Political Thoughts

by Frank M. Roberts

August 2016

First of all, I shy from politics these days. I can't understand how, or why, our two major parties come up with characters from the Barnum & Bailey Circus. Like it or not, criticize me if you wish, I refuse to vote for Miss Cheat or Mr Vee-schuss. Watching the so-called conventions is outta the question. I'll watch Andy Griffith re-runs. He was funnier and made more sense.

By the way, I won't forward the pic, but a friend of mine sent me a photograph of a woman singing "The Star Spangled Banner" while standing on the flag, and waving a banner for her favorite candidate. The lady and the idea were equally 'unlovely'.

Umpteen years ago, Plato said this: "If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government, then you are doomed to live under the rule of fools." I think he'd change his mind today. No matter our interest we will be living under the fool rule.

We are living as a conundrum.i.e. something that is puzzling or confusing. So, here are half a dozen conundrums: "America is capitalist and greedy - yet 1/2 of the population is subsidized; Half of the population is subsidized - yet they think they are victims; They think they are victims, yet their representatives run the government; Their representatives run the government - yet the poor get poorer; The poor keep getting poorer, yet they have things that people in other countries only dream about; They have things that people in other countries only dream about, yet they want America to be more like those other countries.

Think about it! And that, my friends pretty much sums up the USA in the 21st century. Makes you wonder who's doing the math. Now - these three short sentences tell you a lot about the direction of our current government and cultural environment: We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the action of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works. And, here's another one worth considering - Seems we constantly hear about welfare or food stamp recipients running out of money! What's interesting is that one group worked for their money, but the second didn't. And last, but not least - why are we cutting benefits for our veterans (of which I am one) - no raises for our military and cutting our army to a level lower than before WW2, but we are not stopping the payments or benefits to illegal aliens.

On the other side of the fence, someone wrote, "far less disturbing that Hillary Clinton's financial ties to Saudi Arabia, CAIR, the Muslim brotherhood, etc. - much more to worry about with Clinton than Trump."

HOWEVER, there is a sticky wicket. In 1980 the late Jerry Falwell, who died in 2007, lamented that, "our movies, television programs, magazines, and entertainment in general are morally bankrupt and spiritually corrupt," and called on Christians to engage in the political process to save America." Thirty-six years later, his son is actively promoting the one Republican candidate who hails from that morally bankrupt world of television and entertainment.

Politically, there is more to worry about. Trump and Putin are chum-lums. So, who cares about the Ukraine problems? In a Republican party in which an ability to stand up to Putin has been seen as a test of toughness, Trump's relationship with the Russian leader is instead one of mutual flattery. Putin, bless his red heart, said in December that Trump was a "colorful and talented" person, a compliment Trump said at the time was an "honor."

I won't go into the multitudinous 'Trump' amours which several evangelists ignore or steptoe around it. There is a shocker, but it has been banned from most publications. It has to do with the Trump daughter. The trio of dear, ole dad's wives all come from - well - not from the U.S.A.

Bill Clinton, of course, did some hot, fancy cheating. T-Rump explains his position, saying, "at least I wasn't president." Duh!

Oh, the two candidates did have one thing in common --- neither one served with the armed forces. And, alas poor Hillary - besieged by males-mail. Trump and 'E' both giving her pause --- not 'meno.''

What a world. With all of the above, all the violence, it's almomst safe to say that America is sliding downhill and, no matter who wins the presidency, the slide will likely continue. We have a two party system, and I prefer ignoring those parties.

Oh, some of you have another choice - if you live in Louisiana. Former Ku Klux Klan Klown David Duke plans to run for U.S. Senate in Louisiana. He was a state senator many years ago, but lost a fat gubernatorial election in '91. The upshot is that he cheated his own fellow haters. He's a convicted felon, pleading guilty in 2002 to bilking his supporters (the poor suckers who thought he was saintly), and he was cheating on his taxes - he spent several years behind bars in a federal prison, supposedly keeping his distance from African-American prisoners.

I know all of the above is pretty one-sided so, I have to add there will be no personal vote for a cheatin' woman or, a candidate who spent the war years amassing his gazillions. Especially galling is his insult of a prisoner of war. Equally galling is finding humor when talking about disabilities.

So, where does that leave me on Election Day? At home, with Andy Griffith re-runs. Call me Mr. Neutral or, worse if you think I'm full of baloney - or 'it'. I'll live through any of it although, at 87 with beaucoup problems 'twon't be as long as I'd like.

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A couple other mostly non political thoughts: Professionalism is knowing how to do it, when to do it, and doing it; From a fortune cookie - honestly. On one side it said "how about a second fortune cookie, and, on the other side: Next time, order the shrimp."