Welcome to 'The Gilded Age' 2.0

              What, you may ask was The Gilded Age?

The Gilded Age is the term used to describe the tumultuous years between the Civil War and the turn of the 20th century. It was a wild period characterized by rapid economic growth and social and political changes.

Fun fact. The term Gilded Age itself was popularized by Mark Twain's 1873 novel. The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today, which satirized the era's materialism and political corruption. 

Political corruption. That's a good segue to today's version of The Gilded Age 2025. 

The 19th century was a period of greed and guile: of Robber Barons, unscrupulous speculators, and corporate buccaneers, of shady business practices, scandal-plagued politics, and vulgar display.

That's still the way things are today in the 21st century. Trump is a convicted felon, but he's also the president of the United States. His love of gaudy golden decorations has transformed the White House into a Robber Barron's headquarters. 

In the first Gilded Age, organized labor was militant and often successful. Today organized labor is in decline. Both eras are marked by rising inequality and decline in well-being. The parallels between the two American Gilded Ages go beyond inequality.

The list is long: ineffective presidents, partisan stalemate, fee-based governance, identity politics, mass immigration and reaction, corruption, rapid technological change, environmental crisis, and claims of white supremacy.

Our current Gilded Age is Trumpian, but it draws its fuel from a much lengthier and more complicated era that began in the late 1970s and runs to the present.

Both periods saw rising populism and movements challenging the established order, though the specific ideologies differ. Interestingly the first Gilded Age opposed the wealthy elite, whereas today's populism, in some forms, has elected billionaires who are seen aligning with the rich.

Immigration and changing demographics have led to social anxieties and shifts in the standing of various groups in both eras. Today Trump's draconian deportation push has caused havoc throughout the country.

Back in the first Gilded Age, just like today, grand parties have come to symbolize the excessive wealth of an outrageously unequal era. As I'm writing this article Trump plans on building a grand ballroom next to the White House. Design plans show golden trim and accents everywhere.

I could go on, but I think it's time to wrap this up with a quote by one of the robber barons, Cornelius Vanderbilt, that would also summerize Trump's attitude:

"What I care about law? H'aint I got power?"

As it Stands, I guess history does have a way of repeating itself but it's sad that we don't seem to have learned anything since the original Gilded Age.

May the Polls Be with You!

Thanks for stopping by today, I have some thoughts about Polls that I'd like to share with you.

Ever since I took an Empirical Research class in college, I've been suspicious of polls and how accurate they really were. For good reason. There are multiple ways to manipulate polls in order to get a desired outcome.

What can you do to vet a poll before participating?

1. Check to see who is conducting the poll.

2. Find out who paid for the poll.

3. What questions were asked?

4. When was it carried out - and especially how was it conducted?

Public polls are a popular way to gauge public sentiment, but they are not without their problems. Here are some more key issues that face voters:

1. Methodology and Accuracy. For example, there's sampling issues that have to be considered like Non-Random Samples, Declining Response Rates, and differential Representation.

2. Influence and Impact. The publication of poll results can influence public opinion, potentially creating a "bandwagon effect" or "underdog effects." 

3. Transparency and Accountability. Not all polling organizations are transparent about their methodologies, making it hard to assess the credibility of their results. Bias from funding sources influences the poll's design and interpretation leading to biased results.

Because human beings are complicated, they all don't believe in the value of polling. It can be argued that polling is a benefit because it's a tool for gauging public opinion. But there's plenty of people who flat out don't believe in polls. 

Because of my suspicious nature I think the polling for the 2024 presidential election had some major problems.

Despite massive rallies for Kamala Harris and pundits saying it was a neck-to-neck race...it wasn't that close. 

Trump won the popular vote by 3.2 million votes, the first time a Republican had done so since President George W. Bush won reelection in 2004.

Since then, I've declared open season on pollsters who just confuse people for a host of reasons. I think poll-bashing should be a national sport. 

As it Stands, I believe people can still vote intelligently without following polls that are often propaganda for one political party or the other.

The Stereotype of Ugly Americans Has Never Been Truer Than Now

Just in case you never heard the negative stereotype "Ugly American" here is a quick summary of where the term comes from.

The term Ugly American made its first appearance through the title of the 1958 book, The Ugly American.

The book was a thinly fictionalized chronicle of American diplomatic insensitivity, ineptness, and bungling in Southeast Asia.

The message of the book was that American officials abroad were ignorant of local customs, social norms, and culture of the people in the region. I saw this when I was sent to Vietnam in 1970, twenty-two years after the term was birthed.

Since the stereotype surfaced it has become shorthand for loud, boorish behavior abroad. American tourists were said to be "poorly oriented" and in June of 1960 Parade Magazine ran an article about tourism titled, "Don't be an Ugly American," written by Frances Knight, director of the U.S. Passport Office.

We have earned the negative label and reinforced it over the decades. 

George W. Bush was often called "The Ugly American" in part because of his stance on foreign policies.

A study carried out in 2002 revealed that Hollywood also contributes to the Ugly American image. The study found that the more access other countries had to American programs, the higher their negative attitudes towards Americans tended to be.

The Ugly American tourist stereotype has been heavily depicted in films, with characters such as Sheriff J.W. Pepper in The Man with the Golden Gun, the Griswalk family in National Lampoon's European Vacation (one of my favorites), Ralph Jones in King Ralph, and the movie Sex and the City 2 that has been cited as a typical portrayal of the Ugly American image, where Samantha makes fun of Middle Eastern culture and women in traditional dress during a visit to the United Arab Emirates.

Numerous opinion pieces have accused Trump of behaving in a way that fits the Ugly American stereotype, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Forbes, The Nation, Financial Times, The Sydney Morning Herald, and the Financial Post.

Which brings me to the present. The Pew Research Center conducted a survey in June gaging Trump's popularity in 24 nations. 

More than half in 19 of these countries say they lack confidence in Trump's leadership of world affairs. World leaders describe Trump's personal characteristics as arrogant and dangerous. People abroad, and at home for that matter, believe he is an unrepentant liar. That's about as ugly as you can get.

The ugly MAGA movement that Trump spawned is recognized worldwide as a cult. And for good reason. They believe ever word he utters, regardless of how insane or stupid it is.

As it Stands, it doesn't look like we're ever going to shed that Ugly American moniker. 

Everyday Heroes Are Seldom Recognized for their Deeds

Countless men and women over the ages have stood up to evil despite the risk of harsh reprisal or even death. Everyday heroes have always resisted injustice and faced daily challenges, but their stories are seldom told. 

Here's a few inspiring stories that you probably never heard.

*A pair of 9-year-old twin sisters were hailed as heroes after their quick thinking saved a little girl from drowning at the bottom of a Michigan pool.

* Madison Williams: A 13-year-old girl who, without hesitation, was lowered into a small septic tank opening to rescue a two-year-old boy who had fallen in.

* John Meffert: A fire department captain who, after a plane's engine failed and it landed on a highway, ran through smoke and fire, rescuing the pilot and a passenger just before the plane erupted in flames.

What inspires ordinary individuals to perform heroic acts?

According to Dignity Health

* Empathy and Compassion: people who act heroically often possess a heightened sense of empathy and compassion, allowing them to deeply connect with the suffering of others and feel a strong urge to help.

* Sense of Responsibility and Duty: This stems from a moral conviction or deep-seated belief in doing what is right, even in the face of adversity.

* Personal Values and Principals: Individuals who engage in heroic acts are often guided by strong moral principles that align with their sense of self and purpose. They are willing to make personal sacrifices to defend these values.

It's important to remember that heroism is a complex phenomenon influenced by a variety of interacting factors, not just one single motivator.

In the past, the ideal of heroism was passed down through oral traditions in stories such as the Iliad or Beowulf. When scribes began documenting heroes like William Wallace (Scottish knight) who fought for Scotland's independence against English rule, generations of people read about their national heroes with pride.

However, for every story about a national hero or someone who made the news for a heroic act, there are fifty whose stories go untold. They go to work. They marry. They have children. They stretch every dollar to survive. They are the salt of the earth. People who interact daily with challenges that require courage and fortitude.

As it Stands, according to Dalai Lama XIV, "The true hero is one who conquers his own anger and hatred."

That Dystopian Future Described in Numerous Books is Here

The door to the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four is open and we've all walked through it. Some grudgingly, some eagerly. Most of us unknowingly as it slowly opened up over the decades.

Now here we are in George Orwell's Animal Farm. Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. A world where history is repeating itself and fascism and totalitarian governments are becoming the norm. A world where a convicted felon and pedophile has seized the reins of our 250-year republic. A world where lies are rewarded by monetization. Where the truth has to hide in the shadows.

Many fiction authors and writers have looked at real world problems that appear in dystopian worlds and societies giving the reader a glance at what could happen if they don't pay attention to the world around them.

Warnings of a growing dictatorship seem to have been ignored here in America. Historians are comparing the 1930s and 1940s - the height of fascism and totalitarians regimes around the world - to America in 2025.

The central themes found within dystopian novels and stories generally contain a number of elements and characteristics. Consider what's happening today in the USA when you look at the checklist for historically corrupt regimes:

* Government & military control

* Destruction of the environment

* Control through technological means

* The loss of individualism to collective ideology

The cataclysmic decline we are currently witnessing is shocking but not irreversible. Those of us that are not under the spell of the Felon-in-Charge can still unite and fight for our rapidly disappearing freedoms. 

We can still defend democracy by voting next year. Meanwhile we have to unite in common cause in every state and city speaking truth to power. It means more organized protests nationwide to counter the daily corruption in the Trump regime.

Common Americans must turn out in record numbers to assure victory in the midterms next year.

Defending against election rigging by the Republicans is going to be a challenge, but justice will prevail. Liberal lawyers are challenging the Trump regime and fighting the good fight for our freedoms. 

The point is we can change our current dystopian government back to what the founders originally wanted. Justice and equality for all men. But it's going to take a generation to erase all of the deep damage to our nation caused by Trump and his minions.

The takeover is not complete yet. Americans still have time to turn the tide on MAGA world. It's going to take hard work, but it'll be worth it. 

As it Stands, fiction has turned into fact. Right now, we have to deal with the facts facing us...we're teetering upon being a totalitarian government.

Seeking Sherlock Holmes to Solve the Ghislaine Maxwell Mystery

It's a mystery to me why a convicted pedophile suddenly was transferred from her minimum-security prison in Florida to the cushiest low-security prison in the country in Texas.

Ghislaine Maxwell who was serving a 20-year sentence for her role in helping convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein recruit, groom and abuse young girls, has suddenly come back into the limelight.

Despite being the most infamous madame in the world, Maxwell is suddenly making a move to overturn her conviction by either getting the Supreme Court to toss it, or by getting a pardon from Trump. What's happening here?

I suspect Sherlock Holmes could get to the bottom of this mystery.

The fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle, is best known for his powers of observation.

With Holmes uncanny ability to gather evidence based upon the honed skills of observation and deductive reasoning he should be able to solve what's going on between Trump, his lawyer aka Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanch, and Ghislaine Maxwell. He'd recognize that corruption was afoot and would do a lot of research before exposing the mystery of the century.

By carefully following Trump's footprints from his early days in New York to the White House, Holmes would gather evidence that exposed him and Epstein's sick hobby of raping teenage girls.

Solving the mystery would be a greater feat than when Holmes took down his formidable opponent, Professor James Moriarty, whom he considered the "Napoleon of Crime."  His pleasure in taking down a modern-day dictator would be immense. It would be right up his alley.

I believe Holmes could connect all the loose ends of the mystery by personally interviewing Trump and Maxwell which would give him a deeper insight into their worlds and a step closer to the truth.

Holmes once offered some insight into his method of detection "When you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." 

It must be noted however that Holmes was able to turn to the law in his time and get help with his cases, where in this day and age the law has been compromised by the Trump regime. 

As it Stands, Sherlock Holmes has always been known for his deductive reasoning and powers of observation. Wouldn't it be nice to have him involved in this investigation?

Why Trump is Always Praising Al Capone:

The environment Donald J. Trump grew up in was something out of a mob movie. His wealthy racist father gave him a "small loan" of $60.7 million to start a business. 

His business and personal mentor Roy Cohn was a prominent legal and political fixer in the 1970s and during the 1980s. Cohn was the epitome of corruption, cons and chaos in New York City.

While Cohn taught Trump the ropes, he also represented mobster Anthony Salerno who along with other mobsters controlled the concrete unions in New York. Cohn introduced Salerno to Trump which later led to Salerno aiding Trump in the construction of Trump Tower by providing concrete at reduced prices. It wouldn't be the last time Trump worked with mobsters.

Trump's behavior and language has been likened to that of mobsters by numerous news outlets, who have noted that his speech is often peppered with terms typically used by members of the mob, like late Gambino family boss John Gotti. 

Trump used the House Wreckers Union Local 95 run by the Genovese crime family to demolish the Bonwit Teller department store in order to make way for Trump Tower. A large swath of nonunion, undocumented Polish and South Korean demolition workers to work alongside its union members.

Trump created his first name licensing deal with a luxury limo rental company owned by John Staluppi, a "made" member of the Colombo crime family. 

Trump had many other alliances with mobsters, but I think you get the point. He dreamed of being a Godfather-like leader taking control of the entire country and to some extent he's realized that dream.

I suspect that Trump singles out Al Capone as the ultimate bad-assed crime lord because of all the publicity Capone has historically enjoyed during his lifetime and in the afterlife. It's that simple for a malicious narcissist who always wants to be the center of attention.

The Don is currently busy trying to bully Brazil by intervening in their judicial system by punishing a judge who is overseeing the trial of Jair Bolsonaro, the former president of the country and hard-right MAGA ally.

Bolsonaro (Trump's longtime buddy) is accused of orchestrating a violent mob against the government following his election loss, in a similar manner to Trump's Jan. 6 attack to overthrow the American people's choice for a leader.

Like a mob boss Trump is using the powers available to him to levy a 50% tariff against Brazil's legal government. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lulu da Silva made it clear that Trump is not going to stop legal proceedings against the man who plotted to overthrow the Brazilian government.

As it Stands, "You can go a long way with a smile...you can also go further with a kind word and a gun." - Al Capone

Why You Can't Shame a Politician

Once, decades ago I thought there were honest politicians. 

I was inspired by the movie Mr. Smith Goes to Washington starring the great Jimmy Stewart. Watching him stand up to the corrupt politicians in Congress and convincing them to do the right thing really impressed me. 

Of course, I was young and naive. I actually thought that justice always prevailed and that men and women in politics stood up for their constituents and always told them the truth.

Time is the great leveler and as the years went by, I kept up with what was happening in American politics and discovered why politicians cannot be shamed in the real world. Their careers are more important than anything in their lives to the point they sacrifice their dignity and humanity. It's all about the money, fame, and power.

Modern politicians have set new standards of corruption that have led to an authoritarian state and a dictator who defies all of the rules and the Constitution. 

The majority of politicians have no spines. It's never been truer than now with the MAGA cult as the perfect example. Once conservative Republicans morphed into mindless vassals of Trump. They disavowed realities in order to join the cult. Their capitulation has been disgusting to watch as they ditch their longtime agendas and shamelessly follow Trump like lemmings.

There was actually a time in our history when shame was a powerful force in politics. But that's changed and we're now living in an era of post-shame politics. For a politician willing to put up with embarrassment, condemnation, a raft of jokes from late night comedians and swarms of reporters chasing them day after day, surviving scandals is easier than ever before.

The fact is short of arrest; there's little way to rein in a shameless politician who doesn't care what people think. If you are completely shameless, then you can get away with quite a bit in our world.

It has become extremely normal for politicians to lie or say something irretrievably dumb on purpose, in order to create a politically beneficial controversy. It's a way to set an agenda.

People's indifference is the best breeding ground for corruption to grow. As long as we don't hold our elected official's accountable justice will just be a dream.

As it Stands, imagine if Mr. Smith would have tried to shame our politicians today... they would have probably arrested him and charged him with being woke! 

Where Have All the Boundaries Gone? Long Time Passing

The transition from the 20th century to the 21st century hasn't been easy on an old geezer like me.

I was born in 1950, a time of war between America and North Korea. I've witnessed some pretty big changes in our society these past decades.

Rather than address all of the inventions I've seen in my lifetime there's another subject I'd like to share with you and see what you think.

Social boundaries

The curse word fuck that was once only used sparingly is now commonly used in public discourse. The president of the United States blurted out the fuck word in a recent interview and no one was really shocked. Of course, it was Trump and nothing he does shocks anyone anymore. As far as I know no other president in modern times said fuck out loud while publicly speaking.

I clearly remember the furor caused by a young comedian's monologue in 1972 at Summerfest in Milwaukee. His name was George Carlin, and his performance of a monologue called, "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television." shocked the public and critics. He was arrested for disturbing the peace after the show.

The words, in the order Carlin listed them are: "shit," "piss," "fuck," "cunt," "cocksucker," "motherfucker," and "tits." At the time broadcasters on the public airways considered those words highly taboo. 

None of those words would raise an eyebrow nowadays. I challenge you to find a drama, comedy, action film, love story, horror film, or documentary that doesn't have words from Carlin's list. It's easy. The ultimate swear word fuck has been neutered in the 21st century. Everyday conversations are scattered with sick slang trying to provoke reactions from an increasingly jaded public.

Social discourse no longer has boundaries. Maybe that's good. Considering the 1st Amendment and all. But part of me misses when every vile word possible wasn't bantered around so casually like it is now. I admit being crude and rude can be funny. But there's no longer any limits in today's public dialogue. 

I guess that makes me sound like an old fogie telling kids to get off my lawn. 

I'm all for free speech, however. That's not the point. I'm a writer who respects words, but I think there's a time and place for rude and crude language. Seeing that kind of language so prevalent in our world today is kind of sad. It's sure not a good argument for a supposedly advanced society in the 21st century.

As it Stands, "Boundaries aren't all bad. That's why there are walls around mental institutions." - Peggy Noonan 

Washingtonian Animal Farm: Pigs in Power

It's come to my attention that George Orwell's satirical novella Animal Farm has a 21st century parallel in Washington D.C. 

A whistleblower in the current administration has been documenting the rise of an old razorback named Trump and his ongoing seizure of complete power and corruption in Congress. 

We have pig bastards mucking up every agency and shitting daily in the halls of power. Like the novella we are viewing the effects of unchecked authority and piles of propaganda put out daily in the name of a totalitarian regime.

The swine, united under the moniker of MAGA, are abusing our court systems and blatantly bashing the rule of law. Pam Bondi is leading the shoat's attack on truth and the American way. Stephen Miller, an experienced muckraker, keeps his snout to the ground searching for immigrants like truffles throughout the country.    

Unlike Orwell's groundbreaking novella where the pigs were the smart ones, the Washingtonian pigs are stupid and blindly follow a demented old bore wherever he leads them. Loyal porkers proudly reject reality for Trump, throwing muck on the walls of truth with piggish abandonment.

In the book the animals establish a government based upon the Seven Commandments of Animalism, ensuring equality and justice.

The Washingtonian pigs have Project 2025 as their guiding principles for destroying equality and justice.

The one thing about Animal Farm that strikes me is how the pigs were able to dominate the much larger animals though the use of propaganda. The comparison today with MAGA is more than symbolic. People can be swayed into believing anything if the pig shit is deep enough.

As it Stands, I'm leaving the last word up to George Orwell who said, "But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought."

Two-Faced Tulsi Gabbard Claims Obama Attempted a Coup - That's Her Story and She's Sticking to it!

Ominous rumblings from MAGA world have been recently reported. 

The Director of National Intelligence, Two-Faced Tulsi Gabbard (above right cartoon) says she gathered shocking evidence that ex-president Barrack Obama staged a coup in 2016 with Hillary Clinton's help. This ridiculous claim doesn't take into account Trump won. So, what's the beef?

The sky is falling...the sky is falling!" the duplicitous head of National Intelligence told Fox News, Newsmax, and every other alt-right propaganda platform on the planet.

Stirred by the explosive expose Republic Senator John Cornyn has called for a special council to immediately investigate the perfidious prior president and his friends, staff and family with utmost urgency. Sen. Cornyn told listeners that all he wanted was transparency in the dire matter after blocking an attempt to vote on the Epstein files.

Meanwhile...

in the real world 87% of Americans want transparency by seeing the Epstein files. 

They could give a shit about the obvious distraction involving one of the most popular presidents in the modern age. That won't stop Trump's desperate minions from going all out and appointing a special counsel whose mission will be to drag the investigation out and post glaringly false headlines about supposed progress. Anything to get attention off of their soiled leader.

Every time someone asks Trump about the Epstein files he points in the opposite direction and squeals squirrel! Squirrel!

While in Scotland (which cost American taxpayers a cool ten million) playing golf, Trump was looking at building another golf course there. Really important diplomatic stuff huh?

Not that Donny was running away from the scandal that just won't leave him alone. 

Reporters on the tarmac in Scotland asked him if he was in the Epstein files to which he replied, "No. No. No."

 It's like he doesn't realize that Pam Bondi told him he was in those sleezy files in May as reported by nearly every news outlet in America. The world knows that for God's sake and Trump still lied. Talk about gall! He is the Lord of Lies. Shame is not in his game.

The story within the story is how far will Trump go when all of his lies are exposed? When the world finds out he's a pedophile? Will he call out the military to personally protect himself? When all else fails will the malicious narcissist finally declare he is the law and dissolve Congress and any other agencies that might oppose him?

As it Stands, as we all know, there are no current limits, or guardrails, to prevent Trump from doing something really crazy if the Epstein expose blows up on him. Right now, the clock is clicking.