year.                                                                                                                            

In the meantime, Russia is flexing its considerable muscle all over the world, China is openly declaring its ownership of the China Sea by building island bases in International waters, journalists are being held hostage throughout the Middle East, and the European Union is being swamped with fleeing refugees. These issues are mentioned only in passing and when there is actual discussion of them, the same tired old men and women who staffed the  Clinton, Bush and Obama  administrations, the same ones whose policies set the stage for these potential disasters, are trotted out, spouting rhetoric that will do nothing but exacerbate the situation.                                                                                                                                        

As I write this, Israel is going at it with the Palestinians again, and we of course are sending our top diplomat, John Kerry, to broker a deal. We have been at this for 70 years with no success, and any deal he makes will last for a very short time, yet we keep sticking our nose where it does not belong. This, by the way, is the same John Kerry who made the Iranian nuclear deal in which we gained nothing. He did not even get an agreement to get the  journalists that are being held captive, out.                                                                                                                                        

Closer to home, the media recently went hysterical as a massive hurricane headed toward the East Coast. The storm stalled over the Bahama's where it sat with 135mph winds and torrential rains for 36 hours. The storm then went out to sea. Okay, we were fortunate, but I found it very odd that we were given no reports, none, about what must have been the devastation of one of our closest neighbors, a favorite vacation spot of many Americans. On the other hand, we have received in depth coverage of an ex-basketball player's idiotic decision to hunker down in a whorehouse and eat a handful of a Viagra-like substance on top of cocaine and alcohol. We are still receiving reports of his reconciliation with his ex-wife who just happens to have her own TV reality show.                                                                                                                                      

The Pope recently visited and the services were truly beautiful and were, rightly, covered extensively. However, as well meaning as I am sure he is, he still has not done anywhere near enough to remove the stain of the vast and unthinkably horrible issue of kids being abused by priests. He has also scarcely touched the Vatican banking scandal. Yes, he has fired some Vatican officials but he really needs to come clean and tell us why the Church was allowing their investments to be used as a way of laundering vast sums of money tainted with heroin. He might also find it a good idea to really address the whole issue of poverty in the world. Oh sure he talks of the need to help the poor but never addresses the hypocrisy of a small group of  men, many of whom have taken vows of poverty, and who control more money than most countries, lecturing the rest of us about helping the poor. If the Church liquidated its holdings and gave the wealth to those who need it, then maybe, his words would mean something. As a side issue, how can the Church, in good conscience, continue to forbid dirt poor followers the right to use birth control. Oh well, no big deal. Polls show that most American Catholics pay little attention to anything the Church says, they just like to turn out for a big show.                                                                                                                                    

 We have a President who lies repeatedly . In this, he is no different from all the Presidents within my memory (that would go back to Eisenhower) and yet, when interviewed, is never called on those lies. When will any journalist push him to explain himself. We are told that you have to respect the Office of the Presidency. Well, when the hell is the President going to show some respect for the American people, when will we be dealt with straight up? We are not children, we can take it.                                                                                                                                                            

As I write that last line, I realize that maybe I am wrong. Maybe we have become a Nation of overgrown kids who just want to watch football and the Kardashians, who cannot handle anything more taxing than beer, video gaming and porn. Oh well, maybe there are a few left who can think, who can look at the situation without batting an eye and say, "okay, let's fix it." That is what Americans have always done.             

To see where we are going, we must look at the past, not just the facts of history and politics, that is boring. We must look at the culture, books, movies, TV, music and at beliefs, philosophical and religious. Then we need to look at where we are, the current cultural climate. Not everything is doom and gloom. A lot of good things still go on and they need to be highlighted and applauded.                                             

I want to hear from people, to know what you are thinking. I want to know what you like and dislike. Heck, I even want to know your favorite recipes, what you grow in your gardens and any good home improvement tips. If you are part of what you consider a real community, I especially want to hear from you, to find out how your community developed and how you stay close.. And if you feel isolated, alone  and frustrated, I want to hear from you. You are as important as anyone else  and I want to know your story.                                                              

It may not seem like it from my opening tirade, but I want this site to be a place where we can have some fun, but we also have to be honest and, on occasion, serious. Somehow, the American people have let control of the Nation slip from their grasp but, by working together, we can take back our land and prosper, so let's get to it.