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.

Gibberish

30 Saturday Mar 2024

Posted by in The Truth

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        How gullible can Americans be? Polls say a majority of Americans think the economy is in trouble. It is not! It is booming and because of the infrastructure and chips bills it will just increase. Unemployment is at historical lows of less than 4% with hundreds of thousands of jobs available. Inflation is under 2.5% with the Federal Reserve promising three rate cuts. Remember inflation was started by a lack of supply and transportation shortages.

            Some people think prices would go back down if Former President Donald Trump was in office but that isn’t going to happen. In fact, he wants to put high tariffs on products we buy to maintain our standard of living. Climate change and viruses have caused meat prices to go up plus the cost of animal food, labor to process, and transportation. Do not expect meat prices to go down until viruses and climate impact are greatly reduced.

            Trump says energy prices will go down if he is elected. He says more wells will be drilled where the Biden Administration won’t lease the land. The truth is companies producing natural gas are closing off wells since the prices have dropped so much. Oversupply from over drilling caused this. We are the largest producer of petroleum and actually export about two million barrels per day that our refineries can’t refine. The government is supporting the cost by buying oil in 70 dollar range to replace oil it sold in the 90 dollar range.

            Trump seldom talks about the deficit which skyrocketed during his term. Of course, facts have never been a basic for his gibberish when talking to his duped followers. Those gullible people live in a dream world that didn’t exist and never will.

            What is in danger is Democracy and electing someone who thinks he can be like Putin and never leave office again.

Silos

27 Wednesday Mar 2024

Posted by in Politicians, Politics

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        I wish more than a million people read my views because they are factual and scary. My focus is on climate change, destruction of the planet, historical Presidency, and if necessary, politics. I am not a believer in a lot of technology and the internet which put my views out to readers far from my area. My wife and I donate to several environmental groups and during the election cycle particular people who agree with our views. Our political position is in the old middle camp but as the GOP has gone towards the nutcase radicalism, the moderate line has moved left. That is why moderate Republicans can’t win primaries,

            As I said before I am against the internet because tens of millions of Americans and people in other countries believe the most outrageous writing and not the truth. Those social media posts have created opinion silos which keep people from understanding the entire picture. The anti-abortion silo realizes they have stepped into a quagmire but don’t know how to ameliorate their position to allow some abortions. They think they are forced to support a person they despise. The anti-science silo wants to take America back more than a hundred years to when diseases killed tens of thousands each year. The down-with-government group is against everything especially taxes and expenditures, unless the money goes to something in their area.

            As a student of history, especially wars and their causes, I can see how history is repeating itself with Donald Trump and Adolph Hitler. Only a few in the media have made that connection. The silos supporting Trump haven’t seen what happened to the people who put Hitler into power and destroyed Germany.

RNC Shake-Up

19 Tuesday Mar 2024

Posted by in President Trump, Republican National Convention

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            Former President Trump dumped the leadership of the Republican National Committee. Why? Last year Trump got money from the RNC to pay some of his legal fees. After a revolt from the donors RNC leadership said no more. They only had a few million to do the job but needed ten times that amount for supporting down ticket races.

            What is Trump’s solution? Fire everyone at the top of the National Committee and replace them with a friend and his daughter-in-law who knows nothing about the job. Her qualification is she will do what Trump says including signing checks to pay his bills. He doesn’t care about the rest of the party especially if they don‘t kiss his hand or any other part of his body.

            How will the small and large contributors feel about their money going to pay Trump’s legal bills that have nothing to do with anyone else’s campaign? He believes he is the party and everyone else is expendable. That philosophy has always been his way of life. Three wives; two divorced and current one bought off with a new contract, and a galore of hookers and molesting, $100,000 to Planned Parenthood tells about his morals. How can any religious person support him?

Mideast Mess

11 Monday Mar 2024

Posted by in Bombing, Israel

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        History shows Israel’s choices with Gaza will be looked at by commissions, university courses, and historians. Military academies will add the Israeli actions to their studies no matter what they do.

            Currently, November 3rd, they are bombing apartment buildings in the hopes of killing Hamas leaders and followers. The problem is the people. They want to kill the Hamas who are spending most of their time in concrete lined tunnels 200 feet below those buildings. The Viet Cong tunnels were all dirt and few were deeper than 30 feet and we didn’t eliminate them.

            Another example of what happens when bombing apartment buildings and cities is Churchill’s decision to bomb German cities after a Luftwaffe pilot got lost and dropped a few bombs on London’s working district housing. It led to the destruction of both countries’ cities and deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. The peoples of both countries became enraged instead of lackadaisical about a war benefiting both leaderships.

            Bush I and his advisors knew they didn’t want to go into Iraq to do away with Saddam and his government because it would leave a mess for Americans to manage. Bush II and his people invented reasons to invade and it took up years to leave and it is still a mess. Afghanistan is another example of staying and creating enemies by being there.

            Most Israelis want their country out of Gaza and the West Bank but the extreme-Right Religious Group can yank Netanyahu’s chain so he will continue to keep letting the right take West Bank land and kill Palestinians on their own lands. The only way the Mideast problems will ever be solved is for the Israeli politics to have a major change.