politics

Politics, the Modern Version

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As an Independent who skews Liberal, the opportunity to see Conservative values and policies is often an enlightening and rewarding experience.

I’ve worded that sentence in a precise, particular way, to highlight the dumb-ass nature of current American Politics. Talk to any Conservative who will admit to any Liberal Policy being worth a crap? And vice versa? No. If you’re a modern Republican Conservative, anyone who doesn’t think like you is an idiot. Oddly, if you are a Modern Liberal, anyone who doesn’t think like you is an idiot. When did all this happen?

The Traditional Values the Right likes to claim as their own, are Values shared by every Lefty Liberal I know. And how many Liberals want to take guns away from citizens? A better question is to ask how many Liberals actually own guns. A lot.

Let’s look at it this example: Today, a Conservative offers a 10 point plan for governance. A free thinking Liberal will probably admit (NOT out loud) he supports five of the points. In The Old Days of Political Action that was called a “Starting Point”. These days its is called…I don’t know what but since the ideas are “Labeled” as Con or Lib, zealous supporters of both fire up the insult engine and the discussion is over, except for the bleacher activity where each tries to pull the other’s pants down.

This crazy stuff started before Trump, but he gets props for understanding how to capitalize on an electorate of–suddenly–idiots. Since the 80’s there have been many strident, bombastic, conservative voices who made a great living telling the usually apprehensive Conservative population anything NOT Conservative was worthless. Gingrich, Limbaugh (Yes, the one Trump gave the American Medal of Honor to), Beck, and then O’reilly, and Hannity, all painted non-conservatives as Non-Americans. I never heard the same from any loud, famous, and ultimately wealthy voices on the Left, but maybe there was, most certainly in response, at some point.

Then Grover Nordquist, the famous anti-taxer, began his campaign of making Conservatives sign a Pledge (google the Taxpayer Protection Pledge) to Lower or even end, taxes. If a Conservative didn’t sign the pledge, the non-signer was voted out of office in the next primary season. Sound familiar? Right now, in this past primary year, Republicans urged all voters to ONLY vote for Trump-loving candidates.

So. Did the Liberal side sit on their asses? No. Now, any non-Liberal thought is a threat to Democracy, with the capital D, And “both-sideism” has become part of the modern political lexicon.

So here’s what is lost: a good, conservative idea during a Liberal Administration, and a good Liberal idea during a Conservative Administration. Neither will ever be considered. How about a thoughtful, intelligent, Conservative politician running for office in a Liberal Gerrymandered area? Or–again–vice versa?

I may have an idea how this crap started, but I’ve no idea how to end this. Anyone else?

All I can say for sure is America is NOT the land of responsible adults, anymore, and I suspect we all need to look in a mirror of our own, not our news silos.

As a humorous aside, Trump is not even a Conservative. Ask Grover.

Caveat: because of space, everything is over-simplified. Do your own research, especially into the Contract with America, 1994.

Fight!

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Political discourse has never been known for its intellectual component, if there ever was any, but the last eight years have seen a bi-partisan push to the highest level of asininity. Please look up the definition of that word so you can appreciate its fulsomeness. Look up that word, too.

I was old enough to know about John Kennedy and the 1960 election but not mature enough to understand what happened. It looked like a good-looking, well-spoken, war hero was elected, narrowly defeating a sweating, ill-mannered Nixon. It wasn’t apparent how mad Kennedy’s win made some people until that anger revealed itself on November 22, 1963. When another Kennedy was assassinated, as well as certain Civil Rights leaders, it was clear politics in the 1960’s was more than voting.

We’ve seen much of the same dangerous political anger in the last 10 years. Why?

There are many cultural and societal reasons, but one aspect in particular is adding gas to the fire: Political Rhetoric. There have been many fiery political figures through the years, but in general, politicians talked and acted civil, even courteous at times, even when they were insulting their opponent. “My esteemed and dear friend from the other side of the aisle is talking out his ass”, is kind of the way debate went. William F. Buckly, for example, made castigating Liberals a sport, not a brawl and he was answered, bon mot for bon mot, by Liberal Gore Vidal.

And, in watching political discourse for over 60 years, there did appear to be a reluctance on the part of all speakers to look like an idiot. That reluctance appears to have been replaced by an eagerness to proudly wear the label.

Anyone who knows politics knows governing America is a compromise negotiated by two, distinctly different ideologies: Liberals and Conservatives. Running the country takes Compromise. Dealing. Horse trading. Bickering. Debating,

When did we start electing politicians who will “FIGHT!”? I haven’t researched its past, but don’t we often teach our children fighting doesn’t solve anything? Supporters of both parties will hem and haw the “fighting” they are talking about is not…fighting, fighting, but, well, what, then? And why even say it?

“I will fight for you if elected!” Ugh. Idiots.

I don’t want a fighter in congress, or the presidency. Do you?

A sad side effect is the lone wolf gunman, stewing in his basement with his 15 guns, finally reaching a point where the only option left is to fight. Wonder where he/she/them got the idea?

Comfort Zone vs Intellectual Curiosity

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The Comfort Zone (CZ) has been talked about a lot, recently. A Major League hitter looking for a pitch in “his comfort zone”. A politician setting up soft interviews so he can stay in “his comfort zone”. But what is a CZ, really? Lets ask google: “a psychological state in which things are close and familiar to a person and under their control, enabling low level of stress and anxiety.”

Now this from google about Intellectual Curiosity (IC): “a genuine interest in learning about a wide variety of topics and ideas.”

Does it appear to you, readers, CZ is the opposite of IC? Can IC and CZ coexist?

It is logical CZ can be a dangerous place, despite its definition. A cave man in his CZ after eating a rack of mastodon ribs, might not realize the aroma of his meal will lure sabre tooth tigers for an epicurean investigation of their own. In this case, IC tigers will affect the CZ of the caveman.

In analyzing successful contentmentors (sic, and pronounced content mentors) in my own unscientific way, most seem content because of something learned, investigated or revealed to them. In my essay, good Customer Service was an example. Contentment was introduced, accepted, and enjoyed. Yay. But it was a process of intellectual acrobatics, and the resulting CZ was free of outside tigers.

Plainly, there is nothing wrong with a properly investigated and supported CZ. But it is the result of active and purposeful IC. Modern politics is an example of improperly constructed CZs unnecessarily resulting in Tribe Over Truth (TOT). How many Democrats/Liberals watch Fox News? How many Republicans/Conservatives watch MSN? Everyone knows the answer. When talking with a conservatives I usually get the Fox News spiel, and when questioned, my conversational partner suddenly realizes he/she/them is/are being lured outside their CZ, and retreats to a “lower level of stress and anxiety”. It is probably the same for Liberals when questioned by good, IC Conservatives.

A conclusion: we cannot be IC with out leaving our CZ. Why?

A purposely blunt statement regarding the good of this country and our future: Blow up your political CZ! Don’t be a caveman inviting tigers to eat our future.

If it helps any, politician know all about IC-resistant CVs, and how to take advantage. All of them know. Let’s get THEM out of their CZs. Let us be the Tigers.

Contentment…again…

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There was a debate this past week. A big, momentous, ballyhooed debate.

“Balleyooed”. Say it three times really fast and it will make as much sense as both candidates did in the debate. There is probably a drinking game where you take a shot after every “talking point” (TP) a candidate uses. Their faces scrunch up in reply to questions, searching for an opening for the TP(Toilet Paper?).

Question from moderator: “Is the sky blue?”

First Candidate: “It will be in my administration, as we ban all dark clouds due to our climate and environmental initiatives, including banning all methane activity and inventing cars that run on rhetoric.”

Second candidate: “Never again should this administration be allowed to leave our borders open, and put the lives of innocent dogs and cats at risk.”

There is a good chance someone reading this might think those were actual answers. They are not. But our political system (here he goes, again) is not built to get the best possible candidate. Stupid people from one party make sure their stupidest candidate is selected. Then the other party outdoes them with a stupider candidate. Then the nation votes. After that, excellent, un-selected candidates from both parties work tirelessly in the Senate and House to clean up the mess. Actually, it never gets cleaned up, just swept under the rug of the future. (Research Immigration, a subject never fully addressed since our founding.)

The cynic in me has to admit the candidates might not be stupid. They simply understand the game: get people to vote for me. It doesn’t take a genius to see the winner of a popularity contest (Prom King or Queen?) is not going to solve the world’s problems. But just once it would be nice to hear a candidate say: “I don’t know, but we’ll work on it”, which is really what they mean with every answer.

Over the years I’ve beaten this subject to death but the statement needs repeating: it is the VOTER’S fault. We need to DEMAND better so we can’t complain too much when the crown is placed on the other parties candidate

Can Someone Explain?

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While never enamored of any political candidate since 1960, when I was 8 and thought the world of JFK, I am deeply enamored of common sense. It should be noted common sense and politics are mortal enemies, so my position makes a little bit of sloppy sense: if you have common sense, you hate-and would like to ignore–all politicians.

But there has been such a glaring lack of common sense in politics over the last 30 years, it needs to be addressed and called what it is: Stupidity.

The Republican Party has for many years, at least since Newt Gingrich, trumpeted (yes, intentional pun) itself as the Party of the People, the Party that represents all the best of America, all the really good people. You listen to the Red supporters and believe they are the only, true-blue party of America: every non-republican is evil and horrible.

So. How does that True Party fare in Presidential Elections?

Since 1988, the Republicans, the True Party of America, has won the popular vote of the United State of America, once. In all other 7 elections,The Party of America was outvoted. George HW Bush lost, Robert Dole lost, John McCain lost, Mitt Romney lost, Donald Trump lost (twice), and George W, Bush won the only one time for the Republican Party in his reelection in 2004. He lost the popular vote to Al Gore in 2000. Even worse when Trump and Bush were elected by Electoral College Mischief, they were a MINORITY GOVERNMENT making decisions for the majority who did NOT vote for Trump or Bush. (Please do NOT say Mitch McConnell’s (sic) name.

Hm.

When Donald J Trump was running against Hillary Clinton in 2016 he was very astute in calling out the fraud that was “going” to be part of the election, He knew he’d never win the popular vote and he lost by over 3 million votes. But he got the Right Votes, and became President, where he and his blond assistant claimed, repeatedly, the Trump win was a “mandate for change” voted for by The American People. WTF?? Republicans have consistently run with the idea they are in the majority and are the only true people who can run America. In some states, the Repubs have used their recent victories to change laws, elections, and voting districts to ensure their statewide power. (See NC, a state split nearly 50-50 Dem to Repub, the Red guys have maneuvered their party into a Do-Whatever-We-Want super-majority in the law-making institutions supposed to represent the people of the state.) Trump, to his credit did what any self-respecting politician would do: lie about Fraud, and try to subvert the legally elected change in government.

And then? Republicans preach and blather about fraud and conspiracies, anything to keep the eyes of the electorate off issues, and get DJT reelected. Can he finally win the popular vote on his third try? Better question: is he all the Republicans have to offer in the last 8 years? They and Trump lost the 2020 election by 7 million votes. Common sense?

The point is this: Politically, America is split nearly evenly between Dems and Repubs. (Us Independents have no say, anymore, but our numbers are growing.) Even when the Dems won the popular vote all those times, it was never a blow out. So do we need more politicians being hyper-partisan, especially Republican politicians who have no common sense justification for such hubris?

Both sides, of course, are to blame but one thing is obvious: when the Republicans get Power they work it like a dog with a bone to make sure they don’t lose it. Does that help the American People?

The nice thing about our government structure, if it survives, is the checks and balances of three branches. Let’s make sure common sense prevails, or The United States might not.

And I said MIGHT not. Not WILL not.

J#$%# F*&@ING CH#$%^

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I waited patiently after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump on July 13, 2024. Maybe we could get a week off from all the babble and bullshit of our modern politics. Even just a day of peace…

It is surprising. I was a counter-culture, anti-materialistic rebel in the late 60s and 70s and heard a lot of bad words for nothing more than the length of my hair. “Patriotic” Americans were the worst of all. Without talking to me it was “take your hippie shit out of here and leave the country of you don’t like it.” Once, the words were from the back end of shotgun, and if you want to end a conversation real quick, or get rid of annoying hippies, a 12 gauge was a good bet to get the job done in 1970.

Sadly, America still sounds like that but the AR-15 is the gun of choice, these days. An arms dealer/politician from somewhere in the Midwest is already sounding the alarm about AR-15s being taken away from citizens…if Biden is re-elected. Midwest guy wants you to buy yours now, and if you already have one, buy another. It is beyond ironic after Trump gets shot by an Ar-15, a Republican politician wastes no time in defending the weapon, and up-selling it.

So in 50 years we’ve made no progress. Why? Politicians have become Followers, that’s why. Donald, JD, and other Republicans know what their base wants to hear, and the Republicans give it to them. They’ve been that way for the many years after The Army-McCarthy Hearings. (Google it, young people.) The Grand Old Party has kept its ear to the ground for over 70 years and they learned how to shape political conversation. Most recently, the GOP (and Trump) tried to deligitimize Obama with false claims and lies, and conspiracies. None of which were true and have ever been substantiated, but the GOP base thinks otherwise.

Now, to make matters worse, the Democratic Party is trying to imitate the Republicans. Its a relativelt new concept since in the past The Blue Party did all their dirty work behind the scenes. (Young people google LBJ and enjoy.) Most of your successful Democratic politicians were sweet faced in the public forums and ruthless in the back rooms. But now that type of discourse and dirty tricks is out in the open for both parties.

Which leads me my favorite saying for the last 70 years: Why, why, why would any American become a cult member of any political figure? ANY POLITICAL FIGURE! Since about JFK, our presidential elections have been a choice between good and not so good, bad and not so bad, or really bad and okay. Do you see “Excellent” or “Very good” in any of those choices? (Both Carter and H.W. Bush were good, decent, honest men, and look what happened when they tried to get re-elected.)

Everyone, remember: each and every politician goes to great lengths to get you to like them, to vote for them. I can personally guarantee, without knowing any of you, that you’re making a choice for President based on the power of one (or maybe two) issues. One Concept. One Political view. And you’re doing this in a time when a multitude of complex and complicated issues facing us are not even on the front page. Donald’s lying is. Or Biden’s approaching senility.

If we want to elect good (or better) politicians, we have to expect more from them, not award the prize to the least objectionable candidate. If you see what I’m saying, bless you. We, as country, need to get better as people, as informed people before “The Followers” will ever do what is right and best for America.

From the 60’s but possibly pertinent: never trust anyone over 30. Sadly our presidential candidates are well passed that age, and even past their “Sell By” dates. Think about it and make us all better.

Reverend Barber of North Carolina on TDS

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It is not often a serious discussion gets a lengthy exposure without a gaggle of jokes on Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show (TDS) on Comedy Central, streamed the next day on Paramount Plus. It is a comedy show.

But Reverend William Barber of North Carolina was a guest Monday night, June 17, 2024, and the weight of the discussion kept Jon from the usual antics during guest appearances. It is a Comedy show.

The subject of poverty is a heavy weight to bear. Watch the show or get the Reverend’s new Book titled “White Poverty” to see exactly how heavy.

Much was discussed but the one thing never mentioned, at least not heard by me, is what the real problem with poverty is: it is a historically classic example of Got Mine Go Away (GMGA). The numbers of people in poverty is staggering, even with the lowest estimates. The affect of said poverty on millions of people is a national disgrace rivaling the fentanyl and firearms catastrophes. And the border, too.

Dr. Barber’s point is the people suffering from poverty are not who you think they are. And they don’t act the way you think they act. Racism is a part of poverty, but it is more a class/caste war. Not a black-white issue but a true Us against Them in a capitalist battle nearing a tipping point. The downtrodden can only suffer so much for so long.

When you hear someone has “escaped from poverty”, who do you picture? And who did they take with them? It is a class of people and a way of life, and when you escape it there’s no going back. No returning to break the cycle for others. I’ve no facts to know this statement is true except to note poverty still exists and the Poverty Class is growing. There will be dire consequences for civilization if the Poverty Class reaches a point where there is no nope and no chance, and nothing to regret.

Musk, Bezos, Allen, Crowe, Buffet, Soros, others might be trying to help. But how hard? After all, the Capitalist System NEEDS a loser class, a Poverty Class, to ensure the unending flow of riches to those that do not need any more. Musk, alone could give nearly $1billion to every state in our union and see if helps make sure people have enough to eat, have water which won’t kill them, and healthcare when they need it.

It isn’t as simple as money because anytime money is flowing, aspiring Capitalists will be there to swallow it up. But it seems we could do something. Or at least talk about it. Anyone? Look how fast the rich respond when higher taxes are proposed. Can they solve poverty as fast? As least for one generation?

Watch the interview and check out the Reverend’s book.

Anyone.

Reading The Room

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Most often, these days, the air is taken out of serious discussion by someone who thinks they know more than anyone else.

Its obvious to see in the Election Deniers who dominate Republican Politics.

So, is there election fraud?

Yes. There is. Google it and see. But most frauds are for single votes, at most a couple hundred like the Republican Political Machine in western North Carolina a few years back.

So how common is election fraud? It happens every election, going all the way back to the dawn of out history. Probably.

So…why am I writing about election deniers?

Modern election deniers do not admit what I outlined in the first few paragraphs. Modern deniers see fraud on a scale so large that…well, its impossible. After the Trump Loss of 2020, (please don’t forget that he lost the popular vote in 2016, as well), his supporters and just plain stupid people said thousands, even millions of fraudulent votes had been cast, thereby casting aspersions on the entire electoral process, including who actually won the election. Is there a flaw in their illogical conclusion?

No. Not to them. Thousands of poll watchers, election controllers, election workers, with city, town, and village officials presided over the election. Any single sniff of fraud that got by at least a team of watchers, was litigated in court 63 times. It staggers the mind that so many people administering the 2020 and all other elections could be hood winked so easily and effectively. How in the world?

The only real proof deniers have is that their candidate lost. But, wait. Election deniers know more than the rest of us, right? The deniers know something the rest of the world does not.

Damn. My bad. its clear now. I can read the room. We have a select few among us so much smarter than the rest of us they can see and understand things we cannot. How stupid could I be? I’ll start paying more attention to them and hope to become like them, eventually.