Monthly Archives: April 2024

25 Thursday Apr 2024

Posted by in America's Downfall, Drugs, Illegal Drugs

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America Is Going To Pot

        When you saw this subject heading did you think it was really going to be about something other than marijuana? I don’t remember the first time I heard about Mary Jane but it was probably on television in the mid 1960s when I was in high school. I doubt if any of the approximately 500 students had either. Well maybe three or four. We were a rural culture and not an urban or what would be considered a good area for any type of drug abuse – alcohol abuse, yes.

            I don’t remember anyone talking about drug use in the community college on a high school campus in the next county. That was fall 1965 through spring 1967. The major topic of conversation was the Batman series and romance. The Viet Nam War was still a minor topic among most guys until late 1966.

            My first experience with “druggies” was at Murray State University with Viet Nam returnees and those protesting the war. My third roommate was a vet who may have done drugs at home on weekends but probably not on campus. They did congregate in an old class building’s basement where drugs were allegedly used. Not being involved or using the drug, I didn’t know who did or didn’t use it and how often. A good friend did but I couldn’t tell. I didn’t have time or money for drugs.

            The marijuana strength then was a small percentage of what is being sold legally today. We now know the Federal studies of its damage to our bodies must be the same strength as when I was in college by law. Independent studies show brain, nerve, and lung damage with heavy use. More and more traffic and work accidents are being attributed to its use. Perhaps the title is correct.

Guns, Guns, and More Guns

23 Tuesday Apr 2024

Posted by in Gun Control, Gun Violence

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        The gun culture is winning out over commonsense. We are allowing teenagers, preteens, and even younger children to play with and carry guns outside the home. No wonder why we have bicycle and drive-by shootings where bullets are sprayed at groups of other children. More than once a week police shoot a kid with a gun.

            In the 1950’s the weapons were zip guns. They were homemade single shot devices using a rubber band. Now teenagers are carrying large caliber pistols with extended magazines or even an automatic with conversion parts bought off the internet.

            Why are parents allowing their children to become so involved with guns? Illinois may be the first state to put parents in jail for their child killing other students. Perhaps the police and courts should go farther and penalize parents just for allowing the children to be around guns. Parents of dead kids march after shootings to soothe their feelings about not protecting their own kids,. Why didn’t they keep their kids out of gangs and associating with gang members? If necessary move to a safer area.

            Yes, the police may be more strict and rough in some ethnic or race communities than safer areas, but it is from past experiences. Every day they put on body armor to try to go home at shift’s end. There are always bad seeds in the force and the community. It is the responsibility of the rest of us to eliminate them from being a problem. The problem is too many gangs and lenient courts, laws, and stupid parents.

America: An Island?

21 Sunday Apr 2024

Posted by in America

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        Millions of Americans and some in Congress think the United States should become an island and let the rest of the world go to where-ever. The Japanese Prime Minister just gave Congress a lesson on why we must stand up to aggression and lead the Allies against North Korea, China and Russia. We know a few other countries “rattle their cages” which require us to “bang the bars” occasionally.

            The questions those people who want us to be an island are unable to see what history has taught us. Remember, World War II and how Germany and Japan had plans to occupy the United States. We would not have defeated Germany without Britain and Russia. Without having to fight Germany we could have beaten or flattened Japan within three years without the bomb. To do so we would have needed Australia and some other land for bases only. We need Allies in one way or another to keep our enemies at bay. After 9-11, we used the NATO committee and Russia to invade Afghanistan.

            Why do we care if our former Allies are forced to comply with the New World Leaders who are still our enemies? We need those former Allies to sell us their resources and manufactured items we need for our economic well-being. Cutting off scrap metal and oil from Japan may have caused their military to invade other countries and attack the U.S. Their military worked to make a huge ocean and land an economic zone. China is using billions of dollars to try to create one in the same places.

            History shows it is disastrous to be an island and once an island; it is difficult to break back out.

When It Is Over

18 Thursday Apr 2024

Posted by in President Trump, Trials

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        Former President Donald Trump’s defensive plan is to stall all the trials until after the election. If he happened to win he thinks he would be safe for at least four years and then only if he can’t figure out how to extend his second term.

            Once he was indicted no time limit has an expiration date so he would still be in jeopardy when he left office. Maybe Trump is looking to pardon himself for all federal crimes and get the Republican Governors to pardon him for their state’s crimes. Both he and the Governors would pardon his co-conspirators so they wouldn’t be pressured to testify against him.

            One question is why would he be free from any trial if he won in November? He would not be president until January 20’s inauguration. What happens if he is found guilty? It will probably go to the Supreme Court.

            Another question is; if Trump is found guilty after the election but before January 20 and sentenced, does his Vice-President get sworn in as President? Back to the Supreme Court I suppose.

            So many questions; if he won but none if he loses the election. Let’s hope he loses and the country’s legal system isn’t put into greater disrepute! The three Justices he set on the Supreme Court have shown their loyalty to him so far. The Judges lied repeatedly during their confirmation hearings so they can be counted to always vote in Trump’s favor.

Overcoming the Divide

05 Friday Apr 2024

Posted by in Divisiveness

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        Divisiveness of a population is caused by many things. A traditional one is geography. Weather conditions, resources, terrain, density, and vegetation cause people in one area to feel different about life than others in a different area. Think the Civil War.

            Race and ethnicity are two natural divisions that can be easily overcome in all areas if all agree to jump into the melting pot. Centuries have gone by with some people being kept separate. Millions don’t want to jump into the pot and live with others like themselves. My first actual contact with ethnic seclusion was a very proud Polish Superintendent. He talked about the Polish community he grew up with in Chicago. Many of the older generation had been born in the several blocks and would die there without ever learning English, shopping or venturing outside the community.

            Another barrier is economic; money or a lack of it. Millions have overcome that barrier with education or a skill and have put themselves and their families on a different path. Too often they don’t cross the other barriers because they are not allowed to or don’t want to melt.

            Politics is another divisive issue. Moderates are able to cross back and forth but the more radical people are less likely to join other groups.

            These are just a few of the many issues separating Americans. The primary barrier today is the internet and its social media entities which could lessen barriers but will more probably increase and deepen barriers.

Old News

03 Wednesday Apr 2024

Posted by in Blame

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        A congressional committee with a GOP majority is looking into the Afghanistan evacuation. They interviewed the general in charge of the region before and during the period. He blamed the State Department for not letting the army know an evacuation of troops and civilians would be needed. When the Donald Trump was President he signed an agreement with the military’s involvement setting the pullout date. That was over two years before. How did they not plan for the mobs of civilians waiting until the last possible minute? Haven’t they seen pictures of the people lined up to climb the stairs to get on the helicopter?

            Yes, the local State Department people should have got out earlier but they stayed too long to keep putting out visas and passes to the Afghans who helped us and waited for the documents, too. Everybody knew the last date months before but it’s human to figure there is plenty of time left and it’s just a matter of driving to another country or hopping an airliner. When that didn’t work out, the Air force cargo jets were the last option for thousands of Americans and Afghans.

            We have known all that since it happened. The media interviewed lots of people saying the same while waiting in the line. The eight soldiers who were blown up by the suicide bomber were doing their job. He wasn’t supposed to blow himself up in the line mob put on the plane but he saw they were doing to discover him so he took out soldiers and two hundred other people before he missed his chance.

 The real mess goes back to the beginning when the military wanted credit for getting the al-Qaeda Leaders by pulling the CIA’s people from the final hours of the chase. The Rangers let them get away.

Leaders of the Pack

01 Monday Apr 2024

Posted by in Dictatorships, Politics

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        What does a narcissistic, power hungry, greedy man do when he is leader of a supposedly democratic nation? You first eliminate any news media that may inform the citizenry of what is happening which would paint you in an unflattering way. Since the media can’t report happenings you would rid the country’s elective bodies of anyone who disagrees with you either by pressure or by jail or by death. You eliminate most of the votes that were against you and your friends. Since you control everything businesses can only operate with your approval, you are given a piece of the profits.

            Since the National leader has all the power, the Constitution can be changed to eliminate the pesky parts that limit the term of office. As long as you are in office you don’t have to worry about being arrested for crimes before and while in office.

            Two men who are successful at all the above are Xi of China and Putin of Russia. Putin is probably the richest man in the world. His secret yacht is valued at over a half billion dollars. Others who have started their path to dictator are Erdogan of Turkey, Orban of Hungary, Lukashenka of Belarus, and Modi of India. All are probably going to die in power to avoid what could happen if they were out of power. Netanyahu of Israel is hoping to stay in power by continuing the war with Hamas.

            All of these people have a common denominator, Donald Trump! He recently was quoted as saying he would squelch the press, jail those who were against him, and change parts of the constitution limiting his authority and terms. Trump has said many times how much he admires all of those authoritarians. Why can’t Americans really hear what he means? The people in the above countries didn’t listen either.