With disgust and an unimaginable amount of disappointment, I only wish that the uniformed, uneducated, closet racists, and hate filled minions that voted for the convicted rapist, misogynist, racist, moronic, authoritarian feel the oncoming rath that they truly deserve, but are too stupid to realize will happen to them in the next 4 years.  

But, let me be clear. Trump is not the only or biggest problem.  I hold those that voted for him the most accountable.  I blame the voters themselves. And, they will get their just rewards in the end. 

My heart hurts for all the women that work so hard everyday to support their families, their communities, and their country.  

They deserve far better than how they have been treated.  They exceed the promise of  equality, as they are the absolute backbone of this country.  Their pursuit of happiness can never be provided until they have the same rights for bodily autonomy as their male counterparts enjoy. 

Please realize that not all males denied you of the hopes and dreams that all of you should enjoy.  

Continue to organize and work your butts off for what you every female deserves, now and in the future.  I, for one, will be with you – and I pledge my support to your cause. 

About 6 months ago I watched a video with a well known professional pollster that stated “Democracy is in deep trouble, in the eyes of our youth”.

The reasons given included, that of the current presidential candidates one is old (Biden) and the other crooked (Trump).

While polling younger people. a question was asked where 75% responded that they thought Democracy was dead (or dying).

The youth made it clear that there isn’t a single person that would be a good candidate that they look up to. Not a single person setting a good example for them to believe in.

Democracy is dead or dying because there isn’t anyone to hand the torch off to. No new bearers of Democracy exist that aren’t old, or crooked.

Where have all the leaders gone?

Where have all the believers in Democracy gone?

Has everyone simply just given up?

Are the barriers of entry too difficult to transition?

Are the youth of America correct?

Then, Biden backed out of running and Kamala Harris picked up the torch and became the Democratic Party candidate.

A women, past attorney general of California, the current Vice President.

She is neither old or crooked.

Yet, failed to win the election.

I think the pollster was correct – Democracy is dead, but not for the reasons the youth has stated.

Democracy is dead because too many people take it for granted.

God help us all.

During this prolonged political election cycle, many people have argued using the word “truth”, as the core rational for their decision to support one candidate over the other.

They state things like your truth isn’t the same as my truth, when confronted with an accusation that someone is lying about something (or everything). They come back with, but so and so also lies about a lot too. Somehow rationalizing that 2 opposing lies, somehow cancel each other out.

In reality the argument seems to end up with – What is Truth anyways?

I recently watched a video of a man in search of the answer to that question. He spent a long time traveling around to speak with philosophers and scholars, hoping to find the answer. Each person he spoke with used many big words and phrases that most normal people could never understand. They each were passionate about their responses, and every single one of them stated that there isn’t one simple answer to the question. They referred to different philosophic rationale, methods of looking at things, along with many teaching points and examples to support their positions.

As it ends up, the key point made was that the question itself is flawed to start with!

Searching for the meaning of truth is not something that will make many people happy, because it isn’t just one ah ha thing. Definitions of many words are like that though.

What is it that causes your perception of something to be what you think it is?

Is it because someone once told you?

Is it because you read it in a book, or saw it with your own eyes, or heard it with your own ears?

Was it Something you learned?

Is it Something that you believe is true?

I believe in things that can be scientifically proven. I think that I am biased to think that way because of my education, and background.

I find that things that can be defined and supported with facts, usually help me determine if they are true or false.

1 + 2 = 3, is a true statement because that is what I was taught to believe.

Things that cannot be supported by facts, might be supported by theories which are based on math or science or things that have been written, taught, and believed over the years.

Things that cannot be supported by facts but might be supported by theories, not based on anything but unsubstantiated opinions, I have a tendency of not necessarily believing right away.

I am very hesitant, until I can research to try and determine if the opinion base theories are able to be rationalized as “true” or “not true”.

In statistics, there is a question that I recall which kind of sums this up.

Can the null be proven?

I find that opinion-based theories which some believe to be true , regardless if the null proves it to be untrue, are created with deception in mind.

The purpose of the deception is to inject just a possibility that the opinion is true (or that the opposing view could never be true), thus making the lie be considered true.

As the search for the meaning of Truth continued on, one philosopher used the idea that truth matches reality, but the problem being is that reality is really just a state of mind.

The mind can alter reality when under certain influences. Influences can be temporary, or forever. many things influence what you believe is real. If a person has taken drugs, they might really actually believe that they can do something that they cannot do.

Watch me, I can fly! Not true, no matter if they momentarily believe that that can.

And then there is the problem of not knowing in the first place.

How can anything be considered true – if you have never been exposed or thought about that particular thing?

Lack of knowledge, experience, or thought – leaves the question moot. How can a particular idea, thought, opinion, philosophy, or anything really – be true or false, when it has no meaning to you?

Did the people long ago, way before science and philosophy, even think about what was true or a lie?

Fire is very hot – don’t touch it. The darkness comes and goes.

It is more comfortable wearing something wrapped around your body, when it is cold out.

Why did making sure that Truth matters become something people even cared about?

Some people think that everyone should be able to believe anything that they want to, so long as it doesn’t impact anyone else.

The problem is, many times that philosophy ends up impacting others in not so good ways. When deception and lies are used to influence people into doing bad things to others, it is wrong!

Beware of the deceiver.

I have tried to share my thoughts on many things that I hear, read, and see – which are not true.

I have tried showing data and research to support my argument.

I’m the long run, people reading it can choose to believe me or not. Either way, it’s still going to be what I believe is true, because I will question things and do my due diligence.

I pray people will do the same, but I have my doubts.

Trump is running on the economy.

Our economy is the best in the world & inflation is under 3%. Yes, I’m better off, by a long shot. 

He doesn’t truly understand how tariffs are transfer taxes paid by the consumer, and not the country that he doesn’t like.

Unemployment is at its lowest level in 54 years. 

Trump added 8.2 trillion dollars to our national debt.

That is more than any president ever, and he did that in one term. 

What happened to all those Republicans that were so upset about running up the debt?

Trump is running on immigration. The crossing of illegal immigration is now lower than it was in 2019 (when Trump was President). Trump also killed the bipartisan border deal, for completely political election campaign reasons.  He insisted that Mexico was going to pay for “the Wall” – they didn’t, but your tax dollars did. 

Trump is running on crime. Crime is lower than it was under the Trump. He says that he doesn’t like crime, but he continues to be the criminal running to stay out of jail.

Trump is running on drilling oil. The US is drilling more oil than ever before.

Trump is running on job creation. There has been more job creation under the current administration.

Trump is suffering from dementia. He is too old and mentally unstable to handle the everyday stress of the job. He can’t answer simple questions, because he can’t focus long enough to pull together a cohesive thoughtful response. 

He really thinks “he is the only one” that can do things that he promises, yet has no rational and realistic plans as to how to get anything done.

Trump changes positions on topics to best suit his needs at the moment.  He is a flip -flopper on everything, especially when it means trying to convince people to vote for him. He loves women, when it suits his needs.  He loves minorities, when it fits his agenda. He is not a trustworthy person.

Trumpp disrespects the military veterans, by staging “photo ops” at Arlington National Cemetery.

Trump disrespects Christianity, by selling his version of the Holy Bible, that includes government documents and other non-secular items in order to just make a buck.

One party complains about the problem at the border, but refuses to enact a Bill written primarily by a representative of their party (solely on the grounds that their leader told them not to, because it would make the other side look like they did something good about that situation). 

One party likes to complain about the economy, yet the actual numbers don’t support their imaginary made up falsities.  

One party insists that the Federal debt needs to be brought under control, yet a single act by the then president representing that party increased the Federal debt by 7 trillion dollars, when he gave his rich pals and corporations a massive Tax break. 

The candidate for president of that party cannot tell the truth. His mantra is that if you say something enough times, and insist what you say is true – eventually others will believe it. 

He doesn’t really care about anyone, other than himself and the wealthy that give him their money. 

He uses people and insists on unlimited loyalty, even when loyalty given under oath is to the Constitution, not to the President. 

No other candidate has ever had the vast number of past cabinet members not only NOT support him, but instead tell folks to NOT elect him. 

On January 6th he green lighted a riot, then acted like he did nothing wrong. Words matter, people got hurt and died and to make it worse – He did nothing to try and stop them until it was far too late. 

On January 7th, the line up of Republican leaders that are on tape blaming Trump, included both the Speaker of the House and the Senate Majority leader.  Many of the White House staff and Cabinet members resigned. 

Military leaders, and past cabinet members, have all come out saying – do NOT vote for him.  All of them had worked for, or with, him previously – and do NOT believe he should be allowed to hold the office again.  That should tell you something.  

He is a convicted felon, a rapist, a habitual liar, a person that uses people, the system, and anything else to his sole advantage – regardless, of whom gets hurt by that action. 

Character should matter. 

Sadly, the American people are so often fooled.

Magicians often use deception when performing tricks, watch over here while I slip something from my sleeve.

The audience falls for it every time.

Whenever something bad happens, and you don’t want people to focus on that, do something that will take their attention away. It’s like in the movie called Wag the Dog. Check it out sometime.

I recently watched a video of a guy explaining to his friend, How Trump could be ahead in the polls even after all the terrible things he has done, including the things he has been convicted of, as well as, the things he has been accused of doing.

The bottom line ended up being that people in general have somehow normalized his behavior.

They have downplayed the things he has said and done, and made excuses for his behavior and also deflected it by blaming the media and the opposing party.

They say that people have short memories, but 3 1/2 years ago, on January 7th – almost everyone that is now kissing his ass were saying he was the cause of the riot and insurrection. When those in the halls of Congress were being attacked, they were scared for their lives and spoke the truth for that short lived moment.

What changed their minds?

Once evil, always evil.

I think a 20 year old understood that, and that’s all the motivation he needed to try what he did.

Frankly, the story about what and how this kid was able to do what he did – just doesn’t really add up.

If it really was because he was just lucky and somehow outsmarted the Secret Service and the rest of the law enforcement at the political rally, then there are some serious problems that have to be addressed within those organizations.

So many unanswered questions, and so much misinformation and conspiracy theories floating about.

It sure helps make Wag the Dog seem possible.

I’m guessing there will be a new Warren Commission created. Somebody has to get to the bottom of this. Right?

While in the meantime, the media will spend more time reporting on that, and less time reporting on other things that actually put him in a worse position.

Wag the Dog, at its core.

In the long run, we will be no better off than before – but, our attention and concerns will be focused elsewhere for a while.

The calls for toning down the rhetoric are seemingly everywhere, since the attempted assassination by the 20 year old that was shot by the secret service in Pennsylvania.

I understand the need for that message at this time, but just wonder whom those saying it are targeting it at?

I am a strong believer in the vast majority of normal people being less verbal and less outlandish.

The rhetoric and hatred essentially is generated by the far right and the far left factions, whose made the conscientious decision to be as loud and boisterous spewing hate and retribution against anyone and everyone that doesn’t agree with them.

Those making the biggest noise will not heed the call to tone it down. They only care about their own cause and no one else.

Sadly, there are fringe and unknowing people being influenced by their message.

If anyone is the cause of vulnerable people doing questionable behaviors, it is those on the extreme ends – and NOT the majority of those in the middle.

For years, the leadership that represented the middle was able to control the few outlandish crazies on the ends. Those leaders no longer seem to be able to do that. In part, because the single person leading the party spewed the hateful messages himself.

Hey, just an idea…maybe the politicians and influencers should just shut up and say nothing for a couple weeks.

That would be a welcome break for the majority of folks in the middle.

Must have been living under a rock for the past 10 years.

In the vitriolic environment that has been created in recent years, this kind of political violence just plain and simply, seemed inevitable. 

The unending bombardment, by both political parties on every sort of multi-media method of communication has helped divide the country.

One side makes hateful statements and then other makes hateful statements – about anything and everything.

That’s going to tic off people until one day, someone will take it upon themselves to do something really stupid.

Then, one side will blame the other and visa versa, over and over again.

Rather than toning down the rhetoric and stopping the hate speech (at least for a little while), the parties leadership will continue, while seeing nothing wrong about it.

The violent backlash has been building and just gotten worse.

The 1st amendment right to free speech is often used as the rationale to be able to say anything (including hate speech).

The 2nd amendment right to bear arms continues to used as rationale to be able to carry weapons of war – even when used to attempt to kill one of the presidential candidates.

When will the madness end? Is democracy on its deathbed?

Is there enough people that care to fix the problem, and NOT only if they are right and get what they want at the cost of others?

A true patriot fights for the betterment of everyone, not just a chosen few that all believe the same, look the same, and act the same.

What has happened to Caring? Putting others before one self?

Until people in leadership positions stop saying and doing hateful things – it isn’t going to get any better. It may even get worse.

The greatest gift the colonists earned by defeating King George of England was Independence.
But, there is no Independence if you simple replace one king with another.
What checks and balances are there, if a king/president simply uses his power of authority to do anything they want? “Official” power isn’t even defined – anywhere.
It is now up to the judicial system to decide what is “official” and what isn’t.
The SCOTUS has become too political.
The intent when creating that branch of government was to interpret the laws, not create them, not base opinions on conservative or liberal philosophy – but instead on unprejudiced opinion of the “law”. I believe they failed to do so, for political reasons.
Perhaps, it is time for change. Perhaps it’s time for a Constitutional Convention.
Things need to change.
We don’t need a king.