What a shit show of a year it has been for politics. Before I begin, let me be clear. I am registered Republican, more centered than most. I’ve never voted a straight ticket, don’t consider that a good thing. I voted for Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Ross Perot, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, did not vote in 2016 (didn’t trust Hillary or Donald and don’t vote for the worse of two evils), and Joe Biden. I’ve worked in the public sector, private sector, US military, and State Government.
I believe there are 5 different positions people take within the political spectrum. 1) Far Left “The Tree Hugger”, 2) Center Left “The Donkey”, 3) Center “The Elephonkey” (me), 4) Center Right “The Elephant”, and 5) Far Right “Lemming”. I can go into each at a later date.
I’m so tired of people talking about the US falling into oblivion just because Joe Biden was elected. Tired of people talking about the Country falling into socialism. You should be more concerned with the Country turning into a dictatorship. Some people in this Country are so afraid of socialism, that they are willing to give up their rights to a dictator. It wouldn’t have surprised me, but certainly would have concerned me if Donald Trump won a second term, and at the end of that term, the president himself or some sad ass incompetent republican (as they called themselves) legislator, would have recommended throwing out presidential term limits. There my friends, is how a democracy turns into a dictatorship. You just gave up your rights as a US citizen. This Country will not fall into socialism because socialism is not built into the constitution. Yes, you can have socialist programs (which we already do) in a democracy, but that does not make us a socialist country. As much as it concerns Trump supporters this go around, it is the same feelings others had to deal with 4 years ago. Deal with it! It is how our democracy works. This Country has made it through 4 yrs. with the current administration, it will make it through the next 4 yrs. with the next administration, as long as we don’t allow a single group to dismantle what the Country was built on.
I’m tired of people believing what they hear and not taking the time to investigate what the issue is. Just because someone says there is fraud in an election, doesn’t mean it is so. Just because someone says something is happening, doesn’t mean it really is. Even if you say it 10 times over, it still doesn’t make it real. Stop taking the bait from someone whose “Art of the Deal” is to tell you how good things are going to be, never tells you with details, and then changes the deal when you can’t do anything about it. You just accept what he gives you. That is the deal that Donald Trump always made. He screwed people. That deal may work when you hold the purse, but it doesn’t work on the world stage.
I spent 20+ years in public education at both the State and local levels. I constantly heard the term “perception is reality”. No, it is not! Perception is someone’s view of reality. If you make decisions based on perception, you will fail 50% of the time. Perceptions are like rumors. They only become the truth, when someone makes them reality. Just because the President and all who follow him, say there was fraud in the election, doesn’t make it so. If you believe in giving States the right to hold elections, and make decisions on how votes are counted, then you can’t take away that decision making process, when you don’t agree with the decision. You can’t stop the vote in one state, because it is going against you, and then keep it going in another state because it benefits you.
I was sitting in the barber shop the other day, socially distanced, with a mask on, waiting for my scheduled haircut. I overheard someone say “I think this is what will happen. Trump is going to invoke Marshall Law and activate the military to oversee the running of a new election.” After I got off the floor, I politely interjected my opinion. I said, “and why would we need to do that”. The response was “to stop the democrats from stealing the election”. My response, “and at that time, you can sign a piece of paper that turns over your constitutional rights to the military.” Can you say dictatorship. Maybe Coup d’etat? That is the same thing we talk about developing countries experiencing, and now we have citizens, in Making America Great Again, who think it is a good idea. What the fuck are you thinking. Overturning election results is ludicrous, and I’m not making reference to the legendary rapper. If you want to disenfranchise a nation very quickly, overturn what they have rightfully obtained through the constitution. Discounting someone’s vote without facts would undermine the very constitutional democracy that this nation was founded on. If that was done, then the nation will have succumbed to a dictator. That my friends, is how it happens. A dictator only wants you to believe in what they tell you is the truth. They don’t feel they need to prove anything. You just need to believe them. Fanaticism makes it happen.
I like to write, have written speeches and thesis, but when I come across something that is to the point, I don’t feel the need to write it in my own words. I don’t need to prove anything, and I like giving credit where credit is due. I was watching the series Madam Secretary the other day. Season 5; Episode 1 E Pluribus Unum. The writers in this episode hit it! In this episode the secretary of the United States was giving a speech and here is what was said. Yes it was a TV series, yes someone wrote it for the show, and yes it is spot on topic for today. The Secretary says “…….a greater threat than nuclear weapons is that which makes the use of them possible. Specifically the blind hatred one group or nation can have for another……..Nationalism is not the same as Patriotism. It’s a perversion of Patriotism ……………………. Nationalism’s belief is to give blind allegiance to the supremacy of one race over all others. Nothing could be less American. Patriotism is about building one another up. Embracing diversity as the source of our strength. We the people, means all the people. American heroes didn’t die for race or region. They died for the ideals enshrined in our constitution. Above all, freedom from Tierney. Which requires our unwavering support of a freedom of religion, free press, ……… and the right to vote. And that nothing infringes on those rights which belong to us all………isolation has not moved any country forward……..we cannot lose sight of our common values, and our common decency…….. E Pluribus Unum – Out of Many One. Today we call on all Americans to reject the scourge of nationalism, because governments cannot regulate tolerance or eradicate hate. Each one of us, has to find the beauty in our differences instead of fear, listen instead of reacting, reach out instead of recoiling. It is up to us. All of Us!”
Folks it is people that drive this Country. People that make it great. People that move it forward. I recall watching the 2019 movie Ford vs Ferrari. Matt Damon played Carroll Shelby and Tracey Letts was Henry Ford II. American automotive designer Carroll Shelby battled corporate interference, the laws of physics and personal demons to build a revolutionary race car & engine for the Ford Motor Company. Carroll Shelby knew they could compete against the race cars of Enzo Ferrari at LeMans in 1966. During the movie Carroll Shelby & Mr. Ford were talking about vehicle production. At one point Mr. Ford proceeds to say “our tanks won the war”. Mr. Ford was referencing the tanks Ford built in support of WWII. Well Mr. Ford, your tanks didn’t win the war. It was the person who designed the tank, the person who helped build the tank, the person who drove the tank and the individuals who walked in front, on the side and behind the tank, who won the war. It has been and always will be about people.
Collectively we need to stop always thinking what’s in it for me, or how do I get mine. Think about the greater good. Maybe that is my experience working at the Federal (US Air Force Reserve, FEMA as a DOD Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer) & State level (DE Dept. of Ed., DEMA). Our job as residence of this great Country and global world, is not to rape the country/world of what we want, and then say fuck it you’re on your own to those who remain. It’s to use what we need to survive and leave it in better shape than when we first arrive. You want to profess the greatness of America, than be a great American!