Make America Great Again

Make America Great Again?

Really now, was America really "Great" at some undefined decade in the past.  And, should we return to that state of "Greatness" that we have left behind.

How about 1910 before World War I?  Women could not vote, Jim Crow laws made life miserable for Negroes throughout the South, people lived to around 50, no anti-biotics were available, no Social Security or Medicare, sweat shop non-union work conditions, pollution, coal consumption, rich white men in charge ... 

How about the 1930's: The Great Depression, Jim Crow laws, discrimination towards women in jobs, limited advanced medical treatments, harassment of gay people, A World War on the horizon, few telephones, rich white men in charge, Nazi racist ideology on the rise, limited divorce laws favor men ...

How about around 1850: Slavery, everybody worked as farmers, few colleges/universities, no votes for women, widespread poverty, limited government, Civil War looming, no electricity, no plumbing, few roads, rich white men in charge, all Christian Churches supported slavery ...

How about the 1780's: What the current Tea Party politicians like to tout as "Great." Slavery, rich white land owners have all the political power, very limited government services, everybody dirt farming, repression of Native people, repression of women, little or no taxes, free-for-all exploitation ...

How about the 1990's: computer boom and good new jobs, a bustling economy, easing persecution of gays, Clinton Democratic administration, tougher laws, rich white men controlling power, corporate greed, repression of the working class, America First Jingoism, environmental exploitation and destruction, ignoring the serious climate changes, blind worship of  Christian myths, pollution of the oceans and great rivers, our oil addiction, money-money, fast food spending, spend-spend, bigger cars, RVs, and guns, world travel, species extinction, etc. Was this all GREAT??

So, just when was "America Great"? Pretty much always for rich white men and rich Christian preachers in control of jobs and politics and indoctrination.

Karen and I gave $120.00 to the Biden/Harris campaign, Ellon Musk gave $45,000,000.00 to Donald Trump's campaign. Really! Again, rich white men and wealthy corporations trying to take control.

I wish for and hope that America can improve, become better, be more inclusive, deal constructively with environmental and energy problems, adopt Green Lifestyles, and that our citizens can have respect and appreciation for all the efforts by Federal, State, County, and City governments and employees to improve our lives in hundreds of useful ways.  

I seriously doubt that we might be 'greater' and 'better' and 'improved' in the future. The old simpler definitions of "GREAT" (i.e., huge military industrial complex, tougher laws, rich white men controlling power, racism, discrimination, repression of the working class, America First Jingoism, environmental exploitation and destruction, ignoring the serious climate changes, blind worship of  Christian myths, pollution of the oceans and great rivers, our oil addictions, money-money, spend-spend, bigger cars, RVs, and guns, world travel, etc.) are NOT Great and will lead to worldwide disasters, famine, wars, and disease.

If you are a minimum wage worker, keep always in mind that Republicans have always voted against minimum wage increases for workers. Republicans and Trump have also been consistently against the Affordable Health Care Act (Obama Care).  Republicans have always resisted and voted against Social Security since President Roosevelt and Medicare since President Johnson.

Republicans like to complain about various programs, complain about people they don't like, complain about crime, complain about immigrants, complain about governmental rules they don't like, complain about overpaid government employees, complain about catering to old people, complain about rising prices, complain about liberals, etc., etc. Their opinions about "governmental failures" and "creeping socialism" dominate their thoughts, not the good achievements of our people.

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man’s oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” - John Kenneth Galbraith

Republicans consistently preach about the Magic Bullet of REDUCING TAXES. Yet they seldom specify which governmental services should be discontinued, expanded, or eliminated. They claim that reducing taxes will result in more and better jobs? How?  "Trickle Down Economics" will just result in more trivial goods purchased from China, higher Federal debt, and richer billionaires.  They want more high paid police to protect their property and lives; and, maybe less welfare for homeless mothers or no food for children at school or more abortion restrictions or less Medicare benefits, or cutting the pay of government employees, or no Green initiatives. A Modernized White Jesus (getting rid of the Jewishness) would agree with their plans, they believe. Consume more for myself and my family, and ignore all the warning cries of the Earth and less fortunate people.

Democrats have also failed in many ways to govern wisely for the long run. However, in 2024, I think that even the more limited Green Platform of the Democratic Party offers better ideas for our people. 

Who has better physical and mental health: Joe Biden or Donald Trump??

 

Since both Joe Biden and Donald Trump are over 70 years of age, it is a legitimate question for any voter to ask about the status of their physical and mental health.  I am not talking about the differences in their political views.  I am 74, white, retired at 70, an Independent, and in decent health. 

Both of these old Presidential candidates have had physical exams, and were judged to be in “satisfactory” physical health by medical doctors.  Mr. Trump prefers not to exercise.  Joe Biden exercises every day.  Just looking at them, I would say that Joe Biden looks far leaner and more fit than Donald Trump.  Leanness in older men is medically advantageous say all doctors.  So, I will give an edge to Joe Biden on physical health. 

President Trump’s mental health is more questionable.  His character is abrasive.  He frequently insults others, calls people sophomoric names, bullies his chosen staff, tweets baseless claims at all hours, lies, is vain, gets angry quickly, contradicts himself, and rants till he is red faced – all signs of mental unfitness.  He overuses the words “great, greater, and greatest” like he is casting magical spells.  His sister, a former Federal Judge, says he is “cruel” and “unprincipled.”  John Bolton resigned and called working with Trump a “college food fight,” and Trump called the respected and conservative former National Security Advisor an “idiot.”  On the other side, Joe Biden speaks clearly, speaks carefully and respectfully, stays calm, seems to relate better to all kinds of people, and works well with colleagues.  Joe Biden doesn’t need to criticize someone or invent conspiracy theories or act like a teenager on Twitter.  I’ve seen no evidence in Mr. Biden of this kind of obnoxious mental instability in the past or at present.  Mr. Biden is also much more informed and grounded about medical science issues.  Consequently, I give Joe Biden a much better rating for his mental health. 

Mr. Trump constantly makes insulting remarks about “sleepy Joe Biden” being “worn out.”  Mr. Biden just says, “Mr. President, just watch me work when I am elected.”  For me, style matters, and Joe Biden has much more class and poise.  

I think that Kamala Harris and Mike Pence are equals in physical and mental health.  So, we have satisfactory backups in case either of these old men die in office. 

In my opinion, Joe Biden is a healthier choice for a Better America. 

 

Guns and Self-Defense Facts

 "For each instance of successful self-defense or justifiable homicide using a gun, there were twenty-two cases of assault or criminal homicide, unintentional homicide, suicide and attempted suicide using a gun."
-  Arthur L Kellerman, et al., 'Injuries and Deaths Due to Firearms in the Home', in the Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection and Critical Care, 45:2 (1998).  

This is not counting the non-lethal but serious injuries from gunshots.  Many more people injure themselves while playing with guns.  

Too many Americans watch all those old white power Western movies.  Now, in 2020, most of us live in urban and suburban neighborhoods, not the West of the 19th century.  Improved gun control and safety measures are more sensible in our day.  

Crazy Killers with Arsenals

Donald Trump's Needs More Water for His Hair

 

Mr. Trump was complaining in August 2020 about shower head and toilet water conservation measures.  President George Bush sensibly encouraged water conservation legislation back in 1992. 

“People are flushing toilets 10 times, 15 times, as opposed to once,” Trump told a meeting of small business leaders at the White House.  He groused about lower-flow shower-heads because "You turn on the shower — if you're like me, you can't wash your beautiful hair properly."  

This is another example of Mr. Trump’s ignorance of the serious water shortages in the West, his negative attacks on environment conservation and the EPA, and his pathetic vanity.  

Sounds to me like a spoiled rich man whining about some trivial inconvenience.  He does not want to cooperate with sensible water conservation measures needed in California, Nevada, and Arizona.  He thinks real life is just playing at his private golf course in Florida, where it rains a lot.   

Does Mr. Trump really know anyone who needs to flush their toilet 10 to 15 times?  We had low-flow toilets for 20 years in Red Bluff, CA - one flush was always enough.  

Probably, Mr. Trump is so full of CRAP that HE needs to flush his toilet 10 to 15 times! 

Why I am Voting for Joe Biden

 From an old friend, Philip Yantis, from our college days (1965) and while we were working part-time at the City of Commerce Library in East Los Angeles.  We both volunteered to serve in the U.S. military.  

"To friends and family who support Trump, I copied this from another friend's post but it says what I wish to say in regards to the coming election:

A friend (who happens to be a staunch Trump supporter) asked me ‘why I want Joe Biden as my president?’

"It was actually a good, reasonable question…one that deserved a reasonable, and honest answer.

My support for Joe Biden has more to do with my severe disdain for Trump than it does with overwhelming affection for Joe Biden.

Don’t get me wrong, I believe Biden is a good, decent and honorable man…his politics and ideology are moderate, which I like...and, I believe he will work to unite us, rather than divide us. I believe he will restore a level of dignity and rational behavior to the office of the president.

But Joe Biden and I are not ‘perfectly aligned’ ideologically…no, this is not about ideology, or partisanship, or even specific emotionally charged issues, such as 'pro-life vs. pro-choice'.

No, this election is about the very character and soul of our nation…it is about placing ‘love of country’ above ideology.

I believe Joe Biden is basically honest, and will not insult us with a never-ending barrage of easily disproved lies…

Joe Biden will not tell us the 'free press' is the ‘enemy of the people’…

Joe Biden will not tell us we should trust Vladimir Putin more than we trust our own CIA, FBI, NSA, or DOJ…

Joe Biden will not advocate separating families and caging children…nor will he demonize immigrants with lies and hate-filled rhetoric…

Joe Biden will not tell us that NATO, which has successfully maintained peace in Europe for the past 75 years, is obsolete…nor would he abandon our long-held allies in Syria, an act that Lindsey Graham called a ‘stain on the character of our great nation’.

Joe Biden will not insult our closest allies (Angela Merkel, Emanuel Macron, Justin Trudeau) while flattering and fawning over Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un.

Joe Biden will not pick unnecessary trade wars with our closest trading partners

Joe Biden will not deploy federal troops against our own citizens, against the expressed wishes of the duly elected governors and mayors…

Joe Biden will not 'tear gas' protesters to clear a path for a blasphemous photo op holding a Bible upside down against the backdrop of the actual bishop of the church who expressed outrage at the actions of the president

No, Joe Biden, a devout Catholic, won’t ever use Christianity as a blasphemous prop under any circumstance…

And, this is important...even respected (former) republican leaders, some that even I respect, such as Gen John Kelly, Gen Colin Powell, Gen James Mattis, Adm William McRaven, Adm Michael Mullin, and Rex Tillerson will never feel compelled to warn me that Joe Biden is a threat to my nation, my constitution, and our democracy.

And finally, white supremacists, such as David Duke, will never endorse Joe Biden and tell us that voting against Joe Biden is betraying our white heritage…and if any of these White Supremacists did endorse him, Joe Biden would quickly denounce their endorsement and their racist beliefs…

Joe Biden will never say, 'I take no responsibility at all'...that is simply not in his nature...

I could go on, but I think you get the point…I want Joe Biden as my president because he is ‘not Donald Trump’. I want Joe Biden because in many ways he is the antithesis of Donald Trump.

I want Joe Biden for my president because I truly do love this country, and I truly do believe America, all its citizens, and the entire world deserves better than what we have gotten for the past 3 ½ years…

I could talk about the COVID response as well, but you already know what I would say about that…

I hope this clears up my reasons…and I sincerely hope everyone will take the time to consider what is the character that we want for America…what does it really mean to ‘make America great’…"

I want Joe Biden because he is man enough to choose a running mate that challenged him in the debates, a woman of color, and of Indian heritage who called him on bussing. He did not denounce her, call her vile names, do everything in his power to destroy her - which is what Trump would’ve done. He pulled her into the fold and didn’t hold a grudge because he is man enough to take criticism and grow from it, not stew in it.

Comments

Social Security and Medicare Funding

 I am concerned about the Donald Trump attack on the Payroll Tax that funds Social Security.  Half is paid by the employee and half by their employer, for a total of 15% of the wages of the employee.  Republicans, in general, have long been against Social Security since the 1940's.  

Medicare has a Trust Fund created by payments from both employees and employers.  Pro business interests have always been against Social Security and Medicare.  

My wife and I benefit greatly, at the age of 74, from Social Security and Medicare.  I want my children and grand-children have the same benefits in their old age.  We both worked and paid Social Security and Medicare from age 16 to age 70.  

I am against paying of benefits from these earmarked Trust Funds out of the General Fund.  I don't see how it will be funded consistently out of the General Fund.  

I favor the approach of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in managing these invaluable U.S. Government services and programs.  

Thanks to FDR, Lindon D. Johnson, and George Bush II for creating these programs.   

 

An Old Man's Misunderstanding

 I enjoy talking with my neighbors about a variety of issues. One man in his 80’s, a very likable gentleman, told me that Medicare nearly paid for all the costs for his two knee replacements, one hip replacement, a pacemaker, two stents, and removal of his thyroid. Also, he said that he was voting for Mr. Trump to stop socialism. I politely pointed out that Medicare is a socialist program. I favor Joe Biden’s approach to Medicare and ACA. Wake up old people!

Wearing a Mask - Sensible Prevention

My wife and I observe the Covid19 Flu Prevention medical advice for social distancing, wearing a mask, cleaning hands, and avoiding buildings with lots of people. We appreciate all the people doing the same in Vancouver, Washington. We thank all the hospital workers for their courage, and hope that the many that are ill can recover. We avoid the uncooperative people not wearing a mask.

I cannot understand President Trump's attitude towards masking, reducing testing, and getting back together in groups. His familiar "We are doing a GREAT job" or "blame China" are unconvincing anymore. How about something like "this is a really tragic flu virus, and we can and will do better at helping people in the coming months. For now, mask up, social distance, and avoid large groups of people. We will work with the FDA and commercial labs to carefully evaluate the efficacy and safety of new treatments, new vaccines, and new drugs to combat this killer flu. We all need to be patient, practice safety measures, cooperate, and work together."

During World War II, in Los Angeles, we had mandatory blackouts. People who did not turn of lights at night were criticized and fined. Not wearing masks right now, not social distancing, and not helping to prevent the spread of this deadly flu are like people who refused to turn out their lights in 1943. Come on people, cooperate and help us out of this pandemic.