Someday, when the dust settles and the current administration is gone, history will tell the story of the time democracy was almost lost in America.

It will struggle to determine what and where things actually started to go wrong. The story always gets written by the holder of the pen, at that time. But, eventually the truth will eventually come out.

People vote for change more often when told by politicians it is needed if you want more. More of everything, and less of the things that you are told you don’t want. You may not even know what it is, but if it is sold in a way that sounds great, you will vote for it.

Oh sure, sometimes there were specific things that people needed to make them feel better about the leadership they elected. Unfortunately, much was oppression and hateful related, because making “those people” lesser than you was the main focus, somehow bringing joy to those that needed to feel that they were no longer equal, but instead more deserving.

Democracy is supposed to be based on equal rights. In order for that basic principle to work, everyone must believe it and do everything in their power to adhere to it, even when sometimes it might appear that it is out of balance.

Democracy has always struggled with the ability to find and stay in balance.

Religion, Racism, Gender, Wealth, Nationality, Political, Civil, and Moral differences each apply pressure.

Balance can only be achieved by offsetting the forces about a fulcrum point in opposing directions. If the pressures or forces become greater or lesser on one side or other of the balance beam, it requires the fulcrum to be moved away from the center of the bar it is resting on.

Overtime, 250 years at this point, the fulcrum point has moved and the forces needed to stay in balance have drastically changed.

Balance is easier to achieve when keeping the fulcrum near the center. Not far to the left, or far to the right. In the center.

Justice is often depicted by a woman blindfolded and holding a scale. The scale can be used to weigh justice such that the injustice must be paid for proportionally and blindfolded suggests without prejudice, and equal for all.

The scale of justice is also a balance beam, and it is also a foundational principle of democracy.

Today, it seems as though the blindfolded has fallen off and the scale no longer functions as it once was established to provide results for.

The violators of laws get pardoned and set free by a criminal. The SCOTUS ruled that “everyone” isn’t equal under the law, after all.

Democracy is trembling, barely holding on, and the Constitution is being slowly shredded.

A more perfect union…

The founders and framers of the Bill of Rights and our Constitution were smart enough to know that nothing is “perfect”, especially when also admitting the thing that they were attempting to create was also called an “experiment”.

The experiment in self governance, like all experiments, require the perfect mixture of elements to succeed. What is sometimes thought to be the perfect solution may not always result in what is expected.

They knew that to create a more perfect union would also require changing it, changing the balance of elements also changes the resulting solution.

Sometimes experiments fail, but seldom has the greatest inventions resulted from a single attempt.

That is why, this great experiment in self governance has built into it a way to be modified, changed, and amended.

There are legal methods to do that which if done properly avoid making the mistakes of the past. Amendments differ from Executive orders and enacted laws by Congress. Major changes in how the government functions require the Constitution to be amended.

Democracy is not perfect. The foundational principles are based on many historically morals and believes that the majority of people support.

But not everyone.

The imbalances of justice and disregard for those foundational principles have created a great divide among the people.

The desires based on racism, gender inequality, and economic status have pushed the balance out of wack, so far that Democracy itself is in peril.

But thankfully it seems as though people are becoming aware and are beginning to push back.

Change is needed once again. The balance needs to be restored.

Hopefully it will, but only time will tell.

What side of history will you be on?

Originally written in January 2022, but left as draft format only and unpublished.

4 years later, same old shit. Can’t say they weren’t warned!

Every day I read more stories about something that just gets stranger and weirder by the minute. The current president, that lost the election by over 7 million votes, and lost the Electoral College that will be officially announced in early January, continues to spout delusional and stupid comments about how the election was stolen from him.

This clown surrounds himself with nutso lawyers and yes men (and women) that are just as crazy (if not more crazy) than he is. Day after day, people are being told things that are simply, and plainly, NOT true.

Judges around the country and even the Supreme Court have all said – there is no evidence to support his claim. His lawyers continue to try and convince people of the most outrageous stories that clearly have no merit. He surrounds himself with delusional sycophants.

The worst part is, that the longer this goes on, the more his lemmings believe and do whatever he alludes to. It is getting scary. Idiotic talk of succession, and civil war, and even holding a second inauguration the same time as the president elect is doing the real one.

People are very gullible. Many aren’t smart enough to realize when they are being fooled. Some go along with what he says, because it allows them to act out their inner beliefs – without concern about repercussions.

He suggest and strives for division instead of unity. I wonder what Russia has on him, for him to continuously deny that they have done anything wrong. Especially when everyone else with half a brain, has stated otherwise.

He doesn’t want anyone to think different from him. What he thinks MUST be the only way. He most likely has one or more psychological disorders.

I cannot wait until his term in office ends, and he goes away.

I was always of the belief if you put your mind to it and work real hard, you can get ahead in life and that rewards for doing so would follow.

For the most part, I found that to be true.

I also watched many people struggle though life. Whether given or earning opportunities for advancement things just did not move the needle much for them.

It isn’t always easy or even the same, as the road for everyone is different.

With everything there is a price to pay. Sometimes that means giving up valuable wealth or money in exchange for services provided by our government.

The discussion relative to how and how much has always been debatable.  Should everyone AND everything be treated equally? Should the taxed proportion of income earned be based on a flat or progressive approach?

The US government decided that corporations (entities) are to be treated like people, when it comes to being able to give contributions to political campaigns.

Entities, such as Corporations, are allowed advantages in tax codes, tax deductions, and other tax breaks for a wide variety of reasons. 

As the rich get richer, and the gap widens, and the idea related to paying your own fair share loses any meaning, especially when the numbers are so disproportionate that no one can possible relate to them anymore.

Income inequality has skyrocketed.From 1978 to 2023, top CEO compensation increased by 1,085%, while typical worker compensation grew by only 24%. 

Income Inequality rose steadily starting around 1979. 

From 1979 to 2015, the top 1% (household income) grew by 229%, while the bottom 90% grew by just 46%.Income is a big proponent of overall wealth, but that it is accumulated over a much shorter time than wealth is. Wealth can be transferred after death. 

The disparity is even more pronounced in wealth; in 2022, the top 10% held 60% of all wealth, while the bottom 50% held just 6%.

How can we encourage dreamers and entrepreneurs, while also account for the less able, less lucky, less positioned in life?

This is mainly due to the enormous number of built in tax exemptions and accounting tricks used to avoid paying taxes, written specifically for and used by those in extremely higher income brackets. 

And, circling back to paying your fair share, the percentages shown above do not match up the actual contributions in taxes collected. 

Since the mid 60’s, the middle class has been in decline. The reasons are far too many, and the ability to go backwards is an impossibility. 

Instead of wishing for the clock to somehow turn back to those times, we need to create a plan for changing the current direction with a new approach. The ways of the past will not work in today’s environment.

Change is needed. Changes in what is rewarded for investing in. Tax breaks for investing in people, not entities, or factories, or things.

We need to find a way to replenish and return to a more balanced distribution of wealth. One that encourages entrepreneurialism, innovation, competition, and investment domestically in people.

Imagine a time when, investing in ways that directly helps others in ways that improve their lives, provides you with incentives far greater than those currently seeking ways to avoid paying their fair share instead?

Can investing in people ever exceed the human desire for greed? That, my friends should be the ultimate goal.

I do not think the truth about him is known, and in fact, It may never be.

He had no degree, but was somehow granted legal access to millions of dollars by several ultra-wealthy men.

Why would they do that? 

Perhaps he knew some dark secrets about them? 

The names and history of those rich and famous guys are well known, so how did he fly under the radar and get away with so much for so long?

Was he just super lucky?

Or was he being used by them, until he started extorting them for what he knew and what he secretly taped while they committed acts that would put them in jail, if it were known.

He created an enterprise that leveraged the secrecy of the rich and famous in order to avoid prosecution, at an enormous cost, and he got away with it for a very long time.

He created a massive smoke screen all the while.

Provided the opportunity to mingle with anyone and everyone, disguised as some kind of a financial genius, and supported by an ever growing list of extorted wealthy and famous people too embarrassed to admit he had them by the balls.

The people involved reached far and wide.

They ran global corporations, as well as the governments of many nations, including a number of intelligence agencies.

The more he found out, the more he leveraged secrets about, and the more he was involved in things that he should never have been allowed him even more protection. 

He got away with horrible things because he could do so because he had a worldwide network of individuals that owed him something to keep their dark secrets.

That long list included the very people that were supposed to hold criminals accountable within not just our country, but in our global society.

The government leaders, law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, and politicians that were more concerned about favors and friendships of their wealthy friends, contributors, and famous people whom were protected over the rights of the victims.

And, we may never know the truth.

Based on psychological, historical, and sociological perspectives, the type of person who demands that their name be attached to monuments they do not deserve typically exhibits traits of 

pathological narcissism, grandiosity, and intense entitlement. 

Such individuals often operate from a desire to create a lasting legacy—a “false self” or “grandiose self”—that shields them from deep-seated insecurities, shame, or fear of being forgotten. 

Here is a profile of this personality type, according to psychology:

1. Psychological Traits

• Pathological Narcissism & Grandiosity: These individuals have an exaggerated sense of self-importance and a deep need for excessive admiration. They believe they are special and superior, expecting recognition even without achievements that warrant it.
• Entitlement Mentality: This is the “you owe me” attitude. They believe they deserve privileges, honors, or monuments as their due, often behaving in arrogant or haughty ways.
• Lack of Empathy: They are often unable or unwilling to recognize the feelings or needs of others, viewing them as tools for their own self-aggrandizement.
• Fragile Self-Esteem: Behind the mask of extreme confidence lies a fragile self-esteem vulnerable to the slightest criticism. Demanding monuments is a defense mechanism to maintain their public image. 

2. Behavioral Patterns

• “Branding” Ownership: They may obsessively brand their surroundings, naming buildings, roads, or structures after themselves to infuse their persona into the public sphere.
• Rewriting History: They may attempt to rewrite history to place themselves at the center, or they may utilize “splitting” (all-or-nothing thinking) to devalue those who do not recognize their “greatness”.
• Exploitative Nature: They may exploit others without guilt to achieve their ends, including coercing followers, subordinates, or politicians to erect statues in their honor. 

3. Types of Narcissism Involved

• Malignant Narcissism: This is the most destructive form, combining narcissism with antisocial behavior, paranoia, and, in some cases, sadistic, cruel, or bullying behavior. Malignant narcissists often demand monumental recognition to assert power.
• Communal Narcissism: This type presents as altruistic and caring, but is actually motivated by a desire for social power and a sense of superiority. They might justify their monument by claiming they are “saving” or “serving” a community, even if the public disagrees. 

4. Underlying Motivation

• Fear of Annihilation: The need to be remembered is, to them, a life-or-death issue.
• Escaping Mortality: Monuments serve as a way to fulfill a wish to be “important forever,” essentially an attempt to escape death. 

In summary, this behavior is a manifestation of an unintegrated, fragile sense of self that requires constant, tangible, and public validation to keep feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness at bay. 

Don’t you see it yet? Have you not figured it out?

There are different rules for different classes of people.

There are the rules that are manipulated for the Wealthy, Famous, and Connected.

Then, there are the rules for everyone else.

Those that can buy their way out of trouble and make bad things disappear.

Those that simply cannot.

When they say, we are going to drain the swamp, they don’t really mean it.

It is to appease the followers.

If they drained the swamp, they would uncover a mountain of lies, deception, and evidence against themselves.

We live in a country where it was said “all men are created equal”, by rich white aristocrats of that time period. Even back then, they didn’t actually mean it.

Woman and Indentured servants were not equal.

Definitely, slaves were not equal – and in fact only counted as 3/5ths of a person – to determine legislative representation for running the new government.

We thoughts the Amendments actually meant something.

The right to assemble, free speech, privacy, own a gun.

And later, slavery abolished, women could vote, civil rights for all.

I think some of that might have upset a few folks.

The division wasn’t always as clear as it is these days, but it was there – hiding in the shadows. Sneaking out in full display when it was thought no one was watching.

Who would have thought that entire government agencies would turn away from the swamp, when ordered to.

The Federal Department of Justice negotiates away due process when doing otherwise might upset the President.

Due process for victims is allowed to be tossed aside, if the friends of the President might get hurt by the truth being put on trial.

There are the rules for the Rich and Powerful.

And the rules for everyone else.

Swamp? What Swamp? Where? Who? If it looks like a duck, and walks like a duck, then it’s a …

Justice, especially Blind Justice, has been compromise? (Perhaps, it never really existed?)

Lemmings

It has always bothered me that Trump seemed so beholden to Putin. I think the reason is that Putin does have the goods on Don. I think videos do exist of him in very embarrassing positions.

The use of that kind of leverage is not new. For many years people in power have used leverage by any means. Call it blackmail or whatever name that you want to call it.

Why else would this enormous amount of clearly unlawful behavior be happening?

He knows that he is in the Epstein files, as the photos, emails, and letters prove that he is lying when he says he wasn’t involved. The long trail of evidence of his behavior cannot be denied. Jeff had the goods on Don, and he knows it.

I see a desperate person, knowing his days are limited and soon ending, behaving as though his only desire left in life is to leave his mark on the world.

He wants to be heralded as something he is not, and will never be, a good leader and decent human being. That is why he is so damned focused on winning the Nobel Peace Prize. He wants a trophy and global recognition for doing things he thinks justifies the award, with no idea that lies and actions do not support him winning it.

I think he is hiding his actual current medical condition, hoping that the conditions can be treated long enough for him to do what he wants to do, regardless of that being lawful of not.

He knows he will be impeached after the mid-terms, as the make up of Congress is flipped. His power will soon be neutered, and the next dilemma will be whether the Supreme Court and Military leaders will side with his demands or with Congressional law.

History will divulge the truth.

Masked men attacking people and hunting them down as though they have a bounty on their heads.

Blowing shipwrecked people out of the water, and ignoring international laws that disallow that from happening.

Purposely making the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness almost impossible for anyone that needs help, food, or shelter because they are unable to provide it themselves.

Building walls and dividing the nation between those that have and those that need.

Elected representatives and officials ignoring their oath and constitutional duty to be the check and balance needed to assure 3 separate branches of government.

Arresting and deporting people without due process.

Carte Blanche commutations of criminals ignoring those that were hurt, harmed, or damaged by those very same criminals.

Justice is NOT being served, it is being abused.

Calling women names because you didn’t like being challenged or asked a question that makes you feel uncomfortable answering. Which is rather comical, because most the time you don’t tell the truth anyways.

Transferring massive wealth from the poor and middle class to the wealthy, as if they really need it.

Making everything less affordable because terribly dumb decisions regarding tariffs and the economy in general.

Always, always, always blaming the other part, past leaders, and anyone else rather than admit your own dumb assed mistakes.

Making fun of others as if you are a child, name calling, never admitting error, and continuous racist & hateful behavior.

I am certain he is not well, mentally.

When will people wake up?

What has this country, under his leadership become?

From a once revered place, that shining city on a hill, and place of ending dreams, possibilities, and hope – to the laughing stock of the free world.

The Affordable Care act in 2021 increased the premium tax credits for the majority of middle class from the previous amounts more targeted for lower threshold income households, and extended those until 2025 with the Inflation Reduction Act a year late.

The one Big piece of crap Bill just enacted this year, did not include an extension of those tax credits, so they are going to expire at the end of this year. The reconciliation being held up and shutting down the government does not include anything to address that concern. As a result, the new Insurance premiums going out currently are indeed as predicted showing significant increases in premiums next year.

The result is that the government remains closed, until the Republicans and Democrats in the Senate modify the reconciliation and send it back to the House for another revision and vote, or somehow convince enough Democrats to vote to pass the reconciliation with a promise to address the Insurance premium tax credit issue separately. Fat chance of that happening, especially with Trump having veto power.

Additionally, as the result of many people no longer able to afford the insurance, hospitals will be closed as they will not be able to afford to absorb the enormous costs associated with the reduction of patients with insurance coverage, and the massive increase caused by people going to the emergency clinics for care that cannot be denied by law.

The politicians in both parties knew that this issue existed and have done nothing to address it. Years have passed where something could have been proposed, but instead it was ignored.

Why?

I am certain that the finger pointing and blame for this predicament is abundant, but that is simply a useless tactic to avoid reality.

Healthcare Insurance needs to be addressed on a national level for all members of the marketplace. The ACA was a massive improvement in assuring folks had an opportunity to enjoy insurance coverage without prejudice of precondition, or any other discrimination, including income level.

Was it perfect? Not at all, and many (mostly Republicans politicians) rejected the notion that regulating the industry at all. The free market believers will never agree that regulation of anything is appropriate.

The result is undeniable though. The shear number of people with insurance coverage has increased significantly from before it was enacted. Even as the cost of the insurance premiums increased, enrollments increased mainly because of the premium tax credits afforded by the subsequent Acts that were enacted to keep the premiums low enough to afford.

But now, because of the lack of progress in addressing the problem that everyone knew was going to happen, a crisis is going to occur in the Health Care industry and to those needing affordable care.

If the voters were sufficiently influenced by the price of eggs in the last election, I can’t wait to see the impact of double and triple digit increases to premiums for middle income households.

Look, there will always be the difference of opinion between free market and regulated market believers. There are legitimate arguments for both sides, depending on one’s economic or capital market ideology.

Governing for the good of all, sometimes requires compromise. Even if that doesn’t follow the strictest measures of purely capitalistic philosophy. The notion that supply and demand establish appropriate prices, also is predicated on having sufficient competition and limited interference. Neither of which is factual in the Health Care Insurance industry.

Everyone acknowledges that the well being of the entire society is more affordable when everyone has some level of affordable coverage. The more people that are potentially able to pay some portion of their medical costs through insurance, the better it is for everyone. And, it is better health wise for everyone too.

Using the hard nosed free market driven philosophy assures only those that can afford health care will get it.

Fewer people paying higher amounts will not be able to support the current hospital, emergency, long term care, drugs, dental, eye, hearing, mental health, and every other health care type company.

The extremely wealthy will be the only people that can afford their own doctors, nurses, medical equipment and treatment.

What will result, a massive new “black market” of unregulated health care that results in simply horrible results and no accountability.

Kicking the can down the road isn’t, and was not, the right thing to do.

Political influence by Health Care industry, Drug & Pharmacy industry, and Health Insurance providers have had a negative impact on addressing this issue. That has to stop, if there is ever going to be a chance of fixing this.

Start now, for the good of the American people, extend the insurance tax credit premiums for 1 additional year, with the requirement to address the longer term Health Care Industry affordability concerns, and if not enacted within that year – initiate increasing the insurance premiums over the following 5 years to the levels determined and agreed to by Congress – or back to the original tax credit premiums prior to those increased by the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022.

I don’t believe it is okay to do harm or be hateful to others, and yet still preach about being a Christian? The teachings of Jesus have documented his focus on loving your neighbor. 

In fact, that was just second to loving God. 

Yet, so many have decided that it is justified to harm people that they feel shouldn’t live here, that act or believe different, that come from different places, that behave differently from what they have determined is appropriate.

What ever happened to “Judge not, yet ye be Judged”? 

What happened to the belief that everyone would be “Judged” at the end of their days by our creator, and the creator alone? 

Didn’t Jesus say, we should care for the poor, the down trodden, the less fortunate, the sick, and the meek?

Long ago, the framers of the Constitution realized that if this is truly to be considered a Christian-like nation, the fundamental belief allowing everyone to choose – must include the choice of religious belief, including that to not believe.

Thus, the important separation of church and state.

Not to separate those that believe in God, but instead to protect the right for everyone that lives here to not be forced to believe in any specific singular dictated ideology.

The preservation of the right to choose was embedded in the very beginning.

My choice to believe the teachings of Jesus, is my choice alone. 

I believe it is the choice our government has given to us all, as one of those unalienable rights.

I believe it is appropriate to love thy neighbors, treat others as I would like to be treated, help the poor, elderly, and sick because that is what Jesus preached to his believers. 

As a citizen of these United States, I support using our vast riches and wealth to fulfill those Christian-like beliefs. I am able to rationalize the separation of church and state, while still believing in the teachings of Christ.

Help those in need, feed the hungry, care for the sick, do what is right. 

Do that first, and then – if you must, govern as best you can with the rest.

That is what being a Christian-like nation, or even World, should be modeled like.