Here is a test to show how divided this country has become.

A simple, honest yes or no will demonstrate this.

First answer the question as if it were you being asked, then answer the question as if the person (we all know one or more) with opposing views would answer it.

1) I believe that it is okay for my political leaders to lie to their constituents, to assure the opposing party appears to be the one actually not telling the truth. 

2) I don’t believe the party that I support, would lie to me. 

3) Even if I knew they were lying to me, it wouldn’t matter. Lying for political purposes is okay.

4) The other party always lies, about everything. 

5) It is okay for the politicians that I support to lie about things that make the other party appear horrible to others. 

6) If I find out later that my politicians lied about something, it would not bother me.

7) It not my fault if I believe what is later proven to be a lie, they told me it was true.

The answers to these questions tell you exactly what is wrong these days. 

Your lies are far worse than my lies, and your truth is not true at all. 

And, what’s worse is that I do not believe most people even care anymore if they are lied to, as long as the lie will justify their opinion, their philosophy, their stance, or belief.

If you believe lying is wrong and unjustified, yet won’t call out those that do so – you are being a hypocrite. And worse, unfaithful to your core beliefs and values. 

Making those values you pretend to believe in and support, nothing more than lies that you tell yourself.

This is not a test, it is an opportunity to recognize that change is needed. When you look in the mirror and don’t like what you see, you can either change what you see, or just live with it.

Is it time to change?

Is it time to start calling out the politicians that lie to you and everyone else in order to justify their party, their talking point, or their vote?

When independent 3rd party fact checkers verify a politician is telling a lie, that should tell you something. Wake up!

When it is all said and done, I wonder how many that were so quick to support the untruthful attempts to sway people with lies about the real cost increases folks will be burdened with, will admit their ignorance afterwards.

When they get their bill and have to decide if they can actually afford to pay it, or if they have to forego having insurance at all.

To many, especially those not impacted because they have employer provided insurance or are wealthy enough to not need health insurance, or can afford it at any cost – it will not matter to them.

So, it really boils down to compassion for the folks that might need it because of pre-existing conditions, failing health, or those that have to purchase health insurance if they want any coverage at all.

Without it, they can still show up at hospitals and wait to be seen. When Reagan was President, a law was passed to require everyone regardless of citizenship or not, to be able to receive medical care. Regardless if they had insurance or not.

Sure, the Hospital could bill the person afterwards, but chances of being paid back from a person that couldn’t even afford medical insurance was extremely low. Hospitals lose money, even though most of the unpaid expenses can be written off. And, those losses don’t stop the Hospital administration from being paid astronomical salaries either.

I wish that everyone would have to had gotten a letter from their current Insurer informing them what their insurance premium will be, when the law was approved (and when it takes affect).

I would hope that a non-partisan committee or group would then compile the data and share it with everyone.

I would think that would go a long way in forming a persons opinion about who is telling the truth and who is not.

Oh wait, that was actually done.

But, some folks will not accept the facts and would rather believe the politically motivated untruthfulness being repeated in order to convince their followers of the lies.

The truth cannot be hidden.

The insurance premiums will prove it.

Wake up, and stop being lemmings!

Thoughts regarding the government shutdown, this time around.

If National Park Rangers are considered non-essential, wouldn’t furloughing non-essential government workers include DOGE? And ICE? 

With it shut down, how can the can the government possibly be any more inefficient?

Efficiency requires the ability to compare input and output. Perhaps, they should have been looking at “effective”, instead of “efficient”. 

But, the good news is, with far, far, fewer non-essential workers it should be easier to find that waste, fraud, and abuse.  I can’t believe DOGE didn’t notice all those “Non-essential” folks? 

Hopefully, this administration looks in the mirror, because with this shutdown, it is very clear where the fraud and abuse is being generated.

When the government is shutdown, it isn’t as efficient (or effective) as it is when it is open. 

Interestingly, the government shutdowns didn’t start occurring until the 1970’s. Since then, it has been deemed appropriate to use non-essential services as a bargaining tool (as if those impacted were nothing more than trading cards.)

Seems like before that time, both parties better understood what compromise, respect, diplomacy, and actually caring about the people, the constitution, and love of this country meant.

Negotiating a deal means sometimes collaborating and cooperating while working together. It doesn’t mean only agreeing if one party gets everything they want or demand.

For the betterment of the entire country, and not just one select group, it is that which is accomplished for the common good that matters most.

Compromise is to make a deal between different parties where each party gives up part of their demand. Not giving up anything, is not compromise.

This country wouldn’t even exist as is does today, without compromise. The existing bi-cameral form of government was a compromise by the founding fathers, to balance the concerns of smaller, less populated states vs. larger, more populated states. The 3/5th compromise between the southern slave states vs. the northern free states was another compromise, as well as the establishment of the Electoral College.

Sure, some would say look at what that got us. Some of those ideas were so terrible, and still are today. Yes, I totally agree – but at that time, those that realized the only way forward was to compromise.

Later, Amendments were passed based on compromise, along with many, many laws. 

Compromise only works when both parties have an open mind to change. Staunch line in the sand, and digging in heels type behavior, does not allow room for compromise. 

Compromise does require room, room to grow and share ideas. Sharing implies not being self centered, greedy, or selfish. Those are unhealthy moral principles that governance should avoid, if compromise is the goal to avoid governmental paralysis.

Let me be clear, I am only discussing compromise as it relates to governing, and not as it applies to each individual person.  That type of practical, pragmatic, principled compromise is far, far different than the philosophy of compromise as it applies to governance. 

In personal use, One should never compromise their morals, beliefs, and values unless those have so little meaning that one actually believes trading them for something less has no bearing to them.

The stronger the belief, the less chance that belief will be allowed to be compromised.

“Politics and Governance demand compromise”.

Barry Goldwater (from over 50 years ago)

And, it is so very true, even still today.

I’m really tired of watching the POTUS continue to try to rationalize his horribly bad behavior by stating it’s his right.  That doesn’t justify the things he is doing, and saying.

He has a history of doing and saying really horrible things – then, by continuing to do them, over and over again, he rationalizes that it is normal. Normal behavior?

It is NOT normal!

Normal people know to not do certain things, like blaming others when you have no verifiable proof of any wrong doing other than your own feelings.

With that, normal people usually want proof of wrong doing. Then, justifiably they can determine how they might choose to react.

By continuously driving a wedge of division in everything he attempts to do or say, he is hoping his constituents will fall in line, and continue to normalize his behavior.

When he spoke after the widow of Kirk said she forgave her husband’s killer, he ranted about how he HATES his opponents. This is diametrically opposite of what true Christian values have been taught. It clearly demonstrated what kind of person he really is, and where his values lie.

Not surprising though. I think he is paranoid and believes if you aren’t supportive of everything he does, then you are his enemy trying to orchestrate that never ending “Witch hunt”.

When he talked to the United Nation, he chose to denigrate the nations.

America is not perfect. It wasn’t perfect before he was the leader and it won’t be when he is gone. He simply has no idea what diplomacy means, and that is more than just sad.

There clearly is a lack of decency in his behavior.

Decency begins by treating others as you would like to be treated.

If you treat others with hatred, you should expect that some will treat you the same way. If you do not like or agree with how some retaliate with hatred, then just stop and instead try being a decent human being.

And some, might even begin to realize that you can always find ways to disagree, without needing to hate each other.

That is called caring, forgiving, diplomacy, and decency.

He’s at the 4th stage of grief…construction.

The punchline to the satirical bit that Jimmy Kimmel showed, and the moron at the FCC decided was so horrible he should lose his show? 

What a bunch of bullshit!  

We are now living in a 3rd world country, with idiots in charge…for now.

The reality is that the country has been taken over by people that are vindictive as hell, and are now in a position to get away with this unethical nonsense.

The head of the FCC decided that he would eliminate Kimmel by influencing the conglomerate that was being considered by the FCC in a merger deal with another company.  He told them “we can do this the easy way, or the hard way”, as a threat to get Nexstar to drop Jimmy.

We can be infuriated with the affiliates that Nexstar owns the broadcast rights to for being forced to go along with the decision, but in reality it is a government agency (the FCC) that is behind this decision. They will deny it, but the merger which exceeds the limitation on the maximum percentage of total viewership a single broadcast company can reach, will be approved now.

In any other situation that is called extortion. 

The 1st amendment, freedom of speech is under attack by our government itself.

This government must be returned to the people. 

Normal people that believe in equal rights for everyone, free and fair elections, freedom and liberty for all, and a common interest in protecting the minority, the weak, the helpless, and those in need. 

The midterm elections are in just over a year. We, the people, must take a stand and send a message. Remove all existing congressional Republicans running for office. The republicans party is entirely complicit  in everything that has occurred over the last year.  The Doge, the ICE, the tariffs, the loss of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the attacks on anyone not like themselves, the lies about stopping wars, the lies about lowering the cost of goods, services, and groceries. Everything, from firing comedians for making fun of the orange man, shin splint claiming draft dodger, while supporting some idiot on FOX that suggested giving lethal injections to homeless people.

Enough already, Wake up 

Release the Epstein information and let the entire world witness how justice is served.

First, they came for your liberty and pursuit of happiness, and you did nothing because you were certain the founding fathers knew that the basis of checks and balances would hold true. But, then it didn’t.

Then they came for your right to be treated fairly equally, but you did nothing because you watched the highest court in the land decide equal wasn’t meant to really be equal, and no one is above the law isn’t actually true after all.

Then, they came for the separation of church and state, but you did nothing because the religion they chose was the one you believed in.

Then, they came for your freedom of choice, because you were sure this freedom would be restored when they realized it was unconstitutional. They knew it was, but they didn’t care.

Then, they came for your freedom to vote in a free and impartial election, but you couldn’t convince them that gerrymandering was a form of discrimination and blatently unfair.

Then, they came for your states rights, but you did nothing because your state was the “right” color of red. 

Then, they came for your freedom of speech, but you did nothing because you were told it was warranted if you said or wrote anything they didn’t agree with.

Then, they came for your right to bear arms, oh wait, that cherished right wasn’t taken YET, but it probably will be at some point. Sooner or later, they won’t want anyone that disagrees with them, or is the wrong gender and race to have weapons.

The Constitution and more specifically your rights are being eroded away, and democracy is being replaced.

Wake up, it is our republic, if only we can keep it!

I recently read a poll that was taken regarding how worried people were about the state of democracy in America, The numbers reported were staggering to me, as 90% were either “very worried” or “somewhat worried” about it. 70% were “very worried”, which is an alarming amount of people, if you ask me.

Made me think about democracy, how it came about and what other alternatives might there be.

Democracy started in Greece during the city-state era. Democracy means government by the “people”. The Greeks believed males ages 18 years old (then later changed to 20), that were born in that city-state would be those that determined the rules of government. Those that met the required criteria, made up about 10-15% of the “people”.

Aristocracy is a form of government by the “best/highest” group of people. Oligarchy is a form of government by the “few”. Monoarchy is a form of government by the “one”. Each of these were attempted by various people throughout history. Some still exist today.

In the 18th century, representative democracy started showing up. This is best described as a democratic government where limited rights were given to a minority adult population. The populace represented were mainly white land owners over the age of 18 or 20. By the 20th century, this form expanded the rights to include nearly all adults, regardless of property ownership, gender, or race.

Just after the Greeks initiated the use of a democratic city-states, the Romans began the use of government as a Republic. Thus, it was supposed to be a government belonging to the public. Citizenship was determined by birth and within a certain region under the Roman Empire. They also limited the “people” by gender, age, and property ownership, and birth right.

Neither the Greeks or Romans used “elected representation” as a means for establishing a legislature. This came later, after revolutions in France, England, and the United States of America. Elected representation was a means used to allow for a wider input for those being governed, while limiting the actual number of people within the official structure of the government.

With elected representation, political parties were created, to provide voting power to like minded citizens. The parties realized they needed to reduce the number of candidates within that group, in order to hopefully maximize the votes cast for them, and increase the probability of being elected.

In the end, it would enable the majority to prevail over the minority. By having multiple candidates from the same political party, it in would split the votes, and possibly lose out to a third candidate from the opposing party that had more votes given than either of the 2 opponents. This actually happened a number of times in the early history of the United States, until political parties caught on to the numbers game. That is avoided now by use of primaries and nomination of a single candidate per party.

Early on the development and creation of the newly formed government of the United States, the founding fathers were very concerned how, and if, a majority would marginalize or even abolish the “rights” of the minority (just because they could, because they won the election, and were the majority).

Many sought to assure that Minority rights were safeguarded from potential abuse of power and radical mistreatment by the Majority.

Ideas to attempt to assure that happened and included in the development of the government were;

• The need to have a super majority (2/3 or 3/4) to change the basic rights and amendments guaranteed within the constitution

• creating separate branches of government with each having specific roles and duties
• autonomy to some degree for the separate “State” controlled governments.
• Proportional representation for one house of the legislature, to balance fairness among more and less populated regions
• creating the Electoral College to determine the winner of the highest elected leader of the country, instead of a straight popular vote winner.

Safeguarding the “rights” of the Minority is a critical difference included in the new form of government being proposed by the forefathers of the United States of America. Included in the Bill of Rights and established throughout the Constitution – citizens have “rights” that cannot be abridged, regardless of majority or minority standing.

But, at the same time many thought that political parties would eventually end democracy. They could not see how dividing a nation into 2 opposing groups would allow for anything but problems. George Washington, the first President of the new country was opposed to the idea of political parties.

Fast forward through a couple hundred years and we have a bitterly divided nation. 2 political parties, so focused on destroying each other, that nothing of value gets done in the nation’s capital.

Created to keep the Majority from terrorizing the Minority, some of those things established at the onset of the creation of this nation, are all we have in place to safe guard the freedoms that members of both political parties cherish so much for themselves.

Yet, if given the chance – both parties without a doubt would do whatever they can to eliminate the existence of the other. Neither seem to truely believe that they actually do need one another. For a government made up of a single Majority driven party simply cannot work.

The problem today is that both parties have no respect for each other. Working together for the common good will never work, when a common good cannot be agreed upon. One party that gets its way ALL the time, will eventually fail, because even within each party – not ALL are treated equally, nor believe in everything the same way.

Why not, the Majority would ask? We would be so happy and content having everything the way we want it. Screw everyone else. But, the Constitution assures fair and equal rights for ALL, regardless of political affiliation. It is the protection included, to avoid having certain groups or philosophy’s forced upon everyone else.

Unfortunately, people often forget or are unable to grasp this concept. Or, just don’t care.

Even today, with a 2 party system that is filled with vastly differing philosophical views on so many critical issues, the possibility of governing at all is questionable.

The differences within the Republican Party itself, has created a situation where their party cannot even agree on who should be the Speaker of the House. Whom also happens to be the 3rd in line of power in the chain of command of the government, after the President and Vice President.

Rather than work together to elect a Speaker whom enough could accept as their leader, a small group has decided to hold their party hostage for things that they desire. It’s a lot like extortion.

The Democratic representatives can only offer a way out, if some Republicans would be willing to share power. The Democrats want to trade votes for an acceptable candidate along with agreements in how legislative committee are chaired and managed.

Unfortunately, the 2 party system seems to have internal problems that was comprehended long ago by our 1st President. He also was a proponent of term limits, as he felt no one should be in a position to rule as a king.

Eventually even the more modern forms of governance seem to have stumbled along the long path to form a more perfect method to achieve liberty and freedom for all of its citizens.

Now, the basic idea of a Constitution supporting the notions of protecting equal rights for the minority, is under attack.

They are attacking Democracy from within.

Lincoln was correct when he said, a house divided cannot stand.

What is going on now is like watching the Berlin Wall come crashing down and essentially ending the USSR.

I never thought this could happen to the United States of America, but then again, we were warned.

Epstein seems to have touched a nerve with the MAGA cult, and Donnie heads towards the hills to hide.

He says to his followers “that there’s nothing to see here, so just move along”.

Pam Blondie said she had the file on her desk.

So who is lying? Probably both, because that is how they got elected and how they operate.

The reality is, there may not have been “a list”, but Maxwell knows who the culprits were. If she ends up like the dead Russian guy, I guess we will know.

He is a convicted rapist and everything he said about movie stars isn’t just boys locker room talk.

Guys like him exist now, and existed years ago. They behaved that way because they were allowed to and had the money & influence to keep people from talking or telling. They had their own “deep state” established to protect their interests.

Now, some of the MAGA cult are obsessed with finding out whom the pedi files were/are? What would they do when their cult leader is identified? Ever heard of a woman named Johnson? She tried to expose her story with Epstein and Donnie, 3 times – she wasn’t able to out of fear for what “they would do to her or her family”. She was 13 years old and had verifiable evidence.

He wants the story to “go away”, because he knows where it will lead. This is his normal motive and method used to deflect reality.

Don’t let the Epstein story get swept under the rug.

Hopefully, this might lead to the end of him influencing the so called “ultra conservatives”.

I never understood how they supported such a pervert in the first place.

The fight of good and evil is masked by differences in beliefs and values established for selfish purposes, and overshadowed by those seeking control and power. The proof of this is the fact that the battle even exists at all. 

The development of mankind continues to be stunted by a lack of a cohesive understanding among all believers and non-believers, that sacrifice without prejudice, must be the cornerstone of human behavior in order for it to evolve to the next level of humanity.

Love thy neighbor, and treat others as you would like to be treated, are similar yet lesser steps towards achieving a more harmonious world. Well meaning and hopeful attempts for peaceful coexistance.

The ultimate measure of love is sacrifice.

For whom do you love enough to give up everything for?

Wouldn’t it be great if we lived in a world where that never needed to be asked, or answered?

To achieve that ultimate state of peaceful understanding and growth, mankind must rid itself of every form of greed, hate, jealousy, deceit, and disrespect utilized as a means to disenfranchise anyone else from enjoying the true freedom each seeks in pursuit of a joyful life. 

When all people finally understand that the ultimate sacrifice of giving their everything for the betterment of others, without filtering, requiring anything in return, or establishing prejudices relative to religious beliefs, color of skin, place of birth, or gender, only then will there be any hope that mankind will survive itself.

No, to Scientifically proven data based reality, and grants used to investigate and invent cures for deadly diseases.

Yes, to pardoning criminals that violated the law, hurt people, and destroyed government property.

No, to Public Education and grants supporting the many previous Acts of Congress for our Education system.

Yes, to Tariffs that will create Job Losses, raise Inflation, cause a global financial crisis, prompt countries to impose Tariffs on our exports that will harm many individuals here, and that almost every economic and business person opposes.

No, to the long standing 2 term limit for the President, ignoring not 1 but 2 different amendments in the Constitution.

Yes, to sharing military plans to execute bombing raids over an unsecure communication method with folks that are not cleared to see such unclassified information – including a reporter that was accidently added to the chat – risking the lives of our service men and women involved and located geographically nearby.

No, to Historical factual information involving or mentioning certain words or philosophical beliefs opposed to by this administration. Essentially approving censorship, in an attempt to erase history.

Yes, to Christianity, but ONLY Christianity (and  Judaism), yet not actually behave the way Christ preached and the New Testament states.

No, to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) – far too many examples where the current administration has dismantled this basic tenet of Civil Rights.

Yes, to Deporting citizens and immigrates before vetting that those being transported are actually in violation of actually being here legally or not. Some are legit, but some are not –   But, what happened to “Due Process” in this country?

No, to Public Television and Radio Free stations for fear that they included shows about topics opposed to the administration beliefs.

Yes, to insisting on including terribly unqualified people to run many of the Departments within the government, and then self appointing a wealthy contributor to dismantle those departments using waste, fraud, and abuse as his reason for doing so, violating Congress responsibility while doing that.  Too bad he hasn’t pointed to the biggest FRAUD of all – Those being the idiots in charge.

No, to keeping their promise to not touch Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid. The foundation of the American workers retirement benefits that they contributed to with a promise from the government to provide the benefit once you retire.

Yes, to degrading women and handicapped in order to demonstrate the actual misogynistic and hateful behaviors within his defective personality. WWJD doesn’t really apply to him, now does it?

No, understanding basic economics, history, or civics lessons. No wonder he hates the Department of Education – it didn’t help him at all.

Yes, to Isolationism – see the line above and others too. And, at the same time piss off our neighbors on our north and south border, act like he is somehow going to unilaterally invoke statehood on one, purchase Greenland, take over the Panama Canal, and end a War that he said would be over 24 hours after he was elected.

No, to Birthright Citizenship which has been in place and challenged in the past with the judicial system supporting Birthright Citizenship.

Yes, to avoiding responsibility for anything is done wrong. Blame others, Lie and keep stating that lie to convince others, file motions and extensions – as long as you can, to avoid court decision that most likely would be against you. And, at all cost – avoid ever apologizing or taking responsibility for anything bad that is done.

No, to any judge or prosecutor that opposes their ideas, or decides in a way that they do not agree with. Then, threaten those with impeachment as the means of punishing them for not ruling in his favor.

Yes, to siding with the dictator of Russia, and refusing to acknowledge that it was Russia NOT Ukraine that started the war. Are you kidding me?